Every picture I've seen of the food looks like mediocre cafeteria food.
That’s exactly what it’s like! We went to a supposedly good Italian place and it was like Olive Garden (nothing wrong with OG but it’s not GOOD). The fancy meal at Cinderella’s castle was like bad wedding food. And the specialty stuff that influencers post is just plain gross.
I went once to WDW when I was a kid and I still remember the dichotomy of how cool certain things were (I loved 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which no longer exists) and how miserable it was to wait in line in the Florida heat for things like Dumbo (which was just a single ride at the time and zero shade in the line, they have changed all of that entirely).
We have taken our kids to WDW twice. TBH I absolutely loved doing Disney with small kids. Traveling with little kids (I think mine were like 4 and 6 their first visit) can be really rough and I felt like Disney made things as easy and pleasant as it could be, with a lot of great, enjoyable moments for both kids and parents. I also liked that we could plan as much as we wanted in order to get certain things in, but just wandering was neat and enjoyable, too.
We did Universal this past summer and it was definitely more of a regular amusement park experience, I didn't feel like it was at the Disney level of thoughtfulness about the guest experience, keeping lines cool/bearable, restrooms easy to find, etc. The Harry Potter stuff was definitely the coolest part of the Universal parks.
But I also think WDW has changed quite a bit since the last time we were there. It seems like things are going more and more in the direction that you really have to plan more/pay more and further in advance. We thought about throwing in a last-minute day at one of the Disney parks as a break from Universal, but now that you have to have both tickets plus reservations to the specific park (and multiple parks often sell out for the day), we scrapped that and just stuck to Universal.
Every picture I've seen of the food looks like mediocre cafeteria food.
That’s exactly what it’s like! We went to a supposedly good Italian place and it was like Olive Garden (nothing wrong with OG but it’s not GOOD). The fancy meal at Cinderella’s castle was like bad wedding food. And the specialty stuff that influencers post is just plain gross.
The specialty foods make for good pictures but every thing I’ve tried was gross.
I hate that they cater to the influencer crowd so much.
Its ok, we took SDs in 2012 when they were 9 and 11 and we are going in November for DSs first trip, he is turning 10 while we are there and the trip is a surprise. I'm really excited to do this with DS but we probably won't go again unless we decide to do a day at Typhoon Lagoon during a trip to visit ILs.
I love Disney. I’m not a pass holder or anything, but if we lived in Florida I’m sure I would be. We’ve done DL twice with the kids (we have family in San Diego, so when we visit we can do a day trip), and DW 3x. If I had unlimited money I’d probably go every year, but I’m not willing to make Disney our only vacation destination.
For me it’s that it just feels like stepping out of reality and into something purely joyful. Every single thing has been chosen and hand crafted to make you feel happy- from the smells pumped into the hotel foyers to the overwhelming number of options for food, entertainment, experiences, etc. Feeling snackish? Tap right here. Bored in line? Here’s an interactive app experience. Have a question? There’s always a cast member nearby who’s happy to help. And there’s no judgement for your happiness there- 40 year old woman in Minnie ears and a disneybounding outfit? Go for it. You want to get a solo picture with Stitch? Why not.
DH and I had never been, so I took him to WDW for a long weekend for his 40th birthday and we had a blast. It was the most fun we had there. When DS was 7 we went ahead of a cruise for 2 days and did an entire week split between there and Universal when he was 9. My parents started spending part of the year in FL, so we tagged a couple days in Disney onto visiting them because dad was rough to take after about 72 hours. DS went for his senior class trip and said it was way better than going with parents.
I don't see myself ever returning intentionally. I have a friend who married into a family who only ever vacations at WDW. A niece by marriage is planning a Disney wedding next July and she's been thinking about ways to politely decline.
We did universal in June and my kid still talks about how much she loved it. Honestly, I could see us going back sooner if we could swing a quick 3 day trip. Plus, hotels with express passes. Definitely was a plus for us.
