Ultimate FAIL??

[UberMouse]

Did they say "I thought we were going to Dad's house"? If so, then that is completely understandable if their father lives far away and they live with their Mom.

 

[NormC]

Well, I can tell you that when my family goes to WDW we stay for 5 nights, 6 days.

That is how we roll as well. 5/6 or 6/7 depending on flights. I could see spending more time if you planned to use the pools and go off site. We will be visiting Harry in February on our next trip but the rest of the week will belong to Walt.

 

[Mickey_777]

Ultimate fail? Yes, yes it is.

 

[wdisney9000]

You think that's bad? Watch this Video....

1. Pimp slap all three children
2. Get that kid a hair cut

 

[HM Spectre]

I don't know the specifics here but a lot of times, it depends on how hard they were pushed to do "everything". When talking about a WDW vacation which for most people is a once-in-a-long-while trip, there's often a pressure to "maximize the experience" and do as much as possible which includes mandatory EMH, going bonkers trying to hit every attraction, etc. Not saying this is necessarily the situation here but in a 4-5 day vacation window like you're talking about here, it's incredibly easy to get burned out trying to cram everything in the World to make a kid happy which in the end can lead to the opposite effect.

One of the worst things to do IMO is to determine what an ideal trip will be ahead of time and push a kid to that pace. Take time. Pace things and relax. Realize that downtime is not a bad thing but will just make the activities that much more enjoyable. Sure, if there's a tight window on a shorter trip, there might not be enough time to do everything but the key is this: it's much more enjoyable to do some things at a leisurely, fun, stress-free pace than it is to do everything under time-crunch stress. Plus, even if some lesser attractions are skipped, it never hurts a kid to have "new" things to experience next time.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I think the problem with these kids is that they thought they were going somewhere else they really liked. They didn't get to the "Yay! We're going to Disney World!" because they were stuck in the "Oh no! We aren't going to _____!" Also, some kids just don't like to not know what's going on. Familiarity and comfort can be pivitol. For instance, when my boys were toddlers and the same episode of Blues Clues would air for an entire week straight I found it quite annoying. I had to listen to the same predictable program twice a day every day for a week. After 2 days the kids would be parked in front of the television acting out the scenes as they were happening. It was like annoying IN 3-D! Ugh! I voiced this (forget where) and got a very interesting bit of perspective. Little kids, toddlers specifically, find knowing what's next to be very assuring and empowering. They love it! So, with this new perspective I watched my toddlers with a different set of eyes. Yep, each day that passed they became more and more the experts of that weeks episode which totally delighted them more each time they watched it. They would say the dialogue, sing the songs, have their Blue Clues toys & figures ready to play along. Needless to say, I never complained again. Not even about watching the same stupid Barney episodes for the thousandth time. It made them happy.

I think maybe with these kids that were ready to go home, maybe they were just ready for that comfort rather than the excitement. As much as any trip coming to an end for me blows, once I get home and lay down in my bed it's a total feeling of bliss. Maybe the kids missed friends. Maybe they missed their cozy rooms full of familiarity. Maybe they missed pets or their own comfy beds. There's lots of reasons they could've been ready to get home. Getting a long drive over with is another good reason. Loooots of reasons!

Which is why I have never been an advocate of "surprise" trips. Just like adults, kids need the time to adjust to what is happening around them. They aren't as flexible as one might think. I was one that always included my kids in trip planning. Told them basically where we were going, but asked them to help us plan and budget once we got there and in plenty of advanced time. They need the experience of being able to say..."I'm too excited to sleep!"

 

[draybook]

We left 2 days early in March of 2011, but it was because our daughter ended up getting some stomach bug, which is no good for touring parks.

 

[luvtink]

My daughter went for the first time on her 4th birthday. We were living in FL so we bought the passes and went every 4-6 weeks for long weekends, excluding summer, until we moved out of state when she was 12. We opened the park and closed it with no down times. She never even thought about slowing down until she was being carried out of the park when she crashed. She was always so excited to go. Now that was only for a short time and she was a very active child but I showed her this post and she couldn't believe any kid could want to go home. She has never understood the kids that have to go back to the resort for a nap and can't wait to take her fiance to WDW and show him "how to do Disney" as the only time his family went, they spent more time in their room and off of the grounds eating than they did in a park.

Now that being said, many kids are not as active and energetic and it could get overwhelming for them and they might just be homesick....just not us!

