Our Last Trip

Mac1966

MAcguyver Mickey
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
4
Well just got back from our long awaited WDW trip and it will probably be our last. We have been going twice a year for the last fifteen yrs and it has steadily been getting worst. We weren't aware that we were going during grad week for starters, the teens were all but having sex in and around the pool not to mention the rough housing around my small children, and the swim wear left nothing to the imagination I felt like I was in a Penthouse photo shoot.
Now that was just the resort, The parks weren't much better. The lines weren't very bad but every park had problems with rides, there were a bunch of attractions we didn't even get to ride. The dinning plan was about the only good thing on the trip and that was just the table services there was always some kind of issue at the counter services or the food was cold or the drinks were warm, with the exception of Pecos Bills. Wer ended up leaving with 13 snacks and 8 counter services.
Now for the people, generally they were pleasant but like any theme park the are always a few this year there seemed to be more than a few just down right nasties. Not so much to us but to the staff, my butt would have gotten fired a long time ago.
Well hope your tyrips go better than mine did.
MAC
 
i'm sorry to hear! hopefully you'll find a new resort to spend your hard earned money.

I hate to be blunt, but i find it out that someone that has been to disney so often, has only posted twice on this board in the 5 months you've been a member.

good luck with everything!
 
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I'm sorry I didn't realize that I had to post on a regular basis to render an oppinion or make as many people as I could aware of my experiences at the parks. Perhaps I should consider another less biased forum. Sorry to have wasted anyones time
 

You didn't waste anyones time, so what if you didn't post on this forum, there are many many disney forums, and we've been going to Disney Land/World since 1997 pretty much once a year and we never even heard of the Disboards until March of this year, and my brother found it by accident.

Anyhow, twice a year for 15 years...I'd say, yeah, you need a break, Disney starts to lose it's "magic" if you go too often, it is not as exciting, you start to lose the "wow" factor of the park. I say you should go on the cruise if you never have, we're going and the only complaint we've heard is that the furniture and carpet are a little beat up...but so what? I hear great things about the cruise.

If you've done the cruise thing, go to one of the other major theme parks, there are tons...just watch the travel channel, there are some awesome parks in this country, then in a few years, you may miss Disney and get that original excitement about it again....it's like any relationship :goodvibes
 
OP - thanks for your trip review. Sounds like the teens were doing their usual (I have a 21 yr old, so the teen years aren't that far back in my memory...I was always kind of astonished what went on in public/broad daylight during her high school years. Amazed at what kids would be doing in the stands at the sporting events (let's just say it was what I would have called bedroom gymnastics, lol.) But I grew up in a Catholic high school & in a more private time...not to say the kids weren't going at it in my day. Just behind closed doors, KWIM?)

By the way, my DD (the 21 yr old) visited Disneyland Paris on her own last Fall, and was disgusted by the kids in line for rides there. Not only did she feel the urge to suggest couples "get a room" but the ones that were not going at it hot&heavy were smoking in the snake lines (Yes, they have no-smoking signs all over. But the signs are completely ignored.) So this is not just a U.S. issue. Different times, I'd say. But I guess my parents thought my generation was going-to-he!! in a hand-basket, too. :eek:

Agree that it's time to try something new for vacation. We didn't go to Disney for many years...mostly due to kids' schedules/activities. But we did some fun trips in those years. Washington DC/see the landmarks & the Smithsonian museums Awesome visit! Philadelphia, Chicago, Colorado Rockies, Grand Canyon...lots of great places to visit. In a few years, you might be ready for a Disney refresher.
 
I can see both sides OP... there's lots of info on here about the goings-on (grad nights, etc). I'm sorry you had such a rough time on your trip.

Why didn't you post this over at Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies? Or trip reports??

It does seem odd to me that you would make sure to post in the Welcome Board that you are no longer going to Disney... (especially since you rarely post - that's not meant as a jab against your expertise... I understand there are some who don't feel strongly enough to comment on topics, that's your free will to do so). The timing just seems weird... are you planning to leave the DIS too? I would hate to see that, especially since you travel so often, you should have some great insight to share with others...
 
My lil ones are still babies but I can't wait to take them to the Disney parks!
 
