We have seen and done everything....now what?

[goofie4goofy]

LOL!

goofie4goofy, which hotel have you stayed at every year and which one did you make the mistake of staying at last time?

We always stay at the GF, and sometimes the Poly we just love it there...we go at least twice a year (sometimes more) and this past September we wanted to try something different so we stayed at the Contemporary. We had a MK view stayed Atrium CLub level. For us and this is JMHO, it felt like a convention hotel and did not have the Disney feel that the GF or the Poly have It felt very business like and cold...almost like the Dolphin (never stayed just visited for dinners, but is the same kind of feeling). We also disliked the new rooms...they reminded me of a cruise ship cabin. The color palette is softer and the decor nicer, but the rooms are small and the closet space is very limited. Don't even get me started on the bathrooms - LOL...horrible. I know many people love the CR, and I am not putting it down, it was just not our cup of tea. I must say the CM's were extremely nice, but we just did not like it.

 

[pepe of ohio]

The perception of doing everything in WDW is different for everyone. We have been to WDW well over 60 times...maybe more I lost count. What amazes me is that every tirp is completely different....and we always stay in the same hotel (well with the exception of last trip...big mistake)! We always find things overlooked. It is nice to reach the point of having seen everything because now you can take your time. There is no need to rush or wake up early and plan hour to hour. Do park hoppers and go where you want. Last year was our first time going in Dec for DH birthday and it was so great we are going back again. The MVMCP is really something to experience and so is the resorts and parks at this time of year. There is always something new going on and all kinds of celebrations/festivals....

We been there over 38 times and each trip gets better and better. We can finally check in and just say, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH". No rush ,no fuss and no guessing. We can relax, not chase rope drops, we do one or two though and leisurely glide through the parks, do alittle shopping and check out the nooks and crannies we used to blow right by. We still have our must do attractions but now we have the time for the no so exciting attractions. The only thing that has made these vacations better is we stay longer. Having seen and do almost everything and going from 4-6 night stays to 10-12 nights is actually bringing in the best part of a Disney vacation, relaxing, enjoying the resort, hitting all the resort lounges, odd dining we never done before. There are many different ways to see /Disney and the parks are only half of the adventure, seen it all, after 38 times, nope, still going strong and will never stop.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

sometimes you focus on the attractions and the rides or zero in on the actitvities but that is not all that there is to it.

Sitting on a balcony at midnight and listening to crickets.

Watching a child discover turkey legs for the first time.

Walking the rivers of Carribean beach and fishing for bass.

Just walking hand in hand through the beautifully landscaped grounds.

Always rember that Disney provides the setting, but sometimes we provide the magic.

This is so true. We've been there many many times and have done quite a bit of everything and more than once and yet there's still things we haven't done. We always make it a point to do something we haven't done everytime we go, even if it's just to expierience a new resturant. Or we just sit and relax and take in all the wonderful atmosphere and the different sounds and smells. I think for us, it will be a never ending magical expierience.

 

[goofy4tink]

After about 12 trips since '99, I love that I can just amble around, no more of that frenetic, frantic running from attraction to attraction in an attempt to fit it all in. We all know you can't do it all in one trip to begin with. I just returned from a 5 night/6 day stay with another mom and her 13 y/o dd. I had forgotten how awful it is to run around like a crazed person. This other mom/dd haven't been to WDW since '01, and most likely won't be going back for quite awhile, so they wanted to see it all/do it all. My dd and I were pooped out!!! It's so much nicer to just take your time, watching life go by in WDW, doing things slowly and appreciating them. There is always something different to do each time. There are tours I want to do, shops I haven't been into, attractions that I do only every other year or so.

 

[cleo]

I've been hundreds of times and still haven't seen and done everything.

If you feel you've done it all at Disney, branch out a bit and visit Universal and Islands of Adventure. What about SeaWorld? And Busch Gardens? And Discovery Cove? And don't forget about Kennedy Space Center.

