My family is done...

[tholczer]

and I am so sad. After being an AP holder for many years, we just let our passes expire in November and are not renewing. Living close to DL has been wonderful. From day trips in the rain with my toddlers, drinking hot chocolate and splashing through puddles, to kicking off the Christmas holidays with our Mickey-eared Santa hats, Disneyland has been a huge part of our family life. Unfortunately, the only one who still wants to go is me.

So I guess I just wanted to hear your family stories and how much Disney has meant to all of you since this is the only place left where I can get my "fix".

Tracy

 

[FlameGirl]

and I am so sad. After being an AP holder for many years, we just let our passes expire in November and are not renewing. Living close to DL has been wonderful. From day trips in the rain with my toddlers, drinking hot chocolate and splashing through puddles, to kicking off the Christmas holidays with our Mickey-eared Santa hats, Disneyland has been a huge part of our family life. Unfortunately, the only one who still wants to go is me.

So I guess I just wanted to hear your family stories and how much Disney has meant to all of you since this is the only place left where I can get my "fix".

Tracy

Oh that's a shame. Have you considered joining the divas for their annual meetup?

 

[sonnyjane]

Oh I just wanted to say that you don't have to quit cold-turkey!

I have an AP, but my DH has only ever gone to the parks once, and that required dragging. I go alone ALL the time and love it. In fact, sometimes people feel bad and offer to join me and I let them know that I prefer to go alone most times. I don't have to worry about what anyone wants to do but me!

That said, the one person I love going with is my little sister (12 years younger). She and I went together for the first time in 2009 and we have since turned it into her Spring Break tradition. This year will be her third trip.

Other than that, there is nothing wrong with going alone!!!

 

[Captjacksfamily]

Growing up in SoCal we used to get to DL every year, then we basically lost interest for about 10-15 years. Now were back big time with a DVC points in three resorts (including GCV), Premier APs and a D23 membership. So don't give up hope, it just might get interesting again in a few years.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Just because they're done, doesn't mean you have to be. If you want to keep your AP to the magic, keep it!

I understand from reading your post that there is a family element in the fun, but trust me, you can find other fun at DL too! (Not that will replace, but that will be different!)

Happy you have great family memories of Disneyland. Maybe now it's time to make some solo memories!

- Dreams

 

[ironpig70]

My family is from SoCal and my grandparents took me when I was young(don't remember it)

Took my daughter who is now 12 when she was just a couple months old. My wife had never been so we went for a day.

With family in SoCal we would come down and visit for a couple days, hit the parks and then visit before returning home.

Took my oldest when she was 4 with my nephew also 4 and we had a great time. We ran the kids ragged To the point they needed to be carried back to the hotel.

Last trip was the 50th anniversary. We wanted inline for a long while to ride on the Golden Dumbo. I swear it was the kids not me.

So now with the move to Oregon we are no 14 hours away rather than 5 so its a lot more work to go but I think once I am out of school and working we will try and make it an annual trip. Alternating between spring, summer and winter.

For me I am biting at the bit. I cannot wait to go. My oldest is excited and my little ones where to little last trip to remember so hoping after this trip they have some magical memories.


Lastly for us atleast the greatest thing is no worries. No work, no phone calls, no rules. Well we have rules but alot of things kinda get real lax as this is a vacation. A great example was last trip kids where 2,2 and 8 and wife was going to take the little ones back as they where tired. My 8 year old asked if she could have ice cream. With out hesitation I said "yes". Wife gave me a look. Guess I should have looked at my watch. IIRC it was something like 10-11 pm.

No way my kids would eat ice cream at that hour at home but hey its Disneyland and is it really that bad to do.

 

[KCmike]

Was it a money issue or just tired of going? I know I was personally tired of WDW after several trips. I just wanted to to other things. Luckily there was so much in California that we could add DL to the trip. We don't plan on going back for awhile (2012). We would like to either visit Oregon and the Pacific Northwest or finally go back east. Just not sure where to go when talking about the east coast.

Anyways I'm sure you'll be back soon.

 

[LindaBabe]

your family may be done, tracy, but YOU don't have to be! out of my last 40 trips to WDW, probably 32 were either alone or with people other than family members

 

[jlmarr]

After being an AP holder for many years, we just let our passes expire in November and are not renewing.

We've done that periodically - "give it a rest" - then renew again months later. Never say never.

