Did anyone ever regret their trip?

[Nancyg56]

My children are all adults now, but back when they were young my DH wanted to take them to WDW. I had been a single Mom, and while we had never been without anything, we never had the money for DIsney vacation. Buddy saved and saved, and finally the vacation came. We went just as they were building the GF, so onsite options were very limited. Buddy booked the CR because he thought that the kids would love it there. We had a ten day vacation, which started in Daytona Beach and ended in Disney, and I can honestly say that when I got home I told DH if I never went back it would be too soon. we spent a small fortune, and when we asked the kids what their favorite part was my youngest told us it was chocolate chip pancakes! WE laugh today, but back then it was a little tough to find the humor in that kind of statement. I really did not understand that asking the kids to prioritize what was fun was asking too much. They all had fun, but for them, breakfast out every day, swimming in the pool and the ocean on Christmas Morning, the water show at Sea World, flying for the first time.... it was all fun. They had no idea that as adults, we had expectations that they could not articulate, so for Dan pancakes represented his fun, but for me....YIKES!

We are now WDW regulars and have had only one trip that we wondered if we got the value we thought that we paid for. It was not really buyers remorse, but we made a few choices that we wished we had not made. WE found out the hard way that we do not like construction disruption at the resort we stay, and we also now know that for us, there really is such a thing as a resort that is just too big.

OP- I get what you are saying because I was there right with you those many years ago, and I wish that I had someone to tell me that it was okay. I was embarrassed that I resented that trip, and upset that it seemed as though my kids would have been as happy at our local IHOP. I know now that they had a blast and enjoyed all of it, but then...all I could hear was pancakes.

 

[rotlex]

I feel like this once in a great while. However, with that said, we always have a blast. Even after 10 years and at least as many trips. Every year we say we are going to skip next year, save some money, not visit etc. You know what? We find out every year that Disney is still one of the best values in vacationing there is. We have a two week trip coming up this month. The total cost, with free dining, is $3800. I could not stay at the Jersey shore for two weeks for $3800. That always make me feel a bit better.

As far as the kids. Yeah, we have experienced similar reactions. As soon as I mention NOT going back though, they do an instant turn around, LOL. With all the ups and downs though, I still don't think I can say we have ever regretted a Disney trip. Those memories will last a lifetime, and I can always make more money.

 

[TMJR]

I'm afraid it is going to happen with my family this trip. I am so excited, but I don't feel like anyone is sharing in the excitement. Yes, they want to go, but it isn't the same. Plus, my 7 year old has suddenly decided that she doesn't like princesses and they are for babies. She's trying too hard to be a teenager like her sister. I have a lunch ADR at CRT that she wants me to cancel. Ugh!

 

[merrick]

we have been once and had a good vacation but felt a bit stressed and overwhelmed, everything was so complicated and we felt we missed a lot by not knowing things. i have booked another trip this dec and when i spoke to my youngest ds about it, he sighed and said 'okay, but disney is very tiring'. what i *heard* was it wasn't worth it, the fun he had did not equal the walking, waiting, etc. but upon further reflection, he had a raging fever for the first 2 days and really felt like crap. of course he felt tired!!!

i have done more planning for this trip, which also involved planning more down time. the canadian dollar is so low right now, i am considering cancelling so i DON'T feel like op when we get home...

 

[rwdavis2]

I think the OP may have equated doing it big (expensive) to having the perfect trip. Correct me if I'm wrong. Therefore the letdown. We've been 4 times as a family, done it expensive, cheap, and stayed off site at various times. Each trip was great. One does not have to spend a fortune to have a great trip.

 

[pilferk]

Nope. But Disney is "our" thing...the whole families thing. The kids start bugging us about the next trip about 3/4 of the way through the "current" trip.

After the upcoming trip in Oct....we've got an extended break from WDW coming up (work commitments and school "changes"...moving up to middle school/HS). We've let the kids know that....and it went over like a ton of lead bricks.

