How Often do you Go?

[1000HappyWishes]

This probably belongs in the TPAS forum, but in my reasoning it belonged more here, so here it is. Feel free it move it if it's deemed necessary.

Anyway, onto my question. How often do you and your family go to WDW? I know plenty of people here go once a year, sometimes even more! Ideally, I'd like to go once a year with my younger cousin, however, how do people go once every year and not be bored? That's the only part about it I don't get.

I mean, sure, I'd love to go once a year. I'm super-excited for my next trip, which is a year after my last one. But just curious, how often do you go? Is once a year worth it for those who frequent the World that often?

 

[paul_toria96]

We would love to go every year but for us it's every 4/5 years :'(

 

[kmb584]

For now, we go twice each year - April and October - and I just "celebrated" my 50th WDW vacation in April.

The key to not getting bored (for us) is to truly love your surroundings. For me, it's not just about the attractions and shows, but more so the atmosphere and smells. I still break out into a huge cheesy grin when I walk down Main Street. My DD is 4 and seeing her have such a fantastic time is a fantastic feeling; it's seeing WDW through a different set of eyes. She begins Kindergarten next August, so we'll either:

• Go once per year
• Go twice but 1 trip will have to be during the peak summer months
• Go once with a DCL voyage during the summer

Mu daughter is a carbon copy of me with her infinite love of all things Disney, but once she's older (in the 8-10 range) I plan on definitely only going to Disney once per year while traveling abroad during the summer. I was fortunate to grow up traveling the world and am fortunate enough now to be a financial position to allow my daughter the same.

 

[ElenaRN]

We usually go once a year in the fall. The last few years we have gone 2x.

Since we know we will be back, we don't feel the need to wait on the extra long lines. We also skip some stuff one trip and then do it the next.

There are plenty of different restaraunts to keep things fresh.

The amt of stuff available to do at the different resorts is great too.

Your trip is only exactly the same each year if you make it that way.

 

[aliyasmomma2003]

We went once a year for a few years and took a year hiatus. This fall is our first trip back since. I have to say, I never got board! I am super excited to get there in the fall too. When the kids are older, I.e. on their own, I would like to go more but we just can't afford it with 4 kids and 2 of them being adult priced, one more turning 10next year, and the little one just kicked in as paying. So our trip went from 2 adults, 3 kids, and an under 3 when we all went last to 5 adults and 1 kid when we all go back next year.

 

[worm761]

We try to go once a year. I see you are only 15 so it may be different for you. We do different things. And as you get older, you appreciate different things. Like when my son was little, no water parks. But he is a teen now so we can do those. Now I have a 3 year old. She LOVED meeting Cinderella last year. Her idol. LOL... And I remember when my son was 5 and met THE Buzz Lightyear. His hero, live and in person. He was awestruck. Each trip is different because we are different people on each trip.

There are also all the different seasons and festivals. You have the Flower and Garden Festival, Star Wars Weekends, Halloween with Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Food and Wine Festival, and the Christmas season with all the decorations and celebrations to be seen. There are different resorts to stay at and different meals to eat. Disney World is also constantly expanding. We have the new Fantasyland expansion, the upcoming Avatar Land, and the announced Star Wars Land. So plenty of new things to see and do. Plus there is all the stuff outside of the parks to do. Which are too many to name.

 

[texasroni75]

By going different times of the year, touring the parks a little different each time (doing different attractions, eating at new restaurants), and staying at a new resort - it really keeps the trips from feeling "the same" every time.

As our family grows and gets older, our focus changes too. This time, we want to see the new Fantasyland, and are staying in a resort we haven't stayed in since 1999! It's also our first time trying the Dining Plan, and our youngest son's first trip to WDW. Our middle children are also finally tall enough for most of the thrill rides. I'm a coaster-enthusiast but DH isn't, and I had a blast our last two trips doing all the biggest and fastest rides with my teenager. I've never been bored on any of our trips, even when we did 2 trips in the same year.

 

[GoldieLocks5]

For us, more than once/year and it wouldn't be as special... I wouldn't get BORED but it just wouldn't have the special magic it has for us going just once/year.

we first went 2yrs ago and were planning to do it every 2 years- but we had such a great time we decided we couldn't wait that long - so we went again a year later... and now are going a year after that (same week actually). We plan to keep going each year until the boys get tired of it or want to do other parks more (universal, etc). but for now while they are young, we are all about Disney - we LOVE being on property for a week and never seeing reality!

 

[Northernlites]

WE have gone 3 times in the last 18 months and we drive from Ontario Canada

 

[MommyBryn]

Only ever 2-3 years for us. It's aaaalll based on cost for our family. We're coming from the opposite side of the country, so flights are at least a few thousand, and we can only go during certain times of the year (plus having to match those up with value seasons).

I'd love to go once a year. Well, I'd love to go more than that. But I, too, wonder how "magical" it would be if we went more frequently. We have friends who do "extravagant" Disney trips at least 1-2x a year, and I can't imagine it would feel the same as going less frequently. For us, just anticipating those smells, sounds, lights, experience, rides- the whole Disney atmosphere that makes it magical- is a huge part of the experience, and I wonder if it wouldn't be quite the same if it we could go whenever we wanted.

