Is it better to have more trips or to visit sparingly?

[DVCcurious]

We've gone 8 times since 2011. Our last trip was April 2016 and we are not going back until after Star Wars Land opens. I just want to wait for the new stuff to open up before we go back.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We've done it both ways since we joined DVC back in 2005...

-- For a number of years we did one 10-day trip a year. We started when DS was 15mos. old and before DD was born. Planning was easier with one trip, and the anticipation was fun.

-- Last year was CRAZY -- just worked out that way -- we did: 1) DL in Jan (SW Light Side 1/2), 2) WDW in Apr (SW Dark Side 1/2), 3) WDW in Aug for our "regular" annual trip, 4) W&D Half / F&W in Nov. It was cool, in that we were never too far away from the NEXT Disney trip! BUT... it was A LOT of planning!! Hadn't been to DL in YEARS so that was starting from scratch. Then SO MUCH was up in the air in WDW in 2016 that planning drove me slightly batty.

I think the "sweet spot" for us might be one regular 10-day trip and one trip for a race weekend, now that the kids are older (10 and 11) and are into running. We did that a couple of times in recent years, and that's what we're doing this year: Aug for the long trip and W&D/F&W in Nov.

 

[soniam]

I think the problem, @OhioStateBuckeye, is that you have been a lot, so things don't feel new and exciting. You know they say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I think you need a little absence, so less trips per year. For me, on the other hand, I haven't been that much yet, so everything is still new and exciting. Until I "conquer" the park, I won't feel satisfied One down side of having so many trips per year is that it makes it difficult to find time for pre-trip and trip reports. They start to feel a little bit like a chore that you have to get completed before starting the next Which is a shame, because they are fun to do and read, when you have the time.

 

[mrzrich]

BUT... it was A LOT of planning!! Hadn't been to DL in YEARS so that was starting from scratch. Then SO MUCH was up in the air in WDW in 2016 that planning drove me slightly batty.

Yes, planning 4 trips a year can be stressful. Might I Suggest something? Plan the BIG once a year long trip as ever. But the shorty trips, take a more relaxed approach.

I decide a few things that I'd like to do that trip. For example when I go in the Fall, Food & Wine is my focus.

MY FP are very fluid, I often change them on the fly. Sometimes I decide to change parks completely. Because of this "go with the flow" attitude, I don't make ADR's for every single day. I often see what's available the night before or day of. I have never gone hungry at WDW. Despite what some on these boards have drilled in our heads, there is such a thing as last minute ADR's. I have snagged even Ohana and Be Our Guest. Other times I have had the opportunity to try hidden gems that were not radar before, like the Wave and The Turf Club.

 

[jvz82]

I would be happy to go once a year, I don't think I would get burned out.

As a child I went every 2 years and that was perfect.

We live in MN and can't afford to fly so we drive, and it's a big trip. Disney is expensive with 4 kids. To people saying that 5k for 7 days is a lot, we paid 3k for 5 days and we only did 3 days in the parks! And it's not like we did deluxe anything. So 5k doesn't seem all that high, really, depending on your family size. We don't have a lot of extra money so I had to work my butt off to save up that 3k. I also get very little vacation time and we need a large chunk of time since we have such a long drive. So just logistically, it's hard for us to get there more than every 2-3 years. If I could, would I go more often? Yes. But going more often would be a strain on our family. Maybe one day when my kids are older and I can work more often and make more money and we can do things differently.

I think the trips are extra special when you don't get to go as often, but at the same time there's also a lot of pressure that it has to be this *perfect* trip when you don't go as often.

 

[Someluck]

I live on the west coast and did not go to WDW until I was 62 years old! Needless to say I was amazed at how wonderful it was to be there and quickly realized I needed to make it an annual trip. Luckily, my spouse feels the same! We just finished booking our next trip and now I will spend many enjoyable hours reading these boards and making plans for our upcoming trip.

 

[TropicalDIS]

Some of you guys are real lucky!! Usually go every other year. Although headed down in a few weeks for my 2nd trip in 3 months. Looking forward to it.

 

[A State Of Autumn]

I've visited one Disney park once a year since 2015 (Disneyland, Paris, WDW) but WDW is by far by favourite - I'd love to visit annually but coming from Australia with work commitments and other places we want to go it's just not manageable. I'm envious of people that get to go all the time.

 

[Davey Jones II]

We alternate between WDW one year, and DLR (as part of a larger California vacation) the next. That way, there's always something new at either resort by the time we get back there (and at Universal, too).

This year, it's Orlando. The new goodies will include Pandora, FEA, the new Muppets show, Star Wars stuff at DHS, and Kong, Fallon and Volcano Bay at Universal.

 

[abnihon]

Confession: A few years ago I got burned out on WDW. *ducks*

In my defense, my ex wanted to go there every year, and each year he got more and more miserable to be around to the point that he was an embarrassing jerk and really cut into my enjoyment of the trips--cutting in line at the boats to go to WL from MK and then getting into it with people who called him out, saying crude things in front of other guests, making racist comments on IASW, you name it. It was actually at WDW when I realized I was in a horribly unhealthy and abusive marriage and needed out.

