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

[willis37862]

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.

That's funny. We live in the area you are talking about.Lots of people love to vacation here but we get bored silly here. Going hiking and picture taking in the mountains is our fave thing around here. And the Peddler is a very good place to eat! One place the locals really enjoy.

 

[willis37862]

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.

 

[WHIT1]

My ds and dh had talked me into going to vegas and i went. We walked the strip in one day and spent the next 4 watching movies in the room. Thats when i knew never again,Disney is where i want to be.Plus i also got married there so it makes it extra special to me. Every year i ask my dh where do you want to go and he says Disney cause he knows better.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

We don't take any other week-long (or longer) trips other than WDW anymore. Our last week-long trip to the beach had us ready to go home at day 4! We do go other places, the Smoky Mtns 3-4 times a year, the beach over spring break (4 days), etc. But we just can't get away from WDW for the BIG vacation. I do plan on taking the girls other places, but it is so easy to go to WDW and be assured of a good time as opposed to taking them somewhere else and being miserable for a whole week or more.

 

[freakylick]

So I can compare disney to an island in the middle of nowhere without any rides, but not to another amusement park...interesting.

As I said, those comparisons also have flaws...

I'll be sure to check next time before I compare it to anything and get the rules.

You can compare it to whatever you want...My local mall has shops, restaurants and rides..just like WDW. Compare it to that too if you want.

 

[dpuck1998]

As I said, those comparisons also have flaws...



You can compare it to whatever you want...My local mall has shops, restaurants and rides..just like WDW. Compare it to that too if you want.

So what were going for here is the level of comparison flaws? I'll give mine a 6, the mall a 3.

 

[Mellie0119]

Well, I would say for us it's at the top of our list with small kids. We just spent a week in Hawaii- and we were bored! :lol: Our kids didn't like the beach, there really wasn't *that* much to do (that we couldn't do at home). We were glad that we had used hotel points/airline miles for that trip!

My mom asked me the other day why we keep going back to WDW, honestly- we're a bit lazy! We know that the kids (and ourselves) will be entertained, there is food that everyone likes, it's actually cheaper (or can be done reasonably) than a lot of tourist destinations. We looked into going to Las Vegas and (for the same dates) it would have cost more money just for the hotel- no food, no gambling $$. (to be fair, we are staying Value and the hotel in LV was most definately *not* value ). It's just too easy to go to WDW- everything is onsite, you can get a plan where almost everything is included (like dining) all you have to do show up and have fun!

 

[dpuck1998]

Well, I would say for us it's at the top of our list with small kids. We just spent a week in Hawaii- and we were bored! :lol: Our kids didn't like the beach, there really wasn't *that* much to do (that we couldn't do at home). We were glad that we had used hotel points/airline miles for that trip!

My mom asked me the other day why we keep going back to WDW, honestly- we're a bit lazy! We know that the kids (and ourselves) will be entertained, there is food that everyone likes, it's actually cheaper (or can be done reasonably) than a lot of tourist destinations. We looked into going to Las Vegas and (for the same dates) it would have cost more money just for the hotel- no food, no gambling $$. (to be fair, we are staying Value and the hotel in LV was most definately *not* value ). It's just too easy to go to WDW- everything is onsite, you can get a plan where almost everything is included (like dining) all you have to do show up and have fun!

Ohh man, I love vegas too...too many places not enough time...but I love vegas so much 'cause I never bring my kids

 

[Cupmom]

Disney has ruined all other vacations for us too. Once you started adding up everything I always say it's about the same as disney.

 

[ElleBelle]

I think it really depends on the type of person. DH and I are the type that need to CONSTANTLY be doing something, or we get bored quick. Therefore Disney World is the best type of vacation for the two of us- we are able to get "absorbed" into a world of a million things to do. There are some who think vacation should be spent doing some R&R- pulling up a chair and reading a book. I personally could NEVER do this- I would go crazy by the end of day 1!

I think this is why DH and I also like caribbean cruising so much- a great cruise scores near (but not quite) what wdw would for us. There's always something to do- you're always on the move- you get to see one beautiful island after another. HOWEVER- a cruise just lacks that little "magical" touch. DH and I hold wdw close to our hearts- we love it there- it really is our "home-away-from-home". THAT is why we return year after year.

 

[dixiegirl]

It happened to DH and I on our honeymoon back in 1996. We were both first timers at that point. The moment we entered MK and took one look at that castle - it was all over for us. We have been almost every year since and don't even consider going anywhere else - it just doesn't compare. We're already counting down to our 10th wedding anniversary trip this Oct.

 

[kellyanne731]

in 2003. It was DF's first time going on vacation....EVER! He confessed afterward that he didn't want to go, but fell in love with it once we were there. It has things for both of us to enjoy. For him, there's so much to do that he can go nonstop all day. For me, it's sunny and warm (usually), and I can do as much or as little as I want. And the great food and drink don't hurt either.

