What do your older kids 7-11 like about Disney?

[classicpooh]

My older son (age 9) is convinced that Disney is for babies He is breaking my heart, becasue he doesn't want to go. Partly because of this, we have shortened our stay to 5 days at Disney, and we are going to do Universal for two days.

What do your older kids (older than 7) think of Disney? How can I convince him that it will be fun? Last time we went, he was 7, and still liked Buzz, Woody etc, but now thinks that they are kids stuff...

I wasn't ready for this part of growing up!! (I mean me not him). It's hard when your kids are older!

 

[princess lovers mom]

HOLY MOLEY!!!!!

so much of disney is for OLDER people.....make a list of all of the rides that he is now old enough to handle...towe of terror. roc'n roller coaster, space mountainetc mission mars, test track etc etc...it is not about the characters all of the time...i think it will be nice to go and not have to wait in those lines all of the time to get EVERYONE's autograph (I really do love it though)


get some travel books to show him what to look foeward to.....

 

[disneysteve]

My DD is 8-1/2 and loves Disney more than ever. Now she can do ALL the rides that she wasn't big enough (or brave enough for) on previous trips. She loves the thrill rides - Space, Splash, Big Thunder Mountains, Mission:Space, Rockin'Roller Coaster. And she still loves all the traditional rides from the carousel to Small World to Haunted Mansion. In fact, there is very little she doesn't enjoy - Tower of Terror is about the only one that comes to mind. She's done it a couple of times - just doesn't care for it.

Outside of the parks, she loves DTD. She likes building at the Lego store. She loves renting a water mouse for a half hour with me. She loves riding up front in the monorail. She loves seeing the animals at AKL. She loves renting go karts at Old Town. I could go on and on. I can't imagine a 9-year old not wanting to do Disney.

 

[mad4themouse]

There's an age when Disney just isn't cool. It runs from about 2nd grade to 5th grade. The great thing is that they do outgrow it.

DD14 wears Mickey and Classic Pooh garments all of the time. She listens to Disney music. On Saturday evening, she had her first boy-girl birthday party and they were all outside on the swingset singing Disney songs at the top of their lungs! And yes, they knew all the words.

My DS12 will probably always be too cool to actually wear character t-shirts but he loves WDW. And if I don't buy the latest Disney animated video or DVD on the release date, he gets a little upset with me.

So, for now, just grin and bear it. In due time, he'll come back full circle. In the meantime, don't push it...and enjoy Universal for what it has to offer.

 

[tar heel]

My 9-year-old son LOVES Disney, but there are things he declines to do or does under duress. We spent a total of 11 days in Disney last summer and only about three hours of it was in Fantasyland. He wouldn't dream of doing Fantasyland rides unless cajoled into it (some would not do under any circumstances), any spinner including AstroOrbiter, things like Playhouse Disney. We walk through Toontown but no longer stop. He also considers the Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast to be girlish and tries to avoid them. He always has two older brothers with him, so that may help some in his attitude. He absolutely loves e-night. At MK, his favorites are the three mountains, Buzz Lightyear, TTA, Carousel of Progress and the speedway. Tiki Birds, Pirates, Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise are okay. We use the train for transportation. He likes Spectro but thinks of the afternoon parade as a bit babyish.

At Epcot, he loves Test Track, Mission Space, Imagination, Ice Station Cool, the funny country shows (statues in Italy and the mime and chair act in France) and Miyuki (candy maker -- Japan). He usually still makes a mask once a trip. He can be talked into the more educational attractions but doesn't get excited about them -- likes Spaceship Earth and Energy best. He likes Illuminations. He also really likes to eat at Teppanyaki, San Angel and Marrakesh.

At AK, he likes Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl and Kali. He always says he doesn't want to go to the Lion King show, safari and bird show, but enjoys them while he's there. He does not like to do the walking trails. Conservation Station was okay once but I wouldn't expect him to ask to go back soon.

