Kids and Shows

[YodaGirl]

We're planning a trip to WDW next year. My daughter will be 2 1/2 yrs old at that point.

I know all kids have various attention spans, but do you think that children that age may be bored with things such as The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast Live!, Muppets 3D, etc?

The last time we went, our niece (5yrs old) was with us. She LOVES the Little Mermaid, but was getting really restless in VoftLM and Muppets. We didn't do BatB. She did like Mickey's Philharmagic, though.

I know that they're geared towards children, but was just curious how young, pre-schoolers would do. Anyone have any experiences?

 

[maggiegrace1]

My daughter Maggie will be 3 in August and we took her in March of this year and the only show that she did good in was Playhouse Disney at the studios..and I think it was because she could stand up and dance and participate.

She did not do good in most of the other shows because she likes to move at all times and would get restless and want to run and talk and if I would have tried to make her sit still then she would have ruined the shows for others.

We just took turns doing the shows we wanted to do while the other stayed out with her.

It was really no big deal for us and she loved the rides and characters..though she was also once again impatient waiting in lie to see the characters because she would see them and have the need to run up to them right away..regardless of whose turn it was..LOL

Really depends on your child though, Maggie is nonstop, always moving and we knew that and were prepared for it.

Good Luck and you will have a great time even if you can not see some shows..

 

[eagles]

i took my grandaughter at 2 1/2 and volm was closed, but batb, fotlk, playhouse and stage shows, all held her attention. she enjoyed all but one show, at ak the flights of wonder show, that did nothing for her at all, so she was fidgity there.

i think you should go and see how she reacts. good luck.

 

[Coree]

It absolutely depends on the child and eagles advice to just take her into a show and see how she does is really the best. We took my 2 1/2-year-old DD in November and she was a kid that was scared of absolutely everything--including the shows. We tried a few and she just didn't like being in the theater with all the people and really didn't like when it got dark. The only one we even came close to making it through was BatB because it's an open air-type theater and we could sit way in the back where she wasn't surrounded by people. She still got scared during a few parts, but we could just walk with her around the back of amphitheater until the part ended and then she'd watch again.

 

[YodaGirl]

Thanks everyone!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Take her and find out BUT be ready to leave if she starts to get restless to the annoyance of others

 

[YodaGirl]

Take her and find out BUT be ready to leave if she starts to get restless to the annoyance of others

My parents found that out the hard way when they took my brother to Disney the first time. He was 11 months, and my dad spent the show time at CBJ in the hall where you exit out...

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

My parents found that out the hard way when they took my brother to Disney the first time. He was 11 months, and my dad spent the show time at CBJ in the hall where you exit out...

Well at least he did the decent thing :sohappy: - many would have sat through it with an infant spoiling the fun for everyone else

 

[KC82271]

My DD has been there at 10mos, 22 mos, 29 mos and most recently at 34 months. Not once have I been about to get her to sit through Little Mermaid - I think it's the dark. We haven't tried B&tB yet. She screamed as soon as we walked into Nemo on the 29 mos trip. I thought she would love Playhouse Disney - she sat through it at 10mos because she really didn't know any better - but leaves halfway through since then.

My advice is give it a try - and always sit by an exit - so you don't disturb the rest of the people in the theater as you try to leave. I have gotten very used to doing it!

 

[SAV]

My DS was 2.5yo during last years trip and the only show we had a problem with was It's A Bug's Life. It was a little too intense and we had to take him out.

 

[mickeymatt]

I agree with most that it depends on the child. When we went with my 3.5 year old daughter in may she loved the shows. Voyage of the little mermaid is a little boring IMO but my daughter sat through it fine. She LOVED Philharmagic, Monsters Inc., and especially storytime with Belle (don't miss that). Overall she will enjoy the shows.

 

[SnowWhiteMomma]

Yep, it depends on the child. While, my daughter's first trip has not happened yet, I anticipate she will enjoy them. My basis for that statement is that she does really well in movie theaters, as well as community plays. She will sit through an entire movie or play with no problems.

We shall see.

