To wonder why Florida is seen as the ultimate family holiday?

[Worriedkat]

A family we know are spending £10k on a summer holiday to Disney, and that's not even in a Disney hotel. Several other friends cite Florida/Disney as the ultimate family holiday of a lifetime, it seems to be the holiday to aspire to, giving your children wonderful memories.

I can't visualise it myself. All I can see is heat, humidity, long queues, toddler tantrums, exhaustion from the plane and time difference. It doesn't sound magical! What is it that makes the experience worth £10k? Or Aibu to think that maybe it's not all it's cracked up to be?

Frankblackswife, are you me?

I could have written your post and those three Disney hotels are my favourite!

I think its really sad when people think only places like disney can generate magical memories.

I think for me the ultimate family holiday would be to take them to a stunning African Safari, see enormous multi coloured beetles, ride through a Butterfly Storm, eat breakfast and have a massive Eagle swoop so close to you, their wings almost brush your face, see Lions tired and sleepy after a nights hunting...see Giraffe etc etc etc....Natures Disney.

Razzle my children have been on Safari 3 or 4 times each, as have I. Yes its magical but its a different kind of magic from Disney.

That said however - in Disney Florida,in one of the parks there is an absolute replica of a certain street in Mombassa just round the corner from where some of my inlaws still live. I stood in this pretend part of Mombassa in total awe at the workings of the human mind, it really was that good and that real.

We took our kids to Paris when they were 10 and 12. I hd to laugh when people assumed 'Disneyland Paris' - errrrm no, would rather stick needles in my eyes. (Kids hadn't asked to go either, thank god). We had a great time in the city.

we've also been on safari in Tanzania and experienced the ngoro ngoro crater, been to the most amazing beaches in the Seychelles and Maldives, the Alps in summer and winter, Malaysia and Thailand street life, been to Rome and seen the ruins, canals of Venice etc - very well travelled due to my job. Still had a great holiday in Florida though, up there with the above in terms of childhood experiences.

I find it amusing how many people that are snobby about it have never actually been there.

Snobby about over-priced, over-sized, outrageously expensive over-blown cartoon characters? Shame on me!

I am just stunned that people would spend £10,000 on a holiday! Would these be the people who complain about not being allowed to take their children out of school in term time, because holiday times are so expensive?

Everyone is different, and if everyone went to Florida there would be no room for those of us who love it...

in YOUR opinion Silvercatowner it is over priced, over sized, outrageously expensive, over blown cartoon characters...

for some of us it is very much not so, and the cartoon characters form a minimal part of our experience ..

Goblin, perhaps they are people who can afford to go on holiday any time they want. The reality is that 10,000 and more is an affordable figure to many.

GoblinLittleOwl - I'm stunned that people spend £10k on a car, I'd prefer the holiday..

ours was £7K and a holiday of a lifetime IN THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, would have been £4k in term time - I pay for my principles

I know on MN nobody admits to their children enjoying Disney - but in real life many do. Florida is an amazing holiday destination, we once took the children for a month. As well as Disney you have the Gulf Coast, Miami, Everglades, Florida quays.

Keys- sorry having a thick moment! Must be why I like Florida.

Florida is an amazing holiday. I've been as a child, as a teenager and as an adult going with other couples.

We've been to Disney Paris for a few weekends with friends, and for a few weekends with DD1 and family.

It is totally magical. I've never been as happy in my life as when my DD was just beaming watching the parade and getting teary when Minnie Mouse hugged her at dinner.

We're going in 4 months for DD's 4th birthday, DD2 will be 15 months and my parents, siblings and a friend are all coming too. (I can't wait!!!)

I usually just think that people who criticise it just haven't been. I couldn't imagine someone not wanting their child to go to kid heaven

ha ha at the snobbery on this thread.

If you have kids it's a brilliant holiday. You may prefer looking at gothic cathedrals and 18th century art collections but your average 4-10 year old will not.

Ridiculously expensive but as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for your kids it's amazing.

Sanibel island would actually make a lovely honeymoon destination. Palm Beach we love due people watching. Sunset on Naples beach is one of my favourite memories. Dali Museum.

Haha at the thought that it's either expensive plastic Disney tat or 'gothic cathedrals and 18th century art collections'. The latter would make me scratch my eyes out too.

I think there is something for everyone in Florida, unless you need gothic architecture .

But Disney just isn't magic for all kids, I honestly can't tell you how much Disneyland paris didn't do it for my children. They weren't excited by the characters, they could give or take the rides and they only managed one parade before the tantrums started as they were so overtired. I really struggled to see it as more than an overgrown fairground with loads of people and crazy queues. DH and I were bored after a couple of hours too but then again, we don't particularly like theme parks so I'm not sure why grew thought that Disney would be any different. I would love to go to Florida as a destination but would honestly rather stick pins in my eyes than do the Orlando thing. I have been there as a teen too and remember enjoying the shopping far more than the theme parks

Interestingly, I have some friends who love Disney and have been several times but plenty of others who have said that they've been there, done it, ticked the box and are more than happy not to have to go there again and can go and enjoy Florida without the Disney bit.

For every one that steps into Disney thinking 'oh it's so magical' there must be another thinking 'OMG what on earth have we done?'

I am just stunned that people would spend £10,000 on a holiday! Would these be the people who complain about not being allowed to take their children out of school in term time, because holiday times are so expensive?

Nice one

I suspect that one of the reasons they are spending 10k is because they are not going away in term time. We spend around that amount on a holiday, with spending money. Would never go away on term. I don't think that makes us morally corrupt or stupid either.

Disney Paris is a good couple of days out but nothing like Disney Florida which is out of this world. I love it and can't wait to go back later this year as a 56 year old granny travelling with her brother and sister in law.

As a family of 3 is hasn't cost us £10k any time we have been, even when we stayed in a Disney hotel. And we do parks pretty much every day so have a lot of tickets. We generally prefer a villa with private pool to a hotel.

As a family with an only child it is easy entertainment for us. We all love a good coaster here :)

We are not beach people and would hate a fortnight by the sea, or even worse an all inclusive.

Everyone is different.

Heat - we like it hot, plus in the US there is a lot of air conditioning. Infact south of France was far hotter and more uncomfortable last year.

Jet lag - never really suffer with it til the return leg and we are back home.

Tantrums - never had them on holiday even when dd went when she was little.

Queues - no were near as bad as UK theme parks and DLP. But DD has always been patient so never had an issue.

Suzannecrazyeyes - nice to know I'm not alone :)

For those who say they've been to Disneyland Paris and hated it, I do hate to admit it but for all the times we've been to Walt Disney World we've only been to Disneyland Paris once and I have to say if I'd gone there first it's 100% likely we would never have gone to Florida. It just doesn't compare - the customer service is not a fraction of what you experience in the US, the parks are small and seem more amusement park-ish and of course you have to deal with the culture of the locals not queuing and barging past anything in their way.