Hello all! I went to Disney once with my parents and sister when I was young and my sister was even younger. Stayed in the Poly. She was in that perfect range of magic ages to engage with and experience the wonder and remember it all while still almost believing. It was a wonderful trip.
I went again twice with friends in the following years as a young adult enjoying the first taste of disposable income. First in the Poly, then in the Old Key West. Sadly, life has intervened and between work and school and vacations to other places, I haven't had a chance to go back again (yet). My 50th is coming up in a few years, and even now my kids are already older than that magic window, but I think they will still enjoy it.
Unfortunately, pricing out basic packages available online floored me. I had no idea prices for the park had skyrocketed. I'm proud that I make almost the same money now as my parents did when they were my age, though not adjusted for inflation. Even if my salary had kept pace with inflation, so many other things in life, including WDW park prices, have far outpaced inflation. I still want to go, even though I will have to stretch a bit to afford it. I have found some great tips already on this forum to help maximize my dollar/experience ratio! Thank you all. I hope to find more!
Also, it's been fun reading about things I enjoyed that are no longer there (boy do I wish I had more pictures from the pre-digital days). I fondly remember the tropical garden and waterfall greeting us during check-in at the poly, and hammocks on the beach. There was a wonderful moment after spending hours stressed out and tired from juggling travel details that we'd walk into that lobby and experience magic. Not only did it truly feel like we'd stepped into another world (complete with hidden mickeys), but there was an intense embrace of sight, sound, and smell that made me instantly relax and feel like my vacation had finally begun. As for long-gone rides/attractions, I have fond memories of wildly varied things from 20,000 leagues and original test track to pleasure island and Quest. My parents took one trip without us to take cooking and art classes at the old Disney Institute. As a life-long-learner, I would have liked to have tried that before it ended.
It's very fun reading about what is still standing the test of time, and learning about new things to try! I will have to insist on a few beloved (to me) classics (pirates, mansion, tiki). I want the family to choose what other repeats and new experiences they want to try since I'll probably have fun with anything they want (fingers crossed they choose star wars!).
I went again twice with friends in the following years as a young adult enjoying the first taste of disposable income. First in the Poly, then in the Old Key West. Sadly, life has intervened and between work and school and vacations to other places, I haven't had a chance to go back again (yet). My 50th is coming up in a few years, and even now my kids are already older than that magic window, but I think they will still enjoy it.
Unfortunately, pricing out basic packages available online floored me. I had no idea prices for the park had skyrocketed. I'm proud that I make almost the same money now as my parents did when they were my age, though not adjusted for inflation. Even if my salary had kept pace with inflation, so many other things in life, including WDW park prices, have far outpaced inflation. I still want to go, even though I will have to stretch a bit to afford it. I have found some great tips already on this forum to help maximize my dollar/experience ratio! Thank you all. I hope to find more!
Also, it's been fun reading about things I enjoyed that are no longer there (boy do I wish I had more pictures from the pre-digital days). I fondly remember the tropical garden and waterfall greeting us during check-in at the poly, and hammocks on the beach. There was a wonderful moment after spending hours stressed out and tired from juggling travel details that we'd walk into that lobby and experience magic. Not only did it truly feel like we'd stepped into another world (complete with hidden mickeys), but there was an intense embrace of sight, sound, and smell that made me instantly relax and feel like my vacation had finally begun. As for long-gone rides/attractions, I have fond memories of wildly varied things from 20,000 leagues and original test track to pleasure island and Quest. My parents took one trip without us to take cooking and art classes at the old Disney Institute. As a life-long-learner, I would have liked to have tried that before it ended.
It's very fun reading about what is still standing the test of time, and learning about new things to try! I will have to insist on a few beloved (to me) classics (pirates, mansion, tiki). I want the family to choose what other repeats and new experiences they want to try since I'll probably have fun with anything they want (fingers crossed they choose star wars!).
