What to expect when traveling with older boys?

[SFMommy]

We will be traveling to the parks from Sept. 19 - 23 with my BIL and his 2 boys, ages 9 and 11. It is also me, DH and DD6. When we have gone just the 3 of us in the past, it has been very easy for me to plan because I know what we all enjoy doing. Our DD6 is very much a girlie girl. And her cousins are very much rough and tough boys.

I know that my nephews will want to do all the "mountains" and I am incorporating that into my plans. What I'm not sure about is if they will want to go on the smaller dark rides with us. For example, we usually hit PP and the other FL rides first on our MM day. Should I suggest that the boys come with us or send them off to Space, Matterhorn and Startours? I think that they will have enough time to fit it all in (4 day park hoppers from 9/19 - 9/22). So I'm tempted to have them come with us. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to go on Peter Pan. But I'm wondering if they will be bored on the FL rides.

What are your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Cielei]

I have 2 boys ages 9 and 10. They love the mountains the most; but they also enjoy all the other rides as well. Even though they may deny it, they love the chance to just be "little" kids and enjoy the magic. I think you could definitely just have them come with you.

 

[mouseymommy]

I have a DS10 and a 12 year old nephew, and I would have them do the FL rides with us once. Like the PP said, they like the faster rides best, but they still enjoy the FL rides.

 

[chrissiecutie]

My advice is to start in FL with everyone, especially on your 1st day. I would suggest starting with Peter Pan. It is SUPER busy as the day goes on so it's best to do 1st and it's honestly SO cool, everyone will love it! Pick a couple rides to do as a group and then ask the boys if they want to continue or go separate ways for awhile. If they choose to go separately, maybe make plans to meet back up for lunch??

I would only start the day this way ONCE. While older boys do like the FL rides and will probably tolerate them for awhile...they won't want to start every day here, kwim?

I would ask the boys what rides they are looking forward to? What do they want to do 1st?? So then on maybe the 2nd day, start with one of those and then perhaps take DD to Princess Faire while they continue on the larger rides. Just make plans to meet back up throughout the day for parades, meals, fireworks, certain rides, etc and I think everyone will be happy.

 

[PinkBudgie]

When our twin boys were around 12 or 13 we couldn't get them to go to FL because they thought they were too big for them. I started talking about how odd Snow White was because it goes from scary witch to happily ever after. So, once I said that, they wanted to see what I was talking about so they said they would go on just that one. After that, they thought maybe they would like to see how the others FL rides went. Like Toad goes to the HOT place! Maybe a few comments like that would get them to want to try it once.

My boys still like the mountains and screamin the best. The first place they go when park opens is Splash and they ride it over and over and over. Matterhorn is also a favorite which I don't get because it's so bumpy!

Oh, they probably won't want to see characters either. Mine never did and they still won't. If we had little cousins with us they probably would tolerate a picture. But never by themselves.

 

[Cielei]

My boys still like the mountains and screamin the best. The first place they go when park opens is Splash and they ride it over and over and over. Matterhorn is also a favorite which I don't get because it's so bumpy!

Oh, they probably won't want to see characters either. Mine never did and they still won't. If we had little cousins with us they probably would tolerate a picture. But never by themselves.

I must be lucky because mine will still pose with the characters for me, but they are definitely more the mountain man type. I try not to do splash repeatedly even though we all love it. If I make it off without having to go back to the hotel to change, I don't want to press my luck. While everyone else gets a few sprinkles, maybe even a little damp, I get completely miserably soaking wet.

 

[bumbershoot]

I try not to do splash repeatedly even though we all love it. If I make it off without having to go back to the hotel to change, I don't want to press my luck. While everyone else gets a few sprinkles, maybe even a little damp, I get completely miserably soaking wet.

Have you considered a poncho, or wearing "wicking" clothes for it?

DH and my brother once went on Splash and got soaked to the skin. DH was wearing all cotton and was wet the whole day. My brother was wearing one of his "technical" shirts from a marathon, those lightweight wicking shorts, sweat-wicking socks (and I don't know what was underneath and don't want to know), and he was dry inside of the hour. His shoes were still wet, but all you'd need to do is wear flipflops for the ride and put your other shoes in a plastic bag.

 

[TinkFreak988]

If your BIL is going, I would give them some alone options with their dad. Nothing is more miserable than forcing participation, says the lady who flew her 15 yr old home by himself from DLR because of his continued "I don't want to do that" attitude, leaving me with the other son, his friend and my DD there to enjoy three more days without the agony of miserable non participants.

