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

[BigAlsGal]

My reply is MORE TRIPS!! No matter how many times a year I go I'm giddy every time. Honestly I don't think I could go once year.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We were going twice a year for a while. It was fun but it was probably overkill. Our kids were at that "magical" age so I don't regret it

Now it's been 18 months since our last trip and I think the time passed will help make things fresh again

If we didn't have to fly, within a day's drive, I admit I would probably go more often, for short trips. Flying has become so dreadful

 

[WhispyPixie]

We say...more trips! Disney fever kicks in around this house after about 10 months of being gone from WDW....we TRY to make it 2 years between trips, but very rarely make it!

 

[nco91590]

My family was on an "every 2-3 year" kick. But we went in Aug 2014, I went again Feb 2016 and now we're headed there March 2017. My kids are little so I'm ok with going a bit more often than I typically would. But after this next trip, we're definitely going to take a little break. Wait for some new attractions. Maybe mix it up with a Universal Trip or maybe a cruise?

I can't imagine going multiple times a year. I think I would get jaded.

 

[tlmadden73]

I'd say more trips, but really it all depends on a lot of factors (including how you get there).

I moved to North Carolina and I am a 9 hour drive from the Orlando area.
This March will be my 4th trip to Disney since 2010. (5 to the Orlando area .. my wife and I did a separate Universal trip one year).
This will be my third trip for my son (who will be 4 1/2). So we average going once every 12-18 months.

All have been short trips to keep it affordable. (average of 2-3 park days per trip).
I'd rather go on shorter trips but more frequently, but wait long enough between them to let some new things pop up to experience NEXT time.

I last went in August 2015 and missed all the Star Wars Launch Bay stuff at DHS, so this trip we are making sure we check that out.
There was no Frozen ride yet, so we've skipped Epcot on the last two trips.
Our next trip in the future .. 2018? Probably will have Pandora to look forward to .. then eventually the lands in DHS.

But, that is because I can drive there will little effort or cost.

I'd have to live a lot closer to consider multiple trips in a year. 9 hours is close, but still an effort to drive (especially with young kids).

If I had to fly, I would make the vacations longer to make the high cost of flying "worth" it, but I would probably go less frequently as a longer trip you can probably get it "all" in compared to a short trip that gets you wanting more because you can't do it all.

 

[sharadoc]

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.

Yes, we went Thanksgiving and didn't have trouble riding everything we wanted to at least once. I think sometimes the old mindset of multiple rides on everything makes you feel cheated. We don't mind just riding things once so that was okay.

The work to coordinate fastpasses, ADRs, buses, etc. was tough. We missed the little things like shows and street entertainment which we like. I barely saw the Dapper Dans and never saw the Main Street Philharmonic which I love. Same at Epcot, no Jammitors. It was hard!

 

[DisneyFan2013]

I've been going once a year for the past five years in a row and I'm happy with that frequency for the most part. The wait does seem long in between trips and I wouldn't mind going twice a year, but I can't be separated from my cat for more than a few days. She's getting increasingly upset about me going away, so I think my next trip will probably only be three days! Ideally, I'd like to stay five days but she doesn't eat well when I'm away and my parents don't know how to encourage her.

 

[Bullseye]

We do 1 trip per year, and its always so exciting to have 12 months to PLAN and DREAM about your vacation being so far away!

This is us. Since 2005 we've done one trip per year, usually 10-11 days in June. Once we get back home there's usually a four month lull until we start planning next years trip. Our enthusiasm hasn't wavered, we still love it. Confronted with not being able to go this year because of a project deadline, my family was really bummed out ... but then the project got moved back, so we're good to go again in June .

 

[Rusty2rules]

What do you people do for a living? Dang!

I'm with you!!

Here's the way I look at it. If you can go multiple times in a year, or whatever, good for you. For me, I think I would get bored with it, lose that feeling of magic and wonder. I would think it'd be more like going to the mall, or going to Six Flags for the weekend. My family and I went in 2004, 2006, and 2008. That was awesome. But even then, the 2008 trip it was, like, this is cool but not much has changed. Then we didn't go again until 2013, and we only did AK then (it's my DW and DS favorite park). We were so excited to be able to do just that! And now my DS and I are going back for a full trip next January. We're beyond excited! So, for me, like I said, going that many times in such a short period of time, I think the magic would wear off.

And this is specifically aimed at the OP... O-H!!

 

[klmall]

It really depends upon where you travel from and money. Going several years in a row back in the mid-2000s just about ruined Disney for DH. He just couldn't enjoy it at all. We're now back on our every 3 years or so schedule and I like it. If I get Disneyitis I just go solo or take someone else along.

Plus when we do go we like to stay in deluxe hotels, eat nice signature meals and be comfortable! Now we live so far away that we can't drive and flights are lengthy.

After our spring 2017 trip we're tentatively planning to return as a family sometime in 2021 for the 50th anniversary.

 

[nkereina]

We typically visit once a year, but last year we went on our Honeymoon to Hawaii and we won't be returning to WDW until August this year. So it will have been two years since our last trip.

