No Magic, No Fun, Never Again

[capthooksmom]

Haven't been to Universal lately, have you? There is the magic of characters, themed rides and themed queues, friendly employees, clean park and bathrooms, Grinchmas and Macy's parade, fireworks, and great fun. There are thrill rides for teens and the magic of Suess landing and Whoville for the kids, innovative rides like Spiderman and Mummy and the 3-D Shrek which is better done than Philharmagic.

Yep, my kind of "Magic."

I totally agree with you. Disney is still first in our book but Universal is a very close second. Lots of fun !!

 

[blanq]

I am glad you posted this, and hope it serves as a lesson for other WDW newbies. I am sorry your trip was an expensive and horrible experience for your family. If I went WDW for the first time at Christmas, stayed offsite, allotted just 3 days for the WDW parks, and only started looking for a place to eat Christmas day on 12/21 (note I read your other posts), the men in the white jackets would need to cart me off for a hospital stay. Even now, as a more experienced WDW visitor, if I won a free trip to WDW over Christmas I probably would decline the offer as the thought, let alone the reality, of spending my vacation shoulder to shoulder with gazillions of others is more than I could take. WDW is a very magical place for our family but I have read enough, and realize my own limitations, to know that our trips will always be planned to ensure we maximize our experiences and will center around the slower times.

 

[HappyLawyer]

Let's be realistic shall we, mostly every school in the world is closed during x mas, this year it fell on a weekend, where businesses are closed, we all know disney will be very crowded, i am sure the cast members did everything they could, we went the week before x mas and everything was great, no problems at all, we all know the last 2 weeks of december is full and packed,

 

[HappyLawyer]

Go easy, gang. Until you've experienced a WDW Christmas it's hard to really imagine how bad the crowds are. We went a few years ago and I would agree--we will never do it again. It was beautiful, but I hated that packed-in feeling--got claustrophobic. Didn't know that I would have that reaction.
Sorry you had a bad time, bongocomm. WDW is a lot of fun at other times, but Christmas is not a good week, IMO. I hope you can go another time, perhaps early December or May, when the crowds are much lighter.

Cathy

Yes give them a break, we all learn from experience, wy do you think we go now the week before christmas, everyone is not like us, they don't spend hours on this board-lol let's be gentle, we were all there once, but again i think it is common sense -this is not to be rude or disrespectful to the poster, but we all know christmas at wdw will be crowded

 

[HappyLawyer]

I'm not exactly sure what Disney could have done. If they limited capacity at the parks, there would have been alot more families like the one you described at your resort, waiting 2 days or more to even get in. A lot of people have found the DIS after a bad trip and usually take their next one with a lot more knowledge and insight. 30 hours of browsing websites is not nearly enough time to plan, especially if you do need to go during peak times. This is a friendly group, eager to help and answer questions, even if they've already been asked before. I hope you give it another chance.

This is so true i am on here getting ideas and tips for my 2006 trip, you just store the info we all help each other on here, from car rental rates dropping to good and bad hotels, we are a big family, and in order to have a great stay, use these boards, what may be on here one day may be on here the next, this is the best thing i could have ever discovered

 

[HappyLawyer]

Sorry, different strokes for different folks! Please don't take my opinion personally. PS~Anything remotely related to Dr. Seuss scares the heck out of me! What in the world is a Grinchma? Never mind, I don't want to know!

that was such an awesome ride at IOA i rode it like 10 times-for my daughter of course

 

[HappyLawyer]

Universal is fun and kewl, and Shrek 3D is good, but it doesn't compare to Philharmagic .

it is all a matter of opinion, i had more fun at IOA then the MK, MK has the best parades, and i found the stage shows at uni/ioa to not compare to disneys

 

[Philly81]

I'm sorry that the OP had such a bad time. With the "neat stuff" like the extra shows, Osborne Lights, decorations everywhere comes a trade off with the crowds during Christmas but there's not a whole lot that can be done about that other than knowing what to expect or going at another time. While IOA has some good thrill rides, the "magic" isn't there, the employees act like they're looking at their watches to see when their shifts end, and one day there is GREAT but anymore than that and it gets old quickly. It reminds me of a Six Flags on steroids. Different strokes though...

