We are ruined for life!

[dairyou]

We just figured out that no matter how many times we go to WDW we never get tired of it. DVC and WDW is definately our second home. If you read my trip report on the cruise board you'll understand more of what I'm talking about.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=808144

After our one week cruise on Royal Caribbean we felt so relieved when we entered the gates of Old Key West! We loved the extra space and this is the first time that we had a two bedroom. What a plus that was! We only spent 3 nights there. Went to Epcot one day, SeaWorld and then Blizzard Beach. My kids loved the new slide and said it is better than any other resort slide. We didn't have time to mill around like we would have liked...but there is always next time.

Now the dilema...how do we get ourselves to try other vacationing places when we love our DVC? We are still waiting for our trade through II to come through...but not sure if we will go now. WDW offers entertainment and relaxation all under one roof...or acres of roof... is there anything else out there like this? Help! We were thinking of Hilton Head for summer next year...At least that will cover our vacation plans for one more year!

Thanks,
Deb

 

[AmyBeth68]

We're having that same discussion at my home! We always say that we'll lay off WDW for a while...but as soon as our trip is over we're planning and figuring out for our next one .

BTW.....my kids also feel that the new OKW slide is the best!

Glad you had a great vacation!

 

[conciergekelly]

I had the same experience. We used to do a girl trip on a 3 day mediocre cruise every year.We thought, cheap vacation and a break from the kids. One year after a bad cruise ( food poisoning, rough seas, cold weather , bad food,etc.) We stopped at Disney to have lunch before we caught our late flight. Well, we got to Poly for lunch and felt so relaxed and relieved. We didn't want to go home. Well we ended up staying that night and got a flight the next day. Now we just go to Disney. Never had a bad experience since! I own DVC now and this year the girls are going to OKW for F&W and can't wait.

 

[spiceycat]

have tried other places - like WDW the BEST!!!

one year I might like to try Hawaii - depends upon this year - if I have no problem flying - then maybe one year Hawaii...

of course it would even be better if by then there is a DVC in Hawaii.

 

[MagikMom]

we've gone to disney every year for the past 4 years. Can't get enough. We are also planning to "take a break" and go to hilton head next summer 2006. I've heard great things about hilton head but I am also worried I'm going to miss Disney that year! Crazy, isn't it?

 

[spiceycat]

Hey I have been to Hilton twice -once with DVC then other time the Marriott (this is a great place)

I just prefer WDW.

Now I don't like to golf or play tennis - if you do - you will love HH.

 

[Tramp68]

You call those other trips educational experiences....

Colonial Williamsburg
Yosemite National Park
Grand Canyons
Pearl Harbor
Old Sturbridge Village
Valley Forge
Washington DC
Arlington National Cemetary
Broadway show in NYC
Europe
Asia
South America
Africa
Australia
ETC ETC ETC

How many in this short list have you done?

Have you ever gone SCUBA Diving?

Have you ever jumped out of an airplane?

There is more to life than Disney.

Don't get me wrong, Disney is great and I love what they do and we will never stop going. BUT there are OTHER things to do.

How many have actually taken the time to take a day out to go to Cape Canaveral for the day? You are already so close.

Think about it. What other cultural experiences have your children (or yourselves) experienced?

*ducks all of the bashings he is about to take...*

 

[crcormier]

What is this 'laying off Disney' that you speak of? There are no other vacation destinations, haven't you heard? Seriously, I don't think there's anything wrong with going to Disney every year for vacation if that's what makes you happy and where you get to relax. Some people go to the beach, some go skiing, some go camping, I go to Disney!

 

[conciergekelly]

I've been to Hawaii (numerous times and did scuba), Europe, Key West, Mexico, the Bahamas, drove out west to the Rocky Mountians, California etc... and plan on others. I guess my point was in my post for us "girls" WDW suits us. It has tranportation, lots of restaraunts, great hotels, it's clean etc. We have been in some not so safe circumstances as well, on some of these cruises. We just feel it is a safe, close place to go to get away from reality. That is just what a couple of stressed out moms need!

 

[WolfpackFan]

We have this problem - but it's a one-sided problem. Myself, I could very easily go back to WDW year after year. DW, on the other hand, keeps saying she is tired of Disney and wants to go to "different" places. Funny though, we did an add-on at HHI just so she can go to the beach every year. I'm not adverse to trying to use our VWL points to do other things besides Disney, but from reading this board, I know now that the promise of getting good II exchanges is alot more promise than reality and forget using our points for a DCL cruise. Now don't get me wrong, we do go to other places besides Disney. In fact, I have a trip planned to Arizona in a couple of months and Hawaii next year; but just not using our DVC points.

We'll just have to see. It might would end up that I go down to WDW without DW occasionally, perhaps going with DD or I have a friend who is about as big a Disney nut as myself. Who knows, I might would even try a solo trip sometime if DW gets totally tired of Disney. For sure, I'm not going to let the points go to waste.

 

[AmyBeth68]

I guess we're lucky...we usually plan a non-Disney week and a Disney week so we can both "see the world" AND "see the Disney World" once a year . We've been very fortunate to visit many parts of our country as well as Europe, Asia and Mexico. I find value in every trip I take with my family as it means loads of together time and great memories...regardless of the destination.

I just wonder though if people get criticized for going to the beach each year, or their lake cabin every summer, or going on a cruise each year? For some reason, when it's Disney, there's a stigma.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I just wonder though if people get criticized for going to the beach each year, or their lake cabin every summer, or going on a cruise each year? For some reason, when it's Disney, there's a stigma.

