First trip to Disneyland

[EltonJohn]

I recently went to DL over my birthday with my DH. We got a special 5 day park hopper for the price of three days. We arrive in Anaheim and we go straight to the park-very exciting for me. Fast forward to Day 4 and I am totally bored. I suggested to my hubby that we could go to Simi Valley and see the Reagan Library, but he insisted on going to DL.

I had a fun time at DL, but it was small, congested, had a really rude patron on my Pirates boat (she actually had the gall to argue with me on the ride), and I got bored. I even think that Six Flags Over TX is a better theme park (though I practically grew up at Six Flags), and that DL is just an oridnary theme park.

I don't know how people can go to DL (or WDW) year after year after year. At one time I wanted our next major trip to WDW with our (future) children, but now I definately want to go to Hawaii. Does anyone else feel this way?

 

[hlbtimes2]

I'm sorry you didnt enjoy your trip. However, I doubt you'll find many people on this DISNEY board that don't enjoy DL. Most of us are here because we love the park and all it has to offer.

 

[EltonJohn]

I did, for the most part, enjoy my trip. After I posted my thread I did see this thread.

 

[ballarinamom]

As a lifelong Texan who practically grew up at Six Flags over Texas, I dissagree. I live In San Antonio now and have Six Flags Fiesta Texas season passes which get us in at SFOTx free. We still do Arlington every year- but......it ain't Disney!

With the exception of a "Pink Thing" (a pink sherbert on a stick treat), there is nothing that says to me, "I have to get my Six Flags fix".

Now I have to say, I could do without going to WDW again but DLR is special. If you are just going for amusement rides and not the Disney "magic", maybe I get your point.

But a weekend in May at Six Flags is FARRR more crowded than DLR. And no offense to my fellow Texans, but the type of people who do the Six Flags in North Texas are way different that those in SoCal. And not for the better.

And when you talk about congestion, you can't find a place to eat at Six Flags. People are sitting on the curb eating corn dogs. We had to walk the full length of the park to find something to eat. And even then we had to pay $20 for a cheesy ripoff of a Character meal at "Brunch with Bugs". It was the only airconditioned place with available tables. There were only 3 groups of us eating because we were the only ones who would pay more than $3 for lunch. I don't want to sound ugly.
It just is what it is.

You were probably bored because you like the big roller coasters. And granted there is really nothing to compared to those at DLR. But there is a reason we fly thousands of miles every year and spend thousands to do Disney when we could so Six Flags for free.

Sorry you had a bad trip.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Hmmm, I can't say I've ever felt that way.

But I think there's a big difference between true Disney fans and just a typical, occasional park goer.

True Disney fans get very involved in history, special effects, and the mechanics of various attractions. There's just so much to learn and see, and when you develop an appreciation for these aspects, and the brain power behind them, you find yourself in awe. This, in turn, makes you love Disney experiences even more, and you keep wanting to go back to see and learn more details that perhaps you missed before.

For example, everytime I ride Pirates, I notice little, tiny details that I never noticed before in the various scenes. Perfect, tiny little details, that unless you've been on the ride a hundred times, you'd probably never notice. But the fact that they're there, and usually only seen by the very seasoned DL visitors, makes me appreciate them even more. I mean, the tiny details don't HAVE to be there. The ride wouldn't be any less of a ride without them. But those tiny details ARE there, which shows such a pride in craftsmanship. It really is inspiring. And then I start to think, "WOW, this attraction first opened in 1967, and it's still one of the best Disney attractions out there! Such an old attraction, and it still amazes thousands of people everyday!"

Now mutiply this same kind of scenerio for all Disney attractions, and well, you can see how it can become a passion for many of us.

Okay, and yes, no matter how many time I see those darn fireworks, they still make me tear up." (shhhhhhh)

You may not be that kind of person who develops a passion for such things, and there's nothing wrong with that. Trust me, we're probably the strange ones and you're the normal one. However, don't count out WDW as a vacation destination for yourself sometime in the future. Especially if you haven't been there since 1987. There's so much to do there, I don't think you could get bored.

However, there's nothing wrong with Hawaii! ALOHA!

 

[rentayenta]

I for one am glad you didn't love it, it means less people at the parks. Clearly it's not for everyone. DH likes going but doesn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as I do.

 

[pixiewings71]

You know, I've had a season pass for 6 Flags Discovery Kingdom (or I still call it Marine World) in Vallejo for the past 4 years. I'd much rather have AP's for DL!! The whole atmosphere is so much better at DL, it's like a whole different world and while you're there you can forget everything. I enjoy 6 Flags but I love DL. Huge difference in the parks IMO and DL wins hands down. In fact we asked the kids which they would rather have this year and the vote was unanimous for DL!! Hopefully we can afford that we ours expire in July. Our longest trip was 6 days and it still wasn't long enough.

