# When to tell the kids we're going to Disney **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144 "2011-04-04T14:11:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/61 "2011-04-04T21:12:16Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’ve _been_ one. Known plenty of others. Quite honestly, your kids sound more like my 3 year old. > > Of course a 6 year old, or even the older two, should be periodically excited about the prospect of the upcoming trip. But I stand by what I said: most kids of their ages would not behave in an adverse manner as a result of such excitement, nor would they do the temporal equivalent of “are we there yet?” because they’d know quite well that, yes, the trip really was still X months away. A parent of normal kids might have to live through several months of intermittent outbursts of “I can’t wait 'til October 'cause we’re going to DISNEY DISNEY DISNEY!!!” but that kinda goes with the parenting territory. > > Hey, if you had particularly problematic kids, you shoulda said so in the OP. I clearly wasn’t the only one wondering why not telling them right away was even being considered. But that was why you were considering it. Oh for Christ’s sake. The majority of posters & poll responders aren’t in favor of telling them right away. So are they all parents of particularly problematic kids? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/62 "2011-04-04T23:34:32Z")
I know this isn’t the Happy Thoughts forum, but we should be more cheerful. After all, the OP is taking the kids to Disney World. All kidding aside, everyone please keep an even strain here. No warnings issued and nobody singled out. **Moderator hat off** I don’t have any children of my own, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t tell a six-year-old about this until a week or so before the trip. It seems that it would simply be more fun that way. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/63 "2011-04-05T00:05:19Z")
For a six year old, yeah. Telling a kid that age 6 months in advance is _forever_. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/64 "2011-04-05T00:19:31Z")
I’d tell them just before we left, so I wouldn’t have to spend 7245 hours of my life listening to them talk about going to Disney before we go and another 426 hours after the trip. Of course, I don’t have kids yet, and as I listen to random kids out in public go on and on about whatever, I often wonder how their parents can stand it… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/65 "2011-04-05T01:13:17Z")
> [@robby](#): > > It may have been true years ago, but is assuredly not true today. In fact, there really is no quiet time at WDW these days, only crowded and very crowded. IMHO, this is due to parents pulling their children out of school in an effort to avoid the crowds. We went in February last year and did not wait for any ride or attraction longer than five minutes. We didn’t try any of the restaurants, though. Back to the OP, I told my five year old about this year’s trip months in advance. She loved the anticipation. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/66 "2011-04-05T01:54:19Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > We’ve finally pulled the trigger on taking the thief family to Disney World. We’ll be going for 9 days in October. . 9 days at Disney World? Are you serious? What the heck are you going to do there after the first day? There is so much to see and do all over in Florida, “real” things, esp for kids that age. Tell the kids now, that you all are going to Florida, and spend these months with them letting them tell you all the different sights in Florida that they want to see after spending the 1st day at Disneyworld. For example, on day 2 while still in Orlando, go to Wet and Wild, and then to Gatorland, and then to Old Town. Day 3 head to the east coast, and then start your real Florida vacation, swimming with Dolphins, Swimming in the ocean, glass bottom boats, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/67 "2011-04-05T12:07:38Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > There may be NOTHING available for character meals. Particularly if your heart is set on eating Snow White like in that _other_ movie. (Besides, I thought that was in WDW Nevada, not WDW Florida.) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/68 "2011-04-05T12:31:11Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > 9 days at Disney World? Are you serious? > > What the heck are you going to do there after the first day? > > There is so much to see and do all over in Florida, “real” things, esp for kids that age. Tell the kids now, that you all are going to Florida, and spend these months with them letting them tell you all the different sights in Florida that they want to see after spending the 1st day at Disneyworld. > > For example, on day 2 while still in Orlando, go to Wet and Wild, and then to Gatorland, and then to Old Town. > > Day 3 head to the east coast, and then start your real Florida vacation, swimming with Dolphins, Swimming in the ocean, glass bottom boats, etc. Maybe because he wants to go to Disney World. Not Florida. Different strokes. I’m not sure how anyone wanting to go to Disneyworld could get it done in a day. I can easily understand how people who don’t want to go to Disney could get it done in a day - but then - why not take a different vacation and not go to Disney? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/69 "2011-04-05T13:04:12Z")
The centerpiece of the trip will be the various Disney parks (there are 4 of them you know **Susanann** ). We will be doing other things. Though not the beach - my kids are hardy New Englanders. If the ocean is warmer than 70, its too warm for them! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/70 "2011-04-05T13:22:45Z")
