Why Disney????

[javamoma]

Let me preface this question by saying I love disney and have been to WDW many times and am taking my 2 yo this fall. But why do you think so many people have a strong desire to bring their children to WDW? Especially those like me bringing a preschooler who has not begged for years to be taken?
I am so anxious to expose her to the magic I experienced there as a child.
Just wondering if there are any other thoughts on the subject???

 

[Ellester]

I am so anxious to expose her to the magic I experienced there as a child.

Bingo! You have my answer right there.

 

[Babboo]

I am so anxious to expose her to the magic I experienced there as a child.

I think Ellester is right - you pretty much answered your own question.

I also think that in today's world there are far too many things we don't want our children exposed to. It's nice to have a place that is a little safer - a little cleaner - and is very much a piece of what we grew up with. In a way we get to share a part of our youth and for that moment we can connect with our children and say "when I was your age I met this magic too". Then we can show them we still have a piece of that magic in our hearts.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

It's just such a magical place to bring your kid. You want a safe environment where the family can just be together. Disney gives you all that and the magic of being a princess and making your dreams come true.

 

[Doc CW]

Its the perfect family place, there is always something to do with your family.

 

[marybrat]

There are so many reasons. Magic Kingdom...It's amazing to see Main Street through my kids' eyes. Watching them look up the street towards the castle. And then reminding us that they will NEED ice cream at the ice cream parlor on the way out. Epcot... I watched my DD (now 10) try to catch the lights in the sidewalk at Epcot and then I watched my DS now 7) do the same. Every time we pass those lights they ask me to tell them how they used to play with the lights. MGM... watching my DS stand in awe as his hero, Buzz Lightyear, approached him and my DD taking little brother's hand so he would give Buzz five. Animal Kingdom... stopping to take a break, Mickey ice cream bars dripping down the kids' arms, chocolate everywhere.

Not to mention of course... I would miss them like crazy if we left them home!!
Everything is better in Disney World!

 

[maxtomsmom]

Unlike other wonderful places to visit, WDW allows you to be a kid again. We get to share the magic with our children, act like kids ourselves and relive precious moments from our youth. Not many places can do this. Plus there is sooooo much to do and see that it appeals to most people.

 

[vancesmom]

Read my signature. It's the one place in the world that you can take your child and not worry about the rest of the world for a moment. A place to share dreams. A place to relate to your child at a level that isn't possible at home. It's magic! And those of us who have been as a child... we know the magic carries with us for the rest of our lives. What a wonderful gift to give your child.

 

[vancesmom]

"I first went to Walt Disney World as a child. When I was grown, I worried that I was too old for Disney. But then I realized that Disney World is the one place where I can always be a child. It’s a place of innocence and wonder - where dreams DO come true. It’s a place where princesses dream, cats scheme, pirates row, and mice sew. It’s unapologetically silly, and unbelievably wonderful. The real world, with all of its troubles and woes, doesn’t exist at Disney. The very essence of Disney World is magical, but somehow familiar. It’s a place where everyone fits in and feels welcome – like the childhood home we all remember or wish we remember. It’s like Walt Disney tapped into the unconscious wishes of every child and child-at-heart adult and created a place for us. A place where we can treasure the past and dream of the future -that’s Disney World – how could you not love it?”

 

[Cruz91]

"I first went to Walt Disney World as a child. When I was grown, I worried that I was too old for Disney. But then I realized that Disney World is the one place where I can always be a child. It’s a place of innocence and wonder - where dreams DO come true. It’s a place where princesses dream, cats scheme, pirates row, and mice sew. It’s unapologetically silly, and unbelievably wonderful. The real world, with all of its troubles and woes, doesn’t exist at Disney. The very essence of Disney World is magical, but somehow familiar. It’s a place where everyone fits in and feels welcome – like the childhood home we all remember or wish we remember. It’s like Walt Disney tapped into the unconscious wishes of every child and child-at-heart adult and created a place for us. A place where we can treasure the past and dream of the future -that’s Disney World – how could you not love it?”

In the 'real' world, rude is the rule rather than the exception. In the 'real' world, I'd complain about paying $4 for a bottle of water. In the 'real' world, we're all surrounded by stress and drama and distractions that are constantly pulling our attention away from all that really matters. Of all the 'magic' that happens at Disney, the most 'magical' part is how it never crosses my mind to give my children anything but my complete, undivided attention. I don't care who's playing in the big game this weekend when I'm there. I don't care what deadlines are looming at work. All I care about is seeing them smile. I could live forever off of the feeling I get when I'm holding my DD5, a rare occasion anywhere / anytime other than Disney, and her arms are wrapped in a bear hug around my neck, squeezing almost too tight, cheek against mine as we sing together while watching Wishes. Or when my DS3 (the definition of a mommy's boy) grabs me and drags me as fast as his little feet will carry him from the exit of Buzz Lightyear directly past the encarcerated Zurg and straight back into the end of the line to ride again. Why Disney? Why anyone would ask that question escapes me. Why leave? would be more appropriate.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Its just a feeling and a state of mind. When something feels that good and can make a grown man or woman feel like a kid again, how could you NOT want to share that. Its like a legal drug!

