Should I plan a different trip?

[bryanb]

How about make every 2-3 trips a Disney trip? In between those, you can get out and see the world. And there are so many places to enrich their lives.

My parents never took me to a Disney World as a kid (I'm going to have to have a word with them about this!) but we were lucky enough to live close enough to Disneyland so each year we would go to Disneyland once and on a regular family vacation at a different time.

 

[buzzrelly]

My kids are 15 and 13 and we have been to WDW nine time and they STILL ask, "when are we going back?!" We haven't gotten sick of it yet and still look forward to all the time we get to spend as a family. They have also taken trips to Mexico, Hawaii, California, South Carolina, etc. in between WDW trips. But it's the WDW trips that they always ask about

Only YOU and your family can decide what's best for you, though.

 

[WDWLODGE]

After 17 trips to WDW we started having these same questions. Last year we decided to skip WDW and take the kids out west for a road trip. We flew into Vegas and rented an SUV & drove well over 6,000 miles and saw many national parks, the west coast and we got our Disney fix in at the end of the trip with 4 days at DL. Our plan now is 2 years WDW then 1 year somewhere else. As of now we are planning Aulani for 2019, still Disney but something different. Like others have said though it is your money & your memories so do what you think will make your family happy.

 

[mrzrich]

Let me tell you, that your kids are in the sweet spot age where they are still little sponges. This is the perfect age to go to places like Colonial Williamsburg, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Gettysburg, Boston, St. Augustine, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Niagra Falls, Smoky Mountains, ETC.

Maybe your kids are perfect, and will never reach the eye rolling phase, maybe they will always think its cool to be with you. My personal experience is that at least one of your children will go through a phase in which nothing you do is cool. (its ok, after a few years your baby will be back) Visit some other places before they think its lame.

 

[Donnainnj]

If you can swing Hawaii, do it. It is an amazing trip everyone in the family loved. We stayed in condos very reasonably. If it was closer and the airfare was in line with Disney's, it would be our go to vacation.

 

[BigredNole]

It really depends on what you and your family want to do. My DW can't go camping so many of those options are out. She doesn't like the cold so any skiing type trip is out. We do Disney because there is so much to do. You don't have to go to Disney every day. Enjoy the resort, play games at the pool, get a table and Monopoly and have a blast. We now do Disney differently. We no longer commando style all day until we can't stand up. We go in the morning for about 4 hours, resort until just after dinner, and then to the park. We are also going to do the waterparks this next trip. No running around. Just relax, hit the wave pool, listen to the music, character M&Gs. Just relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

 

[Tattylou]

When I was a kid, my parents took my sister and I to Disney World every year, the week before Christmas. Our first trip was in 1988, and our last trip as a family was in 1994. The nice thing was that because they both worked in education, we also got to take summer trips to see the rest of the world (or at least the country) too. But even if we hadn't, I never would have tired of going to Disney World every year, because they found ways to make it interesting every year -- mixing in day trips to Universal, or even Busch Gardens in Tampa. I'd say as long as your kids aren't actively rebelling against the Disney Magic, keep providing it to them for as long as you can.

Wow, I could've written this myself. We started going in 1985 and went every year until 1995 when I graduated high school. We did leave disney and do day trips to Busch Gardens, Sea World, etc. Both my parents worked in schools so during spring break we did Disney and in the summer we would take up her trips to Washington DC, Gettysburg, all kinds of places. We never got tired of those Disney trips and I agree with other posters that your kids can grow with Disney. Honestly the Disney trip memories are the best- more special than the other summer trips just because they feel magical. Although I still highly recommended Disneyland to any Disney fanatic who hasn't gone there and there is a lot of other stuff to see and do in California.
I might be biased because this is the first year we aren't going to Disney at all and instead we are doing St. Petersburg beach and a day at Legoland and Universal. I'm really kind of sad we're not going to Disney.
Now I've gone to Hawaii and Arizona and all over the country, but Disney still has my heart.

 

[MommaBerd]

After 17 trips to WDW we started having these same questions. Last year we decided to skip WDW and take the kids out west for a road trip. We flew into Vegas and rented an SUV & drove well over 6,000 miles and saw many national parks, the west coast and we got our Disney fix in at the end of the trip with 4 days at DL.

I *love* this idea! And I don't know why I never thought about it! We live in GA, and I have been wanting to take my kids on a road trip out west (DH not so much ). I may just have to start planning this for next year!

However, OP, I say enjoy the Disney magic as long as you can, whether it's WDW or DL (which I also loved)! They may never grow out of it, but they may - and that's when you start looking into other options.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for the tips...DL sounds like a great idea.

The kids still enjoy Disney all look fwd to it...they have expressed in Hawaii and a trip to NYC.
NYC doesn't sound great to me though as I'm a single dad and the city would be really chaotic by myself.

