How to Convince Your Parents to Take You to Disney World

Be on your best behavior before you ask. In the time before you decide to talk to your parents about going to Disney World, be on your absolute best behavior. Do all of your chores, get good grades, and be nice to your siblings. Do extra work around the house by helping out your parents with things like mowing the lawn and shoveling snow. When it comes time to ask about going to Disney World you want to be in your parents’ good graces. This will make them more likely to see your proposal favorably. ^[6]

• This strategy will likely take some time. Start helping out more months before you ask. If you are only on your best behavior for one day before you talk to your parents, it is unlikely that they will be much influenced.
• Ask your parents how you can help out more around the house or what chores you can perform.

Be subtle. Try to indirectly let your parents know that you want to go to Disney World. Subtlety can be an excellent way to get your parents thinking about the trip. Try wearing a Disney shirt once a week or watch Disney cartoons more regularly. Play your favorite Disney music and quote lines from your favorite films. This will not only get the idea in your parents’ heads, but it will also make it easier to pitch your idea to them because they will already be thinking about it.

• You could also drop little comments like, “It sure would be nice to see Goofy in person” or “I wonder what it would be like to be in the Jungle Book.”
• Try not to overdo the Disney stuff. You do not want to burn out your parents on it.

Pick a good time to talk with them about it. Think about your parents’ schedule and find a time that they will be in a good mood to hear your vacation pitch. Catching your parents in a good mood will be key to getting them onboard with your trip. Avoid times when your parents are tired or stressed. Instead ask them when they are relaxed and in a good mood. ^[7]

• Wait until after the next major holiday to ask your parents about the trip. They may surprise you with a trip and you will not have to ask them for one.
• Avoid asking them immediately before or after they get home from work. They will likely be tired and stressed out.
• Try asking them on the weekend when they will be relaxing and more open to your suggestion.

Ask nicely. If you want your parents to take your proposal seriously, you need to be polite when you talk to them. Do not be pushy or demanding about going on the trip. If you throw a fit and act kind of bratty it is unlikely that your parents are going to say yes. Be on your absolute best behavior when proposing you Disney World trip. ^[8]

• Try saying things like, “can we please go to Disney World” and “I would be very grateful if we visited Disney World.”
• Remember the old saying that “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

Explain why you want to go. Lay out the list of reasons why you want to go to Disney World. Explain what attractions you are really interested in and why you think the family should take the trip. Be specific and try to highlight things that will appeal to the whole family and not just you. Although there are some things you are excited to see, you need to remember that this is a family trip and needs to appeal to everyone.

• If you have them, bring in your siblings to help you sell the trip. There people supporting the trip the better.
• Play to their sentimentality and talk about the priceless memories that you can make as a family.
• Say something like, “it has always been my dream to see Mickey Mouse and Goofy” or that you think “a family vacation would help you create memories that you would have for the rest of your life.”

Lay out your proposed budget and schedule. Demonstrate to your parents that you are responsible by laying out the research you conducted on how much a trip might cost. It does not have to be an exact budget but have something prepared that will give your parents an idea of what the expenses are of going to Disney World. ^[9]

• Be sure to have an estimate of all of the expenses, including travel, hotel, food, and tickets.

Discuss things about Disney World that they might like. Point out attractions at Disney World that might appeal to your parents’ interests. If one of your parents is a sports fan, talk about the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Emphasize that there is Disney childcare if they would like a night to themselves. Find something to hook your parents and bring it up.

• Figure out your parents interests before you propose the trip.
• If your parents like horses, you propose a trip to Disney World by saying something like, “I know that you love horses, and guess what!? At Disney World, you can ride horses on the beach!”

Bargain with them. Offer to do more chores or improve your grades if they take you on a trip to Disney World. Your parents might more open to taking a trip to Disney World if they know that you are willing to work for it. Find out if there is something that your parents would really like you to do for the trip, and agree to do it.^[10]

• You can also try to do better in school. This might convince your parents that you deserve to go to Disney World.
• If you have not been doing well in school, you can tell your parents that you will try “especially hard” for a trip to Disney World.

Give them time to decide. It is unlikely that your parents will say yes to your proposal right away. They are going to need some time to decide whether or not they have the time and money for a trip to Disney World. Do not constantly pester your parents about their decision. If they get annoyed with you it will be easier for them to say no.^[11]

• Mark a date on your calendar that is a few weeks to a month after you talk to them and do not revisit the subject until then.
• Keep being on your best behavior in the meantime. It’s only going to help your cause.

Keep your cool. If your parents shoot down your proposal try to stay calm and not get too emotional. Although it is extremely disappointing, it’s important to not get upset. Talk with your parents about why they said no and try to see things from their point of view. This will help you deal with the disappointment and move on.^[12]

• Keeping calm will tell your parents that you are mature enough for a trip like this in the future.

Keep working hard. Just because you are not going to Disney World does not mean you should quit doing well at school and at home. You need to understand that you are playing the long game and, by being good, you are setting yourself up for a future trip. Keep demonstrating how mature you are and your parents will reward you.^[13]

• Keep doing well in school. You might be able to go to Disney World as part of a school trip.

Be good. If you get upset about your parents shooting you down, it might be tempting to lash out against them and your siblings. Resist the urge to be mean to your parents and other family members. This will only show them that you are not mature enough for a trip to Disney World and shut down the possibility of a future trip.

• If you are mad about your parents’ decision, talk to them about it. It is important to remember that your parents are not trying to be mean. They just want to do what is best for your family.

Try a different strategy. If your strategy to convince your parents fails, try another one. If you only tried to sell them on cool attractions, mention things that they might like next time. Keep thinking of new ways to sell them on Disney World.^[14]

• Be persistent but do not bug your parents. If they get annoyed with your constant pestering they will keep saying no.