If you had a negative experience traveling to Disney, can you share why?

[Anonymous]

I grew up going to Disney and love it. My 6 and 8 year olds struggle with lines, heat, crowds, etc. We have gone a few times for 1 day in Disneyland and we went to Disneyland when they we’re 3 and 5 and they liked it but didn’t love it. I’m starting to wonder if they just aren’t Disney kids and would prefer a trip to a really fun beach resort with water activities and a great kids club. Can you share any experiences where your kids didn’t like disney and why?

[Anonymous]

Most kids don’t like standing in long lines and navigating crowds. The rides are mediocre and most geared towards very young kids. The food is terrible. There’s nothing relaxing about waking up early to rush to rope drop and go go go all day long. Exhausting.

Having said that, my kids enjoyed it. But they much prefer the Disney cruise which is much more fun without dealing with lines.

[Anonymous]

Disney is not fun anymore at all. You have to schedule all meals in advance, or eat extremely crappy fast food options, you have to schedule all rides in advance or wait in line for an hour, everything is super expensive, everything costs extra money, everything seems slightly worn down and it's much hotter than it was when I was a child. Save your money and go anyplace else.

[Anonymous]

My kids liked it, but we went twice and I can't imagine going any more than that.

They were 4, 6, and 8 the first time we went, and that was perfect.

Then 9, 11, and 13. The upside was that they wanted to ride every ride at that age. But that "magic" with characters is best with little kids.

I think it's great to go to Disney once. There are just sooooo many other places to see!

[Anonymous]

Disney is great if you know what you’re doing and can afford to spend. The misery comes from people who try to save money or show up and wonder around with no idea how it all works.

Also, some people don’t like it anyway. But, that’s true of all things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up going to Disney and love it. My 6 and 8 year olds struggle with lines, heat, crowds, etc. We have gone a few times for 1 day in Disneyland and we went to Disneyland when they we’re 3 and 5 and they liked it but didn’t love it. I’m starting to wonder if they just aren’t Disney kids and would prefer a trip to a really fun beach resort with water activities and a great kids club. Can you share any experiences where your kids didn’t like disney and why?

Worst time ever traveling to Disney in July. Miserable weather wise. Most fun at Disney in between the week after Thanksgiving and before Xmas. Weather perfect. Crowds within reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up going to Disney and love it. My 6 and 8 year olds struggle with lines, heat, crowds, etc. We have gone a few times for 1 day in Disneyland and we went to Disneyland when they we’re 3 and 5 and they liked it but didn’t love it. I’m starting to wonder if they just aren’t Disney kids and would prefer a trip to a really fun beach resort with water activities and a great kids club. Can you share any experiences where your kids didn’t like disney and why?

Worst time ever traveling to Disney in July. Miserable weather wise. Most fun at Disney in between the week after Thanksgiving and before Xmas. Weather perfect. Crowds within reason.

PP again. Loved Disney World. Disney Land was okay.

[Anonymous]

I just took my son to Disneyworld for the first time at 11. We had a blast - I don’t think it would have been fun any earlier. I think if you wait until they are 11 and 9 you’ll have fun. I especially appreciated that we didn’t need to get home to get to bed early, he had a lot of stamina, but was still young enough to enjoy all the characters and “magic.”

[Anonymous]

We enjoyed our visit, but it was pre-Covid and I had a Disney travel agent who helped us arrange the trip. My understanding is that things have changed and it’s harder to deal with now.

[Anonymous]

I grew up going monthly or even every other week. It was amazing.

Despite spending all the money and doing everything in my power, including going on low weeks, it’s just not fun. It’s mostly that the lines are sooooooooo long. Even with genie plus we waited 15-20 min. And sometimes had to wait twice for the same ride if we did child swap. Child swap really blew our times. My older kids are the right age though.

The food was good, attractions good, hotels nice, characters good. It’s just the lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just took my son to Disneyworld for the first time at 11. We had a blast - I don’t think it would have been fun any earlier. I think if you wait until they are 11 and 9 you’ll have fun. I especially appreciated that we didn’t need to get home to get to bed early, he had a lot of stamina, but was still young enough to enjoy all the characters and “magic.”

I have never left early and my kids just did stroller naps. When they’re little, they actually believe the characters are real. That’s the magic part

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disney is great if you know what you’re doing and can afford to spend. The misery comes from people who try to save money or show up and wonder around with no idea how it all works.

Also, some people don’t like it anyway. But, that’s true of all things.

Absolutely this. We go just about every year and love it. We stay club level, pay for Genie + and Lightning Lanes, and book nice lunch restaurants 60 days in advance. In the last 5 years I can count on one hand how many times we had to wait more than 30 min for a ride. Once you have the system figured out it’s a blast.

[Anonymous]

25 years ago it was ok. Now it’s crowded, expensive, lines for miles, too hot, and the characters are locked away for the top payers.

[Anonymous]

My kid gets dysregulated too easily to ever have Disney be enjoyable. Climate change + international travel has made Disney more miserable than ever.

I’ll let my kid go as a teen, if he wants to try it as part of a larger trip to California. No say we will ever go to Orlando lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up going to Disney and love it. My 6 and 8 year olds struggle with lines, heat, crowds, etc. We have gone a few times for 1 day in Disneyland and we went to Disneyland when they we’re 3 and 5 and they liked it but didn’t love it. I’m starting to wonder if they just aren’t Disney kids and would prefer a trip to a really fun beach resort with water activities and a great kids club. Can you share any experiences where your kids didn’t like disney and why?

OP all kids struggle with the lines at Disney.

It is not a place to wing it with 6 -8 year olds, that you already know do not like lines.

You know your own kids take them to a beach resort. Disney is not for you.