 

[hebbynan]

DH and I have been to the world in the past on our own. This allowed us to do all of the things that WE wanted to do and see (i.e roller coasters, PI, etc). It was a wonderful experience to be able to be big kids again! We had a wonderful time. This October we are taking DS3 and DS7 with us. I think we're even more excited than when we went alone. To be able to see WDW through the eyes of a child, must be one of the most amazing things ever. Things that we take for granted like a person in a costume, actually becomes the real character. The same with things like Pirates of the Carribean. You're not just on a ride; all of sudden you are in a boat sailing the Carribean. In todays world, we adults too often loose sight of the wonderment of the world and the little things that we take for granted. DH and I know that the boys will love it (they don't know yet) and we have a feeling that our solo trip days might just be over!!

A perfect non-Disney example of this: I saw the new Harry Potter movie before deciding if DS7 should see it. We then took DS7 to the IMAX version. When the 3D scenes started, DS grabbed ahold of his chair arms and very loudly said, "WHOA!! Harry's coming right at me! This is just awesome!". It was at that point that I realized just how special the 'eyes of a child' really are!!

 

[ToInfinity]

Unlike other wonderful places to visit, WDW allows you to be a kid again. We get to share the magic with our children, act like kids ourselves and relive precious moments from our youth. Not many places can do this. Plus there is sooooo much to do and see that it appeals to most people.

I love watching my kids' faces when walking around Disney. Their eyes light up with excitement with every turn. Their excitement sure does rub off on me. It makes me feel like a kid again. It helps me to see Disney World for the first time, again and again!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

For me, it's a little different. I was never fortunate enough to go to WDW as a child. So when it was my children's first trip, it was mine too, and DH's too! We all got to experience it together. And it was as wonderful as I always dreamed it would be! Disney is one place where your expectations will always be met and you can never be disappointed. Now we can't think of anywhere else to vacation that would ever be as great!

 

[bjscheel]

Not only the magic, but it's also convenient how you are transported from the airport to your hotel, and hotel to attractions...DH drives a semi every day and doesn't particularly want to drive in a strange place on his vacation.

Everything is right there- you don't have to go hunting for things to do. It is truly the whole package. Other vacations you have to figure out activities and locate them. Or, if you vacation like my SIL, they do a Jamaica package every year. And every year all of their pictures are of them at the pool. I don't think they do anything else. Fine for them, but WDW is so much more!

 

[kelscross]

Where else do you see your child completely speechless when she sees Tinkerbell come out of the castle, then whisper "wow she is real". Where else do you go to the restroom on a private island and on the way out find yourself in a conga line with a mouse? Where else can a little girl go, dressed in her finery and be greeted with a bow and a "hello princess".

Being a single mom, I have to do it all alone. I'm the cook, the maid, the one working, the cheer coach, the taxi service, the member of the PTA and so on. When we are at Disney I have to do none of the above... just enjoy being with my children.

It is a place to be a kid again, because all the stresses of regular life are hidden away. In the real world if I told someone that I waved at a mouse and danced with chipmunks I'd get locked away in a mental institution...lol

 

[SDFgirl]

This thread has my eyes tearing up just reading it...

I "grew up" on Disney and am still so enchanted by it. DH is not quite as enamoured with Disney as I am. I really, really hope that he'll be hooked once he sees the magic reflected in our children's eyes!

I went to WDW with some girlfriends several years ago. After park closing one night, we were on the bus heading back to ASMu. Everyone on the bus had that eyes-drooping, pleasantly tired, dreamy look on their faces. You could just tell everyone was happy and content. This little girl across the aisle from us was leaning on her mom's shoulder. Suddenly she sighed, took her mom's hand, and said, "Oh Mommy, isn't it all just so wonderful?!?"

I never forgot that moment. It sums up Disney for me. I simply can't wait to give this baby a piece of the "wonderful-ness!!"

 

[Golden Rose]

We're taking a two year old this fall, too, and for us, it was all about finding a place to go that we could all enjoy as a family. This will a three generation vacation, and we really thought about where could we go where we would all have a wonderful time.

I'm the only huge Disney fan in the family (so far), although my DH and DM both enjoy WDW well enough. I will say, they are both really looking forward to seeing DS experience something he'll almost certainly adore.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

There's no place like Disney!

 

[Atchley]

I never experienced the "magic" as a child (went when I was 2 but don't remember a thing) and I always wanted to. That said, I want my children to experience because I couldn't. DH experienced WDW many times as a child. I guess he wants them to experience same things he did. (Although the whole time we are in MK he'll say things like--20,000 Leagues under the sea was great. They shouldn't have got rid of it. Mr. Toad's wild ride being closed for a Winnie the Pooh ride! Several others but I just can't think right now.)