Question...

[taranae04]

In planning the trip to the World for the first time this August, I am trying to prepare myself for anything and everything. Though I know this is impossible, I have a question that will get me closer.

What is the number one thing that you were disappointed about at Disney World and what is the one thing you were most thrilled by unexpectedly?

Thanks in advance! I look forward to reading your replies!

 

[stevehousse]

The one thing I don't like but do because its a mist is book restaraunt reservations 180 days in advance! If you don't, there will be very limited sit down meals, and just quick service! It's sucks, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

The thing I like most about wdw is how you are transported from the real world and put in all these environments an just how immersive te experience is, is like no other! Plus the look on my kids faces meeting their favorite characters!

Have u ever been to wdw before? Is there a lot that you do or don't know about the world so to speak? The number one thing I tell anyone going there is to do your research properly!!! Can't stress tht enough! There is so much to do and see there, realize upfront that you might not get to do everything you want too!

 

[taranae04]

The one thing I don't like but do because its a mist is book restaraunt reservations 180 days in advance! If you don't, there will be very limited sit down meals, and just quick service! It's sucks, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

The thing I like most about wdw is how you are transported from the real world and put in all these environments an just how immersive te experience is, is like no other! Plus the look on my kids faces meeting their favorite characters!

Have u ever been to wdw before? Is there a lot that you do or don't know about the world so to speak? The number one thing I tell anyone going there is to do your research properly!!! Can't stress tht enough! There is so much to do and see there, realize upfront that you might not get to do everything you want too!

This will be our first trip. I posted our plans and some questions in the planning forum. Check it out and definitely leave any tips for me there! Have done A LOT of research and think I am pretty well prepared but that's why I did this question

 

[momof1princess]

Disappointment- size of value rooms. Knew they were small but expected a better layout somehow. IDK

Thrill- Positive attitude and overall great CM's. I guess we had been gone so long we had forgotten how different things are there. Everywhere we turned someone went out if there way to help us if we needed it.

 

[taranae04]

Thrill- Positive attitude and overall great CM's. I guess we had been gone so long we had forgotten how different things are there. Everywhere we turned someone went out if there way to help us if we needed it.

This is very good to hear. Sometimes, you have an idea that they will be great because of all the hype, but there are times where that thinking could have me disappointed. I am glad this is true I am huge on customer service!

 

[englanddg]

This is very good to hear. Sometimes, you have an idea that they will be great because of all the hype, but there are times where that thinking could have me disappointed. I am glad this is true I am huge on customer service!

I think this is very valid to consider. Don't go in expecting every CM or experience to be knock your socks off amazing.

When I took the kid back after a hiatus of many years in 2010, hotel check in was extremely disappointing. Now, I'm a veteran of the process, and walk right up and quite literally tell them what I want / need, as I already know how the system works. But, back then, I was new to the process...first time going as an adult alone or as a parent / trip planner.

The Dining Plan was not well explained to me. The Bell Hop smelled hung over. It was not a good first experience. I was starting to think I'd spent a whole lot of money on something that the kid would enjoy, but I may not. However, by the time we made it to the TTC to hop the ferry and my kid got her first glimpse of the castle, my worries started to fade away.

As far as disappointments? Not too many. Hotel experiences (like the one I just mentioned, or the fact that my preferred room at Pop was noisy and Mousekeeping was inconsistant (though that got better once I got to know my Mousekeeper, and to be fair, he did give us a magic moment one day when my kid was sick) would top the disappointment lists.

The princesses and face characters I find are hit and miss. Some are excellent (Peter Pan, Cindy's Step Sisters, Mary Poppins, the Fairy Godmother), some are not...I doubt your kid will notice, but...well, for example...

Arial was so bad last year (talking nasely and quickly) that even my 7 year old noticed it and mentioned that she needs to lay off the coffee after she had left the table, because neither one of us could understand a word she was saying...

As far as unexpected thrills? Well, I've gone enough times since 2010 now that there really aren't many, not that I don't find it thrilling. But, if I go back to my first trip in 2010 with the kid (which is more akin to your trip) that list just goes on and on.

But, if I had to pick one surprisingly happy experience from that trip, I think it's the first night seeing Wishes smack dab in front of the castle on the warm pavement with the kid in my lap. Now, it's a must do for me every trip. But, I had truly forgotten how amazing that show is (they didn't do Wishes that year, they were doing Summer Nightastic, but Wishes is also impressive)

 

[PUSH]

Disappointed- long wait times, depending on what you already know, this could be a huge disappointment. Don't be surprised if it takes over an hour to get on some rides later in the day. Use FastPasses!

Thrilled- Customer service, overall attention to detail, "magical" feel

 

[luv]

The thing that disappoints most newbies is the fact that they can't go up into the castle.

That is also the thing that most disappointed me! The things that most impressed me were the detailed rides and the exceptionally clean public restrooms. (The restrooms are no longer close to that clean, though.)