He loves MGM. Rock 'n Roller Coaster, Star Tours, ToT and Millionaire are among his favorite Disney attractions. He also likes Muppets, Indiana Jones and eating at Pizza Planet. The backlot tour is okay once in a while. Fantasmic is okay but he hates the production of getting there. He likes this parade pretty well and enjoys the street shows. He starred in one (the spelling bee), so thinks of them as a big deal.

Last year was the first year he wasn't interested in autographs although he still consented to a handful of character photos. He also enjoys taking his own pictures, so you might get your child a disposable camera. Also, when he was younger, we used to send one parent to Fantasyland with him while the older boys did something else. You might make that offer. Funny thing was sometimes one of them chose to go along, too.

 

[wannabee princess]

Wow! I guess I'm just going to be thankful my 9yo is not into "being cool"! He is as excited about going to Disney now as he was when he was 5! He goes with the flow, doesn't say that something is babyish, and is willing to try just about every ride and attraction - whether it is Thunder Mountain or Winnie the Pooh.

I guess this thread needs to be read by those people who think that their 2-4yo is too young to appreciate Disney and want to wait until they are "old enough" to remember everything!

 

[tcfdick]

I just asked my 11 yo DS what he liked best about DW and he said he likes Disney Quest the best. He likes all of the thrill rides too, but DQ is his favorite. Have you thought about getting UPH's so that your DS (9) will be able to go there? My DS would have lived there if I had let him. He usually stayed inside DQ for 3-4 hours and we had to go several times. It's an amazing place, 5 stories of arcade games! If your DS likes playing computer games, Gameboy games, or the arcade at the mall, he will love DQ.

My DS also likes the water parks a lot! We always go several times to both of the water parks and stay for several hours. Maybe if you tell him about these options, he might get more excited. You could tell him that there are height restrictions on some of the most exciting rides at the water parks and at DQ so that only older kids/adults are able to do them.

 

[ciera321]

My boys are 11 and 18. I keep thinking that the 18 yo will out grow Disney, but he's graduating HS Friday and we are heading to DW to celebrate. He LOVES MGM!! My 11 yo loves all the parks, but MGM is his favorite, too. Rockin Roller Coaster, Star Tours, TOT are real favorites.

 

[sm4987]

My eight year old son is thrilled to be going back. All he hopes is that when we come back, I don't show all the pictures of him screaming to everybody He Looks forward to it and tells everyone he knows about it. I'm thankful that my son still loves Disney. Even if he didn't, he'd be stuck out. The rest of us love to go, and between dd and me, he's outnumbered.

 

[WhispyPixie]

I have a soon to be 18 year old....twins that will be 13 soon and a 5 year old.

The oldest just graduated from High School and guess what he asked for...for his grad gift??? A family trip to WDW. We leave in 10 days for a 9 day 8 night stay at the poly.

Here are some of the many things that they all want to do....Rockin Rollercoaster, Dumbo..lol, Tower of Terror, The Festival of the Lion King, Tarzan Show, POTC, Splash and Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear....they want to eat at the Sci F-..Ohanas and rent a water mice!

I have decided that it isnt WHAT you do at WDW...it is the memories that you create that make the kids come back again and again over and over. They remember the funny times, the silly times, the times your 3 year old sister threw up all over you and they MUST go back to revive those memories and smiles!

Good luck with your son.....find the thing that he loves most and capatilize on it!

 

[wannabee princess]

Originally posted by WhispyPixie
I have decided that it isnt WHAT you do at WDW...it is the memories that you create that make the kids come back again and again over and over. They remember the funny times, the silly times, the times your 3 year old sister threw up all over you and they MUST go back to revive those memories and smiles!

I loved your whole post! I'm so glad to hear that even your HS grad wants to go to the World!

What you said that I quoted is just the perfect statement! It is exactly how our family feels - it is about the memories that we create each time we have been to Disney that keeps us wanting to return! We all share so much fun, no matter what ride we rode or what show we missed, we are together and when we get back home, we have stories to share. We still are talking about trips we took when the kids were 2!

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

DH and I love WDW and our kids were 9 and 5 when we first took them.

