Want to be done with WDW, but can't

[MarkY117]

I have been going to Walt Disney World since I was in diapers, I am 29 now and married. The first memory I have is the time I was tall enough to finally ride space mountain, I think my dad was actually more excited than I was. The memories is what keeps me coming back to disney world time after time and eventually, I introduced my wife to Disney World. We went while we were dating 6 years ago and she was hooked. We have been going at least once a year since, sometimes twice a year.

The first time I started to rethink future disney vacations was our last trip. We wanted to ride toy story midway mania, there were no fast passes available and the wait was 75 minutes. We decided to go back to our hotel (beach club) grab some dinner and come back for extra magic hours. On our return, hours later, the wait was down but still 60 minutes during magic hours. So we decided to go over to rockin rollercoaster only to see that had a 60 minute wait, also. From there, we went to Tower of terror and the ride had a 30 minute wait, so we decided to go on that. Too bad it was not accurate because the wait was actually over 45 minutes. Out of a total of 6 in a half hours in hollywood studios, we went on rockin rollercoaster once, tower of terror twice, star tours once and took in the muppet show. Out of our 8 night vacation, we did toy story midway mania once only because we waited 65 minutes our last night.

Normally we do pirates of the caribbean about 10-15 times during our vacation, we did this twice only because we woke up early for extra magic hours, normally it was over an hour wait! For pirates! Come on!!!! I can understand space mountain or attractions of the same caliber, but seriously...PIRATES! Not to mention the wait on people mover, but I wont go on a rant about that.

To get back on track, that vacation made my wife and I seriously think about our vacations and where else we can go in the future. After being convinced about taking a break from disney world, all my best memories started to come back to me. Just riding space mountain with my dad, remembering having the courage to take the plunge on summit plummit, riding dumbo for the first time, being able to ride everest while the yeti was still working, and going down the water slide at stormalong bay for the first time, I could go on and on but I won't.

Anyway, my wife was so dead set on not going back, but I actually managed to convinced her to go every other year for now on, contigent on how future trips pan out. (which was not the easiest deal to strike)

I want to be done with disney world, but I am too attached. If our last trip is any indication of how future disney world vacations are going to be, I don't know, Maybe the Disney from my memories is long gone and I am trying to hold on to something that simply does not exist anymore. I guess only time will tell.

Anyone else feel the same?

 

[KalamityJane]

You should try Disneyland. I grew up at WDW but fell in love with DL

 

[Mad Hattered]

You should try Disneyland. I grew up at WDW but fell in love with DL

 

[MarkY117]

You should try Disneyland. I grew up at WDW but fell in love with DL

We are actually looking in to that for september vacation, we are also looking in to universal orlando.

 

[KalamityJane]

We are actually looking in to that for september vacation, we are also looking in to universal orlando.

You will love it.

 

[BigCheese]

I'm planning a trip to WDW for the family in October. We are DLR vets and go at least once a year, but we're in the western part of the country and travel to DLR (flights) have always been cheaper. However there are some good deals to Orlando, and overall a 12 night stay at a moderate is cheaper than a 5 night stay at the Disneyland Hotel. The family has never been to WDW and the last time I was there was pre AK. I don't venture to the WDW forums often, but I noticed a lot of polarizing topics. Is the main issue FP+/Magic Bands? To the OP, it sounds like the issue you had on your last trip was the wait times. For someone like me who is ignorant of most things WDW, are these the two issues that have caused the most concern among WDW vets?

 

[mom2rtk]

The Disneyland idea is definitely worth pursuing. Not only is there no FP+, but you will having new Disney things to see and experience. Do your homework though, and try to find some days when the most APs are blocked.

But if you really want to continue with WDW, go ahead with Universal, but maybe go during a hard ticket party season, and buy tickets for 2 or 3 parties instead of regular park tickets. FP+ is not used during the parties, and ride lines are typically very short.

 

[ConvenientTruth]

It is normal to feel that way...

There are times I say to my wife "lets take a year off from Disney" and yet we find ourselves back there (mainly do to the persuasive power of my children). You could still get your Disney fix with the cruise line and yet have a completely different experience.

 

[Seeker615]

I understand what you are getting at.

I loved Disney as well. One of my best trips was in 1998 with the kids. Parks were easy to navigate and the characters were out and about and it was pure magic!

My last two visits in 2011 and for the Christmas party in November just didn't have the same feel.

It was just my daughter and me in 2011. We had a great time but the "feeling" was not there. Maybe because we were older? Maybe because it was just us and not the whole family? I just could not put my finger on it. We navigated the park and were actually finished well before the fireworks so we saw everything we wanted to see.

Now the Christmas Party in November was a whole different story. It took forever to get to the park. The monorail was crazy crowded and even entering the park was a royal pain. People ahead of us were having issues with the magic bands and it was mass confusion as to where to go and how to get there. Going up Main Street was like swimming against the current. I was ready to just turn around a go back to Universal. People were everywhere and one poor man got knocked off the curb and really messed up his knees. Lines were ridiculously long for everything and Pirates was down!

