Question for those "done with Disney"

[JimmyV]

..we just dont have a clue where else to go that could come close..

Seriously? We mix in lots of "other" vacations with our trips to Disney. Here are some tips:

• The real Eiffel Tower blows away the one at Epcot.
• The Louvre is way more interesting than "Impressions of France".
• A gondola ride in Venice beats the pants off of looking at gondolas at the Italy pavilion.
• The pizza in Naples is better than at Via Napoli.
• Driving along the Amalfi Coast is a better drive than Test Track.
• St. Mark's Square is more awe inspiring than the Italian Pavilion.
• Marianplatz is far more spectacular than the clock tower in the Germany pavilion.
• Climbing a real Mayan pyramid in Belize is more fun than walking up the steps of the Mexico pavilion.
• Zip Lining over the rain forest canopy in Honduras is more beautiful than the plastic foliage in Ellen's Energy Adventure.
• A smoked meat sandwhich in Montreal is way better than anything served at Le Cellier.
• Snorkeling in the Virgin Islands is so much better than donning a mask at Typhoon Lagoon.
• Swimming with a real sea turtle is better than "Turtle Talk With Crush".
• Body surfing in Hawaii is more fun than a wave pool at a water park.
• Seeing bald eagles in the wilds of Alaska will bring you to tears in a way that watching "Flights of Wonder" never will.
• Whale watching in Juneau will burn an image on your soul far more than watching the fish in the "Living Seas" tank.
• A hot air ballon ride over Napa Valley is better in person than what you see in your seat at Soarin'.

These are just a few of the things that we have concluded from our last 5 or 6 non-Disney vacations. And there will be more.

 

[Lizard Valley]

We reduced our Disney time this year (because of FP+), and did a non-Disney cruise instead. We had 2 nights and a full day at Disney before the cruise, and another 2 nights and a full day at Disney after. So instead of a full Disney week, it was down to just 2 days.

The cruise was a great success with the kids (ages 7,11,14); they LOVED it! Disney with only 3 FP+ was not nearly as successful, but still fun, and we got our "fix".

So we will be cruising again for our next spring break vacation If it wasn't for Disney taking us out of our comfort zone this year, we may never have realized how well cruising works for our family.

I want to mention that our yearly Disney vacation is not the only vacationing we do. We rent a house on the beach in Mexico every 2 years, rent a beach house on a nearby lake with friends every summer for a week or two, and do at least 1 road trip per year. Once the kids are a bit older, Europe and Costa Rica are in our plans.

 

[Donut23]

where else would we go? we are totally stumped..its always been Disney for us..we just dont have a clue where else to go that could come close

Ok, please tell us you are kidding!

If you are timid travelers, try cruising. You have the cruiseline to take you anywhere in the World.....but you can start with something easy like Bermuda or the Caribbean.

Get a copy of Ken Burns sublime series National Parks. DH and I travel to a new National Park each year. We end up retracing some of our favorites too. We will return to Alaska this summer. We were married there 7 years ago. Alaska is big and grand and majestic. Something about it. It changes you forever.

Bring History to life, visit Gettysburg. The new visitor Center is spectacular. More men fell there in 3 days than during the Vietnam Nam conflict. It was a moment that changed the direction of our country.

Jim and I wondered how many people "Got It" the first time we visited the new visitor center-kids running around screaming. Then.. Out on the battlefield we stopped to find the monument to the 20th Maine. At the foot if the monument we found pennies, small American flags and pine branches tied with ribbons. On the ribbons we found a school name and town in Maine. I took photographs of the memorial after we spruced it up a bit.

Once home I called the school in the small Maine town and spoke to the 5th grade teacher. She explained each year they study Anerican History and the Civil War. The Spring School trip is a history trip. One stop is Gettysburg. They walk Pickett's charge, then they take these little memorials and place them on the 2 Maine monuments and the headstones of the 205 Maine men who fell at Gettysburg and were buried in the cemetary.

I got chills. SOME of the kids got it.

Magic lives outside Disney.



Your Go To list is limited only by your imagination....... Whale watching on the Maine Coast, scuba diving in Belize, skiing in Innsbrook, working on your suntan on a Florida beach, Air and Space Museum in Washington, eating at all the best restaurants seen on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, Golf in Arizona, Cedar Point for the best Coasters, s Korea for the next Winter Olympics. It's all out there for you to grab and enjoy.

 

[Donut23]

Oops

 

[kaybird]

"Sickened", really? I realize not everyone has to enjoy FP+ the way we have, but certainly sickened by it seems harsh. WDW remains a great value for us,; however there are plenty of other places to go that don't have lines, attractions, or the same cost as Disney. But there are few places that have the same feel.

