Anybody Else Kinda Disney'd Out?

[ronandannette]

DH and I took a long-weekend in SoCal this past week and had a fabulous time. We saw Billy Joel at the Hollywood Bowl, went to a classic car show and played the ponies at the Santa Anita racetrack and had reservations at a couple of "celebrity-chef" places. It was all well and good but on the Monday, since we were staying in Anaheim right on Harbor we figured we couldn't leave without doing a day in the parks.

It turns out I may be "over" Disney. Between the absurd prices ($300 for 2 1-day hoppers) and the ridiculous crowds for a regular Monday during shoulder season, it really wasn't all that fun. Granted, we've already done lots of trips there and all of our "dreams" were fulfilled in the past. I wouldn't go so far as to say we'll never be back (maybe if we were travelling with first-timers so as to see it through fresh eyes ), but I can't see planning another trip anytime in the foreseeable future.

Weird, but I'm feeling a little bereft. It's ten years almost to the day since our first visit and since then I've never not had a return trip somewhere in the planning stages. Anyone else know what I mean?

 

[lizabu]

The parks can be so busy it takes some of the fun away. My advice...take a Disney Cruise. You get your Disney love but it doesn't feel as crowded.

 

[Nayan]

DH and I took a long-weekend in SoCal this past week and had a fabulous time. We saw Billy Joel at the Hollywood Bowl, went to a classic car show and played the ponies at the Santa Anita racetrack and had reservations at a couple of "celebrity-chef" places. It was all well and good but on the Monday, since we were staying in Anaheim right on Harbor we figured we couldn't leave without doing a day in the parks.

It turns out I may be "over" Disney. Between the absurd prices ($300 for 2 1-day hoppers) and the ridiculous crowds for a regular Monday during shoulder season, it really wasn't all that fun. Granted, we've already done lots of trips there and all of our "dreams" were fulfilled in the past. I wouldn't go so far as to say we'll never be back (maybe if we were travelling with first-timers so as to see it through fresh eyes ), but I can't see planning another trip anytime in the foreseeable future.

Weird, but I'm feeling a little bereft. It's ten years almost to the day since our first visit and since then I've never not had a return trip somewhere in the planning stages. Anyone else know what I mean?

I understand fully. I thought about going to the Epcot F&W this fall, but like you I can't see spending the money for one day and having to fight with crowds. I'm planning on going elsewhere.

 

[ronandannette]

I understand fully. I thought about going to the Epcot F&W this fall, but like you I can't see spending the money for one day and having to fight with crowds. I'm planning on going elsewhere.

I might feel differently if we lived "local"; we'd likely have AP's and would go more often (and have lower expectations for the ). But since flying to either Orlando or LA is a huge expense, the stakes are higher. We probably should have not gone this time but being so close, skipping it just seemed unthinkable.

 

[antmaril]

I understand how you feel. I was at WDW with my friend (who was a newbie) at the end of February. We had a nice time (stayed at he Beach Club and got a free upgrade) and the weather was good, especially after the winter we were having, but after the trip was over, I knew that I might be done for a while. I am "Disney'ed out". The parks felt very crowded to me. EasyWDW predicted crowds of 3 and 4, but I would say they were at least 5's. I stood in lines for rides that have been walk-ons for years.

So, after many, many trips to WDW over the last 20 years, I am taking a break for a while.

 

[ebtbmom]

Not yet. I carefully plan my trips when the weather and crowds will be tolerable to me. If I ever went July 4 I'd probably hate the place!

 

[ronandannette]

Not yet. I carefully plan my trips when the weather and crowds will be tolerable to me. If I ever went July 4 I'd probably hate the place!

We've always gone in mid-to-late May (just before your Memorial Day) and it's never failed us before, but those crowds on Monday were off-the-hook. Apparently there IS NO low season for DLR anymore. We did WDW in September just after Labour Day and avoided the worst of the crowds but the heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms were tough.

 

[eliza61]

My problem is the new magic band and fp+system. I just got back from a 6 day stay and the amount of time I spent. On my cell phone trying to make "changes" was ridiculous. It totally took away the laid back, easy going feel that we like.

 

[alicat8]

I get it, because going at Christmas kinda killed it for me in 2010. (And made my husband threaten to never go back). At that point, I was going at least once a year and had been for about 15 years. Took 1 quick husbandless trip in 2011 where my brother was stressing me out, so that one was also less than magical. Then I took 3 years off, and now I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't get there soon!!

eta-my trips are to dw, not land.

 

[momto2girls]

I get it and feel the same way. We used to pop down to WDW at least once a year without fail. We loved going there because aside from being so magical, it was also so easy. It definitely no longer feels that way. Now with the complications of the magic band/FP+ system and the huge crowds (even at times that were historically low-crowd times), I am pretty much over it. We are even DVC members, but we're going to use our points elsewhere instead. We're just not finding WDW as enjoyable anymore.

 

[Jennasis]

No. We just bought DVC this month and have been visiting since 1977. But I can see how someone might be "done".

