Taken DC 2 + 4 to Disneyland Paris and they’re being nightmares

They were both too young to behave any differently. The 2 year old won't remember the trip at all, and the 4 year old only just. Try again when they are 6 and 8 and it'll be a much better experience and one they will both remember.

Too late now, I know, but IMO 2 and 4 is too young for them to enjoy it properly, esp. considering the cost!

We took dds at 3 and 6 and I felt that 3 was too young - she was too little for some of the rides she’d have liked to go on. But at the time (this was a US one) it was part of an extended trip.

So glad you had a better day yesterday OP! Hope it goes well for you all today.

@Cheepcheepcheep glad you ended up with some lovely memories.

You've done well also to respond politely to people coming on and berating you for initial posts when you were overwhelmed which you've since reflected on and expanded on/taken back. It's hard going being repeatedly criticised for something you've already explained/feel bad about. Kudos!

For the people who say they won’t remember, I went when I was about 4 and I distinctly remember it’s a small world with my dad 💗

I think they are much too young. There is so much pressure these days but an expensive holiday is wasted on such tiny children who won't even remember it. Wait until they are about 8 and 10 and try again.

Not jealous at all all

As I openly admitted, I read the OP, no further

Where the OP said it was hell on earth, that the best part of £1k was spent on a trip the kids were not in the slightest bit interested in

For the record, my grandson was taken to Disney at the age of 3 - and the same experience by daughter - an over tired, over stimulated child that stressed her to the hilt, and he remembers not one single minute of it

Remind him of trips to Lego land and Chessington from the age 5 upwards - different matter

What is the point of spending on big tickets for experiences that they have no memory of? I don't know about you, but for me, experiences are supposed to be about the memories

Jealous?? ROTFLMAO

OP, they are so young, this is to be expected. No two days are the same until you can really understand and predict (with any kind of accuracy) how each child responds to change in routine.
I am sure they were very excited about the trip but the reality (and the absence of the smell and feel of home- their safe place and logically their whole world at this age) of being away from home can be very dysregulating and hard for young children to adapt to.
Be kind to yourself and DH. It doesn’t matter if they manage to see the parade and
norhing else. They will likely remember it for years to come. This is much better than them developing long term anxiety around holidays. It is beautiful that you and DP dedicated your hard earned money and holiday to do this for your DC. Just drop your expectations and know that this will be super special to them.

Great update, OP! I am so happy to read that you had a lovely day.

This sort of shit is too much for them at 2 & 4 and building it all up, high expectations etc will have made it worse

Have people not seen the update? All those saying the children won’t enjoy it they’ve all been today and had a really nice day - rides, characters and parade and a McDonalds for tea.

Sorry, but they are too young to appreciate (and be expected to behave on) an expensive trip to Disneyland.

Far too young. Wait till they are 6 ,8. My two were shockers at that age. Your far better booking z cheap UK caravan at that age. As i always said to exh, holidays with kids are just childcare in another location.

They sense your unease and play up because of it. Just put it down to experience. Pointless spending money on trip abroad with so much pressure.

Eurodisney is overpriced anyway.

Still remember that time when 18m old screamed the plane down for the trip from Scotland to Heathrow.
Or same child taken to Panto at nursery and out of 200 kids was the only one wailing.
Turned put to be autistic.
He is 10 now and fab to travel with. They will grow eventually. And you will miss them being little.
Disney sounds like hell though.

We took our 2yo last year and i would say she really enjoyed it- she loved the parades and characters, especially meeting Tiana, and talked about it for ages after so don't agree that there's no benefit!

However going and expecting them at those ages to not be challenging when they are overstimulated, overtired, in a totally different routine, country and general environment won't work (as hard as it is when you have all these ideas and plans for the trip... do totally get that with a holiday like that you always want to make the most of it)

I think chat with your 4yo in the morning and try to get to the bottom of what it was that they were upset by, or maybe they were just tired.Make a plan with him of how to help the day go better.
Rather than leaving, perhaps encourage him to take time out in a quieter area (right hand side of the castle near the entrance bridge is good) or go to one of the quieter areas of the park.

It's about getting a balance of validating his feelings and being reasonably flexible, without total avoidance and giving up I think.

Fingers crossed for a better night's sleep for them tonight.Our two are awful sharing a room/bed and were up til about 11 every night whilst we were there, as 2yo had napped each day and 7yo never settles early even at home, not alone on holiday- so feel your pain there!
On the plus side, at least we were able to see the fireworks 😂

Our hardest ever holiday was with DC 2 and 4 and that was a simple beach holiday. They cried, screamed, wouldn't sleep. I'd happily have gone home on day 2.

I really think it's too young for something like Disney, probably 8/ 10 is ideal, although to be honest I just wouldn't go there ever.

I salute you for trying. You're much braver than me. I couldn't even face Disneyland now and mine are teens!

I find most holidays with children until a certain age or more like a marathon endurance test of patience and good will... not something I'm particularly well known for!

It does get easier - but then it gets harder again...

Well done OP, glad you had a good day.

Sorry, I have just read your update. Pleased to hear that you had a better day!

2 & 4 is definitely too young for Disney but I admire your ambition and don't give up, you'll definitely have a better day tomorrow. After this I would hold back from any major theme parks until they are at least a couple of years older.

Age 4 and 2 is time to just batten down the hatches and do loads of chilling at home and local little park trips. There’s no way me and DH would cope with the sensory overload of Disneyland and 2 tiny kids. Step away from instagram and chill out for a few years.

I’m glad you’ve had a better second day. Disney is really overwhelming and when I went my 3 year old napped every day for at least 2 hours- that child had given up naps before 2 at home. she wasn’t keen on characters and was pretty shy. I’ve got lots of photos of her looking absolutely miserable with various princesses but one beautiful one where she warmed to Cinderella and started to actually enjoy herself. My 6yo though bloody loved it. She was the perfect age for it.

I think sometimes it’s easy to try and do something that is meant to be magical in the eyes of an adult but small children don’t always react as we want or expect. I’ve found holidays to be much more rewarding at primary age versus the under 5s.

I think you sound great tbh. We have all been there when we have planned something lovely for the kids and want it to be perfect and then the kids are little shits. Glad you had a better day today. I think we all live and learn as parents but I bet the kids will have lovely memories from this trip.

Good to read your update that today was better.

My son was always like this on holidays. Super excited before hand and on the way there, we arrive and I expect him to want to get to the pool, go to playground etc....he doesn't want to do anything just sit in the room etc. In hindsight, he was adjusting, decompressing and just finding his feet. I lowered my expectations and let him set the pace. Day 2 was better, day 3 better still.

Hope the rest of the trip is magical 🙃

I didn't want to add to the misery by saying that my first thought when considering this trip would have been is it worth spending money we can't really afford because (1) 'they won't remember it' and (2) 'am I doing this more for me and DP?' 🙄
We have done two trips to Euro Disney, the first one with our grandson when he was 6, he had a ball and can still remember it and there are lots of photos of him grinning his head off to prompt his memory! 😊The second time was with him, then 14, and his two female siblings aged around 12 and 6 which was an absolute blast for everyone although to be fair this was part of a 3 week camping trip to France and Holland and did not involve a ferry trip the night before! 😩
Hindsight is wonderful thing and maybe another trip when they're older might recompense for the first disappointment?