 

[dclfan]

I've seen this before. I think I would ship my children to military school and go alone.

Agreed!!!This is one of the most depressing videos I've ever watched. I would be ecstatic if my parents surprised me with Disney as a child. They seem a little ungrateful, those parents must feel terrible.

 

[unkadug]

You think that's bad? Watch this Video....

After reading through some comments, I found this little gem which explains a lot !

​

This video is old and the backstory explains this. The kids' parents were recently divorced. They had a friend named Dick who lived around the Smokey Mountains. The kids were told they were going to Dick's house. Their mom did this at 6AM at a McDonald's. The reason they reacted that way is because they had already planned to go to Disney World with their dad 2 months later. So the mom tried to snipe the dad's trip and the kids saw through her BS immediately.​

 

[copcarguyp71]

After reading through some comments, I found this little gem which explains a lot !

​

This video is old and the backstory explains this. The kids' parents were recently divorced. They had a friend named Dick who lived around the Smokey Mountains. The kids were told they were going to Dick's house. Their mom did this at 6AM at a McDonald's. The reason they reacted that way is because they had already planned to go to Disney World with their dad 2 months later. So the mom tried to snipe the dad's trip and the kids saw through her BS immediately.​

Good lord...using a trip to Disney for devious and nefarious purposes? I am not 100% sure but is that not one of the seven signs of the apocalypse?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I'm not sure what an ultimate FAIL is. I wonder what was wrong...the kids or the trip or what. It is very odd for a kid to want to leave Orlando!

Eta: I thought they left the city,

PLENTY of kids ask to leave the park. Their parents have pushed them waaay too hard. They don't get enough sleep. They don't get enough rest. They are exhausted. They can't stand any more of it.

It is good that your friends left. You'd be surprised how often I hear kids asking to leave and parents refusing to let the poor things get any rest.

For many people, these trips are about the parents - moms especially, I'm afraid - and the kids have to endure the parks and the exhaustion. Get up early, stay out late, walk around theme parks and swim! And when the kids say they can't stand it any more, the parents push them further. It's mean and selfish on the parents' part and truly sad for the children.

Many trips to WDW amount to sheer child abuse.

Whatever gave people the idea that dragging very young children around for fourteen hours a day in 100 degrees in a crowded, loud environment is childrens' heaven?

 

[Hakunamatata]

They have three kids age 9, 7 & 4 (i think)... Having kids asking to leave DW to come back home.... Ultimate FAIL or no ???

My opinion: uhm... YEAH!

I wouldn't consider your sister in law an ultimate failure for that......

 

[Figments Friend]

Probably depends on the touring philosophy. If they went commando with kids that age, the chances are pretty good that they were just tired. I'm not sure I understand the "left before the park closed" statement, but it might be a clue to fatigue factors.

-
Agree...it might not all be the kids 'fault'. Some parents can unknowingly push a vacation too hard and end up turning the kids off at what is happening. 'Commando Touring' i suspect as a prime suspect...trying to do far too much in one day. Kids really need spacing between all those exciting activities.

I have far too many parents also plan vacations really for themselves, using the children as the 'excuse' to actually go to WDW. Once the kids get to a certain age the parents decide it is time to bring them to the Parks with no real considerations for the kids needs. These are often folks who believe WDW is ONLY 'for kids' and feel it is now okay for them to visit because they now have some offspring. I am sure some readers here have seen this happen...

It would really depend on the kids ages, and how the parents are handling the vacation...that would be the two areas i would look into.
I do hope the few days they were there together however they DID enjoy.

 

[Figments Friend]

Many trips to WDW amount to sheer child abuse.

Whatever gave people the idea that dragging very young children around for fourteen hours a day in 100 degrees in a crowded, loud environment is childrens' heaven?

- Empress sums up my above sentiments.
Parents touring really for themselves, using the kids as just a excuse to go to WDW.
Pushing too hard...trying to do too much...trying hard to get 'their monies worth' NO MATTER WHAT!

Oy...i have great pity on those poor folks.

Story time now...with moral, and a happy ending that relates.

