Did your kids or family outgrow Disney?

[DisneyFive]

I can see a day coming in the not so distant future where Disney won't be our go to family vacation. Did you outgrow Disney? Maybe for a period of time, or permanently?

My oldest will be in high school in a couple of years, which makes pulling her out of school for Disney a no go, and I don't think we want to visit during peak times. ...so that's one factor.

The other, which makes me kind of sad to think about, is the potential that the kids just might "outgrow" Disney. They just won't be into it anymore? Has this happened to you? Maybe it's for a time period, but then you come back when they're older, etc?

I'm thinking that cruising, or other destinations like national parks, etc.. will become the norm... I love those options too, but Disney always holds a special place. It was our first big family vacation back in 2010, when the kids were 8, 6, and 3. Now they are 12, 10, 7.

Dan

 

[minniegirl19]

Im 21 and my sister is 18 and disney is still the only place we want to go ever and every time we bring up a different place it always leads back to disney! we didn't go from 2006-2010 because of financial things ( i don't know how we survived that long without going) but since then we go every year, i did the college program, and now visit my friends down there at least 3 times. Im such a kid at heart and will never outgrow it. As long as your kids still have the magic in their hearts they won't either

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Mine never did! In fact, we are going again first week in Dec.---trip was all DD35's idea and she is doing all the planning!

 

[3Gsandme]

We'll still pull dd out in high school, dependent on her grades. I think the experience of travel (not just to Disney) is as important as schooling. We pulled her in 8th grade. I don't think the year will make too much of a difference. Now, if we pull her in 9th grade and it's a problem to catch her up, we won't be able to pull her again.

That was long winded.

I don't think my dd's will ever really outgrow it. We're a cradle Disney family. My grandmother loved Disney, my Mother and Uncle love/d Disney and my siblings and cousin love Disney and I expect my kids will, too.

 

[L&Lfan]

We went as a family every year from 1972-1978. I'm 55 now and have gone almost every year since (next visit-9/23!). My sister is now 53 and she hasn't been since she was 17. She prefers the beach.

 

[Kalea]

Disney held no interest from me from the time I was about 10 until I took my own children. My sisters, who do not have their own kids, have not been back since they were pre-teens.

 

[Donald - my hero]

If they decide they don't want to go anymore the answer is simple, GO ALONE!! An adult only Disney trip is magical in a way that at the moment you might not imagine. We find the freedom we gained is amazing, we can spend as long as we want in World Showcase and avoid the headliner rides since we don't like them. We do more TS meals in places that have food on the menu that we like without worrying about our picky eaters!!

 

[Laketravis]

I just happen to make a comment to my 9yo last night that maybe he's outgrown Disney World.

He quickly said "No I haven't!" but then paused and after some more thought said "Well, maybe once we go to Universal".

I think he's close to losing all interest in WDW.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Celebrating my Daughter's Sweet 16 in Nov at Cinderella Castle! She loves it so much and cringes at the thought of me every going with out her!!

So I think if they grow up with Disney in their lives they tend to want to keep it in their life.

Mine wants to go to college in Florida and apply for the Disney College program so I think it is in her blood.

We do go other places too! We like to cruise and have visited South Dakota and Colorado, but we always work in a Disney trip in some way??

For instance she is a Junior in High School and so that means lots of homework and hard classes. So I don't want to stress her and pull her out a whole week. This year she is off school Nov 3rd and Nov 4th so I just planned for us to fly down on Sat Nov 1st and home on Wed Nov 5th and she only misses 1 day of school..No biggie!
Then we still get Free Dining and visit Magic Kingdom and Epcot for Food and Wine..It is all good!

As another poster said if the kids don't want to go then plan a trip alone or go with friends! Fall trip to WDW with friends would be a great time.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We as a family nor the kids as teens, in high school and during college never out grew Disney. We still go often and now its with the grand kids as well.

AKK

 

[ashnjam]

I can see a day coming in the not so distant future where Disney won't be our go to family vacation. Did you outgrow Disney? Maybe for a period of time, or permanently?

My oldest will be in high school in a couple of years, which makes pulling her out of school for Disney a no go, and I don't think we want to visit during peak times. ...so that's one factor.

The other, which makes me kind of sad to think about, is the potential that the kids just might "outgrow" Disney. They just won't be into it anymore? Has this happened to you? Maybe it's for a time period, but then you come back when they're older, etc?

I'm thinking that cruising, or other destinations like national parks, etc.. will become the norm... I love those options too, but Disney always holds a special place. It was our first big family vacation back in 2010, when the kids were 8, 6, and 3. Now they are 12, 10, 7.

Dan

Hi fellow Michigander! Although it's nice to mix up the vacations I hope we never outgrow Disney. It's funny once our DD turned 9 we we're like OMG we need to have another kid so we can keep going lol. Personally I will never outgrow Disney.

 

[Flight]

Did your kids or family outgrow Disney?


Nope. Just disenchanted at the direction Disney management is taking the enterprise right now.

 

[cakebaker]

No, we never outgrew it.

I took my daughters for the first time when they were 8- I had never been. As a kid, I never even dreamed of being able to afford a Disney trip.

We've been going ever since and they're in their 30's now. Once they were grown, the trips were all adult trips until my grandson was born 2 years ago- and now I get to experience it with a little one again!

I don't see us ever not going....not as pleased with Disney as I used to be, but pleased enough for now.

