A mum has warned parents thinking of taking their kids to Disney theme parks this year to avoid saying one phrase to their children – as it might cause a ‘meltdown’ in the hotel
If you’re thinking of surprising your children with a Disney-themed getaway this summer, you may want to heed this warning. Disney is a huge part of growing up for many children, and getting the chance to visit one of the company’s theme parks can be an unforgettable experience they remember for the rest of their lives.
But one mum has urged other parents to think carefully about how they tell their children the exciting news, as certain phrases could lead to a “meltdown” at the hotel. In a video on TikTok, the mum and travel agent told parents they should never use one common phrase, as it could give your child unrealistic expectations.
When surprising their child with a Disney trip, parents often say something like: “We’re going to see Mickey Mouse”.
But according to the travel expert, you should never say this – as it will just confuse children when they’re not greeted by the Disney mascot as soon as they get off the plane or enter the park.
She said: “When you tell your young children that you’re going to Walt Disney World, do not, under any circumstances, use the words ‘We’re going to see Mickey Mouse’. Every Disney cast member who works in a hotel lobby knows exactly where I’m going with this.
“I cannot count the number of times I have been in one of those hotel lobbies and a family with a kid who is four or five says ‘It’s time for us to go to our room’, and the kid loses it. Through tears, they scream something like: ‘You promised we were going to see Mickey’.
“What you meant when you told them that was at some point on this vacation, you will get to meet Mickey Mouse. But what your child heard was, as soon as we get out of the car or off the plane, Mickey Mouse will be there to give me a giant hug.”
The mum said she understands why parents use the Mickey Mouse phrase, as she knows young children have “no frame of reference” for what Disney World is, so wouldn’t understand if they were told exactly where they were going.
However, she advised parents to try to get their kids excited for the things that are actually happening on that day. For example, try to make the plane journey exciting or talk about using the swimming pool at the hotel.
The travel agent also said that setting expectations like this is “especially helpful” for children with autism, as it gives them a sense of what they’re walking into ahead of time without overwhelming them with information.
She added: “By design, Disney World is an overstimulating experience, regardless of age. The more you can do to take things one step at a time and slow down the pace, the more fun everyone’s going to have.”
Commenters on the post thanked the mum for her helpful advice. Some even shared stories from their childhood about their own experience with going to a Disney park as a young child.
One person said: “Also, TELL YOUR KID YOU’RE GOING. My parents took me out of school a few days early for a Disney surprise trip when I was six. I thought we were ‘going on a trip’ just for a few hours before school. I had a meltdown in the parking lot because I read the parking sign and realised I would miss presenting my book report.”
Another added: “No, I’m still salty because my parents were going to take me to Disney World in kindergarten, but when they asked me, ‘Do you want to go see Mickey Mouse?’ I said no, so they cancelled the trip.”