We just took our older son, Miles, to Disney World. I’m still processing everything I saw, because it was fascinating to experience Disney both through my eyes as an adult, and also to see how it was perceived by our three-year-old. Let me just share my honest, unfiltered take (and I apologize, I barely took pictures, as I tried to be in the moment, and Miles sure kept us busy)…
In this post:
Why we finally took our son to Disney World
For a bit of background, I’m not sure Miles knew anything about Disney until last week, because we had never shown him anything from Disney. Of course living in Florida, we knew that eventually we should take him to Disney World, and we felt like the time is right.
He’s now at the age where he doesn’t nap (but goodness, do we need a nap), and it’s also clear that he’s “experiencing” things more, so we figured he’d actually enjoy the experience. If I’m being honest, with my mom having recently passed, I try even harder to make the childhood of our kids as good as possible, because I know how happy she would be to see it, because nothing brought her more joy than them.
So this seemed like the perfect time to go. We decided to leave our younger son, Jet, with family at home, since taking a five-month-old to Disney would just massively complicate things. For that matter, we didn’t think he’d get anything out of the experience.
Going in, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. As a kid, I was of course very interested in Disney, and I remember trying to convince my parents to buy a timeshare there, because I told them there was no way I’d ever get tired of Disney. Well, I’m happy they didn’t, because with one exception (for a friend’s birthday), I hadn’t been to Disney in around 25 years.
So I was very excited about the trip. Mainly, one of the joys of being a parent is seeing the world through your kids’ eyes, and I felt like up until recently, Miles wasn’t yet at the age where he meaningfully could experience things like this…
I can’t believe how expensive and complicated Disney is
Clearly I hadn’t really considered just how involved the process of going to Disney is. I figured we’d just casually show up, buy tickets, and have a great time.
A couple of days before our trip, Ford mentioned to a friend that we were going to Disney, and she asked what we had planned so far. Ford said we hadn’t thought much about it yet. She was completely shocked, and proceeded to then share her itinerary, checklist, spreadsheet, all that stuff… oh, this is one of those experiences!
It’s funny, because it makes perfect sense, it’s just not something I had considered. Learning how to “do” Disney correctly really is almost as nuanced as learning how to get into miles & points, find award space, etc. For many people, it’s clearly a hobby that takes up a lot of their lives, and brings them joy. That made me sort of excited, since I love to see people enjoying whatever they’re passionate about.
It’s also unbelievable how expensive Disney is. Of course I realize that there are many pathways to getting access to the parks (annual passes, Florida resident discounts, multi-day passes, etc.), but a standard one-day park hopper ticket over our dates cost $264 per person. Yowzers!! And that’s just for the privilege of entering the park, and then you’re on the hook for even more money if you want to get any sort of Lightning Lane access.
People voluntarily wait this long… for fun?!?
Our first day, we went to Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, and the second day we went to Magic Kingdom. I have to be honest… when Ford and I got to Animal Kingdom on the first day, we were kind of questioning our life choices.
Despite a midweek visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you could barely navigate around people in the park, and it was busier than at an airport (and the lines were longer too!).
At first, we were just in complete disbelief at what a spectacle the whole thing was. People spend hundreds of dollars for the privilege of getting stuck in a sea of people and then waiting in line? Okay, I realize that’s totally cynical, and I’m also a special type of introvert (it’s not like I like live sports games, concerts, etc., either). But I’m just sharing my unfiltered take.
So I think within the first couple of hours, Ford and I both independently came to the conclusion that we didn’t need to do this again anytime soon, and we hoped Miles wouldn’t be that into it. But then…
Okay, the pure magic of Disney did rub off on us
I must admit, minute by minute, the joy of being at Disney rubbed off on us, and we really got into the spirit of things. I don’t even know where to begin.
For one, OMG, people who visit Disney parks are super fans. I figured the park would mostly be filled with adults who just love their kids, and I didn’t realize how high of a percentage of guests are adults who are huge Disney fans. The level of passion that people have for Disney can’t help but be contagious. I love people who are passionate about… well, anything… and Disney definitely fits that bill.
Related to that, everyone at Disney is just so happy and so nice. Nowadays you’ll go many places and see people acting horribly, in terms of how they treat each other, how they treat people working at an establishment, etc. And then when you add in how politically divided the country is, that takes it to the next level.
But Disney really just felt like a place free of problems, where everyone could get along. It was just so refreshing and lovely to see. Obviously I’ve been in Miami for too long, because the unpretentious kindness of everyone was delightful.
Also, we’re gay parents, so you know, sometimes we get some disapproving looks from people (whatever). But that wasn’t the case here. Everyone could just be themselves, and seemed to get along. On the monorail one day, Miles and I were separated from Ford (the monorails have really small “compartments”), and I had this lovely conversation with retirees from Mississippi (who were also very into their church), who come to Disney 10 times per year, and were decked out in head-to-toe Disney gear, including with American flags.
