Disapointed

[Sherm]

Wow. I don't know exactly what to say. Family and I just returned from 7 night Disney trip last night. We visited Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Downtown Disney & MGM. We stayed at the All Star Movie resort. We were ALL very disapointed in the entire trip. From things not working in our room to rude employees at the hotel (several), to rude employees at the parks, to outdated and disapointing attractions at EVERY stop. My kids highlight of the trip was going to see Alvin and The Chipmunks at the movies....needless to say we won't be returning. To each his own I know and I'm happy for all you Disney lovers but I just dont get how you all go back again and again......

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Sorry you didn't have a magical time! Some people just are not Disney lovers (I know a few myself ), but for those of us who love Disney, we are able to find the magic each time we go. I can't imagine ever having a bad time at Disney! I would go WAY more than I do if I could convince DH. My DD4 said this morning "Mommy, I love Disney World!" That's my girl!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Sorry you didn't have a magical time! Some people just are not Disney lovers (I know a few myself ), but for those of us who love Disney, we are able to find the magic each time we go. I can't imagine ever having a bad time at Disney! I would go WAY more than I do if I could convince DH. My DD4 said this morning "Mommy, I love Disney World!" That's my girl!

I have to agree. We just added an extra night to our upcoming trip and the kids were literally dancing around and jumping for joy - and dh too! It's a shame that the OP had a bad time, but I can bet you anything that the trip was not "planned out" like it should've been. I can also bet there was probably 0% research done on crowd levels, which parks on which days, ADR's, etc. Oh well, to each their own.

 

[becca011906]

I'm one who was less then thrilled with Disney on my first trip... then again i was 14 years old and use the parks that were all costers... then my Dh talked me into going back for our honeymoon 4 years later. I fell in love with it, it was so magical for me the second time, maybe it was that it was honeymoon and that made it magical i'm not sure but after that we were both hooked and you can see from my siggy we have been going a lot since then! we took the kids to a coater park a few years back and i was so disapointed with it, the ride were good, but the parks were dirty nasty, service was bad, prices were crazy even compaired to disney... some will love it some don't.

 

[GoinToDisney]

To each his or her own. The previous poster was right... some people are just not Disney people or they don't know how to avoid the crowds, which can add a lot of stress. Lots of people would love to travel to Europe, and I have no interest in site-seeing. I know you can focus on the positive or the negative, but I still think traveling to Europe would just feel like work to me. Maybe because I don't know what I am missing. The closest I get to site-seeking is World Showcase at Epcot, which I don't mind missing. I LOVE Magic Kingdom and the shows at Animal Kingdom, and would go to WDW 3 or 4 times a year, if it were possible.

 

[HelenePA]

I was less than thrilled with my first trip when I was small at the age of 9. Last year was the first time I have gone back (19 yrs later!) I dont why my first trip sucked I should have LOVED every minute of it.. but I didn't. Me and my brother wanted to stay at the hotel the whole time! Last year was SO different. It really was magical and fun. I can't wait to go back in May! I'm even thinking of doing a weekend trip during christmas next year.. I have the Disney bug, its an expensive bug!!!!!!!!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

I also think that it's quite funny when a person comes on here and their first post is how much they didn't enjoy their trip...

 

[a1tinkfans]

Oh, sorry to hear about a disappointing trip to Disney (or anywhere for that matter)

But, like many here, I grew up on it, LOVE it and never get enough!!

 

[Darcy03231]

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your trip. As PP's pointed out Disney is not for everyone. In fact, my DH doesn't like it at all so when we go, we go without him! Here's hoping your next vacation is more to your liking.

 

[Disneychix]

What types of things were you hoping for that you didn't see? What do you mean by outdated attractions?
Please let us know some details and maybe we can help point out some good parts of your trip!

 

[rt2dz]

I have to say that we just returned from a Disney trip too and was less than thrilled with lots of aspects to the trip. Housekeeping was lacking (and we were at the Boardwalk Inn), CMs were rude, service was pretty bad at most (not all) restaurants, and so many of the other guests were horribly rude, but I wouldn't say the trip was a wash. It is Disney. But, I can see being less than thrilled with Disney as a whole if it had been my first trip. And it certainly wasn't because the trip wasn't "planned out like it should have been."

However, I wouldn't say all the rides and attractions were dated. OK, Country Bear Jamboree, the Carrousel of Progress, Astro Orbiter--heck, most of tomorrow land--certainly is, but a lot is wonderfully great. I can do without that Nemo show.

 

[Disneylush]

I have to say that we just returned from a Disney trip too and was less than thrilled with lots of aspects to the trip. Housekeeping was lacking (and we were at the Boardwalk Inn), CMs were rude, service was pretty bad at most (not all) restaurants, and so many of the other guests were horribly rude, but I wouldn't say the trip was a wash. It is Disney. But, I can see being less than thrilled with Disney as a whole if it had been my first trip. And it certainly wasn't because the trip wasn't "planned out like it should have been."

