Thinking of just going somewhere else...

[darkwing818]

How about a cruise?

We've sailed with Disney 12 times, since 2001, as well as other cruise lines & quite frankly it's becomie our favorite type of vacation. Our DDs loved sailing Disney when they were young & still do (they're in college now). For us cruising is relaxing, & requires a lot less planning than WDW trips. We still hit WDW before & after our cruise for a few days, but it's seems less hectic. In fact we leave next Saturday for a 7 day cruise on the Fantasy. We'll hit WDW 2 nights prior & 4 days after. May not be everyone's "cup of tea" but it works great for us.

 

[FLchick415]

As much as I love Disney, I just LOVE to travel in general. There are so many awesome places out there to visit! There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to find alternatives. I tend to visit Disney a lot because I live in Florida, so they're usually short trips (2-3 days tops), and then my actual VACATIONS are longer trips elsewhere.

 

[aprincessatlast]

My family and I have been going to dude ranches every Summer for over 20 years. I love Disney and we go once or twice a year but I won't skip the ranch. All inclusive with food, horseback riding, kids program, campfires, etc. Lots of fun with no TVs or electronics. I highly recommend every family try one. Our current fav is wilderness trails ranch outside of Durango, Colorado. Beautiful country. Close yo Mesa verde national park and not far from Monument Valley one of the greatest sites ever.

I have always wanted to do this! I just can not justify the 13k price tag for my family for 6 nights not including transportation. Have you found ways to save on a vacation like this? Perhaps a way to put together your own package or just for a day or two?

For the record OP I would try something new. We just got back and I don't care what people say. Disney is planned down to the minute. Running back and forth and your nose in the phone to see what fast pass is next or how long waits are. We got a lot accomplished but at the expense of the Disney "magic". It feels more like a regular old amusement park than it ever felt before. Its not just to get the big rides in it is all so you are not standing in a 45 minute line for IASW. My 10 year old put it best when he asked why do we have to stand in these long lines for things we have seen before? It had been almost 4 years since we had been. Kids love new things so don't be afraid you will miss out by trying something new.

 

[Seeker615]

How about renting a beach house in Virginia? The Sandbridge area is great for families and you are not far from the boardwalk and the aquarium and Busch Gardens is about an hour away. That is a great park by the way.

We love the Gettysburg area. The battlefields are breath-taking and there are great shops and some museums. My kids loved it there when they were younger and now as adults they still visit the area. Hershey and Lancaster are not far from there as well.

You said you won't go to Universal. Is there a reason? We spent 5 night there at Royal Pacific and it was a blast. The dining at Citywalk was fabulous and the convenience of being able to walk to both park and citywalk from your hotel was awesome. No real planning involved - no 6 month reservations to eat, no locking in a ride time and the express passes were the best thing I ever had in a park.

 

[elaine amj]

Love all the ideas in this thread. While I love WDW, we love travel in general and like exploring different things.

I know many love cruises but for our family (done 2 short cruises now), we still feel WDW is a better value and it's slightly cheaper than a cruise.

I'm trying an all inclusive at the end of this year for a weekend and we'll see how we like it.

I'd love to try a dude ranch like a PP mentioned but every time I've priced it out, it's been a lot of $$. Especially since we do vacations on a budget and avoid spending more than $3k on any trip.

This year we went to Europe, which was lots of fun - but a crazy amount of planning. I think I made it harder on myself as we planned it in 3 months and I decided to move between 5 different cities. I discovered that every new city meant hours of research into understanding money, transportation, etc.

This summer we are going to the Smokies with friends for our first trip. I don't think we are doing Dollywood, but I found a cabin in the mountains for 12 people for a measly $90 a night. A week relaxing in a cabin sounds wonderful. We'll do white water rafting, tubing, motorcycling, hiking, and boating and expect to spend about $1000.

We also do a lot of camping, typically overnight or long weekends. We love it since I love hiking and canoeing and DH is obsessed with campfires. .

To be honest our top vacations have been WDW, followed by tent camping, followed by time on a beach. You'll ahve to discover what you and your family like.

 

[jade1]

Travel as much as you can, it's all good.

