She'll like the Little Mermaid attraction. She has to. It's the Mermaid. Her favorite movie of late. The line shouldn't be too bad since the shows are continuous.
So far, so good. There are plenty of other children her age in line. She doesn't even mind standing on her own.
Lots of things to look at in the holding area, but she's getting a little nervous. Better start prepping her for the show... Nope, she's more interested in watching another kid. Maybe there's nothing to worry about.
Okay, find a seat toward the rear, the more distance between her and the stage the better. I can feel her tensing up watching others dive for available seating. I should hold her a little tighter. Once we sit down, she will be able to look around and gain some confidence.
She's not calming down. The lights are going down and her whimpers are going up. She's not liking this. She won't even lift her head from my shoulder. Oh, bubbles! Point out the bubbles!... No, she doesn't like that either. Just wait until a familiar character comes out. Then she'll relax.
Sebastian! Look, Sprite! It's Sebastian! Please pay no attention to the pitch black nothingness behind him...Flounder? No? Just hold on tight, Ariel is coming...she's coming... Oh, thank goodness, look, Sprite! It's Ariel!
One look at Ariel and she's crying again. This is not working. People are staring at us. Please, Sprite, please, just realize that nothing is going to happen to you. No one will touch you. Just look and see your favorite characters... Ouch, Ursela is a lot bigger than I remembered. Have her eyes always glowed that brightly? Has this show always been that scary?
We give up. We have to. She's ruining the other guests' experience. WE'RE ruining the other guests' experience. I am so sorry, I am so sorry, I am so sorry, Damnit! Does this row ever end? What did I just step on? Where's the door?.... Sunlight!
Of course, the exit doors dump us right into the merchandise area. That Ariel doll she's eyeing may make her stop crying, but it will make me start.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mommy! See? It's Ariel! Mermaid! The mermaid is right there! Daddy! Did you see Mermaid? I'm going to see the Mermaid!
Look at all the other kids! This is so exciting! Put me down! I want to stand with the other kids.
Oh, this place is kind of dark and there's a lot of people standing around. Pick me up, please... Wait. There's a boy my age playing with a video game. Um, put me down. I want a better look.... Okay, what happened with the lights? It's getting darker. The noise is getting louder. I don't like this. Pick me up! Up!
Please don't pick that row. I want to be at the back. Do we have to sit? No, I don't like this. I don't want to look at the stage. I want to see the sun. I want to go outside. I want to be anywhere but here.
The noise! It's too loud! It's too dark! A bubble touched me! No! I don't CARE if the Mermaid is on the stage! I don't WANT to see Sebastian! This is NOT like the movie! They don't look right!
Please, I want to take a nap! I want to be outside! I want to go to my room! I want a TIME OUT!
Please take me outside! No, I WON'T calm down! I WON'T be quiet! I DON'T LIKE THIS! CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
Oh, thank you. Thank you for getting me out of there. I can see the sun. I can see everything in front of me.... I can see.. the Mermaid! I want the Mermaid! Can I have Ariel?
Please?
(To anyone whose toes John or I may have stepped on while booking it the hell out of the Mermaid attraction on Sunday, I apologize. And an extra apology for my butt being in your face, that was just cruel...)
Ah yes, I think you've summed up parenthood nicely. It's full of things we can't wait for them to experience because we know they'll love them. And then they don't...
Posted by: Rachel | September 10, 2009 at 04:50 AM
The one attraction you think they'll like and they prove you wrong. Happens every dang time.
Posted by: Michele | September 10, 2009 at 07:43 AM
So true. You think you're in their heads and you are so NOT!
How'd she do with the characters? The Girl FREAKED at the characters the first time, even the "real people" characters, which bummed me out because she was way into princesses at the time. Next time around, a year later, we had to get pictures with EVERY character. That was 2005, so don't ask how that scrapbook is coming . . .
Posted by: Mary Anne | September 10, 2009 at 08:01 AM
Ah, children. My uncle David, who became a father for the first time just 3 months shy of his 50th birthday, once compared them to canaries - they only sing beautifully when no one is around to hear them. Kids - they take Murphy's Law and make it their own.
