If you had never been to DW I’d say go with them, but since you have and are not thrilled I voted for pay and stay. I was there twice a long time ago when I lived on the East Coast, but I’ve been to DL a lot since I’m involved with a conference that meets at the Disneyland Hotel. Over the years the place has gotten more and more expensive and less and less fun. Plus, while we’re in good shape, I fear we’d only slow them down.
Not an issue for us. While we took our kids to both places, neither of them are Disney people.
Between the cost, your previous experience and the fact that you regularly see the grandkids anyway, I would say to send them and stay home. There’s scenarios where I’d advocate for you going but, from what you describe, this would be a very substantial expense just to “be there” for it when you have lots of “be there” opportunities as is.
Yep- here is the weather for orlando-
Humidity 64% today. Tomorrow thunderstorms 85% humidity, with rain tuesday - friday.
Not sure how that shows that it’s only humid part of the year. Yes, it’s higher during the summer, but it sure felt pretty humid 95% of the 30 years I lived there. Perhaps St. Petersburg is more humid than Orlando.
It doesn’t. I agreed with you. Which is why I said “Yep”.
It is always humid in Florida. Sometimes a little less on a good day.
Ohhh. My apologies; I misinterpreted.
Did you or she eat at Napa Rose when you were staying there? I stayed in the Grand Californian. I guess I did stay at hotel there – but I wasn’t there for the parks. I was attending an Arts & Crafts Revival convention, and I ate at Napa Rose three times that weekend. I love that restaurant. I need to go again soon!
IMO this is the crux of the thing. For the trip to be a net emotional positive, either the adults or the kids need to be really into Disney before going. The amusement park doesn’t create that on its own. If you or the kids aren’t already into Disney, then the park is just a crowded, sticky, noisy blazing hot profit extraction machine.
If you think “hey, Cars was a pretty fun movie” I’m sorry but that’s not enough. Either you or the kids need to be strongly into Disney. It needs to be somebody’s dream. Otherwise it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
I think Disney World can be fun even for those not totally into Disney, though of course you should at least recognize the characters. Though at this point, there’s so much there (Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar movies, Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella, Pirates of the Caribbean, and of course Mickey, Minnie, Donald and the rest); most people can find something they’re into.
I’ll disagree with this.
33ish years ago my in laws took my wife, our then kindergartener, our toddler, and me there, where we met up with relatives visiting from Australia. The toddler was too young to really appreciate much. The Kindergartener wasn’t really that into Disney. But while he was blase about the high tech rides, hugging the Chip of Chip and Dale still was amazing to him. And seeing that was amazing to me. His face hugging Chip? Wow. More so I was impressed with the place. Maybe precisely because I was expecting to experience it as “just a crowded, sticky, noisy blazing hot profit extraction machine” and was not a Disney fan … and it far exceeded my expectations. What a well run place!
I don’t know what the OP should do. But I do have a suggestion in the case they pay but do not go, an ask to make of the grandkids as their thank you:
No hats or shirts please. Nothing from a shop. I’d request that each of them at the end of each day create something about what was special that day. The nine year old on their own; the five year old drawing something and if needed dictating a little explanation to a parent. That gives you a chance to still be part of their experience (and it makes a wonderful thing to pull out of the box when they are young adults.)
Oh, so I should assign them HOMEWORK?! 
Heh. FWIW that actually was my Kindergartner’s homework on our trip all those years ago, as we took him out of school for it. And it was also a great keepsake of the experience. I may have to dig through the boxes and find it now!!
Much better than a Mickey hat …
No, that was out of our budget. We did eat at the Storytellers, and the little place at the end of the pool area (they have changed it’s name),
Yeah- dont go in the summer.
I bet you didnt go in the summer. 
Yes, Disney can be great even if you are not a Disney fan. But I would suggest for first timers- Disneyland not WDW. The parks are more intimate, and the weather is rarely bad.
Especially for those on the East Coast, getting to Disney World is faster.
Yes, and it can be fabulous. Still, my advice stands.
If this is the extent of the motivation to go to Disney, and you already know it isn’t something you yourself are likely to enjoy, then why not go somewhere else?
