Four Parks,One World,But is it still Magic?

[MerlinTheGoat]

I really don't know!! I know this trip as NOT magical as you can really get, but I blame that on a guest in our group.

But it really did taint things for me. I came home and decided I was done with Disney, not going back and wasting the money.

Now, we're planning a 2014 trip for us, but even now, I'm wondering if its worth the cost or if we'd have just as much fun somewhere else, you know?

Idk. I think I need a break from the site. The complaints and snarky comments are effecting my groove and a trip report yesterday just was the cherry on top. He sounded generally miserable!

I GET the need for the complaints, I really do. And I get that it's because they "love the parks so so much more then others", but it ruins it for sure.

I watched the Hobbit the other day (the new film). Movie has gotten a lot of negative criticism from a lot of people. But I just went to see it anyways and enjoyed it. I am honestly not bothered either way whether other people like or dislike something. I know what I enjoy and what I don't. It's best to approach things like that. Don't let opinions bother you if you have a different one.

I am a pretty vocal critic of current WDW, many people here probably realize that (though I still love it). It's not my intention to ruin anyone's enjoyment though. You shouldn't stop loving what you love just because I or anyone else expresses a problem we think it has. Consequently, no one should have to praise something and adore it just because someone tells you to. We just have to make our own decisions on things, not let anyone else tell you what to enjoy or not.

For me, WDW has just reached a temporary point where I need to spend some time away from it. I could still visit and would no doubt have an absolute blast, and i'll be keeping up with the latest news about it. But i'm going to give it a bit of time and see what develops.

The problem is when people start to try to insult others over their opinions. Which I can very much say can and does happen on any side of an opinion. I myself have been on both sides of the WDW spectrum, both as an adorer of the place and as a critic (though still a loving critic). And from being on both sides, I've been attacked from both sides. As a lover of WDW, I experienced attacks for loving it. As a critic though, I also experienced attacks for not loving it.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

We will always hold WDW close to our hearts. It is a place we have been visiting for over 30 years and it is special indeed. I think the $$$ will always be worth it to our family because of all of the former and future memories.

I agree with yall though there has been a lot of negative reports, but I try to look at the facts when reading reviews. Sometimes people embellish a bit or perhaps not.Unfortunately bad things can happen to anyone at WDW or any vacation-experiencing rude people, sickness, attraction issues etc. Outside forces can make a trip less magical, but sometimes you have to ignore the negative and soak up your own fun.

We experienced a disaster in Oct with bed bugs-textiles had to launder all of our clothing, luggage and anything fabric. They had to find a room for the 6 of us and we had to move resorts midday. Then the items were not ready till the next morning and the park tickets didnt work the next morning at the gate-it just kept getting better! One fiasco after another, but the CMs found us an acceptable room, laundered our items and covered any expenses we inccured while not having our clothing. We can joke about it now of course, but what a nightmare! A few months later and we have already booked our next trip.

Make sure and check your mattress next time. People would be surprised at the resorts that have the biggest problem with this. I always check before we even bring in our luggage. That's at all hotels/resorts; not just Disney. It has saved us that nightmare more than once. I always check the bedbug registry so that I know the particular room numbers that have had the problem and even though they were probably treated, I still ask for another unit. Nothing to stress about, but just be cautious. And for anyone who is about to say it's not a problem in Disney, then why do they have a special heat treatment room for luggage and bedbug dogs and special vouchers for temporary clothing for those affected? The problem with the dogs is they use them after the fact. To bad they don't have them check the rooms on a regular bases. I guess with that many rooms, it would be time and cost prohibitive. Our first experience with them was in 2010 at the CBR in the pirate rooms. Luckily, I was aware there was a problem so I checked the bed and low and behold there was a dead one on the topsheet. Dead or not, I was out of there. We drive, so our luggage was still in the car.
Don't let bugs stop you. They can be in any resort/hotel anywhere. Just check and have a magical time instead of a nightmare. They are very easy to identify. They have a unique look in all stages.
I'm sorry you had to deal with this. But, I'm happy you aren't going to let it stop you. It's still rare in comparison to the number of people who visit each year and the sheer number of rooms onsite.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Still is and always will be Magic for me and my family. Each trip comes with some of the "Oh yeah I did that before" along with "Something new and exciting". Might be a new ride, a new meal at a restaurant we havent tried, or something I didnt get to do last time. It's easy to find the Magic if thats what you are looking for.

