Needing some advice.

[Dizznee Freak]

We just returned from WDW and had a blast. Now being DVC we can book next years vacation in a month or so. My question is this: Those of you who travel to WDW frequently how do you keep it from losing the luster from overexposure? I was contemplating keeping it to every other year to prevent this and was curious if anyone else struggles with this. I have two teenage daughters so I am trying to avoid them becoming bored due to yearly trips.

 

[heybravo626]

What I have found is that as we leave a visit and our AP is expiring, we think that maybe we don’t need to come back real soon. But it usually only takes a few weeks to feel the want to return soon. That pretty much sums up how we do 3-4 trips and spend over a month a year WDW even though we live in PA. However, one suggestion is to visit at different times of the year like Flower & Garden, Food and Wine, Halloween season, Christmas season. That will give you some new things to see. Also, you can consider staying at different resorts and definitely visiting and eating at different resorts.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

What a great problem to have!

I'm past my "SO GLAD TO BE HOME!" phase and in my "NOW WHAT AM I GONNA DO?!" phase!

Last year, after our awesome Disney Dream and park hopping blitz (4 days of Disney perfection, shortest and awesomest trip ever), I just HAADD to get on another one! Heck, we were looking at cruises on our drive back literally off the ship.

About 6 weeks later, we received the coveted 10% off PIN CODE and did some research and booked in July for what would become are really awesome (but not as perfect as last year's) May Disney Magic with HS/EP/SW (with a rainy day at DQ as a plus, sorta of.) It was great! We booked it in July, and I had 9 months to get excited by it! Then to top it off, we had the worst winter EVER! Instead of eating myself into oblivion, I worked out every day, lost 20 pounds, sewed mermaid shells by hand, ate perfectly and logged all my cals etc because I KNEW that my trip was 4 months away, 3 months, 2 and then next thing we knew, we were scrambling and running out of time!

AFter 10 days, tons of crowds, a really nice redone ship with parts that haven't been redone (and need to), eating really rich food, spending 10 days solid with 11 people 8 of which were family, I was SOOOOO ready to go back home and sit at home with my dogs and eat normal food.

That phase lasted about a week. And now I'm DESPERATE to book something else, I don't even care when. Since I've been back, Ive done a 5k Tough Mudder, a normal 5k, worked out constantly etc. But i'm not eating perfectly, because I don't care as much, and I'm trying to do ANYTHING I CAN to stay busy. (And this lousy economic year since the horrible winter, I've already processed all my orders here at work and here I am looking for something to keep me busy!)

At the moment, I wish I wasn't stuck here. And anyway if I were you, I'd say forget the kids, book what you want when you want! Whenever something depresses you (could be the cloudy days, a nasty winter etc), you will be excited from the inside out because you will KNOW that you have something special planned again!

I envy you! I want to start planning my Disneyland trip but its too early so I"m in the initial researching stage, plus I'm building back up my Disney rewards ($40 in my first month starting over!) and I need 12000 more airmiles and our airfare should be taken care of.

I'm just honestly so bumming right now. Thank goodness I have a short trip planned to the Gulf to see my family (doggies get to come!) but if I could, I would literally pick up and move to FL or CA and jet out of here.

Help! I moved to KY 7 yrs ago and now I appear to be stuck!

 

[Dizznee Freak]

What I have found is that as we leave a visit and our AP is expiring, we think that maybe we don’t need to come back real soon. But it usually only takes a few weeks to feel the want to return soon. That pretty much sums up how we do 3-4 trips and spend over a month a year WDW even though we live in PA. However, one suggestion is to visit at different times of the year like Flower & Garden, Food and Wine, Halloween season, Christmas season. That will give you some new things to see. Also, you can consider staying at different resorts and definitely visiting and eating at different resorts.

Trying other resorts is an option I am looking at. As far a times to visit, we are pretty much locked to summer due to the attendance rules in Texas schools.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

What a great problem to have!


I envy you! I want to start planning my Disneyland trip but its too early so I"m in the initial researching stage, plus I'm building back up my Disney rewards ($40 in my first month starting over!) and I need 12000 more airmiles and our airfare should be taken care of.

Thankfully we joined DVC in 2012. It has made the trips much more relaxing for us. My job affords us the means to fly and we love it. I was just concerned about planning next year when we just got back. However it really is a continuous process of planning then vacationing then planning again.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Thankfully we joined DVC in 2012. It has made the trips much more relaxing for us. My job affords us the means to fly and we love it. I was just concerned about planning next year when we just got back. However it really is a continuous process of planning then vacationing then planning again.

