Do children NEED to go to Disney???

[Tinkershelly]

Wow, this story starts out quite similar to mine. DH and I are taking my brother's kids (niece and nephew) to WDW in September. They have never been, in fact they haven't ever flown or been out of the country before, so their parents were hesitant. We had offered to take them a few years ago, but my brother said no for a variety of emotional reasons. We let it go at that and left the offer open for a few years in the future. Over the past three years we would take the kids to our house for a week's summer holiday. This worked out well for everyone. The parents were comfortable since we were only a 2 hour drive from their home and the kids loved being tourists in museums, parks and doing sports things. We got to develop a great relationship with them. They are great kids who have been raised to be respectful, so there isn't any problem taking them to restaurants or crowded places; they always behave and are polite.

Fast forward to last weekend, I emailed my sister in law that we would like to bring up the WDW issue again. She promised to try to soften up my brother. It worked, he agreed to let them go since we had proven that we could have a good time and be safe and healthy for a week at a time.

I am feeling great about our situation but I feel for you as well. I think that the best thing that you could do for yourselves and the kids now is to be the best aunt and uncle for them within the confines of what their parents will allow. Perhaps you could do what we were doing the past few years, taking them on local holidays away from their parents, but not far away. Long weekends are great ways of making the most of your time with them. Mini golf, bowling, beach days, themed restaurants are all good ideas without breaking the bank. The thing to remember is that you have an emotional responsibility to the kids, but the parents have the legal responsibility to do what they believe is right, regardless of what you or we think.

Good luck

Tink

 

[MommytoMJM]

I don't know about other kids, but for MJ with her particular disabilities and the way she has blossomed being able to go to Disney, we now consider her being able to go a need. That being said, my brother and I never went as kids and I don't think we are any worse for wear for it, but I am sure glad that we can make this a reality for MJ.

 

[KrazyKemp]

Of course, once you take the kids there once...

You know they'll want to go over, and over, and over...

Maybe he doesn't have the kind of income for multiple trips...

 

[Jenna]

I didn't make my first trip to WDW until I was 16, my 2 sisters were 9 and 4 and I have to say it was the best experience of our lives! We still talk about it every day and once a week we join together to watch the holiday videos we took! Disney isn't just great for the attractions but as the advert says
"where famillies can experience simply being family!"

I hope you can persuade your brother and perhaps get him to come along!

 

[lawyergirl77]

I dealt with not one BUT TWO fathers like this over the past few months. I got really depressed because I had been looking forward to the trip with them for over a year...

For one of them, we were going to be footing the bill for the entire family, but the trip fell through because father didn't want to run the risk of losing a construction contract... we would have been going for one week of the construction holiday - i.e. when construction sites suspend for two weeks!!

The other one, right when we were about to book, made a list of all of the things that needed to be done on the house (same list that he's had for two years) and said that they couldn't afford both and that "Disney will always be there". That one ticked me off the most because a) we had been planning this trip for so long; b) he has been planning to do these things for years and will likely not be doing them this year; c) his wife said "I guess he's being responsible" (note that he's basically unemployed and she makes a fabulous salary, but I digress). :hammer:

I got over it, but I've gotta tell you, something in my died when I realized (especially for the first family) that I wasn't going to get to see my sweetie hug Cinderella while she was still young enough to truly believe in Magic.

(Geez, this must be a Canadian thing!!! :lol: )

 

[MouseMadness]

Of course, once you take the kids there once...

You know they'll want to go over, and over, and over...

Maybe he doesn't have the kind of income for multiple trips...

Not many do. I am dying to get to Europe, and will probably want to go back once I've been there, but knowing it may be a one time deal would never stop me from going. You've got to experience things when you've got the chance.

 

[goofygal]

I think every child should get to go to one of the Disney parks at least once. But if every child had a wonderful person like you to take them again, the parents should get the **** out of the way! HE HE!

 

[Tinkershelly]

(Geez, this must be a Canadian thing!!! :lol: )

Hey, maybe we can get a Canada Council grant to study this. We can set up our office at the Poly:lol: .

Tink

 

[spoiledmarie]

I dealt with not one BUT TWO fathers like this over the past few months. I got really depressed because I had been looking forward to the trip with them for over a year...

For one of them, we were going to be footing the bill for the entire family, but the trip fell through because father didn't want to run the risk of losing a construction contract... we would have been going for one week of the construction holiday - i.e. when construction sites suspend for two weeks!!

The other one, right when we were about to book, made a list of all of the things that needed to be done on the house (same list that he's had for two years) and said that they couldn't afford both and that "Disney will always be there". That one ticked me off the most because a) we had been planning this trip for so long; b) he has been planning to do these things for years and will likely not be doing them this year; c) his wife said "I guess he's being responsible" (note that he's basically unemployed and she makes a fabulous salary, but I digress). :hammer:

I got over it, but I've gotta tell you, something in my died when I realized (especially for the first family) that I wasn't going to get to see my sweetie hug Cinderella while she was still young enough to truly believe in Magic.

(Geez, this must be a Canadian thing!!! :lol: )

I know I will get over it too,but like you said above, it really bothers me that I will not get to see their faces light up when they see mickey mouse and all of their other favorite characters while they are still young enough to beileve in the magic of disney. That is what hurts the most and that the only ones that are missing out is the children.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Of course kids don't NEED to go to WDW, just like he doesn't NEED to go to a football game. What he NEEDS is to be a dad, putting his kids first--always, and even at the sacrifice of his personal preferences. And his kids NEED to know that he feels that way about them.

:sohappy:

Perhaps if your two families went to WDW together your brother could see that life is all about FAMILIES having FUN TOGETHER

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Not all families want to have fun together, Captain Hook, unfortunately...YOu have to recall that the people on this forum are the priveleged folks who have been to Disney and love Disney (me included)...not the larger portion of the USA that has never been nor will ever get a chance to go to Disney.

In this case, the father allowed the kids to go once with them. That was enough for that family. You can't melt icebergs overnight, and in most instances when you do, all you get is a flood. Leave this one alone.