WWYD - Disney or Dance Recital?

[MushyMushy]

Disney would win for me, hands down!

I agree with the others who say that she'll still have her first recital. Next year. The younger ones ARE really cute on stage, even if they're just standing there crying with their fingers up their noses. But, you go through all this work and sit through hours and hours of endless dance routines just to watch your cutie on stage for 1-2 minutes. Bleh. (can you tell I hate recital time?)

Also, regarding the last minute scheduling, our studio was like that too. It wasn't their fault, but the way the school auditorium was. The auditorium couldn't be rented out to outside sources until the last minute. It drove us nuts.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Dance recital.
Disney will still be there at a later date (even if you have to pay child rates), but this is her first recital.

Rule of thumb....can't change recital date, can change WDW.
Also after all that hard work you will be happy to see your 3yo do the dance recital.... That is something you just can't "do-over".They grow up so fast.

 

[jcsbama]

Wow! Thanks everyone for all the help! Right now, we are still undecided. She has ballet tomorrow, so hopefully we'll decide by then. I got home last night and read the letter. DH recieved it when he dropped DD off at daycare yesterday. Apparently, he's not great at communicating to me what the letter actually said. The costumes are $45 and the recital fee is $10. Pictures will be made in late March (at a studio), so we can buy her the costume and she will be in the pictures. The recital is going to be held at our church. The ballet class has 2-5 year olds in it, but the 4 & 5 yr olds also take tap. I wouldn't think the recital would be that long.

My DH is leaning more towards rescheduling. He would rather go two weeks earlier. But, my problem with that is it is peak time. The rates would be higher, as well as more crowded. Plus, if she is going to be in the recital, then it wouldn't be fair for her to miss practice right before the recital. If we reschedule, I want it to be after the recital, but DH doesn't want to cough up the extra money.

 

[grinningghost]

Keep the Disney reservations. I think that your daughter will enjoy her trip to Disney much more than her recital, not to say that the recital isnt important. Go to Disney, and have a great time.

Yes - ITA!

 

[DawnCt1]

100% without a doubt - DISNEY!!! Don't give up on your trip. Go and have fun. She's 3 not 13! She sure as heck won't care. If I asked my DD which she'd prefer (she's 3 too) she'd pick Disney any day!! Go and have fun!! She can dance around the MK.

Shelby

I agree. I also think that these recitals are for the benefit of the dance studio and not necessarily the children.

 

[disneygals]

Mom to 3 dancers here....

hmmm...Disney or hours of waiting around for a 3 minute dance. I choose Disney.

If your child was older and cared, I'd say recital. Will the teacher be doing a run-through in class with costumes? You could still buy the costume and take pics of her in it. Plus, she'd love it for dress up.

 

[Jennifer S]

I would choose Disney too. My neice is in a recital every year. Boy is it long. She is in it for a couple of minutes and we sit there for three hours. Last time the teachers did most of the dancing. I agree it's kind of a benefit for the school.

She'll have plenty of recitals in the future. I'm surprised the school waited so long to tell you the date.

Imagine if you reschedule your trip and you spend all that money on the recital and then she won't do it. Three is kind of young.

 

[Alyssa88]

I had a friend who left for WDW every year either the night of the recital or the following morning. they did it celebrate the end of the dance/school year, and before our dance company started summer rehearsals and peformances. i was always so jealous. I loved my recitals (very exciting, b/c I used to be in ALOT and my Dad did the spotlights and helped set up) I would spend the enitre weekend at the auditorium between setting up, dress rehearsals, performance night (3-4 hours ), and just hanging out with my friends. It was great, but when it was over I had to wait an entire two-3 weeks for practices for the company to start up again. I used to think about how wonderful it must be to have that to look forward to. It would be very cool if you can change it by a couple of days but if not I say she is young enough not to care, just go to WDW.

 

[missypie]

My three kids take dance at a large studio; one DD is in company. The whole recital lasts 8+ hours. Everyone is free to come and go, but because of the number of dances my kid are in, we see all of the recital. To keep things interesting, the studio mixes things up...you might have class of 3 year olds right after a 17 yr. old's solo.

My kids and I LOVE to watch the tiny ones, because they're a riot. But in almost every group of tiny kids, there is at least one little child who stands there and doesn't move a muscle. One time there was a group with a little boy who sat on the floor and pulled the tape of the stage the entire time...he never even stood up! I always wonder how the parents of those kids feel....do they think it was money well spent for those dance classes?

I'm a bit worried that if your DD is one of those "stand still" kids, you and your husband may feel a bit of anger towards her....you mean I cancelled a trip to WDW for THIS???

Edited to add: I think that a lot of you are giving a WHOLE lot of credit to a 2 year old to even remember that there is/was a recital. I remember driving away with my (very bright) son after the last day of 3 year old preschool thinking, "He has NO idea that this is the last day." I really think that if you buy the costume and watch a rehearsal and get her picture taken and tell her that was the recital, a two year old will believe you.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Rule of thumb....can't change recital date, can change WDW.
Also after all that hard work you will be happy to see your 3yo do the dance recital.... That is something you just can't "do-over".They grow up so fast.

WDW will always be there. Go to the recital!

ETA: I changed my mind. Go to WDW instead!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

WDW will always be there. Go to the recital!

ETA: I changed my mind. Go to WDW instead!

Really do what you want OP...you know your dd best.