Frequent park goers: what stops the parks from becoming stale?

[CampbellzSoup]

Just wondering from all my favorite people here what stops you personally from being burnt out of DISNEY?

 

[DisneyGuy]

I'm not sure I could ever get truly burnt out with Disney. I go once or twice a year, and the atmosphere alone is enough to keep me happy. True, I've been on all the rides multiple times, but there's something about being in the parks that just keeps me coming back for more. I do think Epcot and HS are in need of some help - but other than that, I am always so happy while I'm in Disney - the cast members (most of the time) are pleasant, I love shopping on Main Street in MK, taking in the small details that are easy to miss while jumping from ride to ride, there always seems to be something I didn't see before. Also, I like seeing the characters out and about - I don't get in line most of the time, but I like seeing them as I pass by.

 

[bcrook]

For me it's taking different people each time: especially people who are not familiar with the "World". I get to show everyone around and dazzle them with my knowledge and time saving tips. And as an empty nester now, the bars have been very entertaining.

Also, I create challenges each trip. Sometimes it is photography, or four park visits, or getting as many photopass pictures as possible, or searching for the best pie, or riding the same ride a record number of times or drinking around the WDW.

But, after lots of visits, I can officially say that I am finished with buffets!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I may not be one of your favorite people here, but I think I can answer your question. I always try something new each time. It might be a new (to me) ride, a new show, a new restaurant, meeting a new character, or trying a new food. As many times as I have been, I am amazed at how many things I have not yet done. It might even be something so simple as watching Wishes from a new location.

I spent the first many trips doing all the headliners and rushing around from ride to ride, but now I also like to really take my time with something and enjoy it. When we went a couple of weeks ago, I really enjoyed taking the time to watch my little girl dance on the grass in the FP area after Wishes. It was something we had simply never done before - relaxing and enjoying the new Plaza area, and it made it seem more special because that particular experience was new to us.

I also like to read about the history of WDW and the history of the rides. Before a trip, I will read detailed info about a few rides or restaurants so I can really appreciate them. Learning a lot about them, even if I have done them before, helps me see them in a new light and helps them feel new and interesting to me.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Personally, I enjoy going over the holidays because there is so much going on and it really helps get into the spirit. I enjoy hanging out in the WS listening to the storytellers as I sip on a half and half from the UK. It may be crowded, but it's the atmosphere that I truly enjoy. I also like going the food and wine festival as well.

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

Disney just makes me happy. We used to visit 2-3 times a year, but moved here over a year ago. I was a little afraid that it would change things since I live so close to MK I hear all the sounds (boat horns, train whistle, and even water pageant music), and my husband works there. It is different since I can go whenever I want, but I still love it just as much. I still get a happy feeling whenever I see the castle the same as before. What has changed is that we can enjoy walking around the parks for a few hours, have dinner, or whatever and not feel pressure to do it all. It's a much more relaxed experience. We tried a Disney Cruise recently, and it was great, but I was happy to be home after 7 nights away and had to have some MK time the next day. It's my happy place.

 

[cdnjason]

Chanting teen groups from foreign countries.

 

[bcrook]

Chanting teen groups from foreign countries.

Lol.

I know this is tongue and cheek, but on my last trip my family did have a little fun investigating each group based on clues to see what country all the groups were from. It was particularly exciting to find Paraguay represented. It was like the World Showcase had expanded.

 

[DOOM1001]

Floridian but not a local since I'm in Miami 4 hours away but I manage to do about 8-12 trips a year which is a reduction from the late 90's till about 2007 when I used to do probably 15-20 trips,yeah pretty insane!! I used to do more trips but they were shorter ones,now I stay a bit longer when I go.That drive eventually also gets really annoying and old going so often,eventually I know I will have to move within an hour's drive because for me the parks will always be must dos,in fact with all the events there's more and more things every day.I do have AP's for all the major parks in the state,Disney,Sea World and Busch and Universal,and between all the annual events at the parks and that in the last 5 years or so I've been doing races,many of which in Central Florida where I mix a race with a trip to the parks there's just too much to do.I'll list some of the highlights of my trips every year.January has the WDW marathon weekend,in the spring there's the Flower and Garden festival,we like the concerts and this festival as well as the Food and Wine in the Fall bring many different groups that we'll schedule trips based on who's playing.Universal Studios also has Mardi Gras which runs for like 3-4 months on the weekends with an awesome parade as well as concerts.Sea World has the Bands Brew and BBQ festival along with the new Food and Wine Festival at Busch Gardens which both also have concerts and good food.Between these festivals and races during the January to May months that could be like 5-6 trips easy.Then you come to the summer months(June through September) which are my dead months,I'll probably go once during these months,this trip is in fact coming for me this weekend,I'll do a waterpark ,Sea World is holding summer concerts in the weekends but basically I hate this time of year,too hot,too rainy and too crowded.I usually spend the majority of these months working hard and booking rooms for all the trips the rest of the year.Then you get to October through December and then you're in Halloween Horror Nights time,the MNSSHP is fun but we don't do it yearly like HHN of which I've only missed like 3 years of the 24 years so far.As I said earlier the F&W festival is another biggie,I'm doing the Wine and Dine half marathon the first week of November as well as the Space Coast marathon at the end of the month which will be a longer trip that I plan to mix with the Christmas events at the park but in reality I'll end up doing another Christmas trip in December,all the parks now just have really good Christmas events and I won't have time to get them in in the Space Coast trip,the Sea World and Busch Christmas events have actually become must dos in the last couple of years along with the Universal and Disney ones you pretty much need almost a week to get them all in so a second trip is a must.As you see how I base my trips on all these events it's pretty much impossible for the parks to get stale.So that's like 5-6 trips from Jan-May,1 from June through September and like 4-5 from October through December.As you see right now I'm in the longest rut of the year with the longest time between trips,I can't get to my trip this weekend fast enough.

