Northeast DISers how often

[buzz5985]

We probably average once a year. If it's a quick trip - less than a week - we fly. Longer trips - usually 2 to 3 weeks - we drive. These longer trips we are splitting between Hilton Head and WDW. We have even taken the Autotrain once on a return trip. That was a great experience.

We love driving vacations. This past summer we flew to Vegas rented a car and went to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone over to Vail, then to Denver and flew home. 3800 miles in 2 weeks. It was AWESOME!!! We live in a beautiful country, we love to take as many back roads as we can!!! That's what was great about the Autotrain - you could see things you wouldn't even be able to see from the highway.

Janis

 

[kiki02]

We're in south Jersey and have been going every year. The only reason we don't go more often is because of our daughter being in school. We used to go twice a year until she hit middle school. Once she hit high school, we were stuck going in August as pulling her out of school was too hard. To compensate, we started going for 2 weeks instead of 1.

Our record was 4 visits in 13 months.

We typically drive.

Would love this! Did you drive all FOUR TIMES in those thirteen months?

any advice for driving from NJ to Orlando? do s or don'ts. Doing same soon. yikes.

 

[lurkernj]

I've been averaging once a year for the past 5 years. Only 2 of those trips included all 4 of us. One was just me and DS when he was 11, and 2 were with my BFF. The trips with BFF were only for 4 nights.

I don't think I'd ever drive. I could deal with driving there, but it would just put a wet blanket on my vacation if we had do end our trip with an 18 hr(or more) drive home. We've been doing the SW credit card thing and not paying for airfare the last few trips. Also, all but one trip was during a free dining promo, so it made it much more affordable.

My boys are teens now and not that into Disney (and DH isn't a huge fan either), so we have to do other trips to keep everyone happy. I try to do all my disney trips rather economically so we can afford the other trips.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Over the past five years I'm averaging once a year. This is mainly because of using miles to buy plane tickets and renting DVC points. I like taking quick trips to go to MNSSHP and MVMCP. This board has helped me finagle inexpensive trips and it's getting to be a running joke amongst my friends. One joked that I go to Disney like people go down the shore.
I should really save for a long trip less often, but it's hard to find time that the whole family can go when it wouldn't be crowded and expensive and I need my Disney fix!

 

[EagleScout]

My wife and I went about twice per year before son was born (some were also conventions for her or me), then took a slight hiatus when he was really young, and now have gone once per year with him (with grandmas also coming and sharing a separate room-luckily our two moms adore each other and are very easygoing, and they are both widows so they give some company for each other during trip). We always fly - my wife has a pretty firm 4 hr limit on driving.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

Normally once a year the last week of October for Food and Wine. This year was an exception, we went in March and again in 23 days!

 

[mm1971]

We go about every 10 months from MA but I have 2 brothers that live in Orlando so that is my "excuse". We never stay with them though. We always fly. I've driven to Hilton Head twice with the kids & that was far enough for me. I got the SW card last year & we have taken 2 trips with free airfare already.

Hey Katie!We are from MA as well.

OP, we have gone once a year for the last 7 years. We have August 2014 booked so it looks like year 8. We did 2x a year twice, but that was because DS had baseball tournaments there that don't really count as a vacation.

After this year though I think we'll be taking a couple of years off, at least as a family vacation(may go for MNSSHP and F&W without kids). There are a lot of other places we would like to visit now that the kids are a little older.

We fly. Last year and this will be paid for by SW points. Disney points paid most of the hotel and tickets last year as well. Will pay some of this year, but not as much.

 

[dizzydrop]

We live 20 minutes from Canada in NY and we go every 2 years. There are 6 of us so we drive, it's way cheaper than renting a car and flying.

 

[Crystal824]

We go every 12-18 mo. We did go three times in the last year as we had APs, but it will be 18 mo. from the last trip until the next trip next fall.

 

[bearpele]

We go twice a year to Disney. Flying out of either PVD or MHT depending on costs. We stay 4 to 10 days depending on the year. Our daughter is now in middle school so we know that we are approaching the no pulling out of school during the school year.

My hubby works to pay for the vacations - we are planning already for next year: Hawaii, beach house and a 4 day Columbus day Disney trip.
We are DVC members so that does help in making us go to Disney or change to another destination.

Life is short and I want to ensure that as a family we take time to enjoy each other and vacations help us to do just that.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

We go once a year, but are new DVC members so we will probably go twice a year now.

 

[Terry H]

Since 2001 we've been averaging about every 2 years, give or take. I have been there for the last 2 years but a had a run of 3 years in a row 2009-2011.
When I go I always fly Southwest. I would never dream of driving for 2 days when I can be there in 2 hours.

 

[wekhogan]

We went every year with my parents - they would be in FL and meet us there (we flew in from RI). Sadly, my mom passed away quite suddenly last year. It's just not the same without her, so we haven't been back. Such memories we made, though. Unforgettable.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

We usually go every other year and fly. I don't think I could talk DH into more often

 

[lauradis]

About every third year. We drive from cleveland ohio. I would love to do more but there are so many other places to visit. I get the disney crazyness after about 2 years and must plan another trip.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Another Clevelander here- we went for five days in 2010, 10 days in 2011, skipped 2012, going again in less than two weeks for another 10 days, will likely skip 2014 and do a beach vacation instead. We've flown each trip, stay on site, and don't rent a car.

 

[lauradis]

Another Clevelander here- we went for five days in 2010, 10 days in 2011, skipped 2012, going again in less than two weeks for another 10 days, will likely skip 2014 and do a beach vacation instead. We've flown each trip, stay on site, and don't rent a car.

we also like the 10 day trips, find that we can relax and wander more, expect when running to the tot lol

 

[lucyem]

We drive from NH and manage 2xs a year, 3 in the past year. Yes thats 23 driving hours. Now that the kids are older we are expecting less trips due to school schedules but on the other hand moving to MD so we will probably do more long weekends. Woo too only 14 hours from there

Autotrain is a big waste of time (for us) as we still have to deal with the NYC/Philly/DC corridor of traffic and then rearrange our schedule to meet the train. By the time you get through DC it is smooth sailing. I do not fly but DH will sometimes to meet us or leave early. For us the drive is part of the adventure and we make it as interesting as possible. Some of our best memories come from the time in the car. We generally leave at dinner time, go all night which puts us past DC before rush hour. Sometimes we keep going to WDW. Other times we stop, anywhere from GA on. We plan trips to be very flexible to account for weather etc.

 

[chellewashere]

We go every year and we drive from Philly down. Not to bad since we leave around 10 at night. We usually stop in Kingland GA. Then get up early and drive the few hours to Disney. This year we are leaving right after school lets out and driving straight to Disney so this will be a new experience for us.

 

[bfamily5]

we are WAAAAY Nor'East (NB, Canada) and we average once/year - we drive 9 hrs to get to the airport If we were to fly from here it would cost about $4000 for the 5 of us, but driving down to Portland, ME or Manchester, NH, we can get to MCO and back for about a $1000...so the drive is worth it! Wish we were closer!