A Disney rut?

[jetprincess]

How do you avoid this? How do you avoid having the same vacation everytime you go to WDW? Do you switch hotels? Try new restaurants? Change you raprk strategies?

 

[RumpleMom]

We have found that the focus of our trips has changed over the years.

We started with wanting to see every character, then not stopping for any characters because we were too busy rushing from ride to ride. Then the kids got older and it was cool again to see the characters.

We stayed at different resorts and try to include a new restaurant each trip. There is always something new to see, so we make that a priority.

After awhile, we included PI and now that is a must-do. A waterpark day or a day at our resort pool is important now.

We bought DVC so our room with the kitchen has made for a much more relaxing pace. We stay in and play cards or games during rain storms rather than slog through them wearing ponchos, like in the past.

Now the twentysomething kids pick the park for the day based on our meal plans


We have traveled to WDW with three generations and everyone had plenty to enjoy.

 

[disney6family]

We usually have first and last day traditions that we follow. Then we try different rec options, different mini golf course each time, different water park, different character meals, different ride order (now that the kids plan the days, we never know what this will be ), we are now in the position of being able to ride all of the rides together so that brings new things every time, we do try different meals and snacks, but the favorites always come through and we have come to expect certain things
Also, we have been trying to find something new in each park when we go - one time we'll do the wishing well by the castle, in epcot last trip we found the center of WDW, this keeps the kids entertained looking for new things, new hidden mickeys, new pressed penny machines

 

[disney6family]

Oh, I forgot, we also try to get different character pics/ sigs that we haven't ever gotten - last trip we got all of the power rangers and KP (one of mom's favs)

 

[design_mom]

Oh, I forgot, we also try to get different character pics/ sigs that we haven't ever gotten - last trip we got all of the power rangers and KP (one of mom's favs)

Is KP Kim Possible? If so, where did you see her. We're big KP fans at our house and I'm sure DS would love that.

(I spent our whole last trip looking for a She-go shirt for my DH. He *loves* She-go. Couldn't find one, even with the villian stuff. Even had cast members looking. Oh well, a missed marketing opportunity there. )

 

[DawnM]

HA! We actually really like our "rut." We have found that there are certain rides/shows/things that we don't care for as much and we would rather focus on those things that we really, really enjoy and like.

Our kids are little and so they don't do later at night shows all that well, so we try to catch only one evening show per few days or even per trip. Those are ones we typically haven't seen before.

Dawn

 

[kowalchicky]

That's a great question...
Now that we have visited Disney 4 times in the past 4 years I kind of feel the same way. The good thing is we know what rides to hit first,what rides to use our fast pass on, etc. Finally last year I got the 2 pool days I've been begging my husband for.......

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Visiting WDW is all about traditions with our family. The only thing that frequently changes is where we stay.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We are forever changing our Disney vacations-no two have ever been the same. When we have the BTDT mentality, we try the different tours (KTTK was great!). We also do a lot of the events associated with the F&W Festival (PFTS, Exquisite Evenings dinners, Culiary classes, wine tastings). We attend MNSSHP, MVMCP & CP. We take the time to go to the less traveled attractions (HOP, OCanada film, AA & Fantasmic...things we don't do every trip). We have our favorite restaurants, but we make a point of trying new ones too. We stay at different resorts. We also have a resort day where we just go from resort to resort to check things out-normally around the holidays. Me and DH have done Jellyrolls and the clubs at DD-although that is really just not our scene-guess we are too OLD! The point is though, you never know until you try. We rotate what mini golf course we go to each time. Last year we did RPE and then we have done the whole land/sea thing with DCL too. There are just too many ways you can vary your vacation. Depending on time of year, there is always something different going on-holidays, F&W, F&G, Super Soaps, SWW...too much variation where we haven't had a problem with being bored. I guess if you truly want a change of pace though, you could try one of the Adventures by Disney. DH and DS have also done the fishing excursion and we all have enjoyed the water mice at CBR.

 

[Jen66]

We only go once at 2 years on average. Every other summer we go somewhere else, so my kids experience more of the world. We also do at least 2-3 mini trips each year for the kids' birthdays. I find WDW every other summer is perfect for us.

 

[deejohn]

We go about every 12-18 months. I change resorts. We are finishing up the mods this Nov. We have been down 2 christmas times in a row and STILL have not done everything!!! There are some traditions the kids look forward to: Rainforest Cafe, Dinner @ Land, Rockin' Rollercoster, Mission Space, etc... We always mix the old with the new, and believe me, there is always something new at WDW.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

We switch resorts and always choose new restaurants.

We're going down for 4 nights in August, mostly to do the P&PP, but we're also going to use up some old passes. We're planning on one mammoth park hopping day, water parks, relaxing, and PI. We've never had a trip when the majority of it was spent outside of the main parks. I think it will be refreshing.

