My son doesn't wanna go :(

Beckariah

Beckariah

Member
UPDATE 12/26 - he LOVED the surprise and is very giddy about the trip :) He's going to do the planning with me and said he can't wait to see his sister's face when she meets Elsa :)
PHEW..................
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We are surprising the kids at Christmas with a Disney trip for Oct 2015.
My son, aged 8, has guessed the surprise (although we haven't confimred it) and has expressed that he doesn't want to go.

His father and I took him for his 5th birthday, the year prior to us splitting up. I was preggo with my youngest, now 3.5, and we want to take her while she's young enough to still believe.

We have asked him why he doesn't want to go and all he says is "it'll be boring".

Any suggestions on how we can change his mind? Friends of ours, and their kids (friends with my son) were supposed to come but they have bailed. There is always the possibility that they end up coming, but I don't want to tell him in case they don't.

We plan to show him the Disney planning dvd and explain all the fun he will have that he couldn't do when he was 5. I am hoping he will change his mind.......as I'd hate to make my kid go to Disney (even saying that sounds sooooo wrong!)

We *might* throw in the Cruise option - however we think he might find that boring; compared to the parks.

UGH.....so much for Mom being awesome and choosing Disney over her own Hawaiian get-away (kid-free lol)
 
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Jahona

Jahona

Well-Known Member
Can't remember how many times I went on vacation to places I didn't want to go to as a kid. Drag him along anyways I would have loved to go to Disney instead of vineyards....

When he gets their he will probably forget that he didn't want to go.
 
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ToTBellHop

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
Outside of strong arming him along, you could try getting him Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2015 For Kids, By Kids. Invite him to pick out things he thinks would be fun and involve him in the planning. There are fun things that he is likely tall enough for now that he wasn't when he was 5. Might he find a visit to Islands of Adventure appealing?
 
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Monty

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
I originally took my son when he was 5. He's now 19 and still loves to go. He never gets excited pre-trip and never wants to participate in any of the planning, but he has a wonderful time when we're there.

Every kid is different. If he ends up bored while you're there, change things up a bit and do other stuff. He's likely big enough for rides that wouldn't have been an option last time, highlight that.
 
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rsoxguy

rsoxguy

Well-Known Member
Hello Beckariah. We do not know each other, and I am certainly not familiar with your young son's mental or emotional disposition, so I ask that you please tolerate an alternative guess as to the nature of your situation. It may be possible that your son relates any future trip to WDW as a bad experience because his last trip there was a Mom and Dad pre divorce trip. His excuse regarding boredom may be his way of avoiding a place that brings back memories of a time when his parents were still together, and the three of you spent time as a family. Please forgive the fact that I am meddling in ignorance if this is beyond the spectrum of possibility. In any case, I believe that the planning DVD along with gentle assurances of the fun to be had at WDW will suffice as you employ parental wisdom with due leadership.
 
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Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
rsoxguy said:
Hello Beckariah. We do not know each other, and I am certainly not familiar with your young son's mental or emotional disposition, so I ask that you please tolerate an alternative guess as to the nature of your situation. It may be possible that your son relates any future trip to WDW as a bad experience because his last trip there was a Mom and Dad pre divorce trip. His excuse regarding boredom may be his way of avoiding a place that brings back memories of a time when his parents were still together, and the three of you spent time as a family. Please forgive the fact that I am meddling in ignorance if this is beyond the spectrum of possibility. In any case, I believe that the planning DVD along with gentle assurances of the fun to be had at WDW will suffice as you employ parental wisdom with due leadership.
Click to expand...
Well and respectfully stated.
 
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Beckariah

Beckariah

Member
Original Poster
rsoxguy.....thank you for your opinion; no offense at all taken :). I was thinking along the same lines.
Also, when he went at age 5 there was a lot he couldn't ride and a lot that scared him. So I believe that could contributing to his resistance as well. He was upset at not being able to ride/do a lot and perhaps the memory of that isn't selling it this time around.

I am hoping he will enjoy the planning and see what he missed out the first time around.
Also, he does talk about how exciting it would be for his little sister to see the Princesses etc. So there is *some* excitment in the whole Disney thing still in there somewhere.
 
