How often do you go and do you ever get tired of it?

[bangzoom6877]

One of the things DH and I are considering when we think about buying a DVC resale at the Boardwalk is the possibility of getting tired of going to Orlando every other year. The plan would be buy 150 points, and stay every other year for 10 nights (including only one weekend, we would arrive on a Sunday or Monday) in a one-bedroom at Boardwalk, standard view. That would be 294 points so with banking, this can be done every other year.

We have been talking about different things we can possibly do in the area as the years pass and our sons get older. Right now they are 3 and 1, we got back last month from our first family WDW trip (both of us had been there before, but not together or with the kids). We completely fell in love with Disney all over again, from a different perspective than in previous years. This time we are the parents taking our own children so it was a different trip for both of us. Our next trip will be in summer 2010 (whether or not we become DVC members).

When we were talking last night, we came to the conclusion that we don't believe we as a family will ever get bored going there on vacation every other year. In our "off" years, we would do other trips we love...cruises with my family, smaller road trips, etc. So we still get the opportunity to do different things. Also, as the kids get older they willbe interested in different attractions at WDW (the more "grown-up" attractions), we could take advantage of more of the nighttime entertainment, the kids' club when the little one is old enough and DH and I can go to Jellyrolls for a few hours, Universal and Islands of Adventure when the kids are older, Sea World, and even possibly Busch Gardens Tampa if we feel like making the drive (we drive down to Florida so we would have our car with us). Plus other things, like the entertainment on the Boardwalk, mini-golf, etc.

Have any of you DVC members who have own for a number of years (5 or more years) ever gotten bored with going there? I know there is the option to do something else on the points, but I am counting on using them at the home resort for WDW trips, at least for several years.

Anyone who was skeptical at first because they thought they may get bored going to Disney so much, then realized once they owned that it is not possible to get bored there? Just looking for some input from some members, thanks!

 

[Chic]

My family has been visiting Disney World 5 to 6 times a year since 1999 and we are not even close to being burned out. Each year offers new and exciting entertainment/attractions for the whole family. We just returned a few days ago from Disneyland in California and have another trip booked to Disney World in 6 weeks. Yes, we are already excited and looking forward to our next trip! If we should ever get tired of Disney, we could sell our DVC contract for more than we paid for it. As a result, all of our past Disney vacations would technically have been free. Currently, we can't imagine ever wanting to sell our contract. It's our pot of gold with Mickey Mouse at the end of the rainbow.

 

[crisi]

Every other year, more or less, since 2002 - I'm less enamored of it - but I was never a "Disney lifestyle" person to start with - for us it was an easy vacation when the kids were little. More though, I'm getting really tired of disappointment. Food used to be good (for us, food on vacation is a big deal. Park tickets are getting more and more expensive, and yet, because we've been so often, they don't carry the same value to us that they used to. Airfare has gone way up. Its a pain to make dinner reservations or change them.

Kids are almost nine and ten now, and they still really enjoy it. But now I'm regretting the number of non-Disney vacations we are missing because we are committed to Disney. They are the age now where we'd hoped to travel other places - and we do a little.

 

[SusieBea]

We purchased in 1993 when our girls were 11 and 8. We haven't gotten tired of going, but what we do on the vacations has evolved as they have grown. There was a period when our older daughter was in high school when she had no use for the parks, so she and I would enjoy the pool hopping perk (you could hop to SAB then) and our younger daughter and her dad would do the parks, water parks, mini-golf, etc. Our older daughter is expecting our first grandchild soon, and I'm looking forward to doing the "little kid" attractions again. I have never regretted purchasing, but you need to be flexible in your expectations each year. Kids grow and change. Adults age as well. We bought because Disney provided a vacation that had something for each of us. It still does, but those "somethings" may not be the same as they were 15 years ago.

 

[dvcdisney]

When we first joined, we went once a year. But the more we went, the more we wanted to go more often and so we kept adding on. About 2-3 years ago, we began going twice a year. We usually go between 10-14 nights (now, more towards 14 nights so that the airfare seems worth it) and we are not tired of DVC or Disney. We are tired of paying for airfare and the travel, but not of Disney.

 

[photobob]

Since purchasing into DVC we are trying for two five-day trips per year, but that could change from year to year. Our kids are 21 and 16, and the older went with us this for the first time in 4 years. He and his GF had a great time with us. My 16 yo daughter still enjoys it. I don't think your kids will ever tire of going.

I'm a 46 yo man and I'm the biggest WDW fan in the family. I could go twice as much as I do and not tire of it. My DW likes to go as well but she isn't quite as fanatical as I am. Next summer we plan to go to Vero Beach for a bit of a change.

 

[mgilmer]

Anyone who was skeptical at first because they thought they may get bored going to Disney so much, then realized once they owned that it is not possible to get bored there? Just looking for some input from some members, thanks!

We decided it before buying DVC. We went the first time with our son when he was seven and have been back many times since. I am a true Disney addict. I could live there year round if I could afford to do so and never get tired of it. My wife is not quite at my level of fanaticism, but she enjoys it too. Interestingly, my son, now a teenager, not so much. I think everyone is different.

 

[CraftyMouse]

We'd never get tired of it going once every other year. In fact, I think we'd get "home"sick pretty often. That said, we averaged two trips per year during the first 7-8 of our membership. Lately, however, we've been adding other trips to the mix. We've used our points in Sedona, AZ, on DCL at DL and at the Hilton Head and Vero Beach properties. We still get to WDW often, but it's nice to have the option to go other places as well.