I don’t want to prescribe politics to them, but well, my assumption is that we might be on different pages. They asked “where’s mommy?” When I explained the “other dad” was over there, they couldn’t have been nicer or sweeter about it, and we continued our conversation as before. I know this might sound like a strange observation to some, but I felt totally comfortable sharing that without fear of judgment, because somehow Disney breaks down barriers. I dunno…
For that matter, it’s so refreshing to see what an inclusive environment Disney is in every way. They’re so good at logistics when it comes to including people with mobility challenges in rides, and making the experience seamless for them.
Disney is also so unbelievably well run. It really is like the Four Seasons of leisure activities, because every employee we interacted with just seemed like they were genuinely passionate about making sure everyone had a great visit. It’s impressive how well organized stroller parking is, how the queues keep moving, etc.
And of course the best part of the experience was that Miles couldn’t have been happier. He was so, so, so excited. Before we could even finish one ride, he’d say “papa, what’s next, what’s next?”
Equally adorable was that we did a character breakfast. Miles was very excited to meet all the characters, particularly Goofy. But when Goofy came around, he was scared (hey, I get it!).
He didn’t want to say hi to him, but then when Goofy left, I could tell that Miles was upset at himself for not saying hi and for being scared. Fortunately Goofy came around again, and the second time, Miles said hi. He had the biggest smile on his face, and when I later asked him what his favorite part of everything was, he said meeting Goofy.
Bottom line
It was fascinating to visit Disney World as an adult, and see the whole experience through a three-year-old’s eyes. At first we were skeptical — Disney is outrageously expensive, very crowded, and as an introvert who hates crowds, it’s a lot to take in.
However, the magic of Disney did rub off on us, and I couldn’t help but get into the spirit of things within a few hours. Of course I was delighted to see our son so happy, but it was also just incredible to be in a place where so many people are having fun, are being kind to one another, etc. Seeing that level of widespread happiness made the experience worthwhile in and of itself.
What an awesome experience for Miles, and glad you and Ford had a blast too! I wasn't much of a Disney kid, I preferred Animal Kingdom to the other parks so my parents took the cue to take me other places where I could still see cool animals, but despite that I had a great time and really enjoyed my adult self when the whole family went back in 2016. As expensive as it is,...
What an awesome experience for Miles, and glad you and Ford had a blast too! I wasn't much of a Disney kid, I preferred Animal Kingdom to the other parks so my parents took the cue to take me other places where I could still see cool animals, but despite that I had a great time and really enjoyed my adult self when the whole family went back in 2016. As expensive as it is, Disney truly does do a top-notch job in their theming and characters. IMO that's the secret sauce to the magic.
Mind sharing a bit more of the "how to do Disney" part from someone else that didn't know much beforehand? My daughter is same age but the logistics are holding me back from getting rolling on booking the trip. Points and miles is a breeze compared to Disney!
There's a whole ecosystem online surrounding Disney planning. YouTube tutorials are a great place to start and there a number of message boards/discussion forums centered around Disney. It's not really something that can summarized in a single blog post (which is unfortunate, IMO).
I may not speak on all of your posters (I know I don't...)
But on behalf of many of us, We LOVE you, Ford, and your two adorable kids
I hope that sentiment isn't political for decades to come (but I fear it is)
Many years ago I went to the original Disneyland in Anaheim California and it was great. The Florida Disneyworld sounds horrific given the throngs of visitors and exorbitant cost. Paris Disney entry starts at around $60. Tokyo Disneyland had great reviews.
Everything in the US is overpriced. Have you read what they they are charging for the World Cup final ? 7 x Qatar. Probably need to increase revenue given the drop overseas vistors,...
Many years ago I went to the original Disneyland in Anaheim California and it was great. The Florida Disneyworld sounds horrific given the throngs of visitors and exorbitant cost. Paris Disney entry starts at around $60. Tokyo Disneyland had great reviews.
Everything in the US is overpriced. Have you read what they they are charging for the World Cup final ? 7 x Qatar. Probably need to increase revenue given the drop overseas vistors, especially since the orange one clearly indicated he detests people who aren’t white.
Beautiful trip
--Max
Glad you had a great trip. Worked there during College in the 80’s. I was Pluto and Goofy. I also worked at EPCOT when it opened. Price for a ticket to get in was $18.95. It was the best job I ever had. Maybe you can see now why MCO may get that Japan flight year round. I love Orlando and I am proud to call it home.
“I didn’t realize how high of a percentage of guests are adults who are huge Disney fans.”
Disney World has been around for over 50 years. Many of the adults going now started when they were Miles’ age. Don’t be surprised if he ends up as a “Disney adult” in 20 or so years! :P
Living in Florida for a majority of my life, I grew up going to the theme parks somewhat frequently. The annual passes and FL resident discounts help alot. I also remember a trick about buying from Walgreens or Groupon for discounts.