My DGD started expressing interest in different vacation destinations when she was around 11. No complaints about DIney trips, but she really participated in the discussions And had an opinion. We listened. Her parents took her to the Cape and they stayed in a camper. She loved that, although she still teases that her Mom will only " Glamp."

I take her to NYC, and a more nervous Nellie then me you have never met! If your children want to see NYC, I would encourage you to take them. As a single parent, I think that there is probably not another destination that is easier to manage. I travel alone with her. We take the train in, and hop in a cab to our hotel I like Room Mate Grace. It is a cool little hotel with weird sleeping arrangements. You can book a single, a double, a triple or a quad. WIth kids who do not like sharing sleeping spaces, this is a nice option in the city. My Kady had told me she would sleep on the floor when I could not find an affordable room with two beds. No.

We book odd tours, but tours that she gets a kick out of. Her favorite last Summer was The Ride. We like the Museum of American History, walking around Times Square. We go to shows. We eat.

I would talk to the kids and ask them to research NYC. If they are interested in any destination, have them show you why, and what they find interesting. I have never given Kady a budget she should consider, but if we were looking at a Hawaii trip and it was her idea, we would include that in her planning. She could make some choices, and I woudl give her a spending limit of the choices I gave her. I certainly would not discuss total budget, because vacation is my responsibility, but if that kind of trip was on her list, I would want to know why, and want her to recognize that it was special.

As in a Disney vacation, I think a plan for NYC is pretty important. If you have one, you won't feel as though you are in the center of Chaos. For Kady, the last time she wanted to tour the harbor, but we discussed The Tenement Museum as well. I also always plan a few meals and make a reservation on Open Table. I do not like wandering around looking for dinner or lunch before a show. Whatever you decide to do, I think it is important to remember that as much as well all like Disney, it is not the only place to visit. There are so many places a family can relax and enjoy the time together.

 

[Nancyg56]

Maybe your kids are perfect, and will never reach the eye rolling phase, maybe they will always think its cool to be with you. My personal experience is that at least one of your children will go through a phase in which nothing you do is cool. (its ok, after a few years your baby will be back) Visit some other places before they think its lame.

True Story! My DGD is 15 and still likes us, so I take advantage of this. I figure that as long as she wants to go someplace with me or with me and her Pa, we are going! My DD laughs because she does get the teen drama, but so far we do not.

OP- take them on trips that they want to go on, because like the flip of a light switch, they can stop wanting to be seen with you. They come back, yes, but why wait?

 

[Klayfish]

I have been fortunate enough to have already taken the kids to Disney 4 times. They are now 12 and 9 years old.
We are planning a trip this august to Disney staying at beach club ( have never stayed there).

I'm starting to feel I should show the kids a bit of the world and try a different trip.
Does 5 trips to Disney seem like too much? Or is it good to do one last Disney trip while they are still young and save other destinations for when they are older?

Any opinions ?

Thanks

The one and only right answer is whatever is best for your family. My kids are the same ages. Oldest is 12 and we have 9 year old twins. They have been to WDW about 9 times, including 6 trips between June 2015 and June 2016. We offered them different ideas for this summer and told them what the same money could buy (i.e. a week in the Bahamas). But they chose to do another AP year at WDW, so we'll start it again this summer, and make 5 to 6 more trips there. We'll probably spend 50-55 total days in WDW during that year. But that's what we decided.

If you want to go somewhere else, go for it! If not, WDW is always the "right answer" as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Come on over here do a DCL cruise of The British Isles or a med cruise!

 

[Tattylou]

True Story! My DGD is 15 and still likes us, so I take advantage of this. I figure that as long as she wants to go someplace with me or with me and her Pa, we are going! My DD laughs because she does get the teen drama, but so far we do not.

OP- take them on trips that they want to go on, because like the flip of a light switch, they can stop wanting to be seen with you. They come back, yes, but why wait?

Total agree with this!! Although when I was a teenager I was fine being seen and being with with my parents at WDW . Now the local mall was another story, but WDW was the place it felt ok to act like a kid.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Our kids are 12, 10 and 2. The 12 and 10 year old have been to Disney 7 times (will be 8 this year) and the 2 year old will have his 3rd trip this year! Yes, we go to Disney ALOT. But it's the vacation that we like.

Last year, we sort of switched it up by throwing a Disney cruise into the mix, sandwiched between park stays. It was really nice. So, for next year I had booked a Beaches vacation in Jamaica...our kids (the older ones) were not happy. They have gone to Disney every year since they were 3 and 5 and still want to go....every...year, LOL.

