Help us get the magic back

[busymomma123]

We started going to Disney back in 2005 and fell in love with going every year. In 2012 we had to skip a year due to health issues for my DH. Last year we were so excited to go, but once we got there it just wasn't the same. Our kids still loved it, but it wasn't as magical for my Dh and me. We vowed then that we didn't need to go in 2014.
Now we are talking of going again this year. Maybe its because this is when we would start planning for the Oct trip. I keep catching myself on the WDW site. Sometimes it seems we are more in love with the idea of going to Disney than being at Disney.
I thought about maybe changing hotels this year, and the time of the vacation. Maybe that would help. We usually go in Oct and stay at CSR.

Does anyone have any suggestions of making it magical again?

 

[rapunzels]

I would definitely suggest picking a different resort and time of year. I think that would help a lot. My family goes through this with other places, other than just Disney. We take breaks when we feel like that. The kids felt like that one year at Disney and the next year we did not take them, we went by ourselves!! They needed a break from it to appreciate it again. In fact we took a break from our annual trips to myrtle beach for the same reason. The last year we went, the kids asked when the attraction we were at got sooo small. We knew then, we needed a break. Taking a break from something you enjoy isn't a bad thing... It may help you rediscover the magic the next time you do go.

We are going back to myrtle beach this summer after a 3 year break and everyone is very excited.

 

[Itinkso]

We started going to Disney back in 2005 and fell in love with going every year. In 2012 we had to skip a year due to health issues for my DH. Last year we were so excited to go, but once we got there it just wasn't the same. Our kids still loved it, but it wasn't as magical for my Dh and me. We vowed then that we didn't need to go in 2014.
Now we are talking of going again this year. Maybe its because this is when we would start planning for the Oct trip. I keep catching myself on the WDW site. Sometimes it seems we are more in love with the idea of going to Disney than being at Disney.
I thought about maybe changing hotels this year, and the time of the vacation. Maybe that would help. We usually go in Oct and stay at CSR.

Does anyone have any suggestions of making it magical again?

Could you possibly change and go in November or December to see the parks decorated for Christmas?

As DL vets, my family went numerous times a year from the '60's, but, my favorite memory is my DDs' faces when it "snowed" in the Hub for the first time... a rarity for DL and SoCal.

This past December, older DD and I traveled to WDW to watch younger DD in the Christmas Parade and in addition to that memory, the look on older DD's face when the Osborne Lights lit up was priceless...pure joy and astonishment!

There are lots of magical moments during the Christmas season... long-lasting memories!

 

[MickeyChix]

How old are your kids? Is it feasible to pull them out of school? I ask because maybe if you could go during a different time of year that could really help you find that magic again. We've gone the last week after Thanksgiving and first week of December and found it to be magical. The Christmas Decorations are all out, the crowds are less except for in Downrown Disney with all the shopping, and not only do you have Disney Magic but Christmas too! We love staying at the Pop Century which is a value resort but we love all the iconic things and themed pools. Add on Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party and the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights at Hollywood Studios and your going to have more magic then you know what to do with

 

[jade1]

Maybe an EPCOT resort with F&W next door?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

What about an adults only trip? Leave the kids with the grandparents or an aunt and uncle. Book some signature dining, maybe a fireworks cruise. My husband is not a huge WDW fan at ALL, and if you ask him, he will say that the night that we spent at Monsieur Paul and seeing Illuminations last August was one of the best nights of his life.

 

[catra121]

One thing that helps keep the magic alive for me is that I always try to do as many new things as I can on each trip. Eat at a new restaurant, go see a show I haven't before, watch a parade I never saw, travel during a different month, take a tour, stay at a new resort, etc. I have my Disney bucket list and I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of all the things that I want to do at WDW.

Doing new things each trip gives me stuff to get excited about like a first timer. Don't get me wrong...I do all my favorites too...but there's just something magical about all those "new" experiences at Disney World.

I had a take a year off Disney for health reasons too...I was in a wheel chair and couldn't stand or walk at all. One of the things that kept me busy during that period of time was planning my "dream" trip to Disney. When I got better...I got myself and annual pass and made 3 trips in a 12 month period to celebrate.

 

[shyjade]

One thing that helps keep the magic alive for me is that I always try to do as many new things as I can on each trip. Eat at a new restaurant, go see a show I haven't before, watch a parade I never saw, travel during a different month, take a tour, stay at a new resort, etc. I have my Disney bucket list and I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of all the things that I want to do at WDW.

