Just back from 1st Disney Vacation...

[babyfacebabe86]

It was ok....

With that said I think WDW is something everyone should experience once in a lifetime. I'm glad I got to take my 4yr old. I'm glad she got to meet the princesses. That was probably my favorite part. Even though I had to pay 100 dollars for a some scrambled eggs and bacon to get to meet all of them. Me and dh will probably take our now 1 yr old whenever she gets to be 4 or 5. But after that..I think that will be it. I didn't really see the difference between WDW and are local Busch Gardens except there is a guy in a mickey mouse costume that you can wait in line for. It was nice....don't get me wrong. I don't see how someone can go back yr after yr for a vacation. To me is was no vacation. I felt like I needed one after leaving. I think me and dh will stick to what we love best ( Cruising) and leave this vacation to you guys!

 

[jeast]

Not everyone has to love it. Glad you had a good time and glad you have an alternative vacation you love. To each his own.

 

[look1angel]

Disney, to me, is best seen through the eyes of a child...& I'm a big kid

I agree one should at least try it once in their lifetime.

$100.00 for breakfast is outrages I know, but the pictures are priceless.

My sister doesn't quite get the Disney obsession either & ya know what? That's OK!

I'm glad you had a good time & plan to return, by that time there should be lots of new things to experience

Have a magical day!

 

[stacopp]

Fair enough... it is nice to see you will take your children once and enjoy it with them. Enjoy the cruising!

 

[jdb1232]

Different strokes for different folks.
We go every year, usually in the fall. We know what we want to see and what we don't want to see. Our family is not one that goes from the crack of dawn to locking the doors behind us. So its pretty easy for us to have a great time in WDW. But, then again, were Disney type people...

 

[dgr1973]

My sister felt the same way after she went there 3 year ago. It was summer and she said the heat and crowds were just too much. She's glad they went but she has no interest in eve going again. We went last year in May for ourfirst time and yes it was hot but the crowds were low so we loved it! We are going back in early Nov, but I can see us trying something else for our next vacation.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

We don't go every year, but only because I couldn't afford it. But I do totally understand that Disney is not for everyone. That is a good thing, because crowds can already be unbearable, just think if everyone loved it. I have never cruised, but some day I would like to and I think I will enjoy that too.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

It truely is not for everyone, but works for us.

Just curious, did you stay on property, do EMH's, or use a touring plan?

 

[smylie1]

We went on our first trip with the "once in a lifetime" idea. Turns out..we're one of those that got bit by the WDW bug! It's me and DH that are addicted, the DSs (11 &15) could take it or leave it. I'm glad you made some great memories.

 

[DisneyObsessive]

my boyfriend shares your sentiments, he thinks of it as an overhyped theme park and feels that there's nothing that puts it above any other theme park. He's agreed to come again in october but i think he'll be done after that until he has kids. Then he said he'd go back for them.

 

[jayandstacey]

Don't let the screen door hit 'cha!

Just kidding

I'm 40ish, my kids are 8 and 5. My mother loves to buy us all (my family, my sisters' families, etc) cruises every now and again. Like you, I have a good time - and would never turn it down. I even "get" the appeal - but it isn't for me; it isn't what I'd seek out as my own ideal vacation.

In fact, my wife and kids often seek much simpler fare - stuff like Knoebels and Dutch Wonderland north of us, or even just a weekend going to a drivein, riding a train and driving around - the kinds of things I imagine originally insipred Walt Disney to create Disneyland. WDW is a whole different beast, with many appeals - but also very different from those roots and, admittedly, lacking a certain charm.

So I "hear ya"

 

[pooch]

thankfully DD (24) agrees with me. I go through withdrawal if I don't fly into MCO once a year. I love cruising & I get much the same feel at WDW. Once I get on that DME bus, I don't have to do anything. They transport me (and my luggage without me having to touch it), feed me, entertain me, make me happy to spend my money. You do have a beautiful theme park in Busch Gardens Virginia but I think Disney takes it to a whole different level. But, to each his/her own!

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

Hey, to each their own, right? I think it's great you're going to give it another go for the kids in a few years.

IMO, I will never figure out why folks spend big bucks for a week on a beach trying to avoid a sunburn and heat stroke while drinking themselves into a stupor! But I know a lot of people who do it. Of course, they're the ones who say "Disney again?" to me.

 

[smcabee]

IMO, I will never figure out why folks spend big bucks for a week on a beach trying to avoid a sunburn and heat stroke while drinking themselves into a stupor! But I know a lot of people who do it. Of course, they're the ones who say "Disney again?" to me.

Heh I do this every year at Disney. I spend big bucks for a week at the world trying to avoid sunburns and heat stroke and drink myself into a stupor around the epcot ws. Cant wait to try it again next week.

 

[babyfacebabe86]

It truely is not for everyone, but works for us.

Just curious, did you stay on property, do EMH's, or use a touring plan?

We stayed at the CSR. We went to rope drop every morning. Got all the big attractions out of the way. Used fast passes. I was actually surprised at how little we actually had to wait in line. That was one bonus that I was not expecting....up until labor day weekend....then of coarse it got more crowded. DHS is was the most crowded. It was nice being able to walk on the rides in the am but i'm not a morning person...so it was a give and take! It rained almost every day we were there. We had 5 day passes and by the 3rd day I was tired of theme parks. On our 5th day we didn't even go back to the parks...we stayed at the hotel pool and relaxed. Maybe it was stress of trying to get everything done. Maybe it was getting up early. Maybe it was the rain. I don't know why I didn't enjoy myself as much as I could of...but I still had a decent time.

 

[MariDisney]

I can definitely respect that you went, tried it, and decided it wasn't really for you. We've felt that way about several places. I hope wherever your next trip takes you that you have a magical time!

 

[JeffZ]

Some people "get " Disney--others do not. No problem. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is awesome too. It's one of my favorite parks--we usually alternate Disney and Busch, Kings Dominion,Hershey park. There's no right or wrong.

 

[ShannonMB]

Nothing wrong with not becoming a total Disney addict, in fact, I imagine you're in the majority. I'm glad you're taking your kiddies, and I hope when they are maybe 7 and 10 you will take them back so they can really remember it.

I personally am one of the obsessed. I think about Disney 365 days a year (at least since 2007 when we first went -- wonder if that will last?). I know a couple of us in real life, but most people I know think I'm a freak about it. When I turned down a trip to Mexico to go to WDW again this fall, my dad told me I should get out of my "Disney bubble". Hahah, I like it in here, the water's fine!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I've always been curious why some people like myself get the Disney bug and others are so so.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I can see your point. I imagine that in your case - BG is your standard. You were likely comparing everything in WDW to your standard. Certainly BG is one of the better theme parks. As others have said (in other threads), I think WDW has slipped in it's standards a tad. Spotless bathrooms were once a given at WDW - that alone often amazed me.

On the flip, it may be that once you return to BG, you'll find that your memory of it is a bit rosy, and that WDW is really up to higher snuff. Maybe not, I'm just saying it could happen - lots of folks don't get the Disney bug until their second visit.

For me, WDW is two parts nostalgia. Large parts of the park have changed minimally since I was a little kid, and those changes have been gradual. I see WDW as an easy vacation. I know the parks and routine so well that I don't have to think very much- I just do. When I go somewhere else, and I do, I have to start from scratch-I actually have to consult a map to find the nearest restoom/restaurant. Then I have to actually find it without getting lost. UGH! We waste SO much time just trying to navigate the basics, it can be frustrating.