 

[skiingfast]

I agree with Dream and Jlmarr either be the one that keeps a pass so when they want to go there is the incentive that you are ready, or let it laspe and see how you feel when the winter rains move on.

 

[tholczer]

Thanks for all the

I'm just not a single rider My joy has been in going with my family. I even tried to go once with just my husband, and we ended up looking at each other half way through the day and admitting how it just wasn't the same without the kids. It's also partly a financial issue. That $1,000 can go toward a vacation that we will all enjoy together.

So, sadly, the decision is made. I just wanted to hear stories about your own family trips and what it has meant to all of you.

Tracy

 

[Mugglemama]

We started going to DLR regularly in October of '01. I have 4 kids now, but back then, we had 3....who were ages 9, 3, and 5 months old when we bought our AP's.

In the 9 years since, we've had one more child (who is now 6), and have made over 100 visits into the park.

For me, Disneyland really grew to become the place where we had the majority of our really special family memories. We were there so much that it's easy to see how that turned out to be the case. We've celebrated birthdays there, used it as an excuse to skip school (and work, shhhh!), and honestly, I feel like I've watched my children grow up at Disneyland. (We've spent a ton of time at DCA, too, but that park changes - and is still changing - so much, that it just doesn't carry the kind of "same" factor that Disneyland does, for us).

One of the things I love most, is the idea that when my children are grown, and they go to Disneyland with their own families, and even much later when I've passed on, they will have so many vivid memories of times we were together there. I feel like they'll be able to go there and really recapture that feeling of what it was like to be there with me and their Dad when they were little. They'll be able to stand in a specific spot and think, "I stood exactly here with Mom".

We have moved around a lot during their childhoods, so it's not like they've gone their whole lives with the same bedroom or the same yard, like some kids do. But Disneyland has remained the same, and even with changes in the future, many key things will likely never change. So, for me, it's been really heartening to think of my kids, when they are much older, being able to, for instance, walk up to the POTC entrance, and remember EXACTLY what it was like to stand there as a child, with me. Having lost my Dad last year, and not being able to go to his 30 year residence anymore (which felt like "my" home), I've found comfort in restaurants, certain beaches, and public venues that he and I enjoyed together throughout my lifetime. That's what I feel Disneyland will be for my kids in the future. It's where I've made many of my most favorite Mommy memories.

When we visit again in September, the kids will be 19, 13, 10, and almost 7!

 

[kiwitravel]

I even tried to go once with just my husband, and we ended up looking at each other half way through the day and admitting how it just wasn't the same without the kids. Tracy

Absolutely can relate to this.... My DW and I went to DL a couple of times in the 80's (pre kids) but it was always as a stop-over on our way to someplace else.... We remember it was neat and throughly enjoyed but we didn't have the "magic". That happened for us in 2004 when we took our kids for the first time (DD12) and (DS7). So much so we had to go again in 2006 and finally in 2010. The difference I suppose is my kids still want to go at now 19 and 14 years old, but coming from the otherside of the world it is not so easy for us, DD starts university next year and so there won't be any more Disney trips until Grandchildren I fear...

 

[PinkBudgie]

Thanks for all the

I'm just not a single rider My joy has been in going with my family. I even tried to go once with just my husband, and we ended up looking at each other half way through the day and admitting how it just wasn't the same without the kids. Tracy

Wow! When DH and I went for our anniversary, we went for a whole week by ourselves and had the best time. We could go do what we wanted to to do. We live 8 hours away though and can only visit 2 or 3 times a year at most.
We have APs but every other year let them lapse until the next summer. That way we get two summer vacations on one AP. Before the last few years, we would get there once every few years. I suppose it is different when you live so close. It seems like less of a vacation.

Maybe after you visit other places for a few years, everyone will be ready to go back to DLR again. Besides, in a few years, they have all the new attractions in place and you all will have a lot more to see and do there and it will feel fresh again.

