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 at the Four Seasons Orlando, where we stayed. 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 post! So glad to hear you had a great time!
This is awesome! Similar to your family, the last time I visited Disneyworld was back 25 years ago. I visited again with my family earlier this year to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary and wow it was expensive and quite hectic! One thing that helped was the Disney concierge at the hotel who answered all of our questions. We went during off-season as the hotel wasn't full and mostly comprised of convention attendees instead of families.
The number of onetime commentators who cannot spell the King’s English are NO(T)Aviator(s). One suspects that the organ grinder’s monkey is playing silly, silly games …. perhaps trying to encourage more clicks, yes?
Ben, you should consider a Disney cruise. We've taken our young kids to Disney World too, and it's got things you can't do on a cruise for sure, but the lines & complexity of planning are definitely huge drawbacks.
On the other hand, those issues mostly don't exist on their cruises; kids have far more opportunity to meet the characters; and finally, the kids clubs are a huge hit with all the kids in our...
Ben, you should consider a Disney cruise. We've taken our young kids to Disney World too, and it's got things you can't do on a cruise for sure, but the lines & complexity of planning are definitely huge drawbacks.
On the other hand, those issues mostly don't exist on their cruises; kids have far more opportunity to meet the characters; and finally, the kids clubs are a huge hit with all the kids in our family. They do a pretty good job of offering adult experiences too, and also offer reasonably priced childcare for kids in diapers (potty-trained kids can use the kids clubs for free).
That said, staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge is quite the experience. My 5 year absolutely loved watching the big animals from the balcony of our room.
So now get out of your comfort zone and drop your biases and go to a sporting event or a concert. I assure you its the same pationate atmosphere and you should not deprive your sons of the experience . I suggest a Florida panthers NHL game .
I had a similar reaction when we took our kids to Disneyland the week before Thanksgiving. First time back since I was a kid. Now I have a new nickname for Disneyland: the happiest place in hell.
Child exploitation is not something which I was expecting from a supposedly serious aviation pundit. Click-bait exemplified, yes?
are you r3tarded or just that desperate for attention
Get a life troll
I went to Disney in the early 80s when I was 10 years old. Didn’t even really like it much then and have no plans of ever returning. I’m glad you had a good time but, man, the whole thing just sounds so horrible.
Why park hopper, visiting more than one park seems like big burnout with young kid
Lightning lane reservations are important for the popular rides and finally a subscription on touringplans app would've helped big in planning out the course of what to visit with wait time optimization and accounting for ideal strategies to use Lightning lanes
You probably didn't read the part "I figured we’d just casually show up, buy tickets, and have a great time."
He didn't have a plan.
Such a fun report! Defunct Land on YouTube has some amazing videos about the math behind lightning passes and overall ride demand. it shares many similarities with airline seats and pricing. I was surprised how engaging the topic was. Give it a watch before your next Disney trip!
That's your side of the story. When airlines overtly treat people like meat on a daily basis, it in no way compares to Disneyland. Disney runs a cruise line. Maybe they should buy an airline as well.
That's your side of the story.
While airlines overtly treat people like meat on a daily basis, Disney still treats you like a premium meat filled with cash.
Did you ever compare prices of Disney cruises?
Maybe you should fly private next time.
This is a great post, Ben. And love the photo at the top!
I don't mean this in a mean way, but it was fun to watch you make the classic Disney amateur mistakes since you're usually so travel savvy. But glad it was still a good experience in the end!
We were only going to do the one week Orlando thing once, so we waited until our daughter was 10. 10 much better experience than under five. She never asked to go back. Thank goodness.
LOL. I thought all of the anti-LGBT hate groups said Disney was being boycotted and on its deathbed because some of their movies and shows featured - gasp! - trans and gay people.
I mean I would expect "anti-LGBT hate groups" to say that. Just as I would expect to say the ridiculous things Anti Trump people say on this blog... LOL
Some people are huge Disney fans and like going to the Disney parks and other people are not. This was clearly one of those things you did because you thought you should with your kids. For the price of a long weekend at Disney, hotels, food, etc, you could go on a short luxury trip. Where did you stay and how did you pay for it?
Disney does a wonderful job. I first took my twin sons to Tokyo Disneyland when they were 18 months old. I wasn’t sure what they would get out of it except they were familiar with Disney songs from Sing-Along-with-Disney CDs, which they first started listening to in the nursing room at the hospital where they were born. They loved it, especially the live shows. We took them every few years as they were growing up...