Hi there, and welcome to the Disboards! Yes it is a shame that you had such an awful experience on your most recent trip, especially since you frequent the parks so often. Twice a year for the last 15 years! That is a lot of getting to go to Disney! I wish that we were so fortunate:) Obviously you and your family love Disney and Disney parks, so to have so many bad things happen in one trip is unfortunate. I'm glad that it wasn't anything worse (my sister and her husband just got back from a shorter trip a couple of weeks ago and came back sick with stomach trouble. NO fun.) Sorry to hear about all of the problems you had with the teens during Grad week. Was it during one of the weeks of the Grad Nights they do? Myself and my family like to keep up with whatever events are going on at the Disney Parks when we are starting to plan our trip, so that we can plan appropriately how to make the best of our trip and time once we get there. It is too bad that you and your small children had to be exposed to the public displays that the teens were involved in, although, unless you have your own private pool (i.e. renting a house or condo off property), it is hard to escape such behavior, unfortunately. I know that when I went with my class during Grad Night, we were asked by our school to wear a moderate swimsuit, or tank top to cover up, so that it would be acceptable, but not all schools are the same. Did you stay in a Value Resort? Was there more than one pool at the resort you stayed in? Most resorts on Disney property (not all but most) have more than one pool, such as a quiet pool, so that big disturbances do not have to interrupt getting in some good pool time. Usually the Value resorts are going to have larger groups, or school groups that may be louder and such. It sounded as though you were very disgusted with the teens and their behavior, which is understandable. It sounds as though, unfortunately, the teachers/and or chaperons were not doing a very good job. If I had been bothered that much with their behavior and attire, I personally would have said something, or found out who those kids were with (which schools/gorups etc) and asked to speak with one of the chaperons, or whoever was in charge of them. It sounds like you and your family did not get to enjoy many of the rides because they had technical issues, or rides were not working? That is ALWAYS frustrating! And to have problems with favorite rides at ALL of the parks is awful! Did you talk to Cast Members about the issues? Usually if there is a major problem with a ride they will give a reason, and in some cases (not ALL, but SOME), a CM will even issue a return pass to that certain attraction, or another attraction in the same park to make up for the technical problems that the attraction may be experiencing at the time. I know when I was there with a friend of mine back in January this year, we had just gotten on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and then we sat there for what seems like FOREVER before a CM told us that we had to get back off because it wasn't working properly. Then another CM gave out a special Fast Pass to ride ANYTHING in the MK that day. Then again, we were already about to ride it, so they may not have given them out to everyone in line.
You also said that your experiences with the Counter Services were not good at all. I am glad that you and your family were able to eat some good Table Services, and that you were not on the Quick Service Dining plan! My sister and I really love many of the CS restaurants at Disney, but there are a few that we stay away from, just from past experiences. Did you have bad service at all of them? I am just curious, because we have thought about doing another CS Dining Plan this coming summer for a short trip. Which ones did you find to be the worst? Cold food and warm drinks are defiantly not acceptable. Also, even though Disney is a more family based environment, most of the time we run across less-than-courteous patrons who we have rolled our eyes at more than a few times:) As I work with the public, and another retail job, I KNOW that dealing with the public is VERY difficult, and I'm sure the CMs at Disney hear ALL sorts of nasty things from guests...as well as just down right silly things;) (i.e. "When will it stop raining?" What time is the 3'oclock parade?") but when my family and I visit, we always try to find some way to let the CMs know how much we appreciate them. Sometimes we will even get our pictures made with a CM! They are who makes the magic happen, after all:) Maybe if you and your family (hopefully) ever decide to go again, and you hear someone saying something nasty to a CM or treating them badly, you and your family can give them a little encouragement, and show them that not all guests are that way.
Sounds like you did have a less-than-magical trip this time, but I hate that it would have to be your last experience at Disney. I do hope that you and your family would give it another shot at some point. It would be a shame to walk away from any place (not just Disney) that you have gone to for many years, and (hopefully) had good past experiences with, and end on such a sour note. Have you and your family had good memories at Disney parks before this trip? If so, I hope you will remember those times, and the better trips, and maybe one day give Disney Parks another shot. Glad to have you on the Disbords though, and hope to hear of things going better for you in the future. :)
 
Sorry you had such a bad trip, There are specific time's we won't go, and you hit one of them. We always research and see what is scheduled before we go. Also I'll admit, if I went twice a year for 15 years I would be about Disney-ed out. We go usually once a year, that's enough. As for post count, so what means nothing, correct forum would have been better though.
 