 

[Planogirl]

"Sickened", really? I realize not everyone has to enjoy FP+ the way we have, but certainly sickened by it seems harsh. WDW remains a great value for us,; however there are plenty of other places to go that don't have lines, attractions, or the same cost as Disney. But there are few places that have the same feel.

That "feel" differs for everyone. I can get an amazing feeling when I'm looking at a beautiful mountain range or walking in a perfect forest that Disney can't even come close to. I realize that everyone won't feel the same.

 

[Vivianne]

Bring History to life, visit Gettysburg. The new visitor Center is spectacular. More men fell there in 3 days than during the Vietnam Nam conflict. It was a moment that changed the direction of our country

We visited Gettysburg when I was doing genealogy research and found the Regiment my husbands ancestor was part of. I remember they also have night tours of the park. In addition, they sold a CD you can play in your car that talks about the battles at
the different locations you drive by. Your story is very interesting

I remember we bought the annual National Parks pass that year. With the goal of seeing more.

 

[Donut23]

Oops, fast finger.

 

[Donut23]

We visited Gettysburg when I was doing genealogy research and found the Regiment my husbands ancestor was part of. I remember they also have night tours of the park. In addition, they sold a CD you can play in your car that talks about the battles at
the different locations you drive by. Your story is very interesting

I remember we bought the annual National Parks pass that year. With the goal of seeing more.

GOOD FOR YOU!

The tour guides are passionate about the history and bring the conflict to life....

The Civil War

Or

The War of Northern Aggression


If you can afford one, and get there early enough, a private guide is the way to go. Jim did his first visit and they ended up hoofing it across Pickett's Charge!

Gettysburg brought us together in a way. We met standing in line at BTMRR....each on a singles trip. In conversation later I asked which Civil War general was his favorite, Lee and Grant too easy.(after he expressed an interest in CW history). He said Sherman and our first debate began. (Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain for me)

 

[kaybird]

That "feel" differs for everyone. I can get an amazing feeling when I'm looking at a beautiful mountain range or walking in a perfect forest that Disney can't even come close to. I realize that everyone won't feel the same.

I love the mountains, the oceans, all of the places we have vacationed as a family. Regardless, I would not return to a place where I thought the "feel" could be described as sickened as the OP put it.. That was my point. Not that WDW is the only place for an amazing feeling.

 

[Vivianne]

We met standing in line at BTMRR....each on a singles trip. In conversation later I asked which Civil War general was his favorite, Lee and Grant too easy.(after he expressed an interest in CW history). He said Sherman and our first debate began. (Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain for me)

That's great. Nothing like having common interests in addition to Disney. I just drag DH along he loves it all I think you mentioned Cape Cod. We just love the National Seashore so relaxing & beautiful the weather has been awful here in the Northeast. Until we get much warmer weather I'm not budging lol

But I agree there plenty to keep families busy just in this country

 

[Victoria3]

Disneyland.

 

[DCWarrior]

Maybe it's just me and my cynical side, but when I hear people say "I'm don't with....", I just roll my eyes. Especially when they make the statement in or on a platform about the subject they are done with. Those people that are done with Facebook and post it on Facebook. Or those that are done with a band or music artist because of their new cd and they post it on their fan site or something. Or even those people that say "I'm going to delete a bunch of my friends on Facebook or unfollow a bunch of people because...". Who cares?!?! And what is the purpose?? If you are done with something, just be done if the issue is that big of a deal to you. Do people want to be convinced to stay into something???

 

[Vivianne]

Lol. I guess you haven't been reading this thread. Most of it's about ideas for the OP who wonders where they could possibly travel other than Disney. I just have used non-exp tkts I refuse to lose money on. Personally I don't go near FB. No goodbyes there Some of us can contemplate not going to Disney for one reason or another After all this is all about opinions

 

[crostorfer]

I'm not "done with Disney". I am, however, probably done with Walt Disney World. Our fall trip this year will be had on-site at Universal with only a visit to the MK for MNSSHP, because Kass is still a little too green for Halloween Horror Nights.

Kassidy isn't quite old enough to totally enjoy a completely beach vacation yet either, so next Spring Break will most likely be at DLR. Next fall we may branch out and try something totally new, maybe we'll go to New England to see the foliage. We are going to stay at Aulani in Hawaii at some point in the next few years, but that isn't a trip we are going to take until we move back to Seattle, for airfare purposes.

 

[ellie05]

We are not done with Disney even though our last vacation was terrible (not really a FP issue). Disney has never been our only destination. Peru is probably our next big trip. There are so many places to see that I wouldn't want to be limited just to Disney. We will be moving closer to WDW so I think it is going to become our long weekend destination vs. our big vacation.

 

[fairy8i8]

Where should you go? It comes down to why you like Disney so much. What is it about the vacation you love?