Disney does a wonderful job. I first took my twin sons to Tokyo Disneyland when they were 18 months old. I wasn’t sure what they would get out of it except they were familiar with Disney songs from Sing-Along-with-Disney CDs, which they first started listening to in the nursing room at the hospital where they were born. They loved it, especially the live shows. We took them every few years as they were growing up (once in Middle School to Orlando but otherwise in Tokyo) and they always had a great time. Tokyo Disneyland is a lot cheaper than Disney World. I highly recommend it when you are in Japan some time.
This was a really enjoyable read.
And I say that as someone who really hates anything Disney.
I got shanghai-ed into going to Disney World during the summer of 1972. My dad wanted to go but because he was a macho grown-ass man he couldn't say "I want to go to Disney World" so instead he said "Jay wants to go to Disney World." Jay (me) did not want, nor had any interest in, going...
This was a really enjoyable read.
And I say that as someone who really hates anything Disney.
I got shanghai-ed into going to Disney World during the summer of 1972. My dad wanted to go but because he was a macho grown-ass man he couldn't say "I want to go to Disney World" so instead he said "Jay wants to go to Disney World." Jay (me) did not want, nor had any interest in, going to Disney World. Jay wanted to go to Cape Kennedy. But nooo...my dad was a dick and so we went to Disney World. It was crowded. It was hot. I was grumpy. Given half a chance I would have literally and deliberately pissed on Goofy. At least that would have made the trip worthwhile.
Daddy issues
Lovely report, and best to you all! I don't think straight people realize how guarded we gay people have to be around them sometimes. Perhaps a lot of that comes from growing up in a different time. Things are so much better now. The first time I went to Disney was when I was 7, and Disneyland (the original) had been open only a year or so. At that age, it truly was the most wonderful place on Earth!
If you want to follow someone who is exceptionally passionate and knowledgeable about Disney and also has a small child, I suggest you take a look at The Disney Tourist Blog, Tom Bricker. Lots of excellent ideas, advice, and reviews.
@Ben
Was it intentional or you just missed it.
This would be a great opportunity to pitch Chase Disney credit cards.
Gary and Brian would have pushed from the beginning.
You’re right, a Disney visit is incredibly expensive (and complicated) but luckily I usually go with one of my best friends who is a super fan. I’m usually the type A planner but it’s nice to give up that responsibility for once and just shut my down and enjoy the ride.
I’ve definitely appreciate Disney a lot more as an adult, especially Epcot. I think you should bring Miles and Jet back when they’re...
You’re right, a Disney visit is incredibly expensive (and complicated) but luckily I usually go with one of my best friends who is a super fan. I’m usually the type A planner but it’s nice to give up that responsibility for once and just shut my down and enjoy the ride.
I’ve definitely appreciate Disney a lot more as an adult, especially Epcot. I think you should bring Miles and Jet back when they’re around 10-12 years old when they’re tall enough to ride all the rides. Those rides are some of the best part of Disney!
First of all, Miles is just adorable! But boy this article brought back memories. I grew up in SoCal and going to Disneyland was a rite of passage. In high school, we had a club whose sole purpose was organizing trips to Disneyland several times a year (this was back in the 60s and 70s in the days of A-E ticket coupon books and a much cheaper experience). Later I took my kids (still before...
First of all, Miles is just adorable! But boy this article brought back memories. I grew up in SoCal and going to Disneyland was a rite of passage. In high school, we had a club whose sole purpose was organizing trips to Disneyland several times a year (this was back in the 60s and 70s in the days of A-E ticket coupon books and a much cheaper experience). Later I took my kids (still before fast passes and timed entries etc). Now, I can't wait until my grandson is old enough to go, but it is such a different (and more expensive) experience now. Also, I was spoiled when my son was in high school and his close friend's dad worked for Disney so we got in for free if they went with us.
I remember my dad complaining about how expensive Disneyland was in 1977! I hear it's out-of-control expensive now, however. Still, kids are only little once, and for such a short time, before they're off building their own adult lives. The occasional theme park splurge is worth it for the adorable memories.
This post warmed my heart! Glad you had a memorable time at Disney. I have 2 kids, 10 years apart, so got to do it twice as a parent. Probably been 10 times and haven't been back in over 10 years, for me, experiencing it with my child brought me alot of joy, not sure i would feel that way if i went with just friends. very expensive though!
Interesting to hear your take. My partner and I were originally planning to go to Disney next week before visiting my parents for Christmas, but I managed to convince him to do a road trip through the Appalachians instead, including a day at Dollywood. I’ve been to Disney a few times both as a child and adult and have come to the conclusion it’s not worth it. We had a day at USJ in Feb...
