Have you ever visited somewhere and found it very different from what you expected?

[kdonnel]

My wife and I just got back from a quick trip that involved a stop at Niagara Falls, Canadian side.

The trip was to attend a funeral and we figured if we were going all that way we could add a day and make it a long weekend. Neither of us had ever visited the falls and work kept me busy on the lead up to the trip so I did not get to watch any videos or read about the area, my wife made all the plans.

We arrived late on Friday to fireworks as we crossed the Rainbow bridge. After we checked into the hotel we were both still wired so we decided to walk to the falls. It was now after 11pm and as we walked out onto the street I was surprised to see of thousands of people. I had not put two and two together that our hotel was walking distance to the falls and that did not reconcile with the picture in my mind that the falls would be located in a national or state park and somewhat isolated from development.

Instead we were greeted by go cart tracks, a 150 foot ferris wheel, indoor putt putt, mirror mazes, wax museums, casinos, a seemingly infinite number of ice cream stores, and best of all a Burger King with a roller coaster on the roof and a giant Frankenstein's monster eating a Whopper on the side of the building.

It was a mishmash of the Las Vegas Strip and Gatlinburg Tennessee.

We ended up having a great time but it was not at all what I thought it would be.

 

[soccerdad72]

Having been to Niagara Falls many times as a kid, it wasn't a suprise when we took our kids up there. It's a complete tourist trap. Actually, from a park perspective, I prefer the US side.

Along a similar line, we were recently at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. I'm not sure why, but I wasn't expecting it to be similar to Niagara, just with cooler looking falls. It was very touristy as well.

 

[Moliphino]

Nothing hugely different from expected, but there have been places I loved more or less than I thought I would.
LOVED: Ghent, Sevilla, Granada. They looked nice and I was excited to visit each of them, but absolutely fell in love once there. I would happily live in any of the three.

Disappointed: Geneva was kind of boring, no need to go back there.
Madrid was a disappointment the first time, but I did wind up really enjoying it the second time we went. The first time we stayed near the major attractions and it was too touristy (knock-off costumed characters trying to get you to take pictures with them, stuff like that) and too busy. The second time we stayed near Atocha station and it was night and day difference. We had a much better experience there.

 

[BrianL]

The first time I went to Las Vegas for a business trip it was not at all what I expected. I am not really into partying or gambling much, and expected to hate it. I kind of thought it would be kinda dirty and a little...sleazy maybe? I was really shocked to see that it wasn't like that - at least not where we were. The hotels were big an dbeautiful, with so much to see an ddo even for a non-drinker. I guess at one time it was like what I pictured, but that all had changed. I loved looking at all the touristy stuff, dancing fountains and pirate shows, etc. Also, the food was great! I ended up really enjoying it.

 

[tvguy]

Without question, Walt Disney World. We went for the first time in 2018 after 50 years of going to Disneyland.
What surprised us:
1) We knew the parks were spread out, and we stayed 5 days to give us time, but we were shocked how much time we spent in transit between parts.
2) How late the parks open, and how early they close. Disneyland is open 8 am to Midnight. The Magic Kingdom in WDW doesn't open until 9, and closes at 11 pm. Over our 5 days at WDW that cut 10 hours of park time. With early admission we are normally in Disneyland by 630 am, and there without leaving until Midnight. First time I took my wife, the park was open until 1 am and we were there until then.
3)How poorly prepared WDW is for Florida rain. It isn't like they haven't had 50 years to improve the drainage and shelter. Things should be designed to not have to close if it rains. A few covered areas and awnings would allow folks to get out of the rain until it passes instead of playing sardine in the shops, where it's so crowded nobody can buy anything.
4) We stayed at The Grand Floridian and were shocked that a hotel so close to the Magic Kingdom had no pedestrian path. THAT is see has changed since we were there in 2018. We went to the MK our last day, and had to get back to the GF to catch our bus to the airport and the Monorail broke down. They did an amazing job getting more and bigger boats into service but it was touch and go for a while if we would make it back in time. It would have been an easy walk and clearly is now.

So WDW to us was a less Disney experience that we expected. Don't thing we will be back, but at least I can say we have been.

 

[kdonnel]

The first time I went to Las Vegas for a business trip it was not at all what I expected. I am not really into partying or gambling much, and expected to hate it. I kind of thought it would be kinda dirty and a little...sleazy maybe? I was really shocked to see that it wasn't like that - at least not where we were. The hotels were big an dbeautiful, with so much to see an ddo even for a non-drinker. I guess at one time it was like what I pictured, but that all had changed. I loved looking at all the touristy stuff, dancing fountains and pirate shows, etc. Also, the food was great! I ended up really enjoying it.

Las Vegas is a contradiction for my wife and I as well.

We rarely drink, don't smoke, and have a micro budget we stick to for gambling.

Yet we LOVE going to Las Vegas.

 

[BrianL]

3)How poorly prepared WDW is for Florida rain. It isn't like they haven't had 50 years to improve the drainage and shelter. Things should be designed to not have to close if it rains. A few covered areas and awnings would allow folks to get out of the rain until it passes instead of playing sardine in the shops, where it's so crowded nobody can buy anything.

