WDW - Keeping it Fresh

[eporter66]

It is amazing, considering the amount of times we have vacationed in WDW, the anticipation we all have prior to vacation never waivers. We have 44 days until our trip and we are all getting excited.

Work has been very stressful (but we are thankful we are working) and DW and I just keep counting the days. We just went through some photos the other night of our past trips, and tonight we are taking out the DVD we made of last years vacation. I cant wait to watch myself walking around EPCOT during the food and wine fest (ha ha).

Anyway - my question is how to continue to keep it fresh. We make sure to book a new restaurant or two for each trip. We try to think of something we have not done, like miniature golf (we are doing it this time), and special events (MNSSHP), and consider adding those new experiences to our trip. But to be honest, even after visits almost every year - just hitting the parks and relaxing at the resort(s) is still as exciting as ever.

How about you? Do you still enjoy it as much as ever, any new things you have tried? Would love to hear your stories.

Thanks

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hopefully, lots of people will chime in with ideas for ways to keep it fresh, but for us, we don't worry about keeping it fresh. There's something comforting and relaxing about going to our "home away from home." We enjoy the familiarity of seeing certain CMs that we recognize from the last trip
and having a few "traditions". On one solo trip, though, to be a little more "spontaneous" I went and just got on the first bus that came along. Then when I got bored, I just changed buses. Also, when DH and I go together, we usually eat at just one new place (too many places we like to eat at for more than one new).

 

[JimMIA]

Our primary "keep it fresh" strategy is a function of our daughter being 8. We have the old standbys from when she was two, and we do those every year (teacups, carousel, Small World, etc). But as she has gotten older, her interests broaden, so we have started doing one major new ride each trip (sometimes two).

The problem with that strategy is that we have now accumulated many more "must do's" for each trip -- Test Track, Splash Mountain (at least 3 times -- 9 last year and we gave away our Fast Passes for the 10th trip!), Goofy's Barnstormer, Soarin' of course, Finding Nemo, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, etc. And naturally, there is also the obligatory pool time with 100 or more trips down the sandcastle slide at OKW.

For our last trip, the big new thing was a day at Discovery Cove. And they had a special deal for Florida residents, so we got a free day at Sea World as well. She loved Journey to Atlantis so much, we'll probably go to Sea World pretty regularly.

And then, there is stuff we enjoy but don't do every trip. Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba tops that list -- we do that every 3 years or so.

The problem we have is that there is so much to do we never have time to do everything we plan to do. For example, we've been meaning to play miniature golf for years, but have never done that.

Our problem is not "keeping it fresh" but getting it all in!

 

[BigEeyore]

We try at least one new restaurant each trip, and we like to stay at different resorts too. Each resort is so unique that an AKV WDW vacation is nothing like a BWV vacation.
Honestly, with 2 little ones, the number of things we do in a day at WDW is pretty small, so we are able to go over and over and hit new things every time!

 

[eporter66]

We also have a daughter - she will be 6 on this trip. Last time we did some new rides with her, so true, a lot of the vacation revolves around her and new experiences for her. We have never gone commando with her, as we feel we will be doing WDW hopefully every year. Funny thing is, she is the one who wants to keep going when we suggest going back to the room. We do relax the day of our arrival and book a nice dinner that first evening. We also spend the afternoon at the pool, and usually take one day during the vacation to hang at the resort and the pool.

We are doing Sea World (cant believe I forgot to mention that) for the first time this year. Really looking forward to that.

7 days does fly by in WDW, and every time we go we always find something we somehow missed or never did before. Last year was the first time we did Fantasmic, and after seeing could not believe we had not done it. At the same time, it was cool that after the last few years, we got to do something so awesome for the first time.

 

[Granny]

Anyway - my question is how to continue to keep it fresh.

We try at least one new restaurant each trip, and we like to stay at different resorts too. Each resort is so unique that an AKV WDW vacation is nothing like a BWV vacation.

I was going to say what Big Eeyore said...the various DVC resorts help a lot to keeping it fresh. I guess if you are commando touring types the resort you stay at isn't as important but to us the ability to rotate resorts really does keep things fresh. We agree completely that an AKV vs BWV vs VWL resort vacation makes it feel like we aren't going back to the same place every year.

For our last trip, the big new thing was a day at Discovery Cove. And they had a special deal for Florida residents, so we got a free day at Sea World as well. She loved Journey to Atlantis so much, we'll probably go to Sea World pretty regularly.

Jim...we went to Sea World every year with my daughters and agree that it's a great diversion for a day. And Discovery Cove.....WOW, that's taking it to a whole new level with the dolphins and everything else.

And I guess one could go visit The-Park-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named, too.

