Bad times at WDW?

[mousermerf]

Warning: Rant post

I just heard from another WDW first-timer group that they had a bad trip.

I gave them a funny look and asked why - their answers didn't surprise me.

-Didn't use fastpass (at first)
-Thought all the crowds were "unbearable" (max of 4 hours in a park at a time)
-Felt they paid too much money for the hotel room (at a Disney Value resort!)
-Wasted tons of time on "time fillers", ex: BBQ, Fireworks Cruise, La Nouba, Carriage Ride, etc.
-Got up at 10am or later ever day and called it a night by 6pm

I just don't get it. This is typical too.

I don't see a WDW vacation being a difficult thing. You get up early, you use fastpass, and you stick to the theme parks if you've never been before.

Why is that so hard? It's not like it's some secret... The park maps have info about fastpass on them!

They were there for 1.5 weeks and went on like 5 rides. Argh! *pulls hair out*

Some people are just hopeless it seems - i'm tryin really hard not to think these folks are just "stupid" for lack of a better term.

 

[snoopi_grl]

Wow.. that's really dumb. :hammer:
How could people be so stupid about the Fast Passes?
If they used them, they probably would've saved time...

 

[tigsmom]

A vacation is what you make of it.

 

[Disneydreaming]

I know people who have had similar complaints. I wonder if they are used to substandard theme parks, like Six Flags, where there aren't many people there for obvious reasons.

 

[frankd1962]

:lookaroun I had two different trips to WDW and had a bit of a bad time there each time.

Back in 1992, We wanted to go in early September but because I didn't have senority at the place I worked at the time we were forced to choose a week in August. Well, we did have fun but the humidity was murder! My kids were young and just kept complaining no matter what we did to try to get them cool. It didn't rain at all until the last day when we decided to stay at the hotel (off-site) and keep in the a/c. It was a five minute downburst and then made it worst.

And in 2000, the reason it was bad my now ex and I were in the middle of the marriage falling apart and were hoping the trip might bring us back together. It didn't but it did place a bit of hpe in me to go back and have a least one trip to WDW and have a real good time.

 

[Agent1964fem]

Disney is such and awesome place its impossible to do everything in one stay ...Hopefully they will try again in a couple years !
My next stay...July 31 -Aug 5 yeah I don't mind the heat !



Wilderness Lodge 1997 -Aug
Caribbean Beach 2003 -Aug
Port Orleans-Riverside 2005- Aug

Even miracles take a little time . Fairy Godmother to Cinderella

 

[BRER STITCH]

Good rant MOUSERMERF! :sohappy:

There is so much detail that we as fans know about Disney, but in reality, lots of people think it's just another trip to 4 Six Flags Parks in one stop! :lol:

It's so easy to find a Disney planning guide with hundreds of websites and fan bulletin boards available, but they pu no effort into their vacation.

I have a hunch these same people put as little effort into everything else they do in life too, and will wander around forever disappointed as a result.

Thank goodness the folks on this board know much better!

:sohappy:

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Lets get real here - For the first timer, WDW is NOT a vacation, nor a holiday - WDW is an adventure and needs to be treated as such. You do not embark upon anything major without the necessary planning (or if you've been there before then at least you have some knowledge and an idea of what to expect).
There are plenty of guide books out there (which must surely mean that there is some planning needed to make a successful trip). Then, armed with the guide book (and having done plenty of pre-trip reading) stroll to the nearest park and pick up the complimentary park map and off you go to navigate and enjoy your own small adventure - easy :sohappy:
No, too many people decide that there is no planning necessary to have a successful first time trip in a small place covering 47 square miles :hammer:

 

[gboiler1]

I have a hard time feeling sorry for someone that spends the amount of money it takes for a nice WDW vacation without planing. Too many times I have given info to co-workers to help with their vacation, and when I asked about their experiences, I'm always amazed at what they missed. Then they admit that they should have taken more of my advice. Some people just don't get it.

I've added a link from a great article from Mike Scopa at MousePlanet that illustrates the same thing, enjoy. http://www.mouseplanet.com/mike/ms050401.htm

 

[Disney4Eva]

You should've gone with them & given them tips. It's funny, the first time my family went, we didn't have a clue what we were doing, but we still had tons of fun.

 

[GoofBall06]

I've known a few people who have done that as well. It tries me crazy when I find out they wake up later..and complain about the crowds.

 

[OliveMcFly]

mousermerf - Felt they paid too much money for the hotel room (at a Disney Value resort!)

OMG! Where else can you go and get a cute and clean hotel room in a awesome resort area for $99 a night!! Goodness, some people just love to complain. The value resorts are great. Even though they are cheap to stay there, Disney doesn't make it anyless comforting then a deluxe resort.

mousermerf - Got up at 10am or later ever day and called it a night by 6pm

Argh! Then you're just asking for a crappy time. HeHe Everyone knows you gotta get to the parks when the gates open and wait to be kicked out at closing.

