Is it our nostalgia that brings us back to Disney?

[JakeAZ]

*This is not an "I hate Disney post"*

We just got back from a 9 day trip.

We had a really good time. I hated all the work that has to be put in and I think Genie is a terrible program, but if you play by their rules / jump through their hoops, you can make the trip enjoyable.

However, this was my first trip with my kids (5 and 8) and I'm really wondering if we'll ever go back. Not because we didn't have a good time, more so because I don't know if my kids would want to do it again, if given other choices. We did both Universal and WDW and they preferred Universal. I did too. We loved the Express Pass and we were blown away by both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. We were similarly blown away by Galaxy's Edge (but that has nothing to do with core Disney).

But here's the thing. My kids have no attachment to Disney. There is so much more available to them, entertainment-wise, than what we had as kids. For my generation, Sunday night was Wonderful World of Disney. There were Disney cartoons on TV. Mickey's Christmas Carol was on every year at Christmas time. I also grew up in Southern CA, so day trips to Disneyland happened multiple times a year. Both my kids watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse when they were really young, but they barely remember it and would never sit through it if I put it on now. They watch Disney+ but not for anything related to Disney characters.

We went on pretty much everything in WDW, at least once. Here is the (abbreviated) list of rides they didn't want to redo:
Frozen
Na'vi
Pirates
Peter Pan
Small World
Barnstormer
People Mover
Tomorrowland Speedway
Jungle Cruise

This was my first time on Frozen / Na'vi and if I had to wait 90+ minutes to ride those, I would have been extremely disappointed. Thankfully, we did them with Genie / Deluxe hours.

This pretty much left us with the thrill rides. That was fine with me, but it took a lot of work (Genie+, arriving early, staying late, extra hours, etc) to make it possible to keep repeating them.

The park entertainment was light, at best. Since they have no real attachment to Disney characters, the meet / greets weren't missed. They had no desire to reserve a spot for fireworks hours in advance. We did watch them from our room, before heading back into MK. They liked them, but I haven't heard them mention fireworks as one of their favorite things from the trip.

So that brings me back to my original title. Are we hoping to recreate those feelings we had with Disney as kids? IMO, there is nothing wrong with that. I just think it's a tough task if your kids aren't exposed to Disney the way we were as kids.

Is it worth the cost, the crowds, the hoops Disney has and the planning years in advance? For some, it's a resounding yes. For others, it's a no. For us, I don't know. I know I wouldn't bring it up again as a "hey, do you guys want to back to Disney World". I would only consider it if they asked. I am confident though, if given the choice of going back to Universal or Disney, they'd pick Universal. Especially since they will be older / taller next time, able to get on more coasters and the third park will be open. Maybe we'd pop over to Disney for a day to re-visit Galaxy's Edge.

Anyone else feel the same after a recent trip with kids?

 

[holden]

For me, WDW has a nostalgic feel. I visited as a kid, and walking into MK is just the same today as it was then (MK was the only park then). So in that respect, yes, visiting WDW brings back all those feelings. I enjoy that. I think our kids feel the same way since we've brought them since they were babies.

It's also comfortable and familiar. We've been to WDW twice a year for the past 16 years. We are comfortable letting our kids go off together without us. I wouldn't feel that way at a resort in the Caribbean, in a national park, etc.

Those are the reasons we keep returning.

 

[bookgirl]

Not with kids but yeah, my trip a few weeks ago was okay. I had some high and low points but if this had been my first trip, I don't know that it would have been a WOW kind of trip, I probably would have been one and done.

I'm supposed to go to DLR next month (doing a bit of a nostalgia trip there) specifically because I want to take a break, and visit some other locations. I no longer plan to buy APs and money wise it's no cheaper for me to go to Disney. If I do go back it will be because of nostalgia and familiarity.

This is not set in stone, because my nephew has a tentative job offer from Disney after he graduates next year, (he is in a high demand degree field and is being recruited by a few companies, but right now Disney is leading the way) and yeah, if he's moving to Florida I'm probably going to go see him and use those Cast Member Passes LOLOLOLOLOLOL.

