Swearing off Disney for 2011?

[jmasgat]

So after my trip last week, I came back from WDW with a sour taste in my mouth, mostly due to ridiculous food prices (gouging non-Dining plan guests) but also with a feeling that I may just have reached my fill. How many times can you do the parks before you just don't need to anymore?

Anyway, I may make a resolution not to do a Disney race in 2011. I don't know why I feel compelled to post this. Not really looking for dissuasion or support or anything.

Maura

 

[swim-mom]

I know where you are coming from, but we also just fly down to disney for the weekend and do not do the parks. It still provides a vacation of relaxtion with the kids and the "magic" is still there.

Just because you go to disney does not mean you have to do the parks

You come to appreciate disney in a whole new way and my children even enjoy our non-park vacations too

 

[bunnyfoo]

I know how you feel Maura. I've gone to Disney almost every year since 2002 and I think I'm also Disney-ed out. Prices are not as good as they once were and I think there are other places in the (real) world I'd like to visit. Besides I might have a better appreciation for WDW after a break

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I look at the Disney races as a bonus! I love Disney(and their overpriced everything). I just move my Disney trip to work with their overpriced races.

If you don't love Disney, I would skip their races as you can do 2-3 at your home for the same reg fees(forget about all the travel costs).

You have to love the Mouse to make a cost justification!

 

[TnTsParty]

Then again local 5ks by me are getting up to $30 so it seems Disney isn't much more

 

[rubato]

So after my trip last week, I came back from WDW with a sour taste in my mouth, mostly due to ridiculous food prices (gouging non-Dining plan guests) but also with a feeling that I may just have reached my fill. How many times can you do the parks before you just don't need to anymore?

Anyway, I may make a resolution not to do a Disney race in 2011. I don't know why I feel compelled to post this. Not really looking for dissuasion or support or anything.

Maura

I understand completely. I love all things Disney, but after paying a ridiculous amount of money to run Goofy, and adding a 7 day vacation to that with dining plan, moderate resort and park hoppers, these are going to be two EXPENSIVE races! Plus, Disney is, in general, pretty expensive. I promised the family that if we went so that I could do the Goofy challenge, we wouldn't have to go again for at least a couple of years. They want to go back to Europe and my son wants to try cruising again. So, I will miss Disneyworld, but I need a break.

 

[FireDancer]

Then again local 5ks by me are getting up to $30 so it seems Disney isn't much more

Wow, really?!? The majority of our 5Ks are $20 or lower (plus Active.com fees). We have some 5 milers or 10Ks that are $25-$35 but those are rare.

Usually when I leave Disney I have had my fill and am ready to go but after 6 months or so I am ready to go back. I do usually just do 2 or 3 days at a time and even on this trip there will only be 3 park days. After the marathon I anticipate not doing any WDW races for at least a year but wouldn't mind going down to do another FL race and tack on one or two days in the park.

 

[jmasgat]

Sounds like I'm not alone. Of course, I just saw a $119 flight to MCO the weekend of Princess. Thinking I could do Princess, but skip the parks and go watch some spring training baseball. But $140 for the half? Sounds steep.

OTOH, I am still holding a room at POP ($65/nt!) booked a while ago on sale for mid-February in case I decide to go to FL just to do a half-marathon training run. Again, no parks for me. This could be a neat project. "How to do Florida for 3-4 days for under $500 total.

Maura

 

[WDWFAN9]

I love WDW, and DH and I will be there for marathon weekend, but this time we aren't doing any events - just screamteaming. It is so hard to justify the registration cost. Plus, I am frugal and it just frosts me that the fee for the half and full are the same, and on top of that the full offered the $30 gift card and free park day. No way would I get suckered into paying full price for the half, and I really didn't want to do a full this time...so we are just cheering and catching up with friends.

 

[deekaypee]

I have to say that I enjoy both Disney and Disney races, but the fees and food prices do give me pause. (Because I write about Disney, I'll continue to go to the parks but I don't always stay or eat on-site.)

If I'm really honest...Disney races are mainly a great excuse to see the people I've come to know here on WISH, on a schedule that works for me and DOOD because of work/family. That said, I loved screamteaming for the Princess last year, running at my resort, and not paying race fees. And if I get organized this year, meeting other WISHers at other races is as appealing to me as a Disney race.

In fact, that could be a New Year's resolution and post-marathon weekend plan.

 

[Mickey Chic]

I love the mouse too, and all the nostalgia, history, and imagination that goes with it.

I do understand and empathize. DH and i were just talking about the same thing. We have been to disney 2-3 times a year for the past ?? years, and to a point, we're a bit Disney-ed out. We still love it, but feel like we could use a break and then will appreciate it even more.

Over time, food prices have gone up (2.00+ for water?) and service has gone down. I remember when we were younger, servers, and hotel staff were so genuine and took their time to go out of their way to make your day special and to be courteous. We've been encountering many cranky cast members and rude service in the past few years.

Anywho, we're coming down for the marathon and then may take a break from Disney races, and vacationing down there in general. When we ARE there, we don't go gung-ho on the parks, just pick and choose what we feel like, if at all, but enjoying going to relax.

 

[jmasgat]

If I'm really honest...Disney races are mainly a great excuse to see the people I've come to know here on WISH, on a schedule that works for me and DOOD because of work/family. That said, I loved screamteaming for the Princess last year, running at my resort, and not paying race fees. And if I get organized this year, meeting other WISHers at other races is as appealing to me as a Disney race.

