How can anyone not enjoy themselves at WDW??

[codenamejack]

My MiL really disliked the parks. She enjoyed a few elements, mostly when we were sitting down somewhere, but she's also very particular, even though she is nice about it. She's also older and did not like walking everywhere.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I have some friends who have no interest in going. As much as I love it myself I do understand their reasons - they hate crowds, don't really enjoy rides, aren't into the characters or any animation movies. Just not their thing. They may enjoy some things in Epcot or the restaurants but not enough to go to WDW as a vacation.

They prefer camping, hiking, that sort of thing. And the other one prefers traveling to Europe or doing AIs.

Not everyone is going to enjoy a theme park. There's nothing wrong with that.

What does bother me is some of them have kids that would LOVE to go but because the parents don't want to they refuse to go. I think that is kind of sad.

 

[SnowWhite33]

I have some friends who have no interest in going. As much as I love it myself I do understand their reasons - they hate crowds, don't really enjoy rides, aren't into the characters or any animation movies. Just not their thing. They may enjoy some things in Epcot or the restaurants but not enough to go to WDW as a vacation.

They prefer camping, hiking, that sort of thing. And the other one prefers traveling to Europe or doing AIs.

Not everyone is going to enjoy a theme park. There's nothing wrong with that.

What does bother me is some of them have kids that would LOVE to go but because the parents don't want to they refuse to go. I think that is kind of sad.

That is very sad.

We have a 14 yo granddaughter who would and could have gone with us over the years-my youngest DS is 1 year to the day older than her and they are very close. Every year for that last 9 years we get the same question from him, can she go? We ask multiple times to take her, but her mother and other grandparents always say not this time, we will take her-she's still waiting

 

[wdwobsessed]

That is very sad.

We have a 14 yo granddaughter who would and could have gone with us over the years-my youngest DS is 1 year to the day older than her and they are very close. Every year for that last 9 years we get the same question from him, can she go? We ask multiple times to take her, but her mother and other grandparents always say not this time, we will take her-she's still waiting

I would say after 9 years of waiting they are never going to take her. That is just sad ... and selfish.

WDWO

 

[tillytinkerbell]

I agree that WDW is not for everyone. But there are two things that bother me about certain people with their perpetual "You're going AGAIN??"...yes, we are going again in Aug for FD for 11 days, the 6th time in 6 years....first time going in August.

I don't get the people, whose children are similar in age to my own (DS14 & DD11), that say their kids are "too old" for Disney, and yes, they have been to the World. "The rides are too tame, always the same and the kids get bored". DH and I were 35 for our first trip...I hope I am never too old. Our kids love Disney because we enjoy it so much as a family.

If you don't want to hear about my next trip to WDW, then don't tell me about your annual ski trip, all inclusive trip, cottage rental, etc. I will accept that you do not enjoy WDW, if you accept the fact that I love it! Don't try to convince me to spend my $ elsewhere, and I won't beg you to go to WDW. Less crowds for me to deal with!

We have dealt with stomach flu (May 2008), cancelled flights and 10 straight days of record rain fall (May 2009) at WDW. There is still no other place that MY family enjoys themselves as much together.

There....venting done. Thanks.

 

[mrodgers]

I've never been to Disneyworld. I really don't want to go to Disneyworld. I am going to take the kids.

My mother said, "You kids never wanted to go to Disney...."

Ah, we never wanted because it was never an option. The only option was Ocean City because that is where she wanted to go.

Personally, my idea of a vacation is to plop my rear end down on a beach and not move except for dinner. I work and am on my feet walking around all day every day, I'm not looking forward to a vacation of doing the same. Well, that's not true, I certainly can't wait to go to Disney, but it's for the kids, everything we do is for the kids where it was the opposite growing up. Everything we did was for my mother and the heck with us kids.

 

[disneybliss2]

We have neighbors who went and hated it. They ranted forever about the ills of WDW. It all boiled down to they did absolutely no prior planning, made no advanced dining reservations and were shocked when they were forced to eat only counter service, and they had no clue how to use the fast pass system, so rather than asking, they simply didn't utilize it at all. They went in June, so it was a time of the year that you really need to plan due to crowds. We felt bad for them because they missed a great opportunity to enjoy a wonderful place.

 

[michelleiada]

I agree that WDW is not for everyone. But there are two things that bother me about certain people with their perpetual "You're going AGAIN??"...yes, we are going again in Aug for FD for 11 days, the 6th time in 6 years....first time going in August.

I don't get the people, whose children are similar in age to my own (DS14 & DD11), that say their kids are "too old" for Disney, and yes, they have been to the World. "The rides are too tame, always the same and the kids get bored". DH and I were 35 for our first trip...I hope I am never too old. Our kids love Disney because we enjoy it so much as a family.

If you don't want to hear about my next trip to WDW, then don't tell me about your annual ski trip, all inclusive trip, cottage rental, etc. I will accept that you do not enjoy WDW, if you accept the fact that I love it! Don't try to convince me to spend my $ elsewhere, and I won't beg you to go to WDW. Less crowds for me to deal with!

