Considering canceling and could use some reality checks/advice

[Lisa LSR]

Honestly, I've been struggling with the same question for our upcoming trip. Largely because we only have 3-4 park days, and it's a LOT of money for our budget, to spend on only a few days in a theme park, especially if we're going to be experiencing 30+ minute waits for everything due to crowds, breakdowns etc... It's so easy for other people to sit back and say, "Oh you'll be fine, just make the most of it." But, for us, having a child with ASD losing her mind in meltdowns because of the crowds, waits, disappointment over unfulfilled fixations etc... is hard to just "suck up" and roll with. So like you, I'm thinking of other things we could do with our money that would be less crowded etc... One day I'm sure I'm going to pull the plug and go somewhere else, but then the other days... well, it's Disney, lol, and the kids love it. But I'll fully admit to being worried. It will be 3.5 years since our last trip, and the things I've read over the last couple years on this board make me worried that we're in for a rude awakening. But... who knows. So, I get the struggle! You're not alone!

That all said, having read the replies:


Have you considered going during summer break instead? Recent years seem to indicate that crowds are spreading out more, and that summer isn't as busy as it once way, especially August. Yes, it's hot and humid, but if you live in Alabama anyways, you should be able to handle it. Plus, at Disney, there's AC everywhere. Even many ride queues are air conditioned, and they have lots of places to take an air conditioned break. Plan your dies accordingly, can help, too. Plus the summer nights in the park are beautiful.


As for going somewhere else, to me that's just as valid an option. To us, Disney is not, and never will be the end all, be all, and while I love it and want to see it again, there are also many other things I want to see, and quite honestly, I think it's important to do vacations other than "Disney", to show children different parts of the country, world etc... Vacation doesn't have to include thrill rides to be exciting. We have hiked mountains, swam in creeks and rivers and lakes, played on beaches, gone on scenic drives, strolled quaint Main streets, gone sailing, whale watching, ziplining, toured aquariums, nature preserves, zoo, visited historical settlement villages and more. And they were all "exciting" and enjoyable, all in their own way. And they're all equally cherished memories. Quite honestly, the memories of Disney don't stand out as better than any of them. Just equally valuable.

So really, I think it boils down to, where do you think you will enjoy yourself more as a family at this particular time? What do you all want to do the most? Do you truly feel that if you run into heavy crowds, it might put a damper on the vacation for you (and it is 100% valid and okay for you to feel that it might)? If so, are you comfortable spending that hard earned money on that "risk"? Or, do you think you will be able to find enough other things to do that will still leave you feeling you "did" Disney and got your money's worth?

Your post alone sort of summed up all my back and forth feelings this past week. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts with me. It's a lot to consider. I've decided that we will sit down with the kids soon and weigh all the pros and cons together. (they don't know yet that we are considering the trip at all) I will describe the crowds to the EXTREME in order to make the kids sort of visualize a worse-case scenario, so they can help decide. Then maybe we can discuss other vacation options. Thank you so much for your advice!

 

[mshanson3121]

Only time I’ve ever been there was thanksgiving and it snowed.



I love that idea. Shows where the priority is, and gives the parents the ability to make the decision.

I met an American who lives in Holland (I think) who said that there’s a similar system there, and if you have a school child going on a flight during school time you actually pay the fine there. Or maybe you have to prove you’ve paid the fine there? Anyway, it’s integrated.

This is ridiculous quite honestly. Especially when you consider the hypocrisy of how quickly schools excuse children from academics for the almighty sports. I'll take family as a #1 priority any day - not some government run institution.

 

[mshanson3121]

I love this idea! I guess I didn't consider it because I was focused on trying to get free dining. If it looks like that isn't going to work out, it may be worth considering taking them out of school on the backend of the trip, rather than the front. Great idea! Thanks!

Looking at the FD bounceback dates for 2018, there was no FD offered until Dec 8.

