Am I The Only One With SIMPLE Expectations?

[cheebiecat]

This thread is making my day! For it's true...WDW is the happiest, most magical, place on earth!

 

[yaksack]

I do not expect every CM to say "hello" or "aloha" even if I initiate. They are busy doing their job. How can they expect to keep their "train of thought" if they have to stop and respond to every guest that passes by?

I agree with most of what you said, but I expect that if I say hello, that someone will be courteous enough to say hello back.

Other than that I agree.

 

[mgilmer]

I absolutely agree in every way possible. Very well said, BTW.

It seems as though more and more posts for resort reviews are a long list of grievances spawned by high expectations. Everyone expects so much "magic" for their dollar that it clouds their everyday judgement...because its Disney..they are supposed to make my dreams come true.

I understand (BOY do I understand) how expensive a Disney vacation can be and we all want to get our moneys worth. Everyone wants to experience the magic of Disney.

I can't help but think this disappointment being experienced by many is nothing more than unrealistic high expectations.

My expectations are simple.

I expect to get a themed hotel of my choosing based on my budget and personal taste balanced with unique pros and cons that I am WELL aware of prior to my arrival. For Example, I understand that the CSR is a large, spread out resort and it will require more walking. If I choose this hotel and get tired of extra walking, then I understand its my fault for making such a choice and move on.

I expect my room rates are based on hotel location and amenities. Just like any piece of real estate...location, location, location. The closer you are to the Castle, the higher the price. That price gets me convenience, bigger rooms, bigger beds, nicer furniture, more food options, more entertainment options, more available services.

I expect a clean room, friendly service, reasonable safety, hot water, and the typical consumables and info materials found in most any hotel room.

I do not EXPECT towel animals. I do not expect every CM to say "hello" or "aloha" even if I initiate. They are busy doing their job. How can they expect to keep their "train of thought" if they have to stop and respond to every guest that passes by? I would rather have them quickly be on their way to...fix a toilet or deliver bed rails or check on pool chemicals or whatever. I do not expect to get special birthday wishes. I do not expect an upgrade. I APPRECIATE being on the receiving end of ANY of these but expecting all of this only sets one up for disappointment.

Being at Disney, seeing and experiencing the wonder of it all through the eyes of a child or "being a child"..reliving your childhood is what the magic is all about.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

 

[Goofy'slady]

It's nice to see folks feel the same way I do. I'm at Disney to enjoy everything it has to offer with my children and family. I'm there to see it thru my eyes and thru my kids eyes. I have to keep things in prospective that unless my room is filthy, service is horrid and my family is unhappy that I could careless how many towel animals are in our room upon return or how many prizes weren't given to us. THE REAL PRIZES ARE THE MEMORIES WE WALK AWAY WITH AT OUR FAVORITE PLACE.

T.

 

[Sparkie]

I totally agree.

My observations:

Some people will never be happy no matter what you do. They thrive on self-misery.

Some people live in a "me" frame of mind. Everybody owes them and nothing is their fault. (example my 19yo son)

My Disney expectations:

Clean room.
Clean pool.
Quality time with my family.

 

[mickeynut1]

In total agreement here . Couldn't have said it better myself .

 

[labattblue]

I do not EXPECT towel animals.

You made my morning. I swear that some people would be happier with towel animals than if there room was cleaned sufficiently.

Wife: Look kids, we got 4 new towel animals today!

Husband: Look kids, the garbage cans are full, the room didn't get vacuumed and we have no clean towels!

Wife: ....but look at how cute the towel animals are!

 

[Rylee]

*applauds*

When we travel, anywhere, not just Disney... I expect my accommodations to be clean and safe.

When I read post with nit-picky details, (an empty tissue box, no towel animals) I usually don't respond, as they are entitled to their opinions, but I really think they must be unhappy people, in general, or people who choose to focus on the negative.

As for me and mine... we would never spend our energy focusing on the negative... we're far to busy enjoying all the wonderful and magical experiences at Disney.

 

[gingerale]

I totally agree. Thanks to the OP for summing up what so many of us feel in such a clear way.

 

[Tinkfan10]

Excellent I agree....my family has been going to disney for over 20 years (parents, sisters, and myself) and never have we had a bad experience. Yes things happen but to hang on to those things are crazy. So many times people forget that in the happiest place on earth it is important for you to be happy and positive to others.....I have said it before and I will say it again a smile goes a long way When you have an issue or feel grumpy invading your body take a deep breath, remember where you are, go get a dole whip and chill out!!! Way to go for taking the time to bring all the people out there back to planet earth and happy harmony.

 

[TangaroaTiki]

In my experience I have found that positive people tend to have positive experiences and negative people tend to have negative experiences. It must have alot to do with perception and general outlook on life.

We've had nothing but magical, memorable visits to WDW and there have been many!!

