I love Disney. Growing up, my parents weren't much of travelers. Our trips were always within a car ride away from NY (Niagara Falls, Poconos, Virginia Beach, New Hampshire, etc.) Our big trip would be every 2-4 years - when we'd go to Disney. My dad would wake us up at 3 or 4 in the morning and we'd pack in the car to beat the NY rush hour. He'd drive 21, sometimes 18-20 hours to get us down to Disney. In the past few years, my sister and I have been able to turn my parents onto flying - but there's still something special and nostalgic about hopping in the car and driving: eatin on the road, stopping at South of the Border, literally racing through Georgia...
Anyway, my dad got sick back in 2007 and after recovering, he wanted to try Disney for Christmas, so we did. We loved it so much that we've gone back every year but 2011. We love the planning that goes into it, and despite the crowds, we're yet to have a bad vacation. During our first Christmas trip, we mentioned that it was my dad's first trip post-cancer. They gave him a little cake at a few restaurants to celebrate. In 2013 my house was flooded during Sandy. After ripping up floors and basically putting most of our belongings on the curb, we thought we'd have to cancel our trip. After our family insisted it'd be good for us, we decided to still go. I emailed Disney to let them know we'd be celebrating "surviving Sandy." I didn't expect much - maybe a cake. Well, our first night there (Christmas Eve) we get a call that we have a package waiting at the front desk. I completely forgot that I told Disney. My sister is a teacher, so we assumed that maybe her class sent her something. When we got to the desk, we were given a big red Mickey-looking bag with our last name on it. It was PACKED with goodies - Chip & Dale Pretzels, candy, rice krispie treats, even a cooler at the bottom filled with water, lemonade and coke products. We estimated the bag (after looking into things) at around $150. The bag was from "our friends at the Disney Reservation Center." Such a nice gesture that really sat well with us. It's THAT type of treatment that puts Disney above all. We've had our problems and our share of rude CMs, but it's something like giving a gift bag to us that keeps us coming back.
We may pull back from our annual trip soon, but not due to Disney. You see, while my dad is retired, my mom has the time off and my sister is a teacher, I only get 15 days off. At 5 days spent at Disney, it limits what I could see and do elsewhere. I LOVE Disney, but I'd also like to travel the world and have Disney ruin other destinations (like OP said.) I think going once every other year or less time during Xmas could be good for me and my family.
I think I could go every year or twice and not get sick of it. Of course I'd still want to do other things, but I don't think I'd ever just just say 'nah' to a trip. Isn't going to happen. We have been to Washington D.C., London, Paris, NYC, the mountains, not to mention the beach almost every year. But in my heart there is nothing like Disney. It just doesn't compare to me, even if I do think those other places are wonderful.
