I'm putting this in writing, just so I can accept it easier....

[samkj]

Most likely (notice I can't even make a definite statement) we won't be back to Disneyland till 2009. Our APs expire in February and we won't be renewing this year. I'm just hopeful that the 14.5 months till our next visit makes DH realize what we are missing and we can get APs for 2009.

I know I have to count myself lucky that we are able to go as often as we do, but its hard to imagine visiting my in-laws who are less than 90 minutes from DL without a trip to the parks!

Now to talk DH into that cruise I've always wanted to take since Disneyland is off the vacation list!

 

[Marilynbn]

Amy - I know how you feel. We have been AP holders for quite a few years now. Ours expires Dec. 9, 2007 and we won't be able to afford them for next year. We try to go to DL at least 3 times per year but next year is looking more dismal for us $$ wise so no AP's for 2008. I hate to let them lapse since we save $60 for renewing but we just don't have the $1000 for the 3 passes we usually get. We get the premium and love all the discounts that go with them. I'm sure there are many that will think we are babies for being sad about this but I love Disney and always look forward to going. I am predicting an interesting 2008 for all of us affected by the mortgage rate increases. I am confident that we will be back to vacationing like we have been used to but the next couple of years are going to be hard for everyone. These boards are usually a place for us Disney die-hards to accept one another.
Marilyn

 

[DL4my2kids]

I am going to dread buying into that decision when next year comes.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We try to go once a year. After our last trip, in October, my DH says, we are not coming back until 2009. I've had enough of DL for awhile. He said we can come back for the holidays in 2009, I said great we'll come back in January of 2009! Well, that's my plan anyway.

Fortunately I'll still get my Disney fix in March, 2008 with WDW and the cruise.

 

[kelmac284]

I'm sorry to hear that Amy. I know what you mean. We are lucky in one respect because when I bought ours I bought mine and the the girls in June and didn't get Shane and Lynn's till later because the girls and I took a trip with my mom in the summer of 06 and we knew we would be back in the fall for a few trips and that is when we figured buying the annual pass would be worthwhile. I wasn't sure I would renew this year but then we ended up taking the Oct trip, this trip and we are going again in Feb. It was tough to decide whether to renew Shane and Lynn's because their's is due at the same time as our car insurance and in Nov is right around when both of our car registrations, Christmas, Katy's birthday is on New Year's eve and on and on.

We ALMOST didn't do it esp with the two trips in Oct and Nov and then again with one coming up in Feb but we bit the bullet and did it. At this point I don't know if I will renew in June or not but when it rolls around I weigh it out at the time. When I look at what I save and then decide on the trips it always seems to work itself out. Plus we always figure if we have them then it makes it so much easier to take impromptu trips.

Plus it was so nice to have because when you are down there and if you have one and let's say the day you leave if you weren't planning on going to the parks but you had some extra time or needed to run into one of the parks to pick something up you can. I don't know that we will keep doing it but it seems that every time it is time to renew I so far keep doing it. There may come a time where I won't but I know for now I like having them so I know that at any time I can just go.

I know you have a family of 5 like we do and it IS a great expense and that makes it hard. It is a big decision. People ask me all the time why I don't go other places and believe me there are LOTS of other trips I would like to take but at least this is one thing I can always rationalize that if I drive and with my pass and getting a good deal with my entertainment book or through getaway today it's "practically free"

 

[drag n' fly]

Count your blessings you are even able to go. Their are some families who spend a lifetime wishing to go to Disney one day and never get the chance. I do understand having the feeling of not having a nice trip to look forward to though. We have decided since we can afford DVC we now also sponsor two kids from Africa as part of spreading our good blessings through World Vision. Think of all the great things you have and all the good things coming up and hopefully that will lift your spirits a bit

 

[Amy&Dan]

It is very much okay to be sad that you won't be returning to a place you love for awhile. I believe OP said in her post that she knows she has been lucky to go as often as she has. But its okay on a Disney messge board to post sadness regarding Disney. Thats what this board is about after all, posting our feelings and knowledge about Disneyland and WDW.

