Does anybody have a family member who HATED WDW?

[Eyore4Ever149]

Cause I did....

Heres the thing, we went last year, the last week of August. It was our honeymoon. It was really hot and sticky. We stayed at CBR.

Now, I know some really awful stuff happened- my digital camera was stolen somewhere between New England and our hotel room. That along with wet carpets started a very tired, newly married bride off on the wrong track... we were there 7 days and I never got it back. I did like some rides.....and Spectromagic Parade- but i also remember complaining constantly that my feet hurt, that I wanted to go back to the hotel room, that buses took too long, that lines were too long- I distinctly remember telling my husband I had NO idea why anyone would ever want to come back to this place.

Okay, so I dont know what happened, but I have been excitedly planning a return trip for the last 2 months. My DH is hoping that with our vacations "in a row" so to speak that my memories will blend together and I will love WDW. Now I have done a LOT of planning for this trip- pretty much all of it.

Now that the time to leave is getting closer, I find myself concerned I will be disappointed.

Does anyone have a family member who started out with a bad experience and on a later trip became a fan?

I seriously hated all the walking.
DH made me stand in a bathtub filled with ice and cold water to get the swelling down in my feet at night. We had dinner plans every night...We did Epcot,MGM,MK, Universal, and SeaWorld and Typhoon Lagoon)- and I dont think we missed much for rides

I think this time we will know we need to take mid day breaks, not always go out at night- use the food court more, not feel rushed to ride every ride....

We are going for 6 days this time May 5-11th.

Heres what I have done to help overcome a potentially second wasted vacation/$2,000....

rented a car (no waiting for buses)
Made PSings that I can cancel if I dont want to go
Selected a more limited, but smaller resort (PO FQ)
No dinner shows - too tired
Only 1 off site day (Universal)

Is there anything else I might do differently this time? Park stratagy? Follow Unofficial's touring plan? Suggestions?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Great planning!

I didn't have a great first day at the park either but I tried to keep everything up tempo for my DD's sake and eventually I just decided that WDW would always be there and if I didn't make every attraction then there is always next time.

Relax, slow down your pace.

I love the UG touring plans. You don't have to run from attraction to attraction but they lessen the "Where should we go next?" moments. I highly recommend them.

 

[kilee]

Dare I post this-- after our first trip DH and I left WDW w/ the attitude-- "been there done that-- not coming back". We made every rookie mistake in the book, and it made for a not great trip. We went at Easter, w/o any planning. We had no real idea what we were in for. We couldn't understand WHY anyone would spend that kind of money for that kind of mayham!!! (I had been to the MK as a toddler but no recollection of it and DH had never gone).

Anyhow, about 9 months later we were showing a family member the pictures from that trip. Then we started talking about how maybe we should try it again. Thats when I started researching and came across the DIS. Boy oh boy was that 2nd trip so very different. We found the magic to say the least!! Now, I can't get enough. DH likes it but not w/ the same passion I do. He would be content going every couple of years I think, while I'd be content going every few months.

Be sure to plan at least 1 "down day", not having to be anywhere is a great way to wind down for a day. We try to never do more than 2 full park days in a row. It wouldn't work for everyone, but for us it does, and then we don't feel completely drained.

Take the pace a little slower. Realize that you don't have to do it all in 1 trip. If things are just too busy, we move on, and leave it for later or the next trip.

The massive amount of walking is unavoidable. Unfortunately Disney is large and there's no real way around that. Good walking sneakers will help a lot though. Sometimes it's out w/ fashion and in w/ comfort (even though Nike and Addidas make some really cute walking shoes!!). Take breaks. That 45 minutes you need to arrive to get a seat for the parade-- we look at it as relaxation time. Getting off our feet a bit. We don't mind the wait. It gives us a chance to SIT and talk and people watch!

 

[SamanthaL]

Well I would not have been happy in August either. I hate being sweaty and hot. I go in the fall for that reason. You should do better in May.
My DH hated it the first time he went. They went with his pain in the *** BIL. They drove 24 hours straight, went in August,they stayed off site, and brought a newborn. On top of that he made them follow a plan that included seeing everything with no rest times or relaxing at all. he hated it!
Skip to 1991- I take him in January, we fly, we stay at the GF and spend lots of time just strolling and sitting by the pool. He likes it much better now!

 

[tigger53]

i have been to WDW 20+ times and each and every time i have planned and replanned what we're going to do and at what time. this past summer i think i reached my own limits on time management and drove myself crazy. i don't know how my kids tolerated me all these years. i can honestly say i wasn't looking forward to going this year to do the parks because i felt "been there done that" myself. well i have come to realize that i can be laid back and just go with the flow and hope to keep this attitude for our upcoming vacation. my kids don't believe this will happen but i feel i must pace myself if i'm to enjoy it this time around. its along the line of "stop and smell the roses" kind of thing.