But that's us. I don't think any family is exactly the same as any other, so no 2 families are likely going to feel the same, exact, way.

 

[ejdmomma]

Our first family trip I had to hard sell it to my husband. He just couldn't justify dropping that much money on a trip he wasn't looking forward to. In the end, he gave in for me and the kids with the disclaimer that it would be a "one and done" trip. So going in I was worried that my expectations were too high and there would be some major disappointment at the end of the trip. Fortunately we had a fantastic trip, all my planning paid off and everyone had a magical time...including my husband. We have gone on a couple of short trips with a DLR trip this October and a big trip next year. And my naysayer husband is totally on board.

 

[jenf22]

On the drive home from great wolf lodge we asked the kids what their favourite part was. Watching Star Wars rebels and other shows because we don't have the Disney Chanel at home.

At least I am prepared for them to say the best part of Disney is the hour or so of tv they will watch before bed lol

It's been a couple of years since we've been to Disney since we've been cruising as our primary vacation. But after our last trip our kiddo (who was in kindergarten at the time) had to write about his favorite vacation and draw a picture to go with it. We had spent 5 days in Disney doing the parks and eating at character meals. He wrote about the trip but his favorite part was eating breakfast in my mom's connecting room while watching cartoons on the TV (mom is local and brought a TON of food with her). We're going to Disney again in October and while I'm super excited about it, the expense is adding up quickly. So I can understand the element of disappointment.

 

[rajak73]

I think the OP may have equated doing it big (expensive) to having the perfect trip. Correct me if I'm wrong. Therefore the letdown. We've been 4 times as a family, done it expensive, cheap, and stayed off site at various times. Each trip was great. One does not have to spend a fortune to have a great trip.

Sounds like us, stayed as cheap as possible, (camper offsite) shared CS meals, the last trip 16 days at Ft Wilderness, no kids. Have 2 adult DS, 1 really likes Disney, (is getting back from Disneyland this weekend) the other could care less about going to Disney so Disney isn't for everyone. Ever regret a Disney trip? Nope, had a good time no matter what.

 

[Jen1010]

The first time we went 6 years ago DH and I weren't excited. My FIL asked us to go with him and paid for our hotel with DVC points (very generous of him!) so we went. We were afraid of the crowds and there seemed to be so much planning. We had an amazing time- each one of us. We were blown away at how cool the rides were, and the kids were the perfect ages. Two years later we went back with my brother and his family and had another fantastic time. Then one November we went for a long weekend and we felt the same way you did. We enjoyed the mini-vacation but it was a lot of money and we just didn't feel it was worth it. We all decided not to go back for a long time, mostly due to the fun to money ratio. Last summer when we were planning this summers vacation we asked the kids where they wanted to go (out West, the beach, Disney...) they all said Disney....so back we go with my brother and his family. We are driving and leave tonight. I'm hesitant about it but the rest of the crew is beyond excited. I know we will have a wonderful time, I'm just worried about the cost to fun. I can relate to your feelings very well.

 

[prudence64]

I took my daughter to the local amusement park recently and she loved it. She's into roller coasters now. She was probably just as happy there as she would be in Disney (or even more so due to the thrill ride level), but I hated it. So even though I could entertain my daughter more cheaply somewhere else, the overall experience for the entire family is better at Disney.

 

[GreatLakes]

Sort of. We regretted going in June this year. It was for our honeymoon and we had a lot of fun but we much prefer our normal winter trip down. I don't mind Florida heat but much prefer not walking around hours every day in it.

We will be back to traveling between November and March after this one.

 

[alicat8]

I regretted our post-christmas-new years trip in 2010-11. It was so painfully crowded that it really wasn't enjoyable. We just went through the motions. We did everything right (we were not newbies!) Got there early, stayed late, used FPs like champs, but getting around was awful. To me, it's not really Disney if you cant enjoy the scenery/atmosphere. It was 3.5 years before I could convince my husband to go back. We always go during busy times, but that one was painful.

