Do you actually enjoy Disney World when you go?

[mergatroid]

There's so much negativity towards Disney at times I actually wonder whether those who go actually enjoy themselves or do they walk around thinking negatively about everything there? I understand that there'll be things that people don't like anymore about changes in prices or missing things that they used to offer, but does it ruin your trip? I've been going for decades and a week tomorrow we fly out for our 15 night trip. Really looking forward to our visit and a break from everything to do with my mother's dementia which can be stressful, however I still get excited about our trip.

When I read the thoughts of some on here it's sad to see that they seemingly get very little other than complaints about the current Disney World and seem desperate to view nearly everything negatively. I'm not talking about those who have the odd moan about things, more the let's be critical of everything types on here? Does anyone who complains about seemingly everything still go when they can, or have you just completely stopped going because you get nothing from visiting anymore?

We visit Universal too for HHN and are looking forward to multiple visits with our Rush of Fear passes. We've a 14 day Disney pass and will probably go 8 or 9 times to Disney. It's expensive but I still get great enjoyment from the parks along with my wife. I genuinely don't really notice lots of negative things there that I read about on here. The dirty rides, the broken lightbulbs just don't seem to slap me in the face as I walk around. We don't pay for Lightening Lanes and just use common sense and planning to ride what we want, I always think why pay to ride when we already have and we're there so many days though I realise that others may have that luxury. We miss The Citizens of Hollywood at the Studios but still can get enjoyment from our trips there even though they're a big loss.

I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't be critical of Disney or that others aren't entitled to speak their minds. I understand that there are valid complaints but sometimes it just feels like the Disney and the pleasure I still get from going doesn't exist for some on here. It's more based towards those who seem critical of practically everything, do you still go and if so do you get any enjoyment from the place still?

 

[Br0ckford]

I enjoy it every weekend when we go. I mean, I jumped at the chance to transfer here for work when the opportunity came up for the chance to be close and don't regret it at all. We have a park rotation for every weekend, and make sure to try 1 new thing at every park. But like anything, there are things we feel are not up to par, or could be cleaner, or executed better, but mostly are 99% positive.

I think there are those that like to be gloom and doom and want to put down anything Disney does for the sake of being negative. Maybe it's because they have a picture of what it was as a kid or past visits, or what they wish it to be in their mind, and when it's not, nothing is good enough.

I also think there are some who like to put down management no matter what they do. Granted, the past couple decades worth of management have deserved it. Especially as it seems money has been a driving factor for decisions, but they could do exactly what they want and would still have a problem.

I also think there are those that just like to contradictory to anything anyone says, either for or against.

I do believe everyone here is passionate about WDW.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Yes. Why would I go if I didn't enjoy it?

 

[thomas998]

Not as much as I used to. That's why went from a family that would go multiple times a year for a week or more each trip to no more than once a year and then spending more time at Universal. Part of it is the kids are older and Universal is more suited to older kids than Disney... and part of it is that a lot of Disney things have been cheapened in quality while hit with higher prices. I don't mind paying a premium price for a premium experience but I don't like paying a premium price for a sub par experience. Probably why when we go now we try to do it when they are having a special ticket experience like Halloween or Christmas so we don't bother even getting a normal ticket to the park because MK just isn't worth it anymore when it's crowded and they have all the hoops to jump through for getting on rides.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Why would I go if I didn't enjoy it?

I don't, so I don't go. I once lived and breathed WDW. I worked my butt off just trying to make enough additional money to go there from Vermont. The last time I went which was in 2019 it had gotten to the spot where I enjoyed it but that feeling that I had for almost 40 years was no longer there. I no longer felt it was worth it. It wasn't closure of my favorites that turned me away because I enjoyed the new ones as well, but the atmosphere had changed, the vibe, if you will. Yes, it cost more but believe me when I tell you that my first trip in 1983 came with a lot of anxiety and budgeting before and after. Looking back it seem like that couldn't have been possible considering how low the prices were back then. However, when a years pay was 18K and out of that came mortgages, car payments, utilities, groceries and clothing for a family of four there wasn't a lot left over for trips to WDW.

Somehow we did manage to scrape together enough to have a highly budgeted trip. The old attractions were good for us back then so it wasn't that, it was more the feeling I had when I drove under the Welcome to WDW on World Drive. Now it seems like work, check your phone every minute, pay extra to see things that once were what your admission ticket paid for. Everybody was equal, you didn't have to pay more for the enjoyment than anyone else and it just didn't feel like they were trying to extract every nickel from you. I guess it just boils down to IFYKYK.

Even though it seems like I hate that place, that would be incorrect. I still love it I just can no longer spend that kind of money. I might have enough but I can't justify it anymore. So, sorry if I sound negative on occasion. I am more just sad and melancholy about being unable to have that same excited feeling inside that once sent me on that nearly 3000 mile road trip year after year. I even was part of a Disney Fan group that met about twice a year a the Disney Store here in Raleigh. We just talked about how much we loved that place and shared experiences there. Now the store and the group no longer exist.