Just remember, if your like us you will eventually find there is WDW-and there is everything else, and everything else comes in below WDW. Some things come close, and are even far better in many ways-but we look forward to WDW far more than anything else so far. As a matter of fact-every thing else ends up being crossed off a list (except US/IOA being so close) with no need/desire to return, theres just the next thing on the list to work around the WDW trips.

 

[Lees75]

Come and see Australia!

 

[elaine amj]

Travel as much as you can, it's all good.

Just remember, if your like us you will eventually find there is WDW-and there is everything else, and everything else comes in below WDW. Some things come close, and are even far better in many ways-but we look forward to WDW far more than anything else so far. As a matter of fact-every thing else ends up being crossed off a list (except US/IOA being so close) with no need/desire to return, theres just the next thing on the list to work around the WDW trips.

ROFL! It's so true. Our family has been blessed to travel to some amazing places. But nothing has surpassed WDW yet. I never dreamed I would become a WDW fanatic since I tend to be a budget, bare-to-the-bones traveller.

Pixie dust has clouded our vision

 

[PEC]

If you've never vacationed anywhere but Disney, DEFINITELY go somewhere else! Preferably somewhere without a theme park!

We love Disney, too, but there is a great, big, wonderful world out there, and Disney is only one teeny tiny part of it.

I'm not sure what your family is into or how old your kids are, if you have any. But here are a few suggestions:

-New Orleans--explore the French Quarter, take a ghost tour, take a mule-drawn carriage ride, go to Audubon Park to see the zoo, marvel at the grand houses of the Garden District, ride the streetcar, learn how Mardi Gras floats are built at Mardi Gras World, get out of town and take an airboat tour through the swamp, eat yourself silly with delicious food

-Washington D.C.--visits to all monuments and the Smithsonian Museums are FREE! Explore them all! See Charles Lindberg's plane and the Apollo 11 at the Air and Space Museum, see the pandas at the National Zoo, see Dorothy's ruby slippers and the original Star-Spangled Banner at the Museum of American History (they even have one of the original Dumbo ride vehicles from Disneyland!), see a show at the Kennedy Center

-St. Augustine--explore the Castillo de San Marcos, browse through the shops in the Old City, see all the oddities at the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, learn about pirates at the Pirate and Treasure museum, go to the beach, drink from the Fountain of Youth

Those are just a few examples! Get out there and explore!

Agree. As much as I love Disney my favorite and my families favorite vacation was actually one that mainly went to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. I am still planning one to the Grand Canyon and some of the other National Parks out west.
Heck as a History Major I could probably spend days in the Smithsonian (of course my family would not go far that).
I am not knocking Disney at all but there are tons of other options. Whatever interest the individual person.

 

[disneyfan55]

I'd recommend:
- Dollywood (TN)
- Busch Gardens (VA)

I'm kind of with you. I've had a pass for the last 7 years and I was initially annoyed at having to make dining reservations but submitted as it was better than sitting outside a restaurant for 90min hoping to get in. That's fine. I just made that the new norm. I like the FP+ deal, to a certain extent, but I really kind of liked winging it more before and getting FPs wherever we ended up. Still, I could make it work.

The prices have gone up noticeably. This is where I'm starting to think, "Ok.. After this AP is done, I'll just start going elsewhere." Gate prices going up is good, in a way, because it keeps the crowds down. The food prices have shot up a good bit, too, over the last year or so. They were pricey before but I figured I was at a nice theme park - it's just how it is. Now it's getting into the, "I think I'm done eating on Disney property"-area for me which, in addition to the reservations, other costs, and crowds, is making me lean to just picking other destinations in the future.

So true. I was just talking about this recently. I loved back in the 1980s through 2002 that you could purchase a 5 day pass (or what ever) and then upgrade to an AP as long as within the year and get an AP for the difference! Yes, it would be dated for the first use but much less expensive than another 5 day, plus we would go longer on the second trip sometimes 3rd. The FD was great as well when first offered. Tip and appy included plus regular DDP in the Values. The reservations are the pits as well. The last time we ate in the castle was in 2001! no reservation just walked up. We were there peak summer as well. Times have surely changed. The room discounts are not what they used to be as well. Plus extra cost for weekends etc. We stayed at Caribe Royale last visit. Much more room/washer/dryer/full kitchen and more. It was much less than the family suites in ASM and maybe even closer to the parks. We gave up on the Disney buses a few trips ago. I thought it would take so much time away, but much quicker overall plus not jammed in. Service there has decreased as well. Back in the day the savings for children plus the mid range teen ticket they used to have was greater as well by percentage of cost. Now very costly. I am losing my wanting to go to Disney as well. And I don't like the tracking with magic bands either. Just a little too creepy for me. I use my AP and ID no biometrics.

