Trip Report: DisneyDawg2

[DisneyDawg2]

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Hey guys. I'm back from my trip. First off, I must say this trip was great and awful at the same time. I'm a huge traditionalist when it comes to a trip to Disney World- so is my family. On this trip though, my parents didn't come along since my friend asked me to come with him. My point is- this trip was extremely different than my normal vacations to Disney. Here are some reasons:

1. I've never been into Disney without my family
2. I've never been into Disney as a guide for a first-timer
3. We flew to Orlando
4. No countdown for this trip 😱 (BIG no-no)
5. We stayed outside Disney property
6. We drove into Disney with a rental car
7. We got into the parks an hour after it opened (HUGE, GINORMOUS no-no)
8. We left at about 5 to go back swimming smh.
9. We were working around another schedule. We had to be back for a conference.

Normally, my family and I do the exact opposite:

1. Go to Disney with our immediate family, and extended family and friends
2. We are our own guides
3. We drive to Orlando. It's a huge tradition in the Gaines family
4. We always have a countdown (even if it is a 3 digit number)
5. We've never stayed outside of Disney World
6. We take the good ole Disney buses
7. Mickey comes to DisneyDawg2's world (meaning we are there earlier than Mickey himself)
8. Mickey leaves DisneyDawg2's world
9. When we are in Walt Disney World, we will stay in Walt Disney World. Our intentions are not to get into reality while we're in Disney, rather get away from it.

So this trip was awful for me. As for my first timer friend, he enjoyed Disney. I'm glad he had a good time but I broke so many traditions and spoiled so many memories on this trip, it makes me sick.

I really didn't get to analyze and review certain things like I planned because my friend wanted to see "the things first timers should see".

I did figure out a few things though:

1. Big Thunder Mountain is not closed? Someone on here said it was
2. The Paint Brushes from Tom Sawyer's Island *have* been removed
3. No front seat monorail rides anymore
4. The pictures of the athletes were removed. I can't tell if they were outdated or what.

Overall, the trip outside of Disney was great. I've never wanted my family to be at Disney World so badly that trip though. If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them. Thanks!

Imagining the Unimagined

The pictures in the all star sports were removed**

Imagining the Unimagined

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[Winkster]

Sorry to hear your trip wasn't all you were hoping DisneyDawg2 (or should I say Rainman? ).

Why not tell us a bit about your experiences there (good and bad)?

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[lionkingfanno1]

Hey guys. I'm back from my trip. First off, I must say this trip was great and awful at the same time. I'm a huge traditionalist when it comes to a trip to Disney World- so is my family. On this trip though, my parents didn't come along since my friend asked me to come with him. My point is- this trip was extremely different than my normal vacations to Disney. Here are some reasons:

1. I've never been into Disney without my family
2. I've never been into Disney as a guide for a first-timer
3. We flew to Orlando
4. No countdown for this trip dde31 (BIG no-no)
5. We stayed outside Disney property
6. We drove into Disney with a rental car
7. We got into the parks an hour after it opened (HUGE, GINORMOUS no-no)
8. We left at about 5 to go back swimming smh.
9. We were working around another schedule. We had to be back for a conference.

Normally, my family and I do the exact opposite:

1. Go to Disney with our immediate family, and extended family and friends
2. We are our own guides
3. We drive to Orlando. It's a huge tradition in the Gaines family
4. We always have a countdown (even if it is a 3 digit number)
5. We've never stayed outside of Disney World
6. We take the good ole Disney buses
7. Mickey comes to DisneyDawg2's world (meaning we are there earlier than Mickey himself)
8. Mickey leaves DisneyDawg2's world
9. When we are in Walt Disney World, we will stay in Walt Disney World. Our intentions are not to get into reality while we're in Disney, rather get away from it.

So this trip was awful for me. As for my first timer friend, he enjoyed Disney. I'm glad he had a good time but I broke so many traditions and spoiled so many memories on this trip, it makes me sick.

I really didn't get to analyze and review certain things like I planned because my friend wanted to see "the things first timers should see".

I did figure out a few things though:

1. Big Thunder Mountain is not closed? Someone on here said it was
2. The Paint Brushes from Tom Sawyer's Island *have* been removed
3. No front seat monorail rides anymore
4. The pictures of the athletes were removed. I can't tell if they were outdated or what.

Overall, the trip outside of Disney was great. I've never wanted my family to be at Disney World so badly that trip though. If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them. Thanks!

Imagining the Unimagined

The pictures in the all star sports were removed**

Imagining the Unimagined

Exactly why I am not going with friends I want my first visit to wdw to be magical and special not stick to an itinerary of another persons. so sorry that you did not have such a good time though

Sent from my iPhone using TalkDisney

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[Curious Alice]

Sorry your trip was a disappointment.

I've taken first-timers several times and enjoyed seeing things through their eyes as if it was my first time, too. My first-timers left all scheduling to me, so that was probably a big factor that made those trips fun.

I agree about staying off property. I don't like leaving the fantasy and going back to reality every day. It does spoil the magic. But when someone offers me a free stay in a time share apartment, I jump on it!

Railroad" onclick="replacer_hook(4)" target="_blank" href="http://www.talkdisney.com/forums/big-thunder.htm">BTMR was closed for refurbishment earlier this year, but it's been re-opened for a while now. I've heard conflicting reports on the refurbishment. One person said not much had changed, the other said it was totally refurbished.

The front of the monorail has been off limits to guests for several years now, following the accident in which the driver was killed.

Well, hopefully, your next trip will be a good one.

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[DisneyDawg2]

Thanks everyone. It wasn't an *awful* trip at all. I'm just saying I never truly felt the magic I normally get when traveling with my family. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever wanted to wait to go back to Disney World. I want to reconnect with Disney at home again (YouTube videos, Lou Mongello WDW Radio Podcasts, TalkDisney, DisBoards, and stuff like that). This recent trip really depleted the magic and passion I have for Disney. But I can assure you that after a few weeks of "reconnecting" I'll be wanting to go back BADLY! Haha.

Imagining the Unimagined

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[englanddg]

I had something similar when I treated my ex (the baby momma) to Disney last trip for a week.

The first week, when it was just me and the kid, was amazing, the second week, it was still Disney, but didn't feel the same. For the first time I understood how some people can be grumpy at Disneyworld. My ex wouldn't wake up until mid afternoon, and then she'd take a few hours to get ready for the parks. If I took the kids out early, she'd get upset, and say "We did stuff without her!". So, many days, we sat in the room and watched Disney Channel while we waited on her. What a drag!

I'm sorry your trip didn't meet your expectations, but as you know, the world is still magic. Just learn and move on!

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[Tinker Britt]

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I see what you mean about the no no's. I had that problem back in 2003 traveling with another family. When I traveled with my own family, we were very organized. I've never been to Disney with just me and my two sisters and we are going in April. I hope it works out the way I plan. I plan to get to the parks 45 minutes at least before opening Stay at a disney resort hotel, and we will not be swimming lol...just Disney parking it up no desire to go to the waterparks either.

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