Has anyone regretted going to Disney Florida?

[ForthethingsIdo]

I feel I want to take my child but am so put off by the crowds and queues.

I’ve read people often stand in queues for 60-90min to ride.

Is it really worth it?

Thank you

Nope anyone who doesn’t like Disney Florida is just a miserable sod imo. But do hire a car and see the other parts of florida; gulf coast beaches, nature preserves, shopping malls, etc!

It is 1000% worth it in my opinion, I’ve gone in the Easter holidays (twice as a child, once in my early 20s) and I’m heartbroken I will never be able to afford to take my son. If you can afford to go, go. It really is the happiest place on earth (but definitely recommend going April because if you go in the summer it will be WAY too hot)

First visit was as a two centre holiday, and the cheapest way to visit The Bahamas was via Orlando. As an early 20's couple we had no particular interest in Disney but decided to visit the parks to see what the fuss was about.
After a week there we flew to the Caribbean, first trip we booked from there was a three day holiday in Disney. Yes, I love it.
I'm not obsessed, 2024 will only be my fourth visit, but it is well worth the (huge) expense imo.I think adults can appreciate the place in a very different way to children and both can fully enjoy.

We went at Easter in 2016 when my kids were 7 & 12. We had a blast! Not my sort of holiday at all but it's one of the best family holidays we've ever had. Its not as hot & humid at Easter. Honestly not sure why anyone would go in August!! We did the Disney parks but also Universal Studios & a lot of the rides were amazing! If your kid is a HP fan then those rides are brilliant. yes long queues but some had shade to queue up I & places had water strays etc or water rides to cool down on. It was still HOT at Easter. Universal now has Splash Landings water park plus back then we did the Disney water parks & they were fab! We have some amazing memories. My DS 7 managed to walk round ok. We probably did 10 miles walking a day but the kids barely moaned as they loved every minute. The Holiday cost us a fortune bit definitely worth it 👏💗

I've been to Disney Florida three times and Paris twice. Every single time I have had the best time of my life.

Took our four year old to Florida over Xmas and we're so desperate to go back.

If you go and come back disappointed, you didn't do it right.

Yes it requires a bit of planning, but it doesn't have to be a spreadsheet. Just a clever use of an app and a shit ton of money is all you need.

Oh, and don't go in August thinking it'll be a lovely temperature. It's fucking HOT, and that ain't Disney's fault.

Agreed

We went at Feb half term once and it was pretty quiet. There is so much to do that doesn't involve queuing - we had done most of the rides at Disneyland Paris before so we focused on other stuff.

We’re going for the first time at Easter so I’ll let you know when we get back!

I think whether it’s expensive is dependent on income. If it’s a fortune is it really worth it if you have not really got the money? Also what is an expensive holiday?

I resented paying for Paris Disney. We spent a day there and dc weren’t that bothered. Never found it magical or anything else. They did think other things we did on other holidays were exciting. However most who go to Disney don’t go anywhere else much. So what is anyone comparing Disney too? It’s entertainment but not everyone likes identical entertainment.

Plus I want something out of a holiday for me. Dc are not the only ones in our family. Mine were happy doing all sorts of things.

I really don’t think you can categorise people who don’t like a mouse themed - theme park miserable! That’s just crazy. For the money that Disney costs, and let’s be honest, Easter , 2 weeks and having money to throw at it as suggested , you are looking at £12-15k. That is insane.
We had a Disney holiday but we didn’t enjoy it and have had far better holidays for less. 2 years ago we went to Vietnam with a family focused ethical travel company. The kids played football with local kids on the beach, made pho, travelled through the mountains overnight the train, kayaked around halong bay, crawled around chi chi tunnels, sailed down the Mekong spotting monkeys. It was beautiful, fabulous food and gave back to the locals. The kids learnt so much and had the best time.

‘Most who go to Disney don’t go anywhere else much’
You fucking what?! What are you basing that wildly snobbish response on?
As a family we are lucky enough to have had a lot of wonderful and varied travel experiences to compare it to, and we still absolutely loved Disney and would say it’s our best holiday.
We know a lot of other families who have been who also travel extensively and every single one has loved it.

I’ve known families who never go anywhere else much and Disney is the big expense every few years. So we know different people! Many here have been multiple times but don’t talk about anywhere else because nothing is as good. For them. For us, travelling and experiencing different cultures was more valuable and fun.

You lose an argument when you swear. Plus we have tried Disney and it’s only going to excite people who have seen all the films and buy into the hype. Which we didn’t. I don’t care if it’s snobbish but we have preferred other holiday experiences and we can afford that. Hopefully the OP will review whether £12,000 plus on Disney is worth it when you could experience Vietnam as described above or somewhere else . But of course learning is snobbish! I think I’m happy to be one.

We went to Disney Florida September last year. I am not a lifelong Disney fan, nor is DH but I must say we had a fantastic time and the kids obviously loved it.

The only thing to consider that may impact your experience is the weather - we had 30+ degrees everyday which is exhausting for some older/smaller generations!

@ForthethingsIdo

I have been to Disney World over 30 times in the last 15 years.

It is amazing. It is magical. It is also busy. But it can be both.

We find that a whole day at the park is a nightmare, so we visit the parks in the morning, afternoon OR evening and then do water parks or other things between. This breaks things up and allows us to manage crowds.

We never book a package holiday as it’s too expensive and we always have a car, as you get to see more of Florida, which is beautiful.

