I'm curious...what leads you to believe that DVC members lack culture, as you put it, and only take their children to WDW?
When I read that statement yesterday the first thing that came to mind.......(and some will not like what I'm going to say. Sorry if this is tough for some to read.)
Hall of Presidents is never going to be the same as.....a long weekend in Washington, DC. for example. Smithsonian alone should be a must-do for any child....then add tours of the US Capital, White House (schools can still arrange these).....Monuments....Lincoln,Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, WWII, Viet Nam, Korea...the list is endless. Stop and see the VERY FLAG that Frances Scott Key struggled to see that night in Baltimore Harbor onboard that British Man O War. He wrote the lyrics to our national anthum....inspired by the flag you can now stand 5 feet from. Go one floor up....you can visit the First Ladies Gowns.....music......industry.....history....aviation......Smithsonian is endless and has somethng for everyone.
A few years ago we were visiting Gettysburg (another place every child should visit......the future of our union changed in those 3 days). By the way, FABULOUS new museum there. We wondered if children still "got it" or if parents even CARED enough to expand the minds of their children. On the 20th Maine's momument, we found pine branches wrapped in a ribbon which had a school name. Once home, I called the school. Each year the 5th grade class studies American History and specifically, the civil war. They take a field trip to Gettysburg in the Spring.....walk picketts charge, do the battlefield tour. They carry native pine from Maine and these ribbons..and find each monument to Maine and the graves of each soldier who fell during the battle....from Maine. The students leave these small memorials on each place. Gave me chills.....some children DO get it because they are shown the importance of these important places.
Visit a national park.....show them Yosemite, Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. Share the spendors of beautiful Acadia - where the sunlight kisses the east coast for the first time each day - go whalewatcing....or pretty little Shenandoah National Park, or immerse yourself in the history of Williamsburg. Take them to Newport, RI, go sailing and visit Marble House or the Breakers, Boston.....the Consitution...the oldest commissioned ship in the US....Montpieler, Monticello or George Washington's beloved Mount Vernon. Get the idea.......sooooooooo much else to share.
...and I don't buy "my children would never still for something educational". It's our responsibility to expand their thinking. This will make them far more interesting adults.
Flame me if you must.....we are responsible to expand the knowledge and experiences of our children. Hall of Presidents or World Showcase
should never be the exclusive resourse for expanding a child's mind. They will never be a substitute for the thrill of seeing these places in person.
I think the original thought was.......sure WDW is ok to visit .... but children should ALSO be exposed to sooooooo much more....because there is sooooooo many more thrilling things to do than just space mountain alone each and every year.
Ok, PS.......for parents who DO this already....BRAVO. Your children will thank you for this as adults.