How to alleviate 'we've done that before' itits.

[Karel]

The hotels are reserved but nobody in the family is very excited to be going, except me. I'm on the verge of buying tickets but can't seem to take that final step. We last went two years ago and this will be the fifth time for the kids, more for my husband and me. My husband is telling me he wants no commando planning.

So what should I do? Work hard to find other things we haven't done there yet - we've never been to the water parks. Or is this just a condition people fall into after they've become Disney veterans.

I don't want to cancel, because I know we'll have a good time. I think just a relax attitude this time is the way to go.

 

[aring75]

Karel, I definitely know how you feel. As FL residents who live less than an hour away, DH and I get into this kind of funk every now and then. Once we hit WDW property though, the magic always begins. Just like the first time. We always try to do something we haven't done before for each trip. It does give something unexpected to look forward to. Hope you have a great time! I know you will.

 

[GEM]

We are heading down for our 10th trip in December. We like to keep it fresh by doing new things on each trip. Even after so many visits, there are still so many things we have never tried!

First, we always stay at a new resort for at least part of every trip. That really helps keep things feeling "new".

Here are some other things you might try, if you haven't done them before.

-Definately check out the water parks! They are so much fun and the attentiont to theme and detail is amazing.

-Spend an afternoon at Fort Wilderness. Check out the Swamp Trail, the petting zoo, the Disney stables, etc. You can even stay for the free campfire in the evening. Chip and Dale are there and you can roast marshmellows, etc. Then they show a Disney movie on a big screen. There is so much fun stuff to check out at Fort Wilderness - and most of it is totally free! We always spend some time there. They also have a hayride and private horse-drawn carriage rides in the evenings. You have to pay for those, but they aren't too expensive.

-Spend an evening shopping, dining, and enjoying the fun strolling entertainers on the Boardwalk. The kids will love the facepainting, games, etc.

-Go on an Illuminations or Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise. It's expensive, but totally worth it! What a wonderful new way to experience Illuminations or Fantasy In The Sky.

-Eat in restaurants you haven't tried yet! There are so many great places, and we always try to mix in lots of new places with our old favorites.

-If you haven't already, take the kids to Disney Quest. They will be in heaven!

-See La Nouba, the Cirque Du Soleil show at Downtown Disney. Again, this is expensive, but it is so amazing. It will absolutely take your breath away.

-Play miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens or Winer/Summerland. The courses are so adorable! We always make sure to play a few rounds at both.

-Take the Family Magic tour at the Magic Kingdom. It's so much fun for kids and parents! Or, if your kids are old enough, take one of the behind the scenes tours at one of the parks. It's a chance to see how the magic is made.

-Go on a hunt for "Hidden Mickeys" in your resort or in the parks. There are a few sites on-line where you can find lists.

-Take things slower this time. Spend more time relaxing at the pool and slow down to notice all the details in the parks. Since you've been so many times before, you don't need to rush around to see "everything".

-Send the kids on the Pirate's Cruise from the Grand Floridian. It sounds like so much fun! I would have loved it when I was little!

-See one of the fun dinner shows - Hoop De Doo at Fort Wilderness or the Luau at the Polynesian. Or attend Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness if it is going on during your visit.

-Let the kids start a fun (an inexpensive) collection on this trip. Maybe pressed pennies, autographs, World Showcase stamps, etc.

-Get the kids a haircut at the Main Street Barber Shop in the Magic Kingdom. It's not any more expensive than a haircut at the mall - plus, you get great photo ops, special "pixie dust" and colored gel, etc. It's like a real old-fashioned barber shop sprinkled with Disney magic.

-Try pin trading with cast members! You can buy a few pins for the kids and let them enjoy trading. It's really a lot of fun. And it forces you to slow down in the parks, take time to talk to CMs, etc.

-Rent Water Mice! This was the highlight of my husband's last trip.

-Rent bikes from your resort. Depending on where you are staying, you can rent regular bikes, bikes for two people, surrey bikes, etc.

-If you have a car, check out some of the other great stuff Orlando has to offer. If your kids are old enough to be into thrill rides, they will absolutely flip over Islands of Adventure. And then, of course, there is Sea World. We also love Gatorland! There are a ton of neat attractions (small and large) outside of Disney World.

Anyway, these are just a few ideas of things we have done to help keep each trip feeling "new". We still get so excited about each trip, mostly because we really make an effort to keep doing new things.

 

[DancingBear]

GEM's given you a great list of stuff. I had to think hard but here are a few more:

--Take resort tour at AKL or Wilderness Lodge.

--Visit AKL for CM singing, meal at Boma, storytelling, and viewing the animals.

