Multiple trip burn-out anyone?

[SleepyatDVC]

Anyone plan and go multiple times in a year and put planning for next year on hold?

We had four trips to WDW since last November!! Our next trip is tentively planned for the end of May 2003 at BWV - reserved 11 months in advance.

I haven't booked (or looked at) any airfare or car rentals. We were thinking of driving and visiting family (just moved to NC) on the way down. I don't know what I want to do next year yet. We're thinking about maybe moving the trip up towards the beginning of May. But haven't put enough thought into it to change my DVC ressie. I'm also tempted to go on a cruise (non-Disney) next year which might cause me to change my Disney plans also. Problem is - DH only has 2 weeks vacation a year - those days are like gold - and so much I want to do with them.

We have a December use year and banked some points into next year. So, I need to make another trip to the World before 11/30/03. I just don't know when I want to go again! DH doesn't want to talk/think about it yet - he just got back (last month for 13 nights). The kids are, of course, ready to go again tomorrow.

I know that I want to plan a trip for 1/2004 for DD's 5th birthday. It seems like I'm pre-planning my vacations 3 years in advance. But it's next year that I'm having trouble with.... I wanna go, but don't know when...

Am I making any sense?

 

[Pa@okw95]

I have similar problems with WDW the last few years. We will go 3 times in a one year period and it gets to be a little too much. There are other places in the world to go and sometimes the trip to Florida does not have the "zing" to it that it used to have years ago. I love going to WDW in the dead of winter just to get out of the cold but other times of the year it just doesn't do it for me. Flying was soooo frustrating before 9/11 now I imagine it is even worse after 9/11 that we drive and that long drive through North Carolina and South Carolina just seem to take all the fun out of it. We all change maybe you are changing also with different views of WDW without even knowing it. I think this can happen to people that are members of DVC like we are. Maybe you should use your points to go somewhere else??

 

[colleen costello]

For me the burnout is from the traveling, not the destination. Like you, we live a long way from Mickey. We drive -- it saves lots of money and I am a chicken -- but flying nowadays is an ordeal, too. I think the preparation for a trip is a big deal, too, especially for Moms. It takes me forever to get ready. Last Spring Break was crazy as I had to pack for all sorts of weather. It turned out to be eighty degrees every day and all I needed for the kids was their shorts!

I think if a bit of burnout is setting in, you might head somewhere else. We hope to do Hilton Head this summer for a night or two, to break up the trip home. A DVC-owner friend I know is skipping next year's trip purposely and saving up points for the cruise instead. The nice thing about DVC is that there are so many options, including banking or trading. Now if they would just open up the Coney Island DVC resort, you'd be set -- you could blow those points right there in NY!

 

[DeeP]

I go to WDW every 3-4 months and usually have a blast but I must say my last trip in Sept got me a little burned out. I was there for 16 nights, 1/4 business and 3/4 vacation which included going to a huge and very crowded pin event at Epcot for 3 full days, and having a friend join me for 5 days. I have never had a WDW vacation when I was actually looking forward to coming home but this past trip I was. I was actually thinking of canceling my upcoming trip in Dec, I was that ready to come home! But once I got home and looked back over the trip I realize a lot of factors contributed to making that trip stressful. First of all the business portion of the trip was very stressful, the pin event was grueling and very hot to say the least and 16 nights was just a little too long for me. Had my kids been with me maybe it would have been different but by day 13 I was ready to come home. But now I can't wait to go back in Dec but this time my DD is coming, the trip is 100% for pleasure-NO business and the trip is for 10 days which is a perfect number of days for me!
Maybe if you are burned out on WDW you might want to seriously consider a trip to HH. It is a beautiful resort with a very reasonable pt schedule and it is very different from WDW. It is a very relaxing and stress free vacation!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I am really happy to see that I am not the only one.
I am seriously thinking Jamaica in Jan. I think I need a vacation where I don't see children or strollers ( no offense to anyone, please, I do like children) and where all my meals are prepped for me and I can relax and not worry about a food budget. Besides the water in Mo Bay is just wonderful, like swimming in a salt water aquarium.

 

[Luv2Dream]

Gail, you are definitely not alone. I've just finished my 4th trip in two years and I'm ready for a break. We plan on possibly going to The Sagamore next summer, but the next Disney event planned is the Cruise in April 2004. After that, we'll go back, but probably not before. I need a break.