And I truly understand, we used to make multiple trips to DL and or WDW, however those days are soon to be over. We have our January trip to DL and after that a June trip to WDW (that I can see being cancelled at some point but keeping fingers crossed). And then from here on out its, once per year or once every other year. Our situation has changed, dh no longer travels for business (no ff miles, no free tickets) and things like braces, rising cost of living and other things have made travel something that will have to be a rarity rather than a habit. Its hard to let it go however!

Amy, from one Amy to another, I hope your situation will allow a trip sooner than you think! But one thing is for certain, Disneyland won't be going anywhere, it will be waiting for you when you can make it back.

Good luck taking that cruise, they are so wonderful!

 

[kelmac284]

I agree. There is nothing wrong with that. And I can tell you there are a lot of people that would love to go to Hawaii or Europe or lots of other places who will never get to go there. I would love to be able to afford DVC but have NO chance of doing that. Believe it or not Disneyland is about THE only vacation my family can take. And it may sound crazy but we buy AP's because it is cheaper than buying park hoppers twice a year. If the 5 of us took 2 trips for 3 or more days in a year it would cost us more than if we bought AP's. So we save up and we buy the AP's and if we renew we got the 100 discount (that's 20 x 5) and we always stay at the cheapest hotels on harbor ( no frills there). We usually drive our own car or if we DO fly we get the cheapest fares we can on southwest. We pack our own food or eat cafteria style. Once in awhile we spring for a sit down meal. We don't do character meals or buy tons of souveniers. We take one or two disney trips a year. We don't go to Hawaii, we don't go to Europe because we CAN'T afford to take those trips.

Sure I guess if we saved for years we might be able to do that but we happen to love Disney and we know we can go there at least once a year and probably two or three versus saving up for one trip in ten years.

And I can tell you if we lived in ANY other state we probably wouldn't even be able to do that. I guarantee we wouldn't even be able to go to Disneyland as much as we do if it wasn't so close to us.

So while I get what you are saying I don't think Amy meant anything by it and I see nothing wrong feeling bad about not getting to do something that you love. Going to Disneyland doesn't have to be an extravagant once in a lifetime vacation for everyone if you happen to live in CA like Amy and I do and if you do it cheaply like we do. And even for us it is not always something you can do all the time as she pointed out because even being as close as we are it is not always feasible to go as much as we would like.

I don't think any of us take for granted how lucky we are that we live as close as we do and that we are able to go as often as we do but by no means is it as big of a deal as you seem to think it is.

 

[SillySymphonies]

Most likely (notice I can't even make a definite statement) we won't be back to Disneyland till 2009. Our APs expire in February and we won't be renewing this year. I'm just hopeful that the 14.5 months till our next visit makes DH realize what we are missing and we can get APs for 2009.

I know I have to count myself lucky that we are able to go as often as we do, but its hard to imagine visiting my in-laws who are less than 90 minutes from DL without a trip to the parks!

Now to talk DH into that cruise I've always wanted to take since Disneyland is off the vacation list!

That is kind of a downer but just be happy that you have plans to return. We went Disney World last year and no one in my family is even talking about Disneyland [even though we are So close] we did go in April but I guess they have a smaller Disney capacity.

Just keep yourself busy and before you know it, mid 2008 will be here and you can plan again!

 

[samkj]

Thanks all! I do want to add that it is not purely(although the $1200 AP renewal fee does come into play!) a financial decision, its more that my DH has had enough for now and I respect his decision. I will admit that I do get more excited when its been a long time since my visit, but having one to look forward to in the next few months is a great feeling! We'll be vacationing in 2008, just to different places than Disney. We'll be in San Diego next month and Tahoe in the summer. And if there's one thing I know for a fact, Mickey Mouse will be there when we are ready to go back!