Very little at WDW closes just due to rain, but rather it's lightning that shuts down outdoor rides, and Florida storms often come with lightning. There's nothing that can be done about that. The storms often pass quickly though, so it's not a big deal.

At DLR on the other hand, I was there once on an unusually rainy day, and found bad drainage and leaky roofs, not to mention all of the uncovered queues. I know it doesn't rain much there, but I feel like DLR is the one not prepared for it.

 

[tvguy]

Very little at WDW closes just due to rain, but rather it's lightning that shuts down outdoor rides, and Florida storms often come with lightning. There's nothing that can be done about that. The storms often pass quickly though, so it's not a big deal.

At DLR on the other hand, I wast there once on an unusually rainy day, and found bad drainage and leaky roofs, not to mention all of the uncovered queues. I know it doesn't rain much there, but I feel like DLR is the one not prepared for it.

While I have been at DL in the rain, I was not aware of anything shutting down. I can see lightning being an issue in Florida.

 

[china mom]

Times square was much smaller and less interesting than I expected.

Alaska was even more awe inspiring than I anticipated.

 

[BrianL]

While I have been at DL in the rain, I was not aware of anything shutting down. I can see lightning being an issue in Florida.

Alice In Wonderland is the only thing I can think of that shuts down if there is a drop of rain in a 10 mile radius. Most rides don't shut down, but the uncovered queues make it more of an issue. It was really more leaks and drainage that surprised me.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Nothing stands way out, but I think I expected better beaches in the FL keys. I knew they aren't really known for beaches, but I thought there would be something better than what was there.

 

[Moliphino]

Alice In Wonderland is the only thing I can think of that shuts down if there is a drop of rain in a 10 mile radius. Most rides don't shut down, but the uncovered queues make it more of an issue. It was really more leaks and drainage that surprised me.

The uncovered queues were a problem when I was there, but not because of rain. We got dehydrated and sunburnt from having to stand out in the sun all day. It was so dry and the ambient temp wasn't that high (May), so we didn't even feel or notice ourselves sweating or burning until it was bad.

 

[BrianL]

The uncovered queues were a problem when I was there, but not because of rain. We got dehydrated and sunburnt from having to stand out in the sun all day. It was so dry and the ambient temp wasn't that high (May), so we didn't even feel or notice ourselves sweating or burning until it was bad.

Yes, hydration is extra important in SoCal. It doesn't feel as hot, but the air is so dry! I come from a humid area, and it really gets me. On the plus side, if you do get wet on Grizzly River Run, then you dry off quickly!

 

[rangerxenos]

The first time I went to Las Vegas for a business trip it was not at all what I expected. I am not really into partying or gambling much, and expected to hate it. I kind of thought it would be kinda dirty and a little...sleazy maybe? I was really shocked to see that it wasn't like that - at least not where we were. The hotels were big an dbeautiful, with so much to see an ddo even for a non-drinker. I guess at one time it was like what I pictured, but that all had changed. I loved looking at all the touristy stuff, dancing fountains and pirate shows, etc. Also, the food was great! I ended up really enjoying it.

And I hated Las Vegas as a whole, it just depressed me, lots of homeless people (not surprised given the gambling), and you could not get out of a hotel without going through a casino.

I went once for half a day way back when the Star Trek Experience was there, then went once for work, and that's more than enough for me. Yes, the hotels are beautiful on the main part of the Strip, and the food and show we saw were great, but otherwise as a non gambler, I don't get the attraction.

 

[Moliphino]

Yes, hydration is extra important in SoCal. It doesn't feel as hot, but the air is so dry! I come from a humid area, and it really gets me. On the plus side, if you do get wet on Grizzly River Run, then you dry off quickly!

It was closed when we were there!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. It was a far cry from the pristine beach strolling solitude while watching a lone surfer riding the waves. Not that we expected to be the only ones there on a wide expanse of fine, clean sand, but not really expecting a narrow strip of dirty sand jammed with people like maybe here back at home on Downtown Chicago Oak Street Beach. Years of watching TV and advertising do sort of set a person's expectations, haha.

 

[cabanafrau]

Been going to Niagara Falls since I was a young child, but never visited the NY side until a few years ago. We did it only to try Cave of the Winds because the accepted narrative has always been that the US side is horrible. The surrounding area lived up to that narrative from what we could tell, but the park itself was a gem, offering a different perspective on the falls along with much more natural beauty that we ever expected.

 

[Pooh2]

We visited Niagra Falls for the first time during covid on a road trip.
It was too much hassle to get into Canada so we booked a hotel walking distance from the falls on the NY side.
The park was beautiful and what we expected but the area outside the park felt like a huge dumpster complete with a naked homeless man screeching near the park entrance.
I expected a classier and more upkept area.

 

[Chirple]

The Alamo. I had no idea it was going to be surrounded by modern buildings; but my biggest disappointment was that there was no basement.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Hawaii.
Never had a desire to go but the opportunity came up and it was relatively inexpensive for what all we were going to do.
I ended up loving it. It was relaxing and exciting all in one. I do hate how far away it is though.. But I would absolutely go back.