 

[Jockaroo]

I have a similar situation to you with Orlando and US specifically.

I had been to Epcot for a few hours one afternoon on a college trip--that was my only experience. I went on my first real Disney trip on my honeymoon in mid-July 1995. I remember thinking the whole time that I would die because I had never been so hot. I loved SeaWorld--went our first day and it was rainy and not crowded. Hit Universal Studios on a Tuesday I think. This was one of the most miserable vacation days of my life! It was over 100 degrees. Ride times were over 2 hours. We got in a "fake out" line for King Kong and were literally trapped with hundreds of people in that que for over 3 hours--we didn't know how to get out. I said I would NEVER go back to Universal! And I meant it! I was so excited about Magic Kingdom that I did fall in love with Disney parks. I will say MGM was my least favorite probably because similar theme to US that I HATED. Although I loved the Disney parks, I hated the weather, my feet hurt, we had trouble getting food due to everything on-site and off being so crowded. We only had a few days and tried to cram way too much into every minute. When I left, I wasn't sure when I wanted to go back. That summer heat was way too much for me. And I'm sure that I was grouchy to my wonderful new hubby.

Once Islands of Adventure opened, we decided to try it. The park tickets were a good deal for two days. So, I ate my words and did go back to US. It was in the fall and I did really have a great time. That said, I don't go out of my way to go to the US parks. They are nice and OK, but they lack something to me. If it isn't too crowded I have fun, otherwise, there is nothing in those parks worth 3 hours of my time standing in a line. Guess it is obvious I am a rabid user of Fast Pass!

 

[eelderm1]

Ok we learned early to only go when it is cool, we try to only go in December and November. Lines are much shorter at this time (we did all of fantsyland in under 1 hour, first thing in the morning, two weeks before Christmas, no lines!), we cannot stand to be hot. And about the walking , I find it really helps that about 2 months before the trip to step up my walking at home a bit then by the time the trip rolls around you wont get as tired or swollen as quickly. Breaks and plenty of water helps too. At a recent trip in March, by 5:00 my son and I were so worn out , so we decided to get an Ice cream , sit down and wait for the parade, we were so tired we decided as soon as the parades over we are going straight to the hotel. Well after waiting for the parade and watching the parade and fireworks we felt energized from the break and ended up staying in the park until 11:00 that night, had a great time!

 

[dcentity2000]

Originally posted by Jockaroo
This was one of the most miserable vacation days of my life! It was over 100 degrees.

The unbearably hot and baking sunshine is part of the whole experience!



Rich::

 

[jimmytammy]

Relax and take it easy cause it is vacation. Have a tentative plan for which park for which day but be flexible to change say if you want to see or do something else. Dont try to beat the crowds early in the morning. Stay away from MK on Sat. and Sun. Try Epcot on Sat., MGM on Sun.

But most of all, relax and think, we will probably come back, we dont have to do it all this trip. Sit down, take a break and watch all the commandos go by having to see and do it all. Then it will help you realize this is vacation, even in WDW we can relax.

 

[coinkc]

No, but I have family members who will hate it next month! My brother and his wife are taking her son to WDW the last week in May. They are not making any plans or PS's. They don't want to be "tied down" and are just going to "play it by ear". They bought UPH's so they shelled out a bunch of $$$ but they aren't going to have time to use the features since they are only going for 5 days. They are under the impression that it is going to be nice and cool and not crowded at all! Ugh!!!! I have tried talking to them over and over but they don't want to hear anything I have to say. I told them I would plan their itinereay for them but they just aren't interested. So I'm sure when they get back they will have plenty of bad thigns to say about WDW because they will have missed abunch, gone broke, and spend their days being hot and cranky!

Oh and they aren't doing any character meals because her son "doesn't care about those things". Ha! He is 5 years old...wanna bet how many character lines they end up standing in once the kid sees Mickey??

 

[Brumeiser]

We went for our first trip in 2000 and as she said tolerated the trip. Just saw Magic Kingdom and Epcot and Animal Kingdom. We are going again this year and again she is going just because she knows how much fun I will have plus it will be our 2 year old son first trip. Maybe this trip she will get bitten by the disney bug I hope. Her claim is the cost and the evaporating money when you come to Disney. Well with going with priceline, survey money I have saved and restaurant certificates thru points this trip may come in under 1000 dollars for a family of four I hope, which I think is pretty darn good.

 

[peanut67]

I went in 1996 with my ex husband and our 2 children, I have to say i was gobbed smacked I knew it was big but didnt know how big, I mean I was staying on site and couldnt see the castle ( I really thought that we would be able to) I made no plans, decided that character breakfast were either too early and too expensive (cant wait to book them now)....We did it the wrong way this time I am planning for all I am worth, although nothing is set in stone...honest My partner who has only been to the one in paris, is looking forward to it but can take it or leave it, I hoping the addiction will start....so I can get their every 18 months....

