How can anyone not enjoy themselves at WDW??

[Kerpgh]

I returned from our first family trip about a month ago...and I cant stop thinking about what I need to do so that we can go back! We had the most wonderful time!

Anyhoo...I was thinking...does anyone know of anybody who went to WDW and never wanted to go back afterwards?? What made their trip so difficult?

My husband who really didnt want to go on the trip in the first place loved it just as much as I did...maybe it was my overplanning that helped??

...just wanting to go back tomorrow...this is a sickness I tell ya

 

[mr.alec]

One would have to be pretty "sad' not to enjoy themselves.
I just couldnt comprehend it.

 

[Planogirl]

Not sad but different. My DH has tolerated it and enjoys some aspects of it but he'd be fine never entering another themepark. He dislikes rides and crowds. My mother however despised it! I was surprised at how much she hated it.

They went with me so we toured in the correct way IMO. And no it's not me - I've been there with many others quite successfully.

 

[pixarmom]

First, OP, I'm so happy for you!!! But yes, I know a few families who didn't enjoy it and don't care to return.

Usually, it's because they didn't know what to expect and didn't know how to avoid long lines. They arrived late morning and were surprised by the wait times, or didn't make ADRs and were surprised when it was difficult to get into a restaurant. Some didn't make good use of fastpass, and others pushed their kids to do too much in a day.

Some of them just weren't into the spirit and/or aren't really great at vacationing with their children. Or they expected the Disney resorts to resemble the Four Seasons, and were grumpy.

For that first group, I've made suggestions and some are willing to try it again. Nothing you can do for that second group - they will be grumpy anywhere!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I knew a very frugal family who went and didn't enjoy themselves because all they saw was $$$. Even on the little stuff.

 

[mrsltg]

I've known a couple. They didn't plan ahead and went at bad times and then were surprised by it. Oh well. Everything is not for everyone.

 

[ksueboo]

I have a coworker who went down to the mini marathon this past January. She was so excited before her trip and I tried to give her what little pointers I could before they left. Unfortunatly, she was at the mercy of her mini marathon group and wasnt left with many choices, including staying at a not so great off site hotel. The weather was horribly cold and it was packed for the mini. They spent half a day at Epcot WS just wandering around. She tried to talk one of her friends into eatting at the princess lunch but just got a half hearted "well, if you really want to". I think they spent another day at one other park but by then she just wanted to go home. I felt sorry for her but I don't think she will ever go back.

It makes me sad when people dont realize what they are missing. And of course, there are the "You are going to Disney again?" people.

 

[ancestry]

The people I know who didn't enjoy themselves are those who went and didn't have any type of plan -- no dining reservations, no idea how to use fast passes, etc. In order to have a successful vacation at Disney I believe that you have to have some type of plan even if it is minimal and basic. I know quite a few people who swear they will never go back. Some others want a relaxing vacation--they want to sleep in and not have to walk miles every day and don't like crowds.

We do really like Disney a lot and even love it at times although I can't say we are as die hard Disney fanatics as many of the other people here on the boards. I do really struggle with large crowds and pushy (i.e. physically pushy) people. I would give up going to Disney before I would ever go at peak crowd times again. I made the mistake of going to the Star Wars Weekend opening last Saturday. I had to leave after being in the park for 30 minutes. It was so crazy crowded that it made me physically sick. Fortunately the Grand Floridian Spa provided a good alternative. lol!

 

[christinec68]

Not sad but different. My DH has tolerated it and enjoys some aspects of it but he'd be fine never entering another themepark. He dislikes rides and crowds. My mother however despised it! I was surprised at how much she hated it.

They went with me so we toured in the correct way IMO. And no it's not me - I've been there with many others quite successfully.

This is like DH & I in reverse. He loves it but I could take it or leave it. I like the resorts, the pools, the water parks and things like Jelly Rolls & Bob Jackson but could live without ever going to a theme park again. I go for him.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[KellyNY]

My father went once and said it was enough. He did enjoy it but he does not like do things twice and lack of sports on TV in hotel does not help as well. I must say when we went with him we did not do any TS meals or anything outside the parks. It was our second trip and we were concentrated pretty much on rides.

