3 WDW trips in 16 months...too much?

[opus_00]

Last year, DH and I thought we would start saving for a WDW trip in about 2 years. Then we learned that since both of our kids were under 3, we wouldn't have to buy tickets for them. We were able to get a great deal on an offsite condo through DH's work, so our first WDW materialized in Oct. 2003, much earlier than expected. I thought the kids were a little too young to get much out of it, but boy was I WRONG!

In March 2004 (only 5 months after our first trip), DH had a business trip in Orlando. Since both lodging (at a Downtown Disney area hotel) and transportation were paid for, the kids and I decided to come along again for our second trip to WDW.

I felt so fortunate that we had these opportunities to visit WDW twice in such a short period of time, since we couldn't have afforded it under normal circumstances. The other night, my dad mentioned that he would like to plan a trip to WDW with my sister, DH and I and the kids! He wants to go next year since he's getting up in age and doesn't know how much longer he'll feel up to walking around the parks. My sister is a teacher, so the best time for us to go would be early February since it is still the low season at WDW and she is off of work (it will be Mardi Gras here in New Orleans). We should be able to get the same deal on the condo, and we would not have to buy a ticket for DD yet (she will be 2 and DS will be 4).

Financially, we didn't plan to go again this early. But this would be our first vacation together with my dad and sister (mom is deceased), and I think it would be wonderful for my dad to experience this with his grandchildren since he remembers taking my sister and I to WDW when we were kids. We didn't get to vacation much as a family when we were kids, so this was indeed a special time for us.

Part of me feels that 3 trips in a short period of time is a bit much since our children are so young. I don't want to spoil them by making them think that we can go to WDW every year since we normally couldn't afford that. But the other part of me feels that we have been given these special opportunities and that we should just jump at them. I don't know if we'll ever have such a great memory-making opportunity with my dad again.

Opinions, anyone?

Paula

 

[Rapunsel]

I am fortunate to have family that lives in California. So my DS and I have been to Disneyland 3 tiems, California Adventures twice and WDW once. His 3rd Birthday is Next month.

They have great deals at DL, but besides that it is a place that my mom and I enjoy and when I was younger it was never even a question asked if we could go. So Since my DS is free that was helpful. But He remembers the trips, had a great time and they are special memories for me. Now our trip to WDW. Was just about a year ago. My mom asked my DH and I where we wanted to go for a vacation? I just popped up with WDW. As I had never been. And my mom said OK can I come along. I said of course. It was one of the best trips that I have ever taken...

Now my DS doesn't ask to go. I mean a trip to the Disney store is worth a trip to WDW in his eyes. So I say don't worry about going to much. Your kids are young, you can take advantage of cheaper rates and if it was your Dad's idea go for it. I know in hte long run you will be thankful that you did. It is not as if you are going at Peak season and all that.


The I am planning our vacations for next year 2005.. I know at Christmas we will be in California and I hope that we find great deals and are able to go with my mom, my Ds who will be 4 and the Disney Kid that I am carrying that is due at Christmas...

We look at it as we don't go when it is crowded. We take advantage of our Fast pass and go only on the rides thatr we like. We also open the park and close it...


So go enjoy and let your kids know that this is a special trip with grandpa and their aunt.



Rapunsel

 

[Amirah95]

I don't think it's too much. We're doing WDW two times next year (five months apart). I say if you want to do it and you can afford to do it and you've got the time to do it...then why not do it? Do it!

 

[all4fun]

I also don't think it's too much. My ds first trip was at 13 mos, we just went at 17 mos and he will be 21 mos when we go again. I really think he's too young at this point to be "spoiled" by it, but then he is a little younger than your kids. Even so at that age I doubt they will be spoiled. (Not saying they won't ask about it in the future though! ) I think that you will appreciate having the memories of a family vacation with your dad and others, so I say go for it!

Cheryl

 

[capthooksmom]

My son is 3, and we are going for the second time this year, and hope to go again next Oct. Our last trip in April was paid for by my in-laws (family vacation) and this trip in Dec. is very affordable because we already have unused days from our Park Hoppers from the last 2 trips, and the resort is a good deal because of the fall special. A lot of our vacations happen this way - it's a family vacation, business trip, or just a good deal. My thoughts...do it while you can. You never know if you'll have these opportunities later.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would not worry about setting unrealistic expectations for your kids, and just go ahead and go, especially with the extended family members along. As long as you do other fun things with your kids, they won't expect Disney over and over again. For example, we frequent our local amusement park---a much less expensive and more convenient alternative. Granted, it's not Disney, but it's still pretty good!

 

[lovethattink]

Too much Disney??? No such thing!!! We moved to Central Florida 5 years ago and still can't get enough of the mouse. Now we go once a week for a few hours. There are still things at WDW we haven't yet experienced!

