Why More Parents Are Letting Their Kids Plan Their Dream Vacations

A growing number of parents are handing over vacation planning to an unlikely source — their kids.

According to a new national survey of 2,000 parents of school-aged children, 22% say theyve let their child plan the entire family vacation, from destinations to dining. And its not just a novelty: 82% of parents reported that their best family trips happened when their kids had a say in the planning.

The survey, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Visit Anaheim for its “Imaginagency” campaign, highlights the shift in how families approach travel. Eighty-six percent of children surveyed said they want more involvement in planning vacations, and 53% said theyd like to be responsible for as much of the trip as possible.

“Kids arent just passengers — theyre the planners, the dreamers, the imagination of the trip,” said Scott Oklin, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Anaheim. “We want to help give parents fun, easy ways to turn those big kid dreams into memory-making moments — whether its catching a thrilling hockey game or zooming around on roller coasters.”

Most parents include their kids in choosing activities (89%) and restaurants (54%), aiming to tailor the trip around their childs interests. The top reason parents seek their child’s input? To make sure the vacation includes elements their kids will enjoy (76%).

When asked to describe their dream vacations, kids envisioned experiences as elaborate as 13-day adventures across six states and five countries, using a combination of road trips (60%), flights (57%), and cruises (33%). Still, 40% said theyd prefer to stay within the U.S., naming Florida, California, Hawaii, New York, Alaska, and Colorado as their top destinations.

Dream scenarios included meeting celebrities (34%), front-row concert seats (29%), and even backstage access (27%). Others had simpler but heartfelt wishes like riding on a parade float (26%) or meeting their favorite cartoon character (24%).

There were also plenty of everyday dreams: going to the beach (55%), visiting amusement parks (54%), eating at fun restaurants (54%), swimming (51%), and enjoying outdoor adventures (49%).

The survey also captured heartfelt responses about kids’ dream vacations.

“I would like to surprise my dad with a trip to Ireland, so we can see the town his grandparents came from,” read one response.

“I want to go to California so bad. I want to go to the NBA stadium where the Lakers play and Disneyland of course,” read another.

“I want to go see my cousins in North Carolina. I havent seen them in a while! Mom said theres beaches in Carolina. Ive always wanted to go to the beach. We would need sunscreen. Mom burns!” another read.

In classic kid fashion, one response was simply, “Amusement parks, amusement parks, amusement parks, lol.”

Other kids dreamed of swimming with dolphins, seeing Broadway shows, or visiting Japan during cherry blossom season.

Parents seem to be listening. Eighty-four percent said they try to incorporate their childs imagination into vacation planning, and 73% know exactly what their childs “dream trip” would be. Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) say they plan to make that dream trip a reality, either in part or in full.

“Imagination is the spark,” added Oklin. “But then you need a destination that has everything parents need to bring it to life, from iconic theme parks and drool-worthy food to unexpected gems. Through the Imaginagency, were helping families bring their kids’ wildest imaginations to life.”

“Imagination is the spark,” added Oklin. “But then you need a destination that has everything parents need to bring it to life, from iconic theme parks and drool-worthy food to unexpected gems. Through the Imaginagency, were helping families bring their kids’ wildest imaginations to life.”