The first two could be swapped, and isn’t Disney World “better” in many regards? One reason Disney secretly bought all the land in Florida was to better do what he wanted to do in California but couldn’t because of space and regulations.
Speaking as one of the weird adult Disney fans, DisneyWorld is bigger and had a lot more going on. I can spend a week at DisneyWorld and leave wanting more. Aside from all the things I enjoy, I relive memories from when I was young, when my wife and I were young, and when our kids were young.
I’ve been there 11 times (I think)
When I was in elementary school and my parents took the family on a rare vacation.
When I was in middle school and my mom was president of the school district’s music association, and she took me with when the band and chorus went to WDW because she didn’t trust my dad to take care of me without her (ha!).
When I was in high school and went in another music association trip. My future wife was on the trip too. It was before we started dating, and we hung out in the pool.
After my wife received her doctorate, we went to WDW to celebrate. I convinced her we should get what I think was called the “gold key” plan or something like that. Absolutely everything was included. I knew she would obsess over costs and skip things she wanted to try unless it was all included, so it changed from worrying about costs to trying to get her money’s worth.
When our oldest kids were 5 & 7, we took them (our youngest was under 3, so she stayed with the grandparents).
6 & 7) My wife got continuing education credits at classes there, so we got discounted trips and took all three kids three more times.
The oldest kids were too old to take our of school, but our youngest wasn’t, so we did a 4th continuing education trip with her, and the oldest two stayed with the grandparents (keeping everything fair).
Another continuing education trip, but this time all the kids were too old to take out of school, so the wife and I went by ourselves. I thought it would be weird being alone in WDW when my wife was in class, but turns out it was fine. Odd thing is, we kept talking about wanting to take the kids again. So, when we were there we started planning another trip.
We saved for more than 5 years. Took the three kids and two girlfriends. It was in 2021, so we were masked everywhere. Also, by this time, my wife was no longer working (disabled, had to give up her practice, no more continuing education). Handicapped hangtag for the car, and a wheelchair so she didn’t have to do much walking. On the last day, I was starting to feel really tired, and I thought it was just because of pushing get around in the chair all day every day. Actually I had picked up COVID. Of course several people at work got it at the same time, so I certainly had a better time catching it than they did.
My wife and I were in the mood for another trip in 2023. Just us this time.
I have much less experience with Disneyland. I’ve been there once. When my wife was still working, but clearly having medical problems, she heard about a doctor in LA who she thought could help. My mom offered to pay for the airfare. I told my wife I would go even though I didn’t really think he would help. However, my price was a visit to Disneyland while we were there.
Disneyland is more “cozy”. I definitely appreciated the vibe. People talk about it having something special from being the park that Walt actually knew and worked on, and I definitely thought that was the case. I’d definitely like to return to Disneyland some day.
Annual training credits required to maintain her license. A professional organization would arrange for two years worth of credits to be earned in three days of classes at Disney World, with deluxe room discounts thrown in.
The room discount meant that you couldn’t get the Disney Dining plan. The first two times we just paid for meals out of pocket, but the last time we did that, the kids were growing and eating a lot. I had a bill the last time that had me sitting and panicking in a stall in the bathroom on the last day.
After that we would pass on the discounted rooms and just stay at a budget resort hotel and get the dining plan. It ended up being cheaper.
The dining plan doesn’t make sense for most people, but we were able to save money by using it.
The first two could be swapped, and isn’t Disney World “better” in many regards? One reason Disney secretly bought all the land in Florida was to better do what he wanted to do in California but couldn’t because of space and regulations.
Speaking as one of the weird adult Disney fans, DisneyWorld is bigger and had a lot more going on. I can spend a week at DisneyWorld and leave wanting more. Aside from all the things I enjoy, I relive memories from when I was young, when my wife and I were young, and when our kids were young.
I’ve been there 11 times (I think)
When I was in elementary school and my parents took the family on a rare vacation.
When I was in middle school and my mom was president of the school district’s music association, and she took me with when the band and chorus went to WDW because she didn’t trust my dad to take care of me without her (ha!).
When I was in high school and went in another music association trip. My future wife was on the trip too. It was before we started dating, and we hung out in the pool.
After my wife received her doctorate, we went to WDW to celebrate. I convinced her we should get what I think was called the “gold key” plan or something like that. Absolutely everything was included. I knew she would obsess over costs and skip things she wanted to try unless it was all included, so it changed from worrying about costs to trying to get her money’s worth.
When our oldest kids were 5 & 7, we took them (our youngest was under 3, so she stayed with the grandparents).
6 & 7) My wife got continuing education credits at classes there, so we got discounted trips and took all three kids three more times.
The oldest kids were too old to take our of school, but our youngest wasn’t, so we did a 4th continuing education trip with her, and the oldest two stayed with the grandparents (keeping everything fair).
Another continuing education trip, but this time all the kids were too old to take out of school, so the wife and I went by ourselves. I thought it would be weird being alone in WDW when my wife was in class, but turns out it was fine. Odd thing is, we kept talking about wanting to take the kids again. So, when we were there we started planning another trip.
We saved for more than 5 years. Took the three kids and two girlfriends. It was in 2021, so we were masked everywhere. Also, by this time, my wife was no longer working (disabled, had to give up her practice, no more continuing education). Handicapped hangtag for the car, and a wheelchair so she didn’t have to do much walking. On the last day, I was starting to feel really tired, and I thought it was just because of pushing get around in the chair all day every day. Actually I had picked up COVID. Of course several people at work got it at the same time, so I certainly had a better time catching it than they did.
My wife and I were in the mood for another trip in 2023. Just us this time.
I have much less experience with Disneyland. I’ve been there once. When my wife was still working, but clearly having medical problems, she heard about a doctor in LA who she thought could help. My mom offered to pay for the airfare. I told my wife I would go even though I didn’t really think he would help. However, my price was a visit to Disneyland while we were there.
Disneyland is more “cozy”. I definitely appreciated the vibe. People talk about it having something special from being the park that Walt actually knew and worked on, and I definitely thought that was the case. I’d definitely like to return to Disneyland some day.
I’m confused on this education thing? Is it part of training, college discounts or some secret 3rd thing?
Annual training credits required to maintain her license. A professional organization would arrange for two years worth of credits to be earned in three days of classes at Disney World, with deluxe room discounts thrown in.
The room discount meant that you couldn’t get the Disney Dining plan. The first two times we just paid for meals out of pocket, but the last time we did that, the kids were growing and eating a lot. I had a bill the last time that had me sitting and panicking in a stall in the bathroom on the last day.
After that we would pass on the discounted rooms and just stay at a budget resort hotel and get the dining plan. It ended up being cheaper.
The dining plan doesn’t make sense for most people, but we were able to save money by using it.