Okay Disneyland vet friends, why am I not excited about going to WDW?

[disney-super-mom]

Well, I have two rooms booked at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL) for December 7-14. It will be our two boys first visit to WDW (DS8 and DS5), as well as my MIL's and BIL's first visit too.

We'll be there during all the Christmas holiday decor and festivities, so it should be very pretty.

But for some reason I am NOT excited about going, and I don't know why. Is it the worry about crowds? Is it the long flights? Is it the uncertainty of not knowing how WDW will be that time of year? Is it all the gosh-darn planning I have to do around ADRs (uhg)? Is it because planning a trip to WDW is just so much more complicated? Is it because airfares to Orlando from Spokane are outrageous? Is it because I just love DLR too much and will miss all my favorite attractions?

I know that we (my family) need a new Disney experience since we've been to DLR so many times, and WDW would provide that for us, but why am I not excited? Anyone else go through this?

 

[DangerMouse]

Amen Sister! I'm right there with ya! Capri, I feel your pain! We are considering a post-cruise trip to WDW in 2009, but really dreading the planning involved, and perhaps the post-cruise let down of WDW chaos. It's hard to teach us old dogs new tricks. DLR is so manageable while WDW just overwhelms me.

 

[mt mommy]

Ok, here's something my DH LOVES about WDW! THE FOOD!! I hate to sound ungrateful to DLR food, but WDW food blows DLR away. Almost ANY place in Epcot is AWESOME to eat at! The Dining plan is wonderful.

Mickey's Philharmagic is SO fun in Fantasy Land!

I really like Liberty Square too. Along with Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch.

You'll have fun, although I do feel your pain. WDW is a LONG ways away for us west coasters and it CAN be intimidating.

HAVE FUN!! You WILL!

 

[J. Galt]

lol!!! Your post is just cracking me up because I think I could have written almost the exact same post except that I am a long time WDW visitor planning their first trip to DLR.

I guess it is that "fear of the unknown" haunting us!



Don't worry... you are going to love WDW (just like I know, in the end, I am going to love DLR)!

p.s. Especially AKL. It is one of my absolute favorite resorts!!!! There is just something about waking up, going out on your balcony and watching a zebra drinking out of a watering hole that is so gosh darn cool!

 

[Kimberlina]

I can go for you, if you want me too.

I'm sorta' in the reverse situation. I'm an east-coaster making the long flight the other way, and not sure DLR will be as great as WDW.

I'm sure that when the time gets closer, you will get excited, and I know you will definitely have a good time once you are there. Have the spiked hot chocolate at the Adventurer's Club for me!

ETA: Hey, I just became a Mouseketeer. Do I need to drive unsafely with my child and start jabbing at the Photopass photographers with my umbrella?

 

[fairycat]

I so understand the amount of planning our trip last year became so involved it became over whelming, no matter where else I have traveled I never had to work so hard to go as I did with WDW. Especially since I had never Stayed there (I had only done two day trips before our extended stay) so we had to decided where to stay and it is so foriegn to me to chose where I am going to eat 4 months in the future. There is a lot before hand that makes WDW a tough trip.

But when you get there and get to stay at the cool AKL, seeing AK (probably one of our favorite parks in WDW), Epcot (our very favorite) and all the other fun things you will forget the stress of planning and have a great time!!

 

[keishashadow]

lol!!! Your post is just cracking me up because I think I could have written almost the exact same post except that I am a long time WDW visitor planning their first trip to DLR.

I guess it is that "fear of the unknown" haunting us!



