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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not go to Disney World when we go to Florida?

82 replies

SarahFx · 02/09/2013 21:40

We are going to Florida for the first time next month with son who is 5. He's not a big traditional Disney fan but does like Monsters Inc, superheroes etc.

I'll make it clear this isn't my type of holiday, I prefer a beach holiday and I'm not majorly looking forward to this holiday but its been paid for by my FIL as it's his wish to send DS to Florida.

All has been paid for and we have tickets for Legoland, Seaworld & Aquatica but I just don't want to shell out the £900 for Disney tickets and was thinking we could just visit a big Disney shop and take some photos.

Those who have been, would we really be missing out?

OP posts:
noisytoys · 02/09/2013 22:07

As someone who took a 4 year old to WDW and saw a look on her face I have never seen before or since I have to say YABU. You may not enjoy Disney world. I would be majorly surprised if your DS didn't enjoy it.

holidaybug · 02/09/2013 22:08

The Disney Halloween party is great if you have been before to Disney. You will get on loads of the rides without a queue BUT many of the side shows and attractions will have closed by the time you are allowed in (at about 4pm). It was great for us as we'd been before to the Magic Kingdom but I wouldn't recommend for a first timer.

littlewhitebag · 02/09/2013 22:09

AnneEyhtMeyer You are probably right about Epcot. I think i just had a bad experience. I went when pregnant and with a child of 4. We were too hot and i hated it and had to leave after a few hours. The other parks seemed more shaded and child friendly to me.

Taz1212 · 02/09/2013 22:09

Oh, and the Halloween parties say they start at 7:00 but that's really the time they kick out non-ticket holders and start the party. If you have a Halloween party ticket they will let you in the park from 4:00.

lurkedtoolong · 02/09/2013 22:09

YABU to go to Seaworld and teach your son that it's ok to keep dolphins and whales in captivity for entertainment. Watch The Cove or Blackfish before you go.

VegasIsBest · 02/09/2013 22:10

Disney is FAB. Love it. So many different things to do. Why would you not go?? What a shame.

Hemlet · 02/09/2013 22:11

I've been to Disney land many times and it is wonderful.The mountain rides (space, slash and thunder) are wicked. A great party of my childhood.

But we would always do 2 weeks in Orlando, one doing the Disney parks and the other in Clearwater which was also really nice and much more mellow but still plenty to do, like look for sand dollars on the beaches and there's a water park there too although I don't remember the name.

PurpleGirly · 02/09/2013 22:12

YABU and really should take him. My DS was 5, we did Disney, Animal Kingdom and MGM. My son just loved it and still talks about it now.

Alisvolatpropiis · 02/09/2013 22:12

Your son will love it, big Disney Fan or not.

There is plenty to do there other than the parks. I've been to Florida a fair few times and love the place. If you'd like some advice feel free to message me Smile

Hulababy · 02/09/2013 22:13

Magic kingdom - the "magic", its all about what it looks like and how it feels. Rides in 4 different lands (see site), shows, parades, night time show and parade and the fireworks, lots of characters...

Animal Kingdom - safari, parade, zoo type areas in Africa and Asia, Lion King show and Finding Nemo show, dinosaur play area, more characters ....

Epcot - World showcase (DD has always liked this even from being little) to look around with gentle rides and a Spy GPS type game to do as you go round; have a real talk with Crush, aquarium, Figment, a longer ride involving dinosaurs again, the Test Drive ride, DD likes the ride int he big ball too, good light and water show at night

Hollywood Studios - Toy Story Mania, Beauty and the Beast show, Muppets 3D, car/bike stunt show, lots of shows here too, Star Wars and chance to do Jedi training, some bigger rides too, another parade...

Also 2 water parks - Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. We tend to go to the latter as DD loves the wave pool.

Alisvolatpropiis · 02/09/2013 22:14

Hemlet

I love Clearwater! It had changed a bit when I went last year though, is definitely being done up to look more glossy rather than charming. And I went in the middle of Spring Break - never again!

rallytog1 · 02/09/2013 22:14

Are you actually going to Orlando? There's a lot more to Florida than just Orlando - the Gulf Coast (great beaches), Cape Canaveral (where they launch the shuttles from), The Everglades, Busch Gardens and tons more. I had several family holidays in Florida as a child that didn't include Disney.

Having said that, if it's your first and possibly only visit then it would be a real shame not to go to Disney. I have some very fond childhood memories of time spent there. You don't just have to go to the Magic Kingdom - there's Epcot, MGM Studios and loads more. I'm pretty sure you could just rock up at the gates and pay a heck of a lot less for a day ticket than you're quoting.

firesideskirt · 02/09/2013 22:16

Yes, you'll be missing out.
Also I'd save your money on Seaworld - even if it doesn't trouble you ethically, it is still a pretty average day out.

