Ugh, Disney...

Don't overschedule. It's the biggest cause of disappointment with any park, but when there's as many people as most small cities in one place trying to all do the same thing, it gets crowded. Definitely not a place for someone that doesn't like crowds. If you have a day you have to waste, and I know it happens, o to Animal Kingdom. It's a smaller park with shorter hours and often lower attendance. It's by far the least Disney of the parks in Florida. If you have down time and transportation, you can get out and see some pretty extreme weirdness.

Also remember that Magic Kingdom is a dry park if you plan on drinking. Sneak it in if you think you're going to want some "medicine" to help you through the day.

Derick Freese wrote: Don't overschedule. It's the biggest cause of disappointment . . .

So many people approach Disney as if it's a Six Flags type of park and it's only after you're there that you realize you can't do that. You need to immerse yourself into the fantasy and take your time.

Wander a lot, don't stay on a strict pathway or time table. We usually make each day 2 days.

We stay on property (you really are doing yourself a disservice if you don't stay on property and I don't mean those semi-associated hotels way the heck out there) as you get many extras and extra hours at the park. This allows us to head out in the morning to one park and enjoy it till about 1-2 and then head back to the hotel for a nap & a shower.

We then head out for day 2 just before dinner or else take in one of the dinner shows like the Frontier Review and then head out to a different park. It's much more relaxing to do it that way and you get so much more out of it. No cranky kids or adults from trying to do too much at one time.

In reply to Curmudgeon

Same here. Never been... Might some day, but I can think of many things I'd rather do that costs $$$$.... Racing for example...

We went when I was a kid. 1300 miles in the back seat of a 71 Z28, through some wicked snow storms. That was an adventure in itself. I didn't remember it as much as I'd remembered some of the other attractions we went to in Florida that year, but I was 12.

We have a six flags type place fairly close to where I live. I've been twice, and will never go again. I detest those places. When we had a chance to take our own kids, I have to say I was not looking forward to it. I was blown away by how well run, and how organized it was. We went at the beginning of September (the best time to go anywhere is the first week of school), but even though there were crowds, everybody was managed, and there were no waits. I don't typically like that kind of attraction, but we all had a great time. We would go again.

I went a few years ago with a former GF and her family. We stayed there a week. I thought it was going to be miserable, but ended up having a really good time. Animal kingdom was my favorite place followed by epcot. Epcot was great because of the rides 'soaring' and 'test track'. And at the different countries around epcot's lake, they have native booze for each country :D

We went to DL when the girls were about 8 and 12. Purely through luck, it rained for 2 of the 3 days- I call it luck, because California rain is the most wimpy, Bob Costas like weather I've ever seen, and it seems obvious to me Californians are the same, because nobody was there. We rode all the rides at least twice, the good ones five or six times- it took longer to run back through the entrance maze than it did to do the ride.

The thing that really impressed me was one of the costumed princesses, who said to my daughter, "Didn't you have your sister with you three days ago?" Thats pretty good customer relations there.

carguy123 wrote: There is so much more to do at Disney than just rides.

Meh. I didn't care for it. There was a lot to do that I wasn't interested in waiting for. It is geared toward someone else.

Next year we are rafting down the Colorado river. Now that, I'm fired up for.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Next year we are rafting down the Colorado river. Now that, I'm fired up for.

That is freaking awesome!!! Best place bar none is the absolute FRONT of the raft. Going first into a 6' deep "hole" oh man...

Derick Freese wrote: Don't overschedule. It's the biggest cause of disappointment with any park, but when there's as many people as most small cities in one place trying to all do the same thing, it gets crowded. Definitely not a place for someone that doesn't like crowds.

Very true. I've been three times, once we drove down 7 of us in the wagon to see it and Speedweeks. They were having some labor issues so there were no shows or characters. I went two of the three days and hated it. About ten years later we flew down for a big family trip, about 25 of us for a week. That was worse. The whole day was spent deciding what to do and ending up doing nothing. Then the wife and I went for our honeymoon and had a great time. They do a great job of taking care of people. We saved for a while to stay in the Grand Floridian and do a couple expensive things and loved it. We will probably never do it again but not having a schedule meant we didn't have to worry about what and when we were doing anything but at the end of the week we didn't feel we missed anything.

I love world, and land. The rides are meh, I could give a crap about who's face is all over it, but Disney is REALLY neat under it all. For example. The Haunted mansion. It's a clone of itself on both coasts. EXCEPT- the entrance room where the walls stretch (those that have been there will know what I mean) isn't the same. One, the ceiling raises, one, the floor lowers. I know which is which- mostly because I've been to both, and being OCD Tom, I caught one insignificant detail that tells me what I want to know.

I've also seen Worlds' Space Mountain with the lights on- and as a result, know how all the safety stuff works in it. It's sort of mind bending just the level of preparation the people behind disneycorp go to make the world just as utopian as they want it to be. For an EXTRA level of fun. Try something. Stick a penny under any garbage can, anywhere in the park. Come back for it later in the day. It will not be there.

mndsm wrote: I've also seen Worlds' Space Mountain with the lights on- and as a result, know how all the safety stuff works in it. It's sort of mind bending just the level of preparation the people behind disneycorp go to make the world just as utopian as they want it to be. For an EXTRA level of fun. Try something. Stick a penny under any garbage can, anywhere in the park. Come back for it later in the day. It will not be there.

