How Disney ruined my vacations for life: A cautionary tale

[ErinInCT]

The tough thing with DVC is that you get totally spoiled after you've been in a 2 bedroom or 1 bedroom. My kids HATE staying in a normal hotel room now!! We only hit Disney every 5ish or so years so we can see other parts of the country (plus we live far and airfare stinks) but if I asked the kids (even now as teens) where they wanted to go they'd always pick Disney!

 

[Magpie]

I agree with the previous poster who said that Disney vacations aren't comparable with vacations to places like Paris or London. They're completely different critters.

For us, Disney is more like a trip out to the family farm or beach front property. It's cosy, familiar and stress-free. We know exactly what we're getting, and that's a big part of the appeal. When the cm at the resort says, "welcome home," we nod and smile, because that's just how it feels to us.

Travelling the world is an adventure. Visiting Disney is kicking back, putting your feet up, and relaxing.

We don't have a cottage on a lake, we've got Disney, instead.

 

[GreatLakes]

I love going to WDW and usually make it down for at least one long weekend a year but I don't feel is has taken away at all from trips to other places. As much as I love Disney you are going to a controlled and in some ways fake place. I don't mean that in a bad way but it is not really natural for lack of a better word. I don't expect a trip to California's wine country or a National Park or to Tuacany to compare to Disney. In some ways they are vastly superior and in some ways they are found lacking when compared to Disney.

I feel that there is so much variety in not only our country but the world to stick to any single place for vacationing or for letting me get too caught up in comparing any two places. I love Chicago, Rome, rural Tuscany and the wilderness of remote Tennessee all equally just in different ways.

 

[allybabba98]

I find living in Toronto the only theme park is open only about 5 months out of the year. While it has some great rides, even waiting in the lines is just boring, nothing to see just where people have put their old chewing gum (gross)
Disney for us is expensive but my DH while not in love with Disney understands how much fun we all have here. Lots of friends camp or go to cottages but that does not bring me any joy. I know that this trip will probably be the last one for a long time. I plan on just taking our time and really enjoying every little aspect of it.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

I mentally break down my vacations as Disney and non-Disney.

I suppose I agree with OP that I would rank all Disney vacations above all non-Disney vacations, but I do love non-Disney vacations also.

 

[DisneyFive]

Visiting Disney is kicking back, putting your feet up, and relaxing.

Funny, but that's how I would describe a cruise or a beach vacation, certainly not Disney. Disney is the opposite of kicking back putting our feet up and relaxing. It's lots of walking, lots of excitement, lots of commotion, but all in the greatest of senses. It is (now) familiar and comfortable to us though. I get what you are saying about "home"

Dan

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My kids have been going for many years. They got pretty spoiled - so much so that when they became teens they said they had been too often and no longer wanted to go.
So that's when we started going to Universal every other year instead even though I can't ride many of the attractions there.

And now I mostly go to WDW solo and love it.

 

[georgina]

I love going to WDW and usually make it down for at least one long weekend a year but I don't feel is has taken away at all from trips to other places. As much as I love Disney you are going to a controlled and in some ways fake place. I don't mean that in a bad way but it is not really natural for lack of a better word. I don't expect a trip to California's wine country or a National Park or to Tuacany to compare to Disney. In some ways they are vastly superior and in some ways they are found lacking when compared to Disney.

I feel that there is so much variety in not only our country but the world to stick to any single place for vacationing or for letting me get too caught up in comparing any two places. I love Chicago, Rome, rural Tuscany and the wilderness of remote Tennessee all equally just in different ways.

Well said! I love WDW also for the familiarity, but it certainly can't compare to the many National Parks we have been to or other countries (I took my avatar pic myself in Paris.)

 

[linzbear]

Ha, are you me? My inlaws have had DVC for a long time and I went with my now-DH for the first time since I was a kid in 2003. We bought DVC in 2006 and haven't looked back! My oldest has been 5 times, but we generally take longer trips to offset the travel expenses. Our other vacations are just not the same

 

[smellyia]

We compare every single place we go to Disney and the usual quote is "it's not Disney".