However, I wouldn't say all the rides and attractions were dated. OK, Country Bear Jamboree, the Carrousel of Progress, Astro Orbiter--heck, most of tomorrow land--certainly is, but a lot is wonderfully great. I can do without that Nemo show.

The Nemo show in AK or the Nemo ride in Epcot?

 

[princessreilly]

I would have to agree somewhat to the first post. We all have intrest or love for Disney or we wouldn't have stumbled across this site. From my experience, I have found Disney very magical. I even convinced DH this year to take us every year. But this year I was very disappointed. It just didn't seem like it used to. I encountered rude people (including CMs). Not just being rude to me, but others. I guess you see this anywhere you go, but I could go to Europe for less than the price of Disney. I'm not sure I want to return each year now. But of course I will be back eventually.

 

[rt2dz]

The Nemo show in AK or the Nemo ride in Epcot?

The Nemo show in AK. I like the Epcot ride.

 

[rt2dz]

I would have to agree somewhat to the first post. We all have intrest or love for Disney or we wouldn't have stumbled across this site. From my experience, I have found Disney very magical. I even convinced DH this year to take us every year. But this year I was very disappointed. It just didn't seem like it used to. I encountered rude people (including CMs). Not just being rude to me, but others. I guess you see this anywhere you go, but I could go to Europe for less than the price of Disney. I'm not sure I want to return each year now. But of course I will be back eventually.

We do generally go every year. Maybe not in a 12 month period, but once somewhere in the calendar year--some exceptions. And we will still be back next year, but this trip we just (on the 17th) returned from was out of whack. If next year's trip is the same, we might drop it down to every other year. I just could not figure out what was going on, it was soooo un-Disney.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I'm sorry that some posters had some dissappointing trips. I think there are an awful lot of expectations that go into a Disney trip..Especially a first time...plus hanging on these threads just tends to build up the fevor I think.

We've gone every year since my DD was born. Some years we went 2/3 times. Each time we do most of the same favorites but we always try to find something we haven't done before...

I have to say we had a fantastic time this past October. We had great meals/service at Le Cellier, Coral Reef, Biergarten at Germany and Cinderellas Royal Table. The CMs at the Beach Club Villas were phenomenal. At Check-in the CM went out of her way to try to get us the view we requested. It was our first time at BBB and MNSSHP and we Loved it AND it poured rain the entire trip.

I'm sorry your trips were "un" magical but I don't think its anything pervasive. Our key to happiness is try to avoid crowds if possible (i.e. parks in early AM), and don't try to do too much in one day so everyone is cranky...

 

[Phedre]

I'm so sorry that people have been having bad times and rude CMs recently. We were there in Nov and I felt like I had some of the nicest, friendliest CM's ever. I wish everyone could interact with the same ones we did!

 

[princesssfws]

We just returned from a 7 day trip Dec. 11-17 and it was the best trip ever. All the CMs we encountered were great. The crowds the first half of the trip were non-existent, the second half it got busier but we used fast pass or took a break back to the hotel to swim. We never had to wait for our ADR times. Even the other guests seemed nice. We were never run over by strollers or EVCs.
Now having said all that, we did stay at the Poly and one of the main reasons was for the ease of transportation to all the parks. I find if people have to fight to get on the bus or wait a long time it seems to wear on their tempers.
My son asked this morning if he could go on a ride today. Guess it's time to start planning the next trip.
Hope that you can find a vacation spot that is more to your family's liking.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

To each his or her own. The previous poster was right... some people are just not Disney people or they don't know how to avoid the crowds, which can add a lot of stress. Lots of people would love to travel to Europe, and I have no interest in site-seeing. I know you can focus on the positive or the negative, but I still think traveling to Europe would just feel like work to me. Maybe because I don't know what I ammissing. The closest I get to site-seeking is World Showcase at Epcot, which I don't mind missing. I LOVE Magic Kingdom and the shows at Animal Kingdom, and would go to WDW 3 or 4 times a year, if it were possible.

IMO not going to Europe if it is possible is just missing out on an unbelievable chance to see some of the "real" world.
Please don't get me wrong this past year we traveled to WDW 5 times so I am a true lover but Europe is just amazing and something not to be missed!

 

[seas the moment]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the original poster. I first went in '72 and have been back many times. (family in Florida) We just returned 12/4-12/10. We were at the parks for the rope drop each morning and avoided the crowds, utilizing FP later in the day. It just seems soooo much more commercial, more crowded (and we really walked on everything). I had hoped to spend time on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom revisiting and rediscovering old places and every "storefront" was just that...a store. We took our children in '99 and this was our first time back because of the changes. Where is the old penny arcade? I spotted some of the old machines at the train depot. I felt sadly sentimental and nostalgic regarding all the changes and in my opinion, many of them NOT for the better. The characters seem so remote and much of the spontaneity seems gone. I guess many of these changes were inevitable because of the crowds, but I miss the old Disney. We told our kids we would gladly accompany them back in 15 years when they present us with grandchildren! Until then, I plan to explore the rest of the real world!