How do you keep trips exciting going so often?

[MicheyMouse]

How do you keep trips exciting going so often?

We have gone enough that our trips are no longer dominated by making sure we ride every single ride possible. I’m curious what everyone does to make sure visits stay exciting for years to come.

 

[CraigInPA]

We've transitioned from maximizing ride time to spending time at the pool, visiting other resorts, and diversifying our dining choices. No longer are we up at 7am to get to the park at rope drop. Instead, we wander in whenever it suits us and we ride a few rides (oh, that line is too long...we'll try again on Wednesday). We're enjoying watching fireworks more that we haven't been in the park for 12+ hours. And we'll go to Universal or off site shopping if the mood strikes us.

 

[HooperSnag]

We've found park tickets to be getting way too expensive so we spend much more time visiting other resorts, enjoying Disney Springs, and just relaxing.
We used to have six day-passes; now we usually purchase 3 or 4 depending on the deal.

 

[tx911]

Along with what has already been mentioned, I get a lot of enjoyment bringing family with me who don't get to go as often, and being a part of their excitement.

 

[MB_01]

Along with what has already been mentioned, I get a lot of enjoyment bringing family with me who don't get to go as often, and being a part of their excitement.

Yeah. Pretty much this! Never seem to have a shortage of family that are willing to tag along. Some send me their work calendars now just so I will know their days off just in case!

 

[Skywalker3]

How do you keep trips exciting going so often?

We have gone enough that our trips are no longer dominated by making sure we ride every single ride possible. I’m curious what everyone does to make sure visits stay exciting for years to come.

We've reached this stage too in a lot of ways. I love the EPCOT festivals, so we always try and plan our trips around those. DH hopes to either make 2026, or 2027 the year we can make it down for all of them.
If there are festival concerts going on, we try to go to those.
We've grown accustomed to just focusing on our favorite rides, with plenty that we skip. Like, the kids love to see how many times they can get on Space Mtn at the end of the day, or Everest, but we've not ridden Seven Dwarves since it opened. But, that said, it's fun to go back to an oldie but goodie too from time to time.
I've always enjoyed the scavenger hunts they do at the festivals. We haven't tried those Duck tales games, but used to have a lot of fun with the Agent P adventures.
I've spent a lot more time trying drinks, people watching, and doing things like walking around the tree of Life at AK, riding those Main Street vehicles, etc. I enjoy staying at different resorts, even if just for a couple of nights, and enjoying the pool, restaurants, etc.
We're Universal people too, and when we add Universal to the trip, we prefer to stay in their bubble and on site there, but you could just venture over for a day or two, add a night there. We can't wait to check out Epic, and we still love both IoA and Studios.
DH did the Keys/Kingdom tour, and enjoyed it. We've not done any of the others, but the ones at AK sound really fun.
Hope y'all can keep finding the fun and magic. We've sure changed the way we do Disney the older the kids got, and the older we got.

 

[Moonspinner]

Universal
DCL
Stay at a different resort every time

 

[juliebee]

We only go to WDW once a year (only... haha... to most that is a LOT, but I know this group is more frequent!) We also mix it up with also going to Disneyland and Aulani and cruises. That is what keeps it fresh and exciting for me.

 

[achinforsomebacon]

We've done quite a few resort only trips lately and it's been really fun. At first we thought it would be tough being so close to the parks without going but we've gotten used to it. This has given us time to really take advantage of what the resorts have to offer instead of going open to close at the parks.

It's also been fun just spending more time interacting with the resort CMs, especially the activities ones. We met some really nice ones a few years ago and have made it a point to stop by to say hi when we're around, even if we're not staying at their resort. It's so crazy that they remember things about us when they see so many families every day.

We've added more Disney Springs, scoping out other resorts, mini golf, boardwalk at night with entertainment, etc to the mix too. Things we didn't make time for when we were trying to get maximum value for park tickets.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Vibes > Rides.

More of a DLR person than WDW but sometimes I like to just pick a spot to sit down and relax and enjoy the energy of it all. I remember those moments of the parks and/or the resorts more fondly than just about any ride.

Along with what has already been mentioned, I get a lot of enjoyment bringing family with me who don't get to go as often, and being a part of their excitement.

This 1000%. I've had the lucky opportunity to introduce a lot of friends/family to WDW for the first time or their first time in a long time and also their first time staying on property. I love introducing them to the resorts too and the chance to see their faces when they walk into some of the best spots. The look when they enter the lobby of Jambo or Wilderness lodge for the first time (or the Grand Cal on the west coast) = happy moment.

