Advice on taking a year off

[PoohsFan1]

Idk, because I said I wasn't going to go this year, and that I would take one or two years off, and I caved in, and booked a WDW trip last week. I am not a good role model for you. Lol. Hello, I'm Dawn, and I'm an addict....

You are not alone!! DH and I said after our trip last May we were going to take a year off because we were already planning a trip to Williamsburg Va for this coming June with another family. Well, after talking with DH about it, I decided that I wanted to do my first girls trip with my DDs so we went in January for a week. And since I was able to get a really great deal on airfare for our trip in January (after already purchasing our airfare) I received a hefty credit through SW so after we were back from our January trip, DH said we should just go back in October because the girls have an extended weekend during that month and we wanted to go to F&W, plus I could use our credit that will be expiring in November. OP, I am definitely not a role model for you either....we went from not going on any trips this year, to going our usual twice a year trip...with a non Disney trip in between .

 

[caroline1851]

Embrace doing something different!

 

[AllieBoo]

We try to only go every other year. On our years off, we go explore other places we haven't been. Last summer, we went to the Florida Keys and it was wonderful! It was a totally different kind of vacation than Disney, but we find we need that break or we get burned out.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Nothing new is opening at Disney this year. So if you were going to skip one year, this is it.

I don't know if you go to Universal, but next year they are opening a major new King Kong ride. If you go to Orlando next year, adding Universal would mean lots of new stuff, including a new headliner.

 

[Nicholas Carter]

I already know we're going to take a year or two off starting next summer.

 

[Fastpassminus]

I try to go once every 18 months-2 years. I once went 3 times in 18 months & it was almost too much ( if there is such a thing)

It will be a year and a half when I get there in September & I can't wait! After that I plan to take a year off with day trips to Maine & maybe a week trip to HHI & then plan another trip for the following year. Skipping a year makes it easier to afford my DVC ( rent out the points). & makes each trip a little more special.

 

[Tinydancer34]

I was about to post the same thing! We're not going back until 2017 because it's so expensive, we've been 3 times in 5 years and coming all the way from UK means every trip costs a fortune (plus the Christmas trips to Disneyland Paris inbetween don't help)
We also decided after our trip last year that with so much building going on at once and nothing much changing every time we've been that it would be nice to go back when everything is finished.
We're going to Las Vegas this year instead I'm really excited but I still can't shake the feeling that we could be going to Disney!
I keep going by thinking how awesome it will be when we do get back and how there will be so much new stuff to look at.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I was about to post the same thing! We're not going back until 2017 because it's so expensive, we've been 3 times in 5 years and coming all the way from UK means every trip costs a fortune (plus the Christmas trips to Disneyland Paris inbetween don't help)
We also decided after our trip last year that with so much building going on at once and nothing much changing every time we've been that it would be nice to go back when everything is finished.
We're going to Las Vegas this year instead I'm really excited but I still can't shake the feeling that we could be going to Disney!
I keep going by thinking how awesome it will be when we do get back and how there will be so much new stuff to look at.

Disneyland isn't that far away from Las Vegas....just sayin

 

[luvmy2babies]

I hear you.

Technically we sort of skipped 2011. We went to Sea World; but ended up changing our plans during the trip and spending a day at MK.

This is the 2nd time I planned to skip a year since we started going. First time was 2013. We had done a 9 night trip in 2012; so I figured in 2013, we'd go to the beach for summer vacation since we had not done that since 2010. Both children pleaded to return to Disney. I caved. I had already planned to return in 2014 and I didn't change that so we went again last year.

So here we are in 2015. We moved in March and that took the money I normally use for summer vacation. Plus my daughter has an honors choir workshop in June and we have to travel 6 hours, stay in a hotel for a few nights and I have to take 4 days off work. So I know a summer trip is out. I figured we'd do a couple of long weekends at the beach or somewhere and I'd start in September planning for 2016, and since my son will be in Kindergarten this fall (meaning no more daycare bills) that maybe I'd surprise them and upgrade on the resort if the military discount carries over (we usually stay in a value).

Of course the children are again pleading to go back and my daughter even said she wanted to do BBB just one more time and if we didn't get back this year, she'd be too old. So here I am trying to figure if there's a possibility we can sneak down later this year or at some point early next year. School calendar has several 4 day weekends, plus Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was when we went the first time.

I don't guess I'm a good role model either; but I will say we do other things for shorter trips. We go on road trips with our favorite sports team. We love the mountains in the fall. When my son is older I do plan to explore other things for our longer vacations. Definitely want to get into cruising. Several other family members do it every year and we'd like to start joining them. We want to do some railroad trips and visit DC (may do that this summer). Also want to drive across country and eventually pick another country to visit.

