Have You Been to Disneyworld?

[HeyHomie]

I'll be starting another thread about your opinions on the place, but for now let's just discuss whether or not you've been. Feel free to discuss the reasons why you haven't been, if you want.

[HeyHomie]

I went with the family Back in the Day when I was about 7. The journey there was miserable: a caravan of four vehicles, no air-conditioning, driving for three days and stopping every 15 miles for Grandma to get tea.

But once I got there it was totally worth it! I've been back a zillion times since then, and Mrs. Homie and I are planning a big blowout December 2010! Caribbean Beach baby!

[Lamia]

I went three times when I was a kid, one in the first grade, once in the fifth, and once in the sixth. The first two times were family trips, the third was with a school group. My family lived in Florida at the time, and when people hear that I grew up in Florida they sometimes ask if I went to Disney World a lot. But it's a good 8 hours from the Florida panhandle to the Orlando area, so no, this was definitely not a regular thing for my family.

[Ponch8]

I voted yes, but with the technicality that I've never actually been to the Magic Kingdom. I went to Epcot and Animal Kingdom, and also have been to Disneyland in California thrice. This is despite the fact I went to school and did a residency at UF only 100 miles away.

[Chefguy]

No, only Disneyland about 30 years ago.

[Jonathan Chance]

Many times (four? five?) since the first of the kids were born in 2000. I was pleasantly surprised the first time and overwhelmed when we stayed on Disney property. They know how to get it done.

[NinetyWt]

My second husband and I took our kids when they were ... 7 and 9 I think.

So, yes, I have paid my dues. I hope to never have to endure it again.

[Dangerosa]

Own a timeshare at Disney. Yep.

(Jonathan, we did an Adventures by Disney trip this summer to Germany......Incredible. Not cheap, but a good value.)

[MsWhatsit]

Yeah, high school trip my freshman year.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Been there.

Hell, worked there.

Love the place.

I admire anybody who goes beyond the bare minium needed to get by.

[dangermom]

Nope. Proper California people only go to Disneyland, which is the real one.

[Jonathan Chance]

Y'know, having grown up in LA I thought that until I went to DisneyWorld. The difference is night and day. Disneyland is an amusement park. DisneyWorld is a resort.

[YogSosoth]

US: No - I actively oppose the idea of going.

Disney is evil. I used to work for them. Sure it might be the happiest place on earth for a guest, but if you're a worker then you get treated like crap. I actively discourage people I know from going.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

First grade, six years old. I took a zillion pictures of our hotel room because I like the decor. I gave to flower to Pocahontas.

[RealityChuck]

Been there three times.

[Kyla]

I've been to Disneyland eleven times. I have experienced enough Disney for one lifetime. I mean, it's pretty fun and all, but certainly nothing I would go out of my way to do. If I happened to be in Orlando (unlikely, since I've never been to Florida, have no close friends or relatives in Florida, and no desire to go to Florida) and someone wanted to go and also pay my way, I'd happily take up the offer. But other than that, meh.

[Ruby]

Yep. Many, many times. Inlaws lived in Celebration which equaled free food and lodging, too.

[GuanoLad]

I haven't been to Disney-anything. They're all in countries I've never been anywhere near to.

Now I think I'm too old to properly appreciate it, but I'd still go if the opportunity came up.

[Dewey Finn]

I first went to Disney World in 1974 with my parents (after we drove down from Connecticut). I know it was that long ago, because I remember that Space Mountain was still under construction.

And then I went last year (2008) with my mother, brother, sister-in-law and nephew and niece. We did the whole thing; stayed in a Disney resort and visited all the parks. It's a great place to visit. The thing we noticed is that everything is first-class, from the rides to the stage shows.

[interface2x]

Originally Posted by Ruby

Yep. Many, many times. Inlaws lived in Celebration which equaled free food and lodging, too.

Yeah, my brother lives there so same for me!

[mnemosyne]

Twice to Disneyworld (when I was 5, and when I was 17) and once to EuroDisney when I was 10ish.

[_xiao_wenti_]

1972 - I was 8. Polynesian Village. My best memory was watching a documentary on Leonardo da Vinci on TV. Needless to say, I haven't been back.

[Rysdad]

Back when I was in the travel biz, we got free passes, so the Rykid and I have been to both -world and -land a couple of times each.

The best time was in late September at Disneyworld. We were there midweek. Most of the kids were back in school, so there weren't many families there and it was like we had the park(s) to ourselves: walk up, walk on-- to anything we wanted to do. The same was true when we went to Busch Gardens in Tampa.

Perfect.

[MovieMogul]

Disneyland? Plenty of times. Orlando? Nope.

[Is_it_safe?]

Haven't been. We're probably going to go to Hong Kong Disney over the next year or so though

[shantih]

My first visit was in 1973, and between day trips and longer stays, I've been to Disney World at least 20 times.

