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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not get why so many people hate this place

140 replies

Dreamhols · 08/09/2023 14:07

Walt Disney world florida or Disney in general

yes it’s expensive and it’s not for everyone but if you went as a child and have fond memories then you’ve got nostalgia or if you / your kids like the movies then It seems great.

im taking my kids, will be 5 and nearly 3 but flip me, people are so weird about it. So so so weird. I don’t know most people if they don’t ‘rate’ a holiday destination normally give a oh nice, or a minimal response but I met up with a wider group of friends the other day, so friends of friends, talking about hols and stuff, I got ‘oh gross, sorry to hear that hahaha’ and ‘my idea of hell’ and ‘waste of money’. I don’t know, I’d never crap on someone’s holiday that they were clearly excited about.

if you hunt around, like I did you can get an amazing deal that’s frankly cheaper than 1 week in Zante.

OP posts:
pear6782 · 08/09/2023 16:20

I think Disney is an amazing holiday for kids. I've taken mine twice, but that doesn't mean they haven't been on other holidays to see other parts of the world and experienced the culture in those places (to anyone saying they hate Disney-goers!).

My kids weren't really into Disney before we went but the found it so magical and now they reminisce about how they've seen Mickey Mouse's house! We've only been to Paris as they are small but will definitely fork out for the US when they are older. I have such fond memories of my visits as a child that I wanted to recreate that for my kids. My DH had never been and couldn't understand what the fuss was about - until he got there the first time and promptly told me we had to bring the kids back again!

ChocolateCakeOverspill · 08/09/2023 16:20

Cazzovuoi · 08/09/2023 14:53

I’d rather chew glass than be around that many kids in one place … that’s why I don’t like it.

Have you been? We’ve been three times I think and never really noticed many (if any) kids to be honest. They must have been there but you’re certainly not surrounded by or falling over them.

I thought I’d hate it, really wasn’t my cup of tea but when we got there I thought I might as well enter into the spirit and let go of my grumpiness and had a brilliant time.

pear6782 · 08/09/2023 16:21

I forgot to mention there are fast-passes if you don't want to stand in queues!

DutchCowgirl · 08/09/2023 16:26

We did a roadtrip through Florida this spring and at first we were very much in doubt if we would include a theme park visit. We are more into hiking and wildlife and museums … and we don’t like big crowds. But we decided to go to Universal and we had such a great time, it was amazing. The queues weren’t that bad actually.

To posters mentioning there is no culture… culture is everywhere; everything is bigger and shinier then at home. I’d say it is a very good place to teach older kids about kapitalism. The gap between the rich and the poor is way bigger in the US then in Europe.

Aprilx · 08/09/2023 16:27

Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 08/09/2023 14:18

Genuinely didn’t realise it was possible to get it that low price.

I think some of the comment may be because of the cost. I know when I hear people going there I think “good lord imagine spending that much money to go there and queue and be around lots of people”….I’d never say that but lots of my internal feeling about it is because of how much people spend on it.

I visit WDW regularly, twice a year since pandemic and I have my doubts about £4.5k for ten nights for four people. The cheapest Disney hotel would be £1500, tickets would be £2000 so that leaves £1k for flights for four. I don’t think so. And Disney resort pricing varies not that much over the course of a year.

I obviously am a fan, but I do then to find people come up with these cheap deals, compare them with the most expensive AI they can find in Europe and then declare it is cheaper to go to WDW. 😀

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 08/09/2023 16:29

It's unspeakably rude to rubbish other people's holiday choices, whether you would choose them yourself or not.

I don't suppose a lot of people would choose the holidays that we like, but we love them and don't give a damn what anyone else thinks!

OP, you clearly think that you and your family will love Disney, so just go and enjoy. It matters not a jot what anyone else thinks!

NotQuiteUsual · 08/09/2023 16:31

It's not for me or my family, but I'd love if it was. It's seems such an exciting thing. I think there used to be this idea that Disney was a must do family holiday and your kids were missing out of you didn't do it. So some people get weird about it as a hang over from that.

I quite like hearing about people's Disney land plans, it's always so exciting for them and I enjoy seeing that. It's the closest I'd get to enjoying that kind of holiday.

whynotwhatknot · 08/09/2023 16:31

MondieBee · 08/09/2023 15:09

Is there enough in the park to occupy ten days? That feels like a long amount of days to essentially keep going back to essentially the same theme park. Other seem to say 3 - 6 days is enough.

Anyway yes it's rude to say that to someone, just nod and say that you good the person has a lovely time. I can't imagine travelling all that way and not really seeing anything of the country I'm in, but we all want different things out of travel. I equally wouldn't enjoy a week in a resort hotel in the med and I bet plenty of the people poo pooing you do that.

its the siz of greater manchester with 4main parks and a water park

i went when i was yong and just started going again-theres so much to do i dont like fast rides-lots of interactive things shows parades characters and lots of food

Endlesssummerof76 · 08/09/2023 16:33

Lorrymum · 08/09/2023 15:02

Some people are horribly snobby about Disney.
When I was a teaching assistant on a ridiculous low wage my lovely Dad used his redundancy money to take the family to Disney. Several of the teaching staff said said they could think of nothing worse and were scornful of somewhere they had never been.
We loved it and have returned several times over the years. My Dad has sadly passed away but we have so many wonderful memories of our holidays.
We have just booked to go again, Im 65 and DH 70 and we can't wait!