 

[brightlined]

They had no desire to reserve a spot for fireworks hours in advance. We did watch them from our room, before heading back into MK. They liked them, but I haven't heard them mention fireworks as one of their favorite things from the trip.

Gently: it's not really surprising that the fireworks weren't a highlight to them. The room experience is a vastly lesser experience, regardless of where you were staying. It's almost like getting a taster stick of ice cream and saying they weren't wowed by the ice cream.

The power and the memory behind those shows are in being there - hearing the loud music, feeling the explosions hit your chest, being in the middle of it. And now that the shows are so projection-heavy - a lot of that is lost outside of the park.

I totally relate to not wanting to wait for hours for a spot, though, especially during the busy season. (If they could've handled it, I probably would have tried once at Epcot, since there are more spots for viewing that don't need as long a wait, and the fireworks at Epcot feel even more like you're in the middle of it.)

 

[JakeAZ]

Gently: it's not really surprising that the fireworks weren't a highlight to them. The room experience is a vastly lesser experience, regardless of where you were staying. It's almost like getting a taster stick of ice cream and saying they weren't wowed by the ice cream.

The power and the memory behind those shows are in being there - hearing the loud music, feeling the explosions hit your chest, being in the middle of it. And now that the shows are so projection-heavy - a lot of that is lost outside of the park.

I totally relate to not wanting to wait for hours for a spot, though, especially during the busy season. (If they could've handled it, I probably would have tried once at Epcot, since there are more spots for viewing that don't need as long a wait, and the fireworks at Epcot feel even more like you're in the middle of it.)

We were in MK on Thanksgiving during the fireworks, but Main Street was a nightmare. You are correct, the sounds are better while in the park. The kids didn't complain though as we were using that time to go around the back of Main Street to get into a short line for Space.

We did experience Harmonious in Epcot and we really enjoyed the end where they start firing the "rockets" from all around the lake.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

One of my mother's fondest memories of riding iasw at the 1964 World's Fair with her mother. I would later in life ride it with my mother, and my children have all been on this ride with her as well. There is a continuum there that I don't want to break, and am grateful I was able to keep together. I am not sure it's so much nostalgia as it is a certain place and time that is (relatively) fixed and remains largely the same.

 

[_19disnA]

View it the same way as the OP. We first went to Disney many years ago when it was only MK and the Contemporary (maybe Polynesian was there but don't recall). Disney marketed it as a 'theme park' (vs amusement park) and they were 'attractions' vs rides to try to differentiate themselves from all other amusement parks and give people a reason to travel to Florida. When Epcot first opened, if you didn't want to shop or eat there wasn't much else to do. Over time it also appears the original concept of being a community where people live/work has gone by the wayside and not really sure how they try to position that park now. We have been to several amusement parks over the years in the midwest and enjoy them all for different reasons.

We used to go to Disney about every 4-5 yrs since the rides/shows/exhibits didn't change that often and we weren't that keen on always doing the same things. Some of our friends still go yearly and I honestly have no idea what they do when they go. Most of the rides haven't changed in years and many seem long overdue for a refresh. We last went in 2019 and were amazed at how crowded/expensive everything had become. Part of the reason we go on vacation is to relax and be spontaneous. Planning where to eat 2 months in advance or reserving those 3 daily FastPasses seemed more like a job then something we enjoyed doing as part of our vacation. Disney probably costs about 2x as much as other places we like to vacation. With the crowd levels the way they are it now takes about twice as long to do/see the same things as in the past.

There are many other vacation destinations we enjoy more, cost less and require none of Disney's advance planning. Perhaps our style of vacationing no longer fits the way Disney organizes things. We have no current plans to return anytime soon.

 

[kathy884]

I grew up watching the "Wonderful World of Color" and then the "Wonderful World of Disney" and seeing Disney movies. My parents first took us to WDW in 1971 and from then on till I graduated from High School (1978) took us down to Orlando almost every spring and Christmas break. There was only the Magic Kingdom then as Epcot didn't come along till 1982 or so. Although I enjoyed our Florida trips, I sort of felt like the MK was kind of lame (although I would never have told my parents that, as I thought it was so nice of them to take me on a lovely family vacation and try to plan all kinds of fun stuff for us). I did, though, like the theming of the deluxe hotels and being down in sunny Florida (pool and beach time, tennis, meeting other kids our age at resorts where we'd stay, etc.). It was fun to take a trip somewhere warm when it was cold back home and come home with a little bit of a sun tan. Overall, I preferred Cedar Point trips (Sandusky, OH) with all the coasters. That's somewhere we went every summer.