 

[Quicked Ween]

I enjoy WDW but I'm not in love with it. I like to do MK at least twice when I'm there but only for four or five hours max (each day). DH and DS could stay there all day. I'm just not a "crowd" person. I like rope drop and early emh so that I can get out of dodge around noon.

I know several people that enjoy cruises and road trips and would rather do that than see a mouse. Everyone is different.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I enjoy WDW but I'm not in love with it. I like to do MK at least twice when I'm there but only for four or five hours max (each day). DH and DS could stay there all day. I'm just not a "crowd" person. I like rope drop and early emh so that I can get out of dodge around noon.

I know several people that enjoy cruises and road trips and would rather do that than see a mouse. Everyone is different.

I hear ya... especially since a road trip to me would be torture. I hate driving to Seattle and that's only 3 hours away.

 

[lorac4disney]

I love it, but DH could take it or leave it.

I think the difference comes down to planning. I'm a planner and researcher. DH is the exact opposite. His idea of a vacation is to just drive somewhere he saw on TV, pick a hotel once he got down there, and have absolutely no reservations or anything else. Of course, that doesn't usually work out very well at WDW.

 

[Quicked Ween]

I hear ya... especially since a road trip to me would be torture. I hate driving to Seattle and that's only 3 hours away.

If I'm in the car for more than 45 minutes I start getting antsy. I just don't like feeling as though I'm stuck somewhere (so I'm sure being on a cruise ship would drive me mad).

 

[foreUT]

I agree that a lack of planning makes your stress level much higher.

 

[AnnMarie3]

3 years ago I went with two friends and all our kids -5 kids in all. One friend hated it and made sure the rest of us were miserable as well. She complained day and night. She noticed the first visit badges and said she wished they sold ones that said last visit because she was never going back. She totally ruined the magic for her own child. Needless to say, we will never travel with this "friend" again. In fact, it really damaged the friendships.

 

[pixarmom]

3 years ago I went with two friends and all our kids -5 kids in all. One friend hated it and made sure the rest of us were miserable as well. She complained day and night. She noticed the first visit badges and said she wished they sold ones that said last visit because she was never going back. She totally ruined the magic for her own child. Needless to say, we will never travel with this "friend" again. In fact, it really damaged the friendships.

Yuck! So sorry for you and the others in the group! We have a friend who said the same thing about wanting "last visit" buttons, but he wasn't on our trip with us - we just read it from home in a text message. I hope you've had the chance to go back without that yuckiness!

 

[christinec68]

3 years ago I went with two friends and all our kids -5 kids in all. One friend hated it and made sure the rest of us were miserable as well. She complained day and night. She noticed the first visit badges and said she wished they sold ones that said last visit because she was never going back. She totally ruined the magic for her own child. Needless to say, we will never travel with this "friend" again. In fact, it really damaged the friendships.

That's pretty crappy! There is no reason to make everyone else miserable. I can't blame you for not travelling with them anymore.

 

[colinsdad]

I'm enjoying reading this thread.

My DW really dislikes WDW. So much so that I have had to make 4 (soon to be 5) "Boys Only" trips with my DS. It's not hatred, but she doesn't get why I want to go back so often.

With a 5 y/o son (going to be 6 in August) and a princess who just turned 2, I won't be stopping anytime soon. I may have to switch off each year by taking only one (don't know if I could handle 2! )

 

[SnowWhite33]

My BIL took his family in July one year-the year the castle looked like a big pink cake. No one, including the 3 kids, had a good time. All they had to say was it was hot and crowded, and the castle was ugly.

Many reasons for that-

They stayed offsite, got to the parks after 11, thought you had to pay for fastpass, and did just no research at all on what they were getting into.

That trip was before our family started going so I couldn't have helped them if they had asked. They are completely bewildered by why we go and even after explaining some things to them, they still won't go back.

Just not for everyone I guess -more room for us