Why don't people like WDW?

[Julylady]

I know several people who believe Disneyworld is artificial and phony. They also see Disney as a big corporation whose goal is to get you to spend as much money as possible. They would rather vacation in natural spots like the mountains, lakes, beaches. Others like big city experience like museums, theatre, art galleries. I have close friends who spend two weeks each summer in a different European city. They have visited Paris, London, Madrid and Copenhagen in the last four years!

 

[Planogirl]

DH doesn't like WDW because he doesn't like themeparks in general. We had a friend who felt that WDW was fake and plastic and wanted to see real historic places and natural areas. Family have been and liked it but feel no need to go back because they have other preferences. They saw going as a rite of passage and now they've moved on. My mother detested the place due to the crowds.

Everyone is different and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[china mom]

I have absolutely no problem with other people not liking Disney or not understanding my passion for it. My problem lies with those who judge me and criticize my love for Disney. I have acquaintances who sneer when they find out that I just cam back from WDW again or am planning another trip.

So, you don't like WDW, I don't have to explain why I do.

Funny story, one of my biggest critics was youngest BIL. He used to mock those of us in the family who went all the time. Well, now he has a kid and this past Fall, he took his "once in a lifetime" trip to WDW with new DD.

Guess where he is again this week.

 

[gonnago]

I was just at my DGS's soccer game yesterday and overheard one mother ask another if she enjoyed her WDW trip and she said NO! It was too crowded and hot.She said she doesn't like crowds and still could not believe how miserably hot it was there and that she doubts if they ever go back.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

I have absolutely no problem with other people not liking Disney or not understanding my passion for it. My problem lies with those who judge me and criticize my love for Disney. I have acquaintances who sneer when they find out that I just cam back from WDW again or am planning another trip.

So, you don't like WDW, I don't have to explain why I do.

Funny story, one of my biggest critics was youngest BIL. He used to mock those of us in the family who went all the time. Well, now he has a kid and this past Fall, he took his "once in a lifetime" trip to WDW with new DD.

Guess where he is again this week.

I agree no need to explain our passion. Occasionally get that remark of "don't you want to see the REAL world" I explain that I have been to California -Hawaii- Texas-Montreal and other places but I PREFER a WDW vacation over them all.(Hawaii close 2nd )
Funny about your BIL !!

 

[jenniferma]

my brother hates WDW too. He says all the rides empty into "gift shops."
They went in July and don't get to the parks at rope drop. It's hot and it's crowded. Imagine that.. July and it's hot in Orlando and crowded??? no way.
(I think he was raised by wolves.)

I would say overall-- people don't like it because--

1. they go when the parks are above a crowd level of 7.
2. they go when it's hot.
3. they are anti- Disney. (I don't get this one AT ALL.. I grew up loving Walt and the songs of the Sherman Brothers!!!)
4. they paid rack rate
5. they are just negative people in general. (not all people that hate Disney..) but we all know the types... the ones are just hate everything. I think a lot about a vacation is ATTITUDE. If you go to a place like WDW and live it up and pretend to be 10 again-- it's a blast. If you go and complain about every little thing that goes wrong... you aren't going to have a great trip.

One year we went and I got food poisoning and ended up at the hospital. (this is how I knew I had food poisoning-- the nurse told me about the many people who ate the same dish at the same place).. anyhow-- I remember thinking, this stinks.. but it happens. Many people would have cursed Disney and told everyone how awful Disney World was because they got food poisoning and never gone back. I truly believe it's about the attitude.

Have a great night!

 

[Disneytam]

What a great thread! I have a friend who never understood my love of Disney but her family wanted to go(I'm afraid my son who is best friends with her son had something to do with it). I tried giving her advice and telling her about things like the disboards (this was a few years ago). When they returned from Disney all I heard was how much they hated it and that our local six flags was much better and of course a whole lot cheaper. I asked what park they liked the most and was told that they didn't bother with AK because they work with animals every day (farmers) and MK was the only other park they went to. When I asked why they didn't go to Epcot or HS she said "aren't they all pretty much the same thing?" It takes a lot to make me speechless but that did it! She thought Epcot was just a bunch of shopping and HS was just "more boring shows". Years later and they still laugh at us for going to the crazy expensive boring place.

