Not planning and disappointment

[GPC0321]

How did she miss SPACESHIP EARTH?

 

[Nancyg56]

No FPs and no advance planning despite advice. OK, that's a personal decision. But all the rest? The word oblivious springs to mind. The blame for the disappointment can be laid right at their own feet.

I agree. I also get the wanderers who do not like to plan. They are not me, but I understand them. The OP friend was just along for the ride it seeme. How can you walk into that park and not see anything?????

I always warn people that WDW is not like any park that they have ever been to ... the best things are INSIDE! You cannot see them while strolling around and the map helps but s best to get a guidebook and read about the various rides and attractions in advance.

This park has plenty of outdoor entertainment, and if you walk for 30 minutes you run into something to enjoy. I really believe this person just did not want to be there at all.

I have a coworker who spent an entire day in Epcot and left hungry! She tried to tell my daughter there were no restaurants and she and her DH starved and ended up at Steak and Shake that night. I asked her how she missed them all?? I think that the folks who do this are the ones who enter thinking they will not like it and then find they are right....as they always are.

I wanted to add that I have an aquaintance who says she has been to Disney several times and just cannot find anything to do. She said there is nto much even in the parks. She makes this comment every time DH and I plan a trip. SO one day I asked her if she saw X Y or Z? No. How about this or that? Nope. WEll what do you do? No planning, no interest. Okay. You don't like it there, btu stop telling me there isn't a thing to do.....you just don't know what there is.

 

[docwoodstock]

I think that eveyone would agree that Epcot is an incredible learning experience.
I enjoyed watching my grandson mature over the years as he evolved from going ride to ride and began to seek out the
educational experiences.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that eveyone would agree that Epcot is an incredible learning experience.
I enjoyed watching my grandson mature over the years as he evolved from going ride to ride and began to seek out the
educational experiences.

I think it really is what you make it. Like you, I have enjoyed watching my DGD transition from looking for characters and kids attractions to seeking out attractions and experiences that were educational. It's funny, you can tell what direction a childs mind leans towads just but letting them lead the way. Kady is now a freshman in a VOAG and it was clear she was interested in Environmental Science for years, just by letting her choose where to stop and learn.

If one enters Epcot with a mindset already in place, and that mindset is that this is a playground, well.....they get what they expected. If you enter wanting to search out what seems to be hidden inside the buildings the value increases exponentially.

 

[cjparker0110]

Consider what her background is as well. There are many people who go to WDW for the first time with a predisposed belief that Epcot won't be as much fun. A good chunk of those people know someone between 35-45 that went to E.P.C.O.T. as a child and were bored to tears. They have heard that Epcot is not fun and is a boring place but they feel compelled to give it a try. When they walk in, they are not aware of the fun rides. Soarin is the only one I ever really hear anyone talk about outside of this forum. So perhaps she went predisposed to believing it is not very exciting, and that is what she found. It's unfortunate, but I think Epcot is easy to mess up if you go in with the wrong mindset...and even worse without really planning. As one PP mentioned, it is easy to miss some of the restaurants and shops because they blend so well. I know there are areas that look like they have nothing but if you walk 5 more feet you find a few surprises. Planning is important...and so is taking the time to really explore. If you just walk through looking for something, you miss everything at Epcot.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I just don't understand not planning or at least learning ahead what there is to do there, when you invest so much $$ into a Disney trip. I like to get the most bang for my buck.

I hate hearing from people who complain that there was nothing to see when they didn't bother to take the effort to find out about the different experiences, parades, fireworks, etc. that Disney offers.

 

[dkrauss]

A friend of mine recently went to Disneyworld. She and a friend went and just wanted to go at their leisure and not plan anything.
I recently saw her and she was disappointed with Epcot. She thought there was more learning stuff.
They only went on Soarin. They walked around the countries for hours. She said there was just fast restaurants. They didn't like where they ate. She didn't know any of the attractions that I asked her if she went on. I asked if she picked up a map and she did.

I am a planner and I like to get the most of my time at the parks.

But you don't have to but just feel you need to have some idea of the park.

We need to remember that probably a vast majority of folks don't view WDW as many on this board do We're apart of this community so its not odd that we just wouldn't get someone not planning (how could they ) We don't understanding being disappointed in Epcot ( really HS is much more disappointing at this time ). Not reading the map.........now that's Disney heresy . In the end it sounds like the OP's friend really isn't a Disney person........which is fine............to each his or her own.

Doug

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I will share the same sentiment as others have posted on here. When I was younger, Epcot was not my favorite park except for the Living with the Seas. I was fascinated by sharks and marine biology, so that is about all I wanted to do. As I grew older and became a teenager, I knew I wanted to become a chemical engineer, so I became fascinated with more of the park. My favorite pavilion was the Wonders of Life, which I don't want to get started on. I think Epcot is a perfect park for people who enjoy learning about science and world cultures. I truly enjoy FW and the WS when I go because I love learning, so I will seek out those learning experiences and talk to the cast members around the WS to learn about their countries. As stated above, if one goes to Epcot and is expecting the MK, then they will be disappointed as you have to try to immerse yourself into the park.

