How can anyone not enjoy themselves at WDW??

[laliwalden]

My mom and dad went with us last year. Mom had been before and loved it, Dad, not so much.

He is more of a sit on the beach and drink, or go on a boat and eat 24/7!!

We went during free dining and I worked with my mom and we figured out where to eat etc.

Dad LOVED it!! He loved the food, he especially loved Epcot. And, when we went to Chef Mickeys, he actually cried watching my DD with the characters!!

They are going again with us this year and dad is actually putting in his two cents about where to eat. LOL, I think going with his granddaughter made him look at Disney in a different way!!

 

[siskaren]

OT but a PP said that someone's husband couldn't get "chew"..what is that?

I assume it's chewing tobacco.

 

[fla4fun]

I agree. Why is it so hard to get that people have different tastes? They're not wrong just different.

Too true! Even for us locals - in our office there are the die hard Disney fans, the die hard Sea World fans, and the die hard Universal fans. We've given up on trying to convert each other, because we simply like what we like. I get the opportunity to go to Universal once a year for free, and I haven't taken advantage of it since the year IOA opened - Universal just doesn't do anything for me. Doesn't mean it's a bad park, it just isn't something I'm interested in. But the Universal fans in our office avoid Disney like the plague, and won't go there when it's offered free either.

It's all just a matter of personal taste.

I can say I've introduced a number of Newbies to WDW over the years, and so far, I haven't had anyone say they didn't like it, or they wouldn't go back. Some are more enthusiastic than others, but they all liked it. But maybe that has to do more with my friends and family and me having similar likes and dislikes to begin with.

 

[MeanestMomEver]

We foolishly invited my husband's parents to join us. I had it well planned and we even treated them to MVMCP, Candlelight Processional / Biergarten package, and their room. :/

The only thing they liked was the food at Biergarten. They complained about every other meal we had. They left MVMCP after about 2 hours to go sit in the hotel room. They didn't care for the CP and complained about the narrator (John O'Hurlely- MIL dislikes him - mentioned it about 20 times).

I assured MIL that Malestrom was not scary and she scowled at me a good hour because of the "drop." ( well geesh, you have to move a little or it's called a movie, right?)

They didn't pay any attention to our kids or try to spend time with them in any positive way.

"Grandma did you like Monster's Laugh Floor?"
"I guess it was OK. For children."

Honestly, the only time they were happy was when we all sat in their hotel room and they showed us videos of their 3 year old grandchild, which hurt my kids' feelings intensely. (My kids were teens+ at the time.) And, no matter what we did, all they really wanted to do was go back to the hotel and check their Email for new video and rest and eat pie (which they brought from home) and they were ticked that we didn't want to sit around with them. And this, after giving them fair warning that we had PLANS to do things each day and it was a lot of walking, so they could join us for whatever parts they chose. Well, before accepting our offer, they said they would be happy to "just tag along with us" which sounded great upfront. Big mistake.

I could go on all day, but you get the picture. It just wasn't their cup of tea. (no pun intended - infact she complained that even looking at the tea cups from 20 yards away made her dizzy) To top it off, we are now getting the silent treatment because we visited WDW over spring break instead of visiting her. But that's a whole story in itself. Some people are only content when they are miserable.

 

[Squidgyness]

You expect me, an 18 yr old (17 and 15 on last trips respectively) to sleep with my 22 yr old sister? QUOTE]

Is it me or did someone lose or gain 2 years here.

Okay, I'll put my hand up and say that I'm not really too clear on my sisters age. *facepalm* I just cant seem to remember it... I have a really bad memory. Birthdays are another issue.

Or were you talking about something else?

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

well, back in the 70's my dad and mom took us down. He hated it and never, ever wants to hear about it.
Me on the other had...I just had my 30th trip last week, and I have to admit...it was my worst trip ever!!!
The first day I got there, the people I was with had me walking to company D,
I got bit by a spider and within a day, I had a very big, painful red itchy leg that I could not move! I also some how got bit by fire ants, needless to say, I ended up in hospital on my birthday, and bed afterwards, I was then allergic to the antibiotic they put me on...I cut trip short and had to go home asap!

so yes, I did not have any fun, no rides...but I am going again in two months to make up for this reck of a trip!!!

 

[angelmav]

I have to say, I think alot of people feel the need to justify the cost of the trip which means that they are doomed from the start. Finances are the #1 reason relationships fail and the #1 reason people have bad vacations.

Disney isnt cheap. Can it be as good a deal as going elsewhere, yeah I guess so, but it can also spiral out of control which is where the whole once in a lifetime image came from.

