Does the magic diminish over time?

[Tink215]

Being a Florida resident, with my First Trip at 4 years of age, 30 years later and I still have that magic, But because the Older you get the more Bills you have to pay,lol, it makes it alot harder for us to as much as we use to.......All I think about is when can I go back, Will hubby get a bonus so we can go for a weekend.....I want to go for My Birthday Will he go for it.lol....Its all I think about, Everyone calls it my HAPPY PLACE......But I will agree with some of the Posters, once you get spoiled on Site and feel tha magic everywhere, its hard to go Off Site and expect the same.... although I have stayed off site at some wonderful Hotels that have been great and I still felt the Magic......I feel Once you fall in Love, I mean truly In love with the magic, it never goes away.......Crossing my Fingers for a Septmeber trip.......

 

[njchris]

There may be reasons for this: the hotel was awful; we had to travel daily through traffic to get to WDW; the people we went with always wanted to do other things (leave early, go back to the 'hotel' or go shopping at malls).

I think you've answered it right here. I have gone every year for the past 15 years and I stayed off-site at the beginning. That didnt hurt the magic for me, but if it was an awful hotel and the people with us wanted to go to a mall or other non-vacation things, it would take away from ANY vacation.

I've stayed at AKL about 3 times and love it. It's very relaxing and I do believe staying on site makes it that much better (even tho I always have my own car - I have to be in control of how I get places. hehe)

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

It hasn't diminished for us (6 trips in 6 years)

 

[mking624]

I think my DH enjoy it more and more. Of course, we've been a few times now so we know what we want and don't want to do...so we can take our time and really enjoy things. Back in 2000 for our honeymoon, we tried to cram so much stuff in and while we still had a blast, I think we enjoy it a lot more now since we know what we're doing. Also, for us personally, staying onsite has a lot to do with it. I don't think we'd have all the same experiences if we stayed off site. Others have stayed off site and have loved it, but a big part of the magic *for us* is that we don't have to worry about anything...even parking. And now we don't even have to worry about getting our luggage to the room as ME takes care of all that!

 

[PamNC]

I went as a child several times, but my DH's first time was our honeymoon in 1994. The look on his face was the best wedding present I received. We've been going every year since except 2000. We stayed off-site for our honeymoon, the Radisson Barcelona on I-Drive because at the time my husband was a Radisson employee so we got the room for $33 including tax. Then, in 1995 we went back and stayed at All Star Music. I think the next year we did CBR and fell in love! For a couple of years, we stayed there only. One year we went to Siesta Key, FL (gulf coast) and stayed off-site in Orlando. NEVER AGAIN did we stay off-site when visiting Disney. Since then we've stayed at CSR, CR, WL, Poly, YC/BC, GF, Swan, Dolphin, POR and OKW. Our favorite is the Poly followed closely by YC/BC and followed closely by S/D. We like to change from the MK resort area to the Epcot resort area..keeps it interesting. This year we stayed at POR because the budget was limited....very nice resort! We usually go 2x a year on average.

The magic increases for us. My DH always says as soon as we return home: "I could go again next week and be just as excited." I will say I've noticed some things are slipping, but I won't get into that because that is not the topic of this thread. That said, I STILL love WDW and will continue to go back. We do like to go other places as well so sometimes we combine a beach trip with our WDW trips.

As others have said, it's so nice to know that we don't have to rush because we'll be back in about 6 months. We tend to go every 6 months or so, sometimes a little less or sometimes a little more. Some trips are week-long some are long weekends. It's a 9 hour drive for us so by long weekend I mean 4 nights. Can't imagine driving 9 hours for 2 days. We'd have to fly for that type of trip, which we've done a couple of times. We don't have kids, and we don't like going with other folks. Went with my mom and aunt once and it was a disaster.

Some of the attractions are old hat to us, but we have our faves that we hit every time and wouldn't miss or the trip would be incomplete. We like to visit the resorts, take part in the recreation like horsebackriding and boating, we like Fort Wilderness a lot (love the Campfire Singalong) and we definitely like to eat and shop. Oh, and play minature golf at Fantasia.

I hope we NEVER lose the magic.

PamNC

 

[simzac]

Our love of Disney has also continued to increase. So much so, that after 3 trips, we have become DVC members, now we will be going for another 35 years or so.

 

[ainmama2001]

NOPE!

 

[Doc CW]

The magic will definitly come back, its because you stayed off-site and you dont get the true WDW experience when staying off-site. I garauntee that your upcoming trip will be very magical. Anyway the magic and love for WDW increases after every trip.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Bought into DVC last year. Added on points this year. Instead of two trips a year I'm planning three trips a year.

What does that tell you about the magic ?

 

[marconat]

OMG, I can't get enough of Disney... my love for it will never get old. We always go with my Sister and her husband, me, my husband and 2 kids... we all have the same interest, so it's just a great time there... this year, my daughter is celebrating her 7th birhday and we are going all out... and staying on site is the best... We'll be there from Dec31/06 to Jan15/07, it's the longuest that we've been there and I can't wait.
My sister in law, finds it weird to go there so many times now... but let me tell you it's only been 3times at WDW and 1 time at DL... ha! ha! wish I could go more often, but live way to far

 

[marconat]

Bought into DVC last year. Added on points this year. Instead of two trips a year I'm planning three trips a year.

What does that tell you about the magic ?

I envy you!! ha! ha!