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Disappointment is tough...but I guess if I had to pick anything, I'd say the disappointments have come from hype. i.e. some popular dining is over-hyped and popular lodging options aren't the best fit for everyone. So, you go in expecting these things to blow you away, and while they're good, they aren't the WOW you were expecting.

As for being thrilled...I think the unexpected came from our first onsite stay. We'd been visiting WDW since 1985, but we'd always stayed offsite. In 2010 we took the big leap and booked a week-long onsite stay. You read about the 24/7 magic, and while you want to experience it for yourself, it sounds more cliche and cheesy until you've actually experienced it first hand and gotten to stay inside the "magic bubble." I mean...I only liked (not loved) our resort that trip...yet the immersive experience blew me away.

 

[billDozer]

skip toy story mania no offense to anyone who likes it but its not really a ride to me the queue is kinda tacky and doesnt live up to the disney standards but the mr potato AA is amazing and the best part of the whole attarction.

a surprise was enchanted tales with belle my gf and i didnt part take but it was themed greatly and the kids are adorable and make sure to go through the stand by line at under the sea even if its a hour wait youll never wait that long and even if it was youll never notice. also make sure to take in the small details throughout the park a great thing to do when taking a break and checkout storybook circus its a fun and beautiful area

 

[Bob]

Biggest disappointment - the inefficiency of the bus system

Biggest unexpected thrill - the MM&Y show (bring it back!)

 

[Brer Fox]

I can't remember anything that I've ever been disappointed by. Disney has always met or exceeded my expectations.

The thing that I was most thrilled by unexpectedly is just the immersion you get while you are there. You can literally have fun just walking around the parks feeling like you're in a world of it's own.

 

[englanddg]

I can't remember anything that I've ever been disappointed by. Disney has always met or exceeded my expectations.

The thing that I was most thrilled by unexpectedly is just the immersion you get while you are there. You can literally have fun just walking around the parks feeling like you're in a world of it's own.

Yeah, Disney never disappointed me either, especially after cutting a multi thousand dollar check.

I have no criticisms...it was so "immersive" and "fun" that I never thought, as an adult who actually pays for these things that I should be wowed by "fun just walking around the parks"...

I dunno if you are a Disney agent, but jeeze, at least don't parrot their mantra! No one in the Disney Forums is trying to keep guests from visiting Disney parks.

 

[mickey2008.1]

Disappointments, only one,resort cleanliness.Lets just say some are better than others, no matter value or deluxe, so do not be afraid to speak your mind with mgt. As for surprises, I would have to say the overall experience, it is just so cool how well the overall WDW experience is. Parks, food, transportation, they make it so easy. Just a room key and go.

 

[BiffyClyro]

I genuinely can't think of anything i was disappointed by! You can't even imagine how perfect it is when you're there.

To prepare yourself, i would watch the Disney planning videos on youtube! They got my super excited before i went! You can also order a free planning dvd from the disney world website!

1st video


An older version, but my personal favourite. Still up to date

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I don't recall feeling disappointed by anything. One thing that thrills me is the awesome experience of taking a vacation to Disney World and just enjoying myself.

 

[Gabe1124]

I can't think of anything that has ever really disappointed me with Disney World.
One thing that thrills me and keeps me going back is the fact that this place can take you out of the real world and all the problems or stress you are going through seem to disappear. I literally feel like I am in another world. When I am at or planning to go to Disney World I feel like a little kid. Just the other day I watched the planning DVD and got giddy excited just thinking about going in a few weeks!

 

[Alexis]

The one thing that disappoints me every time, is eating the WDW food, that being said at restaurants and parks. So we usually eat a hardy breakfast at the hotel (offsite) and then as for lunch/dinner a restaurant that we can find. The food is just awful in my opinion. Yet, there are so many people that they have to feed daily, so I can understand in a sense. But as for everything else, I love Disney, usually no disappointments aside from the food.
As for thrilled unexpectedly, our previous trip we got free parking in the park, because we got there way too early due uninformed Disney workers who told us the park would be open 24 hrs into Saturday (Monstrous Summer 24 hr party) they claimed it went into Saturday and closed at night, and the park wasn't open yet, which has never happened to us! But free parking...

 

[Pooh Lover]

Just go into WDW with reasonable expectations and an open mind. The food will not be THE best, the lines will be longer than you probably imagined, you will get good service from the cast but it won't always be mind-blowing and your hotel experience may have a hiccup or two. These things are to be expected from any vacation, any where but it will especially help you at WDW where you may feel a tad overwhelmed and on sensory overload. Have a magical vacation!

 

[SMS55]

Best thing for me is how you just seem to leave reality behind while you are at Disney. I genuinely forget about bills, and all the stuff I have to do when I get back to work. Also how the cast members seem to really make you feel welcomed. They make you feel as if they are really happy that you are there. I don't have anything that I am disappointed in. I complain about some of the prices and the crowds in the middle of the day, but nothing I a truly disappointed in.