 

[magicmouse2]

Give me a clean smoke free room, reasonably well maintained, with a resort theme I like, and I am happy.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I'm with you 100%!!!

I can honestly say I've never had anything less than a great vacation at Disney. Sometimes the less you expect, the more magical the vacation.

That is so true!!

We have over-hyped and under-hyped a trip, and had a much better time on the trip that we didn't obsess about. We now make ressies and adrs as soon as possible and then put our Disney trip in the very back of our mind for several months.

Any trip to Disney beats a week at work.

 

[johnsonet]

In my experience I have found that positive people tend to have positive experiences and negative people tend to have negative experiences. It must have alot to do with perception and general outlook on life.

We've had nothing but magical, memorable visits to WDW and there have been many!!

 

[tlrotzoll]

It seems as though more and more posts for resort reviews are a long list of grievances spawned by high expectations. Everyone expects so much "magic" for their dollar that it clouds their everyday judgement...because its Disney..they are supposed to make my dreams come true.

I understand (BOY do I understand) how expensive a Disney vacation can be and we all want to get our moneys worth. Everyone wants to experience the magic of Disney.

I can't help but think this disappointment being experienced by many is nothing more than unrealistic high expectations.

My expectations are simple.

I expect to get a themed hotel of my choosing based on my budget and personal taste balanced with unique pros and cons that I am WELL aware of prior to my arrival. For Example, I understand that the CSR is a large, spread out resort and it will require more walking. If I choose this hotel and get tired of extra walking, then I understand its my fault for making such a choice and move on.

I expect my room rates are based on hotel location and amenities. Just like any piece of real estate...location, location, location. The closer you are to the Castle, the higher the price. That price gets me convenience, bigger rooms, bigger beds, nicer furniture, more food options, more entertainment options, more available services.

I expect a clean room, friendly service, reasonable safety, hot water, and the typical consumables and info materials found in most any hotel room.

I do not EXPECT towel animals. I do not expect every CM to say "hello" or "aloha" even if I initiate. They are busy doing their job. How can they expect to keep their "train of thought" if they have to stop and respond to every guest that passes by? I would rather have them quickly be on their way to...fix a toilet or deliver bed rails or check on pool chemicals or whatever. I do not expect to get special birthday wishes. I do not expect an upgrade. I APPRECIATE being on the receiving end of ANY of these but expecting all of this only sets one up for disappointment.

Being at Disney, seeing and experiencing the wonder of it all through the eyes of a child or "being a child"..reliving your childhood is what the magic is all about.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

I completely agree! Thanks for putting it into words!

 

[juliana_sd]

We saw very few negative people on our trip, but they stuck out like a sore thumb.

I felt very sad that they weren't having an amazing, magical time like we were!

 

[reidtgang]

As long as I can sit in the shade with a cold draft and see the smiles on my childen's faces I'm Happy.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Great post, OP!

If you really want to see what a good job Disney does with their resorts, stay offsite sometime. It will give you a whole new appreciation.

In 2005, we stayed in a hotel in Kissimmee-it was ok, but nothing special. As a matter of fact, one lady there kept badgering us to go look at timeshares and we just didn't feel safe. I woke up one night to someone trying to open our door! We had put the chain up and even put the table against the door(when it's 2 women traveling, can't take any chances!)so they couldn't get in, but very scary. My sister slept right through it and I didn't tell her until afterward, because she'd freak out. I always feel very safe when onsite.

Some people aren't happy unless they're miserable, if that makes any sense.

 

[ReneeA]

I totally agree...we've been on 5 trips to Disney in the past 7 years, and have NEVER had a bad experience.

Life is what YOU make of it.

 

[Kim1964]

I bet there was a lot less dissatisfaction before the proliferation of message boards. These days, you can go to any number of sites and read reports from people who had something special happen on their trip (i.e., surprise upgrades, towel animals, etc.). These reports lead people to believe that something lke that should happen to them.(after all, they paid a lot of money for their trip)......and when it doesn't, they let it ruin their trip.

I love the information you can get from the message boards....I have learned about cool Disney stuff here and on a couple of other sites that has helped me plan awesome trips for my family. I also love reading about cool things that happen to some people, especially during YOAMD. I also don't ever go into a trip with the expectation that anything like that will happen to me. I think just regular, every day Disney is wonderful on its own.

I don't feel that Disney "owes" me any more than what I paid for, and I think that's the rub for some people......they expect more than they paid for and are disappointed or angry when they don't get it. As long as our room is clean and it's what we paid for, I don't worry about the hotel. I make my ADRs ahead of time so I won't be disappointed by not getting into a "must do" restaurant. We use various planning tools to try to maximize our time in the parks, realizing that no plan is foolproof and things can happen that are beyond our control or Disney's. Then we go and have fun.