What keeps you coming back?

[All7OfUs]

As I was typing up my trip report (on this forum), I keep finding myself asking the question: What brings you back to the World again and again? In other words, what is the draw for you??

Is it:

 

[All7OfUs]

I'll start. I voted for theming of the parks. I've never been to another park/place like WDW! Not only is it over the top themed, but utterly clean! Dollywood is okay, but not nearly as detailed nor as clean and well-maintained. So, what do you think??

 

[g8trmom1]

One word...Loopin'.

 

[disney4dan]

I probably "skewed" the data some because we've never camped at the Fort, only stayed in the cabins once. So my reply had more to do with the Magic and value of WDW itself. Really looking forward to our first time going to the Fort the "right" way.

I'm a morning person and enjoyed going for a walk along the edge of the pond at Pop Century with my first cup of coffee before the rest of the family wakes up; looking forward to a more scenic stroll in August with the smell of pine trees and charcoal, the sound of kids laughing and riding bikes (or doing the golf cart slalom )

 

[AuburnJen92]

Now see, I would have to say close prox. AND FW itself, however, I voted for the first and not the latter. Both of those are about equal in our book.

 

[Momof626x3]

The overall theming in WDW keeps us coming back. Nothing else compares!

 

[LONE-STAR]

For us its a package deal. The whole WDW experience is what keeps us coming back. But FW is still 50% of the the fun for me. Since my dad is in a wheel chair WDW is a good vacation for him.

 

[VACAMPER]

Seeing it through the eyes of my children is what brings me back.

 

[Us3]

I couldn't narrow it down. We like it all! Resorts, dining, attractions, rides, shows, recreation, relaxing at the Fort. There is just no other place like it for families.

 

[~Kristina~]

It's like crack, a horrible addiction that's not easy to kick! Seriously, I think it's the magic and the Fort is awesome and so clean!

 

[3gr8kids]

Seeing it through the eyes of my children is what brings me back.

Ditto

 

[OK GRUMPY]

The reason I have gone back over and over again is because I really relax when I'm at the Fort.I can go and do the hussle and bussle at the parks and then go back to the Fort and just relax.
I have some really great family memories as well. I think this is why I keep going back.

 

[the5coops]

The reason I have gone back over and over again is because I really relax when I'm at the Fort.I can go and do the hussle and bussle at the parks and then go back to the Fort and just relax.
I have some really great family memories as well. I think this is why I keep going back.

I second this one. I can really relax and watch the kids play.

Shelley

 

[bradisgoofy]

It's the Disney "magic" for us. We don't care where we stay, although we are starting to like FW best, just as long as we go once every year. This year, 2008, will be the first time we have gone TWICE in one year.

 

[stacktester]

The reason I have gone back over and over again is because I really relax when I'm at the Fort.I can go and do the hussle and bussle at the parks and then go back to the Fort and just relax.
I have some really great family memories as well. I think this is why I keep going back.

I feel the same way. When you're as close to MK as you are, you can go over anytime and leave if it's too busy. When you go back to a hotel you have to find something to do which usually costs money. At the fort you can go looping, campfire program or bike riding and it gives you and the kids a chance to wind down.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

The draw to Disney World for me is all the theming. You can loose yourself in the details and the wonder of it all. Ever since I was a little girl, I would enjoy nothing more than to walk around, particularly at night, and take it all in. It's still the same for me. Only now, I love to take one daughter at a time and give her the opportunity to experience it that way. Sometimes we'll take the long way back to our room or pop-up just to savor a few extra minutes.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

Count on me to skew the results I waited a while before answering this poll because I couldn't really pinpoint what keeps our family going to the FW/WDW....so after thinking long and hard, I decided it's all the reasons above, wrapped up in one little package. So I voted for all of them.

Fort Wilderness: I couldn't say FW is the sole reason because we have visited WDW umpteen times before we ever laid eyes on FW. But now it is part of the big picture.

Overall Value: Even though it is a good part of it, our family tends to rack up on the extracurricular activities the Fort offers and that really ends up costing us as much as a stay at a Moderate. That being said, if I stayed at a Moderate, I wouldn't be using all the extras at the Fort, it just wouldn't feel right unless we were actually camping. So yes, the overall value is a part of the big picture too.

Theming of the Parks: Gotta love the diversity of themes....it's not just Mickey anymore. Again, this is part of the big picture.

Attractions: Yes, also part of the picture. I think I would go back if only for Aerosmith's R 'n R and Tower of Terror.

Location/Our proximity: Although we're not in the "prime" location, it is about 10 hours drive which isn't all that bad. So this too, makes it part of the big picture.

 

[Us3]

The draw to Disney World for me is all the theming. You can loose yourself in the details and the wonder of it all. Ever since I was a little girl, I would enjoy nothing more than to walk around, particularly at night, and take it all in. It's still the same for me. Only now, I love to take one daughter at a time and give her the opportunity to experience it that way. Sometimes we'll take the long way back to our room or pop-up just to savor a few extra minutes.

That sounds really nice! And that one on one time is important when you have multiple kids. DD9 and I took the boat to EMH at MK. It was nice to go, just the two of us, and experience it at such a relaxed pace at night!

 

[All7OfUs]

Thanks, everyone, for the votes and posts. I confirmed what I thought... Although, I'm going to post it on the other forum (sans FW) and see what comes of it. It's no surprise that FW would be the winner in this nutty crowd, but I think theming will win over there.

 

[WeCampDisney]

I must say that its the Disney magic that keeps us coming back. I don't know what else to call it. We have traveled across the country over the years and visited some wonderfull places. But in the spring of 1999 my wife and our daughter went on a band trip to WDW via chartered buses. I did not want to go! I stayed home, bah humbug, just a big fancy Six Flaggs. Well, they came home talking about how awesome and different it is, and that I would love it. My wife knows me very well so I believed her. So, we started planning that first trip for may 2000. Her mom and stepdad offered to take us in their mh. My wife worked in an office with a young lady who told her about Fort Wilderness. Her dad is a prominant lawyer, they could afford any hotel in all of WDW but they loved to take their mh to Fort Wlderness and rent a golf cart. Anyway, after hearing her story, it sounded good to me. So in may of 2000 we went down there in my inlaws mh. The moment we left I4 and drove under the big arch sign I stated feeling the magic! I just could not believe how nice, how convenient, how fun, how unique the place is. I am feeling it now, just writing about it. We bought our trailer and tv specifically for the Fort. I am down sizing our cars to help us afford an annual trip. I am planning and preparing certain Christmas decorations for our campsite, the golf cart... Nothing is like WDW and Fort Wilderness during the holidays! Man, 7 months from now we will be there!!!!!!