When family or close friends don't like DL anymore....

[Disneyland1084]

This thread is mainly a pity party for me, and anyone who wants to join who may feel the same. I'm sad my nephews 23, 19 and 16 aren't into Disneyland anymore. We took a family trip there in 2015, then in 2018 we all went to Disneyland Paris together. Both trips have memories I'll always hold close to my heart. For the last two summers, I've asked if they wanted to come along to DL and they said no. My SIL said it doesn't appeal to them anymore. Ok, I get it. I think of the good memories from the two Disney trips we've done together , and I just want to relive it. But they're busy with their own lives. I'm the Disney fanatic in my family. My two girls 16 and 12 enjoy going, but wouldn't care if we missed it for a few years. I'm holding onto hope my 2 year old DS will develop a love for Disney like me. DH could care less one way or the other. If anyone feels the same or similar, tell me about it.

 

[Aspencreek]

I feel for you! Similar emotions but slightly different situation here. My two nearly grown kids still like going to the parks (we average one trip per year), but they are both getting close to being off on their own and we will be empty-nesters soon. Getting a little depressed wondering how often we will all be able to go together in the future, and if the kids can't come will it be any fun to go as a couple or just sad?

 

[mdmost]

After this last trip, DD14 said she feels she's not into Disneyland any longer. She prefers thrill rides and DLR doesn't have enough of them. She kept talking about how much she enjoys Six Flags now (shudder as that's a trash park compared to DLR). We aren't planning to return for a time so it doesn't bother me as much as if she said that at a younger age. DD12 responded to the declaration of DD14 with "you can take me to Disneyland anytime, I still love it". She knows how to butter me up. We are planning to go back to WDW when Tron is fully broken in though we'll probably wrap it around DD12's birthday in a few years as a good excuse to go. She's an April baby so we could wrap it around Easter weekend as they get some time off from school for it.

 

[Disneyland1084]

She prefers thrill rides and DLR doesn't have enough of them. She kept talking about how much she enjoys Six Flags now (shudder as that's a trash park compared to DLR).

OMG I know! Not sure if we're talking about the same park, but in 2016, we went to Six Flags Magic Mountain on our way to Disneyland. It was a DUMP!!! Trash and gum on the ground every where. I remember wishing I had some of those giant black trash bags just so I could go around and pick up trash. ETA: I seriously would have if I had any on me, lol.

 

[mdmost]

OMG I know! Not sure if we're talking about the same park, but in 2016, we went to Six Flags Magic Mountain on our way to Disneyland. It was a DUMP!!! Trash and gum on the ground every where. I remember wishing I had some of those giant black trash bags just so I could go around and pick up trash. ETA: I seriously would have if I had any on me, lol.

Six Flags Over Texas, actually. We live in Dallas so it's a 30 minute drive to get there. I used to go a ton when I was a kid and always looked forward to it. Back then the theming was great. The rides made sense with the land they were housed in. Each area was a different country that was key in the founding of Texas. Mexico, Spain, France, Republic of Texas, The Confederacy, and United States. Now, it's just a sad mess with DC Comics rides mixed in and nothing really remarkable other than decent roller coasters. All the charm has been sucked away and the theming is non-existent. A lot of the rides were either closed or in a state of sadness. Most of the rides I grew up on are long gone. The ones that remain had either chipping paint or props and set pieces that were mangled. The old roller coasters show their age and you can feel it when you ride them. It makes me value our time at Disney even more. I'd imagine if it's run by the same company, Magic Mountain is just as bad. The only thing it has going is the newer roller coasters which are still pretty good. It's no comparison and I find it amusing since DD14 and I went on Space Mountain 8 times in a row our last trip to WDW as part of the Halloween party. There's no ride at Six Flags I would ever want to risk my life riding 8 times in a row.

 

[Tinkaboo]

I was in a similar situation so I’m doing my first solo trip over 4th of July. I decided just because no one else shares my love of Disneyland, that’s no reason for me to have the time of my life.