Disney has good food but you have to know where to go. The restaurants inside the parks definitely need to step up their game (as does quick service in Magic Kingdom). There are a few we will eat at but we mostly go to the hotels for dinner. There are some fantastic restaurants on property but they aren't necessarily convenient. By then though we are over crowds and like the chill vibe and always great service.
I would say for me Disney is a lot of nostalgia. I have family in Florida and spent most summers with my grandparents. We would usually go for a day or two every year. It just reminds me of childhood in a good way. I couldn't wait to share it with DD and DH and somehow they love it, too. DD talks about the trip all year and is counting down the days until our next one. I totally get why it isn't for everyone though. You have to do a LOT of planning to manage the day and avoid the crowds. I excel at that kind of thing and it's part of the fun for me but I know a lot of people hate that.
There really is something for everyone though. Some people love AI's, some love camping, some love traveling overseas. Me? I just want to travel anywhere anytime and need to find a way to win the lottery. For everyone saying international travel is cheaper than Disney...how? We are getting priced out of Disney but every time we look at flying to London we are looking at $5,000-$6,000 for just tickets.
Can't I pick two? We took the kids when they were 5 and 7 and I admit that was a lot of fun. DD was at the tail end of her princess phase, so I'm glad we went then. We're going next year with a big family group, like 30 people, and I'm starting to regret the decision to go. So I want to choose "We go for the kids" AND "I can think of 9 million things I'd rather do."
I had to go in July for DDs sports team event. I really thought I was going to hate every single second of being there, especially in that heat! We had a great time though. It was nice that some of the teammate's parents were super Disney people and schooled us on all the disney apps stuff to maximize the experience. That part was definitely new to me!
ETA: I was amazed at how much they did not care about guest safety in the 105 degree and sunny weather. Lines were outdoors for most rides and they didn't offer ANY shade. Like, Disney can't afford a few canopy's?
I hate all things Disney. It's just not my thing and I have a viseral reaction to it sometimes. We went once, with kids, and that was the last time I will step foot on Disney property, lol.
10000% this. We went when S was like 9 months only because we were already in florida and friends invited us to meet them there for a discounted overnight (they have all these disney perks) and we still spent $1500 in less than 24 hours. I told my husband that if he and S want to go again in the future, they can plan it themselves and do a day trip while I spend the day on the beach. No thank you.
Also, I think about all the vacations my parents took me on where we went museums and historic sites where I couldn’t talk or touch anything and I had to follow tour guides, and I was bored to tears, so very bored.
I vowed, as an adult, I’d try to find a happy balance with vacations where my kids are entertained and places my DH and I enjoy. So if that means Disney every five years or whatever, so be it.
ha! I feel the exact opposite. My parents always took us to museums and historic sites and NEVER to disney. I grew up saying "I will take my future kids to disney!" and now I am an adult and think back to all of the amazing trips my parents took me on! So many museums and cultures I got to explore and see that many kids did not have the privilege of seeing. Now I am the same as my parents, lol.
Huge fan, though I don’t usually get to go multiple times a year. Lately we’ve gone quite a bit though - Disneyland in March and July, I’ll be at WDW in a little over a week on a girls trip, and dh and I will be at WDW next May. We don’t have kids. Dh didn’t used to be a fan but he is now.
However if it’s just dh and I, we don’t spend our whole vacation at Disneyland. We stay by the beach for a few days (usually Laguna), and do various things that we enjoy in SoCal. Then 2 days at Disneyland.
As for the cost, entertainment is expensive these days. We could get 4 day parkhopper tickets for less than we paid for 2 concert tickets a few weeks ago. Things have gotten expensive everywhere it seems.
I went a few times growing up and then we never took our kids when they were little because we had other trips we wanted to do more. Finally took them last spring at 11 and 14 and it was awesome. They loved all the rides and we had such a good time. I am super annoyed that the kids meals end at age 9 in the park though (in sit down restaurants which, I agree, do not have good food to start with). My kids don't eat a lot (quantity or variety) so getting a $30 adult meal that they won't eat is such a joke. Anyway, we had a great time but think we are one and done with taking them.