 

[clee687]

Our son was 20 months on his first trip and would not sit still for any shows. I think he just could not sit still at all. We couldn't do shows, parades or fireworks. He barely ate the whole week because he didn't have time to stop. Before the trip we would watch our 100 years of magic DVD and he loved the CBJ but in real life, we went in, we sat down, he said "DONE", we got up, we left. He turned 3 during his 2nd trip and did much better! He was a little shook up by the bugs but never really fussed. It is a good idea to remember to go all the way across the theater when you enter until you see how things will go. We forgot this and had to say the 3000 "excuse me's" on the way out . I felt so bad!!

 

[mouselvrmom]

My youngest is 4 years old. we started taking her at 11 months. She has always sat through all the shows. So I guess it really just depends on the child. She is pretty mesmerized by anything disney. :lol:

 

[Brioli]

I know this is an old thread, but I felt the need to comment.

I've found with my children over the years, that when children are scared of certain things (rides, haunted houses, darkness, sleeping alone, etc..) they really don't want to be scared and it makes them feel bad about themselves inside. You know, like they can't do anything or can't do what others can do.

Some people may feel this is a bit harsh, but I'd always make my children go on rides while soothing them the whole way with reassurance, security, and love. Once they got through the ride, they were so proud of themselves that they are usually determined to go ride again just to show their bravery and how they weren't scared anymore. It gives them a feeling of success, strength, and pride which is very good for children and their future.

My children are now 10 and 6 and loved to ride everything! They are not afraid of anything and their self esteem is through the roof! They always have a great time, and my husband and I have a great time riding everything with them.

Help your children conquer their fears early in life, and not only will they have a better time riding rides and on vacation, but they will be more well rounded and successful adults when they grow up.

and...if you have one of those children who literally has a screaming/crying meltdown, it will be very difficult for you, but you must make them. Once they get through it, and realize, "Hey mom was right, I'm just fine and that wasn't so bad". Their trust in you and what you say will grow, and they won't be scared anymore. If you play into the meltdown, and say, "Ok honey, you don't have to go" you are reassuring your children they have a reason to be afraid and that is just not true.


The same things goes with trying new foods for the picky eater. I always made my children try at least on bite, and if they didn't like it that's fine they didn't have to eat it.... but I've found they usually did like it and were glad I made them taste it. Now they don't even second guess new foods, and try everything. They know it's important to at least try it, and I never have to say a thing.


My 2 EDUMACATED cents lol!

 

[Brioli]

and one more thing.....

It's important for us to teach our children about rational fears vs. irrational fears.

Rides, darkness, sleeping alone, and haunted houses are all irrational fears that inhibit our children from learning the difference in what they should and should not be afraid of.

Strangers, child molesters, cars, the street,etc... are rational fears that we need to coach our children on how to handle so that they don't get hurt or killed.

We need to help them learn what they really should and should not be afraid of.

Always teach this with encouragement, reassurance, and love and never with aggression or punishment.

This is an important thing for children and will impact their lives, positively, in ways you could never imagine.

 

[maggiegrace1]

I know this is an old thread, but I felt the need to comment.

I've found with my children over the years, that when children are scared of certain things (rides, haunted houses, darkness, sleeping alone, etc..) they really don't want to be scared and it makes them feel bad about themselves inside. You know, like they can't do anything or can't do what others can do.

Some people may feel this is a bit harsh, but I'd always make my children go on rides while soothing them the whole way with reassurance, security, and love. Once they got through the ride, they were so proud of themselves that they are usually determined to go ride again just to show their bravery and how they weren't scared anymore. It gives them a feeling of success, strength, and pride which is very good for children and their future.

My children are now 10 and 6 and loved to ride everything! They are not afraid of anything and their self esteem is through the roof! They always have a great time, and my husband and I have a great time riding everything with them.