DD 14 1/2 will be 15 next time we go. The best thing she likes about WDW is that she knows it by heart. She pretends she's not into going, but once we are there she is a HUGE kid again. She loves character breakfasts and making new memories and of course, shopping! When she was 12 she gave us a really hard time at WDW, she was a big snit! But after that, she grew out of it.

DS 10 1/2 will be 11 next time we go. The best thing he likes is the FOOD! LOL . . . Really! He is a breakfast buffet junkie! He loves Test Track and Buzz and HM and he is truly a WDW nut! He always makes the comment "I'm still comin to WDW with you when I'm 38" lol! The only part he doesn't care for is getting on the airplane.

We aren't going this year unfortunately, but we are going during April 05 vacation and staying at CBR for 3 nights, then going on the 4 Day Wonder Cruise, then 2 more nights at Poly. So we are making up for not going in 04.

We are also breaking up the same ole, same ole, scenerio. I know they are both really excited about cruising for the 1st time, although I think my son is still thinking about the FOOD. LOL!

 

[WhispyPixie]

Princess that is AWESOME!! Keep up the family memories....

Pirate Mickey ( the DH) and I have tried over and over to try to identify what it is that makes our WDW trips so special and this is what he came up with. WDW is a fantastic place to give your family "shared experiences". Shared experiences that make memories that no one will forget. Disney is just a GREAT venue to do it!

Thinking about the almost 18 year old, reminds me of something he told me last week. "Hey mom, I wanna be Duck Dodger again in that little space car, in front of Space Mountain!!!" He was referring to a silly, " I am so hyped up due to no sleep, bouncing energy ball", shared experience that he had when he was 12. He got in that silly space thing and acted like a complete goof, while the rest of the family, laughed with him. (I am sure anyone else watching would thing he had lost his brain) But to him and the rest of us, it was funny and will never be forgotten. So what does the almost 18 year old want to do??? Do it again.. Got to love kids! They are great!

 

[TCKK]

My 12 year old says WDW is "sweet". This is what she likes.
Haunted Mansion
Rock-N-Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror
Swiss Family Robinson Tree House
Indiana Jones Show at MGM
All the 3-D movies
She says just in general it's a fun place to go with your family because it has fun stuff for all ages. Not to mention great food!!

My 9 year old says WDW is "hot". This is what she likes.
Rock-N-Roller Coaster
Pirates of the Carribean
Tea Cups
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash Mountain
Safari Ride at AK
Kali River Rapids at AK

Plus what about all the great stuff at EPCOT.

You're never too old for WDW!!!! Hope this helps your son.

 

[WhispyPixie]

I just love kids terms....HOT and SWEET!!!

 

[te2077]

have you done disney quest??? my brother (will be 12 when we go) cant wait to go to disney quest....

 

[laurabelle]

Originally posted by mad4themouse
There's an age when Disney just isn't cool. It runs from about 2nd grade to 5th grade. The great thing is that they do outgrow it.

Thank goodness my kids missed hearing that!
They've always thought it was cool and their classmates bug their parents to go because my kids get to go so often!
I asked my oldest(5th grader) if she's still gonna think WDW is cool when she's a teen, and she looked at me like I had 3 heads, so I think we're a Disney family for life! They even talk about Disney weddings...poor hubby!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

im 19, alomst 20 and i love disney! my brother is almost 18 and loves disney too..dont think were ever gonna grow out of it

 

[laurabelle]

Originally posted by Blueeyes101817
im 19, alomst 20 and i love disney! my brother is almost 18 and loves disney too..dont think were ever gonna grow out of it

I hope you don't, I sure haven't and I didn't even start until I was 35!

 

[Planogirl]

My 5th grader has been dealing with a little bit of this. Apparently he and his friends talk a lot about Universal and less so about WDW even though certain things at WDW are still considered cool. DS still likes Disney but he doesn't want everyone to know it. He even tells me that he'll wear a Disney shirt but only at WDW and I also can't tell anyone.

Oh well, I think that a lot of boys have a worse problem with this than most girls.