Well, I hope you guys have a great deal of fun. I still think you should tell them a little early, even if it’s only a week. Anticipation is fun! Surprises are good, too. If you feel like you must compromise, you could always tell them you are going “somewhere” and then at the last minute spring DISNEYWORLD! That way you could pack and stuff…although you’ll probably still be pestered to death. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/71 "2011-04-05T13:42:08Z")
I think you should tell them before you & your spouse leave. If they wake up in an empty house while you two are having frozen margaritas at EPCOT, they’re going to cry. _re-reads OP_ Ok, let me amend that. Tell them before you go. They may have some things they want to pack (granted, there will be things you’ll need to Veto too). Anticpation can be nice an it will help them get into the mood more fully. PS- Gas them & wake them on the tea-cup ride? No. The screaming terror would be ‘Its a Small World’. _shiver_ ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/72 "2011-04-05T13:50:14Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Do something like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocXSqupDpoc&feature=related) the morning of the trip, substituting “early” Christmas presents from Santa Claus with “late” back to school presents from Aunt Vivian. My favorite part of this is the kid, realizing it’s clothes, just tosses it on the ground and says, “yup, it’s clothes” and looks dejected. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/73 "2011-04-05T13:51:49Z")
I love planning trips. From the time the kids were very little we would plan trips together (originally we had to go to the library to find the information!). I would probably wait until school was out, but for us half the fun was the work we did in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/74 "2011-04-05T14:39:04Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > During Food and Wine? In the past five years? > > We’ve gone every other year at this time for a decade, and that has not been my experience for the past eight years. It’s mine, and I’m there about a dozen times a year, and at least once a year in October. > [@robby](#): > > P.S. I highly recommend the [Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World](http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide-Disney-World-Guides/dp/047061529X), if you don’t already have it. One of the authors (Len Testa) is a member of the SDMB. Second this. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/75 "2011-04-05T15:01:18Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > 9 days at Disney World? Are you serious? > > What the heck are you going to do there after the first day? > > There is so much to see and do all over in Florida, “real” things, esp for kids that age. Tell the kids now, that you all are going to Florida, and spend these months with them letting them tell you all the different sights in Florida that they want to see after spending the 1st day at Disneyworld. > > For example, on day 2 while still in Orlando, go to Wet and Wild, and then to Gatorland, and then to Old Town. > > Day 3 head to the east coast, and then start your real Florida vacation, swimming with Dolphins, Swimming in the ocean, glass bottom boats, etc. Disney World includes four gigantic theme parks; even if you were interested in seeing only the real headliner attractions at each, each park will occupy about three quarters of a day, and _that’s_ if you’re willing to charge headlong through your day without stopping to rest, nap, or eat anything that isn’t counter service. A more realistic approach to touring the four major parks probably dedicates about a day each to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and a day and a half each to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot - though both of the latter could easily stretch to two full days. There’s also a massive complex called Downtown Disney which houses a really interesting five-story arcade called DisneyQuest and a permament home to the Cirque de Soleil. There are also two very large water parks, though those won’t be much of an issue in October. And some fun miniature golf courses, if that’s your thing (it’s not so much mine). And if you have young children who will want to wait on lines to get autographs from the characters or trade pins or both - especially if you have a hyper-completist six year old who really wants to find the White Rabbit because she already has Alice and the Mad Hatter and wants the full set - you can add a full day to your calculations, just for that. The idea that you can “finish” Disney World in a day is so out there that I’m honestly curious how you could come up with it. You may not value any of the things in the previous paragraph, but presumably you understand that other people do, right? As far as the “when to tell thing,” I stand by my original opinion. Not only have I _met_ a six-year-old, I currently _have_ a six-year old, with whom I’m going to Disney World (her third trip!) in just under two weeks. We told her about the trip when we booked it, I guess in September or thereabouts. Yes, she brings it up _constantly_, but it’s fun to talk to her about it - she’s excited and she wants to work on the itinerary and talk about priorities and help figure out what and where we’ll eat. I can’t see a single downside to having told her early. