Could it be too much of a good thing?

[Neesy228]

We usually space out our Disney trips for approx. every two years...although it's torture for me, I do it because I feel like it keeps things magical for the kids...WELLL....the buy 4, get 3 promo was too tempting, so we booked a spring break trip. We were just there at the end of September. So, it'll be about 6 months between trips. Is this going to be too soon for our kids? (can't be soon enought for Mom! )I don't want them to start thinking that Disney is "just another theme park"

If you go frequently, how do you keep the excitement up for the little group? (kids 8, 5 and 2) I feel like I played a lot of my cards on the last trip with Tink gifts every night and a diver at the Coral Reef, etc. I welcome ideas and suggestions! Help!

TIA

 

[npmommie]

I don't think Disney could ever been seen as just another theme park by the kids! I don't have any suggestions,mine are just happy to go without anything more special than the trip itself.
Don't worry they will have a great time, and it will still be magical!

 

[islangrl]

Ohh, I am so jealous!!
There are so many extra little things you can do when you have more time. (like you do)

Have you been to the campfire at Fort Wilderness? It is my kid's #1 fave thing to do at disney. And it's free!
You can roast marshmallows, make s'mores, there is a sing-along w/ Chip and Dale. And after the sing along there is a movie shown on the outdoor screen.
Also at FW there are pony rides and horses.

I think the Beach Club has a camp fire as well.

Get the kids a haircut at the Main Street barber shop, it's so cute and fun and they do girl's hair too.

I just read somewhere that the boat that is by Tom Sawyer's island, big paddle boat or something; you can ask to ride up top with the Captain and some times there are characters up there. This is the next thing I am going to try to keep the magic alive.

I can't wait to read the other responses, cause I am always trying to find new ideas and secret tips!
Have a great trip!

 

[islangrl]

I don't think Disney could ever been seen as just another theme park by the kids! I don't have any suggestions,mine are just happy to go without anything more special than the trip itself.
Don't worry they will have a great time, and it will still be magical!

Despite my previous post, I also agree with npmommie!

If your kids already love Disney, you won't have anything to worry about. For my kids, husband and I, the Disney obsession just gets stronger with each visit. Maybe it's just good training!

 

[Neesy228]

Ohh, I am so jealous!!
There are so many extra little things you can do when you have more time. (like you do)

Have you been to the campfire at Fort Wilderness? It is my kid's #1 fave thing to do at disney. And it's free!
You can roast marshmallows, make s'mores, there is a sing-along w/ Chip and Dale. And after the sing along there is a movie shown on the outdoor screen.
Also at FW there are pony rides and horses.

We haven't done this yet -- it sounds like a fabulous idea!! Do they do this all year around? If we're staying at Pop, do you know the easiest way to get there? Probably a DTD bus, huh?

Awesome idea, thanks!

 

[islangrl]

Would that require 2 busses? Not sure which would be faster, but I think this would be more scenic... take a bus to MK, then hop the boat (directly in front of entrance) at Mk to Fort Wilderness. The boat ride is about 12 minutes.

On the camping forums, they put a list out on the first of every month, of the movie schedule. Here is this month's.. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1939788

You can also catch the Electrical water pageant @ 9:45 from the dock where the boat will drop you off. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. If you choose to see it another night, you can catch it from GF or POLY and Contemporary.

 

[eeyorefan74]

Have everyone sit down and make a list of things they've always wanted to do at Disney but haven't yet done. If you're like us, there are probably lots of things you haven't seen- restaurants, mini-golf, parades/shows, etc. Our last trip we did the Family Magic Tour for something new and fun. We've taken yearly trips the past 4 years and each one has been fun and different. Have a great time!

 

[momtomatthew]

We took our first trip with our son in Feb of last year- went back in Sept for free dining, and have another trip scheduled in Feb and also Dec of next year. We love going each time, and can't wait. But, the best way to describe is something I read here on the boards from a frequent visitor, and it sums it perfectly

"After so many visits, the novelty is gone, but the magic is still there"

 

[crisi]

My bigger issue with frequent trips (and we take them) is that my kids get a sense of entitlement to vacations that I don't think will do them any favors in the long run. We do try and explain to the kids that vacations are a luxury purchase, but really, they don't get it. And I think we need - badly - to back off.

My first husband and my ex-brother-in-law both had the vacation as an entitlement mentality instilled by their parents (who certainly did not intend to do so). The upshot was that both of them spent money on vacations when they shouldn't have, couldn't really tell the difference between need and want on vacation, and had the "you are on vacation - go ahead" mentality to those vacations to make it worse. Both my sister and I ended up in debt when our marriages ended - paying for vacations we'd taken years before. (We get some blame, we didn't say no. But it had never occurred to us - with our upbringing - that you'd take a big vacation yearly).

We are starting to back off Disney and take a larger variety of trips with a bigger educational/cultural component. Disney can be educational, but by now the kids have been exposed to much of that.