Help, my DD didn't like Disneyworld! About This Page:

[Queen of Everything]

My DH and I were totally blindsided on our vacation (8/8/08-8/14/08) when our DD(7) told us "no thank you" to going to the parks. She was afraid of every ride that was a little bit dark. She liked the Indy Cars and It's A Small World but trying to get her to do anything at the other parks was like pulling teeth. She kept asking to leave whatever park we were at and go back to the hotel and swim. Anyone else experience this?

Amy

[caitdanmom]

Yes, my Ds when he was 4. The darkness of the rides really bothered him, s o we had to ask if there was any darkness in the rides.
He also does not like the heat and to wait in lines, we were in the magic kingdom on his birthday and he cried to go back to the hotel. I knowit was the walking and the heat.
Needless to say, by the time we went back the next time. he was fine.

[Disney 4ever]

It's the age! At that age, for most kids, swimming is the number one thing they want to do.

[DrDolphin]

My niece was like that last time she went - hated most rides. This time - she went on more - even Everest and RNRC and loved them - but I could not get her to ride Space Mountain or Tower of Terror. All I can say - is next time!!

[coffeechef]

Yep had one that was kind of like that... he complained about the heat and always wanted to go swim. But we were at Disney so I did the best I could to gear things to his needs with out spending all our time at the pool. PLus we found out he was afraid of heights on Dumbo. THe dark rides were not a problem because we started with the friendly ones like Winnie the pooh and indy speedway, IASW, Peter Pan. If you start with te really dark ones like Snowwhite or HM or Pirates... well you lose them they don't trust the next one won't scare them. It has taken him age and a few trips to get into more and more rides.... but he is not as keen on going as his brotheres are. Good luck in the future

[shellybelly72]

My lil' Caty~Bug was like that for a while- then last year she became the total opposite! She still won't ride TOT, but she loves expedition everest!
Lots can change at this age.. My 11 yo still won't ride any big rides-like TOT or aerosmith! He still loves Disney- the shows and food and the rest of the rides...

[Teresa]

Normal behaviour for that age. My step-son at 12 only wanted to swim!!

We've been in line for rides with kids who are crying "I don't wanna go! It's scary" and their parents will be yelling and pulling and saying the oft heard Disney mantra "I paid too darn much for us to be here for you not to ride and ruin everyone's vacation by crying!" Oh, so, so wrong. I'm sure you weren't doing that - but I am getting to a point :

In all of those situations, DH pulls a quarter out of his pocket - and I mean a plain old quarter - hands it to the kid - and says "Here. It's my majic quarter - it scares away all the stuff that frightens me, and makes it easy for me to go on the ride. I don't need it on this ride anymore, so you can have it." He has also handed a kid his sunglasses so the kid could "hide" from the ghosts in Haunted Mansion! (the parents were insisting the kid go, even though we told them about "baby swap") It worked.

I know it's too late for your DD, but she'll be okay. sometimes they just don't like those things. she'll grow into them later.

[lukeandbrookesmom]

I think it's perfectly normal There is soooooo much stimulation at the parks and a lot for a child to take in and I think a lot of a child's hidden personality traits tend to surface there. Like someone else posted - finding out he/she is afraid of heights, the dark, loud noises, etc. Things as a parent we maynot have realized and things the child may not have known themselves. I think most of the issues are grown out of over the next couple of years although some may never be, like being afraid of heights.

[RacHellEatWorld]

Idk, some kids just don't like Disney that much.

I don't see why, but some just don't enjoy going.

[disneynut98]

My last trip in December was DD and I for 4 days all we could ride were the tea cups,race cars and dumbo. She was at the front of a line screaming with big tears rolling down her face and a CM tried to give her a flash light and she still wouldn't do it. So this year DH and I are going on an "Adult Only" so that I can ride somes rides that I like this year.

[tkm1005]

Yes we have that issue. I think we like Disney more than our kids do. I don't know if its just because we have done Disney so much or if its just their ages, 3 & 5, but our last trip my DD5 didn't want to go. She wanted to stay home and go to her friends birthday party and when we were there the only thing she was really excited about was the playground at the resort. Fortunately we were tagging along on a business trip so we hadn't paid a bunch for the trip.

We are going again in Oct w MIL which I'm sort of dreading. She is so excited about going with the kids to Disney and I'm just hoping they will get excited too!

[Tonichelle]

not everyone is going to love Disney... I wouldn't force it...

but give it a few years and go again, she might surprise ya!

[B.M.]

I was disappointed on our recent trip that my DD7 complained a LOT. She actually loved the rides (including the thrill rides), but had zero tolerance for the heat and lines. I found that she was often redirected with ice cream or a cold drink. And My oldest Son (just shy of 11 at the time) did not care for hardly any rides! (he was scared on even some of the tame/baby type rides) But he still had a blast and begs to go back for the food and characters! My suggestion would be to try again when he's a little older, he may grow into some things.
** My kids also asked to go back to the hotel and swim a LOT! I was especially surprised because we have a pool at home and they swim practically everyday and yet they still wanted to spend as much time as possible in the pool!

[Tink and co.]

My son Jack (almost 10) still prefers swimming to any kind of ride. We don't force anything on him, but we plan swim time (at least for him) into every day. He'd be happy to check into Pop Century, swim and drink his weight in Frozen Coke without ever going to a park (except Blizzard Beach, which is his favorite). I wouldn't sweat it. There's so much to Disney other than rides.

[theJordans]

I remember waiting for the parade to start on our first visit 15 years ago and I overheard one mother say to another - the guide book says what the kids remember the most is the pool.
So I wouldn`t worry if I were you, I don`t think you`re alone!