 

[pennyring]

I'm sorry that the OP had such a bad time. With the "neat stuff" like the extra shows, Osborne Lights, decorations everywhere comes a trade off with the crowds during Christmas but there's not a whole lot that can be done about that other than knowing what to expect or going at another time.

Exactly. I can see being a little overwhelmed when the parks are busy, but that just means its time to go back to the hotel to relax for awhile. I think the key problem here was expecting the magic to be there come hell or high water. When people realize that their attitude is what creates the magic, they're a lot more likely to have a good time. That, and knowing when to take a break.

 

[lichtfamily]

Santa also sent us to WDW 12/25-12/31. We enjoyed the BCV, however
the parks were very crowded, except after 10pm. Loved Stormalong Bay, loved the Candlight processional at Epcot, but we will never return during Christmas.
At least we were able to attend character meals. Funniest moment, getting stuck on goofy's barnstormer, getting served hot chocolate on the roller coaster while waiting to be rescued by the reedy creek fire department. After disembarking after a 40 minute wait or so, they gave us fastpasses for any ride in fantasyland and escorted us personally to meet the character of our choice (no waiting in line!) we choose the big cheese himself. Best time to go: end of may, early Sept after labor day. Too crowded, why cant they limit the number of park goers and only let in resort guests from 7am-10am?

 

[phamton]

While IOA has some good thrill rides, the "magic" isn't there, the employees act like they're looking at their watches to see when their shifts end

Two or three years ago, I saw that attitude but in the last couple of years, I haven't seen that at all. In fact, the employees at IOA/Universal have had more enthusiasm than the CMs I have seen at Disney this last year.

What in the world is a Grinchma?

Grinchmas is where the kids get to meet the Grinch at Christmas. Suess Landing is all decked out for Christmas and the Whoville characters walk around and interact with the guests.

 

[alicenwonder99]

I'm sorry your family had a bad time! It reminds me of my first WDW trip. I went in August...c'mon how hot can it really get in Orlando??? OMG! The heat was unbearable. Also, this was before fastpass, so all the rides were long waits, and the popular rides had waits of over an hour (or two). So, it was a long time before I decided to go back to WDW. We went about 10 years after my first trip and we went the first week of December. It was alot better, and we had a good time.

My best time at a disney vacation was when I was pg. We went to DL and I wasn't expecting much from the vacation (since I couldn't ride my favorite rides). It was a slow vacation, we had lots of rests during the day, and I guess I wasn't expecting to "do it all".

I hope you plan on taking the kids again...but next time pick a different time of the year (I'd never do xmas after reading all the trip reports).

Mary

 

[djm99]

I too want to say sorry for a bad trip. I am a Disney nut (and have the desk to prove it!) But I'm with you about Universal. I love both of the parks. MGM has has nothing on Universal (IMHO)!!! And we are not gonna to even comment on Islands of Adventures - Disney really should get the green light to open this Villians park (with lots of thrills rides - I keep reading about) - thats about the only thing they could build to keep me from going to universal besides by DD!!!

 

[fredms]

I am sorry you had such a bad experience. All I can say is this is why I never go during peak season. Disney in January, October even early May is amazing, magical and everything its supposed to be. Maybe you should plan for an off season time of year.

S

 

[leighmidd]

Here's what it all boils down to:

Would you rather be standing in line at Disneyworld or sitting at your desk at work?

This is the motto I always repeat to myself if I find myself getting a little frustrated at Disney (Which isn't often)!