 

[RLRDA]

Because we fly (and it's so expensive to do so!) we only visit once a year - we don't have tons of points either so one trip is usually it. This makes each trip something to look forward to. Sometimes I envy the people who have enough points or are close enough to visit multiple times a year but I think it would really get too old too quickly for our family. I'd actually like to do a trip and NOT enter a park but I'm not sure it could be done with our boys. If my DH and I went by ourselves (gasp!), I could definitely do a resort only trip. I'm glad the kids don't seem to get tired Disney....there are plenty of things we haven't done yet: La Nouba, all the different tours offered, many restaurants we haven't tried, etc. We try to mix it up each year.

 

[addiln]

we try to stay at a new place everytime we go. aslo trying new restaurants makes it seem fresh as well. the other thing we do it try to go on some of the rides at different times. doing thunder and splash mt at night will be different from doing in the day. it is the little things like that help out. we dont think it ever get old anyways and always enjoy our time there

 

[wildernessDad]

We're just going once this year, but it's a 12 night stay at 2 resorts.

 

[nolanboys]

I don't worry as much about keeping it fresh. We just joined DVC after 3 trips in the last 4 years. When we were there this past February, we were so relaxed because we knew what we loved to do, what we could skip and so time wasn't a problem. It was so relaxing (as relaxing as DW can be!). I have to say that one of the favorite things we did was go look around different resorts. We spent an afternoon at the Poly between going to MK in the morning and Epcot for dinner. We also rode the bus from HS over to AKV and had lunch and walked around. It was a nice break from the parks and we all felt refreshed.

 

[eporter66]

We're just going once this year, but it's a 12 night stay at 2 resorts.

We have gone twice in a year, but our usual trip to WDW is once a year. Wish I could do 12 days

We just joined DVC after 3 trips in the last 4 years. When we were there this past February, we were so relaxed because we knew what we loved to do, what we could skip and so time wasn't a problem. It was so relaxing (as relaxing as DW can be!). I have to say that one of the favorite things we did was go look around different resorts.

Even with our DD6 - we dont go commando. I would never drag her around the parks and make everyone miserable just to get everything in. She has a great attitude, and surprised us last year, she wanted to keep going and never had a meltdown. Of course she was out like a light on the way back to the resort.

When we started going with her (she went at 2 1/2 the first time) - my wife and I would switch staying in the room with her while she napped in the afternoon for a couple hours. When I stayed in the room my wife would go to the pool. But, on my days out, I always went and visited the other resorts, I love doing that (we rent a car which makes it much easier). It was on one of my trips that I stopped at AKV, loved it, and our next vacation was scheduled their. We enjoyed it so much, we are going back this October!!!

I figured we are still fairly new, 6 years in DVC. We always have a great vacation, and it is nice to hear that you guys feel the same. As for the keep it fresh, just thinking down the road a way, but having our daughter has made it a whole new experience to see how excited she gets with everything. Awesome stuff

 

[hakepb]

Seems you are doing most every + we do (slow down, events..).

Another thing we really enjoy (and much easier with relatives near Clearwater) is to end every vacation with a few days on the beach. I think that little 'winding down' time really helps eliminate that "need a vacation from your vacation" feel you might have when you get home.

 

[permavac]

...we were so relaxed because we knew what we loved to do, what we could skip and so time wasn't a problem...

This is us exactly! We also don't need to work on keeping it fresh because it seems all of our trips are different. Commando worked for the DH and me in the early years and now that we've been so many times we just do what we want. We might venture into DHS only to pick up a carrot cake cookie for a slow walk over to the Boardwalk area and Epcot. We typically go 2 times per year and with all the trips we've made there you would think we were sick of the place but Disney World provides the type of entertainment that really hits the mark for us (lots of walking in an aesthetically pleasing environment). Sure, we've had a couple of "bad" trips (i.e. too hot, too crowded, too many nasty CMs & guests) in the past but our experience and awareness help to minimize the impact of these stressors - and that's why we're going 3 times this year. It's still so much fun!

Terri

 

[bangzoom6877]

Because we fly (and it's so expensive to do so!) we only visit once a year - we don't have tons of points either so one trip is usually it. This makes each trip something to look forward to. Sometimes I envy the people who have enough points or are close enough to visit multiple times a year but I think it would really get too old too quickly for our family. I'd actually like to do a trip and NOT enter a park but I'm not sure it could be done with our boys. If my DH and I went by ourselves (gasp!), I could definitely do a resort only trip. I'm glad the kids don't seem to get tired Disney....there are plenty of things we haven't done yet: La Nouba, all the different tours offered, many restaurants we haven't tried, etc. We try to mix it up each year.

We only visit every other year. We drive down from NYC, which for us costs less than flying (believe it or not, including food, hotels, gas and tolls!) because we are 4 people. We take advantage of staying in a 1-bedroom for 10 nights. We don't own a ton of points either, plus we like other vacations besides WDW too. So the plan is to go to WDW every other year for a nice long trip, and do a different type of vacation during the "off" years.

