| The Best Experience of the Day

I recently had the opportunity to go to Hong Kong Disney with my four year old grandson and two year old granddaughter. It was a fun time and a full day of adventure.

My grandson had never been to a theme park before, so everything was exciting and new… and sometimes a little scary!

The Jungle Ride, with hippos, volcanoes and waterfalls was a little overwhelming. Then we came to It’s a Small World!

Now I understand this ride is not for everyone. In fact, his dad (my own son), prior to this trip would actively avoid this ride due to the song repetition and the mild form of entertainment provided.

But my grandson was enraptured! So much so, that he just couldn’t seem to stay seated, which they repetitively tell you to do. I found out something very interesting about Disney.

They will scold you in your own language! Here I am in a Chinese speaking country. My Chinese daughter-in-law is in the seat with me, but my grandson is right next to me.

Each time he stood up, the music would get softer and they would say…in English only…please keep your children seated during the ride! After the third time, I realized they were talking to me!

 

 

So what do you do with an excited four year old who is thrilled at every turn?

You join in. I explained we needed to stay seated, then I started pointing out even more exciting things to see. This allowed me to guide him back to sitting when he popped up while I pointed to things for him to find.

We went back and forth showing things to each other. His excitement grew, but he wanted to sit close so he didn’t miss a thing.

Soon he no longer jumped up. He just sat close, wide eyed and focused on all there was to see. We were having an adventure together.

Then it happened. A volcano with fire! Not near as realistic as the one we had seen earlier in the Jungle Ride, but a safer version he could completely enjoy while feeling safe. He was so thrilled.

Later, as we walked about the park, we happened past the ride again…only this time his daddy was with us again.

My son was not at all thrilled with his son’s enthusiasm and desire to go on It’s a Small World. But his son wanted so much to share it with his daddy.

So, on we went again.  My grandson never jumped out of his seat this time. He was snuggled up with daddy ‘helping’ him enjoy the adventure.

 

 

I have a little tradition I do with my children at the end of a trip. I ask a question. What was your favorite part of the experience?

Needless to say, my grandson shouted out about the volcano, fire and water (from It’s a Small World, not the Jungle Ride!)  But to my surprise my own son said his favorite was the same ride.

He said it was such a thrill to see, what he thought was a boring ride, through the eyes of his young son. It was no longer a boring ride. The enthusiasm of this little four year old had transformed it to the best experience of the day.