Anyone disappointed with their trip to WDW?

[KatheeME]

Dear Laura,

What went wrong with your trip that makes you feel this way?

 

[Gerweniel]

I honestly have no idea how people can go back year after year, or so frequently throught a single year. Anyone else feel this way? I may be shot down b/c of all the WDW lovers on here. Just hoping I'm not the only one....

You are not alone in your feelings. None of the adults in my family understand why my boys and I try our best to go back to WDW year after year - in fact after this years' trip I was moved to tears by both my sister and sister in law who lectured me on how I was "limiting my sons experiences" by going to Disney versus some other destination. We have all just decided that we are happiest and have the best time at WDW.

I am really sorry that you were disappointed in your trip. Maybe when your kids are older you can try it again! In the meantime, there are many destinations that you can spend your hard earned money on and hopefully you'll find your "magic" elsewhere!

Now, I think I'll get back to planning our next trip - to DL!!!!!

 

[civileng68]

ON my last trip (ending last week), I didn't enjoy myself as much as I wishes I had. I took a friend with me for his first trip ever and he just really didn't enjoy it. He just said he expected more (people, this is where Disney overdoes it in their advertising, promo DVD's and new ride promos).

I love WDW but, I don't like the way in which they promote their rides. It's anything but true. They literally put things in the ride that simply do not exist (on the DVDs).

I just think if it was kept down (just a tad) it wouldn't be so overblown. I believe this is the reason why we heard so many disappointed people about Mission Space and Soarin, even though they are simply incredible attractions. Though I LOVE both (love love love Soarin), I was slightly disappointed in Soarin based on my expectations.

I think one thing I've learned very well about WDW is not to overplan. This past trip was the first time I've REALLY gotten into planning in 2 years (because I was going with a first timer and wanted him to see everything). I seem to really enjoy myself when there's no expectations and overplanning of needing to be there.

Also while I LOVE getting to the parks at opening, this trip I did that everyday and think it was too much. I think if anything, go to the parks early on the front side of your trip and make sure to relax and sleep in a bit on the backside so when you get back to work, you feel like you actually had a vacation.

In Summary: WDW will wear you out and if you dont learn to relax there a little, then I think you really just become miserable or bored being there. Take your time!

 

[lpbm4]

I think I felt too "planned" out with our trip:

--I didn't think the sleigh ride was worth it. Maybe it would've been better without the kids and much more romantic for just the 2 of us. Could've been $50 spent better

--I couldn't stand the ADR's, and dh hated this too. I just felt too rushed to get out of our hotel room or out of the park.

--MGM, wish I had read up more on this park. What a complete waste of my day with the kids. We were there for all of 3hrs and that included sitting down for lunch! I guess I didn't do my research on this one. We were all bored here.

--We stayed at ASMo and VWL--we were not disappointed in these at all!!

I guess it was mostly feeling rushed, maybe we do enjoy more of a relaxing setting and not having to be here for a show (and then sit and wait for 1/2hr in order to have a good seat), be there for an ADR, hurry to get there for the sleigh ride time. I think I wish we had forgotten the DDP, not read the Disboards, and discovered "the magic" all on our own.

BTW, my kids did have a great time. My dd blushed at Prince Charming and ds was so excited to see Donald. It wasn't a completely blown trip, just wish I hadn't gotten so excited about 1 trip 11mos in advance...and spent so much $$ on it.

Thank you all for listening!!

 

[cleo]

Yep...I hear ya. The only trip I took that I didn't really enjoy was the trip I overplanned because of everything I read. I thought I had to try it all.

But it sounds like you DO have some wonderful memories! A little 'buyers remorse', maybe, but some good memories, too.

If you go again, and hopefully you will, maybe the mantra will be 'let the magic find you' instead of trying to plan the magic into a schedule. Our very best trips are the ones with no dining plans, no special events booked (bearing in mind we've done all that, too!), just a nice, relaxing day at a park with a flexible idea of what we want to do in the course of the day.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It's good to hear your perspective on things.

 

[Kay1]

I think I felt too "planned" out with our trip:

--I didn't think the sleigh ride was worth it. Maybe it would've been better without the kids and much more romantic for just the 2 of us. Could've been $50 spent better

--I couldn't stand the ADR's, and dh hated this too. I just felt too rushed to get out of our hotel room or out of the park.

--MGM, wish I had read up more on this park. What a complete waste of my day with the kids. We were there for all of 3hrs and that included sitting down for lunch! I guess I didn't do my research on this one. We were all bored here.

--We stayed at ASMo and VWL--we were not disappointed in these at all!!

I guess it was mostly feeling rushed, maybe we do enjoy more of a relaxing setting and not having to be here for a show (and then sit and wait for 1/2hr in order to have a good seat), be there for an ADR, hurry to get there for the sleigh ride time. I think I wish we had forgotten the DDP, not read the Disboards, and discovered "the magic" all on our own.

