We took our kids this year for the first time and it was amazing to see it through my four year old's eyes. I don't feel the need to go every year or anything, but I'm sure we'll be back in a few years when my son is a little older so he can have that same experience.

That's great! I'll stay away so that you can continue to enjoy it. I honestly won't be able to form a real opinion because I hope I never have to go...

Us too. DH and I went a couple times pre kids and took our kids 2 times as preschoolers. Now that they are 5 and 8 we plan to go annually until they no longer want to.

We usually stay offsite because I just can't stand being squished into a hotel room or studio villa. I agree the hotels are beautiful, but I really enjoy full kitchen/laundry and my kids sleeping in a separate room. This in no way detracts from my love of Disney.

We are going the week before spring break but looking forward to another trip to see the new Frozen ride, the new Soarin, and the new Animal Kingdom night show.

I don't mind it, but I think it's entirely too expensive and I hate that they're enticing poor people there to basically throw away money they don't have. My kids thought it was fine, but they're just as happy at Busch Gardens. Go figure.

I like Disney in small doses. Maybe we only need to go once or twice with our kids. I love traveling though and would prefer to also experience many other places.

Anonymous wrote:10:37 here

I think the people who hate it are those who either do not plan in advance or who try to pack too much into one trip. We follow the mode that we will be back in a few years anyway so it's no big deal if we miss something on any one trip. We go to the parks in the morning, hit lunch, hang by the pool at the hotel in the afternoon, then go back for dinner and the fireworks at night.

And we never do rope drop.

I love Disney, too. I think it's such an easy destination for families. I don't have to worry about if a place is suitable for kids, if the staff will be patient with children.

But I don't think people who don't love Disney are doing it wrong, PP. Maybe they just legitimately do not like it. Don't like lines, don't like crowds, whatever. It's okay to prefer relaxing beach house vacations.

We love Disney World too!! I have such fond memories of vacationing there when I was a kid and it still feels like a very special place to me. I'm lucky to have been multiple times, plus I've enjoyed trying out Disney Land and Euro Disney.

We really like having lunch at Tusker House in the Animal Kingdom because it has genuinely tasty and healthy choices, is dark and cool if you need a break from the heat, and my dd loves the characters that come around to the table for a visit. When she was very little, they were very patient and sweet with her as she snuggled into their laps. Now that she's older and we're getting ready for our 3rd trip back with her, I fully expect her to join one of the conga lines.

I have to say staying at the animal kingdom resort was more of a treat than I expected it to be. Waking up at the crack of dawn because I was so happy to be there, pulling the curtain aside a little, and seeing a giraffe sleeping a few feet away was just amazing.

Does rope drop mean that you get there as it opens? We like to do that with breakfast reservations - then we can get in before it's crowded (and before it officially opens for anything except breakfast) and eat, and by the time we're done the initial tidal wave into the park is over and we can go on our way.

And we like to ditch the parades and fireworks and take advantage of the much shorter lines!

Anonymous wrote:10:37 here

I think the people who hate it are those who either do not plan in advance or who try to pack too much into one trip. We follow the mode that we will be back in a few years anyway so it's no big deal if we miss something on any one trip. We go to the parks in the morning, hit lunch, hang by the pool at the hotel in the afternoon, then go back for dinner and the fireworks at night.

And we never do rope drop.

We are the same way except we do rope drop. Our kids have always been early risers so it easy for us to get to the parks by 8:30. We have yet to do early magic hour though. That is too early, even for us. We don't try to go all day. We usually go to 1 park per day, go for the morning/early afternoon and then return to our resort to relax and hang out by the pool. We will go back to see a parade or dinner at Epcot but maybe 2x per trip only.

10:37 here

I think the people who hate it are those who either do not plan in advance or who try to pack too much into one trip. We follow the mode that we will be back in a few years anyway so it's no big deal if we miss something on any one trip. We go to the parks in the morning, hit lunch, hang by the pool at the hotel in the afternoon, then go back for dinner and the fireworks at night.

And we never do rope drop.

Yeah we love Disney. We go every/other year or so. We go other places too fwiw (we take 3 family trips a year plus one couples trip). Our favorite restaurants are California Grill in the Contemporary and the Flying Fish on the boardwalk.

I would never have taken a Disney vacation as a childless adult, but I absolutely love taking my kids there. I have family in southern California, so we go to Disneyland for a few days at least once a year, and I've taken each of the kids on short, one-on-one trips to Disney World recently.

There's a new Jungle Cruise themed restaurant in Adventure Land to check out on your upcoming trip.

If you haven't been, Disneyland may be worth a trip. I think Cars Land is adorable, and I don't think it's replicated anywhere at Disney World. There are quite a few things to do and see, and everything is close together. And I love the restaurant that overlooks the Pirates of the Caribbean ride there. Of course, being in southern California, the weather is almost always fantastic, and there are tons of other things to do nearby.

I am from Southern CA so just had my first trip to Disney World (have been to Disneyland more times than I could ever count) a couple weeks ago at 28 weeks pregnant. I can't wait for my little one to be big enough so I can take him (or let's be honest, I'll probably take him when he's too young just as an excuse so I can go again).

To each his own. I HATED it. My husband and daughter loved it. Sure I'd go again for them if they really really really wanted to. I hope neither one of them brings it up again.

I love it too. It's so beautiful and perfect and well thought out. They make it so easy and memorable.

People who hate it are those who haven't been there and imagine it being like the Disney store, or like Kings Dominion. Or they just assume it's a bunch of riffraff in faux leather Disney jackets. It's too expensive for that crowd.


People don't realize how perfect everything is.

There I said it. We are going on our 5th trip to Disney. Each trip feels different since we stay at different resorts, try our different restaurants and have different itineraries. My kids get plenty of other culture. We frequent museums often. We go on hikes and fishing. We travel plenty both domestically and internationally.

Any other Disney lovers? What is your favorite thing to do/eat at Disney World?

Wondering if we can add something new that I was not planning to do.

We love Mickey waffles and pineapple dole whip. I don't know why it tastes so good when we are there.