Family days out…why do we do it..?

[NannaLou]

You’d think that we’d learn from experience, but it seems not so in all cases.

When the eldest two grandchildren were 5/6 ish we went to France for a week’s holiday. Paid 100s of Euros to get into Disneyland for the day and they hated it! They hated the crowds, the queues and, when they got to the front of a long queue, they hated the rides! We also went to Playmobil land and paid €1 each and they played for hours…

Fast forward 10 years and yesterday (having driven 3 of the youngest grandchildren 180 miles to visit my son) we paid £100+ for 8 of us to go to the zoo… we were in and out in about 2 hours…they had a quick look at any animal they could easily see and then ran to the next enclosure… we took them to the penny arcades in the early evening, £2 each of 2p pieces and they played for ages… When asked what have you enjoyed most today the unanimous answer was the penny arcades!

Are we unique..? Are there others out there that have planned “special treats” that have failed to live up to the hype and expectations..?

 

[GaryE]

My wife and I are nerds, so we used to drag our kids along to museums. Now,as adults, my kids visit cities based on what museums are there - it was like a delayed action bomb for them. So while they were not happy with our choices, and bored when they were young, they must have found something.
Disney's Disney - if I do evil things now I'm going to one when I die. They went to the one in Florida when they were in their early teens, and had fun. If they had been smaller, I think they would have done what your gang did.

I think a lot of little kids don't like the big shows we expect them to. We take them before they can appreciate it. It's the adults who have the money, and I think a lot of big ticket amusement parks are designed for the parents and grandparents anyway.

But not liking zoos... the horror. I think you should take them to a public aquarium, and if they dislike that, hang on to see if the great grandchildren pan out!

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I think Disney Land is really hyped up, but it’s not worth it. Just my opinion. If you can get in when there’s not many people there, it will be a lot more enjoyable. But for you to wait in line for 30 minutes+ for one ride, just for it to be over in 2 minutes? It starts to get to you.

 

[Rocky998]

My parents took me to universal studios when I was under 2 years old... So I didnt enjoy anything cause I cant remember it

 

[OliveFish05]

It’s very odd, I know at least 5 families who went to Disney this month. My family went to Disney in Orlando when I was about… 6? I think we went again when I was about 9 because my littlest sisters were old enough to remember it by then.
Ever since then, my dad has said “it’s something everyone should do once, but I’m never going back”. I think you have to plan it right, time of year, the age of the kids, etc. etc.

I remember little details from when we went when I was 6. I remember sitting on the couch with my mom and looking on eBay for a princess dress, so that they could afford it for me to go in a costume. I remember going to Walmart and getting a little journal for each of the princesses to sign. Then I remember when we were actually there, my older brother asked Cinderella for a kiss on the cheek. Repunzel danced with us. I was mortified that TinkerBell was human sized, and how short her skirt was but I also remember being really tired. And waiting in lines. And being really hungry, but my parents telling me we couldn’t buy any food.

As a 5 year old who went and only wanted to see Disney princesses, I thought it was pretty cool, but only cause I was little enough to think they were real princesses. I have some really cool memories from it that I will always look back fondly on, but don’t think I would go again. Definitely not back to see the princesses lol.