 

[jfinke]

I think that we get burned out at the end of a 9-10 day trip. And it is more of dealing with people than anything else. When we got done with our trip in Jan, we swore it would be our last for a while.

We already have reservations for Feb, so...

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We've owned for 15 years now and still aren't tired of it. I bought well before I married my husband and had kids and have really enjoyed the playful/romantic adult side of the World. Now that we have little ones, we are constantly finding new and different ways to enjoy our visits. That will only get better as their curiosity develops.

The plus side is that if you get bored with Disney, you can exchange out! Those folks are dying to get in, so help them along!

 

[tinkerbellsaratoga]

Get tired of WDW? No, not in our vocabulary. We just purchased points two years ago at Saratoga, and now at Animal Kingdom. The vacations will change, but the time spent with family and friends will be "priceless" - I would go with your purchase.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

Before we bought DVC we were going about every other year. After we bought DVC we decided that we could go every year. I wasn't long and we were going twice a year. And for the last two years we've been going three times. We just recently bought more points so we could continue to take three trips a year and make sure they were all at least 10 day trips. Our two kids are grown with families of their own and they are also both DVC members. One of them goes once a year and the other one goes every other year. We also have six other family members that are DVC members and out of all of us, I don't think any of us will ever get tired of going there. We just love it.

 

[Kathi OD]

In our family, I'm the WDW nut. DH, not so much. So the other day when I was thinking about a vacation, I asked him, "How about if we go to Vero Beach for a few days in January?" His reply......."Why not WDW??" Guess he's not as bored going there as I thought he was.

 

[JimC]

We do about five five-night DVC stays plus many day trips each year. We still enjoy it very much. We don't like all of the changes we have seen over the years, but it remains an enjoyable quality holiday for us.

 

[disneymamaof2]

We bought in 2000 and said we were only going once per year, well we have gone at least twice per year. We are going in December and that will make trip number 3 for the year and already have a May 2009 trip booked, which we said we wouldn't do an 09 trip since we were going 3 times this year. We (myself, DH, DD6 & DS3) just can't get enough of the place. We always try to throw something new in, from activities to new dining location. For us I don't think we will ever grow bored of WDW.

 

[Coach81]

We are not at 5 years yet, but I can tell you, before buying, we would go to Disney about every other year, now we plan to got at least twice a year. I don't see us getting tired of it anytime soon. My family truly loves everything Disney, and we have the most fun there!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Alexander]

...Food used to be good (for us, food on vacation is a big deal. Park tickets are getting more and more expensive, and yet, because we've been so often, they don't carry the same value to us that they used to. Airfare has gone way up. Its a pain to make dinner reservations or change them...

I agree completely with the above. The food has been a disappointment since the DDP came along. The first year wasn't so bad, but it has gone way down hill since. The quality of the merchandise had dropped way below Disney standards. I had a CM at the WL gift shop admire a shirt I had on from SSR and she said, "You must have gotten that a while ago because we only sell really junky clothes now." She was an older woman and not being petty at all. She is totally right! Park tickets are very expensive and since we vist 3-4 times a year, we just don't stay in parks for more than a couple of hours a day. Not really worth the money. And don't even get me started on dinner reservations!!!

However....we do love the resorts and have found ourselves spending more and more time at them. We were at AKV for 7 nights and only went to the parks twice. We also ate off property most days. We are looking forward to less, but longer visits next year. My boys love to swim, so we will find hanging at the resort to work out just fine. We have also considered renting or transferring some points and doing DCL again. We really love it, and want to take longer cruises with bigger staterooms!

 

[tfc3rid]

I'v eowned since 2000 and have gone to Orlando more or less evey year since 1984... Our vacation habits have changes from when I was a kid and now go with friends, etc...

We don't go to the Parks as often and like to use it as a way to get nice accomodations for quick trips in the winter and get some sun... That's all...

Because of how we use our points sparingly, we've been able to take cruises and have family come with us on the cruise...

 

[bangzoom6877]

I agree completely with the above. The food has been a disappointment since the DDP came along. The first year wasn't so bad, but it has gone way down hill since. The quality of the merchandise had dropped way below Disney standards. I had a CM at the WL gift shop admire a shirt I had on from SSR and she said, "You must have gotten that a while ago because we only sell really junky clothes now." She was an older woman and not being petty at all. She is totally right! Park tickets are very expensive and since we vist 3-4 times a year, we just don't stay in parks for more than a couple of hours a day. Not really worth the money. And don't even get me started on dinner reservations!!!

However....we do love the resorts and have found ourselves spending more and more time at them. We were at AKV for 7 nights and only went to the parks twice. We also ate off property most days. We are looking forward to less, but longer visits next year. My boys love to swim, so we will find hanging at the resort to work out just fine. We have also considered renting or transferring some points and doing DCL again. We really love it, and want to take longer cruises with bigger staterooms!

I have also looked into whether or not the DDP is still for us. As of now, since the kids are little and do not cost $40 per day, we still feel it is worth it to us, plus we would be spending 5 days at the parks, so we will be at their "mercy" for food! But, as the boys get older...

Say we go to the Disney parks fewer days, and go to other places like Universal and Islands of Adventure (more for older kids IMO). But of course the DVC still covers our accommodations for our vacation. How far away are some good, reasonably priced restaurants that are off-site? We drive down so we will always have our car with us.

 

[tfc3rid]

Reasonably priced? Eh, that is debatable but you can find some decent food and national chains nearby...