Everything you’ve said in this thread makes me think you’ll have a miserable time and become resentful of the exhaustion, lines, expense, and other hassle. I think I’d share your experience. I only visited 20 years ago when my mom came to visit when I was living in Florida, and the experience was “meh” even then to me. With all I’ve read about how it is now, and how you really have to throw exorbitant amounts of money at avoiding the worst of the soul crushing waiting and discomfort, it’s a hard pass for me and unlikely to be something my kids experience (at least until they’re adults and are free to do as they wish with their own money).
No disparaging of folks who love Disney: I’d probably say “you should all go” if it seemed like you’d all love to go. But it’s not clear from your post if this is even a lifelong dream for the girls.
I’d still like to spend time with the grandkids in your shoes. Have you thought about vacations in less “intense” locations? You could still pick a city in the US far away from home for that sense of adventure. Some highlights that we’ve done in recent years as a family of four:
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Sante Fe, New Mexico. The city is enchanting in itself, with its Adobe construction. The original Meow Wolf kept the kids entertained for a full 8 hours. And nearby attractions were phenomenal (the cliff dwellings of Bandolier National Moment for example). We also took an overnight road trip to Carlsbad Caverns.
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San Diego, California. Legoland is at a far less stressful scale than Disney (especially in the off-season, we did this for mid-winter break in February). And I think is a really solid choice for younger kids. Ours were around 8 and 4 when we went. San Diego has a lot of other great outdoor attractions too.
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Denver, Colorado. Another Meow Wolf, plus a whole stash of good museums at cheap prices. The Denver Mint was a highlight with the kids (free, but you have to go stand in line early for a ticket).
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San Francisco, California. This time I just took my 7 year old at the time daughter while my son and wife had another thing going on. Surprisingly the perfect age for it. We did live in the area many years ago and a lot of the stuff that was too “cheesy touristy” for me like Fisherman’s Wharf is perfect for an 8 year old. The museums are fantastic, including the Academy of Sciences. And the natural surroundings around the Golden Gate bay are spectacular.
Closer to home (Seattle, WA) we frequently visit Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC and they all have compelling kid friendly attractions. Not super relevant to this conversation but last month we spent 2 weeks in Cape Town, South Africa and that was phenomenal (my hometown and visiting my parents). It was my daughter’s first time.
I’m not sure… I totally get it if Disney is a lifelong dream for you and everyone needs to go at least once. But that doesn’t seem to the case and I sometimes think it leans on the “default vacation choice” and “you’re a terrible parent if you deprive your kids of it” cultural touchstone and charges accordingly. But the US has plenty to offer in terms of unique, relatively affordable, “manageable” locations that I think most people would love.
As I suggested- the Grandparents could relax in the resort, while the grandkids enjoy the parks. And they said they are not worried about the expense. So no lines, no exhaustion.
Yes it is. But nothing for the grandparents.
My wife and I got home from WDW 2 days ago. We took our 5 year old grandson. Each grandkid gets a trip. No parents, just us. Our greatest enjoyment was watching him. This was the third time with two more to go. We have a great time. That being said, if you won’t enjoy it don’t go.
33 years ago the Disney company was not as skilled at sucking every penny from its customers. And the place was not as crowded. We went around then and it was fine. I haven’t been to WDW since then, but Disneyland is way suckier than it used to be.
Legoland in the off season did have something to offer me: I got to spend a day with my kids in a relatively uncrowded environment where everyone was in a great mood because of the high fun to time ratio. Want to go on the ride you just did because it was awesome 3 times in a row with almost no waiting in line? Go for it. I’ll wait here. Or, you know, go with, I kind of enjoyed it too.
That really is make or break for me. Being able to enjoy the park without battling crowds or having to do job-like planning to only partially avoid the worst of the waiting in line is a must. It’s the difference between a truly miserable day where all 4 of us are grumpy and a day where everyone is genuinely having fun and is in the best of spirits.
We did Prater in Vienna, Austria a couple of years back and it too was delightful. I have no doubt that the rides at Disney World are more “epic” than anything they had there, but the family running joke of my daughter being a maniac at the bumper cars over and over again is a memory that lives to this day and continues to delight her.
Again, each to their own, but for someone not super enthusiastic about theme parks and oppressive crowds less “epic” and more time spent having fun is the right tradeoff. Especially for 9 and 5 year old kids, who I suspect are a little young to be specifically Disney loving in a way that would limit enjoyment of anything else.