Annual Trip

[GinnyFavers]

An annual trip, I would *never* get tired of WDW!

And yes, I'd definitely switch around resorts, to try something new.

Our problem is we started going three or four times a year, this past year we spent a total of 28 days at Disney... and now we're turning into locals!

We don't want to stay without a rental car, we eat off site, buy groceries and medicines we forget, stuff we need, etc., off site rather than pay Disney's gift shop prices. We do stuff like hang around the resort all day and ride three things in the evening and see the fireworks, then stay up late in the room watching movies with Papa Johns take out pizza.

Sometimes I feel like we've done it all, and now it's just time to move there.

Joe put in applications at NASA day before yesterday, so who knows!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

no loss of excitement for me or my family. It starts for us as we exit the airport and see all the palm trees and feel that glorious warm air in february, we have experienced as much as a 100ºF temp swing from leaving maine to landing in MCO. Now that's magic!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Pepe, 39 trips. Wow. How young were your kids when you first started taking them? How did things change as they got older. I feel the need to take mine while they are really young as many times as possible because I don't want to "miss out". They are already growing up so fast.

It all started in 1977, son was 5 years old, he enjoyed Disney very much and still remembers alot of the trips, 7 years later along comes his sister and she started going at 13 months. She's the Disney daughter, she also did the Disney college program and loved every month of it that after it was done, she returned home, finished her degree and returned to Florida and worked for the mouse at Celebtation for 1 year. Those were the years we racked up the visits, 3 visits a year plus a Disney cruise, can't beat Disney employee discounts. Disney doesn't pay very well or advance CM's very quick so home comes daughter, resides is Columbus now with her hubby but they still come along on some of our trips when they can. she still has Disneyitis and so does SIL.

The old Disney was different in that there were only 2 resorts and only the MK. The old Mickey Revue was great, Dismond Horseshoe Revue has changed many times, Main Street Cinema, Swan Boats, Mission to Mars, 20,000 Under the Sea, oh, it goes on the changes some good some bad.

Throw in a year they introduced EPCOT and our stays got alittle longer, then comes MGM, trips alittle longer and now 2 water parks and AK. No wonder our visits are over 10 days, need that much time to see and do it all but as the years go we slow down alot. No longer able to do the wee hours at PI and be up for rope drop. Now its a relaxing night at the pool, bottle of wine or a visit to FW for some pizza and pitchers of beer and an early turn in. We've found the best time is before the sun comes up, sitting on the balcony watching the World come to life than howling at the moon the night before. We amble and visit with the morning CM's getting everything ready for a new day. A cup of coffee, someone that enjoys Disney as much as you do, my wife, and it just doesn't get any better than this. sorry to ramble but that our story, again we just returned home and are looking for a January trip, just can't get enough of WDW and as we get older our time keeps getting shorter. Seems we work now, after sending 2 children through college, just to go to WDW as many times as we can until we can't or aren't able anymore.

 

[pepe of ohio]

but I could write books about our adventures. We've had some glorious times and many many memories not counting all the movies, started with super8 reel film to VHS and now DVD's to all the snapshots and albums we've created. We don't stop taking pictures, and wife in the last, oh say 10 trips has started writing a daily journal, from the time we leave home until we return and they are interesting to read and we can look back as to what we done and what day. It's all crap, when we pass what will become of all this Disney stuff but for now, its what we hang onto to make life worth living.

 

[miler1600]

but I could write books about our adventures. We've had some glorious times and many many memories not counting all the movies, started with super8 reel film to VHS and now DVD's to all the snapshots and albums we've created. We don't stop taking pictures, and wife in the last, oh say 10 trips has started writing a daily journal, from the time we leave home until we return and they are interesting to read and we can look back as to what we done and what day. It's all crap, when we pass what will become of all this Disney stuff but for now, its what we hang onto to make life worth living.

I love the long post. This is inspiring. I hope that I can look back on all of our family's days at Disney some day and just be happy in the memories. God has blessed us with one awesome trip, I pray he has many more in store for us. I have been feeling depressed because it is over, but at the same time looking so forward until the next.

As long as you want to write, I will keep reading.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

I miss the sense of anticipation when it comes to planning. In truth we've been there 4 times now and we know what we like and what we don't. My first trip took me FOREVER to plan and I loved it (being a Atype personality). I loved pouring over resturant reviews, reading each of the resorts, looking online at the different photos. Trying to figure which day for what park and a touring plan.

Now we know what the resorts look like, we know if we will or will not like a resturant, etc.

But when we get there the trip is still just as special if not more so. Because you don't have the little pitfalls of not liking the food, or getting lost on the way to DTD.

I do miss picking out the resort though - we are DVC members and now we stay at "home"

~Amanda

 

[LindaR]

I guess I would classify it as "better and better". We have tried different times of year (Sept, early Dec, March/Easter, end of May) and we have tried a variety of resorts. We knew that our first trip would not be our only trip so we never went commando! Granted, on our first trip we were so excited, that we DID try to do as much as possible. Anyway, there is always a new attraction, a restaurant that we have not tried, something......

We also don't feel compelled to stand in really long lines. For example, our last trip Easter 07, we went to the parks for a while in the morning and when the crowds really picked up (around early lunch) we left! Back to the hotel, sit by the pool, have spa treatments, get in the car and explore some upscale shopping, play minigolf, etc.

I don't ever feel "cheated" when we only spend a short time in the parks because I know we will have another trip at another time. We have been there at some really slow times......and I will not stand in lengthy lines when I know that the next time will be slow!

 

[miler1600]

I am also a TypeA. I planned the first trip every day for 6 months, just making tweaks. Then the trip arrived - and the plan came crashing down. I let go of the plan and we had a blast.

I am already making my second attempt at planning for trip #2, even though it is 11 months away(BouneBack). I think I learned enough on the first trip to plan the second. It is already looking better.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Processing before the trip and trying to find out all about WDW "is" part of the fun and excitement. We check out resort menus, see where the interesting food sources are, past trip we took a boat from DTD to POFQ and stopped at the pool bar and had a drink or two and spent some quality time just chatting with the bartenderess CM, fantastic, then we ambled into the resort to check out the "Scat Cat Club", always read about it but never made it there. While we were there we checked out the food court and low and behold, spaghetti and meatballs and meatball subs, just what we were hungry for. We buses back to the MK and boated back to our resort, WL, planning to go back later for dinner and some jazz. It was the best out of theway to spend an evening on property we ever did and all new to us even after 38 visits. We boated back to DTD from POFQ resort in the dark, great ride and a short walk to the bus stop and bussed this time right to our resort.

We can make plans, process the web for info, jot down notes, listen to what others say and guess what, throw the whole thing away and still have the grandest time in WDW, its the magic that gets in your sole and leads you to have a grand time just doing or exploring while on property. Never let it be said DisneyWorld is for kids, us old timers enjoy it just as must if not more.

 

[Wendi2000]

For us they just keep getting better!!!

 

[GEM]

I have my 20th trip coming up in December and my excitement seems to grow each time, not diminish! (It will be the 9th trip for my four year old, and it's all he talks about!)

Now, instead of going on vacation, it feels like going "home" to a place I know and love. I know that's corny, but that's exactly what it feels like!

 

[teentoddlermom]

Look at my sig...the past 5 years have been GREAT!!!
Now that my son is a Senior in HS, with his college schedule, who knows when we'll get back as a family together! We have had such fun the last 5 years, it is a great place for all ages to visit. We love trying all the different resorts!