 

[John park hopper]

Why would I go if I didn't enjoy it?

I don't, so I don't go. I once lived and breathed WDW. I worked my butt off just trying to make enough additional money to go there from Vermont. The last time I went which was in 2019 it had gotten to the spot where I enjoyed it but that feeling that I had for almost 40 years was no longer there. I no longer felt it was worth it. It wasn't closure of my favorites that turned me away because I enjoyed the new ones as well, but the atmosphere had changed, the vibe, if you will. Yes, it cost more but believe me when I tell you that my first trip in 1983 came with a lot of anxiety and budgeting before and after. Looking back it seem like that couldn't have been possible considering how low the prices were back then. However, when a years pay was 18K and out of that came mortgages, car payments, utilities, groceries and clothing for a family of four there wasn't a lot left over for trips to WDW.

Some how we did manage to scrape together enough to have a highly budgeted trip. The old attractions were good for us back then so it wasn't that, it was more the feeling I had when I drove under the Welcome to WDW on World Drive. Now it seems like work, check your phone every minute, pay extra to see things that once where what your admission ticket paid for. Everybody was equal, you didn't have to pay more for the enjoyment than anyone else and it just didn't feel like they were trying to extract every nickel from you. I guess it just boils down to IFYKYK.

Even though it seems like I hate that place, that would be incorrect. I still love it I just can no longer spend that kind of money. I might have enough but I can't justify it anymore. So, sorry if I sound negative on occasion. I am more just sad and melancholy about being unable to have that same excited feeling inside that once sent me on that nearly 3000 mile road trip year after year. I even was part of a Disney Fan group that met about twice a year a the Disney Store here in Raleigh. We just talked about how much we loved that place and shared experiences there. Now the store and the group no longer exist.

You put my exact thoughts on your post --well done

 

[WorldExplorer]

The place is a lot better when your admission is free and your alternative option is finding something to do in Florida, where even the kriskindlmarkt wants you to pay to get in.

After being raised with Disney being this wonderful place that we almost never get to go to but it's the greatest place ever, it's hard not to appreciate it being your weekend playground and being able to just pop in because I feel like it. I would feel really lucky to have the opportunity to just wander Crescent Lake to get exercise or to be in a position where I could plan to just go have lunch at a hotel but decide to pop into Magic Kingdom on a whim. A little feeling of happiness at stuff like that never really went away. A lot of time I would start to head home and think "...nah, I want to stick around longer" with no plans other than not going home.

But after a while I was mainly just eating and camping out at the table for a long time. You would think having all the time in the world would make you more okay with lines, but my tolerance for them actually plummeted because the missing out factor died. I always had tomorrow or next week! So I didn't go on rides much. I had met the characters I wanted to meet multiple times. I had tried every place to eat multiple times. I had seen the parade sooooo many times. The fireworks show quickly became something I ran from because I knew and fear the mob.

There isn't anything new to see anymore, I got really familiar with what I liked and what I didn't, the stuff I liked started to wear thin because I did it so often.

This, basically:

Then Disney kept removing the stuff I liked, that didn't help.

Staying in the hotels kept the novelty factor and I would've loved to just stay in them relaxing and ignored the parks but normally if I was in a hotel with a room to relax in I had family with me so I couldn't do that.

Some places never got old but the list is pretty short.

In July during the impromptu Carousel of Progress trip I still felt largely the same way. Just kinda bored.

So I guess the answer is...no. But I do still like the hotels. And my siblings haven't let go yet; they asked me to plan another trip. I said maybe if I just stay in the hotel.

And I'm never going into Animal Kingdom again, I know I'll find no happiness in there.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I try to balance my posts with both the good and bad as I see it, so perhaps I'm not the intended audience. I may not always succeed, but I generally try to say what I'd like to see, rather than purely saying what is wrong.

For example, I have repeatedly tried to describe areas where I think Universal does a better job than WDW. On my most recent visit, I really enjoyed Epic. The more I visit, the more I like it.

For me, I'd say mostly I have good time at WDW, but I do encounter things that frustrate me during my visits. I usually forget about them when I'm riding an attraction I love.

There are many things that I consider minor in the moment but might post about it here, in hopes we could help make visits better for all, if we just tried to be a little more considerate, like picking up our own trash. Also, if enough people ask WDW to provide better service, WDW might hear us. Or maybe I'm an outlier. I want to know if other people have the same concerns I do. I think many of us do.

After 50+ years of visits to WDW, I am concerned about WDW. Their many small problems have me worried that something more systemic is happening. Several problems on trips I've had in the last few years were not well handled.

I really hope the new leadership can right the ship.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

BUT....I REALLY want to add an addition to the above!!!!

Where I think these boards could be much better is if we all tried to be a little nicer to each other, and give each other the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Vacationeer]

Visiting more frequently did remove some of the anticipatory excitement for us but so far we always want more when leaving. Our trips are around a week long usually. My favorite thing about WDW is the variety. We could go a thousand days and not one be the same in how we mix it up. Most days we start at one park, take a midday resort break and head to a different park for the evening.

