Disney World: please please research

[Anonymous]

Been to 30+ countries. DH and I enjoy the adventure, have a tween and a teen that are also well-traveled. We spend a lot of money on travel, done many trips, cruises, etc. Cost hasn't prohibited us from doing what we want.
I am a Type A trip planner. I love researching and planning everything else but NOT for Disney. I don't know what it is but I get on those message boards and start reading and it just totally turns me off.

Been to Disney 3 times, once in Hong Kong, and that's pretty much enough for me. I think my head would explode if we went 3x a year. I hate the show reservations, the restaurant reservations that have to be booked 6 months ahead, the apps for the rides, planning how you are going to move around in the park. Omg. Shoot me if I have to do that repeatedly. We checked the box and took our kids to Disney. Thank goodness they don't beg to go back, even at the height of my DD's princess obsession. Don't get me wrong. I think it's a fun place and all but it would totally kill my spirit if we had to restrict our movement down to fast passes and figuring out what line to stand in. And I really don't care about the "little magical details." Last time we went, we had a free day and we gave the kids a choice of going to Magic Kingdom or hanging out at the resort and both of them said they'd rather just hang out. That was an awesome day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol at grand Floridian being called a "decent" place.

you do realize how pathetic you sound, right?

I find it hilarious, too. The Grand Floridian is more than a *decent* place; it's gorgeous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cool story, bro.

Lame comeback, bro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol at grand Floridian being called a "decent" place.

you do realize how pathetic you sound, right?

We're poor and can't even the Grand Floridian, but it's not a decent place. It's a fake Disney hotel.

Just stop. They aren't "fake." They are great hotels, by any standard. with what would be considered to be great service outside of Disney.

People are ridiculous.

Of course they are. They're artificially set up with a theme. That's like the definition of fake. Yo can go spend $500 a night on a much nicer hotel without the Disney brand.

So, some people would see the Polynesian and think -- wow, we can imagine we're in the south Pacific! And others will think -- who are they kidding, we're in central Florida. The people in group B should probably not bother going to Disney. Lots of people enjoy the effort Disney puts into making the hotels an immersive experience and consider it worth the cost.

Agree - people who embrace the "pretend" part of Disney will enjoy their trip. Those who do not must endure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family goes to WDW probably 3x a year on average. We just love it. However, I can understand folks hating it who go down without doing research because it's theme parks. I see families fighting and getting all upset over the missed details of planning this type of vacation. Buy a guidebook, listen to podcasts, get an authorized Disney travel agent... But don't go blindly!

I did a ton of research and planning and still thought it was the worst place to voluntarily go to.
Kids just wanted a pool he could walk into. a few rides were bonus but "the fair" is just as good.

[Anonymous]

Spirit Killing.
Disney is spirit killing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family goes to WDW probably 3x a year on average. We just love it. However, I can understand folks hating it who go down without doing research because it's theme parks. I see families fighting and getting all upset over the missed details of planning this type of vacation. Buy a guidebook, listen to podcasts, get an authorized Disney travel agent... But don't go blindly!

I did a ton of research and planning and still thought it was the worst place to voluntarily go to.
Kids just wanted a pool he could walk into. a few rides were bonus but "the fair" is just as good.

This is how my kids are too. And I'm thankful they don't want to go because it's expensive and the level of planning and lead time that "30+ countries" pp mentioned is overkill.

[Anonymous]

Let me summarize this thread this far. There seem to be two types of people.

Disney is fun and cool! people

and

I'm better than Disney! people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me summarize this thread this far. There seem to be two types of people.

Disney is fun and cool! people

and

I'm better than Disney! people

What is weird is Disney seems to be the only place that engenders this response--but it ALWAYS gets this response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me summarize this thread this far. There seem to be two types of people.

Disney is fun and cool! people

and

I'm better than Disney! people

What is weird is Disney seems to be the only place that engenders this response--but it ALWAYS gets this response.

WDW is very middle brow (at best), but also very expensive. This creates the opportunity for upper middle class people fight about it. It is a class and education marker that goes both ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me summarize this thread this far. There seem to be two types of people.

Disney is fun and cool! people

and

I'm better than Disney! people

What is weird is Disney seems to be the only place that engenders this response--but it ALWAYS gets this response.

WDW is very middle brow (at best), but also very expensive. This creates the opportunity for upper middle class people fight about it. It is a class and education marker that goes both ways.

Well, I am baffled by resorts like the Greenbrier--why would someone pay all that money to go stay in a hotel somewhere so the husband can golf and the wife can get facials and the kids can go to faux day camp?--but I would never post that on a discussion board. (Well, OK, I just did, but only as an example.) Everyone has stuff they would never do, but they don't make a point of going on threads and talking about it--except when its Disney. It's so weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me summarize this thread this far. There seem to be two types of people.

Disney is fun and cool! people

and

I'm better than Disney! people

What is weird is Disney seems to be the only place that engenders this response--but it ALWAYS gets this response.

WDW is very middle brow (at best), but also very expensive. This creates the opportunity for upper middle class people fight about it. It is a class and education marker that goes both ways.

Well, I am baffled by resorts like the Greenbrier--why would someone pay all that money to go stay in a hotel somewhere so the husband can golf and the wife can get facials and the kids can go to faux day camp?--but I would never post that on a discussion board. (Well, OK, I just did, but only as an example.) Everyone has stuff they would never do, but they don't make a point of going on threads and talking about it--except when its Disney. It's so weird.

b/c there is something particularly weird about adults getting excited about being surrounded by cartoons and childish things

[Anonymous]

I don't get Greenbrier either. We went to a wedding there without our kids and thought it was ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I think OP has a point--you'll enjoy the parks more if you actually do some research because you really do need to put some effort into planning if you want to hit everything. Otherwise, if you don't have more than one day per park you want to visit, just pick your "must-dos" and concentrate on those. Or go to Disneyland, get a four-day pass and you will be able to do everything you want. Despite the fact the plane ride is twice as long, it's a much less stressful way to experience Disney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me summarize this thread this far. There seem to be two types of people.

Disney is fun and cool! people

and

I'm better than Disney! people

What is weird is Disney seems to be the only place that engenders this response--but it ALWAYS gets this response.

WDW is very middle brow (at best), but also very expensive. This creates the opportunity for upper middle class people fight about it. It is a class and education marker that goes both ways.

Well, I am baffled by resorts like the Greenbrier--why would someone pay all that money to go stay in a hotel somewhere so the husband can golf and the wife can get facials and the kids can go to faux day camp?--but I would never post that on a discussion board. (Well, OK, I just did, but only as an example.) Everyone has stuff they would never do, but they don't make a point of going on threads and talking about it--except when its Disney. It's so weird.

Sure. But you probably don't feel the need to prove your education and upper class credentials at every possible turn. Disney is not fashionable among the strivers and social climbers. They hate on it to prove that they are more sophisticated than the rest of American society.