 

[FLchick415]

Two of my favorite places to visit have been Vegas and NYC. Though, those can be just as bank breaking as WDW depending on what you do. And it's a lot of walking. But still a lot of fun!

 

[Brian Noble]

Two thoughts.

One: you don't need to plan so far in advance. You can decide the night before which park you are going to hit up, and just pick three favorites. Almost everything was still available this way during our Spring Break trip---very crowded parks!---so while you won't get a few things this way, you can still have fun. There are also a surprising number of restaurants with dinner availability when I checked in the morning, same day.

Two: it's a big world out there, and worth visiting. For other theme-park-style family trips, we've done the Smoky Mountains (Dollywood, Splash Country, Ripley's Aquarium, etc.), Williamsburg (Colonial WB, Busch Gardens, Water Country), and the Wisconsin Dells (water park capital, USA). For non-theme-park but still-fun trips: the Lane Guest Ranch in the Rocky Mountains, an Alaskan cruise (we did a Disney one, but lots of others), several Caribbean cruises (ditto), Washington DC, Paris, and many trips to the Outer Banks of NC. We also have trips planned to Sedona/Grand Canyon and Hilton Head, with a Hawaiian trip on the horizon as our Last Family Vacation the summer my eldest graduates from high school. The boy is angling for an Italy trip as well, but that might be his graduation trip. He wants to go so badly that he is contemplating taking Latin in HS---they go once every few years.

 

[jade1]

ROFL! It's so true. Our family has been blessed to travel to some amazing places. But nothing has surpassed WDW yet. I never dreamed I would become a WDW fanatic since I tend to be a budget, bare-to-the-bones traveller.

Pixie dust has clouded our vision

Yep same-it is pixie dust or something, just almost unexplainable really.

Australia and France were our favorites so far, but we would choose being in WDW right now by far.

You find yourself looking at things in awe-but theres just no emotional connection.

Just seems to be so much effort in everything.

With WDW-theres an app for that.

 

[FutureDis]

If you love Disney, but don't want a lot of planning, I highly recommend a Disney (or Royal Caribbean) Cruise. Disney cruises are fantastic. Tons for all ages to do, and other than planning what port tours you want to do (or IF you want to do one), very little planning. Get to see lots of new places without having to pack and move yourself. Great dining every night, great service. Best part is that the adults get some alone adult time, and the kids get to play with others their age (a plus for my only child, who misses playing with other kids). You still get fantastic Disney style entertainment every night (stage shows), character dining, Disney Movies in 3d, or out in the pool, fireworks at sea. It's very Disney, just much more laid back.

 

[elaine amj]

Yep same-it is pixie dust or something, just almost unexplainable really.

Australia and France were our favorites so far, but we would choose being in WDW right now by far.

You find yourself looking at things in awe-but theres just no emotional connection.

Just seems to be so much effort in everything.

With WDW-theres an app for that.

Some awesome photos

As a side note, London was very cool. While expensive to fly there, most of the major museums are free. The one difficulty was transportation costs within the city added up quickly plus my kids got "museumed-out" very quickly (this happened in Washington too).

 

[Mystery Fan]

Interesting Disney Trip Planning Forums > Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies post.

 

[jade1]

Interesting Disney Trip Planning Forums > Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies post.

Avoidance is a strategy.

 

[Donut23]

I'm with you and we now vacation in Pigeon Forge often instead of Disney World. Dollywood has festivals that we enjoy. The best part is the Smokies are in the background. We will go three times a year there for the cost of a trip to Disney. Annual passes are cheap by comparison at Dollywood. You can take side trips to Biltmore, for example.

I won't compare Disney to Dollywood; it's not apples to apples. For us, we just enjoy not having a schedule. For us, Dollywood is closer and I like that, as well.