We ducked into a restaurant and waiting things out a bit and by 6:30 it was a little better. We got on most of the rides we wanted to and Pirates was back up. The fireworks and parade were well done as well.

That said it was just such a different feel all around. People were rude and pushy and the crowds were just insane! It never was like that before. I think we will back when are grandkids are older and want to visit. (Or we will try Disneyland.)

 

[BrianL]

It sounds like long lines are only thing that ruined your WDW. Be careful at DL then, I found lines to be much longer there overall (comparing October to October, a low time at WDW, but apparently not at DL). 45 Minutes for Pirates was the norm, and Haunted Mansion Holiday? Over an hour at all times of the day (this would not be the case if you are there when it is not the Holiday version). Personally, I think Pirates is worth any kind of wait (as is HM); It's better than any thrill ride around!

 

[bumbershoot]

Personally, I think Pirates is worth any kind of wait (as is HM); It's better than any thrill ride around!

At dl, yes. Not at wdw though.

 

[ArwenMarie]

But if you really want to continue with WDW, go ahead with Universal, but maybe go during a hard ticket party season, and buy tickets for 2 or 3 parties instead of regular park tickets. FP+ is not used during the parties, and ride lines are typically very short.

I agree, give Universal a try and either see Disney from there or do a split stay. It might give you a fresh perspective on Disney as well.

 

[HM]

We started taking our kids back in 1999. I've had at least one trip every year since then. This will be my first year without a trip.

I'm actually not really even feeling sad about it. The rising cost of all aspects at Disney has really got me rethinking where we travel. I'm ready for new adventures. We've missed out on a lot of other places to take our kids while they were young due to the lure and ease of a WDW vacation.

 

[Planogirl]

Why not give WDW a rest and just plan to go after trying some other places? WDW might just sort out the issues given time and then you might find it much like you remember it.

 

[nowellsl]

Same here, just doesn't feel the same! We've had AP's for probably 15 years and go several times a year. Lately I'm just not feelin it I think most of it has to do with higher prices on the resorts, and tickets. It just feels like Disney has gotten a little greedy for my taste! My plan is to sit out for at least a year and see how I feel then! We do have some great Disney memories though!

 

[bopper]

"I wish I knew how to quit you, Disneyworld."

 

[vicb]

It doesn't have to be so black and white, no need to "be done" with WDW. I love WDW but I have really loved other vacations I've been on. My kids are in college now and still love WDW (we are going for a graduation trip in May!) but we (and they) are so glad we have been other places in our travels. Our country is so beautiful and diverse I wanted that with my kids when they were growing up. We have done just a little international travel too. We usually did WDW every other or every third year for our big trip.

Don't be afraid to mix it up.

 

[shyjade]

I've been feeling very conflicted about returning to Disney, too. We always have fun at Disney, but it just doesn't feel very special anymore. Last fall we had a disastrous first day (MB issues) and agreed we wouldn't be returning again anytime soon, that we'd finally had our fill of the new Disney. And that was after the rest of our vacation was a ton of fun!

I'd love to try other vacations in the same price range, but a huge part of Disney's appeal for me was not having to drive anywhere or worry about where to do, what to do. We could be at MK and decide to head over to the WS and be there within the hour with no hassles. No other vacation offers that same level of fun, endless options and ability for me to be a big kid (instead of the single mom I am every other day of the year).

I work super hard (2 jobs) to be able to afford our Disney vacations and I no longer feel great turning that money over to Disney. I can't really put my finger on it why, but that nagging feeling keeps telling me no, while the nostalgic side of me really wants to try it "one more time".

 

[KalamityJane]

It sounds like long lines are only thing that ruined your WDW. Be careful at DL then, I found lines to be much longer there overall (comparing October to October, a low time at WDW, but apparently not at DL). 45 Minutes for Pirates was the norm, and Haunted Mansion Holiday? Over an hour at all times of the day (this would not be the case if you are there when it is not the Holiday version). Personally, I think Pirates is worth any kind of wait (as is HM); It's better than any thrill ride around!

Did you go at the beginning of October? That's Gay Days at DL and the crowds are pretty dang big.

 

[DisDayz]

Same here, just doesn't feel the same! We've had AP's for probably 15 years and go several times a year. Lately I'm just not feelin it I think most of it has to do with higher prices on the resorts, and tickets. It just feels like Disney has gotten a little greedy for my taste! My plan is to sit out for at least a year and see how I feel then! We do have some great Disney memories though!

I was doing some research and your post tied right in to what I was looking at. Over the last handful of years the attendance at Universal's two parks have increased by roughly 15% and 75%. (I know part of that is due to Harry Potter but my thought is Disney should be keeping up.) During that time ticket prices have increase roughly 25%. During the same time period the attendance at WDW has increased 3% at MK, HS and AK and is flat for Epcot, with a total increase of about 2.5% for all parks. During that time ticket prices have increased ... 25%. Just doesn't seem to jive with the law of supply and demand but instead seems as though Disney is increasing ticket prices because of additions to its neighbors park. Be kinda like me asking an extra $20K when I'm trying to sell my house because the neighbors renovated and put in a pool.