Vacationing at WDW: How long between trips?

[Grendalynn]

What is the time time frame between each of your Disney Trips? For as much as I would love to go to WDW every year, its just not going to happen. We dont own a DVC, cant guarentee when we can get away each year and things like that. I am curious to know what others do. I think many of us would like to go several times a year or maybe even live there.

Some families do it every year, I am on the every 2 to 3 year thing, I think. I am worried that it will lose the magic should we go every year, and I want our kids to experience other things outside of Disney. Be it domestic travel (within the USA) or other places in the world...
We went last April ('08) and am considering next April ('10), but also thought about waiting til 2011 andgo elsewhere next year as I am not sure that we can get away tis year until the summer. I just cant do Florida in August! Ok, enough rambling... I look forward to seeing the posts/replies!

TIA!!

 

[sk!mom]

We went in 1990, 2001, twice in 2005, and last June. The long gap from 1990 to 2001 was partly economic ( we worked to pay off college debt and become debt free during that period) but mostly due to the fact that our oldest child thought Disney was just Ok. During that period we took vacations that suited him more as he was our only child until 96 and then DD was a baby and along for the ride. We White Water rafted, visited beaches, etc...

By the time DD12 came along, she loved Disney and large vactions were a part of our regular budget so we've been with her 4 times. We would never go every year since for us there are just too many places in the world. Actually everyone in our family would list somewhere other than WDW as their favorite vacation spot. Both of my children choose NYC and DH and I would list Paris as our fave.

We went last June with a large family group (21 people) unless a trip like that comes up again, I really have no idea when we'll go back. There are lots of places we want to go. Realistically it seems that I start feeling the desire to return about every 3 years so, if DD wants to, we may go back around 2011 or 12.

 

[mumto3girls]

We are on the every 2-3 years plan even though we do own DVC. While we have points at the Boardwalk, most of our points are at Hilton Head. Hilton Head is a reasonable drive for us--about 10 hours and can be a very inexpensive trip for us if we want it to be--eating in room and limiting entertainment to the included pool and beach. When we go to WDW we try to avoid the summer heat and school vacation crowds by going at a time when our kids are off of school but most kids are not-we generally have a 5 day weekend in early November. That makes driving impossible unless we were to take the kids out of school which we try to either not do or limit to a day or two.

While I love WDW and always feel as though our trips are too short and not frequent enough and that we run out of time to see what we want to see, I also love the beach and the laid back atmosphere there. If we went every year I would wonder if the kids would start to feel a bit jaded and would lose some of the magic for them.

 

[kristinw3girls]

We've taken our girls 3 times in 6 years. I would love to go evey year, but as the other poster said, it's a big world to explore. I think every 2-3 years is fine for us. When we go, we go delux. I want the Poly and ddp if not the delux plan, so i'll wait an extra year in order to pay.

 

[wvdislover]

We've started doing every year (this will be the 3rd year). Our kids start wondering when we can go again as soon as we get home. Remember, a year to a child seems a whole lot longer than it does to an adult We also try to do different things on each trip--eat different places, stay different places (although we're planning on staying at BC again this year--LOVED IT!), tours, etc., so each trip is really different. Many families go to the beach for vacation every year, and would never question it; I don't see a big difference. Also, for us, Disney is probably the best place for us to vacation. DH doesn't like sitting on the beach for days on end. DD11 has Asperger's Syndrome, and WDW is great about making accomodations for kids (and adults) with special needs (no, we DO NOT get front of line access, only Make-a-Wish kids get that!)--not every place does that. This makes our vacation much more relaxing. We will continue to go to WDW as long as our kids want to, as often as we can!

 

[disneybridetobe]

We're being bad and going twice in a year! We've had a crappy end to 2008, and I need a bit of Disney magic. It'll probably be late 2010 before we go again.

 

[angelat]

Well, we had our 1st ever trip to the World in April of 2008. It was myself, DH, DD9 and DS11. We started thinking about going back as soon as we got home! But, we are planning on going back the last week in August/first week in September of 2009. So, that's about 18 months between trips. We'd like to maybe do a Disney cruise in the next year or two as well.

 

[Drewsmommybear]

I would go all the time if we could...but we can't. DH is four and he has been twice. This year we are taking a vacation somewhere else just for a change of secnery (and because DH is sick of Disney. He lived in Florida when he was a kid. NOT my problem ). Originally we had planned a 2009 trip but our 15th anniversary is June of 2010 and since we Honeymooned at Disney World, we (or I) thought it would be a fun idea to do a deluxe trip that included our son.

So we're pinching our pennies and I'm already planning a year and a half out. I'd love to say we go once a year, but that's not realistic for this family.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

When the kids were smaller and finances were tight, we went once a year. Now we go several times a year. We had two months in between our last two trips, but that is not the norm. Disney never loses its magic with our family even with our frequent visits. We still do go to other places in between. I know some folks ONLY vacation at Disney, which is something I cannot imagine, but different strokes for different folks. We like a little variety, some old and familiar experiences and some new and exciting.

