Frequent quick fixes, or the go-all-out ten day stay?

[Mitch_in_GA]

I suppose the answer for some will depend on their driving distance to WDW, but I can't decide. We can drive to Orlando in about 6 hours, so of course I'm tempted to book regular visits lasting 3-4 days. For us and our budget, "regular" means at least once a year.

However, is it better for me to temporarily suppress my appetite for the magic of Disney and book a much longer visit every 2-3 years? Seems like there are pros and cons with both approaches. Do I want quick trips to the snack bar or do I sit down for a full-course meal?

Thought I'd check in with all you experts!

[Mom2twinboys]

We tend to do frequent (1-2 times every year to year and half) 5 night trips. When my youngest gets older I will began to mix in some longer 7-10 night trips. So my vote is for both !

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

A 10 day vacation to us equals about 5-6 days in Orlando...

Most often we've driven...utilizing the chance to spend a couple days with my Dad in FL.....

So we end up with One Day in Each Park.....(Last year it was US/IoA....then MK..Day at Resort/PI....DHS...EP) ...Two years before that it was US/IoA...AK...MK ...Resort/DTD/PI...EP).

I suppose more frequent visits would allow you to take in new and refurbished attractions...as there seems to be something new every year...

But I enjoy having a bit more time to just relax and enjoy the WDW experience...although...I know there are folks out there that would call the above vacation a 'quick one'......

Hugs
Mary

[cbg1027]

I would much rather go on several short trips than 1 long one - if you're able to drive to WDW in a reasonable amount of time. But you said you have a 6 hour commute, so in that case I would favor more frequent, but shorter trips. Disney can be exhausting so I enjoy it more in short bursts. If I'm there for more than 4 days or so, I will probably need a 1/2 to full day of down time, and I don't want to be paying hotel and food costs during that time!

For me, the shorter trips also keep the "Disney Appetite" satiated better.

I just went for 4 nights, we did 3 whole days in the park, and it was a perfect amount of time for me and my grandmother. By the third day we were getting on each others nerves a little bit.

In December I will be going for 6 nights with a friend....so we'll see how that turns out!

[OKW Lover]

We do frequent (4+ times a year) visits rather than one long one. We love to visit the parks in the different seasons (except summer) so our best strategy is shorter, but more frequent visits.

We go in late-January/early-February just to get a break from winter up here. We go in May for Flower & Garden. We go in Oct/Nov for Food & Wine. And we do a short trip in December just for the holiday decorations.

[FigNewton]

We go for 5-6 night stays every 6 months or so because the weekends frustrate us too much, and long times between trips depresses us.

[Hallowishes]

i prefer one long 10 days visit per year. i look at it as i save on paying for airfare multiple times.
or though, this coming year im going twice coz my mom is paying for us to go for my birthday in january!

[erinlees_mommie]

We do a combo of both..weekends and long ones.We live 2.5 hours away (if I am driving not DH)hahaha
My hubby is in the Navy and we can't plan trips very far out.So we take what we can get when we can get them.If it's just for the weekend then that's what we do.In Oct we got 7 days but it was planned about 1 month before leaving.

[eliza61]

Originally Posted by Mitch_in_GA

I suppose the answer for some will depend on their driving distance to WDW, but I can't decide. We can drive to Orlando in about 6 hours, so of course I'm tempted to book regular visits lasting 3-4 days. For us and our budget, "regular" means at least once a year.

However, is it better for me to temporarily suppress my appetite for the magic of Disney and book a much longer visit every 2-3 years? Seems like there are pros and cons with both approaches. Do I want quick trips to the snack bar or do I sit down for a full-course meal?

Thought I'd check in with all you experts!

We drive because I need a car. LOL.

Since we are "lazy" tourers we like longer visits. We don't like touring commando style, plans or TGM and absolutely hate, loathe and despise rope drop so longer visits allow us the ability to skip and return. If we get to MK and it's too crowded or hot for us we simply go back to the resort knowing we have enough time to hit the parks 3 or 4 times.
It also allows us to lounge by the pool or spend a day at a water park or DTD.
We like to do sit down meals but we're not really crazy about disney restaurants anymore so longer trips also allow us to venture off site for really great meals.

I have taken shorter trips (long weekends) with my girlfriends and my dh but if we bring the kids we like at least 8 nights, most times it's 12 nights.

We use to go every year but as the kids got older trips were getting a little repititous and we wanted to do and see other things. So now we plan on skipping a year now and again.

[Mitch_in_GA]

Thanks for some great responses...guess you really can't go wrong either way! By the time I can save enough for a long, long stay, my 14-year-old son will be at that "you guys go on ahead..I'll hand out here with my buds".

I'll keep you all posted!

[GraceLuvsWDW]

FREQUENT 5 day trips is my vote!

You have to spread out the magic!

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Frequent trips. For us driving is about 11 hours so we won't go for less than 5 days but usually we (now a days w/ the kids and work) we won't stay more than 7. We do a trip or 2 a year, some years more, some years only 2. As addicted as I am I couldn't fathom only going every 2-3 years. Last year I had 12 months and 2 days between trips (my longest hiatus yet) and it like to have killed me. We weren't even home (in September) and already trying to decide when we could get back in early 2010.

So my vote is also frequent shorter trips.

[gadeac]

My wife and I also live in Georgia, although it is only a 3 hour drive for us. We love Disney and are AP holders. However, we have found the longer trips wear us out. We have made two five day trips this year, the first of which was very hectic due to being with family that were making their one "big" Disney trip (i.e. won't be back for probably 5-7 years) and the second of which we relaxed a lot more. The second was definitely a lot better. We were worn out on the first trip because you feel so pressured to do everything. On the second, it was our third time there this year so we didn't feel pressured to see and do everything.

If you make the long trip, plan rests during the day and plan on being tired when you get home.

My vote is for the shorter 3-4 day trips. If you know you are going to do one or two a year, you don't feel rushed to get everything in because if you miss it this time, you will get it in six months. Also, it is easier to do shorter trips when the park is not as busy, where as a big 10 day trip means you really have to plan so that everyone in the family is free, meaning school breaks and holidays when the park is full. Also, the shorter trips give you more time with your son before he becomes too cool for you.

[Dervis]

My family lives in Pennsylvania, and we do a 10+ day stay every other year or so. We take the vacation at a very slow pace. No rope drops...ever, and a very general outline of the trip so that if we feel like staying at the hotel and relaxing instead of going to Epcot, we just move it to another day. Very loosey-goosey.

[Silver Queen]

We're getting ready for our fifth trip in a year. Our trips ranged from 6 nights to 3 nights. This was an unusual year for us because we were using our developer points from purchasing DVC. We liked this approach this year, particularly having the opportunity of being in Disney for all four seasons. In the future we'll probably go down about twice a year for 4 or 5 night trips. We'd have a really hard time staying away from The World for 2-3 years.