I have met people who didn’t like their Disney holiday, but I’ve met more people who become addicted and live and breathe planning as a lifestyle. There are even websites that allow us to research and plan all year round.

So yes, I would say it is worth a visit. And even if you don’t like it, the chances are your kids will love it.

In fairness, there have been numerous responses on this thread that have said (in reply to people saying the military planning and queueing for hours sounds unenjoyable) ‘Well, we don’t like beach holidays’, as though those are the only other types of holiday available.

@TizerorFizz

In addition to my many Disney holidays I have been fortunate to visit other places too, so have plenty to compare Disney to.
Greece; the Greek islands; Turkey; Spain (Barcelona); Mallorca; Ibiza; Lanzarote; France; Germany Black Forest; Belgium; Canada; Portugal; The Caribbean; The Bahamas; other states in the US including North Carolina; Texas; Washington DC; New York; Chicago; Boston. I’ve also been to Italy; Ireland; Wales and more.
I have never enjoyed a place more than Florida. (In fact I loathed the Greek Islands, the Spanish Islands and Turkey. Not for me at all.)

Granted I haven’t been to South America or East. I’m sure there are very beautiful places, some of which are on my list, the Maldives; Tokyo; HongKong; Thailand; Hawaii; Australia; Singapore for example. I will visit these places alongside my beloved DisneyWorld.

Hmmmm. We did Disney Florida twice, we also did Australia, Far East, Middle East, Maldives, South America, Europe….I could go on. I don’t think your statement is true for most families. All different experiences, all fun. Comparing them is impossible as they are all different. If you like to sit on a beach for a fortnight, then you will find it tiring and if you don’t plan it you won’t get to do as much, same as any holiday. Like any holiday, you pay a lot for it, you might as well do your research and plan it beforehand.

Not a beach for 2 weeks. I think we all have to make choices on holidays and Disney is miles away from what we enjoy. Dc too. So when answering the OP, you do have to compare holidays and think what your preferences are. Lots of people do go and sit on a beach for two weeks with dc but we have varying views on what “fun” looks like. I bet my dc barely remember Paris Disney. It ticked a box at the time but other holidays meant a lot more!!As adults they don’t want to go to Disney!

There’s some excellent Disney forums and YouTubers. I’m going for the second time with my DS (now 4) in May. We won’t queue as he simply can’t cope with it. We’ll get to the parks
early and pay for genie plus as needed.

It’s a magical holiday.

Interesting points.
Thing is a lot of people say to us oh you going to Florida and laugh and assume we haven't gone anywhere else.
We have travelled extensively to other places too and enjoyed 'all' our holidays in different ways.
We have learnt about different cultures etc and it was great but also have learnt loads in Disney at Epcot world showcase, amazing different wildlife In Florida, a melting pot of all different types of people/cultures together who are very friendly and not snooty. The backstory to Disney is amazing but we are also open to going other places too.
I think we are very open minded to all sorts of experiences but I can't explain it despite the crowds and heat etc i still love that feeling when you arrive in Orlando. It is pure escapism and we really embrace it as life on a day to day work basis etc is tough. We forsake other things to do the holidays well and have not regretted one holiday. We make the most of it all but more importantly enjoy it and don't knock other people's choices which can be very different.

Your holiday sounded amazing too.
I think we all are different people who enjoy different things.
(Disney isn't just all about the mouse though-so much more than that)
Anyway at the end of the day if you earn your money and want to spend it on a certain type of holiday go for it.
I don't care what other people do as long as they enjoy themselves.

As I’m discovering in planning our first trip, Disney is very much a “it’s what you make of it” type of holiday. Absolutely you can go along with little planning and freestyle each day, but if you want to ride specific rides or eat at certain restaurants you do need to put some time and effort into planning before you go.

Paying for things like Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes will make things easier, but will cost. On the flip side there are plenty of videos on YouTube showing ways of enjoying the parks without paying extra, but you will need to be prepared to plan and take advantage of things like rope-drop.

Everyone enjoys a different type of holiday, there’s no need for anyone to mock other people’s choices.

I don't cope well in crowds. I am impatient in queues. When it is hot I literally go into meltdown.
But...
Disney World is my absolute Happy Place! I love it! Yes, it is busy, yes, there are queues, yes, it is hotter than the surface of the sun, but they manage it so well it's not a huge issue. I try to go at quieter times (the very end of the English summer holidays aren't too bad), the queues tend to have some form of entertainment along the way and actually form part of the attraction, and most places are either shaded with fans or air conditioned to manage the heat. I would go there every year if money were no issue!
I wouldn't compare Disney World with Disneyland Paris, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park or Chessington. It is nothing like any of those! The sheer scale of it is overwhelming and you can expect to average about 15,000 steps per day over a 2 week holiday (average - some days you will probably do 30,000!), so don't expect it to be relaxing! Personally, I find all non-Orlando theme parks a disappointment now, and whilst I am heading to Disneyland Paris at Easter for the first time in over 10 years, it is only because I have to go for work (travel agent). I am sure we will enjoy it, but it's just not the same!

A comment I wanted to make generally is a lot of people come out with something like this:-

'I don't think my child whatever age they are remembers it now so what's the point because it was a lot of money we spent'

The first time we took our first child he was 2. He doesn't remember any of it but at the time we had an amazing holiday and he enjoyed himself then laughing happy fun times and we have memories and photos of him enjoying it. So it doesn't matter now as it wasn't about oh we spent thousands so he's got to remember it. It was that we enjoyed it at the time. I can barely remember what I did last week in day to day busy life.

Exactly