IMO, less frequent trips let you experience something new and exciting almost every time, with all the changes and new attractions, stores, etc. that are opening. Always seems to be something to look forward to that we have never seen or done before. BUT I do feel more pressure to maximize our time and see/do as much as we can since I know we haven't been there in a while and I know we won't go again for at least another year. So it's a catch 22.

If I had a choice, I'd do more frequent trips so I could go at a slower pace and less pressure to do everything, which I think would make for less stressful trips.

 

[ErinsMommy]

I usually leave Disney tired and saying that's it, next year we're going somewhere else, and as the year closes I'm ready to go back. It drives my husband wacky - but he's hopeful one day we'll start venturing to other places and go back to Disney maybe every other year or every few years.

 

[gorkt]

For me, since I come from MA, less trips but bigger. I go every 3-4 years for 9-10 days. It's glorious because you really sink into the place and let it absorb you, plus it seems like a really rare treat. I also like seeing something new every time I go. I just visited last November, and likely won't visit again until Star Wars land opens. So I won't be back until 2019 at least.

 

[mrzrich]

For the record. I am one of those people who goes 4 or more times a year, and I still manage to see or try something new every trip. Seriously.

I will likely never get a chance to stay at every resort or eat at every restaurant, even if I went more often.

There is just so much. New restaurants every few months, new festivals, new character meets, new attractions, new exhibits and experiences. Recreational activities, tours. Etc

 

[Pacolovestacos]

A decade ago, I would have certainly said visit as often as possible. But with the increasing crowds and the constant onslaught of negative changes, I think waiting a couple of years in between is the right move.

 

[DisneyObsessedRN]

I think I need 4-6 month break between visits to fully appreciate the planning experience all the way to making a new PhotoPass album when we get back. I love making the itinerary, buying/making outfits and accessories, and reading reviews about all the latest additions. Going from a September to December trip is quite stressful. I haven't even downloaded all our memory maker photos or unpacked all our souvenirs from September because I've been trying to finalize ADRs, FPs, BBB appointments, etc.

 

[pens4821]

When I was younger I went twice. Maybe 12 ish then 16. Didn't go again until I was 30, then two years later, and planning next year which would be another two years in between. We feel this works best for us (every other year). It turns in to an expensive trip because there are 5 of us and we need two rooms. Then the airfare, and food, and it adds up quick.

We really like the every other year because now we know the things we must do, would like to do, doesn't matter either way, and the things we don't want to do again. We stay a week, and only do Disney. This way, we get to do everything we want, and our favorites usually 4/5 times. Even taking out the money, I feel that every year (or multiple times in one year) we would get tired of it.

We decided we'd start doing one big trip, then a few smaller ones a year. So in between Disney trips we've done the Outer Banks (which used to be a twice a year thing, but it got to be too much too) and Colorado. We may do Colorado again in 2019, or maybe Grand Canyon/Sedona, because there is so much more we want to see.

 

[KenHutch]

Our trip in June will be our 5th trip since 2006. I would go more but like many others its a matter of finances. To bring my daughter and goddaughter I have to pay for several members of their extended maternal family and even thou I make good money it takes awhile to save up 17-20K to go.(when I do go we stay for 10 days and 2 days in Daytona Beach). To be honest its just far enough part that we have new things to see and do each time.

 

[kathy884]

I like WDW and Orlando in a small dose, about once a year. That means I usually go down once a year for four nights/three days. Longer than that is more time than I want. I have extended family in Orlando and Tampa too, so it's great to see them too. // In that trip I usually do one day at one WDW park, usually the MK, but I vary it a little bit. I usually hit SeaWorld one day too, and have one resort/family day. When something else is new too, I'll check it out to see it. I've seen the Harry Potter areas at Universal -- cool to see, but not dying to go back etc.

My main vacation budget is for other places (DH really likes the western US and mountains, so that's pretty popular for a summer trip), but a little mini Orlando/WDW trip thrown in there is great fun!

Maybe I've just been down to much or maybe I just like short doses of theme parks, but more than three days feels too long for me and I'm ready to go home.

 

[neverlandsky]

Each to their own. For us, we’re going to WDW for the first time. We wanted to go at a time where the kids aka young adults would remember the trip. With the cost, kids ages, distance, & preplanning process we are indeed a one and done trip at WDW. Both me and husband didn’t like all the preplanning stress that goes into WDW. ADRs at 180 Days. Find out there’s ADR hoarders. Fast passes at 60 or 30 days. Find out there’s throw away rooms/so-called loopholes. Having to wake up at 3 am and 4 am to set things up for ADRs and FP+. Waiting on hold forever to find out nope no discount that literally just rolled out a couple of hours before. Attractions being temporarily closed not due weather happening a lot lately. Misinformation from cast members in regards to party tickets, FP+, discounts, hotel rooms, and transportation. Now don’t get me wrong we are excited for a trip of a lifetime, yet the WDW process of the preplanning is a major turnoff, not our cup of tea, and sorry to say we won’t be doing it again. I know there are some that love the preplanning process, it’s just something that isn’t for us.

Now as a child I lived within driving distance to Disneyland where we took a lot of day trips with tons of family. So I have to admit if we were able to do day trips to WDW, I know our whole outlook would change. We would probably be going multiple times a year.