[DaveRaver]

I've only been to Epcot Center. Does that count?

[interface2x]

Yep, that's one of the parks that are contained within Disney World.

[Maggie the Ocelot]

No, it's on the wrong coast. I go to DisneyLAND fairly often though.

[Antinor01]

Yes, when I was a kid. I've also been to Disneyland several times.

[Sonnenstrahl]

No, there was a high school trip there to play in their music festival and I didn't go. I actually played in the audition tape in order to help win the tone deaf kids their trip but refused to go on the trip itself.

I don't have kids yet, so I shouldn't be too smug about having avoided it. I'm the one non-US person who checked "actively oppose" because I feel really strongly that it's hell on earth, but that's just a personal feeling against being surrounded by all those horrid characters, screaming children and the insistence that I must have fun right now, not any kind of ethical stand. So I should have probably checked that it just isn't my thing.

[ErinPuff]

I went several times with my family when I was a kid and once on a high school band trip. I don't intend to ever go again. It's really not my kind of thing at all. I liked the nerdy stuff at Epcot, but that's it.

[Clothahump]

We attend a major tournament in Orlando annually. We schedule our trip so that we fly back late Sunday, and we spend all day playing in one of the parks. Did the Hollywood Experience last time.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Originally Posted by Sonnenstrahl

No, there was a high school trip there to play in their music festival and I didn't go. I actually played in the audition tape in order to help win the tone deaf kids their trip but refused to go on the trip itself.

I don't have kids yet, so I shouldn't be too smug about having avoided it. I'm the one non-US person who checked "actively oppose" because I feel really strongly that it's hell on earth, but that's just a personal feeling against being surrounded by all those horrid characters, screaming children and the insistence that I must have fun right now, not any kind of ethical stand. So I should have probably checked that it just isn't my thing.

Sonnenstrahl--you have a rather inaccurate view of the Disney parks.

[Ranchoth]

I went when I was eight—almost twenty years ago. Good god.—big family vacation, spent five days.

Superb transportation services, I thought. Fantasyland within the Magic Kingdom was severely in need of a renovation at the time, but everything else was gorgeous.

[Gala Matrix Fire]

Pssh. I've been to Disneyland lots of times. Can't see any reason to go to Disneyworld.

[Edward The Head]

I've been a few times. We're also going back in two weeks with the kids for the first time. I wonder how big I can get my daughters eyes.

[JpnDude]

WDW: three times

Disneyland (original): Twice a year since the mid '70s.

Disneyland Paris: three times

Hong Kong Disneyland: three times

Tokyo Disneyland: over 500!

(includes the sister parks in the same "resort")

[Speak to me Maddie!]

Yes.

We go as often as we can afford to go, which is not very often (every two years on average, though sometime twice a year). It is my favorite place to be. I have always had the time of my life while there.

Also been to Disneyland in CA a few times, and Tokyo Disney. I've never been to Euro Disney even though I've been in the area several times. We plan on taking a Disney cruise sometime too.

[palindromemordnilap]

I've been on the property five times. Once as a kid to Magic Kingdom only, once in my early 20s to MK and Epcot, once in my early 30s to MK and Epcot, and twice in the past three years for business conferences, although on these occasions I was mainly at the Swan and Dolphin hotels and spent a few hours at MGM.

For Orlando fun, I recommend Universal Studios theme park.

[Hal Briston]

Been to Disneyland, but not Disneyworld. Hopefully the finances will turn around in the next year or two, because I'd really like to take The Littlest Briston there.

[Jophiel]

I went as a child though I barely remember it. Out of that whole trip (this was your traditional 1970's vacation... Chicago to Disney World with Mom, Dad, me, my sister, my grandma and my grandpa in a Ford Thunderbird) I mainly just remember seeing alligators in FL.

I went again with my kid (and family) in October after 9/11. It was very, very empty which, reasons for which aside, meant we could get on any ride by walking up and getting on it. Perversely, it was probably the best Disney World trip I could have hoped for.

[Dangerosa]

Originally Posted by Gala Matrix Fire

Pssh. I've been to Disneyland lots of times. Can't see any reason to go to Disneyworld.

I went to Disneyland after many Disneyworld trips last year. What really amused us was the complete familiarity and yet the "wait, that should be there!" of the Magic Kingdom. If you are a Disneyland fan, that might be reason enough to go - its a sense of deja vu that is just really odd.

And, of course, Disneyworld has three parks that Disneyland doesn't have. And Disneyland has a park that Disneyworld doesn't have.

If, on the other hand you've been to Disneyland lots of times because you live in Southern California and its just a place to go - yeah, probably no real reason to travel to Florida.

[HeyHomie]

I'm curious, does WDW get advertised heavily outside the US? The reason I ask is that Mrs. Homie and I have always been there in late October, and we've found the crowd to be about 40% British at those times.