Don't worry... you are going to love WDW (just like I know, in the end, I am going to love DLR)!

p.s. Especially AKL. It is one of my absolute favorite resorts!!!! There is just something about waking up, going out on your balcony and watching a zebra drinking out of a watering hole that is so gosh darn cool!

very well put

@ least with WDW there is so much info out there readily available.

other than this board & just a few reliable guidebooks, pickings are very slim imo

To the OP - Xmas time @ WDW is fantastic! IMO, you picked the best week to go, crowds the 2nd week seemed way smaller than the 1st week in Dec. Make sure to do the Osborne Lights, Fantasmic/dinner pkg is the way to go @ MGM & MVMCP is good fun too! i'm biased lol; think WL is the best decorated-themed @ Xmas time If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask

 

[brenda1966]

Okay, I can understand you're dreading those long bus rides to get back and forth from you hotel to all the different parks. So, I will volunteer to go in your place!

You've picked the perfect time of year. Crowds should be quite low as you're hitting prior to the xmas rush.

Some other things to love about WDW: Stadium seating for Fantasmic! A different Tower of Terror experience. Nemo stage show. All of AK and Epcot will be a new adventure!

Now, WDW is no DL, but it's still a great time. I can guarantee you will have fun if you're a Disney lover.

 

[bumbershoot]

Squeeee! If plans work out, we will be at WDW on those exact same dates. Almost definitely at a Value (I got a code! but I haven't booked), but still, same dates.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

There's also the anxiousness of "needing" to do everything. I only took a day trip to MK, but I felt the urge to do and see everything in case they were different from DL (especially after riding POTC, which was my first ride of the day). I went through nearly two disposable cameras trying to document everything that was different. Part of it was the idea that this was possibly my only chance to go to MK while I had been to DL a zillion times.

 

[disney-super-mom]

DLR is so manageable while WDW just overwhelms me.

Maybe that's part of it. For us, we've been to DLR enough that we know what to expect, how to handle it, when and where to go. Plus, it's just so easy to go between the parks and our room. Hop-hop-hop, ya know?!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Ok, here's something my DH LOVES about WDW! THE FOOD!! I hate to sound ungrateful to DLR food, but WDW food blows DLR away. Almost ANY place in Epcot is AWESOME to eat at! The Dining plan is wonderful.

Mickey's Philharmagic is SO fun in Fantasy Land!

I really like Liberty Square too. Along with Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch.

You'll have fun, although I do feel your pain. WDW is a LONG ways away for us west coasters and it CAN be intimidating.

HAVE FUN!! You WILL!

Dh and I did enjoy the food there (except for a very bad steak at the Turf club at SSR). But everything else we had was great.

And we LOVED Mickey's PhilharMagic!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I'm much like J Galt in that we're not that excited about DLR having been to WDW so often the last ten years. We're doing it only because it's right before our cruise and we want to see what it's like. However, like you, it feels like I have so much more planning to do for a trip to a DLR as we know very little about it.

I think our nervousness is because when we're at WDW, we feel like we've escaped the "real" world. If you stay on-site, you never see the outside world. Even the road signs are purple. There is so much to do without ever having to leave the world.

I don't see the need to overplan as we generally take it easy and make changes if needed. We've never done the dining plan so have not had to be confined to certain times. There have always been availability at several restaraunts -- even at the last minute -- especially in early December. If you want to eat at Chef Mickey's or Cinderella's Castle, then you need ADRs. Otherwise, just check that day. We were able to get in other character meals the same day.

MVMCP is not to be missed that time of year.

We're nervous that a trip to DLR will feel more like a visit to a local amusement park. Granted, once we're inside the parks I hope that changes.

We have some friends who grew up in California and visited DLR several times a year. We spent about 5 years trying to convince them to make a trek to WDW. Once they did, they told us there was no comparison and would now be visiting WDW more often than DLR.

I know it's all a matter of comfort zone. We're comfortable at WDW as we know it well, having stayed in most of the resorts. Our favorite time to visit is early December as the crowds are generally lighter. You will have a great time as I hope we do at DLR this August.

 

[disney-super-mom]

J. Galt - Yes, I think you're right. It may very well be fear of the unknown. I've only been to WDW once before, and that was the end of Janauary last year. The parks were very quiet, and DH and I really enjoyed ourselves. I'm not sure if I'm ready for the heavier Christmas season crowds.