 

[DeeP]

Gail,
Jamaica sounds wonderful!!!!!!!!! Do yiou trade DVC pts to go there or is Jamaica during your off DVC trips? Thanks!

 

[Candace]

One 12 month period, we went 5 times. It was various members of my family, but always my younger son and I on all trips. We had AP's and that helped "encourage" me to plan another trip, but my son and I definitely got burned out that year. Since then, I have done only one, occasionally two, trips to WDW in a calendar year, but I have gone to Vero or HH and used points there instead. My son has taken friends down to wDW for the last two summers, and for next summer, he has asked to skip WDW and visit NYC instead. We have never been there, and he really wants to see everything. So, yes, I think you can definitely experience WDW burnout by going too frequently. I know some will disagree, but for us, we learned we will enjoy it more if we stretch out the times between visits. When we went to Vero last January, I didn't even miss stopping at WDW. This January, however, I am going to stay at the new Beach Club Villas and really looking forward to it. Haven't been to WDW since last June. To each his own!

 

[msdis]

Us too. We just sold part of our DVC as we were finding ourselves going because DVC was ruling our lives. Because of use it or lose it and because of making reservations without a clue simply because if you didn't book what you might want then by the time you decide you do want it there are no openings we found we were always in a compromising state. We felt we were taking far more trips than we would have without DVC. If I'm going, it has to be DVC but 2-4 times a year is too much. We kept enough for a studio for a week and a half every year or something better every other year. For what we were spending on Disney vacations even with the best of frugality we could refurnish the better part of our home every year With DC discounts disappearing and park passes increasing as they are, Disney is losing the magic for us. We too live far away and like others have said the whole ordeal of packing and planning and the ordeal of just traveling is making it less and less attractive to us too. Sorry if this sounds real negative because I really do not feel negative about Disney or DVC but it's like eating the same thing every day for a month straight, after a while you get sick of it and need a change of excitement, but then you always go back and like it again after a while.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Jamaica sounds wonderful!!!!!!!!! Do yiou trade DVC pts to go there or is Jamaica during your off DVC trips? Thanks!

No, unfortunately, DVC has nothing to trade there. We stay at Sandal's Inn, only 52 rooms, all adult, all inclusive, 72 staff members to take care of you, no tipping allowed. They even dust the balcony everyday!!!!! It is truly wonderful. The food is fantastic, and if you don't like it, you send it back and they bring you something else and special orders do not upset them. Returning guests get a special dinner and gifts. Last time it was little rawhide sandal necklaces for each of us, Dee received a huge bottle of Appleton's Rum, I got a red rose (which I still have, dried), and a dinner to die for. Everything from sailing to SCUBA diving is included. The Pina Coladas are the best I have ever had. I don't drink much, but, I can tell you, I do love them there!!! The grounds people will pick a coconut for you take their machete and slice it right there. Oh, that is really good!!!!
I do love the place.

Gail, you are definitely not alone. I've just finished my 4th trip in two years and I'm ready for a break.

I hear that!!!! I think we are close if not even with you. To be blunt, I do not want to go anywhere where there are children.
It is not that I don't like them, I do, but, I am a bit burned out with the "Disney is for Children" attitude and I need adults, couples only.

Well, now I've done it, I have the Sandal's site up and am checking for airfare. LOL.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I had no plans to return to WDW before 2004 after this next trip. Still don't. I intend(ed) to go to Hilton Head and the surrounding area then Vero and the surrounding area...with no side trips to Orlando.

I had a non_Disney Orlando trip planned this winter but I don't think I'm going to make it.

I think its a good idea to either do one trip a year to Disney or do it in spurts. At this point the only major thing I have left to see in Disney is some of the parades and mission space. Putting a year or so between this trip and the next will give Jay Rasulo the opportunity to woo me back "home".

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

This was always a concern of mine when we were buying into DVC. The main burn-out factor for me was the $$$$ of going to the parks all the time. This is one of the main reasons we bought enough points at HHI to stay there 5 nights every summer. I really think I could vacation there every year, just like many people go to the same cabin at the lake every summer. As far as WDW, we are on the three trips/year annual pass plan and then take a year away from the parks. I do see us periodically renting our points and doing something entirely Non-Disney from time to time. We may even try the CC or II if the value is OK. I would love to see more off-site DVC resorts. Maybe Sedona, AZ or something completely different. Maybe after DI villas, DVC will reconsider doing another off-site.

