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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Disneyland/Orlando = Awful

225 replies

YellowTulips · 08/08/2014 23:29

Just got back from 2 weeks in Orlando.

I know I am a miserable bugger but I HATED it.

Hot humid weather, stupidly high fees to enter the parks (legoland was especially shit).

Kids loved it, but I surely can't be the only person who disliked it ......

OP posts:
minniebar · 09/08/2014 07:54

Oops, just seen you're back.

Next time… Wink

rookiemater · 09/08/2014 07:57

We went last Easter. Generally we go to France or Italy so it was quite a cultural change for us.

DS loved it, I enjoyed the parks more than I thought I would - I thought the Magic Kingdom was really well done and had some genuine magic.DH had one of the best days of his life at the Kennedy Space Centre.

Things I didn't like were:- the food - overpriced and oversugared, some of the price gouging - charging to park was particularly mean and I hated Downtown Disney - couldn't see what was so special about a bunch of shops and having to pay to do more rides when you'd already paid a fortune, however DS loved the Lego shop.

I wouldn't rush to go back until perhaps DS is a teen then he could bring a friend and get something different out of the experience.

Bluebees · 09/08/2014 07:59

We love it too. Been several times now and are currently planning saving the pennies for next year. I'm like several posters here in that I didn't expect to love it so much - I thought it would just be a holiday for the kids. I was wrong!

BellaVita · 09/08/2014 07:59

Did you not know the fees would be stupidly high to enter the parks? Did you not know it would be hot and humid?

Southeastdweller · 09/08/2014 08:02

I went in November which was nice enough. But this time of year must be hell especially due to the hordes of entitled and rude British tourists

Tinker What a strange attitude - saying the OP may be a martyr because her kids will love it. So what? I'd put up with far worse if it meant my kids - if I had any - would have a holiday they'd love. Did you ever think the kids wouldn't know how their mum felt? Or wouldn't be bothered?

PhaedraIsMyName · 09/08/2014 08:09

The Salvador Dali museum in St.Petersburg was amazing, Well worth the drive and Cape Canaveral is a must as well.

BellaVita · 09/08/2014 08:12

I remember on our flight back from Florida once, there was a family sat in front if us with two teen girls - looked about 13 and 15, the mum was saying don't worry girls we will never ever bring you back here again, cannot believe we had to queue for rides, cannot believe it was so hot and humid, cannot believe how busy everywhere was, we will go back to our normal holiday of camping in Wales next year. This mum was stood up as she was saying this and we made eye contact. I said something along the lines of "I take it you didn't enjoy it then", she said non of them had and didn't realise what it would be like. I asked if she had done any research and she looked at me blankly and then said no, she wishes she had because they wouldn't have spent all that money.

Research if you have never been is key.

We have been in May/June, July and August. We know what to expect.

There is so much more to Florida than Disney, we have done different things every time.

PhaedraIsMyName · 09/08/2014 08:13

Just an aside but than a little weary of the practice on here of making an insulting and patronising remark. What do you hope to achieve?

If you want to be rude about British tourists go ahead, posting and striking it out doesn't make you look clever or witty.

PhaedraIsMyName · 09/08/2014 08:15

Sorry, I meant posting and striking out a rude and patronising remark.

Southeastdweller · 09/08/2014 08:16

It wasn't supposed to be either, Phaedra, just a light hearted, vaguely snarky comment. Based on my experience of being there.

Waydugo · 09/08/2014 08:18

Should have done your research.
The weather is not ideal this time of year and it does rain every day - it's coming up to hurricane season.
I've been to Orlando many times. The place is not all about Disney and quite honestly if you spent your whole holiday there I'm not surprised you hated it. I would want to murder someone if I did that. Fortunately I prefer to spend my time in the States off the tourist track and as for everywhere serving fast food - again you should have done your research as this most certainly isn't the case!!

JustAShopGirl · 09/08/2014 08:22

Have been 3 times now and have enjoyed it every time...

have never chosen to go in July/August though - hot, humid, wet and the 3rd busiest time of the year does not suit me for a holiday. Research is key with Florida holidays (as with anywhere - I would not go to Rome or Paris in August either, if you actually want to see things without 200,000 heads in the way, and not queue in the heat...).