I absolutely love sharing the park with my UK brethren. British kids are so friendly and will strike up a conversation with anyone. One time we were standing in line to get into Animal Kingdom, and there was this British family in front of us. Apropos of nothing, the youngest boy (about 5 or 6) turned to me, pointed to Terk, and said "The monkey's me mate."

Another time we were waiting for Fantasmic! and there was a British family in front of us. The little girl (about 8 or 9) turned to Mrs. Homie and said, in a thick Cockney accent:

LITTLE GIRL: 'ave you 'ad your tea?

MRS HOMIE: I'm sorry?

LITTLE GIRL: 'ave you 'ad your tea?

MRS HOMIE: I'm sorry, I don't understand.

LITTLE GIRL'S MOM [doing her dead-level best to channel a Mayfair accent]: She's asking if you've had your supper, love.

[Jack Batty]

I went to DisneyWorld's Magiv Kingdom back in the 70's, when I was 12 or 13. It was ok, but by that age I was more of a KISS records and "Does Andy really have a joint?" than I was about It's a Small World Afer All."

Two springs ago, I went back. This time it was my sister's family (10 year old boy and 9 year old girl) who were the benefactors and I was just along for the ride (my parents were renting a house with a pool -- that was the attraction for me).

So, back to Magic Kingdom, which I didn't want to do, but it was my first day down there and I got roped into it. Hated it. It hasn't changed that much since the 70's and I thought it was miserable. Space Mountain should be condemned. The haunted house, which I remember being amazed with at age 12, was pathetic, especially considering we waited an hour for it.

But then there was Disney's Animal Kindom and Disney's MGM Studios. Effing loved them. I'd go back to those two places -- preferably with someone of my own (rather than stag, or my sister's kids) ... and with someone who actually likes roller coasters (my niece and nephew were too chicken-shit).

And then there was Epcot. Sucked. We got there late. We got one speed-pass thing to the Flying ride thingie, and that was it. We got stiffed out of one of the 3D shows, because we didn't know that the rides close at 7:00. We did a tour of the world at a steady trot so we could get it all in, but we still didn't manage. All in all, I thought all the pavillion presentations were incredibly cheesy ... not to mention that I had 2 tacos and a beer for about $15 bucks.


I am not crazy anti-Disney, but I'm not a fan, which is why, I suppose, I hate the Magic Kingdom; it really is for little kids. I don't see why any adult would go there if he didn't have to. The other theme parks they have are much better themed and they are actually interesting to adults.

[Dangerosa]

Originally Posted by Jack Batty

And then there was Epcot. Sucked. We got there late. We got one speed-pass thing to the Flying ride thingie, and that was it. We got stiffed out of one of the 3D shows, because we didn't know that the rides close at 7:00. We did a tour of the world at a steady trot so we could get it all in, but we still didn't manage. All in all, I thought all the pavillion presentations were incredibly cheesy ... not to mention that I had 2 tacos and a beer for about $15 bucks.

Disney is way more enjoyable if these sorts of 'surprises' don't surprise you. There are people who put more planning into Disney than was put into the invasion at Normandy. That isn't necessary, but things like knowing Future World attractions close early helps alot.

[TWDuke]

So, am I the only one who has been to Disney World but not to any of the parks? I was there on a sort of a press junket (big company, new product line, specialty publications). They put us up in a nice hotel and plied us with lots of free alcohol and food, but did not pay for admission to any of the Disney Parks. Instead, they took us to Universal Islands of Adventure.

Growing up in Southern California, I went to Disneyland every year as a child and a teen, and I've been back a few times as an adult.

[Dewey Finn]

Originally Posted by Jack Batty

And then there was Epcot. Sucked. We got there late. We got one speed-pass thing to the Flying ride thingie, and that was it. We got stiffed out of one of the 3D shows, because we didn't know that the rides close at 7:00. We did a tour of the world at a steady trot so we could get it all in, but we still didn't manage. All in all, I thought all the pavillion presentations were incredibly cheesy ... not to mention that I had 2 tacos and a beer for about $15 bucks.

Did you do the General Motors test track ride? That was our favorite when we went last year and we must have taken it four or five times.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Yes, many times, both as a kid and an adult. We went on our honeymoon there, too. My parents have been several times by themselvs, as well.

I think I have more fun there as an adult than I did as a kid, especially at Epcot - getting a drink in every "country" is fun, and Epcot has some of the best food at the parks. Also, as adults without kids, we don't have to arrange our trips around school vacations, so we can go at off-peak times when it's not busy, and the lines are short.

We don't spend much time at the Magic Kingdom, though we do go, just for some of the old classic rides like the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribean (which yes, has had some Jack Sparrow added in, but is still basically the same).

I've been to Disneyland once.

[Voyager]

Twice, once with just my wife and once with the kids. I worked for AT&T back then, and we got to cut in front of the line for the ride in the big sphere with my pass - and go to an employee's lounge with soda.