Exactly. I went to 3 other places in that last year in addition to Disney and as we were leaving we said, "We need to plan Disney." When I discussed a beach house next summer the FIRST question DH said was, "We will still go to WDW fall break right?"

With younger kids WDW is great because they do it all for me. I don't work hard to keep the family happy. I don't cook. Everyone is engaged and happy. We are doing it together and everything is geared toward us as a whole. Other places, while great, just aren't Disney. I have yet to experience the same resort satisfaction as I have at WDW anywhere I've been.

 

[loves to dive]

While WDW hasn't ruined other places for me, it is my safe place. I go at least once a year, lately twice (F&G and F&W). DH, DS (grown up) and I are all master divers so we have been fortunate to be able to travel to different places to dive as well. DH doesn't "do vacation" it's either a dive trip or he stays at home. DS goes to WDW with me when he can but he just recently was medically discharged from the Navy and is back in college so his funds and time are limited. I lived in Saudi Arabia in the early 70s and was fortunate again to get to travel to places in Europe (England, Scotland, Switzerland and Rome). The travel bug is in my blood and lucky for me to have both DH and myself working so I can feed that bug. I don't see myself ever not going to WDW but I also don't see myself not going to other places either. I just don't compare them, I've stayed in lux. hotels both in the States and around the world and have stayed in some of the worst places you can image while diving and have enjoyed each and every trip I've ever taken.

But, having said all that, WDW is and always will be my safe, comfortable place to go to solo or with family just to relax and know I've come home.

 

[bc7ate9]

While WDW hasn't ruined other places for me, it is my safe place...I don't see myself ever not going to WDW but I also don't see myself not going to other places either. I just don't compare them....

Yes! This ^^^

 

[minnie mum]

Well, if you want a no risk, no surprise, sanitized and totally familiar vacation Every. Single. Time, then a Disney vacation is certainly the safe choice. And if you have made the considerable financial commitment of DVC, then vacations elsewhere will be a more expensive choice much of the time.

Disney does what they do best. And we like the occasional vacation centered around a Disney park. But no one can convince me that standing in queues for rides I've seen dozens of times is better than exploring the streets and sights of the great cities of the world, snorkeling off a Reef in Fiji, participating in a tea ceremony in Japan, or hiking along a path in the Alps. Whatever floats your boat. I'd rather stay in resorts or hotels that really know what constitutes superior amenities and service. Eat at restaurants that the locals know and love and aren't diluted and homogenized for the pickiest Tourist. See new things and experience things I've never experienced before.

Sometimes a Disney vacation is just the ticket. But it certainly isn't better than anything else.

 

[Micca]

The tough thing with DVC is that you get totally spoiled after you've been in a 2 bedroom or 1 bedroom. My kids HATE staying in a normal hotel room now!! We only hit Disney every 5ish or so years so we can see other parts of the country (plus we live far and airfare stinks) but if I asked the kids (even now as teens) where they wanted to go they'd always pick Disney!

Ain't that the truth? Having the kitchen and laundry facilities is fantastic. Some people say they don't want to cook or do laundry on vacation, but the benefits are huge! You don't have to pack as much stuff and lug it around, and you can stock the room with snacks/treats/drinks to have a little peace & quiet and time away from crowds. We've traveled to a lot of places around the world, and wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. But now we are almost exclusively WDW vacation goers, it just feels like home--if you had pirates, a castle, and a haunted mansion at home.

 

[Nigel Channing]

I loved Disney when I was a kid and now returning with my kids but I doubt my wife and I will ever go without our kids. There are so many fantastic places to see out there.