When you get dumpy like me, you will be ready to rebook! You also can take advantage of DVC member cruises too, I think one just got added for 2015, but the DCL board has info for that. Ever tried a DCL? They even went back to Galveston next year. You don't have to do a DVC charter and you can still use your points if you wanted, or at least others do.

 

[V2000]

Events! Try different times of the year. F&W at Epcot is amazing!
Holidays such as Halloween and Christmas are also fun. For Christmas I go early November before the crowds start. My daughter is 15 and we tired the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party last year. We loved it!

This year we are trying Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween. They have lots of shows and entertainment any age would enjoy. It's like a big party!
This also is the time the F&W at Epcot is open so we will have both.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

When you get dumpy like me, you will be ready to rebook! You also can take advantage of DVC member cruises too, I think one just got added for 2015, but the DCL board has info for that. Ever tried a DCL? They even went back to Galveston next year. You don't have to do a DVC charter and you can still use your points if you wanted, or at least others do.

Actually we have thought about DCL. Never got past the planning stages though.

 

[ZoZo]

OP, I know what you mean. After five WDW trips in about seven or eight years, I was having feelings of "Why isn't this as fun as it used to be" while I was there. I was still having some fun but not nearly as much as I used to. I definitely like to repeat things (favorite rides, shows) but it was feeling a little too much "same old, same old" to me.

Then I took a break from WDW for five long years (due to two foot surgeries and lack-of-money issues). I did a short, two-day trip to Disneyland during that five years off, but no WDW trips during that time. I went to WDW in February and had an absolute blast! I think the every-other-year plan is a great idea. But you might be surprised - you might get hooked and have to go yearly!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Actually we have thought about DCL. Never got past the planning stages though.

Well if you get one out of Galveston, you probably don't even need airfare. Or you can combine it with a port canaveral/orlando parks trip, although I feel like based on my last trip, they almost need to be a solid week at WDW or 4-5 at least. (More time in the parks, maybe 4-5 days and a 3-4 day cruise, with FP our crowds were awful). I felt like I did everything I wanted on my 4 Day Magic, and Castaway Cay is like a 5th Disney Park out in the middle of the ocean!

Here's my last trip report:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3276365

Our 3 Day Dream was INCREDIBLE so if you only get a 3 day, its still totally worth it, but the seaday gave us a day to watch a movie and unwind before heading back into the parks. 4 day is perfect to dip your toes in, or you can take the Wonder out of Galveston. Those are getting snatched up pretty quick. If you like Disney at a relaxed pace, Disney cruising is definitely for you! It brings the Disney service, accomodations, dining, entertainment etc right to you for a change (and about 2000-4000 other people, but still better than tens of thousands!)

Also, our DISboard DCL forum is SOOOO FRIENDLY and helpful!!!!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

We have started changing how we tour. For the longest time, I was doing all of the planning, the touring strategies, booking the dining, etc. The family, of course, gave input, but we really stuck to my ideas on the best way to get through the parks and do everything that we wanted. Well, we have started changing that up. Last trip, we planned it so we had 3 days in each park. My husband got to decide everything we did at Epcot one day. If he wanted to do Ellen's Energy Adventures first thing, that's what we did. He called the shots on where we ate and when (of course he took us into consideration and everything, but you get the idea). The second day at Epcot was mine. We did whatever I wanted to do in whatever order. Then, on our third day, we stuck to our typical schedule. Same for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. I believe you get a new appreciation for the parks when you go alone, because you get to do what you want when you want. Since my husband refuses to go alone, this was the closest we could get. And you know what? He gained a new appreciation. He saw things he didn't normally see and really enjoyed his time.


We also try to do something new each trip. This could be a new restaurant, hotel, or tour. It's fun picking those things out and even more fun experiencing them.

 

[nkereina]

We've lamented over this same issue when considering whether or not to buy DVC. In addition to Disney, Orlando has some other great parks up the road. Also some good shopping. Trying other resorts also keeps it fresh. Taking things slow and allowing for some pool days, sleeping in days, etc. instead of doing constant parks, Disney Cruise Line. These are all ideas we came up with when considering whether we should do annual or bi-annual trip.s

 

[ArwenMarie]

We've always skipped a park (or two) every trip. Makes the trip more relaxed, and then when you get back, that park feels new again.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

I appreciate all of input! It seems we will be carrying over 73 points to next year and must use them next year or lose them. That pretty much make the decision for me. I will look at alternative resorts to switch it up.