For my family, we traveled the world together when I was young. Yes, I have very fond memories of Disney World, but that is because we only did a couple of trips, and they were a big deal. We also climbed the ruins in central America, visited Europe, went on cruises, saw a total solar eclipse in Hawaii, and many more. Really, it didn't matter where we were. It was about being together and experiencing things together as a family outside of our normal lives. It meant that for several weeks of the year, we had to rely on each other for entertainment rather than looking to our friends. It brought us closer together.

Because of my childhood experiences, I tend to be a more adventurous traveler, and I like to vary things up and explore. Hang gliding, snorkeling (I will get around to getting scuba certified sometimes), kayaking, hiking, etc. I like active things.

Other people just want a nice beach, some sun, and a good book on their vacation.

I like Disney so much because of the memories I had as a child. However, my first several trips to Disney World were not what I had hoped they would be because they were budget trips. For me, I love the Disney Deluxe Hotels with valet and belle service, riding the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, taking an afternoon to do some water sports, and eating at signature restaurants. The parks are fun, but for me, they are just a part of the experience of Disney.

My next trip, and my first trip with my son, will be more like what I look for in a Disney vacation, though shorter than what I experienced as a child to keep costs down. I am even getting a tour guide for a morning because the whole FP+ thing/threat of long lines was stressing me out during planning.

If we don't love it, then we will just hold off on another trip for a while. We already have other trips planned, or on our list for the future. Alaskan cruise, Prague, New Zealand for 3 weeks (night as well stay a while once you pay for the airfare), and once DS is a little older than 4, we will do an African Safari, probably the same place that Disney does their Adventures by Disney Tour. However, by booking it myself, I can get a full week (7 nights) on the reserve with all meals, transportation, and tours included for up to 4 of us for $1500 over Christmas as compared to Disney's $8000 per person ($24,000 for 3 people), where you only spend 3 days on the reserve and the rest touring other places less interesting to me in S. Africa. Airfare isn't included in that $8000, by the way. I could book a truly luxury Abercrombie and Kent Safari for that price.

 

[Donut23]

Ok, I'm probably going to get it now even though I am expressing MY opinion only. I'm Grandma age now but felt it was unfair to my children to take them to Disney exclusively. To stay at the Beach Club and pretend they have experienced Nantucket or the Wilderness Lodge then allow yourself to think the know the majestic mountains John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt fell in love with at Yosemite and made sure they belonged to all of us.

Sure, Disney trips are fun. If you can afford Disney, you can afford more diverse adventures to broaden your child's minds and experiences. They will eat it up.

Boys will go NUTS for the Air and Space Museum and girls love the First Ladies Gowns at the Smithsonian. Washington, DC is such a fun week, mount Vernon has such a good new Visitors Center now. Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington is watched over my the army ceremonial unit 24/7/365.

So much in this country which children would love to experience, parents too!

My opinion.

 

[JimmyV]

Ok, I'm probably going to get it now even though I am expressing MY opinion only. I'm Grandma age now but felt it was unfair to my children to take them to Disney exclusively. To stay at the Beach Club and pretend they have experienced Nantucket or the Wilderness Lodge then allow yourself to think the know the majestic mountains John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt fell in love with at Yosemite and made sure they belonged to all of us.

Sure, Disney trips are fun. If you can afford Disney, you can afford more diverse adventures to broaden your child's minds and experiences. They will eat it up.

...My opinion.

But one shared by many! We enjoy the theming of WDW because it reminds us of places we have actually been to and not because it is a substitute for places that we don't or won't go to. Honestly, I don't know how or why anyone would get excited about a fake geyser at the Wilderness Lodge unless they have seen the real thing, like Old Faithful. But like you said, it's just my opinion.

 

[Rosanne]

We are part of the crowd that isn't actually, done, just taking a break until the dust settles. My kids and I see plenty of each other since I teach at their school so we are more about the entertainment and rides than about family time. I actually have an entire set of five day passes that I bought before the June 2013 price increase.

We might consider DisneyLand again this summer. We went in 2010 and we loved it so much!

Also, we spend two weeks every summer at our family property in the midwest and we usually stop by spots of interest on the way.

I would think about how much $$$ we would have spent on Disney and then cut it by about 25% and think of where that will take us. We have given serious thought to going to Finland in late summer (we have family there) but we're not so sure now if that will be safe with the conflicts nearby. Maybe things will be better by then.

So... for us, either DLR or a trip to another country. Personally, I'm very interested in civil rights and would love a trip around the country visiting a variety of meaningful historical sites.

Originally we were going to go to WDW in a week but then we thought we'd wait until August. Now we're thinking to wait until the following spring. I figure things should be pretty settled by then.