To not “get” Disneyland

[1985goingbackagain]

Can anyone explain the appeal of Disneyland to me please? I just don’t understand. In my mind it’s endless queues, full of people, but everything is fake so there are no real sights, yet people seem to love it and go back year after year. Am I missing something and should give it a go, or is it expensive overhyped window dressing??

It’s primarily for kids.

my kids loved it - they got to see Cinderella etc

I’m with you op.

I have a family member who’s been multiple times without children. They do all the hugging and photos with the people dressed up and rides and pay extra for the meals with the dressed up people. bonkers to me as an adult.

I wouldn't be interested in going myself but I do get why others do - it's an immersive experience in that particular world, with everything being themed and characters wandering about. If you like a particular fictional world, you're going to enjoy being immersed in it.

Do the kids actually believe they are the characters from the films? Like the animal characters are huge?!

Because…it’s fun?

Is it so hard to understand that people might like something different to you?

You either like it and feel joy there, or you don’t. Yes it’s busy, but I took my kids a lot when young, and always had a good time. It was a place where I could forget my troubles.

If you don't see the appeal of it then don't waste your money, go on a holiday you want to instead if theme parks aren't your thing. Disney parks are basically rides and meeting characters, if that isn't your thing then that's fine, people enjoy different stuff.

You don't need to get it. Just don't go if it's not your cup of tea.

I never quite understand these posts where people say they hate something and ask people to convince them why they should like it.

Different people like different things. Its simple as that

I wouldn’t want to go every year, but we had a brilliant holiday in WDW in Florida. It was great fun, Loved the rides, DC enjoyed meeting characters, the theming was very good. We were staying onsite and had fast passes so didn’t queue for too long for anything, although ride strategy took a bit of planning in advance. Fun shows, great light shows and fireworks. It’s just a different type of holiday. DH did not see the appeal before we went, but he really enjoyed it too.

You're being unreasonable to be against it because "in my mind" without actually experiencing it. People like different things. It's aimed at kids, kids have fun there. It's not that deep!

It's not my kind of thing, but then I guess loads of people don't want to go and stand in the pouring rain watching people chuck an egg-shaped ball back and forth... but that's what I like to do. Different strokes for different folks.

It is a very well done theme park. If you like rides and disney films then it is great. Everyone is super kind and helpful and if you do it properly not hours of queues. My only gripe with it is that it is super expensive as a whole for anyone outside the US but then when broken down, not too bad.
Its about £70 a day. I recently went to Southport and unlimted rides were £30 and they are crappy fairground rides. Realistically you would spend 2-3 hours there, not a full day.

We visited earlier in the year with the kids as I believed they were missing out, it was ok, nothing special would rather have spent the money on a week in the med in the summer! It was so expensive for what it was I really don’t understand how people love it and go umpteen time!

my next door neighbour are going to Disney USA for 28days in the summer they are in their 50s (no children going) just don’t get how it appeals to them, but each to their own!

I too don’t get the hype. I think it’s a marmite thing. You either buy into it or you don’t. I’ve never been and my children couldn’t think of anything worse (I’ve asked) but each to their own.

Because it’s fucking great 😊 you’re in a magical bubble for a few days, rides, music, parades, nostalgic childhood characters.

I didn’t really get it either, then I went last year and I didn’t want to come home.

I genuinely don't think you need to get it.

I don't think it's just for kid's at all, although many have that attitude.

Many adults enjoy it and I don't like shitting on someone's enjoyment unless it's illegal.

No I'm not a disney adult but I would not make a thread about not understanding it.

If you don’t enjoy Disney why would you waste money? Just don’t go. I don’t like Brighton beach yet it’s always busy in the summer and I don’t get what people enjoy there - cold water? Pebbles? Crowds ? Seagulls stealing your chips?

I never got the appeal but we did Efteling in half term. A fun park break was actually really good fun, with loads to see and do. I imagine it’s a similar vibe + the characters that people like and are familiar with.

No, I’m just interested in what is so magical when in my mind it’s all manufactured so looking for people’s perspectives who have been. Given this is a chat site I thought it reasonable to ask…

It does not appeal to me. My DC were never particularly into Disney and none of us like rides.
My best friend has taken her DC multiple times - they love it! They enjoy the rides, the fireworks, the parades, the merch, the characters.

You need to be pretty obtuse not to understand why people might enjoy it, even if it's not your thing.

I'm not a Disney person and didn't have a Disney heavy childhood in any way. Not because my parents were morally opposed to the organisation but I grew up in 1980s Ireland where TV channels were limited and we didn't have a video, so I just never saw the big name Disney cartoons. Have a vague memory of once seeing Cinderella. Whereas I feel like a kid who was born in the 90s cannot have avoided multiple viewings of The Lion King, Beauty & the Beast etc.

Having said that I wouldn't mind going to one of the Disneyworlds for a day. I have an inquiring mind! Plus the snacks are probably good.

But what's wrong with being manufactured? Roller coasters don't appear out of nowhere, so it's not like you can experience one in the wild, without the branding.

But that’s why I’m asking! “In my mind” is just trying to explain why I’m asking.

I don’t understand Disney so don’t get it either, especially for adults to go weak at the knees for it! There are theme parks in the UK to queue up and go on rollercoasters. I’d never go to Disneyland/world etc.

I think our childhoods were very different.