hey mamas! i knoooww... as soon as we get there he'll be fine.
and normally he is pretty gracious, for a 6 year old. (if he gets presents he doesn't like, for example. he did great at christmas)
BUT this is DISNEY. and our whoooooole family will be going. we will drive 18 hours to meet up with family, then another 9 hours after that to get to Orlando- plus the whole week there. SO. i just know at some point he's going to pull out the "*sigh* i'm not really interested" card - which he has already said once or twice when i was "feeling him out" ("i think disney world would be fun! don't you think so!?"- he ACTUALLY said *gasp*!! "eh, i don't think i really want to go to disney world mom". i know. broke my heart!!)
for a kid that doesn't like disney movies that much (yes, he's weird. he is MUCH more into Transformers, Harry Potter, Spiderman, Star Wars) - doesn't like princesses, doesn't like the Toy Story movies or the Cars movies - what can we focus on to get him jazzed about Walt Disney World? (no, he's not the stick-in-the-mud that he sounds like here lol) we will be going to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom for sure - maybe Universal or something, not sure. but i definitely want him to be excited about doing DISNEY in general!
i haven't been since i was 5 and can't remember a thing about it. those who have been there- help! also, where can i go to show him what "cool" stuff, up HIS alley, he will find?
i really want to get him on board before we are around 20 members of our family (did i mention it's my inlaws - i really don't want him to have a bad attitude, they only see him every couple of years!)
thanks ladies! maybe i should have put a "JFF" tag on this one - i'm really not "sweating" it all THAT much - i had casually mentioned it to see what his reaction would be, and it wasn't great. and he won't EVER watch the disney movies with me - i've only seen "Tangled" like twice *sigh*...lol. anyway, i love the idea of just calling it an amusement park, and playing up the roller coasters and rides. he's had enough experience to know how fun that will be. i don't think it will be a huge drama, but was just looking for some tips on how to steer him if i need to. downplay- definitely.
we see the family so rarely i just don't want him to put a damper on things or hurt their feelings - they are SO excited to be taking him TO DISNEY lol. it's really the trip of a lifetime for us so i want him to be excited...but i will get it if he's not. once we get there, it'll change.
mamazita, we've actually done this trip a couple times. two years ago (when he was 4 1/2) we did sea world and we all had a blast. he did the 18 hour trip at age 2 and it was wonderful. we can't wait! thanks again everyone!
I suggest that there is no way that he can even imagine what Disney will be like. I'd stop trying to get him on board. The more you talk with him the deeper entrenched he'll be about not wanting to be there which will make it harder for him to accept it. I'd just tell him, we're going and let the matter drop.
Yeah, it's Disney (I'm not a fan either). But it is rides and treats and shows. Emphasize the activities, not the characters.
I didn't bother to read all of the responses you have gotten so far, just a couple near the top. Really, I think you can make his reaction (before you get there) worse by talking about it being "Disney". Don't. Just refer to it as an amusement park. Because really, for a kid not into Disney, that is really what it is. And no different than any other, EXCEPT for the fact that it is over the top better than any other one he has probably ever been to. :)
In my experience, it usually works best to underplay your hand. Don't talk it up too much, or it won't live up to expectations, ya know?
Just focus on being with all the family (he has cousins whose company he enjoys I presume?), and going to a cool amusement park with fun rides and a neat parade after dark. And fireworks when the park closes at night. And leave it at that.
Everything DVMMOM mentioned about the rides at magic kingdom is spot on though. Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain---those things don't really have nor need any "tie in" to movies. They are roller coasters! And Buzz Lightyear has nothing to do with the Toy Story movies except as set props. It is basically a slow child roller coaster where you shoot laser tag targets along the route.
He'll love it.
Eh, I wouldn't worry about it. There is so much stuff at Disney World that is fun and doesn't necessarily center on the characters, the movies/storylines, etc. Obviously what he will be able to go on will depend on his size, but my stepson was able to go on most stuff when he was 6 and he was on the small side.
Magic Kingdom - Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain (which does use characters from Song of the South but so few kids these days have seen the movie I doubt it would matter), Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion...plus some of the smaller attractions like Astro Orbiter and Tomorrowland Speedway. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is really fun, even if you are not a Buzz Lightyear fan.
Animal Kingdom - Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, Kiliminjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids
Hollywood Studios - Tower of Terror, Rockin' Roller Coaster, Star Tours, Indiana Jones, the stunt show...also Toy Story Mania, even though it has characters from Toy Story, is a blast!
EPCOT - GM Test Track, Mission Space, Soarin'
There are the Universal parks as well, with Harry Potter and all the rest.
