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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send DH and DS to Disneyland Paris?

43 replies

LynetteScavo · 06/01/2011 21:30

I've looked on line, and realised we can't afford for all 5 of us to go..so have suggested to DH that he and DS1 go on the Eurostar and stay for one night.

DH thinks this would be grossly unfair on the two yonder DC. I think younger DC can all have their turn in future years of the same trip. DH says how do we explain to a 5 yo and a 7yo their older brother has has gone to Disneyland with Dad....I say we just say they have gone to France for two days to learn a bit of French.....

OP posts:
QODneystones · 06/01/2011 21:31

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - photos? Excited talk? Unless you do a whole - you're going for your 9th (or whatever) birthday present?

sims2fan · 06/01/2011 21:34

Personally I think you should start up a savings account solely for saving for this trip, and all go in a couple of years when you've saved the money - would be cheaper in the long run than to end up going three times.

FabbyChic · 06/01/2011 21:36

I would say if you cannot all afford to go don't go.

Find a caravan site or something and all go.

To enjoy Disneyland Paris you need at least three days.

mutznutz · 06/01/2011 21:37

I'd say it's a bad idea as you have no idea if you'll be able to afford to send the others in the future anyway.

Also, there really is no point at all in going for one night...it's a lovely place but the queues are horrendous and your child really will not be able to see and do much in that short time.

Best start saving for a future family holiday there for all of you

Nanny0gg · 06/01/2011 21:38

And a 5 year old and a 7 year old would absolutely love it.

And DS1 would never keep it quiet.

TragicallyHip · 06/01/2011 21:40

I would save and go in a few years time. Seems unfair for only one of your Dc's to go imo.

upahill · 06/01/2011 21:41

YADBU.

No way would I give one child a great treat and leave the others out. The 7 year old in paticular will know what's what. There is no way DS1 will be able to keep quiet about the great time they had.
Please don't do it.

Go as a family in a year or two and enjoy all your children enjoying it.

Original poster
LynetteScavo · 06/01/2011 21:43

mutznutz Thu 06-Jan-11 21:37:14

"I'd say it's a bad idea as you have no idea if you'll be able to afford to send the others in the future anyway."

This is my point! Why should DS1 miss out on things because he has younger siblings? DH is giving me this Hmm look.

OP posts:
activate · 06/01/2011 21:43

no that's not fair

the kids can go free if you go before April 5th

Bogeyface · 06/01/2011 21:43

YANBU to think it would be nice for atleast one to go, I see your thinking but.. I agree with the others that it would be better to save up for a year or so and go together. You can get some great deals (if you drive there and stay with Keycamp, Eurocamp etc in Paris and buy day tickets for the park you can save a fortune!) and will have a much better time together :)

activate · 06/01/2011 21:44

I think I'm going to go for straight-talking - I think it's a horrible thing to suggest when your youngest are 7 and 5 - if they were under 3 then totally understandable but they will know and they will not forget that DS1 went and they didn't

it is favouritism

it is rather mean

Bogeyface · 06/01/2011 21:45

And dont forget, kids dont think the way we do.

They wont see it that you couldnt afford for you all to go later, but that he got to go and they didnt and that will probably stay with them as a grudge for years! Read any of the family related posts on here to see that!

All go or no go, thats the only fair way to do it.

makemineapinot · 06/01/2011 21:47

YABU - if I was one of your younger DC I would be so upset!! As someone else has suggested do it a cheaper way. We went camping to les etangs fleuris (my dc and I went with canvas - a friend booked direct) it's right by the Davy Crocket ranch so only 20 mins drive. The drive from calais is easy and you can take food etc with you. The biggest expense would be booking your park tickets but TBH probably wouldn't be more expensive than paying for the holiday for your DH and DS with eurostar. When we went camping we did breakfast and dinner at the caravan and took a picnic in to the park. Food is meag expensive there. You can do it on a budget! If you don't drive/don't want to drive you could get the eurostar or go by coach (leger do cheap deals) and stay ina cheap hotel just outside Disney - some are 1 or 2 stops along the metro. But please don't do this to your kids - you ahould all go or none of you go. Even look at the (whispers) Daily mail as they're doing those holidays for £15 - bet there's a campsite within driving distance there. Hope you get it dorted for all 5 of you!!

mutznutz · 06/01/2011 21:49

What do you mean 'why should he miss out because he has younger siblings'??