BTW, my kids did have a great time. My dd blushed at Prince Charming and ds was so excited to see Donald. It wasn't a completely blown trip, just wish I hadn't gotten so excited about 1 trip 11mos in advance...and spent so much $$ on it.

Thank you all for listening!!

I understand and agree about the ADRs - I wouldn't like that either. I totally disagree about MGM - I just love it.

Some trips are better than others(sometimes I can't wait to leave Disney and go home), but at least you'll know what to change if you go again. Maybe you'd do better with accomodations that include a kitchen so you don't have to go out unless you want to. I can see how you'd feel let down after all that anticipation. I worry that might happen to me if I decide to take a Disney cruise.

 

[civileng68]

Our very best trips are the ones with no dining plans, no special events booked (bearing in mind we've done all that, too!), just a nice, relaxing day at a park with a flexible idea of what we want to do in the course of the day.

I agree 100%. I HATE the ADR situation (considering that people make so many ADRs for one time slot and then just choose the place they want). The ADR's really force you to do things you may not want to do at that time. Really, what person who doesn't overplan, knows which park they are going to be at which time?

My wife and I rarely ever make ADR's (this trip we did because we had a first timer with us) and we enjoy those trips SO much more.

We sleep til we want, go in the park when we want, go where we want, and eat when and what we want.

Often times, we'll leave in the early evening and go eat at a NICE place outside of the parks and then come back in for the evening.

Just relax. Just really take it easy and see how much difference it makes! Let the kids go in on Space Mountain (if they're old enough) and for once, just find a table with the umbrella over to the side and just sit back and people watch.

My wife and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the rides, but, lets face it, as an adult (hey, i'm only 27) after I've ridden spash Mtn 3 times in 2 days, it's just not needed anymore, at least not right then. I think all too often, especially when lines are not long, people feel the need to ride over and over and over, just because it's rare to not have long lines. Just take it easy.

My wife and LOVE to do this now (after learning how much we get miserable on go go go type trips). We go to the MK, get a seat at night in front of the castle (after fireworks) and just sit and eat a snack of something (popcorn or something) and relax. It's also nice to go to the frontierland boardwalk and just hang out there a while and relax. it's also nice to go to various areas and just sit and watch.

Try this for one night. Spend 2 hours in the park doing nothing but going from bench to bench to bench and sitting at each of them for 10-15 minutes. You'll see it's very relaxing and great after a long day.

I agree with Cleo though, after being a WDW regular for so long now, I really enjoy my trips the most when I have no obligations for dinner or shows. If we go to Fantasmic, we dont try to show up 1 hour early to get the best seat. We'll show up 15 minutes before the show and stand if needed, but we just dont rush ourselves to ANYTHING.

 

[Mara]

My wife and LOVE to do this now (after learning how much we get miserable on go go go type trips). We go to the MK, get a seat at night in front of the castle (after fireworks) and just sit and eat a snack of something (popcorn or something) and relax. It's also nice to go to the frontierland boardwalk and just hang out there a while and relax. it's also nice to go to various areas and just sit and watch.

Try this for one night. Spend 2 hours in the park doing nothing but going from bench to bench to bench and sitting at each of them for 10-15 minutes. You'll see it's very relaxing and great after a long day.

Oh, yes. People watching is one of the most simple, fun, and relaxing things to do. On our last park day (most recent trip- got back last week), my dad, my siblings, and I at one point just got snacks (frozen lemonade for us, pretzel for Dad), found some chairs, and settled back to relax and watch people pass by. We were in Animal Kingdom, near Kali River Rapids' exit, which we found to be an ideal people-watching location.

I, too, have found the anticipation and expectation gleaned from the DIS to be detrimental. I was dissapointed with our last trip. But admittedly, even a so-so WDW vacation is above average for vacations in general.

 

[lpbm4]

Yes, I think I did definitely overplan, and we did everything around our ADRs. Although we can't really people watch with 2 young kids, that still is fun!!! I think one of my favorite parts of the trip (minus MK) was going back to the hotel to swim! It was so nice to just relax and have fun with the kids in that setting. Plus the WL has such a nice pool and slide for the kids, they had a blast.

 

[AmyBWV99]

We hear many of the same things from people we know that go down there. They say all of the running isn't a vacation at all and that they'd rather spend the time and money relaxing on a beach somewhere. I think a common misconception is that WDW tends to be a relaxing place which we don't think it is. Certainly you can make it relaxing if you chose, but for the average person, it's not a relaxing vacation. And man, is it expensive!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Hi OP! Sorry for your unmagical trip. Here's hoping you'll give WDW another chance in a few years, and lots of will come your way!

