How Long Between Trips?

[Frozen2014]

We went in October for the first time to Disney and thought this would be our only time going (mostly because of $ plus how much amusement parks can you take?). BUT we loved it, even DH was pleasantly surprised as he has little patience for crowds and large venues. So now the conversation isn't "IF" we go back but "WHEN". The kids and I could return tomorrow but DH would need more time.

The reality is that our trip cost us $$$. We're flying from Canada (driving isn't an option for us since my bad back couldn't handle the ride) plus the cost of the park, resort, etc. Now if we did go, we wouldn't "live it up" like we did last time and do everything we did (e.g. BBB, DDP, Photo Pass, MNSSHP)...but I would insist on staying onsite for the pre-booking advantages. And we loved AoA.

So my question is...for those of you that are not annual pass holders and need to travel by air, how long was it until you took that next trip?

 

[Amy Mouse]

We fly also and stay onsite (value). We go once a year, but one year we were able to go twice. 6 months apart was wonderful. I was afraid I'd be bored, but far from it. Good luck!

 

[lilluv117]

The first time after taking my son and doing the entire Disney experience, we waited about a year, by then his little sister was born. Since then we go about twice a year, sometimes 3 times... But I live in NY so flights aren't as much and we always go during the off season and get free dining (Usually offered in September and I've gotten pins for it for our February trips). This year we went in February, September, I'm going in December for the xmas stuff (first time) and we have next August/September trip booked too. Disney is very addicting.

 

[Meriweather]

Before we were DVC, we would go every other year.
We always flew from WA state and stayed at a moderate resort.

Now we go 2-3 times a year

 

[Missyrose]

We own DVC and go two or three times a year. We fly each time too.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think twice a year is perfect for us.
We tend to do shorter trips, a week or less.
Once in the winter to break up the winter.
Once in the summer because it's a good time for us.
Just enough time to miss it, but not so often that we get tired of it.

 

[Mikie]

I'm an infrequent visitor. I could enjoy disney at least yearly, but I'd basically be foregoing any trips anywhere else. We went for the first time as a family when our first daughter was just shy of her 3rd birthday (and therefore free tickets and dining). We decided we liked that age, so we did it for each of our next two kids just before they turned three. This year, we're past that age, but wanted to see new Fantasyland, so came on the soonest fall break after Mine Train opened. This has put us at once every 2.5-4 years so far. I'm also trying to decide when next should be - maybe 3 years to get there just before our youngest hits Disney Adult age of 10. . . I think that may concide with the opening of Avatarland for another incentive.

 

[prudence64]

Every 3-4 years

 

[msmama]

I've been doing about every year since my son was born (so next trip will be 6 trips in 7 years, although one was Disneyland).

I usually go during slow times and stay at cheaper resorts (with a discount of some kind). I have a SW credit card so haven't paid for flights in a couple of years.

That said, I am going big on our next trip because I think it'll be our last for awhile. While I love Disney, he is getting old enough that I can see traveling to other places now (after this trip I'm going to start saving for a somewhere in Europe trip in summer 2016).

You don't say the age of your kids, but I think that makes a bit of a difference. Disney with a small child is EASY. My son in an excellent traveler and loves museums of any kind, but a week anywhere else, just doesn't do it as much as Disney when they're young!!

 

[Frozen2014]

I'm an infrequent visitor. I could enjoy disney at least yearly, but I'd basically be foregoing any trips anywhere else.

Yes, that's the other thing. We've talked about a cruise someday as well. And we love NY.

I've been doing about every year since my son was born (so next trip will be 6 trips in 7 years, although one was Disneyland).

You don't say the age of your kids, but I think that makes a bit of a difference. Disney with a small child is EASY. My son in an excellent traveler and loves museums of any kind, but a week anywhere else, just doesn't do it as much as Disney when they're young!!

My DS is 9 and DD is 5. So this past trip was perfect; great bigger rides for DS with his favorites Splash Mountain, Star Tours, Big Thunder, Speedway....and DD had all the princess stuff. Also as they are younger, we don't mind taking them out of school to avoid the busier times.

 

[disney world dreamer]

it really all depends.
i only have myself to pay for cuz i'm single and have no kids.
i split the cost of the hotel with whoever i'm going with so that also cuts down on costs.
i've been nearly every year of my life and in recent years i've been lucky enough to go A LOT.
i haven't missed a year since 2006 and between then and now i've been to WDW 11 times and DLR 1 time and i'm in the planning stages of taking my first solo trip in 2015.
to me its not a matter of how often you should go but a matter of how often can you afford to go financially and work schedule wise and that is really dependent on each person's situation.
i also have a disney rewards visa card which helps alleviate the financial stress cuz i know i have 6 months interest free to pay it off at my leisure.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We are AP holders but also travel by air each time. We do a trip every calendar year and usually it's 8-9 months between a set of trips and then 15 months until the next trip if that makes sense.

