How often do you visit a theme park?

[sheilafri]

I feel like I might be getting close to pushing it on the number of days I spend at a park. DH and I have FL resident APs so I go to WDW 2-3 times a year for 3-4 days. We justify this by the massive number of steps we accumulate in a day and that we try to get nicer weather for outdoor activities. I’m also fortunate to frequently travel to France so am thinking of making 2 one day trips a year to DLP for the next few years. This would put a total of maybe 14 days a year in a park. I’m wondering if this is in the ballpark for frequent visitors or if I’m off the charts.

 

[traveler9]

Out of state AP here who usually spends 30+ days in a Disney park in a year.

 

[HopperFan]

I used to have the big boy AP and now have the Pixie Pass. I am not local.

For many years with Platinum used to spend 4-6 weeks/trips at WDW = 40+ days per year.

With Pixie I dropped to 4 trips, 5 days each = 20 days per year.

I am now dropping to 3 trips, 5 days each = 15 days per year.

But both the above might mean a few random days like we went to visit friends at WDW, did one day plus Discovery Cove one weekend, did 2 days with a MNSSHP trip in addition to our normal trips.

My current goal upcoming is 5 days each May, September and December, with a few impromptu days when the itch comes. I may add a couple weekend nights to do other area things. Like for a couple years we had Universal AP so we did those on weekend, Disney on weekdays.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Our current trend is one trip per year, 8-10 park days.

 

[elvispursley]

Our current trend is one trip per year, 8-10 park days.

Same

 

[Douglas Dubh]

As a local, I probably average a visit a week, but my visits tend to be four hours or less.

 

[gharter]

We used to go twice a year, a week at a time. DVC members with 2 contracts. We sold one and now go once a year for a week. we used to do AP due to 2 trips a year. Now we are trying AP's again trying to put 2 trips into the year.

 

[nighttowll]

Usually about every 3 months for about 9 days in Orlando each trip, but sometimes more or less. We’ve never had Disney AP, so usually that’s just a day here or there, a party, or a big trip over a week long every few years.

We’ve had AP for Universal off and on for over 10 years, and we tend to do 3 to 5 days there each trip. Then, we add in other parks and activities to fill out our time.

 

[FastPasser.]

Now that I’m no longer a local I don’t visit at all and I have no plans to return. WDW is in the rear view mirror.

 

[tom1944]

Last year 7 nights and 6 park days including hopping . This year 9 nights and 6 park days no hopping.

Next year either 5 or 6 nights with 4 park days. We will tie that to a Disney cruise of 3 to 5 days.

Most likely we skip a year in 2026 and go back for 9 or 10 nights in 2027. Again 6 park days.

At that point we decide if we want to go every year or every other year. Trips will be 9 or 10 nights and 6 park days.

 

[keishashadow]

We took early retirement, stayed put at home base. The plan is to spend a lot of time traveling while still being able to enjoy it.

Disney is getting the lion’s share as we stretch our DVC points & APs. Let our U AP’s go, still do a week there for HHN. Epic Universe will draw us back in there.

If I see a $29 fare on Spirit & priceline produces AS Sports, we aren’t fancy, happy to bop down for a few days spur of the moment for a bonus trip

 

[miksicnarf]

I live in the greater Los Angeles area and am a passholder at both DL and WDW. I go to DL about once a month for 10 months (I have the SoCal Magic Key) and to WDW twice a year for about 10 days each...so approximately 30 days in the parks. Many DL MK holders go at least once a week.

 

[Meriweather]

Out of state AP holder.
This year so far has been 24 nights in 2 trips.
We are also booked for 11 nights in December

 

[Upatnoon]

When we have an AP, it is always the cheapest one, now the Pixie. We live in Florida, so if we are planning any WDW park visits, we will buy an AP.

We will take a 5-park day trip at the start of buying the pass and a 5-park day trip at the end. We will usually do a day or two in the middle of our pass ownership.

This year, we didn't buy a pass, but went to Disneyland and California Adventure for 2 days. I experienced the pain of being a non-resident and paying full freight for tickets!

We also have bought Universal APs in the past as well, using the same strategy of getting two vacations out of one AP. We have not had Disney and Universal passes at the same time.

Over the past 20 years, we probably have had 7 Disney APs and 2 Universal AP.

All this probably works out to about 6 days a year in a theme park. Some years more, some less.

We are lucky to live in Florida and get resident discounts. We can drive to Orlando. We can rent or stay in timeshares. We don't need to eat all our meals onsite. Having an AP takes so much pressure off "having to do it all."

The cost of a theme park vacation for us is much less than for some families, but still not inexpensive.

 

[BrianL]

So, can you actually spend too many days in theme parks?

 

[disneyfam22]

We try to do to WDW every 2-3 years. We are not pass holders and don’t live in Florida.

My first time in WDW was 2009, then 2016, 2018, then 2021. Went to Disneyland for the first time earlier this year.

 

[goofyernmost]

So, can you actually spend too many days in theme parks?

You certainly can. I because of logistics never spent more than 4 non-consecutive days in WDW. One time I bought a package deal that included 7 days and I couldn't wait to get out of the place.

However, to answer the question, for 35 years I went to WDW at least once a year (total 47 times) but have not gone for the last 5 years and have no desire to ever go again.

 

[ars0525]

I have an AP but not super local. 10 years ago I could make the drive close to just over an hour in the right traffic/time of day. Now it's at least 1.5 hours right time of day/right traffic which is hard to find (generally super early).

1st year I spent 18+ days in the park. I mean hard core open to close, park hopping, stayed over night, probably 1 weekend a month. I feel Disney also did a lot more back then as well. Remember the 24 hour MK days?

Now I make day trips. Go early for the easier drive & head home after a few hours. I rarely PH anymore. If I do 8-10 days now is maybe pushing it. Depending on the year & what else is going on at home has played into it. When I was a new resident & didn't know anyone it was easy to hang at Disney.

Honestly COVID really spoiled me. Initially I hated going for just 1 park, but I could do the whole thing with minimal or no waits & have a very enjoyable full day in roughly 4-5 hours that was much more relaxed. I also go alone a lot so that probably plays into it as well. Solo trips are fun, but it's nice to have someone to share the drive & hang out with.

 

[Gentry2004]

Probably about a week a year? We do Disney for a week about every 24 months or so, but in between we visit Universal or Discovery Cove/Sea World/Aquatica.

On year when my kids were in ES, we got out of state APs and had 28 park days (across 4 trips.) By the end of that year I needed a break (longer than planned due to Covid) but it was really fun having the pass and the kids were the perfect ages for it.

How do people have Pixie APs if they are not local? I thought you had to live in FL for that?

 

[Jrb1979]

So, can you actually spend too many days in theme parks?

Not at all. One year my family did 11 different parks across the country. Last year we did 5 different parks.
Next summer planning on doing a week of the Pennsylvania parks.