While I’ll always cherish the memories of our family trip, I’m pretty sure this one is gonna rock!!!

So put on your dancing shoes and get to it! I’m looking forward to eating when and what I want, riding (or not riding) what I want and mostly spending a lot of time at the Avengers Campus which is something I couldn’t pay anyone in my family to do

 

[duckboyone]

Six Flags Over Texas, actually. We live in Dallas so it's a 30 minute drive to get there. I used to go a ton when I was a kid and always looked forward to it. Back then the theming was great. The rides made sense with the land they were housed in. Each area was a different country that was key in the founding of Texas. Mexico, Spain, France, Republic of Texas, The Confederacy, and United States. Now, it's just a sad mess with DC Comics rides mixed in and nothing really remarkable other than decent roller coasters. All the charm has been sucked away and the theming is non-existent. A lot of the rides were either closed or in a state of sadness. Most of the rides I grew up on are long gone. The ones that remain had either chipping paint or props and set pieces that were mangled. The old roller coasters show their age and you can feel it when you ride them. It makes me value our time at Disney even more. I'd imagine if it's run by the same company, Magic Mountain is just as bad. The only thing it has going is the newer roller coasters which are still pretty good. It's no comparison and I find it amusing since DD14 and I went on Space Mountain 8 times in a row our last trip to WDW as part of the Halloween party. There's no ride at Six Flags I would ever want to risk my life riding 8 times in a row.

We are in Austin so go to Six Flags in SA now and then, even had an annual pass a few years ago. It definitely does have some thrilling rides, but other than that feels like an incredibly cheap counterfeit of Disneyland. I remember being in the "boardwalk" area, standing in line for a ride, looking down from the "dock" at ugly grass with weeds and a service road.

Some people love the large amount of more thrilling roller coasters, but for us (including all my kids, two teenagers and two in college) we prefer the theme and atmosphere of Disney, and the rides there are thrilling enough for us. To each their own.

 

[gelatoni fan]

It's always a balance. Do you drag your friends/family to do what you want with you or do you do what they enjoy most?

Even at Disneyland, days spent with different people will be different experiences.

 

[Disneyland1084]

It's always a balance. Do you drag your friends/family to do what you want with you or do you do what they enjoy most?

I don't drag anyone into doing anything.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I know how you feel! My two oldest just weren't as engaged our last trip, and I'm thinking my next trip will be just me and my younger 3. I am dreading a day when nobody wants to go with me, but kind of excited about taking solo trips.

Part of the fun for me is planning and trying to balance everyone's priorities for a seamless experience though, and I just don't think I'll get that from a solo trip.

 

[kikismom]

Me!! My husband doesn't love Disney. He goes with me every three years or so. Luckily my daughter (9) had the Disney love like I do.

We like to go at least once per year but sometimes make it twice. We bring other friends for some trips and then others it's just the two of us.

The fun thing is that I have been taking friends for their first trips now. It's so fun going over what they'd like to accomplish and then planning it out. Everyone knows that I'll go to DL with pretty much anyone and am happy to get their trip planned. I have some friends that I get to plan for in the next few years. I can't wait for that one.

 

[DennieC]

After reading all of these replies, I am feeling really blessed right now. I am the Disney fanatic and my wife goes along with it for my sake. My son's first trip to Disneyland was when he was two and we have gone as a family ever since. Luckily for me, my son never lost that love of Disney. Even after enjoying the thrill rides at Magic Mountain or Knott's during his teen years, he still prefers our trips to Disney. He even encourages them. Our trips now revolve around Aulani in Hawaii with a Disney Cruise thrown in to keep my wife happy, but I still have a travel partner to a Disney Theme Park with my son. Mom will take a break every so often and send us out on our own, but it is nice knowing that the love and passion I instilled in him for Disney is still there. Now I am really looking forward to when the grandkids come along and the three generations can enjoy Disney all together.

