What makes a trip a bad one?

[ThistleMae]

Yup! It's tr

In my opinion, there are lots of reasons, unfortunately.

As Alesia said, it can be because of unrealistic expectations. I've even seen posters here on the DIS getting upset because something didn't go the way they'd planned. Lots of folks want their trip to be "perfect," and that's pretty darn impossible. It's important to be flexible in case something happens.

Some people are over-planners, and run their trips like drill sergeants. Others do no planning or research at all, and end up having a terrible time because they don't know how to use strategies like rope drop, using fast pass, eating at non-peak hours -- all to avoid long lines. Those are the people who say, "I don't understand why people come here - we only rode three rides all day and stood in line for hours."

I've seen angry parents with sobbing children basically saying, "We paid a lot of money for this trip, darn it, and you WILL have fun!" The lines, heat, humidity of Florida can be hard on anyone. It can throw off little kids to be away from their regular routines, and you end up with meltdowns. (Not just kids, but adults, too! )

The list goes on and on. Unfortunately, most people don't realize that a little planning can give you a big pay-off on a WDW vacation. How many other trips do you take where you need to make dining reservations up to six months in advance (for the most popular restaurants), need to make FP+ reservations 60 days in advance, etc.? Without some advance knowledge, it can really impact your trip.

 

[ThistleMae]

Yup...lots of wisdom on this post. Planning ahead makes things go so much more smoothly. It also gives you time to plan some "down" time in between parks. The heat also does play a role....makes for cranky, tired children. I start planning a year out. What time of year do I want to go (weather and crowds?). Where do I want to stay (What's my budget?) Then booking. Then waiting for ADR and Fast pass + scheduling. I also list all the foods I want to try, where they are and how much they cost (talk about planning)! Then I start planning my vacation after my vacation....just to pass the time until I can hop on that plane! When I first went to Disney (This is only my third trip) I had no expectations. I had so much fun. The second time I went, I had more a lay of the land and was more able to pick and choose what rides I really wanted to go on and made time for relaxing at the resort pool. This time, I feel really confident on what rides and shows I want to do and that I want to spend more relaxing evenings at my resort. I also chose a different resort this time, to change my experience a bit (hot tub here I come)! Maybe folks don't realize how tiring this trip can be, if you are going non-stop to parks day and night children will get overstimulated, tried and cranky. One of the things I noticed on my bus ride back to the resort, every night, was how great people could be with their kids. Most children were sleeping on laps; it was pretty quiet. It was a real delight to see families just winding down from the day without being upset or short with their kids. I'm sure we have all seen the opposite on occasion but I think Disney brings out the loving, fun spirit we all have inside, even when we are exhausted. It is the Disney Magic! I do Believe in Magic! In Fairy's too! I guess Disney may not be for everyone...and that's okay too.

 

[grammimouse]

Happiness is in your own hands , there is something good about every situation , you just need to find it. Life is 1percent situation and 99 percent how you handled it. When life gives you lemons , make lemonade. We have all had those days when it seems that nothing goes right ,but, it makes for great storytelling over dinner. Slow down , take a deep breath , and trudge along. Sometimes " the only way is up".

 

[ThistleMae]

Happiness is in your own hands , there is something good about every situation , you just need to find it. Life is 1percent situation and 99 percent how you handled it. When life gives you lemons , make lemonade. We have all had those days when it seems that nothing goes right ,but, it makes for great storytelling over dinner. Slow down , take a deep breath , and trudge along. Sometimes " the only way is up".

Wonderful words of wisdom! Isn't it the truth!

 

[ZoaKrystyn]

The only "bad" trip to Disney was actually to Disneyland. I was in college at the time and was with three other women of about the same age. We went during a super busy time and one of the girls, who I hadn't known before the trip because she was friends with my friend, insisted that she was the only one who knew how to "do Disney." This was my only time visiting Disneyland and she had been loads of times, but she insisted on skipping anything she didn't like even if I wanted to try it and then threw a hissy fit whenever I suggested we split up (forget asking her to go through the line with us and then wait). She didn't give in to a request of mine even once. She also kept deciding that we couldn't come back later to rides with insane wait times. To top it off, she was tired and required as all to leave before the big fireworks show at California Adventure, for which we had bought special tickets. She started crying when I asked if one person could stay with me so I could see the show. I understood that she was tired, but not the need to have everyone, including a total stranger, leave after paying a lot of money. I would have run off if we didn't have to spend 6 hours in the car together the next day.

