When did you realize that Disney ruined you for anyplace else?

[ReggieB]

We went to Hershey Park last August...oh dear. I mean there were some really fun things to do and all, but the various chocolate bar characters were just ridiculous....for heavens sake you eat them, not have your photo taken with them!! I also didn't think the park and hotels were up to Disney standards. Some of the rides looked way to rusty!! I did still enjoy the trip, but Disney has kind of spoiled me!

 

[Brian Noble]

It hasn't.

We go to WDW in the winter, and the outer banks in the summer. Plus day trips and long weekends here, there and everywhere---amusement parks, zoos, science museums, trips to the smithsonian when we visit the in-laws in DC, college sporting events, what-have-you.

It is true, there is nothing like WDW. But, there's nothing like an old-time "classic" amusement park, the National Mall, a Michigan football game, or having the beach to yourself at night, chasing ghost crabs and looking at all those *stars*, either.

It's all good.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I think Disney (and infact DVC) has spoiled us for any "close to WDW seconds." places to go that you pay just as much for, and aren't nearly as good. I remember last year DH and went to a local hotel with a water park in it. It was a dump and we could of stayed at WL for those prices. We were not pleased. It comes down to, if we are going to spend the $ why not do at at WDW were we are pleased with the quaility and service.

However "non" Disney things I don't mind. Camping, beaching it on the outbanks of NC with family etc.....

My friend went to WDW a few years ago (their 1st time) that summer they went to Hersey park with some other friends. When they got home they said they just kept saying "we should of went to WDW." The next year they were right there with us again at WDW (and it even was the hubby's idea this time.)

 

[shelby_36]

We did Disney and Busch Gardens virginia within a few months of each other and I enjoyed BG much more than Disney.

 

[goofy's friends]

Exactly...not to mention day trips to musuems, weekends (for me) in Mackinac, etc...just because we "vacation" at Disney so often doesn't mean we are uncultured swines.

We actually vacationed to Mackinac Island last summer and my family unanimously voted it their favorite vacation ever even after our trip to Disney. I don't think anyone was saying for Disney to be your favorite vacation makes you uncultured swines. Not everyone has access to museums, National Parks, historical sites, etc. for a weekend trip. That would be so nice and my family would love that kind of access, especially to Mackinac. But we have to choose one vacation spot a year, so we like to vary it. We hit Disney every 3-5 years and love it every time. We also enjoy our trips to other places.

 

[Ziva]

Hasn't happened yet and don't think it ever will.

 

[LoriMistress]

Yes, after my trips to the Disney Parks I'm addicted. I'm planning a trip to go to Disneyland before May and we're planning a WDW trip for December 2007.

 

[Eeyorecln]

Wow. I sincerely hope that the answer is never. One could hardly compare the majesty of the Alaska wilderness or the beauty of Hawaii to a manmade park. I LOVE Disney and hope to convince DH to vacation there every other year but I hope to see some of the natural beauty this country/world has to offer. And I've always wanted to see Europe, the history & architecture & art & different cultures. Just an opinion.

 

[DisnyMama]

Our 1st trip to WDW in 2001 did it to us. As a single parent in Sept. 2000 I was playing on the WDW website booking a "pretend" vacation for the Summer of 2001 and realized that is wasn't as $$$ as I thought it would be. I broke it into monthly payments and it was do-able so I called a local TA (big mistake-I knew nothing of the DIS or anything else about WDW). We stayed at AS Sports for 7 nights and had a Great time. When we came home-2 weeks later I had to start planning our next trip. We do want to take an Alaskan cruise -it's actually my 14 year old DS's idea. I've looked into Hawaii and have been there a few times when I was younger. To stay in the areas and hotels that I would like I would rather spend the $$$ on WDW. Maybe I can save up and we can splurge and stay at the Polynesian.

 

[mrzrich]

We did Disney and Busch Gardens virginia within a few months of each other and I enjoyed BG much more than Disney.

One of the best trips we ever took was with our two daughters to Williamsburg using the flex ticket. We had 5 days unlimited admission to BG, Watercountry USA, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown Historical sites. It was an insanely cheap price including hotel. It was pretty awesome. Unfortunately my DH and I started having children again now we have two sons 2 and a 5 yo! They're not quite ready for That type of trip yet.

I do remember that on the tail end of that trip we went to King's Dominion and it was the dirtiest most disorganized expensive place we'd ever seen.

When I started this thread I did not mean to sound like I didn't still enjoy camping, or cultural and historical outings...its just so often we find ourseves in places that remind us what a great deal Disney really is.

 

[ElleBelle]

Our first trip to wdw came in 1997. We all were hooked right from the start . Thank goodness I met my DH the very next year- and he was just as big a fan as myself. We've been numerous places together since we met- and the only other vacation we do take that comes close is a nice cruise in the Caribbean. We've been on two together (Carnival and Royal Caribbean)- and both times we make sure to book a cruise leaving from Port Canaveral just so we can have a few days in WDW before we leave I told you were were hooked!

 

[chrome64]

OK, I'm not against going anywhere else, but I have found that for me it seams that Disney has the best overall customer service hands down! I don't know of anywhere else that gives so much attention to detail. That's not to say that there are not other places that do or that every CM at Disney is perfect but, Overall, I feel that they are the best.

