Please give me some positives. Leave in 5 days!!

[NicholeB630]

Let me start with this we went 2 years ago second week in Dec with our son 2 and daughter 5. It was an amazing trip! We loved it had so much fun. I left that trip feeling like we did everything we wanted, seeing the joy in my kids it was magical to us. Nothing stood out negative to me other than the crap weather and my poor planning of MVMCP and wasn't a fan of Garden Grill food. Anyways.

We leave in 5 days for 9 nights. Staying at AKL Savannah view. Kids are 4 & 7. I'm stoked to stay there. We're doing MNSSHP. I picked dates based on crowd calendar mainly easywdw one. We're doing the party on the 11th.

I'm posting bc I feel I've read so much negative lately. Parks are changing, cm are rude and don't care, park is dirty, party not the same. Everyone has diff standards and expectations. Money being one and quality. As not frequent goers I'm hoping these tho ha won't matter much to us or stand out. Of course I want nice CM and a clean park but I'm worried we will leave feeling not the same as last time. I loved it so much. I don't expect extra magic or pixie dust but just to see my kids happy. Fun meals, character experiences, rides and laughter. But I worry the way ppl make it sound lately is Disney is just going downhill.

I don't consider us high maintenance if a CM in a store doesn't greet me I'm not going to be bothered by that. Or other small things. So tell me there's hope still that if we go in positive we will have a magical time again!!!

 

[Nhebron]

The magic is the memories you will make with your kids.
Seeing my sons reactions and hearing talk about his "pirate room" at CBR are the highlights from our trip last year. Everything else is secondary.

 

[Nhebron]

I love AKL btw and seeing animals right outside our window is something I will never forget.

 

[Valstew]

I think you get what you put into it. For us we are very laid back and go with the flow. My expectations are not based on dirty parks or a few rude CM's, it's the look on my DSs face when we first walk into MK and he sees the castle(mickeys house) or when my DH rides haunted mansion how excited he gets. It's making those memories makes all the money and planning worth it and I won't let outside distractions steal the joy out of the important things.

 

[disneyygirrl]

I've been several times over the past few years. My July trip was so amazing that I'm heading back this month! It is what you make it - you're in the most magical place with your family. Having low to moderate expectations can only help! I didn't have a single bad experience because hey - I'm in Disney! It can't be that bad. I think some people are just too focused on minor issues. Disney doesn't "owe us" anything past park admission, but some folks seem to think so! I say relax and enjoy making memories with your family! You'll have a blast! MNSSHP is awesome!

 

[Missyrose]

I'm not lying or being snarky when I say this, but get off the message boards ahead of this trip. It can feel extremely overwhelming and makes things more stressful.

If you want to read/talk Disney, head over to the trip reports board and enjoy those until you depart. Way more good feelings and pixie dust over there.

 

[kitkat4622]

you will be in Disney in 5 days it doesn't get anymore positve than that

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We have been over 17 times and not one of our trips have we not had the best ever time. Every trip has been different and had it's own merits. I stay away from looking at weather, negative posts etc. It is what you make of it! We have seen many changes and it would be boring if it stayed the same.

We have stayed at AK several times adore this resort! Oh my gosh the tree last Christmas was stunning. MVMCP was amazing. Looking around the different resorts was a treat in itself. I spent the whole time grinning from ear to ear and I had just got out of hospital! You will have a best time.

 

[miamimi]

I think you'll have a great time because of the low crowds. What makes a WDW vacation great is low attraction wait times and being able to repeat favorites. Based on the most recent reports, this is what you'll experience.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We went in June after not having been there in 3 years, but it was out 10th trip. I didn't think the parks were dirty, the restrooms were fine and most being taken care of when I was in there, and we didn't encounter any rude CMs. The food wasn't quite as good as it was 12 years ago, but oh well. We didn't have any bad meals, we didn't have any complaints about our food at all. We were only there 8 days but I didn't see any of the gloom and doom that I had read about.

 

[soniam]

You aren't really going to hear positive things on a message board. Most people don't waste their time posting unless it's about something negative. We have been twice this year and had a great time. Don't go looking for bad things, just go with the flow and enjoy yourself and the look in your kids' eyes. We have been going almost every, and sometimes multiple times per year, since 2012, and it's still as enjoyable as the first time.

EDIT: I am very jealous that you are going to MNSSHP. I love Halloween and would love to go to the party and the parks during this season.

 

[NicholeB630]

Thanks all!!! This helps and I def feel the way most of you do by its Disney and you get what you put in and attitude there!!! I can't wait to see my kids faces again! Especially my son being older!!!

 

[annemce118]

I was just there Aug. 10-15, and I didn't experience any of the bad stuff I have read about on here. I had a wonderful time! Disney World is still a magical place!! Have a great time! I can't wait until I can go back!

 

[KathyinNY]

We just got back last night and had an amazing time. And it rained- a lot! But we just love Disney and crowds were so low - we got to do things multiple times.

Don't worry - Disney is still Disney and you will have a blast!

 

[DekrRini]

AKL alone is almost worth the trip. I've stayed there twice and am going again in December. Seeing the animals from your balcony is the most incredible thing. Your kids will LOVE it. In all my recent trips to Disney, I've never encountered the negative things mentioned here. I'm not saying they didn't happen, but probably not nearly as often as it sounds. Go and enjoy yourself. Like someone mentioned earlier--you're at Disney!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We just got back last night, honestly I almost felt like canceling it sounded so ominously bad. We had a fantastic time, no worries!

 

[Mitzicat]

The magic is the memories you will make with your kids.
Seeing my sons reactions and hearing talk about his "pirate room" at CBR are the highlights from our trip last year. Everything else is secondary.

Thank you for saying this. Put rude CMs, trash, bad food, and anything else physical aside. Folks forget that the magic you create on these vacations happen because you make it happen. You said hearing your son talk about his pirate room is a highlight for you. It didn't take a free cupcake or a towel animal to make your son excited to talk about the trip. For me I remember when my sister came back to the room one night after my mom, dad, and I bailed because it was really chilly. I'm in bed, watching Disney movies, I hear the room door click, and it swings open, next thing that comes out of my mouth "OH MY GOSH!!...What the HECK!!!" My sister was standing there (adult) with a Disney Sweatshirt on, hood-up and a Disney blanket wrapped around her head and shoulders. She looked like Nanook of the North! And she didn't say anything...just stood there. I yelled for my parents (we had joining rooms) and when they saw her, we all busted out laughing. She said it was so cold waiting for Illuminations that she had to buy the blanket and hoodie. Those are memories that were not dependent on Disney. We made those memories and that's what folks need to remember. You make the memories.

 

[loves to dive]

I think most of the things you hear about CMs and the parks are from people who have been going for a long time and have gone many times. Have things changed in 20 or 30 years? Of course they have. I've gotten older and heavier and so has my honey, do we remember each other from the younger days or our old days? A little of both. Do we miss our younger selves? Would be lying if I said no but our older selves are still pretty cool too. We've been going since my son was almost 3, he's 35 now. We still love going and still look forward to every trip. Have there been bumps on the trips, of course there have. Do they ruin the trip, nope. Go, enjoy, it is still a magical place.

 

[rznhal]

Just stayed at AKL earlier this week....it was absolutely amazing!! The kids did all the bead activities, which was great while the weather was rainy....now we are at pop....also having a fun time....mostly because we are together and not at work and school!!!!!!!!

 

[Klinger13]

I posted a "Just back..." thread a few days ago and it was FULL of positivity! We had a FABULOUS trip and you will too!