To answer your question--I've never been disappointed in a trip to WDW, but my kids said their all-time favorite trip there was last year when we had 3 non-park days built into the schedule. We shopped, swam, went to Cirque, slept in, hung out at the resort, and really kicked back. They loved that.

I always make ADRs for must-do restaurants so we're not disappointed by being turned away, but I make sure we're at the park or at least in the nearby vicinity on the day of that particular ADR. Otherwise, I totally agree that running around to make ADRs can really suck the fun out of a trip!

(And BTW--I'm very impressed with the sympathy everyone has shown the OP. How depressing to be really excited about something, only to have it fall flat. This could have been a real here on the Dis. Nice job!)

 

[icecrystahl]

Aw I'm so sorry about your "not so magical" trip. I've gone everyyear since 1992 (when I was 10 months old, I'm currently 14.) And I'm not ashamed to say that we have never stayed on site.(FIRST TIME ONSITE in FEB) Nor done the DDP everytime. (past few years we have though.) And I can't say we do any more planning than just plan out which day we will go to which park. And EVERYTIME I feel the magic and have the best time. Reading these boards made me feel like me and my family HAVE to plan things out better and do more research and what not. Last trip we tried being very planned and prepared but quite frankly I think we have more fun when we just go in unplanned and just let Disney come to us. Maybe these boards got you too hyped up and set your expectations too high. And i just hope you'll try it again. On a less rushed note so maybe you can stop and take in the magic, instead of having to go find it yourself. haha.

 

[nuke]

I think part of the problem is reading these boards.

Before our first Disney Cruise I read a bit and knew that I wanted to eat at Palo. That was it. We had a blast! The second cruise after reading the cruise board here I HAD to do the Romatic Escape at Sea package. It was "the best thing ever", I read that over and over and over and over. To the point that I figured my cruise would be ruined without it. It was a waste of money. I wish I had never read about it.

Third cruise we didn't plan a thing. Not one excursion, not a dinner, nothing ahead of time. We got on the ship and relaxed and had fun. We were still able to book excursions on board, we still ate at Palo but there was no pressure to rush on board and run for reservations.

I think the same thing can happen with a trip to the parks. We read all the WONDERFUL things that you HAVE to do and put pressure on ourselves to have the BEST TRIP EVER!! Then we are disappointed.

 

[lpbm4]

(And BTW--I'm very impressed with the sympathy everyone has shown the OP. How depressing to be really excited about something, only to have it fall flat. This could have been a real here on the Dis. Nice job!)

I appreciate that as well!! I thought I would be shot down completely! Thank you for not doing that to me!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Sorry you felt that way about your trip. We just got back and while I was not disappointed in our overall disney trip, I would say and I did post that we were in conceirge for 4 days and it was definetely not worth it and it was kind of a disappointment moneywise for us. Also I told my ds not to get all hyped up about the million dreams things, glad they didnt because nothing happened for our family so I prepared them ahead of time to not expect anything so they would not be disappointed.

 

[amytheobald]

I m sorry you were dissappointed as well. Honestly though traveling with a 3 and 5 year old can be stressful (I have a 6,5 and 3 year old) thanks for sharing your feelings though because it reminds me when we go in April I need to remember we WILL NOT do everything, it's not possible and there is no reason to kill our selves trying...we'll just have to come back for those things we miss.

 

[NC State]

I cant wait until our next trip when it is just DH and I again- I will KISS Disney ground when we stroll in the parks... hand in hand......alone!

but....thats just selfish ol' me- I like the magic in MY eyes!...no flames please!

No flames here, I totally agree with you, I just couldn't do it with small kids!

 

[bytheblood]

I am sorry to hear your trip was less than magical. It is a lot of money to spend to be let down and come hme disappointed. I hope I never get that way.

 

[Swimnoid]

I think when you get back from a trip like this you are still frazzled and tense. I think that after awhile the disappointment you felt will ease and the fun memories will be more prevalent. (kind of like having a baby...if you didnt forget the pain you would never have more than 1! ) Your kids will bring up some obscure thing they remember and you will smile and think it was not so bad after all. I agree about the DDP though. We have 4 ADRs for our upcoming 9 day trip, 2 lunch, 2 dinner. The rest we will wing. Heck, we change our minds about what we plan to do about 15 times in one day. We cant be anchored to a meal time.

Think about it again in about 6 months.

 

[runwad]

I know we felt like this somewhat after our first trip, but let me tell you after the 2nd trip we were hooked. We felt like we knew what to do, where to go without always stopping and looking at a map, just felt more homey. Plus we stayed off site and loved that just as much as onsite and a lot easier on the wallet. We loved hanging out at our resort and doing the activities there for a day or two.