Mommy I'm not feeling the magic.

[RMulieri]

I love it and so does DD..DH does not , at all.Different people like different things.There is a WHOLE WIDE WORLD OUTSIDE of DISNEY..plenty of places to visit in the world.We compromise and do different things.Our next trip is Universal Orlando again and later in the year going to the Grand Canyon.Dh wanted a break from Disney , and I am fine with that

 

[Kim1964]

One of our early trips was not good, and I really didn't think we'd ever go back. The problem was two fold: I didn't know enough about planning the trip to do a good job, and my lack of planning (especially the lack of ADRs) caused some issues. In addition, at that point I wasn't yet used to the cost of Disney trips, and I was feeling like we weren't getting our money's worth when the kids needed a nap or wanted to be at the pool instead of in a park. Bottom line: My expectations were WAY TOO HIGH and my preparation was WAY TOO LOW.

Then I found the disboards and some other sites, and learned how to plan better trips. I also redefined what "getting my money's worth" meant, so that my definition is that we are having fun and enjoying each other's company, be it at a pool or in a park. I've also come to realize that running ourselves ragged to try to "do it all" makes us cranky and miserable, so we don't do that anymore. We hit the attractions that matter most to us, and anything else we happen to get to is a bonus. I've also gotten used to the cost of the trips, and it's just part of my monthly budget to save for them.

We haven't vacationed as a family anywhere but WDW and one trip to Universal, not because I don't think there are other places worth exploring, but because we all keep wanting to go back. We are mixing it up with a Disney cruise this year, and that will be my kids' first time out of the country. I expect that now that they have passports and are getting older and easier to travel with, we may start doing some overseas travel.

It's harder to convince me to explore domestic locations because every time I price them, I feel like they cost the same as Disney and may or may not be as much fun.

 

[disnut8]

Disney is not for everyone. However, there are people who think once they step foot on the sacred Disney property, everything is going to go 100% excellent like they expect. But that ain't real life. So I get the "I don't feel the magic" thing because I think those people built it up in their minds so much that nothing would go wrong and they would be transposed into some magical mystical world where everything would be right. Sorry, ain't going to happen.

I've vacationed all over our country and I can tell you there are down times from each trip. The surly waitress who refused our tip because we left everything in change (it was about 50% tip). Nope, no magic there. Me struggling to get my huge suitcase onto the rental bus while others could have helped me. Nope, no magic there. When we went to the Amtrac station at 6:00 only to be told the train to Chicago was delayed until at least noon because a cow had died on the train tracks. Nope, no magic there. And there are many more examples.

But people go to Disney World expecting the stars and the moon. It's a vacation, not a literal Fantasyland. It's what you make of it.

 

[melissarose]

I was reading a review of one of the resorts on tripadvisor, and the lady said her kid told her she wasn't feeling the magic. The mom wasn't feeling it either. It seemed like their first and last trip to WDW, and they were unprepared and overwhelmed. I felt bad for them, I feel the magic all the time, and I was only there once, last November. I feel it every weekend when I drink from my souvenir coffee cup. I felt it yesterday at the Disney store when I bought that new Tinkerbell movie, (its ummm for my daughter, ok uh sure!) I saved our room keys and just look at them at work, and can't help but smile. Of all the places I've been, I want to go back to WDW the most, and can't wait to go next year. Anybody else ever just not feel it? Why? What killed your buzz?

that makes me sad too. i am the same as you, i feel the magic all around me! i've only been once so far, going back in february, and i can't get enough. i drink tea from my minnie mug, watch disney movies on the regular, and peruse this forum daily. i cannot wait to get back to disney!

 

[HappyMomma]

If my second trip had been my first, I would have been a Disney hater too. The resort was mostly the problem. Dirty diaper in the stair well, soda cans and garbage in the garden area, unattended children running around and screaming everywhere, man with his own boom box down by the pool blasting music, loud cursing and carrying on going on by the pool as well. The food court was always filthy, food and dirty tables......yuck. I couldn't get a washer/dryer to wash clothes after several attempts. It was so upsetting. And maybe I'm a terrible awful person, but it's why I will never go to a value again.