Help your children conquer their fears early in life, and not only will they have a better time riding rides and on vacation, but they will be more well rounded and successful adults when they grow up.

and...if you have one of those children who literally has a screaming/crying meltdown, it will be very difficult for you, but you must make them. Once they get through it, and realize, "Hey mom was right, I'm just fine and that wasn't so bad". Their trust in you and what you say will grow, and they won't be scared anymore. If you play into the meltdown, and say, "Ok honey, you don't have to go" you are reassuring your children they have a reason to be afraid and that is not true.


The same things goes with trying new foods for the picky eater. I always make my children try at least on bite, and if they don't like it that's fine they don't have to eat it.... but I've found they usually do like it and are glad I made them taste it.


My 2 EDUCATED cents

The only problem with making a child who has a screaming meltdown go on a ride or sit through a show is that they may ruin it for other guests..No one wants to hear a screaming child throughout a ride or while in a show..:shrug:

 

[Brioli]

I agree with you on the shows and understand where you are coming from, but hopefully with a little consolation and love... you can get them to stop crying or being too loud.

Believe it or not, sometimes just telling them that the other guests can't hear will make them stop as long as you are holding them tight and reassuring them constantly (whispering). You just have to try what works for you, but there is always an answer or a way. Bribery in this case isn't too bad either...fear conquering is that important! Just don't make a habit out of bribery.

You will only need to do this a couple of times usually and they will grow to trust you and won't have meltdowns anymore either because when you say, "there is no reason to be afraid", they will believe you.

Whose more important your child and his/her feelings about themselves, or everyone else?

 

[maggiegrace1]

I agree with you on the shows and understand where you are coming from, but hopefully with a little consolation and love... you can get them to stop crying or being too loud.

Believe it or not, sometimes just telling them that the other guests can't hear will make them stop as long as you are holding them tight and reassuring them constantly (whispering). You just have to try what works for you, but there is always an answer or a way. Bribery in this case isn't too bad either...fear conquering is that important! Just don't make a habit out of bribery.

You will only need to do this a couple of times usually and they will grow to trust you and won't have meltdowns anymore either because when you say, "there is no reason to be afraid", they will believe you.

Whose more important your child and his/her feelings about themselves, or everyone else?

Well, not trying to argue with you but my daughter did not want to go in the Little Mermaid show at the studios because it was so dark...we tried and she cried and cried and all the love and consoling and treats,toys,anything would not stop her..so we left..she is way more important then anyone else but I think that leaving her screaming and crying so loud while others are trying to watch a show is unfair to her, us and everyone else.:shrug:

She trusts me when I tell her that there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark..but it still is somehwat scary for a 2 year old in a big, dark, loud place.

So, I took her out and we enjoyed the rest of our day...

She was the same way on Snow White and Winnie the Pooh so we did not ride it again that trip..the next year she loved them both...

In my opinion it is better to not do something that scares them and wait and try another time and they may like it then..and if they do not then we just do not do it..:shrug:

That is me putting her feelings first..why make her be scared or cry when there really is no need too.

Fear conquering is important..but it sometimes does not ever happen..I have always been and I still am at 36 years old scared to death of birds ..I will not go to an attraction where they fly around you or come near you and if one ever comes close to me I start to panic and cry..it is a fear and I will always fear them..

 

[Brioli]

Well you must do what you feel comfortable with, and it may be that the first year (when she was 2) she was too young to understand completely your reassuring words. Now that she is three, she knows what you are telling her. Every child is unique.

Encouraging irrational fear under any circumstances is very damaging to your child, and will limit their abilities and experiences as adults. In my personal opinion, and I hope you don't take this wrong or become offended, you aren't really putting what's best for her or her feelings first by doing that. You are validating to her that she has a reason to be fearful. She is too young to make her own decisions or understand her feelings in regards to that.

Kind of like...We force are kids to go to school, why? Well it's the law but we also know how important education is. Do they know that? No, of course not, but it is our responsibility to make them go anyway whether they like it or not.

They may hate you when their small for forcing them to go to school, but when they grow up they will be so thankful you made them. The same thing goes in this case .

I'm curious to know what happened to you that makes you so scared of birds if you don't mind sharing?..of course you don't have to if you don't want because that's your personal business and I do understand that.