Also, the repeat factor really gets into peoples heads. We went to WDW a couple of years after going to DL and were bored out of our minds. That teenage incarnation of myself would have rather been at home with my friends than repeating a vacation with my family, but going to Epcot made that trip amazing, add in Hollywood Studios and we had a great time that trip.

While I enjoy going back for the same things now, I dont reread very many books or rewatch too many movies, so there is something to be said for new experiences as well.

 

[Markstudy]

I grew up in Florida, you could say I grew up with Disney world (it opened when I was 7 years old) And I followed every develpment along the years.

My wife was from the North East and had never been. So for my honeymoon I wanted to take her (she is a big kid at heart) and I knew she'd love it. I was planning a first class romantic trip... nice resort, nice restaurants, and hitting all the highlights at a casual pace.

So right before our wedding all her girlfriends got together and told her that Disney would not be good for a Honeymoon and we should take a cruise ship instead (I get sea sick).... so I wasn't happy but I gave in. I was surprised that my wife's friends didn't trust my judgment and tried to derail my plans. They all had experience taking their kids on a hot summer weekend and staying at a value resort and trying to cram in two parks in two day. I had more of a world view.... looking at Disney as 7 parks and so many world class activities, I was looking at the big picture.

Funny thing happened. We got hit with a rare October hurricane and had to move our wedding date. And we didn't have time to rebook the Cruise. So I got to take my wife to Disney anyway, and she just loved the beach club (she grew up in Cape Cod so she felt right at home) and we had a fantastic time, all our plans went off perfectly. It was a magical honeymoon.

So my story had a happy ending. But my wife who has a very strong personality was almost brainwashed by her friends that Disney could not possible be the right place for her. Luckily they were wrong. I'm just putting the finishing touches on my Photo Scrapbook if anyone is interested. We got some great photos! http://www.panraven.com/mylife/ViewStory.epage?sp=161914&

One year later we got to take the cruise we canceled, as our first anniversary. Funny thing is I didn't get sea sick but my wife got scared on two nights by big waves rocking the ship. We had a great trip and now we alternate between Disney and Cruising. I had never been on a cruise ship before but now we love both. I Just finished my photo album for our cruise also, if anyone is interested, we got some great photos- http://www.panraven.com/mylife/ViewStory.epage?sp=154975&

We met people at Disney and people on the Cruise ship that weren't having much fun. It always came down to lack of planning. I had plans and back-up plans... and for some reason we had the best luck! LOL

 

[Hallowishes]

i think you will find that the people who dont enjoy it are the ones who dont research their trip very much. i agree with all the other posters who said people arrive midmorning and find long lines and cant get into certain restaurants coz they didnt book ADR's. i cant understand spending the money to take a nice vacation and not doing any research whatsoever

 

[RMulieri]

As much as we here are fanatics, there are PLENTY of people that are not and do not "get it". My DH and I went for our honeymoon in 2000.He HATED it.He thought it was overhyped, crowded and expensive.He REFUSED to go back ever. We had our daughter in 2003 and in 2008 I told him I was taking her to WDW ..with or without him. HE came and had a good time, good enough to go 2x in 2009.He will never LOVE it , He will NEVER be a fanatic.But he learned to have an enjoyable time with his daughter.

 

[Markstudy]

A few of our friends are just not active. They won't go back because there was too much walking. They are the anti-exercise crowd

I explained to them that the walking keeps you from gaining 10 pounds with all the great places to eat.

We love walking 12 miles in a day.... or what ever you cover in a 12 hour day at Disney?

I always feel like I"m in good shape when I get back

 

[laceemouse]

I completely get how people can be turned off by the crowds, the heat, the cost. And some people just don't get the magic. I can understand the first reasons, but the lack of respect for the "magic" is disappointing to me. I always feel a connection with people who "get it."

Yes, I think the problem is what they focus on. If you stare at your watch all the time ("we waited 25 minutes for the bus, 20 minutes at the entrance, 30 minutes for this ride....") and calculate every penny spent and IGNORE all of the fun and wonder of WDW you are going to hate it. I think many people go PLANNING to hate it. They want to go once and never again. They tolerate it once for their kids.

 

[linnell]

My BFF hates Disney and anything Disney related and will never go and if she did go I know she would hate it so I'll never force it. She dislikes any manufactured "happiness" and it would drive her nuts. She doesn't understand how I can go over and over. To each their own!

