Headed to Disney World with a shy kid? Here are some of our best tips and trick how to help them enjoy the magic the most!
Almost every kid will go through a shy phase at some point, and just when you start to feel like that’s just the way it is and it always will be, they go and change the rules on us. When a shy phase coincides with a Disney trip, it can be stressful for everyone. Disney Dads and Moms just want everything to be perfect, and as tough as it is to admit, that push for perfection can be part of the problem.
Disney for Shy Kids: Tips and Tricks
You’ve got your family all the way to the Most Magical Place on Earth with great planning and grim determination. Now that you’re here, the time has come to step back a little, listen to how your Mouseketeers are feeling and help them get the most out of this magical day. Here’s how it worked for us, back when my two were timid.
Mind the Crowds
Feeling uncomfortable in a crowd is not necessarily a trait exclusive to shy kids, but it is shy-adjacent, if you will. Mine always seemed perfectly happy to blend into a crowd, as long as the crowd didn’t want to pay attention to them, or expect them to speak. Having said that, these are Disney-level crowds, and it can get a little intense when most of your viewpoint is taken up by a forest of kneecaps.
Keep communication open. It’s a lot less scary if you know where you’re going, even if you don’t know where it is. For us, this was my son’s innovation. Every time we stepped off an attraction he would step away from the foot traffic and ask “Where are we going now, Daddy?” I would tell them what I thought and he and his sister would passionately agree and cheer. Just happy as clams to be on the team. Every time. Of course, they had no idea where anything else was, so I didn’t expect a lot of contrary opinions, but still, a fella could get used to that.
Consider PhotoPass
There’s not much that you can do to set off a shy kid faster than point a camera at them and tell them to smile. But every Disney Mom or Dad wants that perfect happy-child Disney picture to share with family, frame for Grandma and use in this year’s Christmas card. That is a lot of pressure to put on a small person who hates being the center of attention.
This is where the Disney Photopass photographers are your best friends. In fact, I strongly recommend you purchase the Memory Maker package, which gives you unlimited access to all of your Photopass pictures, ride photos, etc. Pound for pound, no other souvenir you can buy will deliver as many happy memories… and it takes the pressure off your shy kid (and your shutterbug adult) by putting the whole family in the picture!
As you wait for your turn, your shy kid can see everything your group is going to be asked to do when they get in front of the camera. The usual schtick is a couple of variations with the whole family, one with the kids and one with Mom and Dad. If they seem uncomfortable with the “Kids only” shot, make sure they know that they don’t have to do it if they don’t want to, and then stick to that. The full-family picture makes a better Christmas card anyway.
Trust the Characters
This is the big one. The one where you are the real expert, or at least can become one easily by doing a little bit of trip-planning with your kids. I know some folks like to plan the heck out of their entire trip and keep it as a surprise, but you risk being the one who is surprised. If I had stuck with that I never would have known that my daughter was desperate to meet Anna and Elsa. Impossible! My shy little girl wanted to meet strangers and… talk to them?
Well, sort of. They weren’t strangers, they were Anna and Elsa. And she didn’t say a word, but she talked about it for days. She was obviously not the first, as neither of the royal sisters paused or asked a question. They just chatted to her as if they were old friends while the pictures were taken, as most of the “face” characters do. It was lovely, a dream come true for her, and all I did to make it happen was listen to what was important enough for her to overcome her shyness.
Do Your Research
If your little one is outgoing, the world is your oyster. There are loads of opportunities to meet as many characters as they like, scattered around the parks. For us, it was always a question of how much was too much, and there are other ways to meet and greet your heroes.
Character Dining is a great option for young ones who are shy. Selected restaurants around Disney World offer the opportunity to have Disney friends meet you during breakfast, lunch or dinner. Depending on the experience, three to five characters will come around to your table one at a time, to say hello. Because they come to the table, the experience comes with different expectations and is much more low-key. Dad’s Guide to WDW has a number of articles to support your search for the best Character Dining experience including this one.
Autograph Book
Another tip at Disney for shy kids that may help to ease the awkwardness of meeting characters wherever your shy kid may find them is adding an autograph book to the equation. Handing Princesses and Disney Pals their book makes it more special as a souvenir, is a great way to plan future encounters (gotta catch ‘em all!) and, most of all, gives young ones a role to play in the current meeting.
If these options are unthinkable for your shy kid, I recommend locking down a good spot for the Festival of Fantasy parade or shows like Fantasmic! or Festival of the Lion King. These experiences feel very much like they are meeting and engaging with their Disney pals while allowing them to remain anonymous within the crowd.
All in all, when visiting Disney for a shy kid, the best way to help them enjoy the experience is to accept that this is how they feel, and to listen to what they feel good about, what they feel ready to try on their own and what they feel best about acting on as a part of the family group. They will thank you for your efforts by how much they enjoy this special experience, made all the more special because they shared it with you.