 

[Corryn]

Sorry to hear you had a crummy time!
Because of the crowds, we've always gone down in September or October. Up here in NY we have off for the Jewish holidays and we take advantage of that and plan our trips around that, even though we're not Jewish.
I know quite a few people who go down after/around Christmas. Every year it's different families, but if I know at least two families, and other people know two families, and so on and so on, then I'm sure half of Long Island is down there at Disney at Christmas.
If you want to have a special time at Disney with your kids, where you can take photos in front of Cinderella's castle without other people in the shot, or to spend time with each character during the character signings, or spend any amount of leisure time without being rushed at all, the Best time to visit Disney is in September and October.
Don't let this last visit discourage you. Next time try the early fall, you won't travel any other time after that!
Also, you want to have an awesome time at Disney? Try the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. It Is THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sandyincanada]

awwww, sorry to hear you didn't enjoy WDW. The first time I saw those que line-up areas, I knew that I would hate it there in the busy season..... I think until you actually see them, you can't imagine just how busy busy is, lol. I don't think it would make a difference how much I read or heard, those que areas shocked me. We go in the slow season and love it. I agree with the person who said that you need to be a special breed to go at Christmas, lol...I couldn't do it.

I hope you try again but in a slow season, you'd enjoy it so much more, I think.

Yep, and Usf/IOA is awesome too.

 

[tjmw2727]

Our trip was from 12/26 to 12/31 just back late last night and had an awesome time!! Party - me dh dd 10 and dd 9, for days with sil and bil with dn 1 and dn 3 -

We knew the crowds would be in the parks and arrived at the park of choice at opening and did a few must do's first and then just enjoyed what we could do when the crowds came we hit the resort or another park.

We did mk on tues 12/28 the "DAY IT CLOSED (for an hour)" and from 8 - 12 it was fine, walked on stitch, buzz and ttc, then hit adventure land, walked on alladin, jungle cruise and potc and for the first time ever my girls met wendy and peter pan!! We then rode BTMR with a 10 minute wait and took the railroad to the front and went to Epcot - had a wonderful time and did a pool break. Epcot holds the crowds much better so we got FP for TT later in the day and those who were tall enough rode MS with a 15 minute wait.

Every day was like that - hit a park early took a break and hit Epcot at night, even 12/30 wasn't bad, walked into the 5 pm CP and stayed for Illuminations. Dh and dd 10 then went to MK for the midnight FIS and walked on to many rides - me and dd 8 slept LOL.

I have been in Oct, Aug as well as Sept, early Dec and March and I found some the crowds this Oct as bad as this week. If the kids are out of school and I can manage a trip I would go Christmas week again.

IMHO anyone who thinks they can walk on everything at MK in one day at any time except "maybe" september is setting themselves up for dissapintment. I was also amazed at the amount of people who did not use, understand FP and those who actually argued with teh CM about cost and number pp.

I will post more specifics in anothor TR but for those considering doing Chrismas it can be great!

TJ

 

[Otimon]

As a Cast Member at Epcot, I was very sorry to read of your experience at Disney during Christmas week. It is our busiest week of the year and I certainly understand your frustration. I wish we had met so I would have had the opportunity to spread a little pixie dust your way.

I do hope you will reconsider Disney and perhaps plan to come back for a visit during a less crowded time. Again, I am very sorry to hear what happened.

 

[fredonna]

Sorry you had such a bad time during XMas this year. This is our fourth time at WDW during the holidays and it seemed much better than any other trip we've ever taken at WDW! Because the weather was so crummy on Christmas Day, the parks were deserted after dinner time, making rides very accessible IMO (considering it was XMas at WDW).

I agree with some of the other posters that planning is key to having a good time, especially during time around XMas and New Year's. We overplanned just to make sure there was something fun to do when crowds became overwhelming. Fast Passes were a must -- we used them on nearly every ride we could. Lucky for us, our kids (8, 5, and 2) are used to adapting to crowds!

Perhaps you'll have a better time next time -- if there is one. I'm sure most DISers here would suggest another trip under different circumstances. Art Linkletter (the man that hosted the opening ceremonies for Disneyland in 1955) said it best: "Things turn out best for those that make the best of the way things turn out."