 

[kirstenb1]

Full disclosure, you couldn't pay me to go over Thanksgiving or Christmas. WE go every year the second week in June. Yes, it's hot, etc. But not as crowded as the holidays. We're on a school schedule too, so I get it. We rent a beach house for Thanksgiving, near FIL, since he can no longer travel, and have my folks come stay with us.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Looking at the FD bounceback dates, there was no FD offered until Dec 8.

We went over Thanksgiving 2017 and had free dining. We checked in the Sunday before (November 19). The promotion was released April 24. It doesn't mean that will be exactly what is available this year. Also, the regular DP (1 QS, 1TS per day) was only if you booked a deluxe resort. You would have had to upgrade the dining plan if staying at moderate or value.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I hope we can get everything for FP and ADR that we want also! I'm still trying to figure out what park(s) to go to each day! It makes me feel better that you had good luck.

And we’re a party of six - I’m sure a party of four would be even easier. (Although we’re four for the purposes of FP+ since two of our kids don’t need tickets yet.)

 

[cel_disney]

OP - a few posts have reminded me that while we are a Disney family and go often - we have been on 2 cruises with our kids. Most recently on Royal Caribbean’s Libery of the Seas out of Galveston. TX. The kids were 6 and 10 on Our most recent cruise - and we stopped at Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel.

We went cave tubing in Belize, Zipling and Visiting with Monkeys and Sloths and the beach in Roatan, and Just hanging out in the port area in Cozumel. EVERYONE in our family loved this trip! We went in April because our April vacation overlaps with Easter last year and I don’t like to visit Disney over the major holidays (Easter, Christmas, New Years etc).

Someone else suggested a Disney Cruise, but while we LOVE Disney, we prefer Royal cruises for their price and activities. The Liberty is never going to feel crowded and it’s going to offer your family many opportunities for adventure and relaxation!

I would recommend you and your husband talk it all over before you talk to the kids - a family vacation will be what you make of it!

 

[mshanson3121]

We went over Thanksgiving 2017 and had free dining. We checked in the Sunday before (November 19). The promotion was released April 24. It doesn't mean that will be exactly what is available this year. Also, the regular DP (1 QS, 1TS per day) was only if you booked a deluxe resort. You would have had to upgrade the dining plan if staying at moderate or value.

Sorry, I meant for this year, upcoming. No FD in any of October, November, until Dec 8th.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I got up early this am and started looking at other family vacation options (a Grand Canyon trip is one we've also wanted to do). It doesn't seem nearly as exciting, but then again, the deserts of Arizona are pretty wide open spaces...

I would go to the Grand Canyon. Its so easy for us to get hooked on Disney that we lose sight of what else is out there. In the summer of 2015 I took my family on a short "Summer Roadtrip". Also in the summer of 2016 and 2017 we have continued this tradition and we have had SO much fun for SO less money. We have seen and done so much and its like a new surprise every year getting to experience a whole new place. We have had 3 Roadtrip vacations for less than the price of ONE Disney vacation. I do not regret it ONE BIT.

I will return to Disney one day. Last trip was also in 2015. But my Disney trip will be shorter and we will do less because of all the price increases. I no longer stress the whole Disney thing. Its hard to now that we are enjoying so many other places this country has to offer!

 

[slpeters]

I think you should go, plan on it being busy and plan accordingly and have a great time. We went before Thanksgiving last year for our first trip. We were there for a week, apparently the crowds were nines and tens most of the time we were there. We honestly didn't even realize until months later--this whole discussion about how crowded it is prompted me to go back and look at the historical crowd data on TP. We pretty much did just about every ride at least once--I mean we're two adults so didn't do Dumbo, but otherwise pretty much everything. We met a ton of characters and watched all five nighttime spectacles running while we were there, ate at a ton of fun restaurants and saw just about all the shows. We never waited longer than 30 minutes for anything and hardly ever waited longer than fifteen minutes. Some good pre-planning of FPs and ADRs and a really good touring plan and, like I said, we really didn't even realize it was that busy. It was our first time and my husband assumed it would be a one and done--we had such a magical time that we have two more trips planned, one at his insistence.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Just remember to get to the park early, do a few key attractions, then an afternoon swim/break. The crowds seem to be thinner after 5 pm, you're rested and it just seems a lot more pleasant.