On a side note, I think this may be why I also like AK, since I like to learn about nature as well.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

How did she miss SPACESHIP EARTH?

True story: I had family who went to Epcot and passed on Spaceship Earth because they thought there was a roller coaster in there and they didn't like coasters.

 

[Disneylover99]

How did she miss SPACESHIP EARTH?

I skipped SE the first few trips to DW. There was always a line when we walked past and I had no idea what it was all about.

 

[Baklava]

Well she will go back she said to see what she missed!!

Offer to go along as a tour guide.

 

[larryz]

This park has plenty of outdoor entertainment, and if you walk for 30 minutes you run into something to enjoy.

Maybe she doesn't enjoy chainsaws...

 

[chicagogrl]

She didn't go to spaceship earth. I don't know?!!?

I would not want to spend money and only go on two things.As I hav said before, I always research every vacation we go on. That is just me. I like to have an idea of what we can do.

They did see the entertainment that food and wine fest had as they walked around.

 

[Hudson Hornet]

In the pre-internet days, you had to pick up a map and explore. It sounds like they didn't even try to explore the park. There is a lot to see in Epcot. Some of it is right there in front of you, but there is even more that you have to find by digging under the surface.

 

[mgentry210]

We got married at Disney and had a crew of 19 to cart around the park. I vowed never again! Herding cats!

Fast forward 3 years and I'm doing 8 New Years week. This time around though they all trust my planning. I made custom touring plans for everyone last time that they ignored and really regretted what they missed. Now they are already asking for the plans to read the maps in advance.

We are the family planners on here. Most think we are crazy with our plans and spreadsheets until they get there. In their minds disney is just another six flags and we are ocd. They live, they learn and then they appreciate your efforts. Have patience.

 

[DisneyOma]

That sounds like a Disney dream guest. Full price admission very little activities and then leaving. That's the type of person Iger will tell you loved FP+ because it got them in and out of the park quicker.

That made me chuckle. That said, over the long term, in all seriousness, Disney wants people to enjoy themselves. People with poor experiences spread negative word-of-mouth and don't come back. Increasing demand for tickets is what has always allowed ticket prices to increase.

Disney wants you to stay in their parks. They want you to buy their food and buy their merchandise. They need that added income above the ticket price to make acceptable profit.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Disney wants you to stay in their parks. They want you to buy their food and buy their merchandise. They need that added income above the ticket price to make acceptable profit.

Not according to Iger. He hyped last year that MDE moved people in and out of the parks quicker. They want your park admission and then move you to Disney Springs. It's way more cost effective to have you eating and shooing there.

 

[Tom P.]

Not according to Iger. He hyped last year that MDE moved people in and out of the parks quicker. They want your park admission and then move you to Disney Springs. It's way more cost effective to have you eating and shooing there.

But was he saying that because it's true, or was he saying that just to make shareholders feel better about all the money that has been invested in MDE? I tend to think the latter.

I just find it hard to believe that when Disney gets you through the entrance to a park, that they don't want you to stay there. If so, why are the parks so full of merchandise? Why all the restaurants? Why all these things, besides the rides and attractions, that tend to keep people in the parks longer? If it was truly more cost effective to have people shopping over at Disney Springs, I think Main Street Emporium would have closed long ago. If there's one thing we've learned during the Iger tenure, it's that Disney doesn't keep things open just to make people happy. There has to be a financial reason behind everything.

 

[chicagogrl]

I agree that if you don't at least plan a little then maybe Disney isn't for you. I just don't think they got it. Have no idea how they missed some attractions.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

But was he saying that because it's true, or was he saying that just to make shareholders feel better about all the money that has been invested in MDE? I tend to think the latter.

I just find it hard to believe that when Disney gets you through the entrance to a park, that they don't want you to stay there. If so, why are the parks so full of merchandise? Why all the restaurants? Why all these things, besides the rides and attractions, that tend to keep people in the parks longer? If it was truly more cost effective to have people shopping over at Disney Springs, I think Main Street Emporium would have closed long ago. If there's one thing we've learned during the Iger tenure, it's that Disney doesn't keep things open just to make people happy. There has to be a financial reason behind everything.

Your first point is interesting and may well be true. As for the rest I think they certainly tried not to build anything else. I think they thought they could use MDE to shuffle people to existing attractions but it hasn't worked. I do think that they thought that people would come in ride 3 things maybe eat a meal then shop and leave to go to Disney Spring where they would shop and eat dinner.