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rsoxguy

rsoxguy

Well-Known Member
Beckariah said:
rsoxguy.....thank you for your opinion; no offense at all taken :). I was thinking along the same lines.
Also, when he went at age 5 there was a lot he couldn't ride and a lot that scared him. So I believe that could contributing to his resistance as well. He was upset at not being able to ride/do a lot and perhaps the memory of that isn't selling it this time around.

I am hoping he will enjoy the planning and see what he missed out the first time around.
Also, he does talk about how exciting it would be for his little sister to see the Princesses etc. So there is *some* excitment in the whole Disney thing still in there somewhere.
Click to expand...

Communication is the key to success. I wish you well.
 
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Chernaboggles

Chernaboggles

Well-Known Member
I think you should concentrate on enjoying the planning yourself. Invite him to participate with planning stuff, but don't force him. You can't make anyone like something, and for some people, the more they are told how great it is and how fun it will be, the more set they are against enjoying it.

The other thing to remember is that by the standards of an 8 year old, October 2015 might as well be ten thousand years away. It's hard to get all excited about something you have to wait almost a year to do. It's disappointing for you to have your big present be met with no enthusiasm, but try not to take it personally.

Do you have any really boring relatives? You could always tell him that if he doesn't want to go, Great Aunt Agatha would love to have him at her place for a week. ;)
 
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KLeigh

KLeigh

Well-Known Member
I'm sure as the actual trip gets closer he will get more excited. I went through this same thing with my 30 year old BF during our trip last fall. He wasn't excited to go AT ALL. As the trip got closer, and especially once we arrived, he was almost more excited than I was!

Here's some ideas based on what I did - regardless of the age difference, boys are pretty much the same. ;)

I would focus on all the new fun things he'll get to experience that he missed out on last time (or doesn't remember). All the "big kid" rides, meeting new characters and revisiting favorites, riding the monorail through Epcot (I loved it when I was his age), and so on.

Since you're going in October, are you planning on going to one of the Halloween parties? If so, and he likes going trick or treating, tell him how much fun he'll have with it in the MK!

He's already excited for his little sister to see WDW for the first time - this is a great sign, and hopefully a small indication of his own excitement.

Involve him in the planning: show your kids the planning DVD and some pictures/videos of attractions they might enjoy, characters they might like to meet. Then ask them what they would like to see and do.

You will have a magical family vacation, and everyone will be excited to be there when you're in the World!
 
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disney4life2008

disney4life2008

Well-Known Member
LOL I took my two nephews in 2011 - they were 13 and 11 at the time. The eldest one did not want to go at all - he gave every excuse in the book (they both had previously been when they were younger as well). I ignored the foolishness and we had a great time. I was more shocked that they did not want to spend any money like other kids - I had to beg them to get a shirt.
 
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TeamUBR

TeamUBR

Member
Your son sounds a lot like mine. Oct 15 is a long time off and I bet he will change his mind 2 or 3 times between now and then.
As others have suggested, give him the opportunity to learn more about WDW. Didn't know Birnbaum had a 'kids' version, but that may be a great place to start. Include him in the planning if he's interested.
My DS is 16 now but has had many instances of "this is boring" over the years. He gets over it and has a good time no matter what it is. Strangely, he is a bigger Disney geek than I am now. Every time he sees a commercial on TV, he asks when we are going again.

j
 
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smk

smk

Well-Known Member
Disneyhead'71 said:
Maybe throw in a side trip to Universal. They have some IPs like Transformers and Marvel that appeal more to boys.

Oh, and Potter.
Click to expand...
This is what I was going to suggest, if it is possible. Also, memories of the trip with you and his dad may be getting in his way. And...he may just think that is all he is getting for Christmas and October is light years away. How on earth has he guessed a trip that far away?
 
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C

chemicalart

Member
I will suggest doing some research about the other things around Orlando and offering to him what he would like.

The first time I went to the Magic Kingdom ultimately did not like it. I still don't to this day. It is not true everyone will like it eventually. But what I do like? Gator land! I think those reptiles are awesome! But that is just me. But that is the point, everyone is different!

If you can find ONE thing he likes and use that as the source of excitement then things will be well.
 
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