 

[nunzia]

We went several times when the kids were little, and they all have a huge love for the place. Then there was a 'dry' time...they were older, life was changing, our jobs were hectic, etc. (when we lived in Las Vegas we never went even one time). Now they are all grown and we have 8.5 grandkids and DVC. It is all about indoctrinating (ahem..sharing with) the grandkids now. We have also discovered how much fun Disney can be just with other adults. I go with a friend to D23 stuff, we go with spouses and other family members for different types of experiences (didn't even set FOOT in ToonTown!). I don't even need to ride rides to have a nice time. Sitting by the Partners statue thinking of interesting pictures to take while people watching and eating a churro is a delightful escape.
I can certainly see where you'd need a break and certainly there are other great places for the family to vacation, but as things change, I know you'll be back.
The place never loses it's magic and there are way too many cherished memories to be able to put it in one post. I first went in 1963 and there have been large gaps during certain periods when I didn't go but I always knew I would again and always knew there would be new ways to see and feel the wonder.

 

[kailuagirl]

maybe they'll come around in a few months.

 

[tholczer]

For me, Disneyland really grew to become the place where we had the majority of our really special family memories. We were there so much that it's easy to see how that turned out to be the case. We've celebrated birthdays there, used it as an excuse to skip school (and work, shhhh!), and honestly, I feel like I've watched my children grow up at Disneyland. (We've spent a ton of time at DCA, too, but that park changes - and is still changing - so much, that it just doesn't carry the kind of "same" factor that Disneyland does, for us).

One of the things I love most, is the idea that when my children are grown, and they go to Disneyland with their own families, and even much later when I've passed on, they will have so many vivid memories of times we were together there. I feel like they'll be able to go there and really recapture that feeling of what it was like to be there with me and their Dad when they were little. They'll be able to stand in a specific spot and think, "I stood exactly here with Mom".

We have moved around a lot during their childhoods, so it's not like they've gone their whole lives with the same bedroom or the same yard, like some kids do. But Disneyland has remained the same, and even with changes in the future, many key things will likely never change. So, for me, it's been really heartening to think of my kids, when they are much older, being able to, for instance, walk up to the POTC entrance, and remember EXACTLY what it was like to stand there as a child, with me. Having lost my Dad last year, and not being able to go to his 30 year residence anymore (which felt like "my" home), I've found comfort in restaurants, certain beaches, and public venues that he and I enjoyed together throughout my lifetime. That's what I feel Disneyland will be for my kids in the future. It's where I've made many of my most favorite Mommy memories.

When we visit again in September, the kids will be 19, 13, 10, and almost 7!

This really touched me. I have those same thoughts and hopes for my own kids. I imagine taking grandkids to DL one day. I also hope that my kids will come to have fond memories.

I'm so sorry about your dad. But you're right. There is a small measure of peace to be found in those childhood places of happiness

Tracy

 

[tholczer]

We went several times when the kids were little, and they all have a huge love for the place. Then there was a 'dry' time...they were older, life was changing, our jobs were hectic, etc. (when we lived in Las Vegas we never went even one time). Now they are all grown and we have 8.5 grandkids and DVC. It is all about indoctrinating (ahem..sharing with) the grandkids now. We have also discovered how much fun Disney can be just with other adults. I go with a friend to D23 stuff, we go with spouses and other family members for different types of experiences (didn't even set FOOT in ToonTown!). I don't even need to ride rides to have a nice time. Sitting by the Partners statue thinking of interesting pictures to take while people watching and eating a churro is a delightful escape.
I can certainly see where you'd need a break and certainly there are other great places for the family to vacation, but as things change, I know you'll be back.
The place never loses it's magic and there are way too many cherished memories to be able to put it in one post. I first went in 1963 and there have been large gaps during certain periods when I didn't go but I always knew I would again and always knew there would be new ways to see and feel the wonder.

Thanks so much for sharing. I also hope to bring grandkids one day (although hopefully at least ten years from now!). I can see how things will evolve over time. We will probably go at the end of summer, as we always do, for a couple of days. But I will miss those spontaneous trips on gloomy Sundays in the winter. Mostly, though, I guess I'm missing my "little" kids. They always told me it would go fast, but I had no idea.

Have a wonderful holiday with all those grandkids!

Tracy

 

[ConnieB]

Sounds like it's time for you to start reading the "Adult Solo" trip forum here on DIS.


Or...find a family with some young Disney fans that will let you tag along, lol. I use to "borrow" my neices and nephews for trips to the zoo, park, and all other kid-friendly things because I didn't want to go alone but being a big kid wanted to go, and so I borrowed kids, lol. It's kinda nice to be able to send them home full of sugar and not deal with the aftermath. Of course then I became a mom and hated it when relatives did that to me.