I had a friend who used to wonder why i visit the Parks so much. She wondered why so many others thought they were so great, as her experience visiting as a teen with her parents was horrible. I asked her about it and the story she told me was truly a nightmare. I felt so bad for her.
She went in the early 80s, pre-EPCOT opening. They stayed in Daytona, and drove the 30/45 minutes back and forth from the Park every day of their week long vacation. At that time there was only the Magic Kingdom, and her parents were cranky with the heat and would not ride any of the rides she was interested in. They 'Commando Toured' and jammed everything into one day...or tried hard at least. By the end of the day they were all very cranky and basically hated being in each others presence. It was just a terrible experience for her and basically scarred her memory of what a wonderful place WDW was SUPPOSED to be.

Flash forward to two years ago...
I helped change her mind on WDW by suggesting she plan a short vacation around the time i was next visiting WDW and experience the Parks with me. I set her mind right and she had a MUCH better experience. No 'Commando Touring', stayed On-Site, and CMs showered her with special attention. It was awesome..and probably one of my best visits because of being able to see her so enthused and happy.

Now she is a bonified WDW Park Fan and raves about her adventures.
She talks about it all the time, and cannot WAIT to return with her own teenagers in the next year or two.

So the lesson kids is this -
Take you time...enjoy what is around you.
Relax..and let everyone in your travel party ( kids included ) ENJOY their vacation in their own way.

 

[Lord Pheonix]

im 37 and i almost cry when i gotta leave.....

 

[G00fyDad]

Well, I can tell you that when my family goes to WDW we stay for 5 nights, 6 days. One year, we for some reason decided to stay longer...8 nights, 9 days. That was a mistake and we never did a long trip like that again.

I don't know if it was just "too much of a good thing" or what, but the 5 nights/6 days seems to be our magic number and the perfect amount of time on vacation for my family. All families are different, but for us we kind of wanted to get back to things we left back home at the 6 day point. Day 7 started to feel like too much time away from our "normal" lives.

We do 10 day/9 night stays, but it is just right for us. We start to feel like going home around day 10. However, we also rent a vehicle from the airport so we go off property and do non-Disney things as well. One whole day is spent at Clearwater Beach. This gives us a little time away from the parks and prevents overdoing it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Well, I can tell you that when my family goes to WDW we stay for 5 nights, 6 days. One year, we for some reason decided to stay longer...8 nights, 9 days. That was a mistake and we never did a long trip like that again.

I don't know if it was just "too much of a good thing" or what, but the 5 nights/6 days seems to be our magic number and the perfect amount of time on vacation for my family. All families are different, but for us we kind of wanted to get back to things we left back home at the 6 day point. Day 7 started to feel like too much time away from our "normal" lives.

I can understand that completely. As much of a fan as I am, I quickly get bored with everything. I have never gone for more then one week and I am ready to go home by the end. I can't even do more then three days in a row at the parks. I need to do something else, somewhat different. That is why I stay off-site and always have either my own vehicle or a rental car.

Contrary to popular belief, there are things outside the property. Even if you think of those as similar, like Universal or Sea World, there is enough difference to keep my interests up. For me, it helps but that is not what I limit it too. I love to explore so I might find myself, wandering around central Florida with no destination in mind or, as I have done numerous times, head for the east coast or the Gulf Coast and see something new. I once had breakfast and jumped in my car headed for MK. As I got to the entrance something told me to not turn onto the access road. I kept going straight and ended up in Silver Springs...great day! One trip I ended up in Key West. That was a great trip.

Anyway, the moral of the story is that man does not live by Disney World alone. There's a cornucopia of other things out there, close by. For me it is an opportunity to go to Disney and at the same time do something else. Win-Win for me.

 

[valleyfan]

Are the kids that asked to leave boys, girls or both? My opinion is there's too many meet and greets and not enough rides for boys at the parks. It's all princesses and boys just don't get into it. One meet and greet at each park entrance would be enough. Build some rides and no more themed restaurants. After this months trip we are done until things change, we've been at least once a year since 2000 and nothing changes but things for little girls get added.

 

[Bob Saget]

This video is old and the backstory explains this. The kids' parents were recently divorced. They had a friend named Dick who lived around the Smokey Mountains. The kids were told they were going to Dick's house. Their mom did this at 6AM at a McDonald's. The reason they reacted that way is because they had already planned to go to Disney World with their dad 2 months later. So the mom tried to snipe the dad's trip and the kids saw through her BS immediately.

I bet some of the Disney fanbois who slammed these kids earlier feel pretty embarrassed after reading this.

-Children who are tired and want to go home are an ultimate fail?
-Children who don't jump for joy & salivate because they're going to Disney World after being told they were going to a close friend's house should be slapped?


It's a theme park, people...not a cult.

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