How do you make each trip feel new and special?

[Aurora borealis]

DH and I always aim to get our pictures taken with different characters and with different props (aka: hats in stores, wands, statues, etc.) It's a lot of fun and gives the folks something funny to look at when we get home.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Like many others, we (or I if I go solo) do something new on every trip. And after over 20 trips, there are still PLENTY of new things we haven't done(like we've never been to Blizzard Beach). There're tours I'd love to do, resturaunts and foods I haven't gotten round to, etc. I've never taken out a water sprite (or whatever they're called). Our next trip will have firsts-first Thanksgiving at the world, first trip with DMIL to the world, and first time at CRT lunch. There's so much to do at WDW I don't think anyone could ever say they've done it all.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Like others, we always try to find at least one "new to us" thing to do each day we're at Disney. Sometimes it is something new that has opened since our last trip; other times it is just eating somewhere different or trying a new snack. We're going this weekend and our "new" thing will be autograph seeking. We haven't done that before at WDW.

 

[disneytraveler]

My vacation this year i made special by going on Tower of Terror and Splash for the first time. Also using the premium plan with the dining made it even more special.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

For us since I am the bigger WDW fan, I try to do different things in trip and sometimes skip some things if we did them last time. DH enjoys himself everytime, we always have a blast. I just find that eating at different places, and adding new things helps keep it like the first time all over again!

 

[dsneygirl]

This is a great idea for a thread. We try to go at different times of year to enjoy some of the special events. (Flower & Garden, F&W, MVMCP etc) The last 2 trips we camped in our tent at FW which is an entirely different experience from the resorts. Now we are DVC and are looking forward to trying all the different resorts.

We aren't big into all the rides anymore. We try to take things slow and "stop to smell the roses". We also try to hit Jellyrolls, PI and DTD.

 

[TENIA66]

bump!!!

 

[ctrabada]

I also try to do something new every time... and although we visit several times a year, we have not done everything we could do.... different resorts and restaurants are always a good way to change things... we also like to visit other resorts to check them out. This year we have:

New things this year:
Rented a boat at the Poly
Fantasmic package
Rented surrey bike at BW


For our upcoming trip:
Birthday Wishes cruise
Mini golf
Segway tour
Cirque du Soleil
Adventurer's Club
Spa

 

[dgaston]

We have often added something new in -- haircuts and pixie dust at MK, tours -- loved Segway, KTTK, Undiscovered Future World. Ok tours -- Backstage Safari, and Hidden Treasures of the World Showcase (our first backstage tour in 2001, no pins!). I love MNSSHP, can't stand that I'm missing it for the first time in 3 years. We try new restaurants, stay in new places, have had a drink at each of the monorail restaurants, make a point to visit Ft. Wilderness, and spend time at pools or water parks. We also talk to CMs whenever we can.

On our last trip, new restaurants included California Grill, and Teppanyaki. Great choices. We also played in the feature pool at OKW.

 

[jwann]

We've also been several times (myself, dh, 2 sons). Our first trip was 4 days in the parks, staying at a value resort, and going to a water park - that is what we consider our basic trip. Here is how we have varied our next trips:

*deluxe resort and fewer park days (there's always so much to do at the deluxe resorts - kids acitivities, even!)

*new restaurants

*one trip we printed out the entire list of WDW secrets listed on the DIS thread and we looked for all of them at the parks

*one trip we finished off our trip with a "Blitz" where everyone got to pick 3 rides, attractions, etc. and we planned out a touring blitz the night before. Going to all 4 parks in one day is quite an event!

*mini-golf and Disney Quest

*one trip we plan on finding hidden mickeys

*one trip we had a pressed penny extravaganza and tried to do as many pressed pennies as we could

*one trip we took Pal Mickey with us -- what a hoot!! He slows you down a bit and assures that you take time to appreciate the Magic!

Our twist for our trip (we leave tomorrow!!) this time is the Dining package including HDDR, WCC, and O'hana, a full day at Disney Quest, a water park, and we are going to try to ride the monorail and watch Illuminations.

 

[Big Fat Disney MaMa]

We also try to stay at a different hotel every time (my dd10 and I, husband stays home). We also try to do a different "extra" each trip during the middle of our stay to get a day away from the parks - last year it was Typhoon Lagoon. This year it might be the mini-golf - thanks for the suggestions!

This year though it is a total girl's trip, my mom, aunt, sister, niece, myself and daughter. I have been buying Disney pins on the Disney e-bay auction for the past few weeks. I am going to give each person their own "special" pin which has their favorite character on it, when we are on the plane on the way down to get the excitement started.

Also, as I am the one who was given the task of making all arrangements, we have a couple special surprises such as the Wishes cruise and a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's that I am not telling them about until it is time for the event.

Another way to keep it fun, especially, with a child is Pal Mickey. We bought one last year for my dd and it kept her entertained the whole trip. He talked the whole time in AK about each of the animals which she loved!

Another thing I am planning to do, thanks to one of the threads here is pull on the umbrella in MGM, pull on the rope outside of Indy Stunt Show, try to wake up Tinkerbell, and look for hidden mickeys!