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

[Cheepcheepcheep]

Probably should have NC but sod it.

For Christmas we booked for DH, me, and DC 2 + 4 to go to Disneyland Paris. We don’t have stacks of spare cash and really prioritised this as they’re both in love with all things Disney. They’ve been talking about it all of Jan.

It’s been a bit of a disaster of a trip…

Arrived on the ferry lunchtime Monday, the kids were so good and loved the ferry. A smooth drive to an Airbnb near the park. Due to a few logistical issues with getting into the Airbnb they were late to bed (by an hour, adjusting for the time changes) but god. They were up for a further 2 hours, awful but put it down to holiday and over excitement.

Today, wake up, super excited for Disney. We get to the park and within 10m 2yo has a meltdown. Not unusual, I’ve had some concerns about ND but he was inconsolable. Then 4yo has one too. Very unusual for her. Screaming, crying, corpsing “I want to go home I don’t want to be here”. No amount of lovely chatting about Disney castle and meeting Mickey and Minnie could help. So we admitted defeat after all of 30m and went back to the Airbnb, have been here all day bar a quick trip to the supermarket for dinner (had planned to eat at the park).

They’re now “in bed” (8pm here) with a view to them sleeping nicely ready for an attempt to go back to the park tomorrow but up and down and shouting. They have their moments (which 4yo and 2yo don’t, potential ND issues aside) but I feel so defeated that we didn’t even manage to do anything, we literally walked two screaming kids up to the castle and back again. No rides, shows or even a meet with characters.

For the record I’m not a Disney adult, far from it. Frankly if they told me they wanted to go do a cultural city break I’d be delighted. I’m just gutted we’ve spent the best part of £1k (when costs are very tight) on something I know they’d love but tantrums and screaming have me on the RER in tears. DH and I being snappy with each other (albeit with appropriate apologies when it’s calmer) because we’re just so deflated and yelled out by the two kids.

4yo was apologetic about tantrum and appears to be trying to be better. 2yo doesn’t have a huge amount of language but accepts he needed to be kinder today.

Am I over optimistic? I’ve never bought into instagram parenting and accept there may be lows but god, I’d like to be one of the parents we saw today with kids of the same age who weren’t screaming so hard they had to leave.

Hiding in the Airbnb bedroom drinking a glass of wine while DH tries to settle them…

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.

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

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.

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 💗

@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!

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

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.

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.