Stay in a villa with pool in May or October, weather nicer, crowds lower and you can self cater and eat well for peanuts, going out to eat every night for 2 weeks would make anyone jaded..... Florida is not just theme parks either. We did airboat rides, Kennedy Space centre DeLeon springs country park with springs, river and make your own pancakes, Disney Wilderness reserve, manatee rescue centre - there is so much more.

So to dismiss Orlando due to weather, being busy, prices and food IS unreasonable.

Tinkerball · 09/08/2014 08:23

southeast I didn't say OP was a martyr, I asked if she went somewhere she knew she would hate because the kids would love it - yes to me that's being a martyr if you've spent £6000 etc on a family holiday, it's not just like a wee day trip ( and yes we've all done that to keep kids happy)....I know someone exactly like this who hates theme parks and waterparks but it's "all for the kids " and then moans, I don't believe that sends out a good message at all!

hmc · 09/08/2014 08:24

I researched best time to go to avoid crowds and went in mid January (this was before penalties for term time holidays - but I'd do the same now if we hadn't already been before, and would just pay the fines). Weather was pleasant - think slightly below par British summer, crowds were negligible and we walked straight onto most rides and attractions. Despite being a sour faced, snobby misanthrope I thoroughly enjoyed it

PhaedraIsMyName · 09/08/2014 08:26

south so striking out a rude, sweeping generalisation makes it light-hearted? Oh well at least I know what the aim is now.

Out of interest are you someone who considers herself a traveller rather than a tourist?

PhaedraIsMyName · 09/08/2014 08:28

Despite being a sour faced, snobby misanthrope I thoroughly enjoyed it

Are you me? I wouldn't go back but as there are so many places to see there are few places I do go back to but I agree, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

hmc · 09/08/2014 08:28

To be fair to South, I am a rude and entitled British tourist. I often get the arse about something whilst on holiday Blush

hmc · 09/08/2014 08:30

Funny isn't it Phaedra, I expected to endure it stoically but was swept away on a wave of Disney magic! Shock

Tinkerball · 09/08/2014 08:36

Me to with Disney Paris, but one day of "magic" was enough! I'm like you Phaedra, there are so many places in the world! Planning on California again because there is so much to see and do we didn't, not planning on Disney but I lived Universal Studios in Hollywood so we want to go back, just for a day or two though!!

CinnabarRed · 09/08/2014 08:37

How old does a child need to be to enjoy Orlando, would you say? Is 3 too young?

greenfolder · 09/08/2014 08:40

We went in sept when dds were 8 and 6, again when they were 12 and 10 and this year when they are 19, 17 and 6. Expensive but they love it. I fully embrace the experiecnce!

ContentedSidewinder · 09/08/2014 08:49

It's your call Cinnabar it is all to do with how far they will walk/cope with heat, queueing, food etc where you stay and how much time you plan to spend in the parks. How much you enjoy pushing a pram around (it is recommended to use one till the child is 6 to stop them becoming overtired walking round Disney because it is that big)

My two are 11 and 8 and we went in May this year and loved it so our once in a lifetime trip is now a when are we going back discussion.

We stayed on site in Disney, ease of transport, no driving, no paying to park.

But you are onto a winner because until your child hits 5 you can take them out of school with no penalty. I had to pay a fine for taking mine out because we went for 2 weeks so I used 1 week of the May half term and the week before.

And it's Disneyworld in Orlando, Disneyland is in California. And you couldn't pay me to go to Disneyland Paris as they only bought the name not the ethos of what Disney is.

JustAShopGirl · 09/08/2014 08:50

I would say 7 or 8 is the best age - full of the magic and tall enough to ride stuff.

We went once without kids, once when they were 7 and 8 and again when they were 10 and 11.. Primary school allowed us time out in October. Won't be going again til the kids are out of school.

hmc · 09/08/2014 08:52

We did DLP when they were 3 and left the Florida until they were a tad older - your call, but I'd leave Florida (and the greater time and expense) until they were bigger and could get more out of it - mine were 8 and 10.

Redhead11 · 09/08/2014 09:15

We went to Florida last year for the first time and adored it. We stayed in a villa (can't get why anyone would spend more than one night in a hotel there) and it was great. We did Disney our first morning. I've done Disneyland California in 87 and Paris twice and i'd be quite happy not to go back. loved some aspects, hated others. We had a fabulous time and are planning to go back in 2016 at the end of May. Yeah, it rained almost every day, but it was warm rain. Shame you didn't enjoy it, op. I didn't even mind the driving!