Then there's SkyVenture, Skull Kingdom, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Wonderworks, Forever Florida, Boggy Creek Airboat Tours, a balloon ride, Clearwater and all they have to offer, Daytona and all they have to offer.

Then there's Fantasy of Flight and Waldo Wrights bi-plane rides.....shall I go on?

 

[maddhatir]

After about 12 trips since '99, I love that I can just amble around, no more of that frenetic, frantic running from attraction to attraction in an attempt to fit it all in. We all know you can't do it all in one trip to begin with. I just returned from a 5 night/6 day stay with another mom and her 13 y/o dd. I had forgotten how awful it is to run around like a crazed person. This other mom/dd haven't been to WDW since '01, and most likely won't be going back for quite awhile, so they wanted to see it all/do it all. My dd and I were pooped out!!! It's so much nicer to just take your time, watching life go by in WDW, doing things slowly and appreciating them. There is always something different to do each time. There are tours I want to do, shops I haven't been into, attractions that I do only every other year or so.

I know what you mean-- DH and I just got back in Sept from a very relaxing vacay- didnt set the alarm everyday-- we did set it though for something we have never done- OPEN THE MK!!! It was terrific! I cant believe how many times we have been to Disney and have never seen this!

But anyway- we are going back in 3 weeks with SIL, BIL and their 2 kids for 5 days- they have never been so we are going to have to do the kamakazi thing just so they get to see the xmas decorations etc- I know we will be back with them sometime in the future but we still want them to see the "important" stuff- I told DH to get ready b/c we are going to have to set the alarm every morning!

But I cant complain-- AT LEAST WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY AGAIN!!!!!

 

[MainStMandy]

I've been hundreds of times and still haven't seen and done everything.

If you feel you've done it all at Disney, branch out a bit and visit Universal and Islands of Adventure. What about SeaWorld? And Busch Gardens? And Discovery Cove? And don't forget about Kennedy Space Center.

Then there's SkyVenture, Skull Kingdom, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Wonderworks, Forever Florida, Boggy Creek Airboat Tours, a balloon ride, Clearwater and all they have to offer, Daytona and all they have to offer.

Then there's Fantasy of Flight and Waldo Wrights bi-plane rides.....shall I go on?

AAHH Blasphemy!!!!

I agree with everyone else. There is so much to Disney and unless you spend weeks at a time there....well there is still so much out there. I also am a former cast member, and while I have come close, I still haven't done EVERYTHING!!

 

[Lora]

Define "everything". Do you just mean you've done all of the "attractions"?

I haven't read other lists, but if you really want some ideas, how about these:

• volunteer as an extra for Indiana Jones

• volunteer at Backstage tour

• see the "new" attractions - seems like there are quite a few

• get the entertainment guide from Steve Soares and spend a morning/afternoon seeing the performers

• take a surrey bike ride at the Boardwalk

• what about - water parks, pleasure island and disney quest?

• visit new restaurants or dinner shows (have you done them?)

• character meals

• see the new live shows at MK - stage, behind the castle, and the Belle one

• take a bus, boat ride or monorail ride to explore the other resorts

• ride up front in the monorail

• take a tour (family magic, behind the scenes, etc.

• ride your favoirte rides again and again

• play tour guide to relatives and family members (especially young children) and see it all fresh through their eyes

• rinse and repeat

Why do people think you can only do things once or twice and then they're not fun anymore? People do it all the time at other amusement parks, beaches, shows, bands, etc.

 

[Bill From PA]

Two points of agreement with previous posters:

The biggest advantage of having 'been there, done that' is that you can drop the Commando Disney Tourist act.

There's so much to see/do/experience in WDW parks & resorts that 'We've done it all' is more a dream than a reality.

Bill From PA

 

[allie_to_you]

Have you gotten to see all the other Disney resorts? You can go visit the other ones and you can see some pretty neat things.


How about doing some of the behind the scenes tours? I bet there's a lot you haven't seen.