We returned home from our trip about a week ago and I keep thinking about the "extras" that were given to my almost-3-year-old. I was worried that he would feel left out when his older (6 and 9) siblings got to ride the "big" rides and he didn't (only 39 inches tall).
On our first day in the parks, it was quite hot and he went into a full meltdown when he couldn't go on Dinosaur. (Sadly, you must take the too-short child to the queue in order to get the child swap fast pass and then pull them away and explain that they can't ride.) The CM offered him a sticker and a coupon to play a "carnival" game in the Dino Land area. I was very thankful and attempted to take him to do this. Unfortunately, he was not placated and continued his meltdown so I found a quiet area with no other guests (near where Donald Duck meets guests) and let him try to get over himself. I think being over tired and overheated were paying a toll. After a few minutes, another CM who looked to be a manager of some sort was walking by and tried to talk nicely to him. I explained that he was not happy that he could not ride when his siblings could. This lovely CM pulled out a pad and wrote a slip for him to go pick out a free ice cream from one of the vendors. It was so unexpected and really made my day. Nothing like that has ever happened at an amusement park! After he was settled down with his chosen popsicle, we were able to ride rides in Dinoland and use the game voucher to play a game with his siblings.
On another day, my little one was waiting near the Jedi training academy stage area with his dad. Once again, he was waiting around for his older siblings to participate because the minimum age for Jedi training is 4. This time a photopass photographer asked him to come up onto the Jedi stage with his dad. They gave him a light saber and snapped away as he spun and swung the light saber around. My favorite photos from the entire trip came from this moment. He was all alone on the stage with the amazing Star Wars background just having the time of his life.
I was prepared for my little guy to have to do some waiting while we used child swap (bought him extra snacks and souvenirs and found photo booths to play in). But these other instances were unexpected and part of what made Disney so great for our family this trip.
On our first day in the parks, it was quite hot and he went into a full meltdown when he couldn't go on Dinosaur. (Sadly, you must take the too-short child to the queue in order to get the child swap fast pass and then pull them away and explain that they can't ride.) The CM offered him a sticker and a coupon to play a "carnival" game in the Dino Land area. I was very thankful and attempted to take him to do this. Unfortunately, he was not placated and continued his meltdown so I found a quiet area with no other guests (near where Donald Duck meets guests) and let him try to get over himself. I think being over tired and overheated were paying a toll. After a few minutes, another CM who looked to be a manager of some sort was walking by and tried to talk nicely to him. I explained that he was not happy that he could not ride when his siblings could. This lovely CM pulled out a pad and wrote a slip for him to go pick out a free ice cream from one of the vendors. It was so unexpected and really made my day. Nothing like that has ever happened at an amusement park! After he was settled down with his chosen popsicle, we were able to ride rides in Dinoland and use the game voucher to play a game with his siblings.
On another day, my little one was waiting near the Jedi training academy stage area with his dad. Once again, he was waiting around for his older siblings to participate because the minimum age for Jedi training is 4. This time a photopass photographer asked him to come up onto the Jedi stage with his dad. They gave him a light saber and snapped away as he spun and swung the light saber around. My favorite photos from the entire trip came from this moment. He was all alone on the stage with the amazing Star Wars background just having the time of his life.
I was prepared for my little guy to have to do some waiting while we used child swap (bought him extra snacks and souvenirs and found photo booths to play in). But these other instances were unexpected and part of what made Disney so great for our family this trip.