Doing new things each trip gives me stuff to get excited about like a first timer. Don't get me wrong...I do all my favorites too...but there's just something magical about all those "new" experiences at Disney World.

I completely agree with this! We've struggles with the same issues as OP yet still keep going back. Last year we tried a bunch of new things...a different resort (and time of year), mini golf, Disney Quest, spent time at DTD, watched Illuminations & Fantasmic for the first time, and lots of rides new rides. And we had a wonderful trip!

 

[Luvchefmic]

I would totally immerse myself in a more Disney themed resort if possible Don't get me wrong CSR is beautiful but how about AoA ? Others have asked ages of the kids too, knowing that would help too Plan to do things that are new to you

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Can you get your fix at DL instead. I found it pretty magical to walk whwre Walt walked and found it fun to compare attractions.

 

[jiminyfan]

We spent the vast majority of our vacations and $$$$ at WDW since the early 90s, but with all of the recent changes we really have no desire to go back. We are using our 2nd last set of APs now and may just let the others sit until my son needs them for his family or whenever he wants to use them.

Free food - made the quality and culinary choices diminish. Every restaurant pretty much has the same 4-5 proteins. Shanks, short ribs are a staple now, before you had rack of lamb. Strip steaks are the norm even at Artist Pt for buffalo where before it was Filet. smaller sizes and much higher prices.

FP+ - it is a minus, read the articles and look at the facts. Overall wait times are up and in some cases over 3 times as much. This benefit is a big negative, plus we like to wing it. Now we really have to plan where to go each day another negative for us. Park hopping yes we can do it with our APs, but now we can only get FPs in one park - YUP another negative.

I can keep going on about more changes for the negative. We decided there are a lot of great places we haven't visited and it is time to explore even more of the real world.

Sorry that I cannot help you find your Disney magic, but check out a National Park or two. Yellowstone is more magical than WDW at a fraction of the cost.

 

[aprincessatlast]

Sometimes it seems we are more in love with the idea of going to Disney than being at Disney.
I thought about maybe changing hotels this year, and the time of the vacation. Maybe that would help. We usually go in Oct and stay at CSR.

Does anyone have any suggestions of making it magical again?

I think you will certainly only find this statement to become truer and truer the more you vacation outside of Disney and find that there is magic to be had in vacations that do not include the mouse

As far as finding the magic again. Perhaps it is time that is needed. The old adage distance makes the heart grow fonder sort of thing. If you just can't stay away, then yes I agree a nice resort centric stay is nice. I prefer Beach Club as it has a nice vacation feel to it when you want more than just parks.

 

[jade1]

I think you will certainly only find this statement to become truer and truer the more you vacation outside of Disney and find that there is magic to be had in vacations that do not include the mouse

As far as finding the magic again. Perhaps it is time that is needed. The old adage distance makes the heart grow fonder sort of thing. If you just can't stay away, then yes I agree a nice resort centric stay is nice. I prefer Beach Club as it has a nice vacation feel to it when you want more than just parks.

For us not really, what I mean is NY, Australia, France, Fiji, Spain, Ireland-all awesome and in numerous ways way way better of course-but it's kind of WDW-and then everything else for us, just a different feeling that is only at WDW. I guess it's just the other get checked off a list, not the desire to return-just check more off going forward.

 

[VandVsmama]

Can you get your fix at DL instead. I found it pretty magical to walk whwre Walt walked and found it fun to compare attractions.

I second this suggestion. DL still has the Peter Pan ride that was there at the original opening day. It is pretty neat. And you can literally walk across an esplanade from DL to DCA. No long bus rides. You can eat lunch or dinner INSIDE the POTC ride. The DL Hotel's room have light up headboards that play music.

And you can take good advantage of your EMH hour. We went last year and got in 10-12 rides in the first two hours of park opening. Didn't wait longer than 20 min in line all day (but we did take a midday break).

The magic is there...you just have to look for it.

 

[SplashMo]

For sure try Disneyland. Very cool and you would get to see Cars Land.

 

[Planogirl]

For us not really, what I mean is NY, Australia, France, Fiji, Spain, Ireland-all awesome and in numerous ways way way better of course-but it's kind of WDW-and then everything else for us, just a different feeling that is only at WDW. I guess it's just the other get checked off a list, not the desire to return-just check more off going forward.

I think that it's all a matter of personal taste and what someone expects. I find the world in general to be a pretty magical place so we really enjoy seeing a variety of places. I'm always puzzled by the criticism I see sometimes of places I love but we can't all like the same things.

OP, I think that trying to go during the holidays or to Disneyland are both marvelous ideas. It's certainly worth considering at least.