Short or Longer Visits

[weewuvvdisney]

If money was not an issue, would you rather go for a longer visit a couple of times a year or for shorter trips but multiple times a year?

I think longer for us. One time we went for 12 days and it was great. We did some things that we normally wouldn't have time to do.

For me, the longer is better.

 

[DTMB]

If money was not an issue, would you rather go for a longer visit a couple of times a year or for shorter trips but multiple times a year?

I think longer for us. One time we went for 12 days and it was great. We did some things that we normally wouldn't have time to do.

For me, the longer is better.

We are going for 12 days Dec 19-Jan 1, 2025. I am hoping the weather is going to be nice. I can't wait to tell my girls they will be spending Christmas at Disney.

Any recommendations on what to do?

 

[TCRAIG]

We started going 6 nights 2-3 times a year…now that I’m retired (and widowed), I prefer longer stays 3-4 times a year. If I’m going to drive all that way by myself - I need time to recuperate…

 

[Chirple]

I would love to stay longer. We normally do a week but have done shorter trips, too.

 

[DTMB]

We started going 6 nights 2-3 times a year…now that I’m retired (and widowed), I prefer longer stays 3-4 times a year. If I’m going to drive all that way by myself - I need time to recuperate…

That sounds way better what you do now. I think going different times a year is more enjoyable seeing different things Disney has to offer that time of year. Ex, Halloween, Xmas, etc.

 

[Becky2005]

My vote would be longer. I have done a super quick trip with my son and we both agreed that was not for us!

 

[zebrastreyepz]

I have 8 parks days and 4 resort days planned for our next trip. We've never done that before but would like a longer time to really settle in and enjoy ourselves.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Longest for me, 13 days, too long. Shortest, probably 5, too short. Sweet spot for me, 7-10 days.

 

[Meriweather]

Longer.....and that's what we do.
2-3 times a year......WDW 10-14 days, DLR 6 days.

 

[CarolynFH]

The longest we’ve managed has been 8 nights. I’d love to do longer!

 

[miksicnarf]

I usually do 10 nights once or twice per year, depending on AP or ticket status. I have to fly across country so anything less is too short. In the interim I get my fix at DL

 

[Genie+]

8 nights is our preferred max.

If we had say 25 days to do WDW each year, I’d prefer to break that down into four 5 or 6 night trips. I’d go Halloween, early Dec, during Art Fest, then late April.

Between 5-8 nights works best for us. For the time and effort getting down and back I want to be able to hit all 4 parks and not exhaust ourselves doing it.

 

[loves to dive]

I tend to do 6 nights 3 or 4 times a year. I have mixed in trips of only 3 or 4 nights in there every once in awhile. I've never stayed longer than 7 nights. Would love to but I go solo and hubby pretty much starts getting antsy and lonely if I stay longer than 6 nights. He is not a Disney/vacation guy so if I want to go anywhere I pretty much do it solo. We will actually be there for 4 nights in December, staying at the Fort in our RV then moving to a new to us beach on the gulf for 3 nights. The December trip is just because I went in December last year with my son and his family and didn't really get to go to any of the resorts to see the decorations for just spend time enjoying them at the parks. So, it's kind of a holiday do over for me. Hubby won't spend more than 2 or 3 hours a day in the parks, he hates crowds, isn't much of a ride person and we have a little yorkie who can't stay in the RV for alone for much longer than that.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

If money was not an issue, would you rather go for a longer visit a couple of times a year or for shorter trips but multiple times a year?

I think longer for us. One time we went for 12 days and it was great. We did some things that we normally wouldn't have time to do.

For me, the longer is better.

I like longer trips in general. Short getaways are nice too, don't get me wrong. But I need a full-length vacation in order to truly disengage from everyday stress. I heard somewhere that it takes most people a few days to truly decompress and get into relaxation mode, and that we also start mentally gearing up to go back to work/school/etc a few days before we go home. With a 7 day vacation, that doesn't give you a whole lot of time to actually relax, especially factoring in travel days. So when I plan a "full" vacation, I'm usually looking at around 9 nights. 8 is fine but really the longer the better.

For WDW, I REALLY like longer stays. Our next one is 11 nights and I'm PUMPED. We really enjoy spending time at the resorts, and staying longer means we get to do everything we want to do, but at a relaxed pace. The first time we went to WDW (pre-kids) it was a 5-night stay and I hadn't been since I was a kid. I ran us RAGGED. Longer trips mean I rush us less

 

[Simba's Mom]

For my solo trips, a week is long enough. However, if I can persuade DH to go with me, we stay longer. Last time we went for 9 nights, went to the parks together only twice, Disney Springs once, spent lots of time sitting out on our balcony doing a puzzle, punctuated by watching birds and golfers. And lots of evenings we'd take a walk along the trails.

 

[MICKIMINI]

We prefer longer. 10-12 nights minimum is best for us. We fly from NH, so it is lots of planning, packing and two days wasted on traveling. We came back two weeks ago from 7 nights and were exhausted though we only did one park day. It was a split stay, which we have enjoyed in the past but not so much this time. Our son and DIL were there for a few days and those were wonderful. They typically join us for part of each trip (we do provide a studio for them). I think the door "knock" on the last day killed the "happy place" feeling for us - maybe permanently. In 2022 we spent five weeks (split 2 weeks May and 3 weeks November) and it was way too much in one year. Already cancelled 2025, so we'll see what the future brings...

 

[thanxfornoticin]

A couple longer trips seems much better for us than more short trips - less hassles with travel to get to and from, and less time in airports is just fine with me! My least favorite parts of the Disney trips!

 

[georgina]

Since I have been so much, 5 nights at Disney World is enough for me. In Sept I did 2 nights at Disney (my MNSSHP was cancelled due to hurricane) and 4 at Universal. In Dec I am going for 3 nights - Epcot, MVMCP, and Jollywood. In March I will do 5 nights at Disney, then nothing for the rest of the year. (Universal in Dec 2025 to see the new park)

Flights are cheap for me out of DC, we live close to the airport, the trip is easy. My shorter trips I get by with just a carryon, so don't need to get to the airport very early, fly out at 7, in a park by 11 AM, use Uber.

 

[AnnaS]

We used to average 7 nights - once/twice a year. Then twice a year 10 nights/with an additional stay at Vero Beach (or HH) for another 5/6 nights.

I am now back to 7/8 nights - twice a year for a few trips. I don't want to book my first stay solo more than 7 nights. If all good, I will start booking 7-10 nights again.

I would definitely consider a quick/short trip in between - but doubt it would be shorter than 4/5 nights.

 

[JoJoGirl]

I enjoy 3-4 trips a year, 5-7 nights each. Half my trips are solo, so any longer than that and I start to get antsy for home, and very tired. But that allows me to see Disney at Halloween, Christmas, Mid-Winter (coming from Ohio this is very important!) and the Flower and Garden Festival in the Spring.

Disney is my break from caring for my multi-disabled son, so more, shorter trips spaced throughout the year works better for all of us.