 

[Magpie]

Funny, but that's how I would describe a cruise or a beach vacation, certainly not Disney. Disney is the opposite of kicking back putting our feet up and relaxing. It's lots of walking, lots of excitement, lots of commotion, but all in the greatest of senses. It is (now) familiar and comfortable to us though. I get what you are saying about "home"

Dan

I think there's lots of different ways to do Disney. And certainly, when we first visited with the kids, it was how you describe - excitement and commotion. But, for several years now, it's just been my husband and I. We take our time, watch the street shows, nap every afternoon, and eat too much. So, for us, more like that cruise or beach vacation, but with shows and our favourite rides tossed in.

 

[DisneyFive]

I think there's lots of different ways to do Disney. And certainly, when we first visited with the kids, it was how you describe - excitement and commotion. But, for several years now, it's just been my husband and I. We take our time, watch the street shows, nap every afternoon, and eat too much. So, for us, more like that cruise or beach vacation, but with shows and our favourite rides tossed in.

Sounds fantastic.

Dan

 

[Masonmj84]

I think Disney is especially addictive to families with grade school and pre-school aged kids. I recently asked my 11 year old son about his favorite vacations over the past 4 years and all of them were Disney related (WDW, DLR, Disney cruise). We recently had a terrific vacation in British Columbia, Canada, and while my son liked the vacation, in his mind, it just didn't quite measure up to Disney.

My kids (ages 11 and 5) are admittedly a bit high maintenance and spoiled. They get bored easily. They hate long car trips. They hate long airplane rides. They hate museums and historical sites.

They love pool areas at nice resorts, but only for about 2-3 hours. Then they're bored. Same goes for the beach (and I'm not a huge beach person). So even a nice beach resort vacation just doesn't quite measure up.

I love national parks and, while my kids love camping (or staying in a national park lodge), they hate hiking. And, as previously mentioned, they hate long car trips (most national parks require some driving to get to).

So part of the reason we do Disney is that it's relatively easy to keep the kids entertained and happy. Just makes for a more pleasant and relaxing vacation for everyone (even though I can think of FAR more relaxing places for an adults only trip).

I'm sure there are many families out there like us and Disney has us figured out.

 

[ErinInCT]

Ain't that the truth? Having the kitchen and laundry facilities is fantastic. Some people say they don't want to cook or do laundry on vacation, but the benefits are huge! You don't have to pack as much stuff and lug it around, and you can stock the room with snacks/treats/drinks to have a little peace & quiet and time away from crowds. We've traveled to a lot of places around the world, and wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. But now we are almost exclusively WDW vacation goers, it just feels like home--if you had pirates, a castle, and a haunted mansion at home.

Micca, Nothing beats the kitchen and w/d. We get breakfast and lunch food to keep in the room. We'll either make lunch and eat it in the park or come back for lunch and a swim b4 heading back to the parks. And I bring half as many clothes knowing I can wash them. I even wash the towels daily and don't mind it a bit!

 

[aprincessatlast]

I think Disney is especially addictive to families with grade school and pre-school aged kids. I recently asked my 11 year old son about his favorite vacations over the past 4 years and all of them were Disney related (WDW, DLR, Disney cruise). We recently had a terrific vacation in British Columbia, Canada, and while my son liked the vacation, in his mind, it just didn't quite measure up to Disney.

We discussed this yesterday for a school assignment. Funny we got a different response, The top of my 11 year olds list was British Columbia and Alaska (combo trip). In all honesty Disney was not even mentioned in top 3. The last time we went he said as was previosly posted, He did not want to stand in long lines for things he has already seen. He only loves it because it reminds him of when he was little. Middle son it is DCL and with that parks he could take it or leave it...hmm I am starting to realize that my kids only like Disney World because I do.

I agree with pp sometimes Disney is just the ticket but really though there are so many great places to see out there. I know my trips to the world showcase when I was younger inspired the huge desire to travel and see those places when I got older. I love the movie in France and eating in the bakery however there is no way that even compares to when I actually walked he streets of Paris and stopped in a Patisserie for a handmade chocolate treat.