Am I crazy?

[wallawallakids]

My husband and I have a trip in 5 days for our anniversary and I am starting to panic. I have always loved Disney, esp Disneyland, and normally I am super excited to go and counting down the days to the minute. But lately all I read about is that it is crowded, dirty, rides keep going down, nothing is open, food is worse, it's expensive, the experience isn't the same...etc. I have not been on a vacation in 5 years, and I have planned this for months but I am starting to worry that I made a huge mistake. What if I am leaving the kids and the dog with a sitter, spending all this money, and I hate it now? What if this is not the same experience I used to love? I have never been without the kids, what if it is not great without them and I just end up missing them the entire time? I know this all sounds insane but I guess I am hoping for some reassurance that it isn't as bad as I keep reading on here. I am second guessing myself so much that I have even considered canceling the whole trip. Is the experience after Covid as different as everyone makes it seem? Or is it really that bad and I need to really prepare for a very different Disney?

 

[amyg1975]

I find that what some people are seeing at the parks (poor reviews) are not what I am seeing at all. I find the parks very clean, food is cheaper (and good!) in the parks than at Downtown Disney. One ride down, then go to another. We were there 2 weeks ago and we might try to go for Labor Day weekend. Go with an open mind to have fun, and fun will be had.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Ignore the noise and chatter. There is a lot of negativity from people experiencing park burn out , people who go to the parks on regular basis. I go once a year, its a change for me to recharge and have some me time. My most recent visit was in June and I had an amazing time.

 

[Pluto468]

We went in April and it was wonderful. I didn't notice anything being dirtier or less magical. I cried through the whole parade, I was so happy to be back!

Yes, it can be crowded and rides sometimes close but that's always been a factor at Disneyland.

You'll have a great time!

 

[OlliePop27]

If you go in with a positive attitude, you will have a great time. I have been 3 times post-Covid and had a wonderful experience each time. There is still plenty of magic at DL. It is also true that some things are different, but I don't believe it's ruined the park experience. I actually believe the crowding situation is less bad than before, but it can still get crowded at times.

I agree with a previous poster that some of the negativity is from people who visit more often. If you go anywhere multiple times a year you're going to get bored of it/more critical of the experience. I go once every 12-18 months. That's about the right cadence for me. More often would be too much.

 

[wallawallakids]

Thank you! I just needed to hear something positive. I really have been looking forward to it until this week. I think I am just overthinking it all. I love Disney so much and don’t want all these great experiences to be changed. Thank you for the positive reviews and reassurance.

 

[jimmymc]

It's still great! Really the big difference between now and 5 years ago is how fastpasses/lightning lanes work. The crowds, cleanliness, etc are similar.

 

[OlliePop27]

Thank you! I just needed to hear something positive. I really have been looking forward to it until this week. I think I am just overthinking it all. I love Disney so much and don’t want all these great experiences to be changed. Thank you for the positive reviews and reassurance.

I love these boards, but remember in general with things like reviews of services, hotels, parks that people are more likely to convey negative feelings than positive ones. You don't get as motivated to say positive things because you're happy, but when you're upset with an experience you are motivated to vent about it. This warps the perception when you're seeing more negative things than positive.

I was just at DL one month ago. It was amazing. I thought it was similar to many of my pre-Covid visits, and I actually found the crowd situation to be really great.

That's not to say DL doesn't have issues it needs to sort through - it absolutely does - but it's not like it's some horrible experience either. If you invest time to prepare yourself about how to visit and maximize your time, you'll have a great experience.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Thank you! I just needed to hear something positive. I really have been looking forward to it until this week. I think I am just overthinking it all. I love Disney so much and don’t want all these great experiences to be changed. Thank you for the positive reviews and reassurance.

This is my trip report from June https://www.disboards.com/threads/s...vel-home-to-ireland-saturday-june-29.3949675/

Nothing beats walking into the esplanade for the first time and just standing in the middle and soaking it all up. Since the shutdown and travel bans from a few years ago, Ive really learned just to appreciate the privilege of international travel and being able to go back to Disney. Back then I would have given anything just to sit on a bench in the hub and escape from the world, so now when I go, everything has an extra meaning. We don't know if or when it could all be taken away from us, so live in the moment and just enjoy the here and now

 

[gottalovepluto]

OP, you’re spiraling. Take a chill pill (I recommend Olly stress gummies), STOP reading reviews and look forward to your vacay.

 

[StarlitNight05]

We just went in January and have another trip planned for November. We had a great time and are excited to go again! This was our third trip since COVID, and while some things have changed (like the rest of the world), it hasn't been anything that is preventing me to want to visit again.