 

[El Tel]

I'd like to thank all you folks for reassuring me. After the last visit I looked at all the things that took some of the magic away and tried to make sure that they were fixed this time. The only nagging doubt was the possibility that WDW isn't as special after the first time. I think you have disproved that.

For me a lot of the magic was staying onsite - though we know many people who are happy offsite. Onsite was special in its own right, and it felt like WDW was in your back yard and so easy / relaxing to get to.

I also had one of those very special bonding moments with my DS (then 9) at the All Star Movies on the first trip. In the evening, after a day in the World, we were on the balcony outside our room drinking from our refillable mugs. It was a warm, balmy evening and the crickets/cicadas were chirping (I never know which - you never hear them in the UK). He put his arm round me and said how perfect it was standing with me in such a wonderful place - he was so happy. It was a magical moment
But I guess I'm just getting a bit sentimental in my old age

 

[MagicMe]

Been there many times with just me and ex-DH, then with little ones, then me and older ones, then me and teens, then me, now me and grown up kids. Everytime I go I have a new memory to add to my Disney experiences. I only stayed off-site twice (my very first trip - with a group and a couple of years ago when we took a quick trip just to do MVMCP!). Staying on-site is the ONLY way to go. Little more $$ but well worth it!

 

[jaycns]

I understand your concerns. Like many people who posted already, I frequently visit WDW. Sometimes my parents ask me..."Isn't it getting old to you?" or "Why not try something new?". I cant!! I have too much fun when I go to WDW. And the best part is feeling relaxed, and knowing that it is ok if you do not get to do everything you planned, because it leaves something fun for the next trip. You will always discover something new and enjoyable on each trip, and will make new memories, as well. As long as you have the magic in your heart, I don't think you will have to worry about WDW getting 'old' to you.

Very well said. I agree!!

 

[keypooh90]

No way! We go at least twice a year, and each time, the magic gets more and more...well, magical!

 

[sticker231]

If the people you are with aren't into it, whether you stay on or offsite doesn't matter. We enjoy our trip every time even though we stay offsite. We are with people who enjoy Disney and want to experience the magic.

 

[pixie dust 112]

It keeps getting better and more magical for my family. We've been many times and it never gets old. I know of no where else that a family can vacation that is so clean and where the staff is so accomodating. I love how the CMs are really interested in what our kids have to say.

About 10 years ago we started staying on site and that makes all the difference in the world. We now have the magic 24 hours a day!!! You'll probably never stay offsite again after your stay at AKL.

We're going on Friday for 11 days at BWI. Then we're going for a long weekend in September for free dining. In April we get to go again as our DDs high School band will be leading the Magic Kingdom parade . I think they do a concert at EPCOT as well. DD(14) is already planning to try to get into the college program in a few years!

Also, I know so many people (sadly, not us) who are DVC members. They bought in because when they don't feel like going to WDW they can use their points to go somewhere else instead. None of them have ever gone anywhere else though!! They just keep going back to WDW (This includes a friend who bought in during the first year at Old Key West!) That tells me the magic doesn't diminish.

We always go to Magic Kingdom on the first day and I cry when I see the castle, because I'm so happy. On our last day we go to MK again and I cry when we leave because I'm so sad to be leaving the magic!

 

[El Tel]

I thought that would be the case too when we went the second time - it seemed a really nice idea to share the experience. Sadly on that occasion they were on a slightly different wavelength. I won't say that was the biggest problem - the hotel was far from wonderful (ant invasions, shabby & smokey rooms, etc) - but it was a factor.
They just seemed to like doing different things. As it was their holiday too, I can understand that they wanted to do what they wanted to do. One problem was that he was really scared of driving in the States so was always wanting to arrive late / go early to avoid traffic, or go shopping offsite. Trouble was that he wanted me to drive ahead so he could follow, so it meant us having to follow their gameplan. I tended to accept that to keep them happy, but it meant missing out on the things we wanted to do - and that eventually led to friction which I'm sure neither of us wanted on vacation.
Still - that's history. This year is going to be just wonderful!!!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

I think offsite might have made your trip less magical. I"m sure you will have and awesome time at AKL and doing keys to the kingdom.

I agree. We had always stayed offsite and it WAS magical, but the first time we stayed onsite was more magical, now I would never ever consider staying offsite again!!!

 

[goofyernmost]

I would say it has less to do with where you stay then it has to do with your ability to leave adulthood at the main gate and awaken your inner child.

I have gone to WDW 18 times since 1983 and 1 time to Disneyland. It started with the family, my wife and kids, and then I made a number of trips escorting physically and developmentally challenged folks to a great experience. Over the last 5 years I have been going solo. In all these visits I have never stayed on site.

Many have told me I should but being a, shall we say, frugal person, I think that what I am paying to sleep would tend to cause me enough grief to take away from some of the magic.

The magic is internal. It is a willingness to suspend disbelief long enough to immerse yourself in the experience at hand. It's the ability to see the humor and joy in even the less than wonderful experiences that we all may encounter every visit. If you let someone upset you because they cut or tried to cut in line, this will take away from the magic. If it bothers you that one or two light bulbs might have gone out sometime between the time they went on and you get to see them, this will take from the magic. If you get insulted because a CM that has been standing out in the sun all day, answering the same question (what time is the 3 o'clock parade) sounded surly, this will take from the magic.

It's up to you. The magic is there for the taking, you just have to have your receiving antenna in place.