In the end, she never knew she really messed with my trip. I hid it really well. I can't say I had a terrible time (although I can say that I still really resent the girl for it), but I definitely learned that traveling with inflexible people is a no-no for me. I don't mind structure, but I do mind when one person imposes his or her structure on everyone and doesn't accept input.

 

[ThistleMae]

Thanks for sharing your story Zoa. Wow...too bad. But...lesson learned for you. She obviously had control issues beyond what you knew. Thanks for being generous with your forgiving attitude. I enjoyed reading your story.

 

[CQuinn]

Getting hangry! Snack accordingly

 

[mikehn]

If the airline losses your luggage, if your lodging reservations got dropped, you trip and break a leg. But nothing a few drinks cant cure.

 

[klo1335]

But nothing a few drinks cant cure

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Getting sick with the flu made for a bad trip once. I had a difficult trip another time when I fell off a curb in MK and sprained my ankle.

I still had fun - I was just slowed down and dealing with the pain from that. I learned that trip to always bring an ankle wrap with me although duct tape worked in a pinch. LOL

 

[GoofyCdn]

Wow, some really great information here. I totally agree with everyone that said attitude can be what determines your trip. We were supposed to go with friends a couple years ago, and glad we didn't. They went by themselves and said they would never go back. During the early planning stages we went to their house and planned out our trip with them. Made dinner reservations and suggested when to go to the parks to maximize their EMH's since it was their first time. Came up with a full schedule of park dates and times for ADR's and everything. We had to back out and couldn't go, but they went and said they didn't enjoy it. They never said why, I guess just not their cup of tea. I think for a lot of first timers that there is so much to do and they want to do it all, but after they get to WDW realize they can't do it all and are disappointed.
On the other hand, my wife and I are going for a few days, without the kids in a couple of months. We are only going to one park, EPCOT, and have our ADR's booked for the week. We plan on making it a relaxing, let's do what we want when we want, type of trip.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I think the most common way to have a bad time is by pushing your party's limits (too much, too late, too early, whatever...)

We consciously try to avoid that, so for me, I think it would be if someone got seriously sick or injured. I can pull off the Pollyanna attitude if buses are late or it starts raining or a ride is closed, but I admit that spending a very expensive trip in the ER instead of the park would upset me.

 

[Vickilynn42]

I've had only one bad trip to DW. My father-in-law died suddenly on our second day there and we had to fly home right away. It wasn't really even the trip that was bad, just the circumstances. We made up the trip five months later, and the day before we flew out, my son was assaulted and had his front teeth knocked out and facial bones broken. Didn't think we'd make it, but we did. He was in a lot of pain, and on meds, but it wasn't a bad trip. Besides death, getting sick the whole trip would be a bad one lol. And I did feel sorry for people who went during times of non-stop rain!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

The one thing that has caused bad trips for me is when one or more family member becomes sick on the trip and it has happened.

As for Disney, aside from a few inconveniences they alway provide a great time.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I agree with everyone here

1. The huge amount of walking
I really don't think people fully understand just how much walking you do in the parks. This leads on to sore feet from unsuitable shoes and uncomfortable clothing with too heavy bags.

2. The weather
Especially for Irish / UK people the heat in Florida and California is overwhelming. Our bodies just can't cope with the baking heat and humidity. For those going to Disneyland Paris in the winter, its the cold. Again Irish / UK people are not used to the extreme cold of central European winters

3. The Lines
People just don't expect to have to wait 60 minutes or more to meet Mickey Mouse

4. The food
Many Irish /UK people are not adventurous with food and when the go to Disneyland Paris or to Florida or California they get annoyed at the "foreign" food

For me, honestly out of all the travelling I have done, I don't really have bad trips. Yes things have happened, flights cancelled, getting ill on vacation but I look on it all as part of the adventure.

