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?

Ooh I so want to go to Tokyo Disney Sea. Targeting spring 2028 for that trip after GCSEs.

I had such a good time. The Royal Pacific resort was stunning. Water taxis to and from the parks and unlimited fastpass. The food on club level and in the hotel restaurants was outstanding. It was utter bliss sinking in to the hot tub in the evenings with a kindle and a cup of tea after walking miles in the parks every day. America not safe at the moment but one day I will definitely be going back there.

@ZenNudist I know some people are a bit sniffy about Disney and I’ve had people say that it’s a waste to spend time at Disney when you’re in Japan, but the parks really are special there. Obviously, nobody goes all that way just for Disney, but as part of a broader Japan trip they are definitely worth giving at least a couple of days to if you’ve got kids or are a fan.

Hope you get to go and have an amazing time!!

I'm a big fan of theme parks. Not October but I can recommend Efteling in Netherlands for a 7yo. Stay at bosrijk or one of the other hotels. Lots for little ones. Combine with spring trip to keukenhof and see windmills at kinderdijk maybe go to miffy museum at Utrecht and see Kastel van de haar for real disney Castle feel. In the North hof van saksen is a great holiday park with tonnes of activities for children. Not been to duinrel but that's another Dutch theme park. Efteling is brill for all ages but especially young dc.

Europapark is amazing. The waterpark is called Rutlantica. The hotels are fabulous. I stayed in Colosseo the Italian one but bell rock the American one is next on my list. They're all great.

In October go to tenerife do siam park and loro park waterpark and zoo.

@Takoneko I have a long itinerary and was only planning 1 day at Disney Sea. Is disneyland tokyo worth seeing also? I have done the American parks many times.
Also planning 1.5 day in universal osaka. I really want to see supermario world

@ZenNudist One day at Universal was more than enough for me. We got there early and ducked out late afternoon. The Nintendo section is cool and the flying dinosaur is an awesome roller coaster, but for my tastes, the park itself isn’t anywhere near as good as the Disney ones.

At both the Disney parks we stayed until evening. Whether Disneyland is worth it probably depends on what you value. A lot of the rides in Tokyo Disneyland as similar to ones in US parks. The Beauty and the Beast ride in Tokyo Disneyland is a stand-out though. The parades, food and atmosphere are also pretty special.

We visited Universal during Japanese school holidays and Disney during term time which may have coloured my opinion. The queues were a lot worse on our USJ day than the Disney days a week or so later.

Disney World is so much fun. With younger kids it is so beautifully innocent and yes it feels magical. There are just lovely little discoveries and surprises across the parks, it's like an amazing adventure for children.
That's how they get you though: you have lovely experiences and moments with your children, then you are hooked into the nostalgia of it all...
It's a genius/ frightening amazing market tool.

Of course some people don't enjoy it and you see unhappy families in the parks. Often because it's too hot, queues are too long, everyone's tired, or there are tensions among the adults.

So you need to plan. It's not somewhere you can rock up and assume it'll go great.

You need to carefully decide when to go, what you'll do each day and how it'll work for your families needs.

If you're not a planner don't go, you'll hate it.

Also it is now insanely expensive and getting very hard to justify the cost imo.

Disney world or a beach holiday? Disney world- no competition. 7 is a brilliant age. I went when I was about that age and it is one of my fondest childhood memories (I’m sure part of that was spending the quality time with my parents as well though)

We went last summer and are taking our 7 year old again next year. It ain’t cheap but we like to spend our disposable income on holidays/experiences rather than material things. It really depends on your families preferences when it comes to holidays whether it is worth it to you though 😊

I've been 4 times. Twice pre kids, and twice with our daughter. She's only 6 so she went at 3 then 5. We've only done Disney with her but planning to do Universal next time.

We're obsessed. As soon as we land home we're planning the next trip. Worth every penny.

We've done it all as well. Villas, I drive hotels, Disney hotel for two weeks. Last time we went we split stayed between two Disney hotels.
It's magical whatever you choose to do, and trust me flights and park tickets aside, you can save a lot of money when it comes to food and accomodation if you're smart about it. We've rented DVC points before for Disney hotels. Well worth a look. We got an amazing room at Animal Kingdom Lodge doing this and it was cheaper.

To the person upthread who recommended Japan + Tokyo Disney - definitely yes! We are just holding off till kids a bit older. Have also done amazing family trips to New England if US outside Disney appeals (Boston plus up the coast - really great trip).

You couldn’t pay me to go to the US until the orange faced one is gone. Why not go to Euro Disney? You’d be able to have both holidays then.