Food prices seem fine to me...sometimes I am actually impressed with Disney's prices (in a good way). Actually funny story, I just found out we have an Earl of Sandwich close to us in Sacramento and when I looked up the menu, it's more expensive than DtD prices! The Elk Grove location is $10.99 vs DtDs $8.99. I assume DtD can charge less since they get a larger volume, but I thought that was interesting. Also, the burgers at Disney are often just as expensive as places around here too (and it's California so I guess everything here is expensive ).

As for rides, we didn't notice too many closures. CMs have also been very friendly and helpful too. My big gripe is the Genie+ (or whatever it's called now) change that you can only ride once per day for applicable attractions. I miss the old Maxpass system. That was perfect!

Anyway, my vote is to go. The magic is still there!

 

[carriep]

I’m about to take my 2nd kid free Disney trip. It is so much fun just us two. It was so nice only having to worry about 2 people!

 

[LKing]

What if this is not the same experience I used to love?

Each time you visit it is a unique experience. Don't go expecting the same experience as the past.

Personally, I think a lot of the negativity is when people try to compare the two parks. Many WDW vets have a difficult time with the fact that Disneyland is different. But, realistically, isn't that why they went to Disneyland - to have a different experience??? I don't frequent the international park threads, but I wonder if people also compare those parks to WDW and complain about the differences.

 

[Iceman93]

I feel that, with almost any experience in life, you largely get out of it what you expect to. By that, I mean that if you go to the parks looking for chipped paint and litter on the ground and rides breaking down and CM's not on their best behavior, etc. then you will indeed find those things. If you go to the parks expecting to soak up the magic, enjoy some wonderful attractions, and have nice interactions with happy people then that's what you'll find too.

I'm not saying there aren't negatives, or that everything is perfect at Disneyland. Just that attitude matters, and that's the ONE thing you can control in all of this!

 

[pyratgrrl]

Have a wonderful time! Try to relax and go with the flow (I say that as someone who also tends to over-plan and over-think things). Take in the ambience of each land, eat some of your favorite foods, and even though it may not be perfect, you'll be at Disneyland!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I don't frequent the international park threads, but I wonder if people also compare those parks to WDW and complain about the differences.

Disneyland Paris gets A LOT of negativity online from American visitors, mainly because its compared to Walt Disney World and a lesser extent to Disneyland California. But I brought a multi generation group to Disneyland Paris in October 2023, and while I was the main planner and stressed and exhausted, everyone else had an amazing time, so much that my niece came home, and started saving so that her dad, a totally NOT a Disney person could come with us the next time. He choose not to go on this trip, as its not his thing

 

[LKing]

Disneyland Paris gets A LOT of negativity online from American visitors, mainly because its compared to Walt Disney World

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[StormyCA]

@wallawallakids

I nearly always get what I think of as 'last minute panic' just before a big trip (any trip, not just Disney). It's like my brain has stomped on the brakes of my excitement and I feel like I just don't want to go. Not a lot of specific 'what ifs' just "I do NOT want to go, it's going to be bad". The feeling passes once I realize that's what it is, the panic.

I won't say that things haven't changed over the last few years because they have. Some things are better, some things are 'not better' and some things are just the way you remember. But go with an open mind and an open heart and you'll find your 'Disney Love' and have a wonderful time.

 

[DizMe]

I love DLR!!! It's why I've had an AP just for myself for the past 15 years or so. I have complained about the prices increasing. While I understand it, I still dislike the idea that it's pricing out a lot of families.

Still, you can't beat the quality IMO. It's so much more than an amusement park and it's just a feeling that can't be described to others who don't get that.

The great thing about going with your dh is that you don't have to worry about what the kids want to do or eat or if they need a time out etc. You can move at whatever pace you want and take time to enjoy non-ride things. Have a drink at Craftsman Bar in GCH or enjoy the mariachi band in DCA etc.

Have a wonderful anniversary trip!!

 

[Karin1984]

I'm sorry to hear that.

It is not that bad on the Disneyland Paris section of DISboards, plenty return Americans return DLP with great experiences. It mainly goes wrong when people have a very fixed idea of what Disney is. That the park in Paris is build for a completely different audience is sometimes not what they had prepared for.

And to answer the question of the OP. The more often someone goes, the more they get annoyed or the see the small things that go wrong. They do not care if a ride is down, because they will be back. They do care if their favourite snack is no longer for sale. A one-time visitor probably finds the reverse important.

Go in open minded, look for the magic, not a dirty bathroom. Dont go in with 'it is my first vacation in 5 years, it has to be perfect'. Because very likely, it won't be perfect. But that doesn't mean it can't be amazing.

Let go of your fears and enjoy. ❤