How do you REALLY feel about a Disney World vacation?

[amelibeli75]

I feel like a crappy, ungrateful parent. Partially because of my in-laws, we had the privilege to take our ‎‎2 year old on a family trip to Disney World. I should be HAPPY. I should be GRATEFUL. After all, isn't ‎Disney supposed to the “happiest place on Earth”? I’m back at work today after a grueling 5 day trip, ‎and I’m just grateful to be able to sit down in peace and not pay $12 for a cheeseburger. ‎ Everything is on a schedule. Nap time does not exist. Privacy does not exist. Personal space does not ‎exist. Crowds. Lines. Overpriced everything. I get it. You’re paying for an “experience” not just a $9 ‎mediocre hot dog. I saw beautiful, smiling children dressed up like princesses and heroes just happy to ‎be there, followed by parents with the same exhausted, annoyed expression I wearing. So parents, ‎how do you REALLY feel about Disney? Does everyone secretly hate it as much as I do? Are people just ‎scared to talk about the reality of a Disney World trip for fear that they will be seen as a bad parent ‎with no heart? Please tell me I’m not alone!‎

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Well, I'd say your 'reality' is not the same reality others see. Sounds like you felt like your trip was more negative than positive. But you make your own trip and memories and decide if it's for you. WDW is not perfect - never has been. But when we went earlier this month with family, we knew it would be busy, knew it would be expensive, and we planned on quality over quantity and still had a wonderful time. It was awesome spending some of the holidays at WDW again. We truly missed that last year. We're ready to go back again next month, again with family. You have to decide what's right for you and your family, and if it's not WDW, I hope you find something you can enjoy more.

And have you seen many of the posts out on this board? You really think those who don't like it are scared to talk about not being happy with WDW right now??!

 

[shh]

I feel like a crappy, ungrateful parent. So parents, ‎how do you REALLY feel about Disney? Does everyone secretly hate it as much as I do? Are people just ‎scared to talk about the reality of a Disney World trip for fear that they will be seen as a bad parent ‎with no heart? Please tell me I’m not alone!‎

Since the place opened back in '71, the pace, cost and process have exhausted even the best of parental units!

But you also visited during a particularly difficult time: what I feel is one of the worst periods in the company's history - with far less value offered for far more cost; shorter, more compressed hours; the arrogant expectation that guests should struggle through poorly designed apps and stay glued to their devices during most of their vacation; and a mere fraction of the "crowd eating" entertainment now available that was offered before (parades, shows, etc) that gave parents a chance to rest; reduced attraction lines; and just allowed families to enjoy more magical moments.

BTW...I have known several parents - mostly people I've worked for (CEOs, VPs, senior level folks used to high end luxury and pampering) who absolutely refused to consider a WDW trip. They vacationed at all inclusives, cruises, top-line resorts, etc. Their kids survived.

 

[_19disnA]

We have been to Disney a number of times over the years. It involves a LOT of walking even when it isn't crowded and I think some people don't realize that until they are there. If you are go-go-go types, then perhaps this type of place is more your speed. However, for those who aren't that physically fit and think they can go non-stop all day long doing a park everyday of their trip is probably not reality. We like to vacation at various places and have never been the type of family who thinks Disney is the only game in town. With the constantly increasing prices and HUGE crowds, we no longer find it a priority when deciding where to vacation.

We would never go in the summer since it is way too hot/humid to walk all day in the blazing sun. Frankly, most of the shows/rides haven't changed that much over the years, so it is also an issue of how many times you want to do the same things. Typically, those you find on this forum are the avid Disney fans, so doubt you will get a good cross-section of the population who will more likely have good as well as bad things to say about Disney.

 

[Barbydoll8]

So sorry you feel/felt this way. In some cases I think part of dissapointment comes from WDW itself (over priced, over crowded, etc) but in a lot of cases, it's a matter of expectation. (now I say "you" here as a general term and not you specifically) If you didn't get a wow moment, if you didn't experience pixie dust, if you ran too hard each day to exhaustion because you have to get the $ value out of it, then yes. The disappointment is real.
I am a Disney nerd and love everytime I go but I am very fustrated with the current state of the parks. Too many people are in the parks at once. Genie + is an insulting money grab. After hours and special experiences are total break the bank ideas of ridiculousness and it seems the $ wins over guest experiences.
So I am not dissapointed, I try to remove those known things about WDW and focus on what experiences I did have. That's where I find the value. Where I find the magic. I hope you look back and find those magical moments that maybe you didn't notice while they were happening and it makes you feel better about the trip you took.

 

[hsmamato2]

How do I feel? I still have great nostalgia for the trips I got to take (not often) as a kid,and the yearly visits when my own were little. Things have changed a lot over the years,and while I still enjoy the 'resort vibe' to the WHOLE property(as in there's always something to do somewhere on property) I don't go often,and I rarely enter parks anymore. So things have changed a lot,I'm not into the insane pace that parks seem to require right now,or the insane money required to avoid some of that pace...... that said,there's a lot to enjoy there if it's your 'thing'...but if it's not,that's completely valid OP. So many other places to vacation that are probably better for young kids anyway. This place is too $$$ to waste time on if you don't enjoy it.

