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

Me and my teens are huge disney fans but they’ve never really suggested going to any of the American parks. We did Disneyland Paris when they were younger and it was brilliant but I think they know they wouldn’t want to go on rides several days in a row. We live in London near two big theme parks and after a day there they’ve definitely had enough!!

You have to admire the Disney marketing. It seems to have managed to convince large swathes of the world that going to one of their theme parks is pretty much compulsory for the good parent and a rite of passage for the child.

Probably the same people who think it’s ‘a rule’ to spend three month’s salary on a diamond engagement ring.

We preferred Port Aventura but aren't into Disney so the characters weren't a draw for us, plus the extra travel time, jetlag, expense etc just didn't really make sense. And not worth going for just a week as it takes so long to get there.
Could do a week all inclusive in Port Aventura hotel for £2.5k for 4 and it's right by the beach, train ride from Barcelona etc.
Also heard eftling is great - aiming to go there next year.

Anyone with any experience of disability or priority pass? We went to DLP last month and they treat everyone so well, is it the same at WDW?

I've never regretted not going!

Never appealed to me. My DDs are adults now and never even mentioned it growing up. We had lovely holidays but I wasn’t paying all that money for Disney.

Yeah, I think it's wild that people would spend what would be a deposit for a flat for a child on a holiday to Disney unless the money is inconsequential!

I thought it was my idea of hell before I read this thread and now I think that even more!

If you have to queue for 2hrs for a ride, does that mean a day basically comprises standing in 4 queues and going on 4 short rides? There must be loads of rides in each park - how many do you actually get to do? And what else do you do apart from queueing for/going on rides?

Each to their own, and all that (and I know of plenty of people who think my idea of a good holiday is total madness, which is fine), but the Disney thing totally baffles me!

We went when mine were 6 & 11. We loved it but went in October half-term with a few days added on so missed a few days of school.

We didn't do a Disney hotel - that would be my idea of hell and super expensive too.

We loved it but didn't go overboard on visiting the theme park parks - had a few shopping mall / pool days. Also just really enjoyed being somewhere hot and sunny whilst England was cold and wet! Disneyland Paris just doesn't compare - it doesn't have the weather or the American customer service.

It sound like such a shit way to spend a huge amount of money. Boiling hot, queues, hordes of people, crap food - I wouldn’t bother. My children have never been mad on Disney so I feel like we got out of that one. I would rather spend money on trips to show them other cultures and ways of life, I don’t get adults who are Disney mad. But each to their own.

We did Florida when kids were aged 10 and 12, Disney, Universal then down to Miami … great ages because they were old enough to go on all the rides and they loved America …yes it cost a fortune but to use a cliche, we came home with magical memories galore. But I’d never say to someone “you have to go” … it’s just another holiday at the end of the day!

I was really underwhelmed. Magic Kingdom (& especially Tomorrow Land) looked rundown. We used Lightening Passes but just organising it all felt like a full time job. The food was atrocious. The queues were horrendous. Saying all that, my kids would go back tomorrow 🙄

I don't cope very well with extremes of heat and humidity. The parks are lovely but I really struggled to stay cool and hydrated. There was a lot of ground to cover. I won't be going again.

We went pre kids and I loved every minute of it. Back then you were able to book fast passes for the rides that were free which made life a lot easier. Unfortunately, well I know it’s the case in Paris so I’m assuming the same for Florida it’s no longer free so that’s a big shame. I think it depends on how old the kids are etc. It is going to be busy, it’s likely to be hot and there will be queues. We stayed in a Disney hotel as the shuttle buses were amazing so there’s always the option to go back to the hotel and have time to chill in the pool etc.

Personally I won’t be taking my kids until they are a lot older and can go on all the rides. They are currently 7 and 3 and we are actually off to Disneyland Paris for the first time on Monday! So I will see how that goes. Mine struggle sometimes with the change in routine, noise etc so I’m expecting it to be challenging at times. But I wanted them to experience the magic whilst they are still young enough. Florida is definitely on the cards one day but it will be a trip of a lifetime so I want to wait until we can have the best time possible.

I’ve been twice with my child. I’ve really enjoyed Universal Studios and recommend staying one night in the Universal Studios hotels to get the 2 x days worth of fast passes which means ques are a lot shorter. Disney was better than I expected considering I’m not a Disney fan. The ques are usually undercover which helps during the heat and generally moving most of the time. There is also things to look at as you walk the que. Animal Kingdom was great and thought the Flight of Passage ride was really worth the long que! I would go back just for that! You can book times for the rides at Disney to shorten your queing time. We couldn’t get one for Flight of Passage unfortunately though.

