Opinions

Let me ask you this......
By Lisa - April 13, 2001

It never fails. Invariably, in all of my Disney conversations that, at the start, seems harmless there is a turning point ... and then it comes.......dun, dun, dunnn!!! The question.

This is the question that I love to answer, yet hate to defend. This is one question that takes on different forms with variables and factors, yet it all basically boils down to this... "But aren't my kids too old/young/short/hairy/sweaty/jittery/well-rounded academically (fill in your own adjective here) to go to Disney World?"

If I had a pressed penny for every time I've heard a parent talk them selves out of taking their child to WDW, I'd have quite a collection of pressed pennies.

It is natural for parents have concerns before taking their child anywhere. For example "Will the cages be LOCKED at the zoo?" or "Have they removed ALL the asbestos from the High School cafeteria?" Or my personal favorite, "Do they SUPPLY the helmets at 'Bungee Jumps'R Us?'" Sure, I'm concerned. There are a lot of things to worry about.

Yet, to me, there is one and only answer to this question that I am forever getting asked. "She'll only be a short/sweaty/hairy/well-rounded 3 year old ONCE! Take the kid already!"

Now, I am not talking about cost. I am not talking about people who live in Antarctica where the plane ride alone is an aging process. I am talking about folks, like my cousin, who live a mere 2 hour jaunt away that claim "My kids would be scared of the Characters, I hate to waste the money and have them cry the whole time. I'll wait till they're all old enough to enjoy it."

The "all" she refers to are 7, 4, and 3. Primo ages for WDW, right? Right? What, you don't agree with me? You think they should wait till all the kids can ride Splash Mountain enough times in a day that you can grow hydroponics under their armpits? You think it's a waste to have a 3 year old watch as her older brother and sister run screaming from the Haunted Mansion??

Heaven forbid this cousin of mine go to WDW and watch, in awe, as her reportedly "petrified" 3 year old shyly hugs Winnie the Pooh while lunching at the Crystal Palace, only then to have this same child spend the rest of the meal following Pooh around as he works other tables (to the general annoyance of everyone ELSE in the room!) Wouldn't it just be horrible to see the 7 year old's eyes light up as she realizes that shape she saw on the ceiling in her Resort's lobby was actually a Hidden Mickey. I know I would HATE to witness MY 5 year old squeak by the CM at Space Mountain for the first time after straining for that extra inch for 2 years. Oh, the horror that is Disney World!!

What I wish I could impart to all the nay sayers out there who balk at the idea of their child finding anything new or interesting at Disney is this. There is no time like NOW. Yeah, it's great to have a college fund, it's great to be able to afford those little extras like home improvements, dinner, soap, shoes .... But WHO CARES????? YOU will have fun, your CHILDREN will have fun. You might come home poor of money, yet you'll be rich of memoires.

We've all heard that money can't buy happiness. Here's my motto "Money can't buy happiness if the money is sitting in the bank and you're sitting in your house wishing you were somewhere else! Get your money and go make your happiness"

Stop making excuses. Stop waiting for the elusive "right time." It'll never come! NEVER! Yank those kids out of school, crack open the piggy bank and head south for the winter, summer, off season, busy-season, whatever! Just GO ALREADY. You will not regret it. Any questions?