 

[Allison]

Take it as a learning opportunity to see that there is more out there than a Disney vacation.

Absolutely. It's a big beautiful world.

 

[Dis703]

No real advice but I'm going to be in the same boat for next year. My twins start preschool this fall, DH needs a new car and extensive dental work and it's just not in our budget to work in a vacation at all next spring. We just got back 2 days ago from a great trip so the memories are just going to have to carry me over for the next couple of years.

 

[Tinydancer34]

Disneyland isn't that far away from Las Vegas....just sayin

Haha I did think of that! We're only there for a week though. Could we do Disneyland in a day? I know it's about a 5 hour drive and we have a hire car so it's possible

 

[PSUGuy]

Twice since 1999 our otherwise yearly WDW trips were interrupted by our daughter having babies in March causing an 18 month gap between trips. Of course this brought on trips with only a 6 month gap on 2 occasions, but to address the question, when faced by a year and a half 'off' I took a vacation from planning, staying away from this site and not even viewing our extensive library of Disney vacation videos we recorded over the years. Then when it came time to rev up for a WDW trip I came back fresh, not knowing what was new, what was gone or room codes etc. It makes for an interesting planning experience.

Bill From PA

 

[KEVD]

Interesting thread. We went this past April and are planning to go again in April 2016. We've never gone 2 years in a row.... it's usually every 2 to 3 years. Although we are very much looking forward to going again next year, and I DON'T think this will be the case.... a small part of me wonders if it might lose it's luster slightly. We're considering trying one of the water parks (we've never been to the WDW water parks). And we are hoping to stay on Disney property this time around (we've never done that either).

 

[DisneyFive]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Dan

 

[DisneyFive]

Interesting thread. We went this past April and are planning to go again in April 2016. We've never gone 2 years in a row.... it's usually every 2 to 3 years. Although we are very much looking forward to going again next year, and I DON'T think this will be the case.... a small part of me wonders if it might lose it's luster slightly. We're considering trying one of the water parks (we've never been to the WDW water parks). And we are hoping to stay on Disney property this time around (we've never done that either).

Having personally done back to back years a few times, and having it feel too much the same the first time, my suggestion is to try as many new things during your Apr. 2016 as possible. We learned that this is critical for us to REALLY enjoy our back to back years. Make it different. Maybe add Sea World, try new TS locations, new resort, etc...

Dan

 

[PoohsFan1]

Haha I did think of that! We're only there for a week though. Could we do Disneyland in a day? I know it's about a 5 hour drive and we have a hire car so it's possible

DH and I went to Las Vegas last summer while the kids were at their grandparent's house for a week (they live 3 hours from us) and while we were in Vegas, we decided to head over to Disneyland for the day. It was awesome, we got up really early and was able to get into the park by 10:30am, we spent some of the morning in California Adventure and then hopped over to Disneyland park for the rest of the day and into the night. We did spend the night and headed back to Las Vegas for the rest of our stay there. On the flip side it was just DH and I so it was very doable, but then again even if the kids were with us, I don't think we would hesitate to do it again.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Having personally done back to back years a few times, and having it feel too much the same the first time, my suggestion is to try as many new things during your Apr. 2016 as possible. We learned that this is critical for us to REALLY enjoy our back to back years. Make it different. Maybe add Sea World, try new TS locations, new resort, etc...

Dan

We go multiple times a year every year and I would have to agree 100% with this post. Each trip that we do, we always make sure we do something new whether it is a new restaurant, resort, or experience...just to keep the trips fresh and new while still doing our favorites. In January it was the first time that it was just my girls and I, in October it will be the first time we are staying at CSR. For our trip in 2016 we are doing something completely different and driving instead of flying so we can go to US/IOA for a day and maybe to the beach for the day as well.

 

[Astridia]

IMO planning the Disney vacation is almost more fun than going. So, I am always in planning mode, even if I won't be back for a while. So, I even while I'm planning my next non-Disney vacation, I'm planning my next visit to Disney.

 

[RustManFan]

I used to have the same experience (Disney withdrawal). Now I embrace the new excitement to experience when there are a number of years between visits..... Walt Disney World is ever-changing and I look forward to the new each time now.

Besides, I like to go other places too. What wonderful things might I miss out on if I don't? And some vacations are just as wonderful but all about relaxing from our normal routine. Others are about learning new things when we visit museums, historical sites, natural sites, etc.

New Hampshire, California and Great Britain are other favorite destinations with much to love and many new memories to build each visit!!