We have dealt with stomach flu (May 2008), cancelled flights and 10 straight days of record rain fall (May 2009) at WDW. There is still no other place that MY family enjoys themselves as much together.

There....venting done. Thanks.

We were also there for the monsoon last year. We were there May 14-24th and it rained 8+ days out of the 10. Of course the day we were packing up the sun came out. Anyhow...we still enjoyed ourselves and can't wait to get back. We can't ever get enough.

We do know people that have been to Disney and not enjoyed it and we also know people who have done it once and have no desire to go back. One family didn't like that after most big rides/attractions, you are forced to exit through a gift shop. They felt that Disney just wanted to take all of your money. Personally, I love the gift shops....more Disney goodies. In my opinion, nobody is telling you that you have to buy something. Whatever!!! We love Disney and like other posters have said...the less crowds we have to deal with.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I think it's just a personality thing..the people who hate it tend to be the cynical, pessimistic types, IMO. Meaning, when the see a little kid overjoyed to see Mickey, they'll say "isn't it horible how Disney brainwashes people?". They also tend to be the types who are unable to just let go and have fun...they're too worried about what others may think. And the cheapskate people? I think they're the saddest of all. Life is for living, not for squeezing every last penny until it screams.

And sure, everyone likes different stuff. I'd be bored silly on a cruise or a trip to Vegas, for example.

 

[christinec68]

I think it's just a personality thing..the people who hate it tend to be the cynical, pessimistic types, IMO. Meaning, when the see a little kid overjoyed to see Mickey, they'll say "isn't it horible how Disney brainwashes people?". They also tend to be the types who are unable to just let go and have fun...they're too worried about what others may think. And the cheapskate people? I think they're the saddest of all. Life is for living, not for squeezing every last penny until it screams.

And sure, everyone likes different stuff. I'd be bored silly on a cruise or a trip to Vegas, for example.

That's some pretty broad generalizations there. It's kind of like saying adults that like WDW must be immature and in debt b/c it's so expensive. [this is just an example of an inaccurate and sweeping generalization and not my opinion of people that love Disney]

 

[ScrapperBelle]

I know several different people who took one trip to WDW and came back hating it.

First example is a couple we know who always take resort vacations. They go to some resort somewhere and they always take his mom. We found out that they pretty much stay drunk the entire time and mom watches the kids. They didn't like WDW because Mom couldn't manage to keep up with the kids day in and day out and they were not able to stay intoxicated. They came home complaining that WDW is too "family oriented" (duh?) and there was not enough for adults to do.

Second example is a family where "dad rules the roost". He's a very "macho" tough-guy type and we found out that he berated his sons the entire time they were there saying things like "only sissies would ride that" or "you must be a real (nasty expletive describing sexual orientation) to want to eat there/do that/see that character, etc." We had other friends who were along on that trip and they were miserable not to mention embarrassed. He had his wife remove the Nemo bedspread from the bed because he said "that babyfied s&*# made him sick to his stomach". Yes, he's a charmer ladies.

Third person is an old schoolmate of mine who actually had me help her plan. She complained about some of the stupidest things. She is certainly not "Mrs. Clean" and she complained because her sheets were not changed daily! She complained because it was hot (they went in July!). She complained because there was sand and water on the floor in the water park bathrooms. I could go on and on. But it really irritated me because she came home and ripped into me because I did not warn her of all these things! Sorry, but I didn't actually think that having to put your own toppings on a hamburger would ruin your day and that it was something I would need to warn you about!

 

[luvthemouse71]

That's some pretty broad generalizations there. It's kind of like saying adults that like WDW must be immature and in debt b/c it's so expensive. [this is just an example of an inaccurate and sweeping generalization and not my opinion of people that love Disney]

Nope, just my personal experience..the people I know that have come back hating WDW fall into those categories. Notice that I said "hate" -there are those that are indifferent to WDW and while I feel kinda bad for them() and don't understand them, they aren't usually as nasty as the "haters".

Some people like vacations where they drink 24/7 or lay on a beach..I live near a beach and outgrew binge drinking in college, so I wouldn't like that kind of a vacation. Whatever floats your boat..

 

[avgeek81]

My cousin and her husband went while they were in florida for their honeymoon. they went to MK and hated it. But they picked the worst park fr them, they arent into "kiddie stuff". She wanted to have breakfast with Winnie the Pooh but of course couldnt get in.

Epcot would have been good because he likes science and she like to travel(in fact he went to epcot with people from work when he was down for a coference and liked soarin and test track)

DHS would be Ok i think because they liked universal

AK would be good because they like animals

I dont know why they picked MK. She was telling her friend that my mom and i were going down to disney in the fall and added "dont you think they are alittle old for that" i almost slapped her lol

 

[shan136]

My first, and so far only, trip to disney wasn't really fun. Unfortunately, it had a lot do with our family dynamic. I was 15, traveling with my 17 year old sister and 10 year old brother and our Mom. Unfortunately our Mother, in an effort to insure we enjoyed all WDW had to offer, drove us from 6 am to 10 pm every day for 6 days (ugh). We were so exhausted by the end of the trip.