 

[shalom]

I think it also comes back to whether you plan and prepare. The people I know who hated Disney World the most are the ones who go there and arrive in the middle of the day to 90-minute waits on all the rides, don't know how to use fastpass, fail to make restaurant reservations and are disappointed when they can't get in anywhere, etc.

OTOH, the people I know who hate WDW and have been there, were clearly with a commando planner and would likely have been happier with a more laid back approach. Or if they'd been led to fewer rides and more live entertainment, etc.

I think a lot of Disney haters hate a particular "side" of WDW, and would like it more if it'd been presented to them differently.

I should also point out that he hates travel, period. He'd always rather be home.

I think the WDW parks are a nightmare for a lot of "homebodies", especially if they have to work around a school schedule. Those times of year, the parks are everything homebodies dread -- food they don't eat at home; a different bed; and overstimulation on every level -- audial, visual, physical (the heat and all the walking) and social (crowds and having to talk to people all day).

I'm a bit of a homebody myself. I like travel a lot more when I have my own kitchen and sufficient "living space," which is tough to find onsite unless you're traveling with a smaller party or kick out for a Grand Villa. We also usually alternate park days and resort days, and don't do the parks as a group. If I had to do the parks every two years in a more commando style, especially if I was expected to stick with a group of people, I'd hate every minute of it. I admire your friend for making that effort.

 

[chainkid]

We have family who hated Disney because they never stayed onsite. I finally convinced them to give it a try during the Epcot Food and wine festival and we stayed at the BWV's. I bought them tickets to the party for the senses,the Swan and Dolphin food festival and la nouba. It poured the entire weekend but they had ablast and can't believe how many times they turned me down for a free room.

I'm a planner extraordinaire when it comes to Disney..no detail is left unattended to so no one waits in lines, or fails to get a favorite restaurant even if they don't know its a favorite yet. I don't go in the middle of summer...too hot even for this Disney lover. My one rule is get up early on the days you want to tour a park and get it done before 11AM, and then after all the must rides are done , stop to enjoy the little things that create ambiance and head back to the hotel at first signs of a meltdown. Once your spouse calms done , pick a great restaurant and then head back to the parks for fireworks and parades.

I never check to see what park is busiest or what park to avoid....if you get there early and use fast pass its not an issue. The rides are only a small part of the Disney experience.

Most people just show up and expect to have a great time and Disney is one place that you will melt down pretty quickly if you do not know what to do it and when to do it. I have converted a lot of family and now people beg me to come and do all the planning .

I take weekend trips frequently but really find that I enjoy sharing the magic with lots of family and friends and where else can you have 40 people share a trip with no car, different interests and all have a wonderful time with each other. I'm excited to be leaving with a large crowd again in a week to enjoy all Disney has to offer for the holidays. Beautiful memories create the family magic in our house.

 

[SoarinSC]

My relationship with Disney is like one with family. You have great moments, not -so-great moments, but in the end you can't see life without them. My DW and I have had truly magical moments and some ugh moments all in the span of a day, an hour even. It just depends on the moment.

If I had to recommend anything to a first-timer it would be to pace oneself and to get plenty of rest outside of the parks. I understand the temptation to do everything as soon as possible. Epcot and MK in particular require at least 2 full days each to get the most out of them without killing oneself imho. And it's easy to overlook how much walking and subtle exertion is involved in just getting to the parks.

I do agree it's not for everybody. You either love it or you don't. Plenty of people love cruises...I've never been, but it just doesn't sound like fun to me. So it is what it is. I'm just thankful I love it so much I'm already planning the next trip in my head on the way home!

 

[Robbi]

My mom and dad could have a 30 day trip comped which would include them staying in Cinderella's Castle and they'd pass. They cannot stand Disney World.