Last trip we extended our trip by one day and stayed at the Hilton in DTD. The next morning we awoke to find that Valet had wrecked my car! I understand that accidents happen but, they were completely rude to me and acted as if it was not their fault. They never once said that they were sorry and tried to get me to leave without a police report several times.

I feel that had this happened at an actual Disney Resort, they would have reacted differently.

We enjoy going other places but, for now Disney is on the top of our list!

I understand that not everyone feels like Disney is the best place in the world. And everyone is entitled to their opinion but…

I enjoyed reading this thread much more when it was people telling about how Disney HAD ruined them for any where else!

I know that I am spoiled to the Disney Magic! How about you?

 

[dpuck1998]

Thought I'd chime in another note. I goto Cedar Point every year with a school full of 8th graders. They have a "so-called" fastpass system that is used up with a hour of opening. The two best rides in the park have been shutdown 3 of the last 4 years we've gone. You wait for 1-2 hours to ride millenium force (which is the best ride I've ever been on). There are no real themes. The rides are just scattered all over the park. I do enjoy it, but it lacks a lot of the things that make disney so great.

 

[disneyphanatic1911]

When did you realize that Disney ruined you for anyplace else?

Whenever I go to Six Flags Over Georgia!

No "Magic" whatsoever!

 

[SJSKJ]

It took me 29 years to make my first trip to WDW in May of 2004. Since then I've been back May 2005, Sept. 2005 and planning another for Feb. 2006! That's 4 times in less than 2 years. DH wanted to go on a trip in Feb., he was thinking Smoky Mountains maybe, a cruise, Las Vegas perhaps. I just can't see myself enjoying myself on vacation anywhere BUT Disney anymore! So WDW here we come...AGAIN!

 

[freakylick]

Thought I'd chime in another note. I goto Cedar Point every year with a school full of 8th graders. They have a "so-called" fastpass system that is used up with a hour of opening. The two best rides in the park have been shutdown 3 of the last 4 years we've gone. You wait for 1-2 hours to ride millenium force (which is the best ride I've ever been on). There are no real themes. The rides are just scattered all over the park. I do enjoy it, but it lacks a lot of the things that make disney so great.

Cedar Point=Partial Year regional amusement park (thus the absence of themes)
WDW=Year round vacation destination w/theme parks

Apples and Oranges.

Any Six Flags=Partial year local/regional theme parks
WDW=Year round vacation destination w/Theme parks

Again..Apples and Oranges.

Those parks are not really in competition with WDW, so it's not really fair to compare them. It would be more fair to compare WDW to Myrtle Beach, Vegas, Hawaii, Colonial Williamsburg as some have done. Even those comparisons have flaws, but I think they are more reasonable.

All that being said, I agree with Brian Noble...WDW is awesome, but it's all good.

 

[dpuck1998]

Cedar Point=Partial Year regional amusement park (thus the absence of themes)
WDW=Year round vacation destination w/theme parks

Apples and Oranges.

Any Six Flags=Partial year local/regional theme parks
WDW=Year round vacation destination w/Theme parks

Again..Apples and Oranges.

Those parks are not really in competition with WDW, so it's not really fair to compare them. It would be more fair to compare WDW to Myrtle Beach, Vegas, Hawaii, Colonial Williamsburg as some have done. Even those comparisons have flaws, but I think they are more reasonable.

All that being said, I agree with Brian Noble...WDW is awesome, but it's all good.

So I can compare disney to an island in the middle of nowhere without any rides, but not to another amusement park...interesting. I'll be sure to check next time before I compare it to anything and get the rules.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

I don't know when it happened exactly, but now nothing else really makes us happy.

We do enjoy going up to the Smoky Mountains in Tenn. and renting a cabin in the woods though. But thus far our pattern is Disney every two years.On the off years we go up to the mountains,LOL.

My Mom cannot figure out why we enjoy Disney so much.She thinks Disney should be a once in a lifetime vacation, and that we have our kids spoiled!She thinks we should take the money we spend and go see the USA. Take the kids to the Grand Canyon or Niagra Falls or something she says.
Sorry, but.....dh and I actually do Disney more for ourselves than for the kids.They just have the privelege of tagging along

 

[WDW LOVR]

The week I used to look forward to the most was our beach vacation at Myrtle Beach. That's been demoted to second place since we discovered WDW, and the year was 1997.

Bill From PA

Us too Bill. We used to go to Chincoteague Island in Virginia for Labor Day weekend every year and around the same time as you (97 or 98) we were sitting on the beach and I looked at my wife and said "are you thinking we could be at Disney right now also?" When she said "of course" I new we were hooked.

 

[WDW LOVR]

We do enjoy going up to the Smoky Mountains in Tenn. and renting a cabin in the woods though. But thus far our pattern is Disney every two years.On the off years we go up to the mountains,LOL.

The Smokies are the one trip a year that we don't think about Disney. My wife and I go the first weekend in March every year to celebrate our anniversary, and somehow that just doesn't seem like a trip that gets in the way of any Disney trips. Maybe it's the peace and quiet of the Mtns. that does it. Of course the Peddler restaurant might have an effect also.