 

[DisneyFanatic12]

As someone who visits the parks roughly 5-7 days a week, I increasingly view it as a place to walk around rather than a destination. Years ago, I visited the parks rarely due to where I lived, and I will say that the novelty of the parks does wear off (although I still love them). I think this is a shared experience for a lot of posters here, we moved to live near the resort, and eventually went enough that we had experienced it all. It’s a big factor in why, back in the day, Disney was way more exciting, unique, thrilling, etc.

I think a lot of people fail to realize a lot of the anticipation and excitement that the resort brought “back in the day” was not simply due to it being “better” before (though much has changed). It’s just not as unique of an experience as it once was for you.

Anyways, with that being said, it is way easier to see what is wrong and bad in the parks than it is to see what is good, because a great experience is the standard. I have plenty of unmagical visits throughout the year, but these are greatly outnumbered by amazing and magical visits. The unmagical visits are rare, but because they are more rare they stick out more and I think you see that reflected in expressed opinions.

Also, negative posts on social media perform far better than positive posts. So whether we like it or not, the general society is being conditioned to be more critical and negative as we are influenced by who we interact with and what we watch online.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I’ve never been and not enjoyed it. I wouldn’t go or be on here if I didn’t.

 

[Brer Panther]

I've always had a good time whenever I've been.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Yes. When I go to the park I can see room for improvement or wish some things were different. But I don't dwell on stuff that is nit picky. I've never gone and then regretted it when I got home.

 

[yaksplat]

I've been going since 1980. Every trip is good. I go on here and it doom and gloom. I get it, but then I get there and all of the criticisms from here go away.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I have a great time! If I’m on a ride and notice a broken effect - obviously that’s a negative but I can still enjoy the ride.

Same with the parks as a whole.

 

[Baloo124]

I can't stand the place.

But the voices in my head keep telling me:
1. Spend thousands of dollars to vacation at places I despise.
2. Spend free time on forums and websites discussing news, rumors, and happenings of those places.
3. Take over humanity and rule as supreme leader.

I listen to and obey the first two things they tell me. Still haven't figured out how to accomplish #3.

 

[CynBeth]

I have loved Disney as far as I can remember. We went a few times when I was a kid. I have gone as an adult a number of times with my DH and my DM. For a while we were visiting every few years usually around holiday time but when we go on our trip in November it will be 5 years since the last one. We try to stay at a different hotel each time. We are sad they took away a few of our favorite attractions and one is closed due to renovation but we are really looking forward to the trip. We are the kind of people who are happy no matter where we go on a vacation and feel so blessed to be able to travel. I know people who are scared to go on a plane or cruise ship or do not have the extra money to go anywhere. Nothing is perfect there will always be a little something that goes wrong but we make the best of it. We bought our new MBs. It will be a new experience for us with the way they now do the lightening lane passes. We are also going to Jollywood for the first time and can’t wait to experience MVMCP and Candlelight Professional again.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Yes. Disney has always and will always be enjoyable to me. My dream for years as a child was to one day go. I made that dream a reality as an adult and have gone back multiple times which passed on a love for Disney to my DS. Anticipation for each day of our time on property grows as I count down my time to leave and gets closer to arrival day. Prior to my trip I love planning out all the details and thinking of whats to come. I am always in awe taking that first step into MK on our first day. I miss things about Disney that gets taken away or changed in between trips, but I look forward to new things that brings new experiences and entertainment.
If you focus on negatives thats what you will experience. If some detail is off it doesnt affect the rest of my trip. Nothing will be 100% perfect on any trip anywhere. If Disney no longer gives you joy then there are many alternatives open to you, so go in that direction and leave Disney to those of us who can and will enjoy it.

 

[cbarry26]

I’m involved in a few different internet communities of things I love. Disney. The Grateful Dead and Bruce Springsteen. By involved I mean reading and occasionally posting comments. These three areas of fandom mean so much to me in my life. And yet the majority of comments online are negative. I’m not sure why that is because I was at the 60th anniversary of the Dead for three nights last summer and it was packed with smiling faces. I went twice to the most recent Springsteen tour- same thing. And I’m at Disney 5-6 times a year and - you guessed it- same thing. The true fact is that plenty of us still love Disney, The Dead and Bruce but ultimately, in my experience, people on the internet just want to tear down these institutions vehemently. I don’t get it. They call themselves fans but they nitpick everything because the web gives them a forum to complain. I’m thrilled that I can still see this music live. Is it 1978 when Bruce was at his “so-called” peak. Nope, but in some ways, to me, it’s better. But you’ll never ever get the web curmudgeons to admit that. They’d rather pick on the guy who’s been delivering music to his fans for 50 years. Same with WDW. I love Walt Disney World and I’m more than happy every time I go there. But if you read these boards, you’d think it’s a miserable place. Trust me… it’s not. Not by a long shot. Have an amazing trip!!