Ilovefluffysheep · 02/09/2013 22:17

It might not be your thing, but I can guarantee your son would love it and remember it for ever. I went to Disney for the first time when I was 15, and still remember it now.

GingerPCatt · 02/09/2013 22:18

You can do bits of Disney without going into the parks. There's downtown Disney which is mainly shops but has a very Disney feel. I cant remember if tgey have the characters walking around. Go to rainforest cafe buy your DS a toy, job done fraction of the price. Universal has something similar but I can't think if the name. Or you could book a character meal at one of the hotels if you think DS would like to meet Mickey or whoever. I grew up near Orlando and my dad refused to pay the ridiculous price for tickets but there are ways to experience Disney a bit.
Oh and if your DS likes animals check out gatorland.

theoriginalandbestrookie · 02/09/2013 22:19

YABU.

I agree that the 14 day passes are expensive and tbh only cost effective if you are planning to go to most of the parks so don't get the 14 day tickets, but do one day at the Magic Kingdom your DS will love it even if you won't.

Or if you can't bring yourself to do that then take your DSto a Disney character meal, Chef Mickeys is great at breakfast, you have to book in advance but DS age 7 absolutely loved the meal and remembers it.

We took DS to Disney and one of the reasons is when I was a child we went to Florida because my GPs lived there, I asked my father if we were going to Disney and I to this day think he said yes. We didn't go. As an adult I believe that was selfish of them, not unexpected though as theme parks are definitely not their thing.

Don't leave your child to wonder why you went to Florida and didn't bother taking him to Disney.

Lweji · 02/09/2013 22:20

YANBU in not going to Disneyworld.

YABVVVVVU not to go to the Kennedy Space Centre. Grin

More seriously, I wouldn't want to go anywhere Disney parks, unless DS specifically pestered me to go.

Happypiglet · 02/09/2013 22:20

Also October is an excellent time to go to Disney. The queues aren't too bad all the parks but especially MK look beautiful decked out for Halloween.
Check which water parks are open tho typhoon lagoon was shut last October when we went.
The 14 day ticket is really flexible so you can park hop...change your mind on which days to go..or which parks.
I bet you will kick your selves if you buy a day pass as you will want to go again and realise how expensive that is to do adhoc once you are there....

Original poster
SarahFx · 02/09/2013 22:22

Yes we are going to Orlando, staying on International Drive.

I'm glad I posted this as I didn't realise half the stuff on offer at Disney and we will get a two or three day ticket so we can at least see some of it. I think there's a concierge in the hotel who can sort this.

Sorry if I seemed snobby or ungrateful, I'm really not, I just can't picture what it's going to be like and it's a bit out of our comfort zone. I need to get myself excited for it though!

OP posts:
pointythings · 02/09/2013 22:23

We've just come back from 2 weeks staying in Disney - we got 14 day passes for the 4 of us for £1000 and believe me we made the most of them. The DDs are 10 and 12 and they loved it - the fireworks at Epcot and Magic Kingdom are amazing, and the water parks are definitely worth a visit - we spent about a third of our time there.

By comparison Universal was a bit of a letdown, huge lines for everything and their fast pass system was a big rip-off at $56 on top of normal ticket price of $122 per person.

YABU not to go to Disney at all.

CheshireDing · 02/09/2013 22:24

I would rather boil my own head than go to Disney (or any similar theme park) Grin.

DH and I have been to Florida a few times and I have told him when PFB is old enough they can go to the theme parks together and I will stay down in the quays/miami - oh the luxury of a few quiet days with lovely clear water and wine. DH is cool with that and I would only end up waiting for them on each ride and holding the bags !

To me it seems a bit mad to take a 5 year old, aren't they a bit young/not tall enough for the rides?

Original poster
SarahFx · 02/09/2013 22:25

We booked Seaworld tickets without really knowing what it was as it's right next to our hotel. I didn't really think of the ethics of it at the time.

OP posts:
alemci · 02/09/2013 22:26

we went to st petes beach and Naples this year and Busch gardens which was Reasonable. I hate Orlando and we have done it and Disney a few times. never gone every day to parks
.

ketchupontoast · 02/09/2013 22:26

There are many other things in Florida which your DS will enjoy which do not cost the earth, things that are often overlooked about this beautiful part of the whorl in favour of the all singing n dancing resorts. You will only miss out if it is your kind of thing, otherwise you will miss nothing!

Hulababy · 02/09/2013 22:26

First time we went DH was pretty reluctant and not expected to like it much tbh. He went along with it because we went with my family and DD was still free. He was very very surprised. He had a great time and loved watching DD's face. We've now been 5 times, so even the most reluctant can be won over!