Walt Disney World means a whole lot to many people. That's why a place like MousePlanet even exists, so we can all “meet” together here and share stories and secrets about the place that means so much to us. You probably will notice, however, that for one reason or another, Disney also means a lot of other things to a lot of other people, and not all of them are positive. I think it's next to impossible to find a place out there that elicits as many negative opinions as it does positive ones. All of us have gotten that eye roll from people simultaneously followed up with the ever present question, “You're really going back there again?”
Yes, I am going back there again. I'd probably go right now if I could. I'm going in about 30 days and it's not soon enough. As soon as I board the Magical Express bus to take me home at the end of my trip, I'll be counting the days until I'm able to come back. I don't even have to ask if many of you readers feel the same way. I know you do. So, what is it then about Walt Disney World that brings out the naysayers? Is it jealousy? Perhaps they secretly wish they were going too, so they disparage you because you're so excited about going? I suppose that's a twisted possibility.
Maybe they're just insecure. They feel like we're a part of some big secret club that they aren't part of so they get defensive when we inevitably gush about our upcoming trip. That's a possibility as well. Then again, it could just be the cold hard truth that we as Disney fans just can't see because of our Mickey-colored glasses. Maybe the place just isn't all that special?
That's quite a question for someone as Disney-crazed as I am to ask. My answer isn't just because of my love and appreciation for Walt Disney World. My answer is rather practical. Yes, the place actually is all that special. Trust me on this. All bias aside, there's nothing else on Earth like Walt Disney World and there probably never will be. You just have to get over some popular misconceptions that seem to continually be perpetuated out there in order to break down your barriers and let the place in. Once you can do that, you'll get it. And what are those misconceptions you may ask? Let's take a look at what I think are the Top 5 misconceptions about Walt Disney World.
5 – It's just another amusement park
Don't snicker. I know people that feel this way. They feel that if they've gone to Six Flags or Hershey Park or countless other places of that ilk, then they've “been there, done that.” Or, worse, they haven't even been to the aforementioned amusement parks and they just think that Disney is automatically lumped into that category.
Most amusement parks don't have serene spots like the tranquil shores of the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Chris Barry.
Of course, the reality is that Walt Disney World is about as far removed from the amusement park world as can be. It's not even close. My kids have no real interest in a day at the local Six Flags, but can't wait to return to Disney this summer. Walt Disney World is many, many things, but an amusement park is not one of them.
4 – Burgers, hot dogs, and popcorn… Oh my
People who aren't in the know seem shocked when I tell them that one of my greatest meals in any restaurant anywhere was in Walt Disney World. My wife's fortieth birthday was the occasion, and we were at the California Grill at the top of Disney's Contemporary Resort. The atmosphere, the service, the wine, the food, and the waiter's knowledge of said food and wine all combined to make this meal one of my top favorites of all time. You can stuff yourself to your hearts content on hot dogs and fries at Walt Disney World, but you can also find one of the most diverse resort wide menus you will ever find, and at all levels—from the simplest snacks to the most gourmet food you could ask for.
Escargot tart with garlic, spinach, bacon, and Parmesan from the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot's France pavilion. Photo by Donna Fesel.
One of my favorite dishes in Epcot during the annual Food and Wine Festival is the escargot from the France pavilion. When's the last time you walked around a theme park with a plate of escargot? It's not just during the Food & Wine Festival though. You can get top-notch food all year long just about everywhere you turn in Walt Disney World.
3 – It's just for little kids
The two “kids” in the center are my wife Diane and I. Photo by Samantha Barry.
If WDW is just for children, then I must be the biggest little kid on my block. I have been there without my kids and had as equally an amazing time as I have had with them. I have three teenagers in the house and they are ready to go back right now. They haven't grown out of it and I don't suppose they ever will. Walt Disney World is not just for the young; It's for the young at heart.
2 – All you do is wait in line
Yes, you will wait in some lines at Walt Disney World. The trick is to successfully minimize that time. We have been in lines and on attractions hundreds of times in our Disney tenure and despite an instance or so, such as Toy Story Mania soon after it opened and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, also soon after it opened, we have never waited in a line more than 30 minutes. The trick there is… we won't.
Use Fastpass wisely and that 210 minute wait does not have to be in your future. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
We get to the park early when most people are still in bed. We utilize Fastpass as often and as intelligently as we can and if we see a line that's too long, we pass it up. This strategy has worked out just perfectly for us over the many years we have been going. If you plan a little and follow the advice that's out there in books and online, you won't be spending your whole vacation waiting in a queue. Trust me. It's more than possible.
We're a family of five that is living proof. We've seen all there is to see and we don't wait in huge lines. The one caveat I will give to this is that my daughter was too old to be obsessed with Anna and Elsa so I definitely got a pass on that one.
1 – Walt Disney World is too expensive
Is a Walt Disney World vacation cheap? No, it's not. Are you getting more bang for your buck than most tourist destinations around? An enthusiastic yes is the only true answer to that question. I've railed on and on in the pages of MousePlanet for years about what a true value I actually think Disney offers in central Florida. You have to take a step back and take a look at what's included in your stay both at the resort hotels and in the parks to really appreciate the value. If you really take a look at it, you will see that you're getting an awful lot each time you pass through that turnstile or check into that resort.
The full transportation back and forth to the airport and the expansive transportation system throughout the property is included. The pools and amenities are extensive and in some cases, some of the best I've ever seen at any resort. The food options are endless. The attentive staff is hard to beat. The magic factor—that inexplicable thing that they're pumping into the air down there that makes everybody smile ear to ear all the time—is something you just can't put a price on. For what you're paying, you get more out of the place than anywhere I've ever been.
You will easily spend $300+ a night for a near the ocean hotel on the Atlantic coast somewhere with a postage stamp sized pool and a musty smelling room. You're guaranteed the same for a nice hotel in Hershey Park or at Busch Gardens or in New York City or in the Caribbean. Or, for about the same money, and sometimes less, you can get into Disney's Yacht and Beach Club with all I've mentioned above and more. There's really no comparison, especially if you catch one of Disney's great seasonal discounts.
You'd be hard pressed to find as nice a pool complex as The Yacht and Beach Club's Stormalong Bay in any hotel at any price. Photo by Sue Holland.
Simply put, for what I'm paying this summer, I wouldn't be able to find a vacation in as nice a place as where we're staying, The Yacht Club, with as many pluses and amenities, and that's before we even get to the parks. A park ticket isn't cheap, but the shows, characters, fireworks, parades, transportation options, and all that's included with the price of admission make it downright worth it in my eyes. Not cheap, but worth it.
I am a little biased because, obviously, I'm a huge fan and veteran Walt Disney World traveler. However, I truly believe that anyone and everyone can have an amazing experience on their Disney vacation. The misconceptions are out there, but the key three letters in that word are at the beginning. The misconceptions are just that, mis-conceptions. They're incorrect assumptions.
Is Walt Disney World for everyone? Actually, the answer I put forth is, “Yes. It can be for everyone.” If you do it right you too can totally escape into Walt's dream world. If you knock down the misconceptions out there and let Walt Disney World really sink in, you can definitely have the most magical time of your life.