We stayed at one of the Rosen Inn hotels on International Drive which was reasonably price and had breakfast included, so filled ourselves up before heading to the parks. I don’t think the fancy hotels are worth it as you are out so much during day and evening. We used Uber/Lyft to get back and forth. Our hotel had free shuttle buses Universal.

If you want to do Disney for the mouse and not Paris I highly recommend California - just go for a day and spend the rest of your time doing a road trip around the sw (I recommend Grand Canyon, Zion National park, Death Valley, vegas has to be seen but one full day is plenty . Not to mention La it's self, san Diego too. Very doable in 2 weeks with kids.

Was a long time ago but I just booked a motel almost opposite the park gates and it wasn't expensive, bit run down but who cares. Took about 15 minutes to reach the turnstiles from our room! Honestly, a day of queuing for rides is plenty. Top tip if thinking school holidays, go as late as you can in august, many US schools go back around the 20 August (varies by state).

If you have never done any Disney, perhaps a trip to Paris is better though, we like it, less stress as so easy to get to, cheaper once you are there too as there's a big McDonald's, supermarkets nearby etc

I went in October for Halloween years ago with a friend and we had an amazing time! I loved it. I don’t remember the queues being that bad but I guess in summer it will be a lot busier. Could you take them during a different holiday period?

I enjoyed it with two teenagers but we did do a lot of queuing. I can't imagine a worse holiday with a toddler or small child who is not going to cope with the queues.

Also, we did a LOT of preparation in advance deciding on which park and which ride we should go to when. None of it was spontaneous.

The waste and excess of it did upset me. It was also very hot.

We liked Animal Kingdom the most. Magic Kingdom and Epcot least.

However, we absolutely loved Nasa and the Harry Potter section of Universal. I would go to both those places again. So I'd wait until my kids were old enough to appreciate those ones.

Disney Paris is good enough for small kids to experience "the magic" and imo one day is plenty - I'd spend the rest of the holiday in Paris itself.

We went in 2022 and I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but I loved it!

You do have to be prepared to throw money at it though to get the best experience - being able to buy food and drinks in the parks, pay for genie + etc all make it a better experience. I don't think I'd want to go if I was thinking of carrying a rucksack of snacks and queuing for everything tbh. We stayed on I drive last time and while it was fine we found we were tired from the constant travelling so we're planning to go again next year and stay on site - maybe 8 nights Disney and 6 Universal. We also weng in October as we have a two week half term break so it was less humid.

Really didn't think it would be my thing but I loved it!

my children are mid 20s to 30s and still talk about Florida we have been a few times, it's a good experience not restful and lots of fun I was knackered but never regretted going, but you don't have to go if you think you will really hate it.

I'm I'm honest I preferred universal but Disney is what it is.

Sounds more like war planning than holiday planning. Fuck that.

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😁😁😁 you made me snort my coffee!

My feelings also and I say that as a highly anal person when it comes to planning my travels (love a list)

Also went as a kid and while I enjoyed it was just that. Not blown away. And we spent so much time every day in the car getting there and back every day

Didn't regret it as the kids loved it but it is a long, tiring day. We went once or twice to eurodisney out of season at the weekend and it was better. A lot on a Friday night to get across the channel ready for Saturday but we walked on to a lot of rides.

We went to DW Florida when our son was about 7. This was 12 years ago so not sure what the price comparison is like now but although Florida was more expensive because of the flights there wasn't a huge difference between Florida and Paris and you're guaranteed warm weather in Florida so we chose that.

We went "for our son" and were a bit cynical but absolutely loved it. It really pays off to read up on tips and organise each day. That sounds a bit "military " but it was a really worthwhile exercise. We would head to the park first thing in the morning before it was too hot and too crowded, do the biggest rides first when they had barely any queue then collect a fast pass to go again. Then move on to the less popular rides and attractions. Have lunch in Park (nice air con as getting hot by then) and head back to hotel. We stayed in a Disney hotel and got the free buses, much less stressful than driving. Chill out at the hotel pool for the afternoon (there are usually staff organising games and quizzes if you want to partake) then head back to park, have dinner then more rides in the cooler evening.

It is a LOT of walking. Luckily our son was very energetic but we saw some really knackered emotional kids around his age - too big for a buggy but struggling with the walking and long days. So it's important to pace yourselves.

The queuing we never found too bad because of planned timing, fast passes etc. Most of the queues have stuff to entertain on the way and there are facilities you can spray yourself with water to cool off a bit. Take plenty of water though and a handheld fan!

Food was OK (mostly fast food stuff) but portions much too big and the disposable landfill waste is shocking.

We are going again this year as our youngest has never been. 19 year old son is coming too and very enthusiastic to do it all again.