I have one son who is 35 years younger than me. We exposed him to Disney sing a long videos and some of the classic and modern classic movies. We'd meet extended family down in Orlando on occasion too startng when DS was three. He wasn't in love with the Disney parks when he was little or when he was in elementary school, but as soon as he hit junior high and high school he was hooked on Disney and especially the MK (just sheer love of the place). His enthusiasm (and he's super fun to travel with) finally got me to like the Disney parks (it was just so fun to visit them with him and I felt like singing Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah all day long) -- Honestly I really only started appreciating them when DS was 12 and I was 47 (really wasn't a big fan till then). We usually do a trip down to Orlando on average every other year (we have relatives in the area which influences us going that often). We typically do two vacations a year, so when we go it's not our only trip. DS likes Universal too but it doesn't come close to the MK for him and he only picks a park to park day at those parks every six years or so. We usually just do three parks a trip and usually it's the MK and SeaWorld DS's favorites every trip and a mix up on others (varies each trip). We always let DS pick. Honestly it seem more "nature" than "nurture" to me. He's really into Walt and all the history (has done so much reading on his own) and can beat everyone else in the world that I know for knowing all the Disney songs, movie, and trivia - most that he discovered on his own (He's who you want on your team for any Disney trivia night no questions asked). He has Disney collectables and coffee table books too, all that he has purchased for himself - none as gifts. March will be our first time with LL / Genie + but I don't think that will be a deterrent in any way. He's loved the park all along despite changes and crowds for the past 14 years. We've had express pass at Universal which was nice (DH had a seminar at one of the Universal deluxe hotels), but that didn't really increase our love of Universal parks. Do note though, although we were super impressed with the Harry Potter theming, we aren't huge HP fans (DH has read all the books, but not the rest of us), and I don't like simulator rides (and they have so many of those - not really a place for me).

It just seem to me that a love of Disney needs to be nurtured by a little exposure, but is almost more of a personality inborn thing.

 

[bsmcneil]

Your post super resonated with me, though my trip with my 8 and 5 year old will be in Jan/Feb and we're not going to UO. They honestly don't seem to care - though at one point I did say, we don't have to do this and they were like, "no, we wan to go." But I can easily imagine coming back and writing almost verbatim what you wrote about WDW. With lots of entertainment not being available, I am mindful of the fact that I will have an experience of, "But if ___ were working, you might enjoy it" (the train is a big one for them). But really, all in all - it's the theme park, pool, etc that they'll be drawn to and I don't know/think it'll be anything specifically Disney/WDW related.

 

[JakeAZ]

Some of our friends still go yearly and I honestly have no idea what they do when they go. Most of the rides haven't changed in years and many seem long overdue for a refresh

To each their own, but yes, I was thinking the same thing while we were there and doing BTMR for the 6th time haha.

 

[Delirium]

I'm having a hard time getting past you not wanting to do the People Mover again. Did you do it during the day or after dark? After dark, it is truly one of the most magical experiences in the park.

That aside, it's not really nostalgia for me, because I didn't 'love it' the first few times I went. I went to MK 3 times as a kid in the 1970's and did not think I would ever want/need to go back. But, I took a short trip there in 2001 with my future wife and got to experience the other parks for the first time. It was a good time, but we didn't tour properly, and I still was not sold on it being the vacation of choice. But, it did become just that. Since then, we've been 8 or 9 additional times, some with extended family, some with just my wife and our two kids. The best times were when it was just the 4 of us.

The last couple of trips (2016 & 2018) were the best. FP+ was just the tool that allowed us to enjoy the parks the way we wanted to. The kids are in high school now and we were wanting to do one more trip with it just being the 4 of us. but, between Covid, the loss of so many perks, and now with Genie+ replacing FP+, we have no desire to go back. I'm sad about that, but will always have some great memories.

