Taking a break from some of the parks until new attractions?

[L&Lfan]

Last year, I after going to HS and Epcot, I was not even going to think about going back to WDW for at least a couple years until new attractions are opened, especially in HS. To me, that's the most disappointing park. So many closed attractions. I was even contemplating going to DL instead of WDW, since I've never been to DL. But recently, because of stuff I won't get into, I've been going through Disney withdrawal. I decided that if I booked a trip in November, that would allow me to see and do things I've not gotten to do yet, so it would let me experience favorites, and keep it exciting and interesting with some new things. If it wasn't for being able to experience some new things, I probably wouldn't be going again. Going to make my mind up for sure tomorrow, I think.

I'm happy that you've decided to return to the World but I would encourage you to make that Disneyland trip at some point. WDW is our home park but we try to make it to DL every few years because it's so unique and magical and DEFINITELY less stressful in the planning and execution of a vacation there. I guarantee you will fall in love with Disneyland and California Adventure. We certainly have.

 

[Canuck16]

We don't plan on going back to WDW until 2018, not because we don't enjoy going but because we live on the West Coast. If we could go back today we would not skip any of the parks as there is something in each that we have to do or see.

Let's hope there are some new additions and things complete before 2018 though

 

[ELSA711]

This is us, too. While I have been to WDW enough to have seen favorite rides come and go and to know the difference between the WDW of today vs. 10 or 20 years ago, going with my kids has made it a completely new experience for us. We are going in November this year - it will have been 2 years between trips. My kids are bigger, so their experience will be different than the last one. While I'm disappointed in the lack of rides at Epcot (my sentimental favorite) and HS, I can't justify skipping any of the parks. As I plan this trip, I find that I'm filling up the days with other activities - mini golf, campfire/movie night, and exploring AKL after dinner. I also want to have the kids try Agent P at Epcot, Wilderness Explorers at AK, and Animation Academy at HS - all things we have never done because the boys were too little last time. As the kids get bigger each passing year, I look forward to doing more later nights at the parks or adding water parks to our trips.

I think it helps that our trips have been spaced out by 18-24 months - enough time to make us want to do all of our favorites again and sprinkling in something new each time. Also, for the first time, we are driving and plan on eating in our DVC villa/packing lunches - the quality of the food has not been great and I hate spending that amount of money on average food. Sure, it's no fun cooking on vacation - but the money saved will make me feel a lot better.

This does not mean that I'm okay with how they've let Epcot dwindle into a shell of its former self. Nor am I happy to be spending one of my park days at a half-HS. But I'll fill the other half of the day with new experiences that I know my kids will love. In the end, I think our family will still have a great vacation filled with (hopefully) great memories for my kids. But I expect Disney to make good on these "coming attractions" so that there will always be something new for us in the coming years.

I agree with the aspect of the children. We have a last memory from each and every trip. With the construction around AK, my kids were able to participate in Wilderness Explorers for the first time.
In MK they rode Tea Cups with Alice and the Rabbit and my little one danced with the Beast in her Belle dress
Met Anna and Elsa, dined in the Beast's castle for lunch and dinner...memories we will never forget.

 

[busymommy2pink]

We always get hoppers, because we like just flowing from park to park as we want. If MK is too busy, we just go to another park, or vice versa, we like the flexibility in heading to different parks.

We have skipped DHS the last two trips. It just doesn't hold much appeal to us. That being said, we have never done Fantasmic and the girls do like TSM. So we've made a half day for it on our November trip. Last time we had 1.5 days in AK planned, turned out we only needed the .5, so we skipped a full day there. We really just go off how everyone is feeling lol. We don't try to do everything.

This year we have a goal to try two new things in each park to try to switch it up. It'll be our last trip for awhile since DD will be adult pricing next year. We've decided on MK(afternoon parade, steamboat..maybe the tiki room), Epcot (Sum of all thrills...this is the only thing we haven't done lol..we love Epcot), AK (the badge program and Flight of Wonder show), DHS (Star tours, Little mermaid show).

 

[JanaDee]

Thanks for that. Sometimes I'm afraid to say anything negative here because some folks here act like if you find something wrong at WDW, that there's something wrong with you

Thank you for pointing that out. It sadly has become the reality on this board. Doesn't stop me, though.

 

[cakebaker]

Thank you for pointing that out. It sadly has become the reality on this board. Doesn't stop me, though.

Just to be clear- Many of those who have positive things to say feel exactly the same way. It happens a lot when people come back from their trips and try to dare say they had a good time. Those threads are quite often decimated. But it doesn't stop me either. No one should feel so threatened as to be afraid to speak their minds- within guidelines of course.

It's a two way street without a doubt.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thinking about the hoppers, sounds like a lot of folks are willing to go visit the other 3 parks because they have hoppers, so they can spend a half-day there and not burn a full-day ticket.

We don't buy hoppers anymore, whenever we have and done the math, they just turned out to be a poor value for us (they aren't inexpensive IMO!).

Makes me wonder what Disney's strategy is with charging so much for hopper ability, when they include it in APs for example. I guess I'm just wondering if the cost of hoppers actually hurts their crowd control efforts and overcrowds MK even more.

 

[ELSA711]

Just to be clear- Many of those who have positive things to say feel exactly the same way. It happens a lot when people come back from their trips and try to dare say they had a good time. Those threads are quite often decimated. But it doesn't stop me either. No one should feel so threatened as to be afraid to speak their minds- within guidelines of course.

It's a two way street without a doubt.