It really is a complete destination vacation.

 

[klmall]

Disney has ruined amusement parks for us completely! We won't step into any other than Disney ever again --- others are too dirty, no theme, expensive for the entertainment value and I worry about the safety too!

And if you said, here's a blank check for a vacation to any place of your choice: Hmmmmm! Now, would I choose Disney?

Maybe, maybe not? I love Disneyworld. I love the planning for each trip. I love the atmosphere. I love the resorts. I love the restaurants. I love the parks. I love the shopping. I love everything about being there but after about a week I'm always ready to go home. "I'm Disney'd out" as I tell my DH. I guess it's because I pretty much run around the whole time and try to enjoy every minute to the hilt.

If I had that blank check I might use it to take a dream trip to Alaska or Scandinavia.

In between all our trips to WDW we've gone to the beach for weeks at a time, gone out west for 3 weeks to show our teenager the natural sights. We've visited England, Germany, Switzerland and the Bahamas. I've also toured Canada, New England, Pacific Northwest and the Boundary Waters.

I'll keep traveling all over the U.S. (and world) as long as I can because as much as I love Disney I think the real world is just as impressive! But I understand the magnetic pull that Disney has too!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Disney has ruined amusement parks for us completely! We won't step into any other than Disney ever again --- others are too dirty, no theme, expensive for the entertainment value...

Amusement parks are ruined for me too! I live a little over an hour away from Cedar Point in Ohio and I haven't been in years. People come from all over the world to go to Cedar Point and I even love rollercoasters, but I have no desire to go to Cedar Point because of Disney. To me, Cedar Point is just a place where you walk from one long ride line to the next long ride line with nothing in-between. One of the things I love best about Disney is the "in-between" the rides stuff!

Alot of people ask me about Universal too...have I ever been? Do I plan to go? But I just can't imagine being in Orlando and not being at Disney? I'd probably spend the whole day at Universal thinking...
"What am I doing here? I could be in the Magic Kingdom right now."

 

[kizmac]

The year was 1999....before that, we always went to Myrtle Beach. After Disney, every time I start to plan anything else such as another beach trip or even a trip to a big amusement park or water park, I always nix it because of how much cheaper or for the same money we can do Disney which beats everything that anything else has to offer.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Amusement parks are ruined for me too! I live a little over an hour away from Cedar Point in Ohio and I haven't been in years. People come from all over the world to go to Cedar Point and I even love rollercoasters, but I have no desire to go to Cedar Point because of Disney. To me, Cedar Point is just a place where you walk from one long ride line to the next long ride line with nothing in-between. One of the things I love best about Disney is the "in-between" the rides stuff!

Alot of people ask me about Universal too...have I ever been? Do I plan to go? But I just can't imagine being in Orlando and not being at Disney? I'd probably spend the whole day at Universal thinking...
"What am I doing here? I could be in the Magic Kingdom right now."

That is me. My SIL and BIL go to CP every year and try to get us to come along. I am a take it or leave it for CP. Mostly it is the long lines. No ride on earth is worth over an hour wait for me (even 40 min is pushing it.) So basicly I would be riding the cork screw and iron drangon around because those are the only walk ons at CP. I will fly to WDW and pay for a hotel before driving 2 hours to CP. (We might go this summer, mostly only if someone really wants us to go with them, we never plan it ourselves. Unlike WDW where we are always planing our next trip.

Same about US. We went a few years ago and we were thinking the same thing. When you have an AP it actually cost money to go to US (instead of already paid for like WDW.) We spent most of the day thinking, they ripped this of WDW, or WDW would of done it better. We are thinking about trying it again, once every 5 years or so isn't bad. Still at the end of the day it is like, oh good we did that, can go back to WDW now!

 

[roadtripper]

Love Disney--we're DVC members, but I am getting a little depressed by this thread. I like living in the dream of Disney as much as the next person, but it's a really big world out there, and I don't mean the World Showcase!

Brought the kids to Ireland last summer for a family wedding. DD, 11, said more than once-- "This is the best thing we've ever done!" and there was not a theme park or water slide in sight.

Are other places dirtier, more expensive, and not as customer friendly? Yup. But they're real. Sometimes that's good, too.

 

[goofy's friends]

Are other places dirtier, more expensive, and not as customer friendly? Yup. But they're real. Sometimes that's good, too.

Well said---I guess your screen name says it too

 

[HOGFAN]

I informed my SIL this afternoon that i and dh would be taking our 6th trip this May. she replied"why dont you go somewhere else?" she just doesnt get it.

 

[Micca]

What a great question! I don't know when it occured, but my interest in leisure travel to any place other than WDW is barely perceptible on my fun-o-meter.