 

[JakeAZ]

I'm having a hard time getting past you not wanting to do the People Mover again. Did you do it during the day or after dark? After dark, it is truly one of the most magical experiences in the park.

I've done the DL people mover more times that I can count haha. I've always viewed it as "my feet hurt, let's go do the people mover". But for a 5 and 8 year old who want to go fast, they were not fans and the time of day wouldn't change that for them.

I get what you are saying though. I'm sure, for some, being able to cruise around tomorrowland and see everything all lit up is a treat.

 

[gharter]

Been going to Disney for over 50 years. Some is certainly nostalgia, but love most of the changes as well. Yes, it has changed a lot over the year. Despite its mis steps, still an amazing amount of fun for every trip.

 

[bsmcneil]

I've done the DL people mover more times that I can count haha. I've always viewed it as "my feet hurt, let's go do the people mover". But for a 5 and 8 year old who want to go fast, they were not fans and the time of day wouldn't change that for them.

I get what you are saying though. I'm sure, for some, being able to cruise around tomorrowland and see everything all lit up is a treat.

So - I haven't read it yet - the story I've posted below (I've just left it open to read) - but this thread made me think about what drew me into WDW - and 100% for me, I'm am engrossed by awe. If anything feels like it has some grand ceremony, pomp - I'm all for it. I was the guy who showed up to Rope Drop in the past, not to get on the rides - but because the countdown made me tear up. So, that is part of what I want to share with my kids and I think some of that comes from things like PM at night (I wouldn't have named that - but I can see it). The absolute best thing I did when I went in September (weird solo trip) was SDD (which I had not been on before this trip) at night. I did it during the day first and it was fine/cool; but I had seen pictures and read on here (I think) about doing it at night. I waited around and killed time to time it just right - and it was perfect. Absolutely perfect for me. I'm also the guy whose interest was captured by doing things normally done during the day (going to school, to church) at night the one time a year it happened, or seeing the ball drop in Times Square. So, YMMV. But I do think that WDW - when they're on their game - does "awe" really well (and maybe better than any other place in America). There are elements that are every bit the show and liturgy of midnight mass for Christmas (maybe it's when the lights go down and the narrator started for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, or whatever).

Awe might be our most undervalued emotion. Here’s how to help children find it. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/life...78a4b0-4c8e-11ec-b0b0-766bbbe79347_story.html)

 

[princesswahooey]

Like the OP, I grew up with Disney on Sunday evenings, day trips to DL as a kid, Mickey cartoons. I saved my money and got to go to Epcot and Magic Kingdom on an 8th grade trip with my science class.

I got married, had kids. They watched princess movies and Cars. When we took our kids To WDW for the first time (at ages 4 & 9) we actually bought DVDs of Mickey cartoons for them to watch on the 16-hour drive there because they didn't really even know who Mickey & the gang were, and we thought we better prepare them so they knew who these characters were! (Crazy, right?)

My husband was kind of reluctant about the trip, but I wanted to go to Epcot again and spend more time. By that time they had also opened AK and DHS. So, new parks for me to see. That's about when I found this board. I didn't know you had to plan a year in advance, and I booked in October for a Thanksgiving trip. I did all the research, somehow got all the dining I wanted through refreshing (this was before dining alerts). I knew which parks to go on which days, all of it, THANKS TO THIS BOARD.

Well, we had an *amazing* time. Even my husband. It was magical and our family really bonded over the experience. Now, going to WDW (or DL Paris or DL California as we have done over the years) is more about being together and sharing that special family time, just being silly and carefree. I remember skipping along to "Off Kilter," hand-in-hand with my 9yo daughter through the World Showcase one night near closing. She's 20 now, a junior in college, living across the country from us (and her 15yo brother) and I can't wait for us all to be together in Florida for Christmas. ♥

It's not really about Mickey, and I don't think Walt ever really meant it to be. To me it's about family, discovery, staying young at heart. Is that nostalgia? Maybe.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It would not be surprising for families with kids who prefer rides to experiences, fast rides to slow rides, want to repeat rides all day and have no nostalgic ties to Disney properties would prefer Universal. that's what Uni is there for

OP didn't say they preferred not to repeat the slow rides, they said the kids didn't want to.

