Would you go to Disney World Florida?

[Flyingwithmytoddler]

Just after some opinions on Disney Florida with a 7 year old. Myself and my husband went years ago, before having our child, and we're thinking of going in October next year. However, for the price, we could get a lovely holiday elsewhere, and still have change.

So, money aside, if you had a choice between Disney or a beach resort holiday elsewhere, what would you pick?

No

I'd rather do something relaxing and that involves less planning and less queuing. Yes the fun moments are fun but there is so much waiting around and time wasting to get those special moments.

🥱

Yes We have been to Disney many may times over the years. DD1 was 18 months the first time she went to Orlando. We have also travelled long haul and done beach holidays. I prefer a touring holiday but would take Orlando over a beach holiday every time.

Last year we took our nieces (7,9&12) for their first visit and they loved it.

October is the perfect time for Disney as they have Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom which is worth buying a ticket for - it’s an up charge but you can get in before the party starts to do the rides and there’s Trick or Treat stops to fill your bag all night. The parade is amazing too.

Don’t forget Universal if you’re Harry Potter Fans - you can ride the Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Avoid their Horror Nights though, it’s for adults only.

No not at all. There must be some really cool resorts and theme parks and stuff in Europe?

My kids are 13 and 10 and I’d absolutely love to do Disney with them. But it’s too expensive for us. Can’t see how anyone does it for less than 10K (probably more)and it’s not really dh’s kind of thing so it won’t happen. I went once as a kid and again with family in my early 20s. Would go back tomorrow.

We went a couple of years ago with dd who was 5 and she loved it. She's a big theme park fan and could go on lots of rides. Going to Universal this year and she'll love all the Harry Potter stuff. We visit Florida every year as we have family there (although in a different area from the theme parks).

We've never done a beach resort holiday so I don't have that to compare it to. We like to do quite active holidays and to visit different places.

I’d go pretty much ch anywhere for a holiday before Disneyland

Spent two weeks in Disney Florida last year with dc 6 and 13. Kids enjoyed it, but for me it was “meh” - overpriced, queues were painfully long (queued for 25 mins to get an overpriced icecream in Epcot)!

We had a much better time at EuropaPark: okay it’s small in comparison but we stayed in a lovely hotel onsite, we enjoyed the water park and the theme park for several days and then we visited Colmar and the wine region and spent a day at a wonderful castle. Weather in August was perfect - we had a couple of too-hot days at 33 degrees but not the stinking humidity and downpours of Florida.

Food

Would you consider California? Disney there is more manageable/less all consuming. You can spend time in LA, Palm Springs, the coast too. We took DS there when he was 4.5 and 6.5 and he loved it. We enjoyed it more than we thought we would too.

if you’re set on Florida I’d do as a PP suggested and do a week in the parks and a week in Miami or the Keys.

What about Disneyland and Disneysea in Tokyo?

Disneysea is usually ranked as the best Disney park in the world. The level of theming in the Japan parks is a different level. There’s so much themed food and cool (and affordable) souvenirs and every inch of the parks are beautifully themed, down to the vending machines and the toilets.

The flights will be more expensive but everything else is miles cheaper and Japan is an awesome place to be for a holiday in general. The Disney parks there won’t fill a whole holiday but there’s tonnes of other things to do, some of which are pretty magical for a 7 year old.

I definitely think it’s a bucket list type of item for taking your children, if you’re only going to go once though I’d probably wait a few years. Our youngest was 9 when we went and he doesn’t remember all that much. So we are going again this year 😁

No. Certainly not with the current political situation but also I think it is vastly overrated.
We took DC when they were 9 and 6. It was ok but we have had far better holidays for the money. We went in the summer holidays - it was stifling hot, crap food, super expensive and just generally not our thing.

It completely depends on your Dc's interests. We've have amazing family holidays in Iceland riding horses, snowmobiling, ice caving and climbing Volcanos. Or Sri Lanka, bathing elephants, picking tea or picking spices.

If your DC are Disney mad and love the 'Princess' thing and movies then it would probably be ok.

Nope, not whilst trump is in power. Take a lovely holiday elsewhere and a short break to Disneyland Paris at a different time, still will have change. Florida is so expensive

Not in the summer and not during American school holidays that's for sure.

Personally we liked Disney Paris better- still loads of walking but in the us you have to get buses if you’re going to different parks. Heat was a lot and everything crazy expensive which it is in Paris too to be fair especially food and drinks. Florida is just too ott

Mine are boys and not princess mad, they loved it. The holiday they talk about the most and why we are going back. It may be overrated for some, but there’s a reason it’s widely rated and on many people’s wish lists.

We did it last year (kids 4&6) and are counting down until we go back next October! It's so much fun! I would recommend staying on property for the perks and using lightening lanes if you can. They start the free Disney dining plans in April usually so it probably with waiting a month or so to book.

If you are queuing loads you are doing it wrong - buy (selective) lightning lanes and take advantage of jet lag to get to parks early. I don’t think we have ever queued more than 30 mins and usually far far less - though we strategise seriously. Equally, if you are eating crap food you are eating wrong. We are very foodie and there is some fantastic (and kid friendly) food at Disney. If you end up eating the crappy generic flatbreads at Pinocchio Village Haus or the boring burgers at Eddie’s you will think it is bad. If you go for the amazing breakfast buffet at Boma or a romantic evening at Citricos or a selection of sharing plates at Geyser Point then I think you will find the food is really rather good.

You do need to be prepared to invest in research and planning, and previous posters are right that that takes a lot of effort - and that the whole thing is very expensive. But done right it is the finest family holiday on earth. (And a lot more varied and fun than a boring all inclusive/beach).

Oh and ignore the people saying it was stifling hot in the summer. Don’t go in the summer! Easter, October or December. Weather absolutely lovely.

@Lindtnotlint I’m not one of those people that’s sniffy about Disney but a non-Disney holiday doesn’t have to be a boring all-inclusive beach holiday (not that there’s anything wrong with that either if people enjoy it).

Incidentally, if you’re both a Disney fan and a foodie then I highly recommend giving the Tokyo parks a go. The quality and theming of the food there is outstanding and the prices are so much lower. A four course dinner at Magellan’s is under £40. A special set at restaurant Hokusai is under £20. Snacks like the little alien mochi or the flavoured popcorns are under £2. Getting to Tokyo is expensive compared to Florida, but the overall experience is very affordable. The parks are beautiful (Disneysea blew the minds of even the Disney hating adults in our group) and the food is a really unique experience.

I need to go back to check out the new Fantasy Springs area as our visit was before that opened.

Ive done Disney several times as an adult. Its hideously insanely expensive. The parks are ok but I found them to be very twee. I much preferred the 2 weeks I did at Universal Studios. I went in the winter so the temperature was very comfortable and I had an amazing time.

It’s described as the Happiest Place on Earth. We loved it but saw many young children who were hot, tired and unhappy. I wouldn’t take children under 8.

@MauveLibrarycrikey can’t imagine doing 2 weeks in universal, we’re doing a universal only trip this year but not even staying a week before moving on somewhere else (outside of Orlando)

You'd have to be crackers to go to the US at the moment especially with a 7yo. Do not assume you're safe from ICE detention. Look up Karen Newton and Rebecca Burke. They did nothing wrong but ended up detained. There are women with children in those jails but what if they separated you? It's not worth the risk.