I think sometimes Disney is just one of those things that's hard for kids at that age to totally wrap their heads around. If he's not crazy about the movies, he may think that's what its all about, and of course that's not true. You can try going on the Disney website and showing him the different attractions, I think there is a DVD you can send away for as well. Or you could just not say anything until you actually get there. I certainly would not worry about him having a bad attitude in front of your family - I mean, you can't control how he reacts to things and Disney can be overwhelming and tiring. Be sure to take a break in the middle of the day to head back for some rest and swimming in the pool.
For what it's worth, a friend of mine once planned a family trip to Jamaica. When she first asked her son if he wanted to go on a trip to Jamaica, his reaction was NO - because he really had no idea what it all meant. So she was all worried about him, because they were going anyway, but I just told her, look, he really has no idea what he is talking about, because he couldn't possibly realize how awesome it would be to take a trip there. He was 9 years old and had absolutely no perspective, like a teenager or adult would. They ended up still going and he had a great time!
ETA: "Unofficial Guide to Disney World" is a must! There is also an "Unofficial Guide to Disney World With Kids" too!
Have you told him there's a Star Wars area at Disney? He can meet Darth Vader and go to Jedi training?
ETA:
Also, is he into pirates? They have pirate stuff there, too. I highly recommend www.epbot.com, she's a geek girl who goes to disney all the time and takes pictures and posts interesting bits on her website.
Has he ever been to an amusement park? Does he know about the rides? I would think the draw of fun and exciting rides would be enough to entice him even if he is not particularly into Disney.
Star Tours
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
All the roller coasters (Matterhorn, Space & Thunder Mountains)
Indiana Jones
Autopia
None of those are Disney-esque and they are all fun and exciting.
Anyway, those are all at Disneyland (I have never been to Disney World) but I think they pretty much have the same rides. There is so much to do at Disney World that is not Disneyish at all.
Don't try to "prep" him. Just go and have fun. A kid doesn't need to be a "Disney" kid to have fun at Disneyworld/land. And trying to get a six year old "on board" with something they know nothing about? You're setting yourself up for disappointment.
I'd be more concerned about all the hours in the car, YIKES! Have you done the math? With the cost of gas it may be cheaper to fly. I would at least check into it!
We are here at Disney World as we speak.. Epcot, animal kingdom...
The rides at Disney World are great... Even if they are usually named after characters or movies...Star Wars...is there...
We went to Universal today.. Did the World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, marvel characters..., tomorrow we go back to the other park, despicable Me, Simpsons.... There is lots there also..
Kids are in the pool every time we walk past each of the pools..
He will get here and have a great time.
Does he like fireworks? Tell him about the great shows.
Does he like swimming? Tell him about the giant pool at the resort/condo.
Sounds like his likes action movies. Tell him about the stunt show at MGM.
Will he be seeing a favorite relative that he doesn't see on a normal basis? Remind him that "Uncle Eddie" is going.
Don't worry about a thing ! We went in May and there was no talk of Disney movies. We went on the rides and had a blast !!!
The more you ask him, I think he will have an attitude. Just tell him that you are going on vacation soon. Leave it at that !
He's 6. I was thrilled to go to an amusement pk at 6...
Honestly-Its just not someplace that you can imagine. In his mind he is not able to see the wonder that is Disney. There is just no way to explain it -you just have to experience it. So I wouldn't worry too much. Once he gets there he will love it. Its just so much more than the 'characters' that its built around. Ex-while he may not like Buzz Lightyear I doubt a kid alive wouldn't like the cool Buzz ride.
Also, there is Star Wars at Hollywood Studios that he would like and Harry Potter and Spiderman over at Universal.
The only time I have heard of kids really disliking it is when they go in the heat of summer and have to wait in long lines. If this is when you are going I would study up and make great plans.
I would start with Animal Kingdom ... but honestly, after a little while I think he will be "drinking the Magic Kingdom Kool-Aide" if you get my drift.
Let him be dissapointed for now then let him light up as the magic sinks in.
I would visit Disney's Hollywood Studios if he likes Star Wars. They have a Star Wars ride there he would like, also the Raiders of the lost Ark live show, the back lot tour and much more that is not just about Disney’s characters. I am sure he would like Animal Kingdom and if you can go to Universal for one day (Islands of Adventure), that’s where they have Harry Potter and DC comic characters (Spiderman, X-men, etc.).
Check out Disney’s website and look at each different park. You will find descriptions of each ride and maybe something will interest him. You can also check out SeaWorld or Legoland (30 or so minutes from Disney parks).
I would tell him if he can "tough it out at Disney", then you will make a day and take him to Universal. sounds like his interests are there more so than Disney. We just went in October and did a day at Disney, and a day at Universal, and had soooo much more fun at Universal. I think next time we'll skip Disney and just do 2 days at Universal!! Either way, have fun!!
Hollywood studios has Star Wars ride. Epcot has Soarin, Test Tract. There are so many "non Disney" things to do. I have never met a kid who does not like Disney.
what an awesome kid!
but he'll have fun once he's there.
:) khairete
S.