Interesting to hear your take. My partner and I were originally planning to go to Disney next week before visiting my parents for Christmas, but I managed to convince him to do a road trip through the Appalachians instead, including a day at Dollywood. I’ve been to Disney a few times both as a child and adult and have come to the conclusion it’s not worth it. We had a day at USJ in Feb whilst in Osaka and the crowds and cost reminded me what a complete rip off most of these theme parks are. Hoping Dollywood won’t disappoint.
I'm not a Disney person at all, but road trip through Appalachians and Dolly World sounds incredibly disappointing compared to Disney.
1 year olds don't get it. 2 year olds don't like strangers but especially the characters. 3 year olds love the characters from a distance, but not up close. 4 year olds will run up to the characters and want to be with them. Try it again in a year. It will probably be a totally different experience for Miles.
@ JDM -- It's amazing how quickly they grow, and how fast their personalities change!
Your kids are named Jet and Miles? How appropriate!
@ Anthony -- Correct! And I agree. :p
You're spot on about most of this! My family has a "Disney-age" child so we've definitely become well schooled on the travel-hacking aspects of Disney.... if you think you'll become a more regular visitor, the pirate pass is the way to go for FL residents. Yes, there are black out dates, but those are the dates you wouldn't want to go anyway due to crowds. Plus, if you have a pass, you don't have to...
You're spot on about most of this! My family has a "Disney-age" child so we've definitely become well schooled on the travel-hacking aspects of Disney.... if you think you'll become a more regular visitor, the pirate pass is the way to go for FL residents. Yes, there are black out dates, but those are the dates you wouldn't want to go anyway due to crowds. Plus, if you have a pass, you don't have to feel bad about going into a park for just a couple hours if that's what you want to do. I don't love paying for Lightning Lanes, but we do it because we hate waiting in lines more. I know the window of time where my daughter loves Disney isn't forever, so we'll keep going as long as we're all having magical moments there. (And if you think WDW is expensive, take a gander at the Grand Chateau at Fantasy Springs in Tokyo....we did it as a YOLO thing and it was great....walked on to every ride, pretty much as many times as we wanted to...but $$$$)
We live in Tampa. Disney isn't on our kids' radar, we have zero interest in going, and we want to keep it that way. It's become just plain ridiculous. And no, I'm not getting up at 7am on vacation to reserve ride times. That you have to pay for separately. Have at it.
Plus, you have Busch Gardens and Adventure Island.
@Ben,
great article and some interesting insights, from a family point of view. Thank you!
But a few questions. Did you fly MIA/FLL-MCO or did you drive?
Will we get a hotel review? What rides did Miles find the most memorable / desirable?
Can't wait (maybe a couple of years) before you have to repeat the experience with Jet (and Miles, of course !). Lastly, what would be your view on doing this exercise during the Disney Gay Days? Go or Avoid?
@ kimshep -- We drove, though if we didn't, we would've probably taken the Brightline instead, since that's a cool train link. Yep, there's a hotel review coming as well, stay tuned. :-)
Regarding rides, Miles definitely liked Magic Kingdom most. His favorites were Astro Orbiter ("I'm driving a rocket!"), Tomorrowland Speedway ("I'm driving a car!"), and he LOVED Barnstormer and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
When we took him on Barnstormer, I was at...
@ kimshep -- We drove, though if we didn't, we would've probably taken the Brightline instead, since that's a cool train link. Yep, there's a hotel review coming as well, stay tuned. :-)
Regarding rides, Miles definitely liked Magic Kingdom most. His favorites were Astro Orbiter ("I'm driving a rocket!"), Tomorrowland Speedway ("I'm driving a car!"), and he LOVED Barnstormer and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
When we took him on Barnstormer, I was at first worried he'd be scared, since he had never done any sort of "roller coaster" type ride before. But he absolutely loved it.
We're very excited to take Miles back, and of course to take Jet for the first time! Regarding taking them on Disney Gay Days, to be honest, I haven't put much thought into it, and I'm not all that familiar with how different Disney is during that time (aside from the obvious). I'm not sure it would necessarily sway my decision one way or another. But it could be fun!
@Ben - thanks for your answers. I appreciate you taking the time to answer questions on what was an obviously personal trip.