 

[Mom2Nick]

We are on the every 2-3 years plan even though we do own DVC.

Same for us. Once we went twice within 14 months and DH was flat out not excited about the second trip and felt the whole experience was "deflated" because he had "just" been there. So we bank and borrow and go all out every 3 years.

We are going in 3 weeks and have not been since 2006. Last trip the kids were 2, 4 and 7. They are now 5, 7 and 10 and it's like a first trip all over again for the two little ones since they were too young to remember all that much last time.

 

[Mom2Nick]

I would go all the time if we could...but we can't. DH is four and he has been twice.

Cradle robber...

 

[Drewsmommybear]

Cradle robber...

LOL I should have edited before I sent. I know better too. I'm a teacher! Woo I choose me young don't I? Actually, sometimes I feel as if I have two four year olds even though one is really 35.

Go ME

 

[sueh]

We (my girls & myself) just went this past July 08. It was their first time. I too started to think about going back as soon as we were home. I wanted to see the "World" all decked out for Christmas. My girls asked about going around Halloween so that's an option but not this year.

I am planning a trip in December not only will we see it all decked out we will be celebrating dd2's birthday.

Then I am thinking about going back in May 10 to celebrate dd1's birthday.

 

[tabrizia]

We're on the when it seems a good time to go plan. We went for our Honeymoon in 2001, then a quick 1 day Disneyland trip in 2005 and then a long trip in 2006. We ended up going back in 2007 since I was pregnant for the 2006 trip and we wanted to experience a few things we missed in 2006 because of it.

We'll be going back again in October 2009, and we were thinking about going at the end of Feb 2010 so within 4 months, but due to various reasons we're going to push that trip back to either December 2010 or December 2011. We do enjoy Disney, but we also like doing other things, in general I think we're on the go 2 years in a row and then take a year off plan at the moment, but it really depends on where we feel like vacationing that year.

 

[mom2aredhead]

We're being bad and going twice in a year! We've had a crappy end to 2008, and I need a bit of Disney magic. It'll probably be late 2010 before we go again.

Us too. My son just turned 5 in Nov and he's got 7 trips under his belt, (3 offsite, 3 AKL and 1 CR) plus a day trip to MK while I was in Tampa on business.

Unfortunately at this point it'll be a while before we go back..stupid economy!

 

[carj]

We went on our honeymoon in 2000 and then we took the kids this past summer, 2008.
I would like to go in March of 2010, because that will be our 10 year aniversary!

I would say that we are probably not ever going to go every year. For one thing, we want to travel to other places. Though I have a lot of time off, I'm a teacher, he works a more traditional schedule. I think that going every other year will be our plan. Also, we are in Texas and driving is just not appealing to me. Maybe one day, when the kids are older, I would try it with just the kids and I.

I don't think that WDW would lose any magic if we went more often, but the reality is that we can afford one "big" trip a year, time and money. I just want us to experience more that just Disney. (Though I do love it!)

 

[ncmomof2]

We have been going once a year and this Sept will be our fifth trip. For us it makes sense. Not having to rent a car or bring car seat is huge for us since we have three kids with one due in April. When the kids are older, we will start going other places. Though they have already been to many more states than I did at their age!

 

[Crisgw]

We took the boys for the first time in 2005 then we skipped 2006 and went back in 2007 and 2008 and this year we are going 2-3 times. We just bought DVC in Sept (while on our trip to AKL) and we plan on going 1-2 times per year indefinitely! We like to do other vacations as well or we'd go more! I got my DH to love Disney finally!!!!

 

[merfsko]

Some families do it every year, I am on the every 2 to 3 year thing, I think. I am worried that it will lose the magic should we go every year....

I have the same fear!

We used to go every other year, but last year after our every-other-year trip in January half of the family ended up teaming up with some of our extended family and went again that August. And then again this August. While it didn't lose the magic (mainly because we went with different people and did different things), and as much as I want to go again, I'd rather wait for a year or two before returning.

I like the every other year idea, but that's just me.

-merfsko

 

[mdsouth]

What is the time time frame between each of your Disney Trips? For as much as I would love to go to WDW every year, its just not going to happen. We dont own a DVC, cant guarentee when we can get away each year and things like that. I am curious to know what others do. I think many of us would like to go several times a year or maybe even live there.

For us, it is just not a feasible option to go to Disney every year. So, we strive for every three years or so. We last went in 2005 and are planning on going this summer 2009.

I would bet that the majority of Disers are people that go more often than the general public. At least the Disers that spend a lot of time on the boards, and comment a lot. For many, they live a lot closer to the Mouse than I do so it is easier on the budget to visit more often. I always try to keep those things in mind when I read posts.
Remember too, it is easier to encourage others to spend THEIR money as opposed to spending our own money! Tee Hee! To me, it is kind of like window shopping with someone that has an open-ended bank account. Just wishing it was true for me!