For those of you who go often...

[mom0299]

...what do you do to make each trip special or unique? We're planning our fifth family trip and I want it to be different. We always experience that Disney magic when we get there, and I'm sure this will be no exception. However, I want to make unique memories as the kids get older.

 

[kimis]

We have done the following things on different visits.....
* Go see La Nouba
* try a new character meal
* go to Hoop de du revue
* go coral reef and arrange a diver holding a sign for your group
* do a carriage ride
* take a tour like "Keys to the Kingdom"
* have gift baskets delivered to your room for the kids or your spouse
* decorate your door and windows
* celebrate birthdays/anniversaries while you are there
* check out a new parade/fireworks show
* rent bikes or a boat
* go fishing
There is so much to do. We have only been there 5 times with another trip in 76 days and we still haven't done it all. There is magic and memories all over disney and your family will always remember what ever you do.

 

[pfp258]

Twenty-one trips in the past 15 years and six Disney Cruises later...
Our girls are now 13 and 15 and we don't find we need to do anything "special". As my daughters like to explain, some people have a summer home in Michigan, we like to spend time in Disney World. We have been fortunate to see and do other vacations each year but we just couldn't miss visiting Disney World once or twice a year. We have spent time with extended family there. (Both sides!) We've been able to enjoy three Disney Cruises with friends and another with my sister's family. We've had the opportunity to share Disney World vacations with two different sets of neighbors on two separate occasions. Just being together as a family and having the time to relax and hang out together is what matters most to us.
We aren't Disney fanatics, but we just find the parks, pools, resorts and restaurants relaxing.

 

[Zoebear]

going again, 3d time in 3 years. I was worried it might be getting a little old, bu tfter reading this, I'm psyched again !
The kids will be too

 

[memphismovin]

We've done "theme" trips to spice things up. Like collecting as many autographs as we can get or finding al of the hidden mickeys we can. Really for us just being there never gets old...lol

 

[koolaidmoms]

I've noticed as my kids get older we do different things with them and notice more details in the experience. We always say we love WDW because each trip is very different.

My children have been 5-6 times each and we are going next month and I just booked a trip for March. (Couldn't pass up the deal!) There are shows and rides they still have not seen yet. My DD is just getting into roller coasters so she really wants to try Space Mountain this time. DS is into animals so AK will take on a different tone for him this time (more educational).

Explore new nooks and cranies and take the time to notice the details in the architecture and ambience put into the entrance of the rides. You may notice new things you never did before.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[jamescorey]

I have been to Disney World more than 35 times, and five times in the last eighteen months (going again in December!!). Living in Georgia, I am afforded the opportunity to visit frequently due to the relative proximity. Plus, it doesn't hurt that my wife is a Disney Fanatic and would rather go to the WDW Resort than an All-inclusive Mexican/Carribean resort... One thing that I like to do with each trip that I take is try to find/see/learn something that I haven't experienced before. I realize that this is a very relative thing, however I would argue that no one person, regardless of the number of times that they have visited WDW, can truly say that they have experienced everything there is to experience. Read Disney historical books or do background investigating on certain attractions, buildings, people, etc... There is a plethora of knowledge and so many sight gags and simple nuances in the Magic Kingdom alone that if you tried to take them all in on one trip it would blow your mind! This goes for the other parks, as well. Read or research the basis for the ideas surrounding the parks and the attractions. A lot of people see only the rides. They don't see how something as simple as themeing can make the walk "west" from the Haunted Mansion (1700's Hudson River Valley Mansion), through Liberty Square (late 1700's, early 1800's) passing by the Horseshoe (The Arch, or gateway to the west), into Frontierland and the wild west (and the latter 1800's) is not only a trip across the park but also a trip across America's History. The simple things are what makes this place so magical that regardless of how many times you go...something new will catch your eye, or something will happen that completely brings the magic of this place alive!

 

[BradyBz12]

We're coming up on our 4th trip in 5 years. The last 3 have been 2 weeks, and this one will be 3. This trip we're going to try and do all the little things we usually skip (for whatever reason). We're going to try and do all the "not so E" ticket attractions that frequently get overlooked, and some of the stuff that we tend to skip just because we don't have kids. So that means that among other things, this year DH and I will be riding Dumbo

Other things we like to do is get a snack/beverage and stake out a lovely spot to just sit and enjoy the scenery and people watch. Not something most people even think to do as they're racing to the next attraction. Loads of places around WS at Epcot to do this and there are some nifty benches tucked here and there around MK too.

Just for fun, this year I bought a penny book and am going to start a collection. Should be fun to go looking for the machines, and it'll make a fairly inexpensive, different souvenir. I'm also doing a scrapbook this year, so I'll be on the lookout for all sorts of spiffy things to collect for that too. That could be a fun thing to do with kids of all ages.

Ooh - and 2 words... Hidden Mickeys!
Bring along a little notebook and keep track of what you find (take pics if you have a camera with you). Or even give each kid one and they can compare at the end of the day.