Posted by: Jan | September 10, 2009 at 08:36 AM
At least you tried. And you have a beautiful new stuffed toy to add to the masses. :)
Posted by: Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt | September 10, 2009 at 08:43 AM
Oh man, that sounds frustrating. First, Chase bank and then that?!? I hope the rest of your trip went well!
Posted by: Nel | September 10, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Aw, so sweet and so right on. But I'll tell you, even at 13, my kids still loved the shows and collected character autographs. And I'd felt so bad we hadn't taken them till my youngest was 7. So you've got plenty of time.
Oh, and here's my Spin:
http://www.islandroar.com/2009/09/spin-cycle.html
Posted by: Maureen@IslandRoar | September 10, 2009 at 10:53 AM
I feel your pain...we took our 2 year old to Disney last year as a test to see if he would even like it..he LOVED it. The rides which I didnt think he would go for were his faves..What he hated and made him cry his eyes out? Meeting Tigger and Pooh...we waited in line for.ever. And as soon as he got to the front..pandemonium. Poor turkey. I was quite surprised. Pitch black ride through a tunnel doesnt bother you but Tigger does? He told me TIGGER IS TOOOO BIG.
Posted by: JennyMac | September 10, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Oh man! That is rough! Sorry that you guys had a hard time with her on Sunday. I am just glad that mine are past the fear of darkness phase.
Posted by: WickedStepMom | September 10, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Yep, I think you got those thoughts just right! Poor Sprite. Logan was a punk when we took him to the aquarium, too. The 4-D movie completely freaked him out.
How about a spin? http://viewfromtheshortbus.blogspot.com/2009/09/sing-loud-sing-proud.html
Posted by: HeatherPride | September 10, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I had a similar experience with Monsters Inc Laugh Floor....Little Kong loved that darn movie but the moment the lights dimmed (and it actually doesn't get really dark in there at all) he freaked!!! screaming, crying, yelling..."OUT!!! OUT!!!!" that is one time I was glad his behavior resembled that of other children his age....although we WERE the only ones exiting the attraction. I left the hubs there with 2 double strollers LOL!!!
Posted by: Krystal | September 10, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Wow... reading this has a whole different meaning for me. I was that kid... afraid of the exact kinds of things. Only the sad part is that I didn't really have the same kind of supportive parenting. Mine would have done the same thing... taken me out of there as fast as possible... but they were enfuriated by such sensitivies. (NORMAL sensitivies, looking back on it.) So, good for you for going deeper and being such great parents!
Posted by: Robin | September 10, 2009 at 01:02 PM
She had an experience, nobody lost any limbs or blood. What more could you ask for?
Posted by: Keely | September 10, 2009 at 02:21 PM
I think most of us have been through this exact scenario, thinking that their child will LOVE something and ending up in tears, rushing out and being devastated by the let-down.
It's frustrating. Why can't kids be smart enough to know they like what we tell them to like?!
Posted by: Kaylen | September 10, 2009 at 02:27 PM
heartbreaking! it's so hard ot know if they're going to love that kind of thing or hate it. and it seems whatever we guess is wrong.
Posted by: jenni | September 10, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Poor baby! She'll enjoy it more when she gets older...and so will you! I guess she was afraid of the dark?
Posted by: Ginger | September 10, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Ha ha is that the Little Mermaid Show at Disney or MGM?? Meg had the same reaction, reading your post was like reliving it all over except we made her sit through the whole thing (she just keep her face buried in my shoulder). She was also about Sprite's age when we gave it a shot. Meg still doesn't like really dark attractions when she gets on them, but raves about them when they're over. :-)
Posted by: Kirsty | September 10, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Pobrecita Sprite!! It's so funny that the things you think will be So Exciting to kids can be So Scary.
Posted by: Belle | September 11, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Max and Ruby Live was going to be somewhere local and while I thought of taking Jonathan ....I just knew it would end like this..
Posted by: Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings | September 11, 2009 at 03:04 PM
This reminds me of the trip we took to Orlando in January and Graham STILL talks about being afraid of the dinosaurs at the T-Rex Cafe.
Posted by: Casey | September 11, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Isn't that just like kids: The one thing you think they'll love...whether it's a movie, a show, a present, a food...and they don't like it for some reason. Sigh. On the other hand, the one thing you don't even think about, they love. So fickle, these little kiddies.
Posted by: Kristina | September 14, 2009 at 09:54 PM