 

[maciec]

No, but I do work with a man and his wife that didn't like going when the Christmas decorations were up because they thought it took away from the Disney magic ?????????????? I didn't quite get that one.

We did have 2 trips that we could/should have differently.

The first one was several years ago when we used my best friends time share and ended up in a less the par resort unit. I think that if we would have had better accommodations things would have been different.

Second trip was the 2nd week in May last year. Never again will we go in May. Too hot and too many people. We were all miserable. I will stick to going sometime during the last 4 months of the year.

 

[Billmel]

My DH took his 2 children when they were 5 & 7 and never went back, SDD and SDS are now 25 and 27. We went back with my SDS with his kids a few years ago and did the commando non stop touring, my SDS can't do Disney at less than a run. DH Said he would never do it again ....That he hated it!. I have been to Disney about 30 times, with my family, school, etc. I knew that it wasn't done at a run, (literally)like we had just done it! It took weeks to recooperate from this trip, no one was happy.

Our 12th anniversary is this year and we were trying to think of a fun place to go on a long trip, and Guess what he recommended. DISNEY! After I picked myself up off the floor I started planning and made reservations before he could change his mind. He is now counting down and just as excited as I am. It is our first adult trip to Disney, and we are doing it the right way for us....we are going to the parks, have really nice dinner PS's, but we are also playing golf, going fishing, and relaxing at the campground (which is my DH's favorite pastime - CAMPING) This is my longest Disney trip to date and am actually doing things that I have never done, 11 days! We are so excited!!! So combined with Camping and Disney it should be a trip to remember for both of us.

 

[dcentity2000]

To be honest, I agree with the lack of planning is good shool of thought.

I have never, ever thought of an itinery, let alone set out a game plan for a park

As long as you have a general impression of what the rides are and times and paths of parades, things will generally work out for the best. I've always thought that prior planning too far north of this - microplanning I call it - actually detracts from the spontaneous, magical feel, creating a wary, utilitarian atmosphere - this has to be done now, no, Pirates can wait, we have to do THIS one now.

I'm all for relaxing in the parks - the most crucial thing, after all, isn't to see and do everything - just enough to have a wonderful time



Rich::

 

[meganbear]

Second trip was the 2nd week in May last year. Never again will we go in May. Too hot and too many people. We were all miserable

HUH? I will be in Disney the second week of May, almost everyone on this board said that is a good time to go, the crowds are moderate. Should I be worried???

 

[WDWLVR]

My DH was not very enthusiastic when I suggested Disney as a honeymoon destination. His only experience with Disney World was Spring Break with his parents when he was a kid. Of course that meant packed parks, long lines etc.

We honeymooned in October of '90 and he became a Disney fan.

The hardest advice for anyone to take on their first trip is to not try and do everything. It is too big and there is too much going on. Instead do a little research and figure out what you really WANT to do. Allow for down time. I have no problem going back to the resort mid-day for a nap if I want to go to a late night activity.

Plan the meals you want, the rides you want etc. Anything over that will just be gravy and I think you will enjoy it a lot more.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I think your strategy is great!

Renting a car is something that really , really helps. I was amazed at how much more we were able to do having our own car. There was no need to wait to get on crowded busses, and we never had a problem with parking or traffic. We always arrived early this past Feb and in most cases were able to park fairly close. We actually only took a tram once.

As far as all the walking, taking breaks mid day helps. There were lots of times on our trip this Feb where we just sat back in a rocking chair at MK and watched the crowds. We used fastpasses and never felt rushed. However we did make the mistake of trying to do everything else in Orlando. I think taking one day offsite is a much better plan unless you are going for at least two weeks.

We also discovered too late that we loved the Adventurer's Club in PI. We went there our last two nights and just sat in the main room watching the fun sipping on Kungalooshs.

Another relaxing thing we found was when the hustle and bustle of MK gets to be too much, rather than leaving, we'd go over to Tom Sawyer Island. We actually watched the Share a Dream parade from here. Granted our view wasn't great but we were alone. We also sat back for 30 minutes and played a game of checkers and it was so quiet.

Definately make the PS but I think making ones that can be canceled without penalty is great. Just remember to call and cancel in case someone else wants it. We did that several times. Also, we always leave a day free , just in case. In this case, our free day was used to buy a one day pass to Epcot after out 5 day hopper ran out because my boyfriend loved Mission Space and the rest of Epcot so much!

Have a great time and check out the rest of this site for good ideas.

 

[donac]

My brother and his family hated Disney but I know that they made all the wrong mistake that goes along with hating the place. They stayed off-site with young kids and never made it into MK until after 11AM and just kept going with no break.

Dona

 

[Disrookie0704]

This posting is starting to worry and depress me. I never knew there were so many WDW haters out there!

See ya later.