I've been to Disney World over 40 times and I never thought I would stop going there, but we have. We like Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. We took a road trip out West and out East over the last 5 years. Those trips require more time. The more I see away from Disney the more I like not being at Disney. I find Disney to be a complete hassle and a waste of money, now. I think I got spoiled at Disney World with lower crowds when the economy was down and lower costs and free dining promos and so forth. I really liked legacy fastpass and I'm not fond of fastpass plus. There was more street entertainment in years past at Disney.

I won't say I will never return to Disney World, but it will be way less often.

Go to some vacation websites and see what's out there. We enjoy cruises, now, too.

There is life after Disney World.

There is BIG life after Disney World.

DH is a CASTMEMBER and Disney is not as magical when viewed from the inside, listening to Grownups talk about us.

Bottom line, there is so much MORE to do and far less $$$$. Plus we compare the $$$$ at CASTMEMBER prices.

WDW is just too worn around the edges. Too much taken away. DH's last straw was Lights of Winter.

We still find our way to DL---still sparkly compared to WDW. Perhaps it's too close to the Grownups in Burbank to allow it to slide as much as WDW.


Bottom line, like the feeling of Nantucket or Newport at the Yacht Club/Beach Club, try the real thing. New England is fabulous. Love the Wildie? Try one of the great lodges in our glorious National Parks.....I can go on and on.


Cut your budget in half, expose your children to the real thing! They will thank you as they grow up----exposed to so much that is good.....and real.


Just have to add.....we pack this weekend for 2 1/2 weeks in Alaska. NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING at any Disney park compares to the majesty of cruising 500 yards from Hubbard Glacier (300 feet high, face 6 1/2 miles long, up into the mountains 26 miles and ACTIVE) or flying over Denali---Mt. McKinley, highest mountain in N America.

Alaska changes you forever. Grabs your heart----her mountain ranges, vast ocean waters, her gentle humpback whales and killer orcas, rafts of sea otters and crazy/Zany puffins, her gentle people and wonderful seafood.

You are changed, for the good.

 

[disneyfan55]

There is BIG life after Disney World.

DH is a CASTMEMBER and Disney is not as magical when viewed from the inside, listening to Grownups talk about us.

Bottom line, there is so much MORE to do and far less $$$$. Plus we compare the $$$$ at CASTMEMBER prices.

WDW is just too worn around the edges. Too much taken away. DH's last straw was Lights of Winter.

We still find our way to DL---still sparkly compared to WDW. Perhaps it's too close to the Grownups in Burbank to allow it to slide as much as WDW.


Bottom line, like the feeling of Nantucket or Newport at the Yacht Club/Beach Club, try the real thing. New England is fabulous. Love the Wildie? Try one of the great lodges in our glorious National Parks.....I can go on and on.


Cut your budget in half, expose your children to the real thing! They will thank you as they grow up----exposed to so much that is good.....and real.

So true! And a National Park pass is only $80 for a year for up to 4 over 16! Kids under that free! We have done the cross country trip 7 times! Two back in the day included DL!

 

[Donut23]

Two thoughts.

One: you don't need to plan so far in advance. You can decide the night before which park you are going to hit up, and just pick three favorites. Almost everything was still available this way during our Spring Break trip---very crowded parks!---so while you won't get a few things this way, you can still have fun. There are also a surprising number of restaurants with dinner availability when I checked in the morning, same day.

Two: it's a big world out there, and worth visiting. For other theme-park-style family trips, we've done the Smoky Mountains (Dollywood, Splash Country, Ripley's Aquarium, etc.), Williamsburg (Colonial WB, Busch Gardens, Water Country), and the Wisconsin Dells (water park capital, USA). For non-theme-park but still-fun trips: the Lane Guest Ranch in the Rocky Mountains, an Alaskan cruise (we did a Disney one, but lots of others), several Caribbean cruises (ditto), Washington DC, Paris, and many trips to the Outer Banks of NC. We also have trips planned to Sedona/Grand Canyon and Hilton Head, with a Hawaiian trip on the horizon as our Last Family Vacation the summer my eldest graduates from high school. The boy is angling for an Italy trip as well, but that might be his graduation trip. He wants to go so badly that he is contemplating taking Latin in HS---they go once every few years.

My heart is with the people of beautiful Sedona. The fire north between Sedona and the Grand Canyon is destroying some beautiful country.

Fingers crossed it stays away from Sedona. Not sure I could deal well with that magical place being damaged. Beautiful sunsets between the mountains there