Do most children want to visit Disneyland?

[Greenbutterlfy566]

Do you think most children want to visit Disneyland?

We’ve never been and wondered whether they would be left out so to speak if they didn’t go?

We took the DC to Disneyland Paris when 2 and 6. Obviously, the 6 year old got more out of it, but DC2 is the one who is Disney mad and tries to fit in a Disney trip each year! She is an adult, btw. We have loved WDW in Florida, and I did Disneyland on my honeymoon, back in the dark ages. While I would struggle to do a whole day in the parks, we do love going to Florida and doing Disney. We go with DD2 in the morning and do some rides, then we head back to shop or the villa and she spends the day there and calls when she needs to be picked up. We did the fireworks in 2017 and I found them incredibly moving, but I am a renowned sap!

If your kids want to go, then if you can afford it, why not? If they don't, well, don't go then. Not everything suits everyone.

It's the last place on Earth DS(14) wants to visit. He hates rides & roller coasters, crowds etc. He prefers a cruise (expensive tastes).

Yes, my kids are dying to go! They are 2, 6 and 7 and we have planned a trip for the spring. I remember going when I was little and it was the best thing ever!!!

I'm really excited about doing them all! I still remember our Disney trip when I was a child. It was amazing. And I wasn't a particularly Disneyish child.

So far on our list for when DD is old enough (but young enough not to be cynical ) are:

The whole Florida shebang
Legoland
Efteling
Flamingo Land (for nostalgia reasons mainly)
Alton Towers

And now off to investigate that Roman one as it sounds fascinating! Will keep checking back for more suggestions!

As to age, I was 8 or 9 when I went to Disneyland and I think that was a pretty good age.

Efteling is where it's at. That ace is beautiful. And so, so much better value for money.

It also has a donkey that fires gold coins out of its butt so that wins every time. 💁🏻‍♀️

@deslynamsmoustache
Please add bewilderwood to that list, it’s utterly wonderful.

@EvilPea I just had a look and it looks magical! Thanks!

My kids aren't into Disney. They like the idea of it, but the reality would be a bit disappointing for them. Universal studios would be much better for them. Either way mine would prefer a week in a caravan park with 2p machines and discos over a weekend in Disney for now.

Des lynam

The roman one is puy du foy in France.

Please put efteling above lego land on that list and if its lego land Windsor... Put it way down...

Foaming the efteling is a mumsnet favourite 😁😁.

It's amazing isn't it. It has a depth and atmosphere that dlp doesn't have and it's all based on fairy tales.

The donkey is part of the table be laid fairy tale.

Mine (13 and 11) aren't that bothered. We'd like to go to Kennedy though. And they'd love to go to Rome.
DS will hopefully go Disney Paris with school in year 10-11. But that's affordable for me.

We all love Disney and have a great time. Depends on your family

We love Orlando Disney. The one in Paris is a bit rubbish though.

I think best ages to take them are between 5/6 and 12. Although teens love Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

We lucky enough to go every couple of years.

We’ve offered many times and they have said no. Ds1 did really like Disney when he was small but still said he didn’t fancy it when offered so we haven’t bothered. He recently went with school as a treat on their trip to Paris and was meh about it, but he is 14 so a bit like that about a lot of things. When I went to paris with school we picked Parc asterix over Disney and had a fab day but obviously no idea how it would compare.

In our friendship group I feel like it was a ‘thing’ when we were kids but not so much for ours.

In short, I don’t think they are missing out unless they want to go.

I accept that Orlando might be a whole different ball game.

My whole family are Disney mad so I am biased, but I absolutely love it. We have been to Disneyland Paris about 20 times

The food is expensive though, which I do appreciate now I’m going as an adult who has to pay for things myself! I’ve never had an issue with taking snacks and water in to the park though, they do scan your bags but it is for dangerous items as opposed to food. You’re not allowed to picnic, but we’ve never had an issue with crisps, cereal bars etc being taken in. I appreciate it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but if your children like Disney and like rides I would be very, very surprised if they don’t like Disneyland!

@DesLynamsMoustache I went on a girl guiding trip to the Norfolk Bewilderwood (as a leader, not as a child) and while it was a nice day out I found it very overpriced for what it is. We went when it was fairly cold and horrid, but if I’m honest I wouldn’t pay those prices to go back regardless of what the weather was. Maybe I’m just a philistine though!

My kids are Disney mad but they found Disneyland totally underwhelming. The rides are better at our local theme park and there are no queues. Pirates of the Caribbean is so dull. We are saving up for Universal Studios though. I think it’s much better than Disneyland.

Mine have been once for one day a long long time ago - it was OK, not particularly amazing. They preferred Alton Towers.

We've actually been to Orlando since then and not bothered with any theme parks - they just were happy to be at a hotel with a pool in February when it's -20 at home.

I find the meshing of traditional fairytale and the Disney version interesting!

We have lots of books, various fairy tale books from lady bird etc and others, so my dc see rapunzel for instance with different faces.
Some dc who have come to play see a rapunzel toy figure with no Disney face and say its not rapunzel even with the long hair etc!

Nope not all. My 7 year old DD isn't mad keen on Disney. She likes 101 dalmations, Cinderella and Peter pan and that's about it. I asked if she wanted to see frozen 2 but she said she doesn't even like the first one why would she bother with the 2nd 🤣

Now if she caught wind of any kinda Ghibli or totoro world in Japan and I'd never hear the end of it

We did Florida and I really thought it would be awful. We started with just a one day pass. None of mine would have said they wanted to go before we got there. They closed the park four days in a row. It is just massive amounts of fun and it's all very kid friendly and easy to navigate. They give you a queue jumper for free if you have autism. They all still say it's the best holiday we've had and would go back in a heartbeat. Paris just isn't the same thing at all. We did one day there and that was it. DH hated it all but loved seeing the kids so happy.

Oh yes! This means nothing... I'm really looking forward to that one too! Dd 1 likes fairytales including Disney but adores studio ghibli, I wonder what they will do I imagine it could be quite spooky?

Children can take it or leave it, it's the parents that want to go.
I went in my thirties to Florida,hated Disney land but the other theme parks and evening entertainment were good.

I come from a Disney mad family - my parents went to the original one in California and to Florida before me and my sister were born, and I’ve been to both in America plus Disneyland Paris multiple times (lost count!) as a child and adult

Disneyland Paris is a bit less overwhelming, I was asked my opinion on which Disney to strike first and I would recommend, for example if child wanted to go but you were not so sure, go for Disneyland Paris. It’s smaller so not as overwhelming as Orlando and only needs a 2 or 3 days to complete (slightly different matter in the height of summer!

Different strokes for different folks

It’s not just the rides, it’s the atmosphere, particularly in America where the staff go out of their way to bend over backwards to help you (Europeans haven’t quite got this mastered)

Due to my Disney family, we always had the films on video, Disney books and story tapes etc. But I grew up liking theme parks in general and love a good roller coaster now.

I think Disney would appeal if you are not so into thrill rides (as they’re aren’t so many)

I was one of only a couple I knew who had been to Disney at primary school. More had been when I was at secondary school. Out of my group Uni friends only a couple of us had been. Majority of my adult friends still haven’t been close to it. Don’t plan to take their children there.

Meanwhile I’m looking at going alone !!!! Tho what I really want is to see the Harry Potter stuff at Orlando, but you know, whilst I’m there.....

So no, I don’t think your children will be left out. To be honest I’ve worked with children for a decade and only ever had a handful really talk about the place.