I also sometimes envy people who live close enough to go for a weekend (like only a 3-hour drive), but I'm not sure I would feel that magical spark every time I go there if I went there that often.

This past July was our first trip home to BWV. I really miss that place! But...after 10 days, I definitely felt like the trip was complete and I was ready to go home. However, the fact that I now have to wait until July 2012 is getting me down. So what did I do? I booked our cruise for next summer, which we had decided would be our vacation in our "off" year. Gee...don't you just feel so sorry for poor little me?

 

[ddoconnell]

I have often wondered how we keep wanting to go back We have our traditions and something we have had to update as our youngest hits her teens. Each year when we talk about going, everyone chimes in that we have to go! It is "our" time, no matter how many people go with us!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I have often wondered how we keep wanting to go back We have our traditions and something we have had to update as our youngest hits her teens. Each year when we talk about going, everyone chimes in that we have to go! It is "our" time, no matter how many people go with us!

I sometimes wonder if my sons will still be into WDW when they are teens. Right now they are only 3 and 5, but I wonder how they will feel in 10 years from now. Hopefully they will still be excited about going!

 

[eporter66]

I sometimes wonder if my sons will still be into WDW when they are teens. Right now they are only 3 and 5, but I wonder how they will feel in 10 years from now. Hopefully they will still be excited about going!

This is one of the reasons we have not added on points. We have talked about adding a small contract once we pay off our DVC loan. At the same time, our DD is 6, and we go during non-peak times (take her out of school). I am not a fan of crowds and refuse to go during Easter Break or Summer. (I do want to go down for Christmas just to see it decorated for the Holiday).

But - as with most of you, even with all our trips it still makes us excited when we start planning. We have our traditions, favorite restaurants and it usually seems that are seven days fly by, and we could use a few extra days to get everything in we want.

 

[bangzoom6877]

This is one of the reasons we have not added on points. We have talked about adding a small contract once we pay off our DVC loan. At the same time, our DD is 6, and we go during non-peak times (take her out of school). I am not a fan of crowds and refuse to go during Easter Break or Summer. (I do want to go down for Christmas just to see it decorated for the Holiday).

But - as with most of you, even with all our trips it still makes us excited when we start planning. We have our traditions, favorite restaurants and it usually seems that are seven days fly by, and we could use a few extra days to get everything in we want.

WDW is decorated for Christmas before the holiday, so if you normally take your DD out of school anyway, you can do so in early December when crowds are light.

I refuse to go during Christmas break or Easter break as well. We go in the summer though. DH and I are both teachers, and we drive down from NYC. We stay at WDW for 10 nights. So, no school break in the middle of the school year is long enough for our plans anyway. Plus, my kids are in school and we don't take them out of school for vacation. We are all off from work and school at the same time, so the summer works for everyone.

DH and I talk about when we retire (22 years away though! ), and how our first DVC trip after retirement will be in early December when it is decorated for the holidays but crowds are much lower than the week of Christmas! If they still have the F&W Festival by then, we will have to do that too! We talk about all the trips we can't take right now since we are teachers and have to go to work during those times. Another one is a Fall Foliage cruise out of NYC (where we live)...almost every teacher I have known that retires does that as their first big trip after retirement...because they are always in September and October so we can't go until we retire!

 

[momoflizandains]

We have been probably ten times in the past four years that we have owned DVC. I wanted to experience Halloween, Christmas, and Spring Break at WDW in addition to the regular summer vacations. Our family has reached a point where we would like to experience different vacations as well. We will take a different vacation next summer and visit WDW probably during a holiday time late 2011 or 2012. These are great ideas, though to "keep it fresh" when we return. I love DVC and visiting the different resorts does make it a different kind of vacation.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We have been probably ten times in the past four years that we have owned DVC. I wanted to experience Halloween, Christmas, and Spring Break at WDW in addition to the regular summer vacations. Our family has reached a point where we would like to experience different vacations as well. We will take a different vacation next summer and visit WDW probably during a holiday time late 2011 or 2012. These are great ideas, though to "keep it fresh" when we return. I love DVC and visiting the different resorts does make it a different kind of vacation.

Sounds wonderful to experience WDW at different times of year, when it is decorated differently!

We go to WDW every other year, and in the summers in between Disney trips we do a different type of vacation. So, we still get to show the kids other different places but they also get to see a lot of the WDW area throughout their childhood. Next summer we are going on a cruise, and in July 2012 we will be heading back to WDW. But we plan to always stay at BWV. We LOVE that resort. The first reason we chose it was for the location. Walking to Epcot and DHS works out very well for us, and is important to us. We also love the theming, and the resort itself is so beautiful.