 

[StuckInKS]

We had our first family trip last year. I didn't plan a thing, didn't know about ADRs (only got into Tutto on a very soggy day,) didn't utilize fast passes (mainly because we didn't realize they were free,) found out about photopass on accident and we stayed "offsite" at the Hilton in DTD. We still had a blast and will be returning in just over a week, so I wouldn't blame it all on lack of planning. We did fine winging to last time, but I am planning more this time (and why not, I have a year of DIS under my belt now )

My DH will enjoy himself once there (you should see his happy, smiling face in all of our photopass pics last year,) but before the trip he does do a lot of complaining (at this very minute he is telling me we need to cancel our vacation because of the oil spill ...) I know that I get a lot of enjoyment out of WDW because it makes my kids happy. If they are excited about something, so am I. So, a lot of our plans center around them (CRT, BBB, PL, etc.) I don't know if I'd enjoy it as much if I didn't have kids or not. Plus, it gives me an excuse to go to the beach for a week (which my kids also really enjoy, almost as much as WDW.)

 

[luvthemouse71]

So people seriously think those who don't llloooovvveee Mickey are pessimistic stick in the muds?

I like Mickey and visiting the mouse is a lot of fun for my family, but to make broad statements to say people who think those who don't enjoy being in a packed park and waiting 2 hours to see plastic figures go round and round are killjoys is a little insane. It's as bad as saying people don't need to visit Europe because Epcot has all the countries represented.

Some people actually don't like Disney World and they get through life just fine (and have a positive outlook on life as well).

Sheesh, I think I hit a nerve with some people. Kinda funny how people insist they are NOT stick in the muds and then then they make a negative sounding comment about "packed parks" and "plastic figures"..

I think most of us here have had experience with coworkers/family/friends coming back and complaining about every little thing and wouldn't you know it, these are the same people who complain all the time anyway. It was these people I was talking about and I stand by my original statement. That is all.

 

[MaleficentRules]

When I and my now-ex-husband went in March 07, we had a terrible time - well....I had a terrible time and it was mostly because of him. He just flat-out REFUSED to enjoy himself. He didn't want to go on any rides that was more than a 10 minute wait...he didn't want to see any firework shows...he didn't even want to eat in the nice restaurants! OMG, it was just awful.

The best time I had that whole trip was the last full day there, he decided that he didn't want to be there anymore and went back to the hotel room. I refused to go back with him, and said that I would spend the rest of the day at the parks. I had the greatest time, by myself, riding almost all the rides that I wanted to go on that he wouldn't do. (I managed to get through three parks in about 6 hours - ask me how I did that!)

The main reason why I divorced him didn't have to do with his hatred of Disney, but it was definitely a big factor!

Fortunately, I decided after my divorce that the best way to wipe away that bad memory was to go again. This time, I went with my brother, who is very similar to me in likes and dislikes and we had a fantastic time!

 

[needtogomore]

Okay, I'll put my hand up and say that I'm not really too clear on my sisters age. *facepalm* I just cant seem to remember it... I have a really bad memory. Birthdays are another issue.

Or were you talking about something else?

no, 17 - 15 =2,, 22- 18 =4

 

[Missus Toad]

Our neighbors went for the first time over Memorial Day weekend, with no plan and no research. Needless to say they came back stressed and down about the whole thing-- shell-shocked, really. Had I only known they were going, I could have saved them a bit of heartache, but yeah, they and their two young daughters were not thrilled to say the least.

 

[Markstudy]

I went as a kid in the 1970's and fell in Love with Disney. So going back 25 years later.... nothing would stop me from being a fan, even if we had a bad first trip.

I think you get two different crowds here... Parents taking their kids to Disney who have never been to the park themselves vs Parents taking their kids who grew up going to Disney as kids.

I would imagine the experience could be completely opposite between first time adults who look at the expenses and crowds, vs adults returning with their own kids, who are able to re-live all their happy childhood memories regardless of all the things that can go wrong on a trip.

 

[Squidgyness]

no, 17 - 15 =2,, 22- 18 =4

Oh, I meant I was 17 in '09 and 15 in '06. Not my sister was 15.

Sorry about the confusion.

OT: A lot of it is also to do with what people dont do. For example:

- Dont go to US or IOA (much more than rides.)
- Dont go to sea world (cheap and loads of shows.)
- Dont eat before they get to the park (Grouchy and complain about food price.)
- Dont drink much, and dont have ANY sugar. (low blood sugar level = MEGA grouchiness for most people. Even illness for some.)

Oh, and I just looked at your photos Markstudy, when you say that your favourite place to eat is next to star wars, would that be the backlot counter service place? If so, its our favourite too, or is it something else?