Well...I'm devastated

[PaulaSue]

OP you may borrow my girls, they need a Great Aunt!

 

[dsnymomof4]

I can totally understand your "devastation" - the first time DS15 told me he's tired of going to Disney every year, I was crushed. Of course, 4 trips later, he's the one telling me where he wants to stay on our next yet-to-be-planned trip! DD12 is starting to say she's tired of being immersed in Disney 24/7. What is wrong with her?

and have a wonderful time planning and showing your family all the fun things about Disney. I am sure your love for Disney is bound to rub off on everyone. Challenge yourself in to showing them how to love the magic!!

I agree with this! They don't really know what to expect, so it is up to you to get them excited about it. Maybe you have pictures/video from a previous trip? Maybe you can tell them about the roller-coaster type attractions and explain how there are tons of things to do in Disney that don't involve characters (although I'm sure once they're there, they'll love them as well). Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Trixie15]

My kids are kind of like this, too. We're going in May and they're not even excited. It's only their 2nd time and it was 2 years ago that we went. They don't talk about it or even seem all that interested in it when I talk about it.

They have ZERO interest in the characters. I honestly think they'd skip it if they could. It makes me sad - I understand the way you are feeling, OP.

 

[rie'smom]

My daughter wanted to have a beach vacation this summer, so that's what we're doing. We're DVC members as well and I'm using the points for my DH and I to go to England, Scotland, and Ireland next Spring.

It's no big deal to me that she wants something different. We've been at least 2x/ year for 6 years. In fact, I was glad because I was having mouse burnout too. I really don't care if we don't go back until we have grandkids.

The biggest part of the fun for me is the planning books, activity books, etc. A few people have asked me to help them. 2 are going during Mardi Gras, so I've been having fun planning that.

 

[duffy]

My daughter was 12 on our trip a year ago. She didn't help with planning at all and really didn't care. She seemed to be just tolerant of going. She'd only been there once before, when she was 4 and did not remember hardly anything.

Once we got there, her attitude totally changed. She got all giggly and excited. We had such a great time! We've agreed since then that Disney must put something in the air that makes you very very enthusiastic about Disney! She went from "Do I have to bring these stupid pins with me every day??" to "Oh my gosh!! Where's my lanyard?? Are these ALL my pins? I need more!!" in about 24 hours, once we got there.

 

[Colleen27]

They may very well change their tune once they get there. I was a kid who never wanted to go to Disney. I had this idea that it was for little kids (I was about 9 when my mom started talking about it), and I wasn't all that interested in giving up our usual summer lounging around VA Beach to go see Mickey Mouse. Once we got there, though, I was hooked and couldn't wait to get back. That was '97 - it took me 8 years to be able to afford to take my kids, and we've gone almost every year since.

My mom will never let me live my anti-Disney childhood down, BTW. It is a subject of good-natured teasing every time we get started planning another trip. She'll be joining us in May for the 3rd time out of 4 trips, and is having a great time traveling with grandkids who are as into Disney as she had hoped my brother & I would be!

 

[DaisyLynn]

I agree with the PP who said to take it as a challenge. Show them the things that make you and your family enjoy WDW so much!

Of course I would suggest to take note of their pace and proceed accordingly. They may not be up to commando-style if they're already going into it being not excited.

BTW, this thread reminded me of a vid I saw posted on these boards some time ago. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MIBxhh_R_w

 

[Tiggersmom3]

Can't help ya. My kids live and breathe Disney and my last child was conceived there (I hope that is ok to say here). We are a DISNEYFIED family!!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

BTW, this thread reminded me of a vid I saw posted on these boards some time ago. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MIBxhh_R_w

Oh how funny! I needed a good laugh! I hope those kids were just really really tired. Poor mom. It'd be nice to know how their trip turned out.

 

[billwendy]

Hi
I'd be sooooo bummed too!!

Is there any way you can "feel them out" a bit more? there is noting worse than being at disney with people who are whining the whole time - they ruin the trip for everyone else!! Maybe its just not the right time to take them. Maybe a few more tries to Disneyfy them - but after that, maybe consider something different - in this economy to pay for someone to go who refuses to enjoy it would make me CRAZY!!!! But if your Disney spirit can rub off on them in the mean time it could be a ton of fun!