 

[christianweecare]

DH & I have been visiting the World ever since our Disneymoon way back in 1975. That has been over 33 years ago. Our two children grew up going to WDW and have many fond family memories. DH & I are empty-nesters now and have made numerous trips just the two of us. We enjoy those visits, as well. Now we visit with our ever growing family on occasion,too. I can honestly say that no two trips have ever been the same. We always experience something new as well as enjoy our tried and true attractions or restaurants. WDW is ever growing and always changing so I can't see anyone ever saying that they have done it all!

 

[korg]

Everyone has had good observations and suggestions. I see you've stayed at a different resort hotel each time ... that helps the trip feel unique. Eat at places you've never eaten, do thing outside the WORLD! Do Universal Studios, Do Sea World, go to the Space Center. If you have the time and can aford it there's a lot more to central FLA. then just WDW .... although WDW is definitely the main focus. Every trip is special ... unfortunately Disney can't change or add on fast enough for we people who go often to make it seem NEW each trip but that's OK too. For people who go all the time going to WDW is like "coming home." So I wouldn't be too concerned about making this trip "special" or "different" ... EVERY Disney trip is special and different because there are always things you didn't do on previous trips. ONE thing people NEVER do is SLOW DOWN at the parks and take in the atmosphere, check out the little details. We're all too busy getting in line and grabbing fast passes so that could make this trip special for you too. Aproach it with a different mind set! My wife FORCED me to slow down on our last trip ... and I was very surprised how enjoyable NOT running from one ride to another can be.

 

[VAN]

There is ALWAYS something that we haven't done at WDW, either because of cost or time constraints.

I do try to add one or two things that we've never done before. For instance, on our March trip I am thinking about getting tickets for LaNouba. Always too expensive, but it will be just my DH and self and we're getting the $200 gift card, so just might add that to the list.

If you have a car, there are other things you can do besides Disney. In 2007, we visited Celebration for the first time. That was great and will be a staple for future visits when we have a car. We loved walking around the central park area and then ate at the cafe in the center of town (outside). LOVED IT.

We have also done the Old Fashioned Airboat Ride in Christmas, FL ... about 40 minutes outside Orlando on the way to Cocoa Beach.

Yea, you do go off Disney property, but sometimes it can be a bit refreshing and there are so many other things to do in Central Florida. Love staying at WDW and using it as a home base though.

Also, have you been to see Bob Jackson at the Riverroost Lounge at POR? LOVE HIM!! Extremely family-friendly for all ages!

 

[dyna]

Each of our visits have been different without spending money to make them different, so much to see an do that we always miss something we enjoy, as DD grew so did our visits meaning we don't spend more than half our time in fantasyland anymore we have broadened our horizons so to speak. DH and I often go now as a couple we only have to do what we want to do those visits no doing something just because DD wants to. Sometimes we go during free dining that is different for us an something DD would not enjoy near as much as we do. Never thought about getting bored an having to find different things to do at disney even when we have went 4 or 5 times in the same year it not been a problem.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We pick a different resort and different dining choices. We added the Sunrise Safari last month and that was incredible and in April we did the Epcot Segway which was awesome!

 

[AnitaDisneyVacation]

We try to eat at one new restaurant each time we go, usually a resort restaurant. That gives us a chance to walk around and see a lot of different resorts without having to stay at them. Another bonus is that ADRs are a lot easier to get at the resorts than at the parks.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

100+ times & counting.

~Swim w/ the dolphins
~Carriage Ride
~Behind the Scenes Tour
~Miniature Golf
~Rent a golf cart & tour FW
~Bass Fishing
~Parasailing
~Wishes Cruise
~Hidden Mickey Challenge
~Trail Ride
~Chef's Table @ V&A
~Tour the WL & watch the Geyser
~High Tea @ the GF
~Pick-a-Pearl in Japan
~Wine taste in France or Germany
~Night Goggles @ the AKL
~Beaches & Cream Kitchen Sink (for dinner)
~Water Parks

Phew I'll stop for now!

 

[MinnieLee]

We go twice a year (for more years than I want to admit) and I always try to find something different each time we go. For our anniversay, I surprised my husband two years ago with the fishing trip. We left BWV, fished all way down to DHS and then back around to EPCOT. The Friendship boat captain waived us in and we got to make one lap around the World Showcase lagoon. We caught around 30 wide-mouth bass and it was great. This October surprised him again Richard Petty driving experience. Did the haunted carriage ride this year but I know that the campgrounds have regular hayrides and carriage rides. Did a few of the tours - Keys to the Kingdom was well worth it. Last year went with DD and SIL and the guys golfed and we went to the spa at SSR. We always try a couple of new restaurants. There is always something different to try or explore.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I find that just staying at a different resort each trip, makes it a unique vacation for us. The resorts are vacations all on their own. The parks are just a bonus!