 

[scoobygrl79]

Tradition & Nostalgia. WDW has been a part of our lives so long, without it, it would feel like something is missing.

 

[Robo]

What stops the parks from becoming stale?

A couple of exhaust fans at the top of Cinderella Castle.

Fresh as a daisy!

 

[mummabear]

A) Our kids, as they grow how the experience the parks changes every trip. The excitement of being tall enough for x or y etc
B) There is so much to do that there is still new things every trip.

 

[aretha30]

I grew up in Orlando, my DH in the Boca Raton area and for us it is the memories of our childhood and now seeing WDW through the eyes of our boys that keeps us coming back. The magical feeling of walking down Main Street and seeing the castle the first time each trip and just soaking in the feel of the parks. We love the Disney bubble that kinda blocks out the rest of the day to day stuff.
We also keep it from being stale by doing new shows and maybe an attraction that we skipped the last time we were there. We try new TS restaurants or a new hotel to stay at, I don't think we could ever get sick of Disney.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I have been to WDW at different stages of my life, and each stage brings different experiences and different reasons to love it. As a child, I experienced the "wonder" of WDW. As a teen I experienced the "thrill", and I got to explore the world as it grew. As a young adult, I got to experience it with other young people, including my future wife. As a father, I got to see the wonder all over again, but through the eyes of my children. They are now in their late teens, and I look forward to our continued trips together as they mature and have families of their own.

For my wife and I, on our trips without the kids, we just enjoy the nostalgia. We have lived a lifetime already in WDW, and we hope to continue this tradition until we pass from this life. Memories don't become "stale" when they are so full of love and joy.

 

[DizDaD7]

Mostly as others have stated..

But honestly it's really about the Nostalgia, and that certain feeling you get ( Like when you are walking down Main St. ) & nothing else in the world matters.

Also just the way the CM's treat you too. It doesn't matter which park, or resort, they just pump happiness into you.

 

[rucifee]

We burned out recently and decided the other day while we were leaving Magic Kingdom that it'll be at least a few months before we go back to any of the Disney parks/resorts in addition to the decision we made previously not to renew our APs. We haven't had any really good experiences there over the last few months, certainly not enough to keep us wanting to come back. Even mine train was a let down the other day, a CM offered to let us ride in front so we waited for standby folks to board to take the next "train". When that CM let us through the next CM put us in the back, we told her the other CM said we could ride up front "No, you're in row 9". Thanks for that. Don't even get me started about how bad our snacks were that day..they were so bad they were refunded, begrudgingly. The GM acted like we were doing a great disservice by asking for our money back.

Sorry if that's a little ranty.

 

[loves to dive]

We always stay on site so even if we don't go to the parks a lot, it's still a little mini vacation just to explore the resorts and relax. Disney is pretty good about adding new things every few years so when we went every other year there was always something new to explore. Now I got about twice a year, and I've found I don't need to rush around any more, I walk slower in the parks and just soak it up. I enjoy sitting and watching everyone, wandering through the shops, stopping and looking at all the details. I don't even mind standing in line, there is usually something to look at and enjoy. I've watched my son grow up there and he still loves going as well.

 

[ELSA711]

new memories each and every visit

 

[ars0525]

When I lived in IL & only did an annual trip, I was a hard core commando. Do & see everything in a few days. Sleep was for the plane ride home!

Now that I live within driving distance & have an AP, I feel I have definitely slowed down (my mom just laughs when I say this though?). I am able to enjoy just being IN the parks more & the overall experience. Siting down to eat my Dole Whip instead of rushing off to another part of the park. Watching the fireworks from all over the park in different spots each time (I am still deciding which view I like best). Looking at the little details put into the areas & rides. If I don't get to a ride that day, next visit. Meeting the characters is something I never did before. Sept-May I go about every 4-6 weeks for a weekend. I don't bother from Memorial Day to Labor Day...with the heat & crowds & having things to do at home that's when I take my "break" from it. I come back in the fall for Food & Wine ready to go! I have gotten to try new things (Flower & Garden, Star Wars weekend, Christmas, 24 hour party) that I never did cause we wouldn't take our trips then. I take the time to watch shows or listen to CMs talk about things that before I kind of brushed past to stay on time. I also meet friends from out of state when they are on vacations which is so much fun!

 

[nilla]

The sheer awesomeness of the parks does it for me