I'm getting ready to go on my first trip to WDW since those events, and I'm having a hard time getting super excited. I think (hope) this will change when I get there and can start making new memories. I have had a very take-it-or-leave-it attitude about WDW for a few years now, and I want to find the magic again and actually get excited about the thought of going on a regular basis.

I feel like we were married to the same man... down to the racist comment on IASW.
He only came with us for that one MK day. I'm thankful I never took him to Epcot and had him ruin it for me by complaining about all the cultural diversity in the World Showcase.
He also of course thought going back every year was insane.

Well now that I'm divorcing him I'm buying annual passes for me and DS and we'll go 4-5 times.
So excited to make more Disney memories that don't include the ex.

After that we may start spreading it out to every year or other year.
I'll let you know how I feel once the year is up!

 

[captaindavidhook]

My biggest annoyance is the people that go "you're going again?!" "Don't you ever get sick of Disney?!"

Ironically, it's the same people that go to Lake George (NY) or spend a family vacation at the best each summer. This is where I grew up and where I'll continue to go when I have kids of my own.

Such a true comment, couldn't agree more

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yes, planning 4 trips a year can be stressful. Might I Suggest something? Plan the BIG once a year long trip as ever. But the shorty trips, take a more relaxed approach.

I decide a few things that I'd like to do that trip. For example when I go in the Fall, Food & Wine is my focus.

MY FP are very fluid, I often change them on the fly. Sometimes I decide to change parks completely. Because of this "go with the flow" attitude, I don't make ADR's for every single day. I often see what's available the night before or day of. I have never gone hungry at WDW. Despite what some on these boards have drilled in our heads, there is such a thing as last minute ADR's. I have snagged even Ohana and Be Our Guest. Other times I have had the opportunity to try hidden gems that were not radar before, like the Wave and The Turf Club.

Good point! Actually, I usually tried to take the shorter trip planning much easier and keep things looser. 2016 was just nutty... will RoL be open?? Will there be SW fireworks?? Dessert party?? So much up in the air! Then when the short trip is a F&W one, we want to hit a couple of special events, and have a bit of a plan for the booths... nothing extensive, just a sense of which ones to hit.

But generally, I think you're EXACTLY right!

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

We typically go about once a year, although 2015-2016 we had APs and went I think 5 times. That being said, we typically take trips that are markedly different from each other. We go during different times of year, stay at different resorts, eat at different places, and do special events like dessert parties and after hours events to make each trip feel very very different from the last one

 

[ZoZo]

I think everyone has his/her own "sweet spot" when it comes trip frequency. Because I live in Washington state, I have to tackle on a full travel day on both ends of my trip. That, plus the high cost of airfare, tends to limit me to less frequent trips, usually every two or three years. If I lived closer, I might do shorter, more frequent trips.

Also, though, I'very found that if I go too often, I don't get as excited as I do when I've had a longer break from WDW. By taking a longer time between trips, I get much more jazzed!

 

[sharadoc]

We used to go once a year, sometimes twice - summer and winter. We waited 2 years between trips this time and it was a little too long. BUT, the planning is so much more stressful and the "feeling" is different now because it's so crowded more often, that we actually left shrugging our shoulders about when we would go next.

We know we have a trip for DDs choir competition in April 2018. We are kind of looking forward to going back kidless at some point, but it's just too hard to go too often lol.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We used to go once a year, sometimes twice - summer and winter. We waited 2 years between trips this time and it was a little too long. BUT, the planning is so much more stressful and the "feeling" is different now because it's so crowded more often, that we actually left shrugging our shoulders about when we would go next.

We know we have a trip for DDs choir competition in April 2018. We are kind of looking forward to going back kidless at some point, but it's just too hard to go too often lol.

For us, it is less about crowds, than how much more we are paying, and how much we are able to ride e-rides, and how little flexibility we now have to change our plans.

I've had many trips on weeks like Easter. It was crowded, but we were still always able to get FP for everything.

Now, I just can't get past things like the risk of loss we take when we buy tickets. If you go on day one, but can't go after that, too bad. You are out hundreds if you can't use the remaining days. There's no way to make them non-expiring.

 

[HopperFan]

Everyone is different, and I can see being excited to have it far off, it's what we do with cruises. It amps up the "special" of the trip.

 

[W.E.D.]

You're right, OP. Everyone is different.
We prefer every 4 - 5 years. There are always new things to experience with a gap like that, IMHO.
I had the chance to visit two years in a row awhile back. I found some of the pixie dust lacking on that second visit.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I do long weekends - 3 or 4 a year. I'm the only person in my family who gets an Annual Pass.
I try to do a few different things each trip. I also don't do every park each trip. Sometimes I take a day and go to Clearwater Beach or Universal depending on my mood.

My husband prefers a 4 day trip once every 3 years. In the past he's not been interested in many extras like tours although that seems to be changing as he gets older.

My youngest says she doesn't care if she never goes again. My oldest still enjoys Disney but doesn't have the time to go now that he's either in college or working in the summers.

 

[DizDaD7]

In 1 word...MORE!