I think there is alot to this. My brother goes to the beach year after year with his in-laws and nobody thinks a thing about it.

 

[mark&sue]

Hopefully in the future because of the money we are saving by buying into DVC we can have two or three holidays a year.

So we can go to WDW every year and other places as well.

Can't wait for our first trip home


Susan

 

[bobbiwoz]

We haven't gotten tired of the Disney Experience either. We've been to lots of great places, and my mantra when the kids were growing up was "There's more to Florida than Disney," as so we went, but in these, our Empty Nest years, while we still have our health, we go to WDW often, enjoy the resorts and share the fun with family and friends. People come to visit us in Cape May NJ, (very very few of our friends have made the trip to Ohio to visit us) but they're also happy to join us at WDW, our other home. I also have a 3 night "girls stay" for the F&W and MNSSHP planned.

Bobbi

PS. We took our sons to Hawaii, and to DL, in fact, we spent a few nights on the Queen Mary when Disney owned it, that was fun, a much different ship that the Magic and Wonder! We took our sons to all of that "short list" up to and including Europe, Mexico, Niagra Falls and more. I'm glad that you're ducking, Tramp68, I don't think liking Disney precludes going other places and doing other things.

 

[Tramp68]

Originally Posted by AmyBeth68
I just wonder though if people get criticized for going to the beach each year, or their lake cabin every summer, or going on a cruise each year? For some reason, when it's Disney, there's a stigma.

Response by WolfpackFan:

I think there is alot to this. My brother goes to the beach year after year with his in-laws and nobody thinks a thing about it.

I disagree..I think that there is a stigma involved in any repetitive vacation spot. People tell my parents "you are going to Cape Cod AGAIN?" Once again, I say, there are other places out there. There is nothing wrong with going to one place over and over as long as you are continuing to enrich your lives by going to other places and doing other things.

The beauty of repeat Disney trips for children is that it is a different experience every time they go. One year it is Characters, next year it is the rides, then it is the shows..etc. There is enough to do to vary your trips. BUT There is more to life than just going to Disney

 

[FreeTime]

We have found that we are addicted to Disney and DVC also. This year, I started feeling a bit ready for a change. However, now I am ready to plan an unexpected DVC trip this summer.

We have (and will) vacation at other places. This year we are also going to Lake Tahoe for a long weekend and we always by season passes to an amusement park around the area so that we can do other things. I see nothing wrong with going to Disney over and over and over again. Each time it is a new experience. Also, we have found that our DVC is going to gurantee us a vacation. We can afford annual passes, but DH lost his extra income. So, instead of trying to make a trip to Universal or out west next year, we are considering just buying annual passes, borrowing some points, and taking four trips within a year. Excessive? Maybe. But I'd definately rather go to Disney and DVC any day vs. staying at home on vacation.

 

[SaratogaShan]

I think it matters very little WHERE a family goes on vacation. I think the intent is the important part. I'm sure there are families out there who have traveled to every corner of the world and back who fuss and fight on vacation, or maybe just do not communicate with each other at all. On the other hand, there are families who never leave the backyard for vacation who's children no doubt have fun playing with their parents and siblings and enriching the bonds that exist between them. They will have beautiful vacation memories when they are older without ever going anywhere. I guess I'm saying to each his own. I don't think kids are deprived of anything if their vacations lack variety. It is not where you go, it is what you make of it!!

Shan

 

[AmyBeth68]

I think it matters very little WHERE a family goes on vacation. I think the intent is the important part. I'm sure there are families out there who have traveled to every corner of the world and back who fuss and fight on vacation, or maybe just do not communicate with each other at all. On the other hand, there are families who never leave the backyard for vacation who's children no doubt have fun playing with their parents and siblings and enriching the bonds that exist between them. They will have beautiful vacation memories when they are older without ever going anywhere. I guess I'm saying to each his own. I don't think kids are deprived of anything if their vacations lack variety. It is not where you go, it is what you make of it!!

Shan

Excellent point ! When I was a kid vacations were very few and very far between as my parents couldn't afford to travel with us. But we had fun taking day trips to the beach, lake or local amusement parks and my memories are just as fond of those days spent with my family as anyone else's memories of lavish vacations. We are now blessed to have opportunities to travel more frequently, mainly due to my DH's work travel which gets us free airfare and many times free hotel rooms. We know we are lucky...but that doesn't mean other people's children are deprived if they can't travel. I have friends who do family camping trips and they say that it is the best time they have together as a family. Just as our WDW vacations have made for the most cherished moments together as family.

You can also teach your children about the world and give them wonderful culteral experiences without travelling....simply by using the resources that are nearby.

Thanks for raising a great point Shan.

 

[OneMoreTry]

We have this problem - but it's a one-sided problem. Myself, I could very easily go back to WDW year after year. DW, on the other hand, keeps saying she is tired of Disney.....

I can relate to this. However, I like to do things in addition to WDW, too. Snow skiing is a true passion for me. This year we're going to try canoeing since we live in a good place for it. And Disney's Hilton Head resort is FANTASTIC.

But I REALLY miss my Disney fix if I can't go to the mecca once a year. I'd go 4 times if I could.

 

[patrenoe]

Disney World is one of the few places that I can vacation without dh where we both feel I would be safe. We travel to other places during the year together but since he will only go to WDW no more then 2x a year I'm glad that I have a wonderful, safe and fun place to go.