I now go to hang around Epcot and I am happy doing that with no rides. But if you're doing it for the kids, it makes sense to go with what they want.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

'It hasn't been so much about nostalgia than it has about memories. The first time I went to WDW was in 1972 with my parents. It wasn't on OMG moment and was never "hooked." My husband on the other hand has been a big Disney fan for 30+ years and has bought me into that world. We got married at WDW and are DVC Members. Our daughter is 16 and has never been that "into" Disney. Never cared for the rides, meet & greets, characters, etc. She is content with staying at resort and going to DS, always has been. I've enjoyed it...the memories, the fun...all of it. Still do, just not as much. Way too much planning. too many hoops to jumps through, too much up-charging, too long of lines, too crowded, & too expensive (even with DVC). There's a whole world out there to see!

 

[WDWLODGE]

I first went to WDW as a 3-year old. I grew up up liking Disney movies etc. I returned to WDW in 1999 with my wife for our Honeymoon & we got hooked. We began making annual visits to WDW. I'm not sure when exactly (maybe the mid-2010's) but WDW started to lose it's luster for us. Don't get me wrong we still loved it but we definitely started losing some of those feels. For years I've been trying to figure that out, was it just me, was it Disney? I've recently come to the conclusion that it was Disney. I think what made Disney in general so special is "Walt's Touch". As the years have passed & leadership has changed the Company has slowly lost "Walt's Touch". The Company is losing Walt's morals & values that gave us that Nostalgia. I am not saying Walt was perfect but I believe he would have disagreed with many of the decisions made over the years that have eroded the Nostalgia that we are searching to regain. Until leadership returns to the roots and foundation that he laid we will be left to keep searching for the good ole' days.

 

[Bahamontes]

I didn’t grow up with Disney. My folks took me to WDW once, in 1987 at age 9. I remember the monorail, and Space Mountain, and Epcot (but only because Captain EO wasn’t ready.)

My age puts me at a point where Disney Animation wasn’t huge for me - too young for the classics, and too old for the renaissance. I fell in love with Pixar, but not until high school.

And then my best friends took me to WDW with their amazing kids for my 40th. We stayed at Beach Club, and hit all four parks over three days. I loved every minute. The theming, the bubble, the cast - all were so far beyond my expectations that I just keep going back.

So it’s not really nostalgic for me - at least not nostalgia for my younger days. And I dig the Disney approach vs Universal. When I saw the painted walls in Gringot’s a day after walking through Galaxy’s Edge, it was clear to me which one I preferred.

On that first trip, we stayed at some Good Neighbor hotel. I did the same on my solo trip before thanksgiving, and while the hotel was lovely and super affordable, I have a better time at the deluxes (imagine that….) The appeal of the bubble, for me, is much of the draw. And the feelings it brings are very much under the umbrella of nostalgia - just not for a long gone Disney, nor for my childhood.

Happy to have given you a massive non answer; I gotta drink less coffee.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Nostalgia, Awe and so many more emotions. I am amazed, thrilled, relaxed, inspired because it is the Happiest Place on Earth. Disney bundles all of that into one word: Magic.

When I ride Pirates, I have memories of riding it as a small child in the 1960s at DL with my Dad. I remember riding it at WDW in the 1980s with my girlfriend (now my wife of 33 years) while she dug her nails into my arm on the drop. I remember riding with my two little boys for the first time in 2005. The Nostalgia is there for the classics. I am also awed by new things; the first time I watched HEA and wondered how they projected onto the castle. Amazing! Thrilled by Tower of Terror. Relaxed because I am in the Bubble. Free from the daily stresses. I keep going back because of the memories, expecting to make new ones by being awed by something new. I expect it from Disney.

BUT, all of that Magic, has to balance with reality. It's a cost/benefit ratio. Disney trips become more and more expensive and more and more difficult to plan. I agree with others that many of the changes they have made lately have begun to destroy the Magic.