An Open Letter to Parents with Young Children at Disney

Ok, parents, especially parents of little ones, there’s something I want to say to you before you book your next (or first!) Disney Trip. Well, actually, there’s a lot I want to say to you. Before I start, though, I want to make something clear: I don’t hate kids. As a matter of fact, I love kids, and I can’t wait to have a few of my own. But there’s something to be said about children at Disney. They turn into another child altogether when they step through those gates. Disney is there to make money, and from the moment your kids arrive to the moment they leave they are going to be barraged with everything from stuffed Mickeys to balloons with Donald Duck on them to tasty Dole Whips and about 3,000 rides that they want to ride, whether they are tall enough or not. There’s just one problem. All of this, and a child who is unprepared for it and parents who are unprepared to deal with it can only lead to one thing: tantrums. Lots and lots of loud, sound barrier- breaking tantrums. Guess what? I don’t want to hear them every two seconds, especially from the same child. Others agree, according to this article. It also offers great tips to avoid tantrums at Disney http://www.mouseplanet.com/9342/Discipline_at_Disney_Parks . Yes, I know Disney is a place for families, and that families usually have kids. I don’t mind the kids, but I do mind BAD kids. Just like you, I paid a ton of money, took time off of work, and made a lot of personal sacrifices to be here, and I don’t want my $90 dinner at one of the fanciest places to eat at Walt Disney World to be ruined because your precious little Jimmy is screeching because your meal plan does not include a dessert. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand it’s tough to take little ones to Disney, and that the age where it’s best to take them to Disney the first time (between 3 and 6) can also be the worst times for tantrums. I’m not asking you to be perfect, and I know sometimes even the best of kids throw fits at the worst times. I know you can’t possibly buy them every stuffed animal and toy that they want. They aren’t tall enough for Space Mountain, what can you do about it? Well, you can prepare. Do not be a cheapskate at Disney. If you want to take your kids, don’t come with no souvenir money. They are going to see other kids with Minnie dolls and wonder why they can’t have one. Frankly, it’s cruel to take kids to Disney and refuse to by them anything. Now, I know you have to set limits. I know you can’t buy them everything they want just because they want it, but all I’m saying is you’re going to have to break somewhere. The kids throwing tantrums are almost always the ones who have just been told “No” over and over their whole trip. You know how they say you can’t afford to go out to eat if you can’t afford to tip the server? The same is true for Disney. If you can’t afford at least one souvenir a day for your kids, you can’t afford the trip. Period.

Oh, and while we’re on the note of affording things, I want to make something else clear: You are not entitled to certain things just because you paid a lot of money to be at Disney. You are not entitled to things because it may be the only time you go when your kids are little. You need to prepare in advance, end of the story. Do your damn research, parents. You know how many times I’ve seen a little girl crying because it seems like every little girl in the park is dressed up as a princess but her, and her parents had promised her a princess makeover at the Bippity Boppity Boutqiue in Magic Kingdom, only to come and realize reservations are needed? Disney is popular. VERY popular. Your perfect princess is not the only little girl who wants to dress up as Cinderella while she’s on her trip. Wanna know the difference between that your little girl and the ones who are all dressed up? Their parents planned ahead! Those appointments fill up MONTHS in advance, and no amount of pleading or crying to the receptionist, asking if they can’t just squeeze your daughter in at 7:45 is going to change that- because guess what? Your daughter is no more special than the little girl who actually has an appointment at 7:45, and that little girl, whose parents prepared ahead of time, does not deserve to have to have her time pushed back because you didn’t book ahead. Sorry, but your perfect angel is just going to have to hear the word “No”.

While we’re on the subject of telling kids no, let’s talk about ride height restrictions. Yes, I understand Jimmy is 47.75 inches tall and he needs to be 48 inches tall to ride that ride he’d been looking forward to for weeks. I know he’s right there and he’s just so disappointed, but guess what? He still can’t ride, no matter how much you want him to, no matter how much he wants to. Those heights are LAW at Disney. They are there for a reason. Do you want your child to be seriously injured or even killed because he just HAD to ride Space Mountain this time? I understand kids get disappointed. I know that they can’t understand why they can’t ride, but try this: make a list of all the rides your child can ride ahead of time. There’s a great list for Walt Disney World here: http://allears.net/tp/rr.htm .  Make sure they know what they WON’T be able to ride and that they understand why. It will save them a lot of disappointment once they get to the park. Just because Disney is a family park catered towards children doesn’t mean every ride is small child friendly. Disney’s ISN’T just for kids, contrary to popular belief, and there are plenty of rides and attractions that are big kids and/or adults only, and yes, that means little Jimmy isn’t allowed, too. If nothing else, at least follow this general list of tips when taking kids to Disney. http://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-kids-tips/ . It might just save you, and the guests around you, a lot of headache.