 

[nilla]

"Well, Son, it's better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done."

- From a song whose performer I can't mention on these boards

 

[alicat8]

Oh, and if it makes you feel any better, my daughter spent our entire trip in DL last week saying she didn't want to go back to the parks, she wanted to play in the hotel arcade. She's 3 and doesn't even care if you put in the quarters...she just likes to mash the buttons. I'm still taking her back, like it or not!

 

[Gracie09]

the trip no, going with my inlaws yes

 

[Fizban]

Oh our experience was not due to lack of planning, as many on here know, lol. But I think the problem is - it's more "my" thing, not "their" thing. I mean, don't get me wrong, they were over the moon excited to be there and really enjoyed themselves, we all did. (Other than my son was pretty overwhelmed sensory wise with his sensory disorder, and was very timid of all the rides while we were there). But... yeah, they would have had just as much fun anywhere else. Though... funny, as I say that... the things like Jedi Training Academy and the Princess Boutique still stand out to them as huge highlights.

It's hard when you really want someone else to like something as much as you do and then they don't. You get the feeling like you just didnt explain it to them enough or correctly and end up either blaming yourself or wondering if you need to reevaluate your thoughts on the other person(s). The problem is that we build up in our mind how much fun will be had by all and then when the expectations are too high we end up with the feeling of "buyers remorse". Don't beat yourself up about this. Some folks just wont get into Diz that much and its ok. Maybe they will change in a few years or maybe they never will. But you did a great thing by exposing them to it and let them decide.

 

[dlavender]

I've been at least 40 times. I've only regretted one trip. It was the first trip that I took with my wife and then 2 year old. I wanted it to be so magical. As a kid growing up in Orlando, we would take day trips, and I was jealous of those who got to stay for multiple days at the resorts. As an adult, I wanted my first family trip to be everything I thought I wanted it to be as a child. We stayed at the Yacht Club for a week, and did dining reservations for every meal. It was the worst stay of all. We had a good time, but it was so over the top expensive that we couldn't enjoy it. Since then, we have stayed at values and eaten PB&J's with a few QS meals. These are the best trips for us, and we feel as though we get every penny out of our time there.

 

[jerivera]

The only Disney trip I've kind of regretted is the one where we went with extended family who have very small children. Who decided to go after they found out we were going. And then got a room right next to us at the hotel. With adjoining door. That their little kids used all the time...

It's just not as much fun when you have to plan around another family's schedule/budget/needs/small children. It was not a very relaxing vacation. For Disney vacations I'm big into planning/scheduling and doing special things that can cost extra. That doesn't work with the extended family. They're kind of the opposite. It makes for not-so-much-fun-for-me vacations.

There was one other trip that I didn't enjoy as much. It was expensive, and the room was at the very far end of the Contemporary Garden wing (the one time we tried one of the 3 monorail hotels). Don't get me wrong, though! We got bumped into a beautiful gigantic suite, and it was a fun trip. But I didn't enjoy as much because I was so very out of shape (read: obese couch potato) and it was a true chore to walk all the way to that admittedly beautiful room after an exhausting day at the parks.

Regardless, thankfully the girls love going to Disney even though they're probably tired of going there by now!

 

[dalmatian7]

Our 2013 trip was tough. DD didn't take the September heat well, it was a short trip and felt rushed. My BIL is a grouch if you don't do things his way. DD got a fever the last day. That said, we had fun, we learned what we don't like to do, and we would hesitate on going with other people again. The trip had a bad vibe before we left and I was stressed about the time off of work for other reasons and got work calls, sooooo it wasn't a bad trip, but it was not my favorite.

Traveling with a small one you have to go in with the thought that you aren't going to get your "moneys worth" if you measure it in time on rides/in the park. I am not disappointed that my DD is just as excited for the local fireman's carnival and county fair as WDW. To her they are all fun.