Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Disneyland vacation will be like. It can be many things, but believe us when we tell
you that there's a lot more to it than just riding Dumbo and seeing Mickey.
In our experience, most parents and nearly all grandparents expect children to
enter a state of rapture at Disneyland, bouncing from attraction to attraction in wide-
eyed wonder, appreciative beyond words to their adult benefactors. What they get,
more often than not, is not even in the same ballpark. Preschoolers will, without a
doubt, be wide-eyed, often with delight but also with a general sense of being over-
whelmed by noise, crowds, and Disney characters as big as toolsheds. We've substan-
tiated through thousands of interviews and surveys that the best part of a Disney va-
cation for a preschooler is the hotel swimming pool. With some grade-schoolers and
pre-driving-age teens, you get near-manic hyperactivity coupled with periods of stud-
ied nonchalance. This last phenomenon, which relates to the importance of being cool
at all costs, translates into a maddening display of boredom and a “been there, done
that” attitude. Older teens are frequently the exponential version of the younger teens
and grade-schoolers, except without the manic behavior.
As a function of probability, you may escape many—but most likely not all—of
the above behaviors. Even in the event that they are all visited on you, however, take
heart; there are antidotes.
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The more information your kids have before arriving at Disneyland, the less likely
they'll be to act out.
For preschoolers, you can keep things light and happy by limiting the time you
spend in the theme parks. The most critical point is that the overstimulation of the
parks must be balanced by adequate rest and more-mellow activities. For grade-
schoolers and early teens, you can moderate the hyperactivity and false ennui by en-
listing their help in planning the vacation, especially by allowing them to take a lead-
ing role in determining the itinerary for days at the theme parks. Putting them in
charge of specific responsibilities that focus on the happiness of other family mem-
bers also works well. For example, one reader turned a 12-year-old liability into an
asset by asking him to help guard against attractions that might frighten his 5-year-
old sister. Knowledge enhances anticipation and at the same time affords a level of
comfort and control that helps kids understand the big picture. The more they feel in
control, the less they will act out of control.
BASIC CONSIDERATIONS:
Is Disneyland for
You?