 

[Mouseforward]

I travel solo 75% so I have a few tricks , some were mentioned but some new ones.

1. Waitlist new resorts for a surprise , I got BC this year on my poly points for a 7 day studio in May ( pool closure helped)

2. Take a page from the youtube influencers and do themed trips

- I decided to take my full camera and lenses and focused on photographing the Flower and Garden displays for one full day. I usually don't take a full camera and lenses.

- Do "walk on" only days , save some $$ and only ride rides that are unpopular or the shows - this works great if you have a park hopper and can do MK to Epcot - you know you have been skipping COP/ IASW and neglecting Figment ....

- Do a high budget day , book a excursion in AK like savor the savanna and then close at the night with a firework party or villains lair. Or try a fishing trip excursion.

- If traveling with another person - let them call 100% of the day

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I haven’t done this but saw an influencer talk about it and it seemed fun: play ‘resort roulette’ - start at Disney Springs, hop on the first resort bus that comes by, and spend the afternoon exploring that resort.

 

[AstroBlasters]

How do you keep trips exciting going so often?

We have gone enough that our trips are no longer dominated by making sure we ride every single ride possible. I’m curious what everyone does to make sure visits stay exciting for years to come.

Familiarity breeds contempt. Take vacations that have nothing to do with Disney and/or mix in non-related Disney things on your trips.

For Disneyland:
1) Spend a few days in San Diego
2) Catalina Island
3) Hang out at a beach in South Orange County
4) Go see some Museums, Disney Studios history, the Getty, the Getty House, Griffith Park Observatory, etc. in Los Angeles

 

[AnnaS]

More or less what everyone has already posted.

It starts to truly become a second home if you visit often. There is more relaxing, no need to rush to be anywhere (unless one has ADR, LL of course). Enjoy the parades, fireworks and sit on a bench and observe and absorb it all.

 

[tx911]

More or less what everyone has already posted.

It starts to truly become a second home if you visit often. There is more relaxing, no need to rush to be anywhere (unless one has ADR, LL of course). Enjoy the parades, fireworks and sit on a bench and observe and absorb it all.

No doubt! It's a great feeling!

 

[loves to dive]

I haven’t done this but saw an influencer talk about it and it seemed fun: play ‘resort roulette’ - start at Disney Springs, hop on the first resort bus that comes by, and spend the afternoon exploring that resort.

I used to do this at least one day on every single trip. Not so much now since I've pretty much stayed at all the resorts with the exception of SS, WL, AoA and Riv. I do still do it but not every trip. I'm not DVC but I go to WDW at least 3 times a year and usually for at least 5 nights, now days 6 nights. I go solo 90% of the time. I think the advantage of going often is you actually don't have to make it exciting. You get to go and relax, enjoy the place, take it easy. I have an AP, have had for at least 10 or so years so I just go where I want, sometimes I've been known to hop to 4 parks in one day just wandering around. We have never been ride centric so now I just ride what I want depending on my mood. I might skip a ride if the line is too long or I might ride a ride even if it's a hour wait. I'm never in any hurry to go anywhere to do anything. I love to grab a drink in WS at Epcot and just really take my time wandering around the countries, really looking at the details or sitting in some of the gardens and enjoying them. I love going on all the trails at AK. I've been known to rope drop MK because I just happen to be up, grab a cup of coffee and a chicken biscuit and just sit on one of the platforms in FL and watch the park open up. I love all the little out of the way spots in HS just sit and take it all in. WDW has become my relaxing place since, for me, it's less expensive then spending a week at the beach.

 

[BeachClub2014]

How do you keep trips exciting going so often?

....bring your grandkids. Never a dull moment with toddlers.

 

[reddog21]

If you have to force yourself to keep trips exciting then maybe it's time to find a different vacation destination.

 

[hardcorestitch]

How do you keep trips exciting going so often?

We have gone enough that our trips are no longer dominated by making sure we ride every single ride possible. I’m curious what everyone does to make sure visits stay exciting for years to come.

You NEVER rush your attractions. In all honesty, some aspects of the queue (this is especially true with Galaxy’s Edge) are as much a part of the attraction. In some cases, you rob yourself part of the attraction’s storyline if you use Lightning Lane.

 

[DVC Deac]

If you have to force yourself to keep trips exciting then maybe it's time to find a different vacation destination.

Totally agree.

We’re WDW locals and use DVC for 2-3 night stays a few times a year. We don’t see it as a vacation, but more of a long weekend. There’s no real rush or pressure to get anything done. We enjoy the pools at least as much as the parks.