Love, love it. Disneyland over Disney World though. If you want a more low key Disney experience, Disneyland is the way to go. We only make one dining reservation and everything else is walk up. We do have the benefit of going at the slowest time of year too.
A couple weeks ago I went to a conference in Anaheim right next to Disneyland and I was really surprised at the how much smaller it was than WDW (in a good way). It seems like a much more manageable experience.
Omg we went to Legoland for the first time last year and it was so dirty! And the food was revolting. Too bad DS2 loved it. I’m hoping to avoid a return trip
The legoland in CA is so bad. My kids freaking love that place though so we go once or twice a year.
None of the food is good and it’s more expensive than Disney. The rides are kinda janky and definitely need a sprucing up.
I do really like the submarine ride with the fish though lol.
Yes the rides are terrible. It is like a fancy carnival. I could not believe how bad legoland was. I told the kids never again. That is a big reason why I now enjoy Disney parks too - dollar for dollar compared to other things we do I find it a bargain!
::whispers:: You can do Disney World without planning the shit out of it.
We went over Halloween last year. Three days, one park each day. We had breakfast and dinner reservations. The rest? We got in lines like regular people. We did everything we wanted and it was fun.
I can’t get on board with a lot of the overplanning for a variety of reasons.
I think the turning point for me was when we were at Epcot in "Paris" and my husband looked at me and said "you know, with the money we spent on this trip, we could have taken a bomb-ass trip to ACTUAL PARIS."
We did it once. It was fun for what it was. We won't go back.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
I was meh prior to kids. After going with a little one, I definitely appreciated the thought that goes into making everything kid-friendly.
But really, it's a lot. Like, it feels like you need to speak a different language to exist there. And put planning into it to utilize all they have. I prefer a more spontaneous experience, frankly. Which, I guess is possible there, but again, feels like you're missing out.
The whole thing exhausts me to think about, lol. That and I don't care if I never go back to FL after living there for the past ten years.
There really is something for everyone though. Some people love AI's, some love camping, some love traveling overseas. Me? I just want to travel anywhere anytime and need to find a way to win the lottery. For everyone saying international travel is cheaper than Disney...how? We are getting priced out of Disney but every time we look at flying to London we are looking at $5,000-$6,000 for just tickets.
I think it depends on your local airport. You can fly direct from almost anywhere in the US to Orlando, but only big airports have direct flights to Europe. Once you start adding connections it gets more expensive and you often can't take the cheapest ticket because the schedules are delusional (4 am flights, 30 minute layovers, etc.).
But, at Disney you are spending a baseline of like $400 per day for tickets for a family of 4. That plus the food and upgrades is way more than I usually spend on any day of a vacation in the US or abroad.
There really is something for everyone though. Some people love AI's, some love camping, some love traveling overseas. Me? I just want to travel anywhere anytime and need to find a way to win the lottery. For everyone saying international travel is cheaper than Disney...how? We are getting priced out of Disney but every time we look at flying to London we are looking at $5,000-$6,000 for just tickets.
I think it depends on your local airport. You can fly direct from almost anywhere in the US to Orlando, but only big airports have direct flights to Europe. Once you start adding connections it gets more expensive and you often can't take the cheapest ticket because the schedules are delusional (4 am flights, 30 minute layovers, etc.).
But, at Disney you are spending a baseline of like $400 per day for tickets for a family of 4. That plus the food and upgrades is way more than I usually spend on any day of a vacation in the US or abroad.
I think that is part of it. I live close to an international airport but there are still few nonstop flights. The ones they do have are very expensive. Time of year matters, too. If we could travel in say early February we would be able to make it work. We cannot. Summer travel is just bonkers. Post Covid you don’t even save much using miles (at least not with United).