 

[niffer5150]

nah. my DD(15) is happy to be going back soon. she's trying to convince us to take her back when she's 21 for the food and wine festival as well. i can't even explain how bummed she was that we couldn't go this year for christopher cross. for us tho, wdw is more of an easy to manage destination with food, neat hotels, and awesome entertainment than it is about the branding.

 

[Mkrop]

Well my oldest will be 17 on Sunday and he loves going to Disney and he plans it as much as we do. We mix it up with other things too which I think helps. Like we have done the CA, always with a stop in DL but have explored the state as well. We just toured San Diego. Another time we drove up to coast of CA starting in DL. We have been to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, but we always go back to WDW.

 

[daisyx3]

We went about 12 times as an entire family--me, DH, all three kids--starting when they were 2,5 and 8.
After my oldest graduated we went once as a family of 4. I have to go during peak times since I teach, and her college spring break did not match up with mine. In 2013 she got her degree, got married, and moved to CA. She has been to DL twice but not back to WDW. She thought about joining us on our weekend trip next month but couldn't swing it.
My middle child went with us in 2012 for that family of 4 trip. She graduated HS and started college in 2013. Our last trip was a family of 3 trip in June because she was taking classes. BUT, she is in the CP right now and having the time of her life. She's been to all of the parks at least once (she works at MK) and was at Typhoon Lagoon yesterday on her day off.
So I would say neither of the girls outgrew Disney; it just isn't feasible to go with us!
Now my son....he is 16. He is not going in October due to school or April because he is doing a HS trip to Spain. He told us in June he was pretty "Disney'd out". So we will see how that works. I have the DVC points for a family of 3 trip during spring break of 2016, and that might be the swan song until it's just couples only trips!
Daisyx3

 

[disney world dreamer]

that has not and will not happen to my family.
my dad first went in 1973 and my mom and grandma went with my dad in 1974 and the rest is history.
my parents went back a couple more times before having my sister in 1979 and then have gone nearly every year since then.
i first went when i was in the womb in 1985.
my parents most recent visit was in 2012 and they plan to go back again within the next couple of years. mom mom got one knee replacement and really needs to get the other done before going back or she'll be in a wheelchair while there which she does not want.
my most recent visit was in july of this year and before that it was december of last year.
i will never get tired of going.
my niece who is almost 16 still loves going and she brought a friend along for the first time in july and her friend loved it.
i see nothing wrong with taking kids out of school to go.
i was taken out of school every year from pre-k through 12th grade and there was never an issue.
i just asked for the work a week ahead of time and got it done.

 

[DisneyMim]

No, my family has never outgrown Disney. We've been DVC members since it started in 1991 and we all think of Disney as our second home. My kids are grown now but they come with us any chance they get. It does help that they have a free room and their own bathroom!! LOL!! Our vacations have changed over the years. When they were little it was all about characters and rides and now it's a lot more relaxing. We love Epcot and enjoy the different drinks and food around World Showcase. We are NEVER in a hurry; actually we were never in a hurry even when they were young. We spend time by the pools and just relaxing in our villa. I think because my kids grew up in Disney they don't look at it as a park vacation. They see it as their second home that just so happens to be in Disney. We also do other vacations as well. We just went on a RC cruise. My kids have been all over Europe and love traveling, but they still love Disney. My son hasn't been in awhile because of his hectic schedule and he recently told me that he misses Disney and wants to go soon. I think it's like anything in life. Some people are more into things than others. For us, we can go anywhere, but Disney is "home" for us!!

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[mm1971]

I can see a day coming in the not so distant future where Disney won't be our go to family vacation. Did you outgrow Disney? Maybe for a period of time, or permanently?

My oldest will be in high school in a couple of years, which makes pulling her out of school for Disney a no go, and I don't think we want to visit during peak times. ...so that's one factor.

The other, which makes me kind of sad to think about, is the potential that the kids just might "outgrow" Disney. They just won't be into it anymore? Has this happened to you? Maybe it's for a time period, but then you come back when they're older, etc?

I'm thinking that cruising, or other destinations like national parks, etc.. will become the norm... I love those options too, but Disney always holds a special place. It was our first big family vacation back in 2010, when the kids were 8, 6, and 3. Now they are 12, 10, 7.

Dan

I grew up with going to Disney and with WWof Disney on TV every Sunday so it never lost it's attraction to me. DS14 enjoys being there and still likes it (went in August), but there are other places he would like to see and prefer to go as well. DD11 is hooked an will never outgrow it in my opinion. She loves to go and just be there for the magic. You can definitely tell by the excitement and joy of being there.

Maybe it's time to take 2 vacations a year? One Disney and one somewhere else. That's we seem to be doing now.

 

[DisneyFive]

Thanks all!

So maybe I shouldn't overthink it. Sounds as though the majority never had issues with "outgrowing" WDW, and even if you did that's fine too. Our kids absolutely love it right now, so there isn't any reason to see that changing.

The one 'known" is that they will be hitting high school in 2 or more years. I just don't know if we'll be able to, or want to, pull them out at that point. ...and I don't think we would go during the peak season.

I think we'll get a good feeling later this year on how they like alternate vacations. We're taking a year off from WDW to build the yearning, but also try something new, a family cruise.

I could probably keep going to WDW for the rest of my life, and I have a feeling the rest of the family is the same way. (although it seems at SOME point, it has to get repetitive and a litte stale) My wife and I were never able to go as kids, so once we took the kids in 2010, were were hooked.

Dan