 

[dez1978]

Taking a 2 year old anywhere is a grueling, horrible, tiresome expeience in my opinion. Which is why I didn't take my kids until they were past the age of needing naps and strollers. We didn't go until they were 5&7 the first time.

For what it's worth, I went on a moms only trip just after thanksgiving. It was amazingly wonderful and freeing. But also still exhausting.

 

[Sakurachaek]

You just need to have rest days (where you just chill) in between park days, and you’ll love it like the rest of us!

 

[STPfan]

Wife and I are taking her sister and brother in law with our two nieces, ages 3 and 1 at the end of January. We have been numerous times but it will be their first time. I think you just have to have your expectations set accordingly. We have fun on vacation no matter what. Now when our 3 year old niece sees Mickey for the first time she’s going to be over the top. When she rides Frozen ever after, it will make her whole trip.

 

[val1234]

I love Disney vacations and have been taken all my kids and grandkids now since they were 2 yrs old. I do travel in late August though when it’s crazy hot but the crowds are light. I. Love seeing the Disney magic excitement and seeing everything through their eyes . It‘s truly our Happy Place. But it’s not for everyone, most either fanatically love it like most of us who frequent the Dis, tolerate it for the kids sake, or hate it with a passion and stay home lol.

 

[jo-jo]

How old are your inlaws? Is it possible they wanted to go with their grandchild while they could? We took the family in Dec of 19. We took the grandkids and the two moms in April of 21, even with missing stuff like fireworks. DH is slowing down greatly and we wanted the younger grandkids to have memories at disney with grandpa.

 

[crazylady]

I hate all those things too, but then I think about all the things I love about Disney. Honestly most trips I'm beyond ready to leave, but after a few days at home, I'm ready to start planning our next trip. That said, we have no plans for a trip in the future because I don't like the sound of all of the current changes.

PS. .It is ok to not like/love Disney. There are lots of other options out there!

 

[Wiltony]

I always recommend to families that they not bring any children to WDW under 7 years old or so. The children will not really remember it and will not be able to appreciate it.

 

[AgentMama]

I always recommend to families that they not bring any children to WDW under 7 years old or so. The children will not really remember it and will not be able to appreciate it.

My kids both have some memories of their first trips, way before age 7, but even if they didn't, I have very fond memories of the things we did when they were little and I think parents having great memories is sometimes all that matters. Think of all the experiences and enrichment kids would miss out on if we waited to do everything until we were sure they would remember it.

 

[k5xs]

We exhausted ourselves taking our six kids many times over the years. We waited each time until the youngest was five years old or so.

I can remember feeling whipped from the trips, but the fun far outweighed the fatigue. And the memories we made were amazing.

We just hosted those six kids, along with their spouses and our 21 grandkids, for a week at WDW as we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. All those memories came flooding back.

We wouldn’t trade all those visits (including the accompanying exhaustion) for anything

 

[Ursula J]

Any trip with my in-laws would be...stressful. Did they go with or gift the trip? Either way, the strings attached would be awful for me, since I am The Disappointment lol

 

[DebLovesPooh]

We all like to vacation differently. I am an amusement park junkie but my sister loves to go to the beach and just relax. We would be miserable on each other’s vacations. I know many parents who never plan on taking their kids to Disney and hope their kids never ask to go.

 

[hou2009]

I think of Disney like a cruise where everyone finds their enjoyment in different aspects and should get to experience whatever that is. We travel with family and go at a slow pace for the older folks, let the kiddos ride lots of rides, stop at shops for those who love to, enjoy nicer dinners for those who want to be spoiled, etc. The nice thing is there's always parallel offerings, so kids can ride while some people shop while others opt to sit in a lounge and drink. And then we meet up and continue to explore. We don't all "do everything," or "see it all," and that's okay. Even with our pace, yes, it's still exhausting -- Disney requires a lot of walking, and days can be long -- but we always have a great time Sounds like you had a trip where you weren't given choice to do what you like or have any down time. (And I 100% agree that Disney has made many operational changes lately that have less relaxation as an unintended consequence. I am expecting to enjoy this next trip much less -- if we even go -- and likely won't be back until there are improvements.)

 

[OhDannyBoy]

 

[DisneyAuntie12]

I think 2 is too young for some kids. I wouldn’t take my 2-year-old and I love the Disney Parks. It depends a lot on their temperament and what developmental stage they’re in. At this age he enjoys unstructured destinations where he can just “run around” as he pleases (beaches, playgrounds, parks) and even then he gets exhausted after about two hours and needs a long break. It’s also a LOT of stimulation for a child that age. Again, some would probably be fine but for some kids 2 would be a slog at best.