Some trips, we also will stay at DVC and NOT go to the parks, there are so many things to do in the Orlando area. Disney should review their pass discounts for DVC members as many are "burned out" with the cost of their 3 hours at the parks each day. DVCers need a more cost effective pass that fits their relaxed vacation style.

 

[vernon]

To counteract "burn out" I try to do different things each visit. I also used my points for a Xmas break at HH which was wonderful this year. I agree with Johnnie that the "burn out" tends to be with the parks, not the resorts ( well I think that's what he's saying ) , I'll leave some parks out one year and visit different ones. This year we bought ( in April) tickets that covered both SeaWorld and Busche Gardens up to the end of this year for a total cost of $100 per person so I'll be making use of that this trip. Last year I think the only Disney parks I went to were MK and AK, going to Universal and IOA instead ( they both had good ticket deals on). This trip I'll slide MGM in and leave out Universal.

There are massive amounts of things to do outside of the themeparks, one of the good things, IMHO, about DVC is that it allows me the time to go and explore some of these other things without feeling I'm missing out by not visitting Disney parks.

 

[Laurabearz]

This December will be our 5th trip to WDW and our 7th DVC vacation (spent 5 nights at HHI and DH and I spent 3 nights at The Plaza in NYC) So far no burnout PLUS we had planned to go back in May 2003... but with a baby on the way, we cancled that trip....

Sooooo because of baby #3 we are not heading back to the world (after the December trip) for a while..... and we are all sad :-(

The upside is with all the banked points we will have we are having a major bash for some of my online buddies in June of 2004..... It will be great to give them all a great vacation for just the cost of our maintence fees......... 22 rooms in all........ Woooo Hooooo!

So far, every trip we have taken has been different. Difffernt resort, different restraunts, did different things at the parks.... Nope no burn out here yet. Not at all!

 

[EROS]

Once a year is more than adequate for us. We love WDW, but it's a big world out there!!!!!!

 

[sumessefui]

We have not had the burnout feeling yet, but we only go for 2 weeks every 18 months or so. We have a lot of points at OKW, but always take friends and family so we have no problem using them. We also usually go to VB for 2-3 days first. We also have points at HH and go there in between WDW trips. I could see where going more than once a year could cause bunrout after a while.

 

[ZerasPride]

Our first ever family visit to Disney was in October 1998. I was hooked! We skipped 1999 and by 2000 I was Disney starved and overdid it by going three times in a year. In 2001 we went to Disney for a long weekend and this coming trip will be our first visit since then. I think for me once a year or every 18 months is good. It allows the anticipation to build and I don't have that "been there done that" attitude. Fear of burn-out is another good reason why Hilton Head is our home resort. As another poster mentioned, I can see myself at Hilton Head every year (and not to have to deal with the hassle and expense of buying park passes and trying to find discounts on them).

I love the DVC program and feel so fortunate to be a member but there are other places we want to go. Never been to the Grand Canyon, Vegas, Hawaii, Jaimaca or Europe. There is just so much of this world to see and so little vacation time ! Anyway, our plan is to pace ourselves over the next 40 or so years so we don't get trip burn out.

 

[SimbaNoodle]

Living in Alabama, Orlando is only a 7 hour drive so we usually go on five night trips. My DW & me have been once every year since '95 and went on our honeymoon in '92. Joined DVC last Mardi Gras and have been twice since then.

Sometimes on about the fourth or fifth day I will start to get tired, but after about 5 months I start to where all of my disney t-shirts, start reading this forum more and more and then can't wait to go back.

I am planning a week trip to Hilton Head in 2004 though. Really looking forward to that.

By the way, since that trip in '92, we have added DD(8) and DS(6), but I promise we don't rent strollers anymore. LOL

 

[Dancind]

We did go crazy last year. Bought DVC, added on, bought annual passes, and made five trips from Sept. 01 through Oct. 02. The last trip was for a cruise on the Disney Magic and just a couple of days at the parks. Now that we've cruised, our plan is to go to WDW in odd years and cruise in even years. Our next trip is two weeks starting late May '03 at OKW and BCV (we renewed the annual passes). It will be tempting to do a Mother/daughter trip before school starts in Fall '03, but that would mess up the plans! I do think we will be eager to get to WDW if we're only going every other year, but we overdid it this year! Diana

 

[westjones]

This is one of the reasons (besides cost) that DH and I decided to only buy 150 points. We figured that we could 'bank' our points every other year and go have a wonderful time at Disney, but then we could go new places every other year also.

Debra