 

[626]

I've had 2 bad trips to WDW. The first one was on my birthday a couple of friends and I drove up for the day we all had about 3 hours of sleep the night before so by the end of the day we were all rather cranky and at each others throats. The other trip, well, my mother and my wife had never gotten along well, and the 3 of us sharing a room at Riverside for a few days wasn't a good idea...

 

[captcanada]

I think all their complaints would be null and void if they chose a better time to go. It is now hitting "peak season".
If they went when I like to go (early-ish october, or Jan-feb-may) they'd have been fine. The rooms are cheaper. The crowds are MUCH smaller and the heat isnt bad at all.

My only complaints come when it's time to go home again.
That's when I get all sad and whiney

 

[Hakunamatata]

If a "first timer" were to ask me about it, I would tell them to not go during the summer that they should go during off peak during spring or fall. Second, dont expect to do everything, thats what the second trip will be for. Third, plan to spend a considerable amount of money, but expect to get what you pay for. Finally, have fun. If there is a long line fast pass and do something else, then come back.

Anyone who goes to Disney and comes back with an overall bad impression probably can not be pleased by anything anyway.

 

[Miss Bell]

I try to give as many tips to first timers as possible--even if it isn't asked for. :lookaroun I have some friends going next week (no, I did not suggest that time of the year for them) and I gave them all kinds of tips on Fastpasses, Extra Magic Hours, Priority Seating, when and where to snag a place for fireworks and parades, etc.

The first time can be a little overwhelming, and WDW (at least the way my family does it) is not a relaxing, sleep in leisurely vaction. If that is what someone is looking for, they will probably be disappointed.

 

[PoohBear071870]

Just got back last night from a week at WDW and my hubby and I had a great time. Hubby is a teacher, and cannot go during the offseason. I have to admit, the first time we went for a Disney vacation together was in February 2001, and it was a lot less crowded, even during President's weekend than it was last week. We did a lot of planning ahead of time, got up at 5:45am each day we were touring a park, and were at the gates at least an hour prior to opening. We took advantage of Priority Seating arrangements, Extra Magic Hours, and touring plans from Unofficial Guide, which made great use of fastpass. I could see how a person would get frustrated if it is their first time, they did not plan properly, went with the summer crowds, and think it is going to be their only trip to WDW. We are DVC'ers, and will be back next year, so we didn't stress out if a line was too long for an attraction....just catch it next summer. (I get to go back in January...hubby is jealous already!)

 

[celticdog]

It's not unusual to hear about first timers having a bad time. Many don't plan and are completely overwhelmed. My girlfriend's sister went once back in the 90's with her family. They hated it, but they made all the classic mistakes. Peak season, offsite, tickets purchased each day, sleeping in and no research or planning. Her sister is amazed at the photos and souveniers we bring back, because she has realized that they had missed so much. I have a feeling that I will be recruited to plan a trip in the very near future.

For the first trip I ever personally organized, I researched it for months prior to making a reservation and then continue to do research up until the day we left. To quote the old cliche "The devil is in the details".

 

[pinjim]

Terrible trip

We just returned from our trip on June 6.
We got up at 10, sometimes 11 a.m. in the morning. By the time we got to the parks it was noon at best, and everyone else was there. We only saw a few things each day, but were able to hit all the new attractions. Late nights dining at the California Grill, where we watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks display and Hoop-de-doo wore us out. We were rained on because we chose not to buy ponchos because you cook like a bag of popcorn, but with the temps we were dry in no-time. We were forced to use Fast Pass because of our late daily arrivial times and I had to feel sorry for those we passed in the stand-by (ie on and off Peter Pan in 8 minutes, while the stand-by time was 90-plus minutes; on and off Soarin' in about 20 mintues, where standy-bys had an hour plus wait; Big Thunder, us 4 minute wait, stand-by, 45 min.)
We were forced to use the Extra Magic Hours at night, where my oldest and I hit more major rides at the Studios and MK than one should be allowed in a lifetime.
Then, there was all the eating with the Dinning Plan, which I would not recommend to anyone wishing to save your waist line. Having to aviod the fastfood stands and hamburgers all the time was really the pits, and enjoying sit-down means was out of the norm for most.
But then again, the more you visit WDW the more you find the ways you like to spend your time.
As a previous response said: Vacation is what you make it! :sohappy:
:lol: :lol: :wave: :wave: :wave:

 

[tinkish]

-Wasted tons of time on "time fillers", ex: BBQ, Fireworks Cruise, La Nouba, Carriage Rides...

Are these activities a waste of time? Or do you just mean that they should have spent more time at the park? ...cuz I've got tickets to see La Nouba...and I'm very excited!