 

[Littlebitofsunshine]

This post makes me happy and sad! I love everyone’s story and how we can all ‘do Disney’ our own way! I feel the pain for those whose family or friends have ‘outgrown’ disney. Such a sad transition! My eldest son is 12 now and def getting into those teen years. Our first trip was when he was 3. I’m a single parent and it was very special! 5 full days. We went nearly yearly after that. Hopefully he’ll always have the magic! I have another son that’s 3, but not quite ready for Disney yet. Hopefully in a couple years. He’s a more sensitive kid to transitions and noise and such. I do plan on doing solo trips later if my boys don’t want to go. But i too think I’ll feel sad… until i get used to it! So many memories in these trips aren’t there?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

What about trying out Universal with them? I haven't been to Hollywood location since I was too young to remember (I go to Orlando though) but just wondering if that might be something if you enjoy spending time with them could be an option.

 

[Unbalanced]

If your family is not into DL anymore don't be afraid to strike out on your own an do a solo trip. I've traveled DL over the years more times solo than with the family. I enjoy things more going on my own and not going on everyone else's schedule. Besides there will come a time when they are older that they or someone they are dating that will love DL and bring them back. This happened to DS19 who's not a fan of DL, but his GF is, so guess where they are? LOL

 

[Disneyland1084]

What about trying out Universal with them? I haven't been to Hollywood location since I was too young to remember (I go to Orlando though) but just wondering if that might be something if you enjoy spending time with them could be an option.

That would be fun, but they live in another state. Pre-pandemic we did a family trip with them every year, not just Disney. Now my two oldest nephews are busy with college and work

 

[Disneyland1084]

If your family is not into DL anymore don't be afraid to strike out on your own an do a solo trip. I've traveled DL over the years more times solo than with the family. I enjoy things more going on my own and not going on everyone else's schedule. Besides there will come a time when they are older that they or someone they are dating that will love DL and bring them back. This happened to DS19 who's not a fan of DL, but his GF is, so guess where they are? LOL

What I really miss are the trips I did to Disneyland alone with my mom, but this was before I ever had any children. I won't rule out a solo trip someday.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That would be fun, but they live in another state. Pre-pandemic we did a family trip with them every year, not just Disney. Now my two oldest nephews are busy with college and work

What about making a family trip and trying out Universal Hollywood or Orlando for that matter. You mentioned they aren't into DLR anymore, maybe something else that would pique their interest could help. Being busy is being busy but so is one's interest in the dangling worm if that makes sense

 

[StormyCA]

I hear you. I lost my 'Disney Sistah' a few years ago, not because she stopped loving Disney but for 'other reasons' going on in her life. She and I went at least once a year and our trips were absolutely the BEST. I miss her terribly.

My husband is NOT into Disney, that's why I call him 'nDH' (non-Disney Husband). He'll go to WDW and has a pretty good time when we go (every 2-3 years) as long as he can head back to FtW when he gets burned out and leave me to my own devices. He has fun, but he'd tell you his fun is watching ME have fun. He will NOT go to DLR (long story).

Both my sons are adults. DS1 would rather chew glass, although he's gone to a couple of 'private parties' and had a good time. DS2 enjoys Disney but not enough to make it a yearly destination and given his 'druthers he'd do something else.

So, unless a miracle happens I'll have to content myself with WDW every few years and the occasional solo day trip to DLR (solo is not my cup of tea) when I'm visiting relatives in So Cal.

 

[Disneyland1084]

What about making a family trip and trying out Universal Hollywood or Orlando for that matter. You mentioned they aren't into DLR anymore, maybe something else that would pique their interest could help. Being busy is being busy but so is one's interest in the dangling worm if that makes sense

I like your ideas. I guess it all depends when they're available. We could have been camping with them in Idaho last week, but to take our truck and trailer there would have cost over $1,000.