 

[JESW]

As one who is going on trip number three in an 8 month period I would have to say there is never too much Disney! Go and have a good time with your family!

Jill

 

[Lollipop Mom]

Nope. Not too much. My kids and I are leaving for trip #3 this year in 8 days. Trip #4 for the year will be the week of Christmas. My parents took us for Christmas/New Years week as our Christmas gift this past year. We were already planning a spring trip so we got APs for us and DS 4 (my little one is still 2 so he's still free). Just the kids and I are going to meet up with friends next week and my parents are bringing us back again after Christmas since the APs will be expiring. My 4 year old knows he is a very lucky little boy to get to go so often and we've explained that next year won't be like this.

You have had a very fortunate set of circumstances with the convention and everything. I'd say go for it! It was lots of fun going with my family (DH and the kids) and my parents. My kids thought it was just fantastic that Grammy and Poppy would go with them. Those memories are priceless for all of us.

 

[opus_00]

I'm getting the message loud and clear that most people here feel that you can't get too much Disney! We are strongly leaning toward going since it will be a rare (maybe the only) opportunity for the 3 generations of my family to have a vacation together. It will also be the last time my DD will get in free, and probably the last time we can go during the off-season. Also, once the kids are in school, we may not be able to afford to go anymore (public schools are not very good here, so everyone pays for either private or parochial school).

DH and I still have to talk over some of the financial stuff, but this may be a rather affordable trip if we can get the same deal on the condo we got last time (and my dad will be paying for half of that). Thanks for your input. I'm getting very excited now.

Paula

 

[TJA]

We will be taking our twin babies for the 3rd time in 12 months! No, I don't think you can ever get enough Disney. Glad you've decided to go again -- enjoy! Nothing can compare to our memories of taking our babies to Disney.

 

[swilshire]

You will cherish the memories you make of the trip with your Dad. Go for it.

My family is taking five trips to WDW in 13 months to take full advantage of our PAP. When we talk about it, it seems like a lot, but there is so much to do that each trip is different except for a few favorites. My oldest two don't always vacation with us anymore (in fact, one is skipping one of the Disney trips) so I know this may be our last year to "Disney 'til we drop" as a family.

Sheila

 

[DisneyPhD]

We took DD #1 when she was 9 months old and then waited to go again until she was just shy of 2 years old. We bought AP then because we planned to go 2 times in 12 months (March 03 and Jan 04) However we were bitten by the AP bug (we have AP and DVC so the trip will be cheap,) and added an extra trip to WDW Aug 03 so DD#1 went 4 times before she was 3 years old.

One thing is by the last trip she was able to ask for WDW and really wanted to go back right away, she was used to going often. However she understood and accepted that our next trip isn't until the end of this winter and is handleing it well. It was hard saying no to her (we wanted to go back too.) In fact when we took a trip to VB in May 2004 (I was 7 months pregnant) we didn't do WDW. We weren't sure we could say no to her if she really wanted to go being so close (she reconized the airport.) But she had so much fun at "Disney Beach" that it wasn't a problem.

When DD #2 is 2 years old I think we will get AP again and do 3 trips in 12 months, but not summer. We are thinking March, May and then the following Jan.

 

[F1Julie]

Go!!! DD4 and I will be going on our 4th trip in 14 months in December. The way I see it is, she'll only really be into Disney for a few more years and then it will be something else. We are enjoying it as much as we can.

 

[4greatboys]

It seems like a lot to the "others" but to those of us who love Disney and have a great time there its not to much We were there Oct 2003, Dec 2003, June 2004 (2 weeks) and going back Dec 2004.
Next year we are going 10-14 days June and then the members cruise in Sept.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Go. I truly belive that you do not spoil children by what you give them, it's the lack of something call disipline that spoils children. Kids that little have such a poor since of time anyway that they have no idea how long it has been since you went to WDW. We found that after a few trips to WDW, things changed for us. We were able to slow down and not feel we had to do everything becasue we knew we would be back! It made our trips so much more specail! Last trip we LOVED sitting in the lobby at the WL smelling the good food, enjoying the fire and people watching. We would have never done that on a first trip.
Take those babies and make those memories!!!


Jordans mom

 

[goofylarry46]

GO we are going in 2 weeks. This will be our 4th trip in 11 months. Then going back to WDW in JAN.

 

[F1Julie]

Jordan's mom, I think you are so right about taking your time at WDW after you've been there a few times. On our first trip, I wanted to do and see as much as we could. None of us felt rested after that trip. Now that we go to WDW more often, we take our time. It's much more enjoyable this way, especially with a 4 year old.