I would loved to have gone as a child. The first time I went was as an adult attending a conference in Florida. On a whim, I purchased a ticket for one of the events at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and went by myself. That evening was so much fun.

whynotwhatknot · 08/09/2023 16:34

Dreamhols · 08/09/2023 15:10

To be clear the 4.5k was the cost of room board flight and tickets, not spending money or food when out there.

that we’ve baked in about £100/£150 a day and a limit of 2 souvenirs for the kids. Bringing the cost down is a Walmart run for snacks and breakfast items, and water bottles and squeezy squash from home and ice water from the quick service restaurants. One character experience dining and the rest mainly quick service. Probably around 6k when you factor that all In

Show quote history

where are you staying-you'll have a great time

BorgQueen · 08/09/2023 16:41

You used to be able to get amazing deals, we once stayed in a Disney 2 bedroom villa with full dining plan, tickets and flights for around £5k, in 2012 . Our first time onsite at Port Orleans resort in 2010 was £700 each for a week with quick dining, including Virgin flights.
You would be talking £20k nowadays.
We went every other year from 1996 -2015.
It seems to have changed beyond all recognition now though, hideously expensive and you have to be glued to your phone for the Genie app if you actually want to ride anything.
I’d love to go again but to take the Grandkids would easily top £20k, tickets for Disney and Universal alone are £1k each, that’s £7k straight off.

moonlitsparkle · 08/09/2023 16:44

@Dixiechickonhols the seeds tour sounds just my cup of tea, would definitely like to do that at some point!

MrsAvocet · 08/09/2023 16:49

I'm in the "rather poke my own eyes out camp". I don't like theme parks generally and there are a lot of Disney characters that I really dislike, particularly the bloody mouse itself, so obviously it's not for me and I think it's a ridiculous waste of money. And on a discussion forum I have no qualms about saying that. But if anyone I know is going I just say that I hope they have a lovely holiday, same as I would for anyone else.
I think one of the things that does provoke more negative responses however is that there is an enthusiasm bordering on fanaticism amongst elements of the Disney going population. I find things like adults wearing mouse ears, families with matching character luggage, pyjamas etc or counters telling me how many sleeps certain friends have until their 14th trip to Disneyland all rather weird. I don't see this degree of fervour from people who take other types of holiday and it's a bit over the top really.

Conkersinautumn · 08/09/2023 16:53

It has no appeal for me, it's a large scale advert for a franchise that just isn't that great, probably because they're constantly churning stuff out they get a few things right for children. I'd rather experience real life places, great views and the natural worls and fun life experiences. I guess I'm just dull to you.

Dixiechickonhols · 08/09/2023 17:00

It’s hard to comprehend the size of it if you’ve not been. As well as the 4 parks and 2 water parks there’s a big shopping and dining area Disney Springs plus 2 crazy golf courses inc in Uk tickets and all the themed hotels have activities and things to see - campfire sing a long at Fort wilderness, gingerbread house Grand Floridian at Christmas. All the Disney hotels have films by pool and s’mores each evening.

MumOfOneAwesomeHuman · 08/09/2023 17:12

I’m with you on both, the camping and the not dissing other peoples holidays!

It’s honestly so magical especially if your kids live Disney characters - my DD absolutely loved goofy. We arrived at the park mid parade, Goofy came right up to her, twirled her around and danced with her. We couldn’t have planned it! The rides were incredible. Epcot was brilliant, educational but fun. We bought an autograph book and got all the characters signatures for her which she loved.

I hope your trip is equally magical. It’s definitely worth the money and the memories last forever.

Sayut · 08/09/2023 17:18

Wouldn’t be my cup of tea but everyone is different.

Original poster
Dreamhols · 08/09/2023 17:24

Aprilx · 08/09/2023 16:27

I visit WDW regularly, twice a year since pandemic and I have my doubts about £4.5k for ten nights for four people. The cheapest Disney hotel would be £1500, tickets would be £2000 so that leaves £1k for flights for four. I don’t think so. And Disney resort pricing varies not that much over the course of a year.

I obviously am a fan, but I do then to find people come up with these cheap deals, compare them with the most expensive AI they can find in Europe and then declare it is cheaper to go to WDW. 😀

Show quote history

Wish I screenshotted it now for proof, worth mentioning that one child was under 3 so free

OP posts:
Astridastro · 08/09/2023 17:33

We went this year for the first time (for various reasons I don’t go into we’ve been trying to go for about 7 years) it was the best holiday ever. My DC are 17, 15 and 13 and we did an awful lot more than just Disney, we stayed on-site but hired a car and explored the second week. I would say all-in all it cost 18K

cocksstrideintheevening · 08/09/2023 17:34

It's not my thing. I hate theme parks. We did Paris when Dts were 5. It felt like a slog. I didn't go to Florida as a kid and I'm not emotionally scarred.

I also don't like legoland, Thorpe park, chessington etc.

Zanatdy · 08/09/2023 17:35

I’ve been 4 times, Orlando - wider Florida is a great holiday. If they’ve been and hate it, fair enough. If not, ignore

Original poster
Dreamhols · 08/09/2023 17:35

Just in case no one believes me, this has come up a bit more expensive but the 4.5 k was v low. But there you have it

Not get why so many people hate this place
OP posts:
TAReview · 08/09/2023 17:36

Bloody love Disney! Still have fabulous memories of our Disney holidays. 😁

greengreengrass25 · 08/09/2023 17:37

We used to,have great holidays there with Dc

I think it was more affordable and the dollar went further

Dixiechickonhols · 08/09/2023 17:38

You’ll save on tickets with an under 3 (they are free at Disney) and they eat free at character meals and buffets. There’s still lots they can do and go on though.