WWYD - Disney or Dance Recital?

[jcsbama]

I just booked our Disney trip last week for 04/27/07 - 05/05/07 and made all the dining reservations yesterday. Today we get the letter that DD's first dance recital will have practice on Apr 27th and the recital will be on the 28th. If it was any other year, I would just move the dates of our vacation. But, April 28th is my DD's 3rd birthday. By arriving on the 27th, we don't have to buy park tickets or pay for the dining plan. With work schedules, we can't really go the week before.

We will have to pay recital fees, costumes, etc. if she is in the recital. We have had so many family members tell us to let them know when the recital will be so they could come watch. With it being on her b'day, that would then require a birthday party at my house afterwards since everyone lives at least an hour away.

Please give me advice if I should keep the Disney reservations. After all, that was scheduled first and I had thought the recital would be in May. This is only her first recital. If she keeps dancing, there will be important recitals for her in the years ahead. On the other hand. This is her first recital. Isn't that supposed to be one of the those precious milestones? Not to mention all the family members that wanted to come watch this year.

I'm leaning towards keeping the disney reservations. I'm just disappointed that we won't get to see her dance. She takes ballet at her daycare, so we don't get to watch her practice every week.

 

[shirleyb]

Keep the Disney trip.

Next year will still be her first recital, it'll just be her second year of dance! Just be sure to let the instructors know now, so they can plan around her.

 

[wvrevy]

JMO, but I'd change the reservations. It's iffy, 'cause your DD may not really be old enough to understand yet, but she's going to be awfully upset when the other kids start getting excited about the recital and she's left out because she's not going to be there.

Disney's not going anywhere...but watching your 3yo in her first dance recital (and I'm speaking from experience) just isn't something that you get to do more than once.

If she was a little older, I'd lean MUCH more heavily towards rescheduling, but it may not be as big of a deal to her at 3.

Good luck!

 

[Hedy]

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.

 

[cryssi]

keep the ressies...

will she be terribly upset about not being in the recital?

 

[N&B'smom]

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

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I'd choose recital. At my dd's dance class last year, there was a little girl in her class who didn't have her parents at the recital. They were on a cruise and her grandmother was videotaping the event for them. I thought that was sad. Although that situation was a little different. But even so, I'd change my reservations.

 

[LJRJR]

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.

 

[Beth76]

You just have one daughter, the 3yo? Or is there an older daughter in the recital? No way would I cancel a trip for a newly 3-year-old's recital. I'm sorry, but while they might be very cute for the parents, 3yo recitals aren't very good and they only last a couple of minutes. At my neice's recital last year, one girl just sat on the stage and cried for the whole song.

ETA: You won't be missing her first recital. Her first recital will be next year (if you continue dance).

 

[jcsbama]

All of the responses are why I keep going back and forth. It shouldn't be this difficult.

 

[jcsbama]

You just have one daughter, the 3yo? Or is there an older daughter in the recital? No way would I cancel a trip for a newly 3-year-old's recital. I'm sorry, but while they might be very cute for the parents, 3yo recitals aren't very good and they only last a couple of minutes. At my neice's recital last year, one girl just sat on the stage and cried for the whole song.

Yes, we just have the one daughter. I do have a concern that Sydney would just stand there or cry. The only reason I have that concern is because I took her to school late one day that happened to be the day they have ballet. So, I stayed to watch. She froze up and wouldn't do anything. When the teacher asked if she wanted to show mommy a particular dance step, she came running to me and tears just started streaming. She cried so hard to the point I had to remove her from class because she was being too disruptive. It was all because I was there watching. She was embarrassed or something.

 

[HunnyPots]

Don't change your vacation because of the expectations of family members - they'll get over it! You'll make more memories for the whole family at WDW than you ever could at a 3 year old's dance recital. Chances are, you've been planning this trip for quite some time and the trip itself will last over a week; do you really want to trade that for a couple of minutes at a dance recital? Like you said, if she keeps dancing there will be plenty more recitals in the years to come. I'd go and not think twice about it.

 

[cepmom]

my first thought when I read the title was"reschedule the trip" until I read the rest of the post. I would keep the Disney trip. She is only 3 years old! She will have her "first" recital next year and will be just as cute, I promise!

My girls all dance and I wouldn't dream of missing their recitals....I am the nutty Mom that loves recital weekend when most other dance moms dread it. But if it were me and I only had one threee year old dancing in one or two, two minute routines, I keep the trip hands down.

If you do decide to keep the trip, definitely mention it to the dance teacher so she can plan the choreography around your DD.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I have a 3yo DD who takes dance too. I know its a difficult decision. I just made our June trip around DD's recital.

Its sad that they let you know at this late date, especially with it being in April. We knew back in November that DD"s recital would be in June. Does she understand enough to ask her what she would rather do?

I don't know what to tell you. This is actually DD's 2nd year dancing since she did a mommy and me last year. Last year, We bought the $70.00 dress, $10.00 program, $8.00 admission/per person and the $50.00 DVD. We can't tape the actual performance. She still talks about it and watches the DVD at least once a week.

We have a couple kids in DD's class this year who won't be in the recital because the parents can't or won't spend the money. I kind of feel bad because the kids and instructor are starting to talk about it and when they get the dresses its during class. Do they get the whole concept, I don't know. I can't offer any answers. I'm sorry. because I truely wouldn't know what to do either. Good Luck!

 

[F1Julie]

As a former dancer (age 3 through college) and a mom of a dancer, I'd do the recital. I wouldn't miss that for the world! Thinking back to my own childhood, I would have been mad if I missed a performance for a vacation that could have been rescheduled. Disney can wait a week.

 

[HunnyPots]

Yes, we just have the one daughter. I do have a concern that Sydney would just stand there or cry. The only reason I have that concern is because I took her to school late one day that happened to be the day they have ballet. So, I stayed to watch. She froze up and wouldn't do anything. When the teacher asked if she wanted to show mommy a particular dance step, she came running to me and tears just started streaming. She cried so hard to the point I had to remove her from class because she was being too disruptive. It was all because I was there watching. She was embarrassed or something.

I think you just answered your own question!
It really doesn't sound as though she's ready for a recital at this point. Why not give her another year before putting her (and you!) through the stress of performing?

 

[MAKmom]

If you do not do the recital you may be asked to leave the dance class. From now until the recital they will be practicing for it & your DD will not have a spot. The recital is a money maker for the school.

If you have other places to do dance next year I say go on the trip.

 

[missypie]

You've received enough advice (from both sides!), so I'll make a different point. Without coming across as a witch, tell the dance studio that parents need more than two month's notice of a recital. We found out our late May recital date in August of last year. Even that wasn't really early enough, because we'd already put down a large deposit on DD's 8th grade class trip which is at the same time. (DD will have to miss the trip because she is in Company at the studio.) Some recital venues book as much as two years out, so it is possible that the studio knew the date of the recital as soon as your DD started taking classes.

 

[jrmasm]

If you do not do the recital you may be asked to leave the dance class.

For 3 year olds? That's nuts.


Go on your trip.

 

[KristinBelle]

Since she's only two, go to Disney instead. If she were older I'd say to stay and do the recital but being she's only 2 I say skip it.