 

[sarahk0204]

I have a niece who is 6 going on 30 She is totally over the princesses, but she loves Hannah Montana and HSM. DS, who was 4 last trip, thought Lightning McQueen was uncool, but he LOVED Power Rangers and was thrilled to meet them twice at DHS. He is also into Transformers, but he likes Star Wars/Clone Wars, and he is really excited to see the Jedi Training Academy and attend Star Wars Weekend this year. Maybe the OP can try playing up some of the "cooler" stuff like the coasters, etc. There sure is something for everyone at Disney!

 

[badblackpug]

I have to weigh in. I think there are 2 things here.
1) They really don't know anything about WDW, so they probably do see it as a "little kids" park. A number of years ago I had a co-worker whose wife planned a huge WDW trip for his family and his brother in law and their family. All he did was complain for weeks. They normally went to the shore for 2 weeks every summer, and that is all he wanted to do. He moaned constantly "I don't like amusement parks." Blah, blah, blah...I tried to convince him that WDW is not your ordinary amusement park. It is a whole atmosphere. It is just different. All he did was complain. Fast forward to his return from work... he was hooked! All he could do was talk WDW. All he could say was "I should have listened to you."
2) The 7 year old is probably playing "too cool for school." This is about the time that girls start trying to act "grown." I remember when my oldest was about that age she came home and announced she wanted to get rid of all her Barbies because some little girl at school told her they were "for babies" and that she should play with Bratz because they were "cool." It's a stage. She is probably posing for her little brother and her cousin.

I think that you shouldn't let it bother you so much. Continue with your trip. I think they will all have a great time, in spite of themselves! (as for your nephew's fear of characters, that may change, and it may not, but they are easy enough to avoid and still have a great time)

You said your sister in law is going, so if her kids do turn out to be little killjoys you can suggest that you go separate ways and meet up for meals.

 

[dmlashultz]

I'll put in my .02 -

I went to Disney first as a preteen, when it was not cool to be around my family, and almost cried when I left - l loved it! And I'm the person who *hates* normal amusement parks.

My husband never went as a kid. We took our 2 daughters (then 5 & 9) in 2007, and it was more wonderful and magical than I would have believed. My 5 yo thought that that characters were real, and my 9 yo played along. It was so charming it brought tears to my eyes. Me who doesn't normally like characters. Mulan spent 15 min. talking about China with my 9yo daughter who was born there, and made her day.

We had such a wonderful time, we've been planning since we got home to go again. My mom and dad will be coming again, my older sister will be joining us (known as the "fun aunt").

One note about characters. There are actually some kids who are very freaked out by them. My niece is one of them, still at 12 yo! She has to make sure that there will be no characters in someplace like a fair or mall before she will go. Sadly, she will not even consider Disney - she says right out, that she can't go, and seeing her reaction, no one has pushed her.

Barring that, Disney is magical!!! Really something for many different tastes, you don't have to overdo the characters. If our trip in July is even half as good as last time, it will be great!

Laurie

Wilderness Lodge July 09
Coronado springs April 07

 

[NJFabFour]

I relate to your "big time planner" personality and my DIStwins reacted much like your niece and nephew for both our trips (they were 5 the first trip and 10 the second). Although they showed a lack of enthusiasm and interest about going, they loved it there and were thrilled to revel in everything Disney. After the trip, it's pretty much back to the "been there, done that" attitude but I catch moments where they'll say to one another, "Remember . . . .?" or "Wasn't it cool when we . . . .?" So it was disheartening at first when they didn't want to be a part of the planning but just know that your family WILL enjoy it when they are there! Good luck with the plans . . . sounds like you're having a blast with it!

 

[Broadway Duchess]

I think what is likely to happen is that they'll get there and the whole tune will change. Don't worry about what the kids are saying now, just do whatever will make the trip magical in YOUR eyes. I will say it would be a little difficult for me to care about making it special for them if they weren't even the least bit grateful about the planning. My folks always told us that even if we didn't like something, we were always to be grateful for the offer.

On a slightly related note, my brother got sick of Disney when he was around eighteen. He just got over it (inconcievable, right?) and was just 'meh' about DM, DD, & DS planning mode. Well, we convinced him to go for a "just us" trip (no SOs) right when he started seeing an old girlfriend. From that point on, even after they got married and had children, he's been having a fit to get back to DW. I think he learned his lesson from turning down all those trips from the parents!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

he gets macho and tells his friends... " You have no idea what disney is do you? There is something for everyone!"