You're a family and as a family the children should be treated fairly.

Why should he get such a massive treat because he's the eldest is the way I would be looking at it.

littleducks · 06/01/2011 21:49

I went with my dad when in opened, i was about 6 so my bro would have been 4. I cant remember the details my dad got special preview tickets from work. We went for the day, by plane but it was smaller then!

My brother went a couple of years later, i think by then the eurotunnel was open. He either went for a day or two.

I was never jealous, i didnt know where we were going until the day before (but then i had no idea what it was then as there werent all the adverts etc) so its possible we didnt tell my brother until we came home.

Original poster
LynetteScavo · 06/01/2011 22:03

OK, I hear you all!

If all DC are to go that means I will have to go too, so it will be in school holiday time (more cost), and if it's more than 2 days DH probably won't leave work....that leaves me with 3 DC alone in France, and I'm thinking the only way I can cope with that is to stay in civilisation Paris itself and travel out to Disneyland Paris.

Would it be really wrong to wander around the Musee d'Orsay alone while I send the DC to Disneyland on their own? Wink I've done the Disney thing 3 times already and can't be arsed to subject myself to it again!

OP posts:
upahill · 06/01/2011 22:06

Of course it is fine for you to do your thing in the day. I wouldn't have a problem with either me doing it or if Dh wanted some time him going off on his own.

Just listen like you are really interested in Mickey Mouse when you all meet up later!!

FabbyChic · 06/01/2011 22:07

YOu cannot send three children to Disney on their own.

Jeez don't you like doing things with your children, seeing it through their eyes, you make it sound like a chore.

You have to do three days. Minimum to enjoy it.

Starbuck999 · 06/01/2011 22:09

YABU - the younger ones are old enough to know they are missing out and too young to be comforted by the fact that you could only afford for one of them to go!

Disneyland Paris doesnt have to be expensive..

  1. Book Eurostar in advance and sometimes getting the indirect train via Lille can bring the cost down too.
  1. Book the accomodation in advance, go for the cheapest if you stay on site (the Santa Fe - cheap and cheerful, walking distance to the parks, or there is a bus)
  1. Go off peak and not at the weekends.. I took my dd out of school for a few days (I know some people don't agree) but it will be much cheaper!

(If you go off peak the queues are often non existent too. Go in November and many rides have no queues at all!)

Food and drinks are very expensive there, takes loads of cartons of drinks and bottle of water from home, being snacks too, fruits, crisps etc. Also, there is a mini market behind the Eurostar station, buy things to make your sandwiches for a picnic lunch each day.

Look at the options of staying offsite, camping is a really popular choice, super cheap and a real adventure for the kids too!

Hope this all helps a bit...

Original poster
LynetteScavo · 06/01/2011 22:12

Seeing the Louvre through the eyes of DS1 when he was a toddler was one of the best experiences I've had as as a mum.....queuing at Legoland for the bloody fire engine ride with a whingy whiny DS2 was one of the crappiest.

Really, I can't send them on their own? Bugger.

OP posts:
AuntiePickleBottom · 06/01/2011 22:13

send dp with him and the 3 children, normally families of 4 is alot cheaper than a family of 5

FabbyChic · 06/01/2011 22:14

Insist your DH goes with you so it is a family event, you cannot take the children alone that wouldn't be a break for you.

YOu can go Monday to Thursday choose a week beginning of July end June so it is off peak but the weather is still nice.

Original poster
LynetteScavo · 06/01/2011 22:15

Three days? Three days of farking Disney to enjoy it? Do you mean I have to cross a pain threshold to get to the pleasure?

OP posts:
Original poster
LynetteScavo · 06/01/2011 22:16

AuntiePickleBottom, I think you are on to something!

OP posts:
HaveAHappyNewJung · 06/01/2011 22:16

I reckon the littluns would never forget it. Stuff like that, though it seems small to an adult, can be MASSIVE for a child.

Save up for a bigger trip in a couple of years.

How tall are they btw, I've been told that 42in is the Magic Number for Disneyland - ie then they are tall enough to get on a decent amount of rides. We have decided not to go until both our DCs are that height.