 

[KitKat_Tink]

You know, I've had a season pass for 6 Flags Discovery Kingdom (or I still call it Marine World) in Vallejo for the past 4 years. I'd much rather have AP's for DL!! The whole atmosphere is so much better at DL, it's like a whole different world and while you're there you can forget everything. I enjoy 6 Flags but I love DL. Huge difference in the parks IMO and DL wins hands down. In fact we asked the kids which they would rather have this year and the vote was unanimous for DL!! Hopefully we can afford that we ours expire in July. Our longest trip was 6 days and it still wasn't long enough.

I totaly agree with you on Disneyland being better then Marine World. Disneyland is much cleaner and the people there are soo much nicer. If i had the choice I would deffiently had picked Disneyland AP's over Marine Worlds.

 

[Califgirl]

I did, for the most part, enjoy my trip. After I posted my thread I did see this thread.

Wow! You had to dig back a year and a half to find that thread.

Sorry you didn't enjoy your trip.

 

[twinspluscade]

I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your trip. . I bet it was disappointing not to fall in love with it like you thought you would (especially since it looks like you did a lot of planning for it, with such a high post count).

Now, I'm going to make a confession here that I hope doesn't get me booted off Disboards . I wasn't AT ALL into Disney--never watched the movies past the age of 7, didn't want any character clothes or items, figured my one trip to WDW at the age of 10 was enough to last me a lifetime. BUT then I had kids......and started to think about how much fun it would be to take them to a Disney park. We took them on their first trip two years ago, and I caught the "Disney bug" so to speak. It's just so magical seeing it through your child's eyes for the first time. Even if you don't ever want to go back again, I hope you do consider taking your possible future kids someday.

Also--I think sometimes the internet (not only Disboards but other sites as well) can build things up to such momentous proportions that the real experience is bound to be a bit of a letdown. You hear about all these magical experiences, and then when you don't quite feel it right away, it's disappointing.

And....some people just aren't into Disney, and that's okay. I have a friend who's been to both DLR and WDW, and wasn't impressed with either park . They're more into thrill rides, and were disappointed when they realized Disney is more about the theming and overall experience. She has no desire to go back herself, but did mention they might take their kids someday.....I really hope they do, because they might see it differently from a new perspective.

 

[EltonJohn]

Wow! You had to dig back a year and a half to find that thread.

Actually, it was linked in the Related Threads at the bottom of the page

 

[EltonJohn]

I for one am glad you didn't love it, it means less people at the parks. Clearly it's not for everyone. DH likes going but doesn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as I do.

Even if you don't ever want to go back again, I hope you do consider taking your possible future kids someday.

We plan on taking our future children to WDW someday if they want to go, but not until they are fully ambulatory and quite a bit older. We both would like to see Epcot again.

Also--I think sometimes the internet (not only Disboards but other sites as well) can build things up to such momentous proportions that the real experience is bound to be a bit of a letdown. You hear about all these magical experiences, and then when you don't quite feel it right away, it's disappointing.

That could be part of it. I could have also have a faulty memory concerning my visit to WDW in 1987. I also know of several people who love WDW, but can't stand DL. Again, for the most part we enjoyed our visit, but neither of us really would like to make a return trip to California. Perhaps Southern California is the problem lol

 

[GrumpyCAdad]

You know, I've had a season pass for 6 Flags Discovery Kingdom (or I still call it Marine World) in Vallejo for the past 4 years. I'd much rather have AP's for DL!! The whole atmosphere is so much better at DL, it's like a whole different world and while you're there you can forget everything. I enjoy 6 Flags but I love DL. Huge difference in the parks IMO and DL wins hands down. In fact we asked the kids which they would rather have this year and the vote was unanimous for DL!! Hopefully we can afford that we ours expire in July. Our longest trip was 6 days and it still wasn't long enough.

I used to live 10 minutes from Marine World, and I'd rather drive the 6 hours to DL than go there!

When we went to DL, we'd go 4-5 days at a time and we were never be bored!

 

[Dobie]

I don't think you're weird.

I Luuuuuuuuv Disneyland.

But on day 4, I'm ready to go somewhere else for a couple of days.

Then, I want to go back!

Darn those southern Californian housing prices, anyway!