Like we went in November 2009 and then Feb 2011 (15 months in between) and then went in July 2012 (17 months). July 2012 and then April 2013 (so 9 months in between) and then our next trip was August 2014 (so 16 months) and then our next trip will be in April 2015 (so 8 months in between).

Oh, I forgot about the Sept 2013 trip we snuck in between April and August, but that was a quickie and not our normal 11 day trip.

July 2012 is when we became AP holders and started the summer/spring rotations which work out really well!

 

[chelseabun76]

We visit from northern Canada, it's a 7 hour drive alone just to the airport. LOL! I went in 2007, then Disneyland in 2010, and now WDW in 2015 (January). The next time I go will be no sooner than 2019/2020 which is insane to see in writing. LOL! But yes, a $5000+ trip (for 3 of us) is just not something I can do every single year, as much as I would love to. I really envy those that can go more often, and honestly as my kids go on their own with me (one on one trip) it's likely a once in a lifetime trip for them. Unless I win the lottery, and all 6 of us can go at once.

 

[AngiTN]

It varies.
We can drive but prefer not to.
We've gone (recent trips only)
Sept 11
Dec 12
Mar 13
Aug 14
Dec 14
Tentative return May 15 (plan to book BB offer on our trip this month)

 

[Frozen2014]

We visit from northern Canada, it's a 7 hour drive alone just to the airport. LOL! I went in 2007, then Disneyland in 2010, and now WDW in 2015 (January). The next time I go will be no sooner than 2019/2020 which is insane to see in writing. LOL! But yes, a $5000+ trip (for 3 of us) is just not something I can do every single year, as much as I would love to. I really envy those that can go more often, and honestly as my kids go on their own with me (one on one trip) it's likely a once in a lifetime trip for them. Unless I win the lottery, and all 6 of us can go at once.

Exactly...our trip was over $7k
Like you, I envy those that can go regularly....and can't see us going until maybe 2016 but realistically will be even later. So just dreaming for now.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Now we go every year.. but growing up my parents brought us once every 2-4 years.

Every year I say that I would like to make it every other year. I LOVE it and look forward to it every year, but I use 5 vacation days each year. I'd like to travel the world rather than the World Showcase every year... But after each trip, my Disney withdrawal kicks in and I start counting down the days until my next trip.

I'm gonna try and swing one other trip this year and see how it works. If I can't do it, I may be going every two years.

 

[InstituteMan]

For a while when the kids were very young, we went every year. One year we went for both the marathon in January and spring break in March. Then the kids got older and busier with school and sports, and we went other places, like Ireland. Last year we all got a little nostalgic for a Disney trip and had so much fun that we are back to a yearly plan for now.

 

[JenG]

We are a DVC and AP family. This year we went 4 times!! We fly out of Detroit on Spirit (they run good deal sometimes) I can fly all 5 of us for less than $800 usually.

We tried cruise, all inclusive etc... but the kids love Disney. My kids are DS10, DD7 and DD5 and it's the only place where we all agree on the same things to do (outside princess M & G).

Sometimes, I feel like we go too much but I always have a trip planned. My kids are busy with school and sports most nights so Disney for us is 4-7 days of just family time - no rushing to eat dinner before soccer etc...

 

[kyomagi]

This year is crazy for us.

In May we went with myself, my wife, our friend and her sister.

In the first week of october my wife and i decided to go just the two of us for MNSSHP for 2 days.

Now in Feb of 2015 we are going to MK and Universal for WWOHP.

After which we may not go again until late 2016 or early 2017

 

[lamom18]

I'm always so jealous of those who can go so often. Like someone else said, I think it all depends on your financial situation. My DH has been 2 times, where I've only been 1 time. His first trip was with his Uncle, who has got to be one of the luckiest people I know, since he won the trip through a radio contest in 2002, right after my DH and I started dating (not fair). My DH lived with his parents until we married in 2006 and we both agreed to have a Disneymoon. We spent less on our wedding, just so we could afford the trip. We drove (14 hrs) and stayed 4 days. I have been wanting to go back ever since, but with a house note, car note, "normal" bills & wanting our kids to be old enough to do almost anything they want, it hasn't worked in our favor, until this summer. We've been discussing times to go again and we finally decided on Christmas 2016. We have 2 boys (7 & 5) & a daughter (2). We want to see Disney at Christmas and our kids only have a few days that can be unexcused from school (all 3 will be in school by then), so looking at the calendar and figuring on our normal routine for family visits, that was the perfect year. What made it even better was realizing it would be the same year as our 10 yr anniversary. We've already started saving and collecting up little gifts for the kids to "break the news". The know we'll go someday, but don't know that we've got that figured out already.