--Visit Celebration. Eat at Columbia restaurant--great Latin American cuisine. Anyone in the family have an interest in architecture? Buildings there by many top talents, including Michael Graves, Philip Johnson, Cesar Pelli and Robert A. M. Stern.

--Any golfers? All of the courses are very well-maintained, from the 9-hole walking course Oak Trail to the challenging Osprey Ridge.

--Visit POR or POFQ and take the boat from there to Downtown Disney. Or rent a boat from there or at the other resort marinas.

 

[kdibattista]

We are never hard-pressed to get excited!!!! We always find something new and we find it much more relaxing knowing that we've "seen it - done it".

 

[LvsTnk]

Our commando touring ended a couple of years ago now we enjoy our resort more.

GEM covered just about everything, except maybe something at the spa. DD and I like the manicures and pedicures and DS has been asking for the sports massage. Also, we rented the boat and instructor from the Contemporary to waterski and tube last year.

Also involve your kids in the planning.

DS#1 is meeting up with a girl he met there last year.

DD wants to see if we can get the small braids done and I have found where we can do that on property.

DS#2 wants to do the fishing excursion.

 

[Greg K.]

If you have a car, and the time, spend a day visiting Universal, or Sea World, or even Busch Gardens over in Tampa.

Trust me: you will return VERY happy to be back at Disney!

It's also an opportunity for a change of style and scenery.

Otherwise, I think Disney is generally ingenious at the art (and science) of giving people new reasons to keep coming back year after year. They always up the ante with new rides, parades, attractions. It's rarely unchanged from year to year (for better, or for worse...witness that pink cupcake castle a few years back...)

 

[tampafan]

Enjoy the resort. We live about 1.5 hours away and visit Disney serveral times a year. We always try and plan some resort only time. We like to try the restaurants at the resorts. All the resorts have great pools and fun stuff to do. Also, Downtown Disney and the Wide World of Sports are fun to do.

 

[mareka]

Wow - Most everything has been covered butlets see if I can add anything.

We have been there - My family only started getting interested in the planning these last 2 years since we became Disney Vacation Club Members.

We always hit old favorites - rides and restaraunts - like O'Hanas.

The Pirate Cruise is great - My grandson will do it again for the last time in April - He will be 10

Try the World Showcase - slowly - stop to watch the acrobats at China and Morroco - the living statues at France - the Drummers at Japan. I thing there is a daily schedule you can get that shows the times of the happenings. They were great.

Do you stop to watch the parades or the shows out front of the castle?

I watched my first full parade last trip and loved the snowglobes. All these trips - what I missed.

The tours have been mentioned but do look into them - They are great.

Give a little slack to the Family - sometimes we break up and go separate ways. The 'kids' (20yrs+) like to spend some time at Disney Quest in Downtown Disney.

So we divide and conquer - we use two-way radios to keep in touch and meet back up for meals or whatever.

Just enjoy and have a good time

 

[DocRafiki]

What great responses! Don't ever let anyone tell you they have "done it all"!

I, too, am big on resorts these days. But still, there is tons in the parks that I haven't experienced. It's just that it's all "nooks and crannies" type stuff, and sometimes I like to be completely immersed in a new environment.

You ARE staying onsite, aren't you?

 

[Micca]

Force yourself to do at least one thing each day that you haven't done before. You could also take a vote to skip an attraction that you've done each time before. Also try some new places to eat.
Someone else may have mentioned it, but try switching off days and nights at parks(i.e. if you've always gone to MK first thing in the morning, try it at night this time). Also maybe have a sleep-in day and a late-night-out day. Have a ball!

P.S. If you decide you just can't miss the attraction you voted on, that's cool, go for it

 

[Karel]

Thanks for all the ideas. We have done a lot of them already and money is somewhat of a factor.

Actually, we found the Boardwalk rather boring but might try it again. We've been to SeaWorld, not interested in Universal yet, hub won't play golf 'alone', my oldest is too old for Pirate Cruise not old enough to wander. We pin trade, we got the Epcot stamps, and I can't get a Ill cruise...

I would like to check out Fort Wilderness, maybe we'll hit a water park, and I want to see Animal Kingdom Lodge. I think we may do a lot of wandering and my kids are finally old enough that I feel comfortable taking them out on my own so Dad can lounge at the pool.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Lots of great ideas.

 

[Kallison]

I would love to spend a day wandering the World Showcase and taking in all the shows in each one.

Are our kids old enough for the "Keys to the Kingdom" tour, or how about that Dolphin up close thing in Epcot? What about the behind the scenes Land tour?

We always eat at new restaurants, the kids are allowed to pick one they must eat at and it's always Sci-Fi.

I make the kids try a new attraction they were previously afraid of. It always becomes their new favorite.

Have fun!!