As far as the grumbling, complaints, rude comments, yeah you can expect that on any site, I quickly read through them and move on.

 

[LowesChevy]

Make sure and check your mattress next time. People would be surprised at the resorts that have the biggest problem with this. I always check before we even bring in our luggage. That's at all hotels/resorts; not just Disney. It has saved us that nightmare more than once. I always check the bedbug registry so that I know the particular room numbers that have had the problem and even though they were probably treated, I still ask for another unit. Nothing to stress about, but just be cautious. And for anyone who is about to say it's not a problem in Disney, then why do they have a special heat treatment room for luggage and bedbug dogs and special vouchers for temporary clothing for those affected? The problem with the dogs is they use them after the fact. To bad they don't have them check the rooms on a regular bases. I guess with that many rooms, it would be time and cost prohibitive. Our first experience with them was in 2010 at the CBR in the pirate rooms. Luckily, I was aware there was a problem so I checked the bed and low and behold there was a dead one on the topsheet. Dead or not, I was out of there. We drive, so our luggage was still in the car.
Don't let bugs stop you. They can be in any resort/hotel anywhere. Just check and have a magical time instead of a nightmare. They are very easy to identify. They have a unique look in all stages.
I'm sorry you had to deal with this. But, I'm happy you aren't going to let it stop you. It's still rare in comparison to the number of people who visit each year and the sheer number of rooms onsite.

Ugh, sorry you went through it as well! Thanks for the kind words.

You hear about it, but never think it would happen to you right?! I checked my bed, but the other queen size bed in the bedroom was the culprit and until my parents slept in there, when the rest of our party arrived, we found them the next morning when the woke up! I knew what is was immediately, but my parents were unaware of what was to come. These babies had been there for while-they had gone condo! All different sizes too, surely these could have discovered sooner.

And you are right-it can happen anywhere in any hotel or resort. We are and will be careful everything before we unpack whenever we stay away from home this year. We even looked into the phermones you can buy to draw them our of the bed and big plastic bags for the suitcases.

Other than that we have no problem rebooking at BLT for this year's trip, but just doing a few extra checks of the room before settling in this time!

 

[eddiemcgarrigle]

For as long as the sight of the castle on the first morning of our trip ( yep, Magic Kingdom first every time albeit that I prefer Epcot) brings a smile to the faces of my wife and son, Disney will always retain the magic for me.

 

[WWWD]

I think too many people treat their love of WDW like a marriage. It's great in the beginning, but as things become routine, the nit-picking starts. Then, they start reflecting on the "better" times. Maybe some on this site should just divorce WDW, while others can work through it.

Remember, it's a vacation. If you're spending a great deal of time on this site complaining about your vacation spot, then you should probably think about a new vacation spot.

 

[Britt]

I watched the Hobbit the other day (the new film). Movie has gotten a lot of negative criticism from a lot of people. But I just went to see it anyways and enjoyed it. I am honestly not bothered either way whether other people like or dislike something. I know what I enjoy and what I don't. It's best to approach things like that. Don't let opinions bother you if you have a different one.

I am a pretty vocal critic of current WDW, many people here probably realize that (though I still love it). It's not my intention to ruin anyone's enjoyment though. You shouldn't stop loving what you love just because I or anyone else expresses a problem we think it has. Consequently, no one should have to praise something and adore it just because someone tells you to. We just have to make our own decisions on things, not let anyone else tell you what to enjoy or not.