The only time I would say a trip turned out badly and I really didn't enjoy the time away was when one of my travel buddies had a major falling out with the group. It was really horrible for a few days, basically she didn't want to do the same activities as the rest of us, even though she had been part of the trip planning. All through the trip planning she let us think she was ok with the itinerary but when we actually arrived at the location she wanted to do different stuff which didn't fit in with the group. In the end she decided to move to a different hotel and have her vacation the way she wanted!!

 

[Ress76]

I would say a large part is lack of planning-for weather, for lines, for prices, for reasonable expectations. But I would say a significant part is just daily real-life stuff that happens to all of us-someone gets sick or injured, a credit card is compromised, bickering kids, car accident; some people handle those things better than others, and they're just not something you plan into your vacation.

But, it's how you react to all those that really determines if it's a bad trip. I suppose if you're happy go luck and have a completely unplanned trip over Christmas, no FP+s, no ADRs, you could still have a "good" trip. There are other people who may have planned to the moon and back, but will chalk the whole thing up to a bad trip because their two kids bickered the whole time they were there the same way they do at home.

 

[DakotaRose]

Our good friends went over a three-day holiday weekend with kids aged 6 and 1. He's a tightwad, and was very proud of how they were going to WDW without breaking the bank. They rented an offsite condo and a car and bought groceries. Well, the weather was really hot and lines were long -- both way beyond what they expected. Leaving WDW for cheaper meals was a giant hassle, and yet $7 hot dogs was highway robbery. They didn't take breaks (maximizing ticket costs), which left them with a whiny, exhausted 6 year old. NO WAY would they rent a stroller for that price. He also really resented the castmembers trying to entice people in line to buy expensive mister fans and toys. Then a virus hit, and well, just a trip from h-e-double hockey sticks!
The thing is, they could easily have afforded staying onsite. And the 2 hrs it took to exit, fight traffic and eat at Burger King and return wasn't worth the extra $15 in his pocket. They didn't put any time into reading up, so they believed they should have gotten thru all of MK in a day. You couldn't pay them to go back.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

I think it's easy to remember bad things that happen.

I've never had a bad trip, but the memories that stick out most from my last trip were having a crappy room location at the resort and Expedition Everest shutting down after we'd waiting nearly two hours and were NEXT to get on it. These things didn't ruin my trip at all, but I still get sore when I think of it.

 

[TillyDe]

In 2010, my grown daughter and I spent 6 days at WDW. I planned and planned. We had ADRs, but no fastpass. It was a great trip even if this happened.
On the drive to Florida, I felt a little pull in my hip. No problem.
Day 2 at MK I rode BTMR and something really went wrong with my hip. I think it was the banging it took.
Day 3 was going to be our Animal Kingdom day. We made our ADR to Tusker House, but that was it. Well, I spent 3/4 of the day at the Urgent Care getting xrays, drugs, etc. My hip was sprained.
The doctor gave me some real good drugs. So, that night we did make it to Downtown Disney.
It was still a good trip.
You have to be prepared for the unknown and go with the flow.

 

[smiths02]

We haven't had a bad trip. I can think of some things that would make it bad such as accident/injury, someone getting really sick, hearing bad news from back home (someone died, lost your job, house caught on fire), being a victim of crime (theft, credit card scam, etc.), bedbugs

I think others fail to plan. Others have unrealistic expectations.

I think you can also just have an "okay" trip. For instance, our next trip, we will have two 2 year olds. I know what to expect. I have planned well. While it will be magical, two 2 year olds non-stop for 8 nights (no daycare, no babysitter, etc) will be tiring. Will spending $7000 to wipe butts in FL instead of GA be a great vacation for me? I don't know Let's face it, Disney is a labor-intensive vacation for parents. While I might not have to cook and clean quite like at home, my responsibilities haven't stopped. Some people just don't enjoy days on end at a theme park, most people's idea of a vacation is sipping fruity drinks on a beach or seeing the world (the education/adventure types). While I'm not saying you can't pace your vacation, in the end, Disney is about the parks and attractions for the vast majority of people, and many people just don't want to spend a week doing that on their "vacation."