 

[hotblooded]

Go to the Grand Canyon. I never set foot inside a national park until my first trip there when I was 26, and I’ve been to 10 more in the two years since. In some ways, they’ve ruined Frontierland for me, but the experience was worth it. I wish I’d been able to go as a kid.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Sorry, I meant for this year, upcoming. No FD in any of October, November, until Dec 8th.

Fall free dining promotions available to the general public have not been announced until late April the last several years. The bounce back offers may not be the same. Of course, free dining has been more restricted recently. Given that the current resort stay offers only go out to June, I don't think we can say what will or will not be offered for November 2018.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I would go to the Grand Canyon. Its so easy for us to get hooked on Disney that we lose sight of what else is out there. In the summer of 2015 I took my family on a short "Summer Roadtrip". Also in the summer of 2016 and 2017 we have continued this tradition and we have had SO much fun for SO less money. We have seen and done so much and its like a new surprise every year getting to experience a whole new place. We have had 3 Roadtrip vacations for less than the price of ONE Disney vacation. I do not regret it ONE BIT.

I will return to Disney one day. Last trip was also in 2015. But my Disney trip will be shorter and we will do less because of all the price increases. I no longer stress the whole Disney thing. Its hard to now that we are enjoying so many other places this country has to offer!

We were actually talking about our bucket list - the hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, the Grand Canyon, Oregon waterfalls and covered bridges, beautiful Yosemite, the majestic redwoods. Do what makes you happy, and don't stress.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Just remember to get to the park early, do a few key attractions, then an afternoon swim/break. The crowds seem to be thinner after 5 pm, you're rested and it just seems a lot more pleasant.

Caution on afternoon swim breaks in November... It was 65 and drizzly/cloudy on Thanksgiving last year. Definitely not pool weather! Other days that week were better, but it was not pool weather every day. Still a resort break is a good idea if you like to get to the parks early.

 

[mshanson3121]

Fall free dining promotions available to the general public have not been announced until late April the last several years. The bounce back offers may not be the same. Of course, free dining has been more restricted recently. Given that the current resort stay offers only go out to June, I don't think we can say what will or will not be offered for November 2018.

I realize that. But the general consensus on here is that the promo typically is very close to the BB. So my point to OP was, based on the BB, it wouldn't be wise to plan on getting FD based on history.

 

[mjohnson96]

Have you considered a cruise instead, the cost could be lower depending on the line and Disney has some amazing ships if you want to stick with them? We have done cruises over Spring Break and surprised at how non crazy it is compared to other vacations where you have tons of people/kids everywhere. Now of course that didn't stop me from booking a trip over Spring Break this year

 

[Traveliz]

My daughter was married at the Wedding Pavilion the Monday of Thanksgiving week. Pretty much all of the guests stayed that week for vacation. I was so pleased and how much people were able to do. Many of the guests were not planners and literally played it by ear. Others had planned for months with day by day plans at FPs. Some looked for FPs once they arrived here. Regardless everyone did pretty much everything they wanted. I can tell each guestvthatvwanted to dis Pandora by either Fp, arriving early or going in the last hour of the night. And no one had anything near a 4 hour wait. The ones who went at opening did go early but not four hours.

Liz

 

[verleniahall]

We were there over Thanksgiving - the crowds were NOT that bad. Pandora? Yeah - they were - and I am assuming still are, and Toy Story Land will be Crazy as well.

I would say, keep your trip, but overall, that is a family decisionb

 

[slpeters]

I feel so unpoetic--I can't imagine spending a week at the Grand Canyon. I mean it was impressive for a day, but...