For me, WDW has just reached a temporary point where I need to spend some time away from it. I could still visit and would no doubt have an absolute blast, and i'll be keeping up with the latest news about it. But i'm going to give it a bit of time and see what develops.

The problem is when people start to try to insult others over their opinions. Which I can very much say can and does happen on any side of an opinion. I myself have been on both sides of the WDW spectrum, both as an adorer of the place and as a critic (though still a loving critic). And from being on both sides, I've been attacked from both sides. As a lover of WDW, I experienced attacks for loving it. As a critic though, I also experienced attacks for not loving it.

Oh for sure!! It's not so much caring what others think and letting their opinion ruin things, but it's like when you're super excited about a concert and someone jut goes on and ON about how much that band sucks, you start getting annoyed. You don't really wanna talk with that person about it anymore and you really DO start noticing those flaws that you accepted before!! LOL

Someone made a post that had pics of a ride, never mind that it was a dark ride and they used flash, which we all know you're not supposed to do, but it showed WDW in an awful light.

It's not so much a "I care what this person thinks" so much as a "we get it, take it to people who will do something about it, an leave us pixie snorters alone" haha.

But really, I respect everyone's opinion, I respect everyone's right to an opinion (or hell, it's usually pointing out FACT that I don't want to hear/acknowledge), but it really does harsh my mellow! Haha <3

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Ugh, sorry you went through it as well! Thanks for the kind words.

You hear about it, but never think it would happen to you right?! I checked my bed, but the other queen size bed in the bedroom was the culprit and until my parents slept in there, when the rest of our party arrived, we found them the next morning when the woke up! I knew what is was immediately, but my parents were unaware of what was to come. These babies had been there for while-they had gone condo! All different sizes too, surely these could have discovered sooner.

And you are right-it can happen anywhere in any hotel or resort. We are and will be careful everything before we unpack whenever we stay away from home this year. We even looked into the phermones you can buy to draw them our of the bed and big plastic bags for the suitcases.

Other than that we have no problem rebooking at BLT for this year's trip, but just doing a few extra checks of the room before settling in this time!

I put everything in the huge space bags; not the cubes, but the XL flat ones. They fit completely over my really large rolling suitcase. We put all our clothes in the space bag garment bags. It's easy to open and close them to get things out. We never, ever use the drawers, and we use a cube space bag for our dirty clothes. I seal it before putting it in the car and leave it in the heat of the garage and bring it in a little at a time to wash. I bring natural bedbug spray you can buy at Bed Bath and Beyond and spray around the headboard. The newest, and easiest thing is to put fabric softener sheets between the sheet and mattress and the top mattress and base. Don't know if it really works, but I watched a special on it, and they swore by it. It is suppose to repel them. I would rather take a few minutes securing the room than dealing with the nightmare of getting them in my luggage and bringing them home. This is another of those things that until it happens to you, people simply dismiss it as something that will happen to others or deny it happens which exasperbates (sp) the problem.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

On the internets I nag, cry and complain.

But when I'm at WDW, I forget about all of that, and I just immerse myself in the magic.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Your pretty sad if you need a fixed location to enjoy time with your family. Either that over indulged.

 

[Chrononymous]

Sometimes it's just one thing that makes the trip more magical. (like an unexpected cake, or special attention from a character, or seeing the water pageant)
But that's not to say that just being there isn't also magical.

I think the more often we go, the more we get used to things...maybe even get a little jaded.
or we get used to things being a certain way, and when they get changed or disappear completely, we get a little more cranky.

Even when something unhappy happens (rude CMs, lost reservations, broken plumbing on arrival)it takes only one extra magical thing to make me forget about the unhappy thing.

Personally, I think my next trip is going to be amazing. Why? because my trips have been cancelled five times in the last five years.
And even though I know some things have changed since I was last there, I know that just being there will be the greatest part.