I can't imagine how expensive it must be for a large family to visit the parks and have to pay for hotels just to spend 12 hours at a theme park and only...
Living in Florida for a majority of my life, I grew up going to the theme parks somewhat frequently. The annual passes and FL resident discounts help alot. I also remember a trick about buying from Walgreens or Groupon for discounts.
I can't imagine how expensive it must be for a large family to visit the parks and have to pay for hotels just to spend 12 hours at a theme park and only ride 3 rides because of the hours long wait in line. I am lucky to have never done that. My mother was also physically handicapped, so we would get to skip all the lines when she went with us as a kid. Yes, I was spoiled lol.
"Obviously I’ve been in Miami for too long, because the unpretentious kindness of everyone was delightful." - I felt the same way when I moved up to Orlando from Miami a couple years ago. It was a huge shock (the good kind) despite having lived in Orlando before.
Also, Goofy does look really scary. It seems he's got a lot more horizontal width to him in real life. I'd be scared too Miles, don't worry :)
I suspect your summary is much closer to alot of Americans that go once or twice in their kids' lives - which might require a couple times just because of the differences in children's ages.
Florida resident discounts do help with the sticker shock if you can make the off-peak times because of a lack of the "foreigners"
and you might be surprised that there are a lot more people like that older couple outside the gates of Disney as well.
Never had kids, never wanted them... but even I have to admit, it truly must be nothing short of "magical" to see Disney through their eyes. I remember how much fun it was for me, and that was in the 80s. Can't even imagine all the stuff they have there now.
Made the trip almost 25 years ago with my wife and then almost 3yo daughter. Much cheaper. Fewer lines. Used “Tour Guide Mike” website for a fee to prepare almost 2
Months in advance. Made all the difference. Stayed at the G Floridian. Always in front when the gates opened. Have a strategy. Be prepared to pay a second mortgage if your family has 4 or more in it. But for us it’s been
Made the trip almost 25 years ago with my wife and then almost 3yo daughter. Much cheaper. Fewer lines. Used “Tour Guide Mike” website for a fee to prepare almost 2
Months in advance. Made all the difference. Stayed at the G Floridian. Always in front when the gates opened. Have a strategy. Be prepared to pay a second mortgage if your family has 4 or more in it. But for us it’s been
More like “been there, done that” and then we were off to more exotic worldly travel destinations.
As a Disney and Points & Miles crossover nerd, that was a fun read! It was nice to read of a family that had a fun and memorable time- still in a bit of sticker shock yet not full of regrets. (Do consult that closet Disney friend a couple months out if you return, it's a nicer experience for parents when you can zig as the crowds zag. The knowledge base isn't as complicated as...
As a Disney and Points & Miles crossover nerd, that was a fun read! It was nice to read of a family that had a fun and memorable time- still in a bit of sticker shock yet not full of regrets. (Do consult that closet Disney friend a couple months out if you return, it's a nicer experience for parents when you can zig as the crowds zag. The knowledge base isn't as complicated as points & miles but you're not going to pick it all up with a couple nights of googling.)
Maybe not for locals but it might be easier/cheaper to just fly abroad to one of the other disneys
I was one of the first to visit Disneyland when it opened in California, it was great, then when it opened in Florida I went again, it was ok, and then Paris, did not like it at all. These were many many years ago, now there is no way I would ever go back, not so much about Disney but it is now about the type of people and the crowds, and the prices.
Not to pick on Ford and I know it is not his travel niche...but how did you all not know Disney takes planning LOL. Now you need to reserve times, and VIP this and VIP that.
@ Andrew -- Well we planned the hotel stay many months ago, and life has been busy, so it was kind of something in the back of our minds, until shortly before our trip. Ford had only been to Disney once when he was really young, so if anything, that's on me, because I had been a few more times (but again, mostly 25 years ago, and things worked differently back then).
Oh you do not have to convince me. My husband and I are much more in y'alls camp of Four Seasons somewhere remote lol. So glad you all ended up having a great time with your son!
Very fun article to read Ben and I’m happy to hear you all had a lovely time. As you mentioned, Disney is definitely a world on its own when it comes to planning very much like the miles & points game.
Hopefully you managed to get a dining reservation as well, because as with award seats, they’re scarce and open 60 days before your visit ;)
It's definitely Goofy. Not Goofie.
I appreciate reading and hearing your perspective on the place. But 10 times in one year? I can't imagine.
Glad you all had a good time.
@ Jason -- Whoops, thank you! Fixed.
“But 10 times in one year? I can’t imagine.”
If you go more than, say, twice in a year then an annual pass can easily pay for itself, even if those have also gotten expensive. Besides getting you into the parks, they also unlock discounts on dining, merchandise, and the onsite hotels.
I couldnt even consider going once! Despite the good time that Ben had, this is not where or how I'd ever choose to spend my money. To each their own.