There’s a particular kind of disappointment that’s hard to admit out loud. The kind that creeps in on a trip you’ve spent real money on, planned obsessively, flown thousands of miles for... and then, quietly, you realize you’re not feeling what you thought you’d feel.

Moving through a place you know well feels effortless. You walk with purpose, change direction without thinking, and never waste energy figuring out where to go next. That comfort is a big reason so many families return to the same vacation spots year after year. Most people do not have that familiarity with Disney parks. They might visit once in childhood or once again when they have kids of their own. And by now, everyone knows a Disney trip requires some level of planning.