Fast forward 20 years, I am going on my first trip since then with DH & DD6. I finally feel compelled to go back, but only because I know my family will enjoy it. I have been getting a lot of flack for the amount of research I have been doing from my DH and other relatives who feel that just going to WDW equals a great vacation.

Since I know just showing up at the gate does not = fun, I do all my research in an effort to make sure that family gets as much out of the Disney experience as possible without driving them to exhaustion. I agree with all the previous posters, a lack of planning can make for an unhappy WDW experience.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I think it's just a personality thing..the people who hate it tend to be the cynical, pessimistic types, IMO. Meaning, when the see a little kid overjoyed to see Mickey, they'll say "isn't it horible how Disney brainwashes people?". They also tend to be the types who are unable to just let go and have fun...they're too worried about what others may think. And the cheapskate people? I think they're the saddest of all. Life is for living, not for squeezing every last penny until it screams.

And sure, everyone likes different stuff. I'd be bored silly on a cruise or a trip to Vegas, for example.

That isn't true I am quite cynical but love seing kids enjoy themselves at disney.

 

[Donut23]

Nope, just my personal experience..the people I know that have come back hating WDW fall into those categories. Notice that I said "hate" -there are those that are indifferent to WDW and while I feel kinda bad for them() and don't understand them, they aren't usually as nasty as the "haters".

Some people like vacations where they drink 24/7 or lay on a beach..I live near a beach and outgrew binge drinking in college, so I wouldn't like that kind of a vacation. Whatever floats your boat..

Don't forget the people who LOVE Las Vegas. DH and I just don't get it.....but people go there every year and cannot understand WDW folks.

I have been at WDW with someone who was willing to give it a try....and by lunch he was ready to leave. I can tell you....it's not fun for anyone if you have someone in your group who is miserable.

It's not for everyone. That doesn't make them bad people.....just different than we are.

 

[Squidgyness]

Well, I'd like to add a different viewpoint.

I have NEVER planned. Sure we plan what park we will do, and roughly what rides we dont/do want to do, and when we will go, but dining reservations and such would make us go crazy, like we were trying to meet a deadline, forcing us to rush.

I have NEVER stayed on site. We are too old now anyway (me 18, sis 22, parents 40+ etc) to do so, but when we were kids, it was just too expensive for us (we have to fork out for air fare and we are not that well off).

None of the times we were there stopped us having any less fun than others. In fact we had more fun than some, as we werent on a schedule (14 day trips help a LOT) and could afford a FEW relaxing hours, not too many mind.

Just saying that not all people need to plan thoroughly to enjoy a trip to the world (and other parks, i.e. seaworld, though the shows do need allocating for the day in our family).

Neither do they need to stay on site. We are used to off site, where we can get a suite, not too many tired and cranky kids etc, transport is fine, shuttles and taxis (payed for out of the money saved from onsite ) and food is great and cheap on I Drive, something for everyone, even me mr picky.

People who say you need dining plans and must stay onsite are generalising just as much as the guy who said cynical people never enjoy WDW. I am cynical too and I love it. (I was the one who suggested '12 trip.)

 

[Pixiedust34]

I know a couple of people/families who fit into these categories.

1. There are Eeyore-type people who will be miserable anywhere. The glass is always half empty.

2. There are families who are dysfunctional at home, plan a WDW trip, and have an awful time on vacation. They don't get along at home, so being together 24/7 on vacation (anywhere) isn't going to make their situation better. The fact that they aren't happy at WDW isn't a Disney issue. It's a family issue. They'd be just as cranky with each other in any environment. They come home and complain like crazy about meltdowns they've had with each other, the heat, the lines, etc.
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Also, some people just do not like crowds. My dh likes Disney, but doesn't love it because of the crowds. He's a teacher, so going off-season isn't going to happen for him until he retires. We use a good touring plan and I minimize our time in lines plus plan downtime, but summer crowds are summer crowds. He is "peopled out" by the end of the trip.

 

[Melodious]

My Dad hates it. He thinks it's just for kids and has nothing but rides. To be fair, the first time he went was the peak of summer with two very small children. We might never have gone back except that my Dad had a convention there so we all went (yes my parents took my sister and I out of school). My Dad only joined us for the day at Epcot so that he could eat at the countries. Since then, my mom and I have been two more times (once my sister joined us halfway), and now we're planning our third (my sister couldn't get the time off work). He didn't even come the year I was in the Thanksgiving parade in MK!

My mom has a plan to get him there for their 40th anniversary in four years. We'll see if it works

 

[Rainwater]

I think everyone really enjoys going to Disney World, what happens is, one event makes you mad, and that is what you ulitmately focus on for the rest of the trip. This seems to happen in our every day life also.