DH and I don't mind, we love Disney but we have passports collecting dust in a drawer! That being said, we will continue to do Disney for as long as the kids still want to. It's a great vacation and we have no shame in our game!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If WDW is the only place you've been, yes, I think I would mix it up a little bit. I would suggest asking everyone (including yourself!) to make a list of their top 3 places they'd like to go, compare lists (see if there is any overlap) and then make a decision from there. That's what we do, anyway. Our lists have taken us to Europe, Costa Rica and . . . WDW! If you like the Disney product, you may want to consider DCL, Aulani or an Adventures by Disney trip. It keeps you in the Disney bubble yet broadens your horizons, too!

 

[IrishNYC]

Coming back in to add more now that I'm not typing on my phone...

Disney is wonderful. We love Disney. DH hated the thought of Disney, but loved it so, so much. But, there's a great big world out there, too. Not just a world, but we live in a great big country, with lots of diversity, in both climate, and humans. Yes, WS gives you a taste of other cultures, but why not see a real version of other American cultures? Or foreign cultures found in America? If they're interested in going to NYC, they must have their reasons. Explore those reasons.

And yes DD loves Disney. Of course she does. But she also realizes it's a fantasy world. She loved our summer vacation to Cape Cod last summer even more than she loved Disney. She asks to go to Disney again, but just as often she asks when we can go to Cape Cod again. She's also expressed interest in seeing the Redwoods in California, and the Grand Canyon, and New Orleans. She is 7 and obsessed with New Orleans! Crazy kid! She also talks about our trip to DC last Easter to do the White House Easter Egg Roll, and when we took a trip to Boston for the weekend, and a weekend to Philly, and when can we see more of NYC where we live.

Disney is great, but I know I'm also in the minority here when I say that Disney is great in moderation.

 

[disneyvoice]

LOL!! As far as I am concerned you can never go to WDW too often! My son is 15. He went on his first WDW vacation when he was 8 months old. We have gone to WDW on family vacations 2 a year ever since AND we lived in Tampa for a year and went almost every single weekend. My son never gets tired of it. Every trip has been a bit different because he was always a bit older and wanted to experience new things. Then when he was about 12 we let him go off on his own in the parks and he thought that was GREAT fun. There is nothing wrong with choosing to go somewhere else on your vacation but I have never heard a kid complain that he or she DOESN'T want to go to WDW again!

 

[mshanson3121]

I have been fortunate enough to have already taken the kids to Disney 4 times. They are now 12 and 9 years old.
We are planning a trip this august to Disney staying at beach club ( have never stayed there).

I'm starting to feel I should show the kids a bit of the world and try a different trip.
Does 5 trips to Disney seem like too much? Or is it good to do one last Disney trip while they are still young and save other destinations for when they are older?

Any opinions ?

Thanks

None of us can answer that for you. It's discussion you should be having with your family, not us

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I wouldn't take every vacation to only one place, no matter where that place is. I told my best friend for years that she was nuts to keep only going to Hawaii every year; she finally listened a couple years ago and went to DL (and San Diego) and loved it - she said it was the best vacation she'd ever taken. Now she can't wait to go to WDW as well as other non-Disney destinations.

We love Disney (obv), especially WDW (DL is ok), but we alternate our visits with other vacation destinations. (We're fortunate enough to be able to take frequent vacations (and we don't consider long weekends, camping, our 1 or 2 trips to Alaska a year, or most road trips to be real "vacations.")

Our oldest is 9 and has been to 30 different states (and lived in 4, with another cross country move coming up) - I LOVE that she's seen so much already and it's our goal to take her (and our other kids) to every state and all over the world. We'll also continue to take our (hopefully frequent) vacations to WDW (with some other Orlando park days, FL beaches, cruises, etc, thrown in).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

For context... We're DVC members and have gone to WDW every year, 1-3 trips a year, since DS was 15mos old. Kids are now 12 and 10. Some of these trips were short over rD race weekends. Some as long as 12 days.

Some thoughts...

• As they get older, tastes change, so trips change.
• EVERY SINGLE TRIP we've done NEW things: a new attraction, parade, show, restaurant, tour, character M&G, etc
  
• We've gone at all different times of year, so have experienced F&W, MNSSHP, MVMCP, F&G, multiple race weekends, etc. Each of these quite different.
• We love "going home" -- it's DIFFERENT yet FAMILIAR every time.
• We are also lucky enough to be able to fit in OTHER trips: NYC, Montreal, Hollywood, Hawaii, St. Thomas, cruise, etc -- so we aren't always picking WDW or something else

Our feeling is that we will keep going to WDW as long as we keep having great trips there! If we HAD TO CHOOSE between WDW and something else, we'd probably alternate: WDW one year, long NYC trip the next, etc. as they got older.

Truth is that so far, NOTHING quite holds their interest and captivates them like WDW. I'd expect trips to taper off as they get older, but who knows??