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I don't think I'd like to spend 5 days at the parks at my age (21, almost 22) but luckily I live close enough to make day trips to DL (looking forward to my first overnight trip including my first visit to DCA in May) which is enough to give me a DL fix (I went all the time as a kid and can fit in all my fave things to do in 16 hours) but not enough to kill any of the excitement through DL overload.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. We only get to go once a year and I spend all year long on these and other boards to try to keep up with the happenings at DL. I enjoy going for the full 5 days so I can skip long lines and know I'll get another chance to ride. Most days I sleep in now. I don't ever feel rushed to be there for MM.
MY DH isn't as 'into' the whole Disney thing but he accommodates me and my partner in crime, my DS 18. Disney is definitely more about the theming and attractions. What I love about it most is you can be a kid again. It's like being in a whole other place in time. I don't care for the violent thrill ride attractions so I guess that's why it appeals to me.
I know there are rude people at DL as in anywhere, but I wouldn't ever give up my power to some other fool on a ride who is intent on being 'right.' They can be right, and I'll just continue having fun. I may think they are strange, but I'd never let them influence my level of fun. After all, I wait all year long to get to go back to the land.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it...

 

[mAlien13]

Hmmm, I can't say I've ever felt that way.

But I think there's a big difference between true Disney fans and just a typical, occasional park goer.

True Disney fans get very involved in history, special effects, and the mechanics of various attractions. There's just so much to learn and see, and when you develop an appreciation for these aspects, and the brain power behind them, you find yourself in awe. This, in turn, makes you love Disney experiences even more, and you keep wanting to go back to see and learn more details that perhaps you missed before.

For example, everytime I ride Pirates, I notice little, tiny details that I never noticed before in the various scenes. Perfect, tiny little details, that unless you've been on the ride a hundred times, you'd probably never notice. But the fact that they're there, and usually only seen by the very seasoned DL visitors, makes me appreciate them even more. I mean, the tiny details don't HAVE to be there. The ride wouldn't be any less of a ride without them. But those tiny details ARE there, which shows such a pride in craftsmanship. It really is inspiring. And then I start to think, "WOW, this attraction first opened in 1967, and it's still one of the best Disney attractions out there! Such an old attraction, and it still amazes thousands of people everyday!"

Now mutiply this same kind of scenerio for all Disney attractions, and well, you can see how it can become a passion for many of us.

Okay, and yes, no matter how many time I see those darn fireworks, they still make me tear up." (shhhhhhh)

You may not be that kind of person who develops a passion for such things, and there's nothing wrong with that. Trust me, we're probably the strange ones and you're the normal one. However, don't count out WDW as a vacation destination for yourself sometime in the future. Especially if you haven't been there since 1987. There's so much to do there, I don't think you could get bored.

However, there's nothing wrong with Hawaii! ALOHA!

Hear Hear!!!

I completely agree. For the Disney fans, it's about so much more than rides. It is going home, seeing those special sights and smelling the smells, hearing the unique sounds. Each time I step into the park, I know it is where I want to be, more than anywhere else. After spending so much time on these boards with people that see DL that way, it is easy to see why it might be too built up for someone who is just not that in to it!

EltonJohn, I am sorry to hear that you had a bad trip. I do hope you will give WDW a chance in the future, I love EPCOT!!!

 

[mariezp]

As another life long Texan, I have to agree with everything ballarinamom had to say about comparing Six Flags over Texas to Disneyland. It just isn't even close! We used to go every year multiple times when I was growing up. As an adult we took our children every year. It got to where the only days we were willing to attend was on the annual homeschool day because the people who attended on regular days where rude and obnoxious and the park was always filthy. After our first trip to DL, we just gave up going at all.

I don't care for the violent thrill ride attractions so I guess that's why it appeals to me....

Me too! It seems like the only new rides SFOT ever gets is a coaster scarier than the last one.

Also--I think sometimes the internet (not only Disboards but other sites as well) can build things up to such momentous proportions that the real experience is bound to be a bit of a letdown. You hear about all these magical experiences, and then when you don't quite feel it right away, it's disappointing.

As much as I LOVE DL, I have even worked myself up about a few things only to not find it quite as fullfilling as I had imagined. However, it was never enough for me to ever think I wouldn't want to come back.

This will give you a good laugh... we generally spend 10 days at DL and still don't get bored. I enjoy the extra time to not have to hit the gates at opening, take afternoon breaks, and explore the park at our leisure. We also love doing the same rides repeatedly, having the time to eat at every place in the park and having enough time to enjoy all the little details.

It is a shame you did not enjoy your trip as much as you had hoped. Luckily it still has it's fans and there are endless other vacation options you can choose. Hope your next trip, wherever it may be, is wonderful.