 

[willowsnn3]

We made our first trip 5 years ago & were hooked. Our trip was in July that year & we thought we would wait til Nov of the next year (18 months) and go back for my daughter's 40th b'day.
We made it 10 months & then went back & bought annual passes. So for the next 3 years we went at least 3 times a year sometimes 4 and even 5 one year. We're only about a 6 hour drive tho so that made going easier, lol. Didn't have an annual pass this year but I am thinking about using my Christmas bonus from work this year and getting one for myself.
I love to go as often as possible, the magic never gets old. We don't do extravagant but always seem to find something new each trip.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

For awhile, we were going about every 6 months. We'd go once and say, "Ok, we won't be back for awhile," then about 4-5 months later, we'd start pining for Disney. There were a couple of times when we weren't planning to go, but some family or friends wanted to go, so we decided to go with them. My kids actually haven't been for a whole year but I went in February with my sister and sister-in-law for a girls' weekend to do the Princess Half, but we didn't do any parks. I started planning my upcoming birthday trip last summer, so by the time we're there in January, it'll have been over a year for my kids and husband, and almost a year for me. We're already and it's still almost 4 months away! And, I'm thinking of getting APs again, so I foresee at least one more trip in 2014.

We're fortunate to live in Florida, only 6 hours away. We get good military discounts and Florida resident discounts and they keep us heading to the Mouse House!

 

[1000HappyWishes]

Loving everyone's responses so far! I'd like to hear some more, if there are any takers

 

[RainK]

We go every other year. I would go every year as long as we could also go somewhere else on vacation. Since the budget doesn't allow 2 big vacations in a year, we have been going every other year to Disney with another trip on the off year.
Of course, when we do go, we say "I wanna come back next year"...we never want to leave.

We just came back 2 weeks ago and my DH is ready to return already.
But, we already promised the kids Bermuda next year so we are NOT doing Disney.

 

[jgive]

Since having a little one, we will have gone twice to WDW and once to DL by the end of the year. My DH hasn't gone though; he isn't all that interested in Disney. we go with my sister.

Next year, I will go kid-less once and maybe squeeze another trip in with him before our Disney cruise in the fall.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

This probably belongs in the TPAS forum, but in my reasoning it belonged more here, so here it is. Feel free it move it if it's deemed necessary.

Anyway, onto my question. How often do you and your family go to WDW? I know plenty of people here go once a year, sometimes even more! Ideally, I'd like to go once a year with my younger cousin, however, how do people go once every year and not be bored? That's the only part about it I don't get.

I mean, sure, I'd love to go once a year. I'm super-excited for my next trip, which is a year after my last one. But just curious, how often do you go? Is once a year worth it for those who frequent the World that often?

We go twice a year, 5 night each trip. Mostly because we are DVC owners and we like to go Sun-Thurs because the points are less than weekends. I can't explain why we never get bored...we just feel like there is so much to do that we never tire of WDW

 

[kcp1377]

We go once a year, and intersperse them with other trips around the country. We don't get bored at all - probably because each time we go the kids are all in different stages. Sometimes we spend a lot of time on character greetings, other times riding rides. We've taken the kids 4 times now (driving from NY) and the experience is different every time. We stay at the campground in our 30' RV, so that also helps because even just FW is a wonderful place to pass the days. Add in parks and we're in heaven. There are still so many parts of the parks we haven't seen that it keeps it fresh. We don't try to do it all - just go with the flow and look forward to going again the next year.

 

[luvmy2babies]

We first went in 2010 and we were hooked. I tried to do a Disney free trip in 2011 when we went just to relax and tour Sea World, but it was too cold for Aquatica so we spent our last day at MK. We took a long summer trip to Disney in 2012and another in 2013. Before we had gotten home, we were planning for 2014.

For me, the trip will change each time because of how my children change. Our last 2 trips have been summer trips, but our first trip was in November during Thanksgiving week and I have been trying ever since to figure out how to get back when the holiday decorations are up, but haven't been successful yet.

I'm on my own, so cost is a driving factor. Paying for a Disney trip is a task even with two incomes. Time is the other as I can not to take my daughter out of school for a trip. She happened to have that entire week of Thanksgiving off in 2010, but hasn't had more than the Wednesday before off since. Thought we had it this year, but then the calendar changed.

 

[North of Mouse]

We have been going mostly 1-3 times a year - sometimes we skip a year.

But - after our last trip in April we are going to take a longer break. We are getting a little disappointed in Disney with the many changes that have/are taking place in all facets of the parks.

We now have plans to vacation in other places that we also enjoy, and as of now have no definite plans for a Disney vacation.

We have been going since the parks opened in 1971, and the last couple years we have really started getting disappointed.

Also, another 'biggie' - they 'will not' consistently enforce their own rules. It's making for some sloppy, less enjoyable stays.

 

[MommyBryn]

We have been going mostly 1-3 times a year - sometimes we skip a year.

But - after our last trip in April we are going to take a longer break. We are getting a little disappointed in Disney with the many changes that have/are taking place in all facets of the parks.

We now have plans to vacation in other places that we also enjoy, and as of now have no definite plans for a Disney vacation.

We have been going since the parks opened in 1971, and the last couple years we have really started getting disappointed.

Also, another 'biggie' - they 'will not' consistently enforce their own rules. It's making for some sloppy, less enjoyable stays.

A little OT, but I find that interesting! We don't even go nearly as frequently as you do, but the last couple times (so over about 5 years) we thought it was a little disappointing as well. For us it seemed mostly in attitudes. Usually part of the "magic" of Disney, IMO, is how the CM's are SO friendly and SO amazing at making you feel lke you realy are in another world. But the last couple of times MANY of the CM's seemed in a rush, irritated, and like they just didn't want to be there. Now I'm not holding anybody to any standard, as I have no idea what the actual job is like and I don't expect them to be perfect just for *me*, but it's just one thing that was obviously different enough that we (our giant group of 27 people) did notice. Made it feel more like we were intruding or were just a hassle to have around some of the time. Just made me wonder why everyone seemed to be unhappy, you know?