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

Overtired, overwhelmed definitely etc.

When my youngest was 2, and fresh outta the lockdowns, we did Paris minus any Disney. DS was so excited that first night he was a hard to settle for sleep, so didn't sleep as much as normal. We visited the Louvre around 11am the next day and he screamed the entire way through. It was so out of character, but I had older kids who wanted to see the museum. Luckily, we had enough adults to keep him away from the crowded areas/give him attention/try to get him nap/divide and conquer... he refused to sleep and still just screamed. But then, like magic, after screaming for 2+ hours, we walked outside into the sunshine and he magically calmed down. He wanted to walk everywhere. Was excited again. We settled and had an ice cream on a bridge, then walked to eat a late lunch, and then eventually got an Uber back to our apartment where he slept for the night. That was that in terms of the crying/screaming for that holiday.

We traveled to the US that same summer and he was a dream to travel with. We've fortunately been on a good amount of holidays since and we know how to manage him better (but tbh he's a dream to travel with generally).

Just giving you hope for a new day. Hopefully your DC will sleep well tonight, and ease themselves into Disney/your holiday. If possible, maybe divide and conquer will work if you have other adults and at least one kid is not tantruming.

all things Disney are the worst nightmare anyway
kids felt it

As Scarlett O Hara famously said “Tomorrow is another day” Please come back and tell us what a good time you’ve had 😀

Mine loved Disneyland Paris at 2 and I took her own my own at 4 so it’s not necessarily they are too young.
On the bright side it may make a funny family story when they are older.

This sort of is really helpful for my daughter. She is was more able to cope with transitions and new environments when she has a good idea of how the day will go, we're going away soon and have watched so many videos of where we're staying!

I'd leave the 2 year old with one of you to
go to a park and feed the ducks. The other takes the 4 year old to Disney. A day of regulation and potter around might mean he's more ready to try again the next day. Your 4 year old can get the hang of the park without her little brother losing the plot next to her. It was a huge gamble at their ages. I wouldn't dwell on it just find pockets of joy where you can.

I hope you have a better day tomorrow!!

Aw, they're so so young. Would probably prefer a day at the park and need wide open spaces at that age.

Nevermind, I'd focus on doing what you can.

They are very little. You are placing a lot of expectations on them. Just becaus they love Disney toys and films doesn't mean they can cope with the intensity of DLP.

One lesson I learned from my first child (big age gap) Do not do anything which can cause you to have resentment if it doesn't go according to the image in your head. Which it likely won't! Good or bad.

You have mentioned the money a few times. Clearly money you now wish you hadn't spent. You expected your children to be thrilled and enjoy themselves and for you to get a buzz from making them happy. I can totally relate to going to a lot of effort to give our children great experiences but sometimes they don't like them or can't cope with them.

They are young, tired, out of routine and it is overwhelming. I wouldn’t have left there’s quiet areas in park or Disney village. McDonalds if they want something familiar. Lots of little ones don’t like characters up close. Try again and don’t stress about what you’ll get done.

Sorry, I realise my tone was quite judgmental. I have young kids too and made similar mistakes with holidays/activities. I find that specially when you spent time/effort/money, it's even more crushing and defeating. But it's not your fault. You haven't misplanned or anything, kids are so unpredictable! They also can't see the woods for the tree, they don't understand delayed gratification. We think "Long journey there, with the ferry and all that, but then we can enjoy the park" while after the ferry, their nervous system is already on overdrive and there's nothing left in the tank for the park, if that makes sense.

I have similar dreadful memories of disneyland Paris, with my then 3 and 5 year old. Unbeknown to be at the time my son was on the spectrum, he spent most of his time trying to hide in his sisters pushchair and when he wasn't doing that he was having meltdown after meltdown. I feel your pain. Definitely hire pushchairs for both children, and take the pressure off yourself. Try and find joy in the small things... my Son was most impressed with the double decker trains, and remembers that over the hype of Disney. I hope it improves.

Aww I hope tomorrow goes well. We took dss to Disney world florida at a similar age. They were ok apart from ds2 wanting to go on the Mexican boat ride over and over 🙈 Ds2 vaguely remembers it amazingly. He was a nightmare at 3 but luckily didn't last long...and we weren't in Disney.

You've had some fab tips. I definitely agree with play park first.

You’re not unreasonable to be upset but I think had slightly unreasonable expectations from 2 such young children.

We’ve only been away twice with ours but both times expectations are low. Often they just can’t cope with that level of excitement and being out of routine, and it manifests in tantrums because they just don’t have adequate skills to channel those emotions properly. Not to mention Disney is quite overwhelming anyway 😅

Hopefully after a good night sleep and a reset of your expectations you’ll have a better day tomorrow.

This , I wouldn't even bother doing this with a 4yo and think madness with a 2yo. Far too overwhelming and too much going on.

There are some great Facebook groups that have loads of advice, even where to go so your kids could have relaxed a bit.

Once they are asleep I'd take the time to plan for tomorrow. So what do you think they would most like to do? Rides, meet and greets, watch the parades, see the shows? I'd work out a plan and then have plenty of rest breaks, going at the kids pace. Take plenty of snacks so the kids can have them in the queue. We went when my youngest was 2, older kids were 6 and 7 and really did divide and conquer. I made sure we had plenty of rest breaks for icecream and my youngest often went to sleep when we went to see a show.

Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

They are too young.

go back in 5 years and you will have a much better experience

Sorry that it went all wrong like that.

Maybe they were just so happy that they kind of lost the plot?

This happened to me on holiday in Paris once too. I was really excited about going to an area of the city that had loads of lovely fabric shops. I was with DH when we were first dating and he was on board with it so that was really nice too.

When we got there, I was so happy to see the shops that I got terrible indigestion and had to go to MacDonalds for a cup of tea. The trip to the fabric shops just was a total washout after that because I'd go too excited and ruined it for myself. I was 28 years old.

I think sometimes the dream holiday is just very overwhelming. Maybe you could go to a nice park instead, and keep things low key?

I'd never take a 2 and 4 yo to Disney, mental! I'd wait until the youngest of is 5 or 6, as younger than that they really have no impulse or emotion control and it's way too much to ask of them. Disney is a lot of walking and a lot of queuing, so even if you make it further than 10min in, they will still struggle at some points during the day.