 

[ronandannette]

I get it and feel the same way. We used to pop down to WDW at least once a year without fail. We loved going there because aside from being so magical, it was also so easy. It definitely no longer feels that way. Now with the complications of the magic band/FP+ system and the huge crowds (even at times that were historically low-crowd times), I am pretty much over it. We are even DVC members, but we're going to use our points elsewhere instead. We're just not finding WDW as enjoyable anymore.

Do you also feel a little sad about it? That's what's surprising me; this nagging sense of loss. I mean this is an amusement park, right, not the family pet.

 

[NewRVLady]

I am sort of agreeing with you-it will take a big discount or something for me to return

The ONLY time we have gone and the crowds were semi light was when Mardi Gras (our holiday) was in Feb and NOT the same week as President's week

One year we went when they coincided-we had NO IDEA all the kids in the northeast had a week off-the crowds were insane!

 

[DawnM]

I find this to be true. We used to live about 45 min. from DL, we went once or twice every month or so with APs and we didn't always stay a full day.

We never got tired of it.

Now that we are 8 hours away from the parks, going and feeling like you need to stay all day, every day, it gets exhausting.

Dawn

I might feel differently if we lived "local"; we'd likely have AP's and would go more often (and have lower expectations for the ). But since flying to either Orlando or LA is a huge expense, the stakes are higher. We probably should have not gone this time but being so close, skipping it just seemed unthinkable.

 

[Darcy03231]

We're taking a Disney break. We used to go at least yearly when our kids were young. We took a break from 2001 through 2006 and then went back in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. Haven't been back since and have no upcoming trips planned, but in the meantime we've done lots of great trips to other places. I'm sure we'll go back, but it may be another few years.

 

[Muushka]

We've always gone in mid-to-late May (just before your Memorial Day) and it's never failed us before, but those crowds on Monday were off-the-hook. Apparently there IS NO low season for DLR anymore. We did WDW a in September just after Labour Day and avoided the worst of the crowds but the heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms were tough.

This is our complaint also. We always went during the first 2 weeks of Dec and enjoyed it thoroughly. Then that time of year became very busy. Then they change the parameters of, for example, Candlelight Processional. That is no longer worth it.

Between crowded parks, lousy food and prices which are ridiculous, we are taking a 2 year break. And we went at least twice a year for the past 22 years. And we sold one of our 2 DVC contracts.

We will return 11/2015. We bought non-exp park hoppers so that while there we won't feel the need to get into the parks.

I don't want to even talk about the Magic Bands. I pointed to a picture of them the other day and said to my husband "It all started with the Magic Bands" meaning our desire not to return to WDW. And he corrected me and said "It all started with a mouse and it ended with the Magic Bands".

My problem is the new magic band and fp+system. I just got back from a 6 day stay and the amount of time I spent. On my cell phone trying to make "changes" was ridiculous. It totally took away the laid back, easy going feel that we like.

E! What are you doing on this thread???? Please don't tell our friends that we are here!
We refused to play the Magic Band games when we were there in Dec.
I detest the idea of them tracking me even more than they were before.

 

[NewRVLady]

The whole idea of me learning ANOTHER new thing-Magic Bands-to do the parks better has completely made me NOT want to go again


I long for the olden days, when you bought a bunch of paper tickets and all the characters roamed the parks freely and you simply walked into ANY restaurant.

 

[usnuzuloose]

The whole idea of me learning ANOTHER new thing-Magic Bands-to do the parks better has completely made me NOT want to go again


I long for the olden days, when you bought a bunch of paper tickets and all the characters roamed the parks freely and you simply walked into ANY restaurant.

And saved the E tickets for last....

 

[NewRVLady]

Yes! the E ticket....I believe it was for Space Mountain? Maybe the presidents?

 

[usnuzuloose]

This is our complaint also. We always went during the first 2 weeks of Dec and enjoyed it thoroughly. Then that time of year became very busy. Then they change the parameters of, for example, Candlelight Processional. That is no longer worth it.

Between crowded parks, lousy food and prices which are ridiculous, we are taking a 2 year break. And we went at least twice a year for the past 22 years. And we sold one of our 2 DVC contracts.

We will return 11/2015. We bought non-exp park hoppers so that while there we won't feel the need to get into the parks.

I don't want to even talk about the Magic Bands. I pointed to a picture of them the other day and said to my husband "It all started with the Magic Bands" meaning our desire not to return to WDW. And he corrected me and said "It all started with a mouse and it ended with the Magic Bands".



E! What are you doing on this thread???? Please don't tell our friends that we are here!
We refused to play the Magic Band games when we were there in Dec.
I detest the idea of them tracking me even more than they were before.

We have been to WDW once and that was in 06 and at Christmas time. We enjoyed it and it was relaxing. I have been to DL when I was young and we lived Locally. Now like you I do not want to be tracked. I do not like the new system. All the pricing has priced us out any way. I won't play the tracking game. Such is life.