WDW fans: How often do you go?

[Dean Kennedy]

More specifically for non-locals, how often do you go to Walt Disney World? As a kid, we went every 3-4 years for a total of FOUR times. Now, I find myself taking kids every 2 years. But, as we all know, the costs have increased, experience has not kept up with the prices and crowds, even with all the planning/strategy.

Planning on a trip this year. But typical costs for 5 day/4 night stay for us (our ideal period) runs $3000-4000 with hotel and airfare. Not including food costs.
How does one justify multiple trips a year given that? (barring AP and DVC ownership)

We are also planning our first Yellowstone/Teton trip this summer. And my kids are getting super excited about seeing something new and natural. (even more so than "another trip to Disney World"
In the perfect world, families would do both national parks AND Disney. But in reality, we have to make hard choices where to go on spring/summer breaks.

Until the FP+, wait times, complex planning required, construction improves, Summer 2021 may be our last trip (unless employer pays for conference there)

It's hard to ignore that an "annual pass: for unlimited NPS is $80.

First of all I would like to get in on that price that he gets! Since our first family trip with the granddaughter, we have averaged a trip about once a year. Our last visit was March 2020 just days before shutdown. It all depends on how much happiness you want to experience. For my family it’s hard to go anywhere else that we experience the same level of belonging to a place. We are fortunate to have a little place at the coast here in North Carolina that we use a great deal but for the experience, nothing compares to WDW for us.

 

[holden]

We own DVC. We go at least twice a year - once in summer and once for FWF. We sometimes also hit FGF.

 

[PolyAddict]

This will be our first year since 2011 that me, my brother, niece and daughter are not there for Mardi Gras. Our girls were 9 and 11 when we started those trips. These trips were pretty cheap for me since we shared a room. Since around that year with an AP, I have taken 2 trips a year (sometimes 3) One with them and one with DH.

 

[Flamingeaux]

I go close to two times a year.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Since having kids, we go 1-2 times a year, but they are shorter trips, never more than 2 park days on a trip. We fill the rest of the time with character breakfasts, Disney Springs, runDisney, exploring the resorts, and enjoying Disney transportation. We average a 4-5 day trip, use military discounts and credit card points, and drive (we live about an 8 hour drive away). The discounts and the shorter trips help us go more often. As prices go up and our tastes change, we may have to cut back. My husband and I each only went once as kids, so we are still experiencing new things each trip ourselves.

 

[Justrose]

I only started going to Disney in 2017 and have been there 3 time since then. So once a year-ish. Out of state, no APs, no DVC.

 

[jen7233]

Once a year but it's not set in stone to do that. Last visit was in December and it was a great time, even with the changes, no regrets on going.

 

[Delirium]

15 hour drive away from WDW. Usually go every 2-3 years, though we have sprinkled in back to back years before. However, last visit was Thanksgiving week in 2018. We will not be going this year, so we will exceed that 3 year window for the first time since the kids were born (they are now 16 and 14).

 

[sethschroeder]

How does one justify multiple trips a year given that? (barring AP and DVC ownership

I mean who wouldn't have an AP if going multiple times a year?

We plan on the future going 2x in a 12 month period with an AP then skipping a year. Essentially getting a large discount on tickets every other time.

 

[tigertides]

Doing the math, for those who go more than once a year.... the annual expenses easily are $10,000

wow.

 

[Micca]

twice per year for us. We're DVC members, we go once in the spring with DGDs, once on the fall for F&W,

 

[wdwnut]

Our first trip was in 87. We went 2-3 times a year for several years. We took a couple year break. Since 2000 we’ve gone at least once per year. This past year, I took 3 trips. This year will only have 1 trip with 21 family members

 

[DebbieB]

PA - 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

Doing the math, for those who go more than once a year.... the annual expenses easily are $10,000

wow.

I'm not sure why you think that. We have done 4 trips in one year (10 days, 4 days, 4 days, 10 days) and been WAY under that. Of course it included free hotel at the Swolphin with Marriott (Starwood back then) points and free flights with Southwest miles.

 

[Erzengel]

Every other year.

 

[mindeola]

3-4 times a year with my best girlfriends. We go for long weekends. We Meet a friend that lives close. We get cheap flights from NOLA to MCO and just take a backpack. have been doing this the past four years or so. Our kids are all grown and our husbands do not love Disney. Works for us!

I go with my entire family about every three years or so.

 

[tigertides]

I'm not sure why you think that. We have done 4 trips in one year (10 days, 4 days, 4 days, 10 days) and been WAY under that. Of course it included free hotel at the Swolphin with Marriott (Starwood back then) points and free flights with Southwest miles.

4 Trips:

including food, tickets, annual passes, etc?

most families of four aren’t escaping WDW under $1000/day all in.

 

[Darcy03231]

When my children were young it was the perfect vacation for us so we would go once a year (and sometimes 2-3x). As they got older we branched out to other vacation destinations. Now, for us, it tends to be an add-on to another vacation. Last trip was DH & I in 2017 for a couple of days after a cruise.

My neighbor and I were supposed to go last fall with her two girls (6 and 1.5), but we canceled due to the pandemic. We have no plans to rebook until things go back to a semblance of normal and we can get vaccinated.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

4 Trips:

including food, tickets, annual passes, etc?

most families of four aren’t escaping WDW under $1000/day all in.

Annual passes were around $2k total for 2 adults and 2 kids. Then its just food/drinks, and it's pretty easy to stay way under $8k on that.

 

[tigertides]

Annual passes were around $2k total for 2 adults and 2 kids. Then its just food/drinks, and it's pretty easy to stay way under $8k on that.

I must be missing something. Looks like 2020 AP’s were $1000/pp (unless you are FL resident). How does one get 4 AP’s for $2,000?