 

[Tikicampers]

We don't stay for very long, so there is still so much we haven't done. We also like to stay at different hotels, and try different restaurants. Of course, we have our must-dos. MK is always on our list, it just doesn't feel like we've been if we don't go there.

 

[ellyn2000]

We do most of the above mentioned things, but I still find myself so excited about a WDW vacation that I can hardly survive the wait! We've decided to go about every 2 yrs. now that my children have college or jobs. We try to stay somewhere different and try at least one different restaurant. We may add in an attraction that we formerly passed up, etc...Even after I come home from WDW saying,"That was exhausting!" it's not very long before I'm on the web site looking for any new things for our next trip.

 

[kowalchicky]

That's so true.
It truly does become an addiction.
We are going on a Disney Cruise ( first time ) instead of Disney....as excited as I am for the cruise, I'm still going to miss our week in Disney.

 

[reginaastralis]

Is KP Kim Possible? If so, where did you see her. We're big KP fans at our house and I'm sure DS would love that.

(I spent our whole last trip looking for a She-go shirt for my DH. He *loves* She-go. Couldn't find one, even with the villian stuff. Even had cast members looking. Oh well, a missed marketing opportunity there. )

We saw Kim Possible at MGM, almost directly across the street from where Soc. Mickey is. Be warned, Kim and Ron are face characters, and this really upset my sister. I think she was eight when we found her, and Jordyn couldn't understand why she was "real" since she's a cartoon. A good point.

 

[merrywether]

Getting an annual pass one year shook up our trips to Disney. We didn't feel like we had to pack as much in every day since we knew we could spend partial days (or even the odd few hours) in a park and not feel like we "wasted" a day on a ticket. Our other shakeup was having a child! You can't be a commando with a toddler (ok, my sister still is a commando with her children, but I have no idea how she manages!). We do things differently now with a child, and our choices are much more on the fly depending on our son's mood, comfort level, etc. I like it more this way actually. It's a little more relaxing and it helps to stop and smell the roses!
The one thing we've always done is try a new restaurant each trip. We'll be doing Liberty Tree Tavern in August. Heard it's pretty nice!

 

[kowalchicky]

Getting an annual pass one year shook up our trips to Disney. We didn't feel like we had to pack as much in every day since we knew we could spend partial days (or even the odd few hours) in a park and not feel like we "wasted" a day on a ticket. Our other shakeup was having a child! You can't be a commando with a toddler (ok, my sister still is a commando with her children, but I have no idea how she manages!). We do things differently now with a child, and our choices are much more on the fly depending on our son's mood, comfort level, etc. I like it more this way actually. It's a little more relaxing and it helps to stop and smell the roses!
The one thing we've always done is try a new restaurant each trip. We'll be doing Liberty Tree Tavern in August. Heard it's pretty nice!

This may be a stupid question but I noticed you lived in LI, what advantages is it to get a annual pass if you live so far away? Do you visit Disney more then once in the same year in order for it to pay off?

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

This may be a stupid question but I noticed you lived in LI, what advantages is it to get a annual pass if you live so far away? Do you visit Disney more then once in the same year in order for it to pay off?

I live in NJ and we have PAP's for the past 6 or 7 years. I think a lot of folks have AP's or PAP's that don't live locally to Disney. Just means you get to go more than once that year or you stay more than a week to get your money's worth out of the pass. Nice not to have to pay for parking, you get discounts on shopping and some meals, also makes you eligible to get the DDE card for 20% off your dinners (or other meals) since the AP discount does not apply at every restaurant or seating time. Like PP said, you never rush or feel like you have to do everything commando style because you know you'll be back. I can't imagine NOT having the PAP.

 

[PrincessAlways]

I live in NJ and we have PAP's for the past 6 or 7 years. I think a lot of folks have AP's or PAP's that don't live locally to Disney. Just means you get to go more than once that year or you stay more than a week to get your money's worth out of the pass. Nice not to have to pay for parking, you get discounts on shopping and some meals, also makes you eligible to get the DDE card for 20% off your dinners (or other meals) since the AP discount does not apply at every restaurant or seating time. Like PP said, you never rush or feel like you have to do everything commando style because you know you'll be back. I can't imagine NOT having the PAP.

I live in PA & also have an AP. Since my brother & his family live in MS, we use our Disney trips as family meetings 2 or 3 times a year! It also gives us the opportunity to have some long weekend trips. In addition to those discounts you mentioned, AP room discounts are really a help. Knowing you'll be back does take the "commando" out of the vacation time & you can actually relax & enjoy your time together. Besides, it gives you a reason to go back! (like you really need one )