Oh I hope this is true! I have 13 & 14 year old boys and wish so badly that we had been able to afford going to WDW when they were younger. I'm struggling to find stuff to include them in this trip but teenagers can be so difficult about this! They don't want to do "kidish" stuff, they are just too cool for that.

So, as I get autograph books, lanyards for my SIL (who is an ADULT, but mentally challenged) and all kinds of goodies, I'm struggling to find stuff for them. I have picked out some Nightmare before xmas tshirts and Pirates tshirts that they MIGHT wear.

To make matters worse, my 14 year old says he's afraid of heights and I don't know if I'll even get him on any rides! If I can get him to lower his "cool, macho factor" for 3 minutes to go on Goofy's Barnstormer, I think he can work his way up to the other big rides (after all his 8 year old sister went on everything last year we went went alone!)

In the end, I have to try and not stress too much on everyone else. We're going with our whole family, and my IL's who have been to WDW but only went to AK one day??? I can sometimes get overwhelmed trying to make sure that they love WDW the way I do, but I need to let go of that and just let them like what they like. Some people just never end up getting it.

 

[rie'smom]

My daughter wanted to have a beach vacation this summer, so that's what we're doing. We're DVC members as well and I'm using the points for my DH and I to go to England, Scotland, and Ireland next Spring.

It's no big deal to me that she wants something different. We've been at least 2x/ year for 6 years. In fact, I was glad because I was having mouse burnout too. I really don't care if we don't go back until we have grandkids.

The biggest part of the fun for me is the planning books, activity books, etc. A few people have asked me to help them. 2 are going during Mardi Gras, so I've been having fun planning that.

OK, update to my post. On Sunday, my daughter decided that she wanted to go back to WDW and we're going 2 weeks from today. We're both excited. It sure was easy for me to change my mindset.
We haven't been to the Beach Club resort in ages, so we're excited about that too!
I'm still saving the DVC pts for my husband and I to take a trip next year.

Anyway, OP I was posting this to show you that teenagers who think they're too cool for WDW and their moms can still flip the excitement switch.

Go to the stickey at the top of the page and print out some Disney coloring pages and a few activities. Send her some crayons and a few of those to her each week. The excitement will build.

 

[rie'smom]

Oh I hope this is true! I have 13 & 14 year old boys and wish so badly that we had been able to afford going to WDW when they were younger. I'm struggling to find stuff to include them in this trip but teenagers can be so difficult about this! They don't want to do "kidish" stuff, they are just too cool for that.

So, as I get autograph books, lanyards for my SIL (who is an ADULT, but mentally challenged) and all kinds of goodies, I'm struggling to find stuff for them. I have picked out some Nightmare before xmas tshirts and Pirates tshirts that they MIGHT wear.

To make matters worse, my 14 year old says he's afraid of heights and I don't know if I'll even get him on any rides! If I can get him to lower his "cool, macho factor" for 3 minutes to go on Goofy's Barnstormer, I think he can work his way up to the other big rides (after all his 8 year old sister went on everything last year we went went alone!)

In the end, I have to try and not stress too much on everyone else. We're going with our whole family, and my IL's who have been to WDW but only went to AK one day??? I can sometimes get overwhelmed trying to make sure that they love WDW the way I do, but I need to let go of that and just let them like what they like. Some people just never end up getting it.

At their ages, if the have cellphones or walkie talkies, you could let them walk around the parks by themselves-that would make them feel older. I've allowed my daughter (15) and niece (15) to do this for a couple of years.

Relax, you're right, can't make people feel the way you do. If you push, they'll resist. Just go with the flow and it should be fine. You're right some people never do get it. My dad and my youngest brother are like that. That's ok. They love hunting and fishing which I can't stand. Everyone is different.
If I were you, I'd set them up with a plan and everyone go their own way just meeting up for meals.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I probably will do that! They will actually be 14 & 15 when we go on the trip (I think I'm in denial that I forgot about that!) but I'm not sure they will want to go off on their own. I think maybe I'll test it out when we're waiting in the long line for the fairies or something.