No joy in planning

[ErinInCT]

Well, Disney has ruined it for us. I am trying to plan a family vacation for 2005 (we figured we'd go back to WDW in 2006 just b4 dd1 turns 3) & I just can't get into it. I use to love spending all my free time surfing the web for the perfect beach house down the shore, etc but now they all look dumpy & boring. I keep comparing everything to WDW. Hmm, that hotel is not nearly as nice as BC. Hmm, the boardwalk attractions are not nearly as fun as MK. Argh, does this mean we'll be spending every vacation at WDW from now until eternity? Dh actually said "we can always go back to WDW" but I think he said it half heartedly. I thought it might be better to go every other year so we didn't tire of it, but now all I want to do is plan Disney trips. I'm even planning friend's trips now! I have no joy in planning anything else. I'm afraid that if we do go somewhere else we'll spend the whole time comparing it to Disney & feel let down.
Anyone else run in to this problem?

 

[I_Know_You2!]

I almost fell into that until I remembered that there are such awesome places to visit! I want ou children to experience everything from the Grand Canyon to the coast of Maine. We had a wonderful time in Williamsburg, too.

(Burning your husband out is not a great idea either! He might quit saying "we can go to disney!")

 

[Praying Colonel]

I feel the same way. Our family took our 1st WDW vacation in August (with our good friend Hurricane Charley )--my son and I want to go back in '05, but my wife and daughter want to do something different. Planning these things usually falls to me, and I just can't get into planning a non-WDW vacation because I know it's not going to be as much fun. We're going back in '06, though, so maybe I can start planning that one early.

 

[Wiggle]

Heidy-ho, neighbor Erin!

We feel the same way. But last year we went to Arizona instead of WDW for our annual January trip. I had a business trip to AZ and the family went with me there instead. It was wonderful, and the kids REALLY got into the wild west! Something totally different. (But I did miss my WDW fix!)

We also go to OBX every summer with a huge group of lifelong friends that we ALL look forward to.

But WDW is always THE place to be, THE goal, THE dream. Everything else is fun in its own right, it's all just a different kind of fun!

Your neighbor down I-70,

 

[Ashes8380]

maybe you should consider going places that aren't anything like WDW. avoid theme parks, boardwalks, etc.... maybe a beach vacation, or a national park or something will be different enough that you can't really compare. just an idea!!!

i do it too though....especially if i go to six flags or something, i can't believe how run down they tend to be!

 

[Bill From PA]

WDW trips used to be an afterthought, the family week at Myrtle Beach was the Primo Vacation. Now, the Disney trips are the focus of my trip plans and day dreams, but we still enjoy the beach vacation because it's such a change of pace from a week 'In The World'. I see no point of comparison between them, and anyway, we always return to the same condo on the same week in June, so the only thing to plan is a faster route from from PA to SC. If searching for a beach house leaves you cold, let Hubby do it. Dedicate your time to WDW trips no matter how far off they are. We took the whole famn damily, 8 adults and a grandchild , to The Dolphin for 8 days this March and that was 19 months in the planning stage. Believe me, I needed the time to find the bargains that made it possible.

Bill From PA

 

[DemonLlama]

I felt this way until we spent two glorious weeks in Santa Fe this summer. The advice about finding something totally different is a good one. I

 

[ncbyrne]

I solved my dilemma by planning two vacations every year. One is always WDW. DH and I have 5 grown kids and 6 DGkids, so one trip is always with one or more of the kids and DGkids! I just got back last night, and I'm already planning my next adult trip with DH! In between, I also plan a 10-12 auto trip with DH - usually to an historic destination as we are both history nuts. Since I don't want to give up WDW planning, I just make sure I go with one of

 

[klahr]

I think Ashes8380 has the right idea.

You’ll find the most success with choosing a location unlike WDW.

Drew

 

[Sandyincanada]

You hit it right on the nose, Ashes. I also found (and still do) myself comparing similar vacations to Disney and found them lacking so now we go to Orlando every couple years and inbetween we go to All inclusives in the winter to places like Mexico, DR, Cuba, etc. We found we love these vacations as much as going to Orlando. They are completely different, so relaxing and always so interesting to try different cultures, food, people, etc. The vacations are so different that there is nothing to compare.

 

[djm99]

I experienced the same thing. Jamaica, Hawaii, and a cruise were all on the table. Because DH has been to WDW three summers in a row he requested that we not go this up coming summer. He suggested California again (and a cruise from Long Beach again) and we could do Disneyland this time. Our last trip to LA we didn't do Disney and we went without DD. We had a ball. We went to 4 free studio audience show tapings, we did Universal Studios, did some tours, but it was for only a week. So I began planning. DH wanted to rent a house for two weeks. He got a rude awakening to find the prices of rentals in California. It was way more than what we wanted to pay (or could afford). So I suggested WDW again. He said "no". And I told him that it would be great if DD and I could do a special princess trip. He looked at me like I was crazy!!! I ended up agreeing to 5 days onsite and 8 off.

And my DH and I always take "small" trips during the year, but summers are for the real vacation!!! Since we both have the exact same vacation times (both teachers) we use our winter breaks, spring breaks, and summers strategically.