If you really want to be impressed take one of the behind the scenes tours. It's another whole world operating a few feet below the world you see. The attention to detail is mind boggling.

And they compile data you wouldn't imagine and are willing to share.

The last time they could tell me which countries were having monetary problems and how bad just by how many & who was attending. And you wouldn't believe how many languages & dialects they can accomodate.

I always get lots of data I can use in my work.

Never been there. My parents took my older sisters before I came around. I grew up with Busch Gardens Williamsburg. No where near the scale of DW, but enough to make 6 Flags look like E36 M3.

BUT... A friend of mine goes with her family every year and always loves it. Her mom is actually a Disney travel agent now. Very interesting to here about the inside stuff that the agents know, and what they can do(at no additional cost vs. booking it directly yourself)

Itchy & Scratchy land is way better. If you doubt me, just take a walk over to the gift shop and check out the wide selection of Bort novelty license plates.

Ranger50 wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Next year we are rafting down the Colorado river. Now that, I'm fired up for.

That is freaking awesome!!! Best place bar none is the absolute FRONT of the raft. Going first into a 6' deep "hole" oh man...

You are gonna love white water rafting.

Yessir, give me the great outdoors with something Momma Nature put together anytime.

Curmudgeon wrote:

Ranger50 wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Next year we are rafting down the Colorado river. Now that, I'm fired up for.

That is freaking awesome!!! Best place bar none is the absolute FRONT of the raft. Going first into a 6' deep "hole" oh man...

You are gonna love white water rafting. Yessir, give me the great outdoors with something Momma Nature put together anytime.

It is more of a hiking/camping trip as near as I can tell. We hike down the canyon to the boats... then load them and work our way down the river. Camp over-night along the water, hike around a bit, raft some more... There is some white water - but it is mainly a 7 day excursion for me to try to introduce some awe in my children that isn't rooted in how long a kill streak you can rack up in Black Ops.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I guess I'm one of the few that enjoys Disney World

I really liked going to Disney as a young adult, I went to people watch. Nowadays they have smaller local places that take your money and let you people watch, they are called WalMart.

John Brown wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I guess I'm one of the few that enjoys Disney World

I really liked going to Disney as a young adult, I went to people watch. Nowadays they have smaller local places that take your money and let you people watch, they are called WalMart.

And the people in Walmart wear much more elaborate costumes. Those are costumes aren't they? Please say those are costumes.

Today I saw bright tattoo green flames up a guy's legs covered partially over by his anklet. Not a fashion statement anklet, one of those get beyond a certain radius and the police come and get you anklet.

The wife wasn't much better and the 2 kids they had didn't have a chance in life.

carguy123 wrote: Not a fashion statement anklet, one of those get beyond a certain radius and the police come and get you anklet.

Actually - they sense alcohol and alert if DUI boy is breaking the rules. For top notch hilarity spill some aftershave all over him and wait.

carguy123 wrote:

mndsm wrote: I've also seen Worlds' Space Mountain with the lights on- and as a result, know how all the safety stuff works in it. It's sort of mind bending just the level of preparation the people behind disneycorp go to make the world just as utopian as they want it to be. For an EXTRA level of fun. Try something. Stick a penny under any garbage can, anywhere in the park. Come back for it later in the day. It will not be there.

If you really want to be impressed take one of the behind the scenes tours. It's another whole world operating a few feet below the world you see. The attention to detail is mind boggling. And they compile data you wouldn't imagine and are willing to share. The last time they could tell me which countries were having monetary problems and how bad just by how many & who was attending. And you wouldn't believe how many languages & dialects they can accomodate. I always get lots of data I can use in my work.

Once the mini-me is old enough to appreciate it and big enough to go on the GOOD rides, we're going. I will add that to my list.

Curmudgeon wrote:

carguy123 wrote: And the people in Walmart wear much more elaborate costumes. Those are costumes aren't they? Please say those are costumes.

Ummm... elaborate costumes?

See! You'll never see Minnie Mouse in that costume!

Curmudgeon wrote:

carguy123 wrote: And the people in Walmart wear much more elaborate costumes. Those are costumes aren't they? Please say those are costumes.

Ummm... elaborate costumes?

And...the big C strikes again with a photo that causes the world to have nightmares for days.

As far as Disney is concerned, I'll pass. I hate crowds and most people. I'm reasonably certain Disney has and excess of both.

I guess Minnie has to start working on letting her inner Goth show.

I'm with Toyman, except my ideal crowds are thinking 'because racecar'.

never been to disney anything and I'm not about to start now.

Sorry you feel that way, it's going to make for a tough week if you go into it expecting to have a bad time. We're going next June and are spending two weeks there. I'm really excited. It'll be our 5th trip there in the past 10 years.

If you take your golf clubs and stay on-site it's a great place !