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/76 "2011-04-05T15:41:50Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > 9 days at Disney World? Are you serious? > > What the heck are you going to do there after the first day? What **storyteller0910** said. For further perspective, realize that Walt Disney World covers an area of about 25,000 acres (40 square miles), about the size of San Francisco. It includes four major theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels (excluding eight that are on-site, but not owned by the Walt Disney Company), including a campground, two health spas, and the Downtown Disney entertainment district. It’s laughable to think that you’re going to see much of any of this in one day. We were rushed on our first trip by going for only six days. Heck, we can spend a day just relaxing at our resort hotel. > [@Susanann](#): > > There is so much to see and do all over in Florida, “real” things, esp for kids that age. Tell the kids now, that you all are going to Florida, and spend these months with them letting them tell you all the different sights in Florida that they want to see after spending the 1st day at Disneyworld. > > For example, on day 2 while still in Orlando, go to Wet and Wild, and then to Gatorland, and then to Old Town. > > Day 3 head to the east coast, and then start your real Florida vacation, swimming with Dolphins, Swimming in the ocean, glass bottom boats, etc. I notice that you keep emphasizing the “real.” FWIW, I used to agree with you. In fact, I used to live in Orlando (back when I was in the Navy), and shared the residents’ typical disdain for the “parks.” When my wife proposed a trip, I told her: “I don’t want the fake Disney version; if we want to go whitewater rafting, we’ll do _real_ whitewater rafting.” However, she insisted we take our son when he was ten years old, and to my surprise, I had the best vacation of my life. Even though we also do “real” vacations and trips (including “real” whitewater rafting, canoe trips on the Allagash and Penobscot rivers in Maine, and hiking on the Appalachian Trail and in the White Mountains), Walt Disney World is also a great vacation. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/77 "2011-04-05T15:45:22Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s mine, and I’m there about a dozen times a year, and at least once a year in October. > > Second this. We are the unluckiest Disney guests. When we’ve gone without reservations, or have decided to change our minds, we discover that there isn’t much availability at all. We can usually walk up to Marrakesh, or that restaurant in China, but we can’t walk into a lot of the restaurants we want to, and the reservations aren’t available either. Once it took us 45 minutes walking around Epcot before we gave up and ate counter service - nowhere we were interested in eating was taking walkups. We’d eaten at Marrakesh the night before, and the Chinese place is really bad (IMHO). Which is fine, but we prefer our sit downs. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/78 "2011-04-05T16:31:20Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > The centerpiece of the trip will be the various Disney parks (there are 4 of them you know **Susanann** ). We will be doing other things. Though not the beach - my kids are hardy New Englanders. If the ocean is warmer than 70, its too warm for them! Seven, if you include the water parks and Downtown Disney. I HIGHLY recommend DisneyQuest, by the way; it’s basically an indoor theme park, and a bit cheaper than the others (though I think the regular Parkhopper tickets don’t include it). [QUOTE=Dangerosa] We are the unluckiest Disney guests. When we’ve gone without reservations, or have decided to change our minds, we discover that there isn’t much availability at all. We can usually walk up to Marrakesh, or that restaurant in China, but we can’t walk into a lot of the restaurants we want to, and the reservations aren’t available either. Once it took us 45 minutes walking around Epcot before we gave up and ate counter service - nowhere we were interested in eating was taking walkups. We’d eaten at Marrakesh the night before, and the Chinese place is really bad (IMHO). Which is fine, but we prefer our sit downs. [/QUOTE] I’m not saying you shouldn’t make reservations (though the only place I really like eating at WDW is Le Cellier in Canada- best surf and turf ever). Remember, it’s a much bigger problem if you or the OP doesn’t get a table than if I don’t. 😉 ETA: and for future reference, Guest Services will find you a table by phone, so you don’t have to walk all over to ask in person. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/79 "2011-04-05T18:10:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > ETA: and for future reference, Guest Services will find you a table by phone, so you don’t have to walk all over to ask in person. Yeah, we’ve done that. But it isn’t unusual to do that and be told that nothing is available that you want to eat near where you currently are in the timeframe you are interested in. Sometimes, even if Dining isn’t showing anything available, you can still manage a walkup. Sometimes, you can’t get a walkup, but if you call dining, they have an open reservation. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144/80 "2011-04-05T18:27:41Z")
I’m not a parent but yesterday I asked my mom when she told us we were going to Disney World, when we were 7 and 9. She says she told us pretty early on. And my brother (9) told her “I will not get on a plane.” Then she had to ask the school psychiatrist what to do. The psych told her just to tell him this is how it’s going to be, and he will be getting on the plane. Mom says that he was belligerent about it until we got to the airport and saw that everyone, including his younger cousins and myself, were getting on the plane. Anyway, that doesn’t answer the OP’s question at all. Unless the fact that I was told early and managed to have such a good time that I don’t even remember being told 🙂 And we spent 7 days, and 9 woulda been cool too. You need a day or so just to sit in the hotel and swim in the pool! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-tell-the-kids-were-going-to-disney/577144.md?page=5)