In fact, that could be a New Year's resolution and post-marathon weekend plan.

Agreed! I've come to realize that it's the people I'm with that help make the trip what it is (even if it's just me )

And I like the idea of meeting WISH'ers at other races. Isn't that what that BOT group does? (and please will someone provide the spelled out acronym for that....please? My curiosity jusr won't quit!)

So here's to a new year of trying to go to other races, other places.

Maura

 

[WDWFAN9]

And if I get organized this year, meeting other WISHers at other races is as appealing to me as a Disney race.

In fact, that could be a New Year's resolution and post-marathon weekend plan.

Sounds like an excellent plan!! A couple of suggestions:

Shamrock - VA in March
KY Derby - KY in April
Providence RnR - RI in August
St Louis RnR - MO in October

It's going to be fun

 

[Duanerice]

I think we all fall into this at some time. When we first moved to Florida we always had either an annual pass or a resident annual pass. Pretty much for the past 10 years we stopped buying any passes. Now,we have picked up a day here and there from a variety of places but we only go for a few days at a time.

For quite a few years the only time we would go is for the MVMCP so we could see Magic Kingdom decorated for Christmas. Of course I took advantage of my free birthday pass last year

Heck, for the first few years of the marathon we never visited the parks. Didn't have passes. Still had a blast. This past year (Dec 2009) we purchased the resident pass and it is good for 15 months. This was our "Disney year". We are actually going up tomorrow for 3 nights to see MK and HS all decked out for the Holidays. Probably make it back sometime in March before the passes run out.

But, that will be it for a while. I'll be Disney-ed out for a while and that's OK. I say the same thing for Las Vegas but still manage to get back every year

As for prices, yea the original reason I am not running this year is the price of the Goofy. Just too steep for what I get. But then I started signing up for triathlons. YOW! Half Ironman is around $250 and a full is $600. Puts it all in perspective

Have fun everyone,
Duane

 

[mickeyncldkd]

we are taking break also, but it is not my choice. My wife decided it is time to do other vacations around the nation. I am going to miss the Disney Marathon. It was always my goal to work out for the year and finish by doing the race. I am looking forward to go to other parts of the nation so my kids can see the history of our nation. I am also going to do the marathon in 2012, but it will be the goofy marathon.

 

[escape]

Maura,

I'm not planning to do Disney this year at all. This past year, I did three Disney races - Goofy, DL half and W&D half. In addition, DH Steve & I did the Space Coast half and went to Disney for a day. I hate to say it, I'm Disneyed-out. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney. I'm planning to go back in 2012, just not 2011. As others have mentioned, taking a leave of absence will probably help.

Although I won't get to see as many WISHers this year, I will see some at the races Pat mentioned. Hope others can join us as well. And....I'm looking forward to hearing about your Boston experience. I'm very excited for you!

By the way, the airfare and hotel room deal for the Princess sounds pretty good! I'd be tempted as well. For once, I'm just glad the airfare is not that good from here...or I'd be tempted.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I can defnitely understand anyone needing a break. I am always amazed at the information on people's signatures about how often they are going. That will never be me. I go when my races are and that is it. Luckily, there aren't too many races! I do think that people lose sight of how magical the place is if they go often. That is part of the reason I am glad I didn't stay on and work for Disney after my internship. I never wanted to lose that instant smile I get when I walk up to the gates, the tears welling up when I watch the Fireworks, and so many other magical memories. I love Disney, don't get me wrong but I know that there are limits. So, I don't fault anyone for needing that break so that in 2012 perhaps the Pixie Dust will be back. I think the best thing I ever did when I did my internship in 1999 was not return until 10 years later. I have so much appreciation for the parks I can't even describe it.

 

[johde]

I know the feeling at times. Although I haven't done a Disney race yet, you can see my trips have become less frequent. My last trip was a year ago and my next trip will be in September and will be Disneyland in California for the Half Marathon. Right now, I looking at January 2013 for my next Disney World trip and the WDW race weekend.

 

[Millenium Mickey]

I was thinking about this recently as well - I took 5 Disney trips (4 FL & 1 CA) in 2010 (only 3 were running-related). I really didn't want to go this past December although was glad since it was too cold in FL to spend 5 days by the beach. This year I have decided to limit Disney to only 2 trips this year (Princess & Disneyland 1/2) and to try somewhere else within the DVC family (Vero Beach/Hilton Head?). Although I do get an extra week of vacation this year and have never done the Everest Challenge yet..........

 

[ms.mightyduck]

Maura, we're with you. The annual English teacher convention was in Disney in November, so we had to cancel our July trip so we could afford the convention last summer. We were paying two mortgages for the first seven months of last year while we sold our other house and just couldn't justify spending the money for the marathon weekend. Our APs expire in April and we might make a trip before they expire if we can get a good deal on airfare and a room, but we won't be racing at WDW this year. We miss our WISH friends, though. We are looking at some RnR races instead so that we visit someplace outside of WDW this year, too, but nothing is decided.

We are talking about doing the marathon weekend again next year or the year after and doing the DL half the same year to get the extra medal and then being done with Disney races for a while. It's too expensive, and it used to be (even a couple years ago!) that marathon weekend was an off-peak, affordable time to go. Now they are charging extra for that weekend, and it's just not worth it to me.

I'm trying not to think about Dole Whips.

Miss you!

Duckie