Kimberlina - Not only do you have to drive unsafely with your child in the car and jab the Photopass people with your umbrella, but you also must shave your head.

keishashadow - We're totally looking forward to the Osborne Lights. Hey, there's one thing I'm looking forward to.

brenda1966 - Oh I hope you're right and the crowds are relatively low when we're there. Keeping my fingers crossed.

bumbershoot - That is too funny! Let me know when you book and your dates!

AmericanItGirl - Well, we're going to try to do as much as we can, but I know we'll have to be selective when it comes to shows, since they take up a lot of time. I know we want to see "The Lion King", "Nemo", and "Lights, Motor, Action". If we have time, we'll see "Beauty and the Beast", and "The Little Mermaid", but I have a feeling we won't have time to see those. We're not planning on going to a waterpark, so that should help give us a little more time.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

That's so silly! I've only been to WDW so far (until April!!), but it's beautiful there! I can't wait to experience DL and see the differences, but I'm sure it also will be beautiful. I agree with a pp, the food there IS great - and Epcot really rocks, especially the country stuff. And staying at the AKL should be amazing - AK itself is really fun, and going in December should help avoid some of the humidity (I think it's more humid in that park than others due to the vegetation I guess?). Seriously, you're going to have a great trip!!

Oh, we went a few years ago the week before you're going (it was Dec 2-7 I think) and the crowds were AMAZINGLY low (best trip ever!), the weather was beautiful (albeit a little chilly at night), and it was so lovely all decorated for Christmas, but before the crowds. We're planning that timeframe for our next WDW trip (probably not for another year or two, though). Have an awesome time!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I
ETA: Hey, I just became a Mouseketeer. Do I need to drive unsafely with my child and start jabbing at the Photopass photographers with my umbrella?

 

[nunzia]

YEP! We went to WDW once when the kids were little and were overwhelmed..horrid weather and the kids have no desire to ever go again, but all love DLR. However..I figure it has to be a great place if you get comfortable with it like we are at DLR so we will try again, not be commando, and really try and see what makes it special. I DREAD the transortaton system...everything at DL is so darn easy to get to, but it MUST be a great place because millions can't be wrong...right?
So..we will conquer the world.

 

[keishashadow]

There's also the anxiousness of "needing" to do everything. I only took a day trip to MK, but I felt the urge to do and see everything in case they were different from DL (especially after riding POTC, which was my first ride of the day). I went through nearly two disposable cameras trying to document everything that was different. Part of it was the idea that this was possibly my only chance to go to MK while I had been to DL a zillion times.

i've lost track of how many times we've been able to "go home" to WDW still haven't seen "everything" and doubt i ever will...that's the beauty of it; they tinker with stuff to keep it fresh and i've yet to get bored even after a week

 

[Snow Shoe]

Yes WDW can be over whelming, but like I've told many people going, planning is the key to having a good vacation.

 

[J. Galt]

I think our nervousness is because when we're at WDW, we feel like we've escaped the "real" world. If you stay on-site, you never see the outside world. Even the road signs are purple. There is so much to do without ever having to leave the world.

We're nervous that a trip to DLR will feel more like a visit to a local amusement park. Granted, once we're inside the parks I hope that changes.

Yes, yes! That's it! I think its really staying at the HoJo that is throwing me off. I told my DH that I kind of feel like I am planning a trip to the Wisconsin Dells (for those who don't know... "The Waterpark Capital of the World"). Now I know once I get there I'll probably work myself into my usual Disney frenzy... but right now I am really feeling very, well... hesitant about the whole thing. We are considering a switch over to one of the Disney owned hotels now (or at least a split stay).... I don't know... maybe that will make a difference. But... its really hard to pass up that ent. rate at HoJo (and I know my kids would TOTALLY dig the pool). I keep calling it the "poor man's Polynesian" with its lush landscaping and monorail/park view.