Unless the boys are very accommodating to their cousin, some separate time may be a very good thing for all to continue to enjoy the together time...

Leaving options open gives them an out, and you some time with your DH and DD...

JMHO

 

[PinkBudgie]

I must be lucky because mine will still pose with the characters for me, but they are definitely more the mountain man type. I try not to do splash repeatedly even though we all love it. If I make it off without having to go back to the hotel to change, I don't want to press my luck. While everyone else gets a few sprinkles, maybe even a little damp, I get completely miserably soaking wet.

Yeah, that's me. The one who doesn't want to get wet, gets soaked to my skin! Notice I said THE BOYS go on it again and again. DH and I head for Peter Pan and some sort of FP for ST or SM while they get wet.

If your BIL is going, I would give them some alone options with their dad. Nothing is more miserable than forcing participation, says the lady who flew her 15 yr old home by himself from DLR because of his continued "I don't want to do that" attitude, leaving me with the other son, his friend and my DD there to enjoy three more days without the agony of miserable non participants.

Unless the boys are very accommodating to their cousin, some separate time may be a very good thing for all to continue to enjoy the together time...

Leaving options open gives them an out, and you some time with your DH and DD...

JMHO

It was after our visit when they were about 15 that I came up with the scanvenger hunt to get them to be in some photos. They got points for finding things and being in photos. There were levels of points and they got things like free snacks and less chores at home. Taking a picture with each character was 10 points and they could have easily had no dishes to do for two weeks but even that wouldn't get them to stand with a character. I guess they'd rather do dishes! I posted the scavenger hunt on here last year, I believe. Otherwise, they had a great time earning points!

 

[SFMommy]

Thanks everyone! They are great boys who are visiting us from Australia. Since we know the lay of the land and they might be a bit overwhelmed with their first visit to Disneyland, I think we'll spend our arrival afternoon on some of the "family rides" like POTC, HM, JC and also get them Fastpasses for Indy and Splash.

The next day is our MM and I think we'll all start out together in Fantasyland. But if they want to spin off from us after Peter Pan and a few of the others, they can hit Space and the Matterhorn without us. I'm sure we'll all do Autopia, Buzz and IASW together.

They love their little cousin and are so excited to go to Disneyland for the first time. I might even get them to pose with 1 or 2 characters with my DD6. But we are not planning on waiting in line for meet and greets or character dining this trip. My DD6 understands and she told me she would rather spend time with her big cousins than wait in line to meet a princess (again).

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[chrissiecutie]

Thanks everyone! They are great boys who are visiting us from Australia. Since we know the lay of the land and they might be a bit overwhelmed with their first visit to Disneyland, I think we'll spend our arrival afternoon on some of the "family rides" like POTC, HM, JC and also get them Fastpasses for Indy and Splash.

The next day is our MM and I think we'll all start out together in Fantasyland. But if they want to spin off from us after Peter Pan and a few of the others, they can hit Space and the Matterhorn without us. I'm sure we'll all do Autopia, Buzz and IASW together.

They love their little cousin and are so excited to go to Disneyland for the first time. I might even get them to pose with 1 or 2 characters with my DD6. But we are not planning on waiting in line for meet and greets or character dining this trip. My DD6 understands and she told me she would rather spend time with her big cousins than wait in line to meet a princess (again).

Thanks for all the advice!

SFMommy- You're going to have SO much fun!!

Have you thought about maybe after starting your day in FL with your MM, heading to Toontown? Since it opens 1 hour after park open, this would be 2 hours after your MM entry. So you would have plenty of time to do the FL rides and if you head straight to Mickey's House in TT, I bet you might be able to get the boys to pose with Mickey. The benefit of heading to TT as soon as it opens is that there's virtually NO line to see the characters. So I would imagine that this would probably be your best shot of getting a character photo of all of you. IMO, I would hate to have my family travel SO far and all come together and not get at least one pic with one character, kwim?? And who doesn't love Mickey, right?

From there, DD could play around in TT and visit all the other characters. They come out in the AM right around TT opening, so this is a great time to see them. And since the train stops right in TT, this would also give the boys easy access to go anywhere else in the park once you've all met Mickey. Just hop on the train at TT and off they go!

 

[SFMommy]

That is a good suggestion! I was going to skip Toontown this trip. But that would be a good day/time to hit it and I think the boys would like the 2 rides there too. Thanks for all the ideas!