 

[GLaDOS]

It's a testament to those that designed the place from construction to opening through the mid 90s that, yes, it's still there. Because from 95 to the present the place has gotten mucked up by those that have no desire or the right skills to run such a fantastic place.

It's still the Vacation Kingdom of the World. You just have to go looking for it.

 

[brentl1127]

Isn't the Magic what you make it? What I mean is that I saw Magic when my 6 year old son hugged Goofy and the other characters. I saw the magic when he told me "Seriously Dad, I seriously want to go on this again right now!" when riding Star Tours. I saw the magic when I saw the smile on his face when we got on the Magical Express.

Would I have thought getting on a bus to take me to our hotel was magical? No, but I saw magic with my son. Were there things that could have been better, sure, but as with every experience, it is what you make it. If you go in looking for everything to be wrong, you won't enjoy or you won't see the magic, but you make the experience. I try not to stress about things especially when on vacation, so maybe that is why I can still "find the magic".

 

[RoyWalley]

I find it more magical each time I go.

Agree 100% - It's what you make it.

 

[RoyWalley]

Isn't the Magic what you make it? What I mean is that I saw Magic when my 6 year old son hugged Goofy and the other characters. I saw the magic when he told me "Seriously Dad, I seriously want to go on this again right now!" when riding Star Tours. I saw the magic when I saw the smile on his face when we got on the Magical Express.

Would I have thought getting on a bus to take me to our hotel was magical? No, but I saw magic with my son. Were there things that could have been better, sure, but as with every experience, it is what you make it. If you go in looking for everything to be wrong, you won't enjoy or you won't see the magic, but you make the experience. I try not to stress about things especially when on vacation, so maybe that is why I can still "find the magic".

Thank you -

 

[Mori Anne]

I think the magic is still there for us My trip is starting in a few days so I will see

 

[RoyWalley]

I really don't know!! I know this past trip was NOT magical as you can really get, but I blame that on a guest in our group.

But it really did taint things for me. I came home and decided I was done with Disney, not going back and wasting the money.

Now, we're planning a 2014 trip for us, but even now, I'm wondering if its worth the cost or if we'd have just as much fun somewhere else, you know?

Idk. I think I need a break from the site. The complaints and snarky comments are effecting my groove and a trip report yesterday just was the cherry on top. He sounded generally miserable!

I GET the need for the complaints, I really do. And I get that it's because they "love the parks so so much more then others", but it ruins it for sure.

Britt: Don't let other people's opinions or ideas ruin your perspective of Disney. If you know what you like, that's all that's important.

 

[Pateerick]

Let me tell you, the only time we stayed at a Disney resort our entire trip was way more "magical". When we went to Universal you could totally see the difference. I don't know, even cast members at US don't smile at you as often, the theming felt too artificial, and.. jeesh, what's up with those Universal cartoons that nobody but a bunch of people remember and have affection to?

When we got back to our hotel, with a goofy statue receiving us in the entrance, the music in the bus, and our gift items hanging in the doorknob, we felt back home. I love Disney for what it is, and I must say most rides are not as thrilling as Sea World's or Universal, but... heck, is Disney, and I love every bit of mould in Maelstrom, every note in the maddening It's a Small World song and the horrid "breakfast" they serve in the resorts. Nuff said.

 

[BryceM]

the theming felt too artificial

Lol, what?

And I agree with previous posters. When I'm there, I forget all my complaints and just enjoy myself! Heck, I don't even notice anything wrong in the parks when I'm there. It all just flies over my head because I'm just there to have fun.

Though, I don't get that special "magic, rainbows and love" feeling that everyone gets. Maybe it's because I'm a Florida resident and I've been to Universal/Disney lots and lots of times.

 

[Pateerick]

Lol, what?

Lol, I don't know, it felt... not as detailed, rushed, tacky, not-true-to-itself... it's hard to explain, Umberto Eco would tell it better