Having family in Sarasota, I tend to visit 2-3 times a year. I have done Disneyland (Annaheim) a number of times but only done Disneyworld once (approx. 6 years ago), prior to COVID. Thinking of adding it back on my list within the next 6-7 months. Cheers
The truth is that gay days at Disney isn't much different than any other day (except for the red shirts and activities outside the park). Every so often, though, an ordinary visitor will wonder what's up with all the red shirts and then they figure it out... some reactions are interesting.
I haven't not gone to Disney in a while, and find the current trip planning with Lightning Lanes and stuff to be crazy confusing. I would only do the after hours event, which I know isn't kid friendly.
Compare that to Universal, where the most complicated thing is buying your ticket and possibly express pass. That is it.
Three separate thoughts:
First, every time I visit a Disney park I am amazed at how well thought out every aspect of the park is. The place is a masterclass in placemaking and talent management.
Second, people complain about the entry price, but it's no more than dinner at a Michelin restaurant or a night at a midrange hotel would be.
Third, there are A LOT of points hotels on Disney properties....
Three separate thoughts:
First, every time I visit a Disney park I am amazed at how well thought out every aspect of the park is. The place is a masterclass in placemaking and talent management.
Second, people complain about the entry price, but it's no more than dinner at a Michelin restaurant or a night at a midrange hotel would be.
Third, there are A LOT of points hotels on Disney properties. It would be fun for OMAAT to rate which ones are worth it and which aren't.
Friend of mine owns a 50+ year old company that organizes high school trips to Disney/Orlando. They're shutting down next summer. Disney has priced out what used to be a right of passage for many teens around the country.
My little cousin is a high school cheerleader and they were going to do a Disney trip (as the group had been doing forever) and it was canceled because not enough could afford it
Living in Florida, especially if you don't have a 9-5, M-F job schedule, you could absolutely save hundreds of $$ and hundreds of minutes (in wait time) on multi-day tickets by just strategically timing your visits. This is before getting into reservations and fast passes.
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).
There are also a number of travel advisors that focus solely on Disney vacations. They don't charge for their fees, but I imagine they get a commission for their work. When I planned a trip to Orlando, I contacted one of these people. We ultimately didn't go to Disney World (my wife and I are very not Disney people and our son hasn't been exposed much to Disney), but it is definitely not something I'd...
There are also a number of travel advisors that focus solely on Disney vacations. They don't charge for their fees, but I imagine they get a commission for their work. When I planned a trip to Orlando, I contacted one of these people. We ultimately didn't go to Disney World (my wife and I are very not Disney people and our son hasn't been exposed much to Disney), but it is definitely not something I'd want to plan on my own. There are so many different parks, rides, restaurants, routes, etc.
Many don't charge fees, but the good ones who provide lots of service definitely charge fees. Disney trips are a LOT of work, given all the planning involved, and the hotel commission usually doesn't fairly compensate for that if clients need any assistance with dining, lightning Lane, reservations, etc. (I say this as someone who goes to Disney World at least 6 times a year and as a part time travel advisor, I won't even...
Many don't charge fees, but the good ones who provide lots of service definitely charge fees. Disney trips are a LOT of work, given all the planning involved, and the hotel commission usually doesn't fairly compensate for that if clients need any assistance with dining, lightning Lane, reservations, etc. (I say this as someone who goes to Disney World at least 6 times a year and as a part time travel advisor, I won't even take on Disney trips except for my high-end luxury clients because of the workload.)
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)
@ MaxPower -- You're very kind, thank you! :-)
MaxPower, many of us agree! Thanks for saying it!
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.
Full Disclosure: Tim is nice to Disney because they partnered with Delta back in the 80s.
Had it been United, we all know how will Tim react.
TDS - Tim derangement syndrome.
and you've got it
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.
The magic of how many people you can fit in a line that you don't know how long but begging them to please take their money and more.
But where's the magic without credit card debts.
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.
The easiest way to do Disney is buy the VIP package. No need to wait in line. A dedicated Disney staff to your group will haul you to front of line, make restaurant reservations for you, private meetings with characters, make reservations for that Star Wars wand your kids want to put together, etc. The list goes on. But it’ll cost ya! I’m lucky to do it twice. But I certainly won’t volunteer myself to...
The easiest way to do Disney is buy the VIP package. No need to wait in line. A dedicated Disney staff to your group will haul you to front of line, make restaurant reservations for you, private meetings with characters, make reservations for that Star Wars wand your kids want to put together, etc. The list goes on. But it’ll cost ya! I’m lucky to do it twice. But I certainly won’t volunteer myself to pay for the experience if I don’t have to. The cost to is similar to staying at Singita couple nights.