This is exactly why we don't buy into DVC!!

We've decided that for our family, which does one major vacation a year plus a few shorter ones, that Disney is a once-every-two-or-three-years place. Don't get me wrong. We LOVE it! Nothing else really compares to it. But if we were to go twice a year for 15 years, there's no way we wouldn't notice all of the things that the OP did, and I think we'd find ourselves increasingly disappointed. When you get so used to a place, I think it's easier to start finding the faults. That's not to say that what the OP experienced was minimal or not important. Those are hard-earned dollars spent, and we all have a right to get what we're looking for on our vacations!

Over the last few years, in between our Disney trips, we've been to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Assateague Island, NYC, Philly, Washington DC, plus a few other places. But no matter what, none of us get quite as excited in preparation for a trip than when we're headed to Disney!! And I think we appreciate it more when we're there!

To the OP, I hope you find some great places to spend your time, and that in a few years, you decide to give it a try again. Maybe the Magic'll be back!!:thumbsup2
 
Thanks for all the replies,
I've settled down a bit since my last post I and after reading your replies i think ya'll are right it might just be Disney burnout. All in all the trip was good(I spent 10 days without the bother of work with my wife and three kids) As for the meal plan counter services, out of the 9 or 10 we ate at 7 or 8 of them were great, and all the table services were all great. The lines we short the weather was pretty good and for the most part the cast members were in good spirits. However the teens were still a little disturbing but like one of you said my parents probably thought my generation was also vulgar with our public shows of affection and going to "heck in a hand bag" aswell.
I think we are going to take some of ya'll advice we are probalbly going out west next trip we've taliking about a ski trip with kids this winter(we don't get much snow in New Orleans) be a nice change. As for the forum I chose to air my complaints bad form on my part or even better my ignorance.
I hope I didn't freak out any newbies the fact is Disney is a wonderful place and I think we 've been doing it to long to often and need a break.

thanks again
 
Mac1966, it was great for you to come back and post that. Many would have just left and not bothered to post again after they had cooled off a bit. I really appreciate that you took the time to post again.

I do know a little of how you feel. I adore Disney and don't get there as often as I like, but after a week there I am feeling "Disneyed out" and ready to go home. And I am saying to myself "I have had enough Disney for a while-- I don't want to come back for a long time"-- and then about a month later I am wishing I could start planning another trip!

I agree with the others that anything looses it's magic with to much exposure. It will be great for you to take some different kinds of trips, and good for your kids to have other experiences. Just as with other things, everything in moderation.

As for the discussion of what forum this should have been posted on I had the ability to move it somewhere else at any time but it was my decision to leave it here. Opinions of all kinds are welcome as long as they are stated respectfully and are not offensive, and your opinion is just as relevant and important as others.

Since you have so much experience with WDW please consider sticking around here, or at least dropping by from time to time, and helping out our newbie trip planners and offering advice. It is people like you that keep this board going strong. :) (and hey, it will boost your post count ;) )
 
I'm sorry to hear about your trip! I really like to see people posting about the bad times they have, as well as the good. It's refreshing to see that sometimes it's just not a good experience. I mean, I hope that not many people have a bad experience but it's nice to see people being so real on the boards.
 
Sorry it turned out so rough. I think you just hit a bad time. My mom travels with her high school to the grad nights, and while it sounds fun if you're 17, it probably isn't the greatest for anyone else around.
 
We've been to WDW 43 times and our trips have had their ups and downs but the ups far exceed the downs. Most of the downs can be taken with a grain of salt and are best forgotten and not dwelled upon. Doing the home work and avoiding the busiest times are some of our secrets. We're not mass crown enjoyers and travel the value seasons to get the most for our buck. We've done other vacatins but they cost more and become more involved trying to find things to do than a Disney vacation.

I read of bad bus experiences, long lines, rowdy guests and the like but that can be encountered anywhere, not just at Disney. The mentality of the guests has changed over the years, some not for the better but we stay in our own little bubble and not let others manners and habits affect our trips. Expectations run high on Disney vacations but it's only an amusement parks and Disney owes you nothing, don't look for the magic but enjoy your company and surroundings and just be glad you're healthy and alive.
 



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