I agree and God forbid - I love FP+
That does not seem to go over well here.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

You have to take into account that UNI was busy taking out Jaws and adjacent areas and setting the foundation work for Diagon Alley long before they announced Diagon. The only project that was really long for Disney was NFL, which was basically the problem of NFL being built in the middle of FL and TT. There was only so much they could due without closing to much of FL. This was especially noticeable with &DMT which was redesigned and then wa built in the very middle of NFL with people passages needed all around it.

AKK

 

[cakebaker]

I agree and God forbid - I love FP+
That does not seem to go over well here.

Absolutely, and it's gone well beyond just getting snipped at on the boards. It's beyond crazy sometimes.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Yes, it's been 8 years since my family went to AK.

 

[JanaDee]

I agree and God forbid - I love FP+
That does not seem to go over well here.

Saying you love FP+ and it works great for your family is one thing. Saying you love FP+ and you can't possibly understand why everyone doesn't LOVE it the way you do is another. The first part is no problem. Some posters use the second part to squash and poo poo any opinion that doesn't agree with theirs.

 

[cakebaker]

Thinking about the hoppers, sounds like a lot of folks are willing to go visit the other 3 parks because they have hoppers, so they can spend a half-day there and not burn a full-day ticket.

We don't buy hoppers anymore, whenever we have and done the math, they just turned out to be a poor value for us (they aren't inexpensive IMO!).

Makes me wonder what Disney's strategy is with charging so much for hopper ability, when they include it in APs for example. I guess I'm just wondering if the cost of hoppers actually hurts their crowd control efforts and overcrowds MK even more.

We've always done hoppers because it's essential to the way we tour the parks.

Since Disney pushed the park hopper or water parks and more with their free dining promotion, it would seem clear to me they want to encourage more park hopping. I think there's more to that choice than just wanting to get a little more cash out of the guests pocket. So it would appear that they think park hopping is beneficial to their goals in some way. And it also gives people who have never tried it the opportunity to do so- maybe they'll like it and buy it again.

 

[Ambear]

Thinking about the hoppers, sounds like a lot of folks are willing to go visit the other 3 parks because they have hoppers, so they can spend a half-day there and not burn a full-day ticket.

We don't buy hoppers anymore, whenever we have and done the math, they just turned out to be a poor value for us (they aren't inexpensive IMO!).

Makes me wonder what Disney's strategy is with charging so much for hopper ability, when they include it in APs for example. I guess I'm just wondering if the cost of hoppers actually hurts their crowd control efforts and overcrowds MK even more.

I don't even know how much they really cost cause it's always just a must for me. I just click the add Park hopper option and see the price go up and don't really pay attention haha. But my group is usually only two working adults so I can imagine it's much more difficult in large groups with children. I always feel like I'll be missing out on something if I don't Park hop. I have to get both parks at Universal too.

I also love hoppers because sometimes I just want to go to epcot at the end of an animal kingdom day and go shopping or ride figment. I like that freedom.

 

[momof2n2]

Thinking about the hoppers, sounds like a lot of folks are willing to go visit the other 3 parks because they have hoppers, so they can spend a half-day there and not burn a full-day ticket.

We don't buy hoppers anymore, whenever we have and done the math, they just turned out to be a poor value for us (they aren't inexpensive IMO!).

Makes me wonder what Disney's strategy is with charging so much for hopper ability, when they include it in APs for example. I guess I'm just wondering if the cost of hoppers actually hurts their crowd control efforts and overcrowds MK even more.

We always did hoppers til the last trip. I couldn't imagine not doing them all those years. And that was as off-sisters. But the difference for us now to add them is $450+! We'd only gain maybe a few extra EMH as we have onsite reservations this time. We just can't justify the expense anymore. Thats two TS meals.

Saying you love FP+ and it works great for your family is one thing. Saying you love FP+ and you can't possibly understand why everyone doesn't LOVE it the way you do is another. The first part is no problem. Some posters use the second part to squash and poo poo any opinion that doesn't agree with theirs.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
I don't mind at all when someone shared how much they love it.
I do mind when people start telling me all the reasons I'm wrong when I mention it's not for us.

 

[mrzrich]

FWIW, I love FP+

 

[Mousemommy1]

We just returned from our 7th trip in 6 years. All of our trips have been good, but we found ourselves kind of bored this trip. On several occasions, we were just wandering around asking "what do you want to do?" and ending up going back to the resort. I just think we need a little break, so we are planning a bookend resort only stay and DCL cruise (1st cruise ever) in the middle.

Hopefully, in 2017, some of the new stuff will be complete.

 

[itchin2go]

Absolutely, and it's gone well beyond just getting snipped at on the boards. It's beyond crazy sometimes.

Well beyond in what way? Has someone done something to you off the boards?

 

[itchin2go]

I don't even know how much they really cost cause it's always just a must for me. I just click the add Park hopper option and see the price go up and don't really pay attention haha.

I would like to live life like this for at least one day. Sounds wonderful!

 

[ELSA711]

Saying you love FP+ and it works great for your family is one thing. Saying you love FP+ and you can't possibly understand why everyone doesn't LOVE it the way you do is another. The first part is no problem. Some posters use the second part to squash and poo poo any opinion that doesn't agree with theirs.[/QUOTE

I would never do that. We are a unique family and I know that. We are not RD to close people nor do we take breaks, nor do we stay every night for fireworks and late shows, my fam just can't handle that. So the FP+ is perfect for us as we are more like the 10-7pm crowd.