Source: Disney Parks
Here at Hip Travel Mama, we’ve told you how passionate we are about spending precious quality time together as a family and raising a well traveled family. According to a recent study released this week commissioned by Disney Parks, our fellow American Families are starting to follow suit.
In the survey of more than 1,000 parents of children age 5-17 who participated in the Disney Time Survey, data revealed that moms and dads saddled by hectic lifestyles are craving more time together with their kids. Almost one in two parents feel that out of all the time they spend with their children, only half of it, at most, could be classified as “quality time.” However, while on vacation, parents report that 82 percent of time would fall in the “quality time” category.
“We know vacations are important, but to have parents validate how important vacation time is to their families was insightful,” said Leslie Ferraro, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing for Disney Parks. “As we’ve learned from families who participated in the survey, those moments of quality family time can feel fleeting in our everyday home lives. At Disney Parks, families enter a different kind of time – where the entire family can relax and be a kid – Disney Time.”
Family Travel is Growing in Popularity
Family travel is also on the rise. According to the Disney Time survey, more than eight in ten (82 percent) respondents who have taken family vacations reveal that they will take the same amount of, if not more, vacations in the next five years. Further, 94 percent of parents think it’s important for families to take vacations together on a regular schedule.
Some other interesting insights from the survey:
Out of 52 weeks a year, on average, parents surveyed admit that they have only 15 “free” weekends – i.e. “no plans.” 13 percent say they have no free weekends.
Seventy-one percent of parents would love more time with their kids – up to nine hours more a week, specifically.
Ninety-seven percent of parents say that their children have gotten to know new things about them while taking family trips, including more about their parents’ childhoods (86 percent) or facts about other family members (74 percent).
When they do vacation together, the whole family is inclined to be more excited (77 percent), relaxed (75 percent), silly (68 percent), calm (54 percent) and even more affectionate (54 percent).
When asked to pick one specific location where they felt their family would have the best time on vacation, top responses in terms of type were theme park, beach, cruises and camping, respectively.
Parents also highlighted Florida, specifically Orlando, Hawaii and California as top destinations for family vacations.
The Disney Time Survey was conducted by Kelton. For the full survey results see: PR Newswire. Infographic source: Disney Parks.
How do you define “quality time” together as a family? Do you find that vacationing together helps you spend more quality time together? Tell us in the comments or tweet/share your tip for spending QT together on Twitter #welltraveledfamily or Facebook.