 

[wendybeth75]

I think maybe they go during a super crowded time or they don't take the time to really plan it out. I have friends that say I am crazy for loving it! Disney is NOT a relaxing vacation so for people who love the beach and relaxing all day then Disney may not be the place for them.

 

[P00H1010]

I have heard various reasons:
* "Walking around all day and standing in line doesn't sound like a relaxing vacation. I would rather be laying on a beach or by a pool."
* Too crowded
* Too hot
* Too expensive
* Lines were too long
* Not enough "thrill rides" as they were more roller coaster people
* Couldn't get a seat at a TS for walk up.

WDW isn't for everyone but I would say a lot of repeat complaints I hear can be easily fixed with research. WDW isn't a place you can walk into with blinders so to speak. You don't need to become an expert but you certainly should have an idea of what you are getting yourselves into.

It frustrates me when I hear complaints about long lines, it was too expensive, too crowded and TS table issues....only to find out that they had not used FP and did standby the whole trip, paid rack rate for rooms and had no idea ahead of time the cost of food (or did TS the whole time and no QS), went during peak season (if crowds were a big issue why not go during a slow time? But really it is WDW it will be busy no matter what, so what did you expect? Lol), and didn't schedule ADRs to a high demand place and wondered why they couldn't get a table......do your research! Lol

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

That's the big issue with my friends. They'd rather go to Busch Gardens or Universal because the thrill rides are greater there. It's great to have tons of family rides and tell stories, but there's no negative to adding a thrill seeking park. Especially now that Disney owns Marvel

I totally agree with this, there are issues with Marvel & Universal though I think. I do, however, think that DHS should be revamped to more of a "thrill" park. The rides that are there are in that zone already, why not add more? And while they are at it... why not tell stories AND thrill???

 

[Delirium]

I don't know, but I'm glad some do. Can you imagine the crowds if EVERYONE loved WDW.

 

[HiHoWeGo]

In your opinion, what are some of the most common reasons people hate WDW and how could they do it differently to change that?

1. Crowds: Much more often than not (at least in the era of pervasive free dining plans), parks are very crowded
2. Cost: So expensive that some have to put the funds that could buy 2 or 3 years of vacations into one year at WDW
3. Investment: The parks have been relatively attraction-static recently; for those that are experienced and say they won't be going again, this is a factor
4. Service: Service has degraded greatly recently, despite the cost (see #2)
5. Competition: Competitors (e.g. Universal) are doing things right these days, much more so than Disney
6. Planning: As you said, planning is key to getting the most out of WDW, inexperienced visitors rarely understand this fully

There's probably a lot more, but these are the things I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Most common reason:
The TRIFECTA:
Crowds + Heat + Young Children.

Gets them every time.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I don't think it's hard to understand at all. WDW is the high maintenance girlfriend of vacations. If you want to date the supermodel and don't mind her expensive tastes, fickle moods and high demand for personal attention then go ahead, but don't be surprised when your friends don't think she's worth all the trouble.

Analogy of the year so far!!!

I'm pretty sure you speak for most 5 year old boys who know this girl...

I miss these days...

 

[surferdave]

She thought Epcot was just a bunch of shopping and HS was just "more boring shows".

 

[kbelle8995]

I think there are many reasons why people don't like WDW.

1). Too Expensive. There are many who I've talked to who think that Disney is just too much money. Quote from a recent person "I have to take out a loan to go."
2). Some simply don't view as having to schedule things as a good thing. Vacation is for relaxing. It's just not for them.
3) Think Disney is just for kids.

And that's just a few that I've heard.