Yes, you have to just about slam on the brakes to disengage the cruise. It sucks, and that is how I was used to disengaging it, just a slight tap, and it should be disengaged before the pads ever hit the rotor. The good thing about doing it that way is you light up the brake lights momentarily which alerts the drivers behind you that you are slowing.

I have now started to pull the cruise switch towards me to cancel it, but I don't prefer doing it that way.

Very bad design!