When is My Next Disney Vacation?

[fan1080]

Well, I've finally come to the realization that I may not be going back to Disney for some time. It's a new era for us, where our daughters are now getting older and my wife and I try other new and exciting vacation destinations.

It's actually a really sad time for me. I'm a Disney fanatic, like many here. My first Diney trip was back when I was a young teen. My wife and I spent our honeymoon in St Pete's/Orlando (Disneymoon, sorta). And we've now been on 5 Disney trips with our daughters. All of the Disney vacations were amazing.

But now, my family is expressing interest in other vacation ideas. I would be happy going to Disney every year, but that will not likely happen. In fact, we may not be back to Disney for many years.

But, I will continue to haunt one of my favorite message boards, the DIS. This place has been a wealth on information for us over the years, so I hope I can give back with the knowledge I've gathered.

Ok, I know this thread sounds rather, ah, gloomy, and way too long winded, sorry. It's just a rather sad realization for me. Hopefully, I don't bring you all down with me. I'll be fine, we have already started our next era of vacations earlier this month with a cruise to the Caribbean, so it's not all that bad. I just miss Disney and long for that connection. That's probably why you'll see me stick around here for some time to come.

Happy travels everyone. Looking forward to helping where I can.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Taking a break makes it muuuuchhhh better when you go back. Enjoy a few other places....like maybe DLRP

 

[weewuvvdisney]

We love going to Disneyworld but we also like to travel to other places.

Our dd has been to DW four times but she has also been to other places in Canada. We do a Disneytrip one year and for the next couple of years, we go to other places.

I still come to the disboards on a regular basis - got to have my fix and know what's going on.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise OP!!!

 

[fan1080]

We love going to Disneyworld but we also like to travel to other places.

Our dd has been to DW four times but she has also been to other places in Canada. We do a Disneytrip one year and for the next couple of years, we go to other places.

I still come to the disboards on a regular basis - got to have my fix and know what's going on.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise OP!!!

Cruise was actually last month, sept 26 - Oct 3. It was our first cruise, really enjoyed it. So much so we purchased a future cruise certificate.

It was just my wife and I, it's nice to get away on our own once in a while. Looking now for a cruise for the whole family for next year.

Still doesn't compare to Disney though.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

My boys are getting older too (16.5yo and almost 11yo) and expressed after our last trip (Oct 9-13) that they were getting tired of the DW parks - even Universal wasn't overly exciting them

We have been doing other vacations too - have done several Caribbean cruises and did a cruise to Alaska last year. They've been to most of the Canadian provinces now too. I will still attempt to stick the odd DW trip in there and since we are DVC members those trips are more spending time at the resort/relaxing/golfing short trips.

I'm going to disguise another Disney trip next year as a trip to California..... Disneyland must be different right?? We'll use our DVC points and set our base at one of the DL resorts if we can't get the GCV.

However even doing that I have 4 dvc points from last year that will go to waste because we just aren't using them - and all of this years points are banked so hopefully we can use them next year!!

 

[snickerboo]

I hear you. We have a lot going on in our lives this year so no Disney vacation for the first year in 4 years. I miss it, and it seems like so many people I know are going.

Maybe after a few different vacays, you can get back to WDW.

 

[c&m]

Wow, is that what happens when they grow older?

Luckily for us, our DDs still enjoy going to WDW and DL. We have introduced our girls to other parts of the world, and they loved it. But nothing beats a good 'ole trip to Disney. The DDs now consider it a "tradition" - kind of like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It wouldn't be the same without it. But DH and I know that time is running out on this type of family vacation, so I do understand and feel your sadness.

 

[drag n' fly]

Our family is totally there OP. Only dd14 and ds7 want to go and the rest have had enough. Any future disney trips will only be to DL (our fav). Im done with 10 hour flight days there an back, time change, humidity etc. West coast travel (palm springs, hawaii, vegas, DL etc) is so much easier on us time, weather and financially

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Think Mediterranean Cruise ... that's what we are going ... after our AP expires, it no more Disney World for a while ... we are thinking of one big trip on the Med for 11 nights in 2012. Perhaps a Disney Cruise ....

 

[irisesareblue]

I must be in a total different place in my life. My own girls are now 20 and 22 - one's out of the house and the other is in her last year of college. Hubby and I are "newlyweds" (well for the last 10 years anyway) I didn't take my kids when they were little because I could not afford any vacation let alone a trip to Disney (I was a single mom for a lot of years and camping in the local park was a vacation for us). I took my first Disneyland trip 3 1/2 years ago and I have been addicted ever since...2 trips to Disneyland and 5 trips to Disney World in the last 3 years. Trips have been taken with my daughters, my step-daughter (and her family) an couple alone with my hubby, and I'm planning another trip in November with hubby for 4 nights and then again in May with a friend from England.

We take other vacations (heading to Cuba in February) but Disney is still my dream trip. Mickey is the best

the one thing I need to do, though, is stay onsite! That's my goal for May.

 

[LSmith]

Think Mediterranean Cruise ... that's what we are going ... after our AP expires, it no more Disney World for a while ... we are thinking of one big trip on the Med for 11 nights in 2012. Perhaps a Disney Cruise ....

Ted,

That's what my family and I are doing in 6 weeks. They've long tired of the Disney trips (not me). We will be going on an Eastern Med cruise (12 nights) that includes an overnight in Egypt. After which we will spend 5 nights in Paris for Christmas. I've included a day in Disneyland Paris. I can't wait but had to forgo a DisneyWorld trip that I had planned for this week!

We have done many non-Disney trips including Arizona and California which are fantastic.

Bottom line. There are so many amazing sites to see in the world.

 

[fan1080]

Think Mediterranean Cruise ... that's what we are going ... after our AP expires, it no more Disney World for a while ... we are thinking of one big trip on the Med for 11 nights in 2012. Perhaps a Disney Cruise ....

That's definitely on our to do list. Some co-workers have gone this year and speak highly of it. I've never been on that side of the Atlantic yet so it is a definite future trip.

I'm a Disney boy through and through, it's just time to accept that not everyone else in my family is the same. No worries, we'll still have great vacations. I know I'll get back there sometime, but I can't imagine it's going to be anytime soon.

With the current deals available it looks like we could go for quite a bit less than we have in the past too. Typically we have done Disney for around $1200 pp (everything included, Disney, flight, meals, spending money, etc). I just priced out a week last night (see, I can't let it go, lol). We could go First week of Feb for $950 pp.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

LSmith will be my new Med Cruise consultant !!!

Just play with numbers ... if the Cruise cost $4500, and the flights for 2 adults 2 kids (3500), add some excursion moneys and transfers +extra hotel (say 2,000). This would be a $10,000 that would cover 2 weeks.

If we went back to WDW for a 10 day it would mean either renewing our AP's ($2000), or just reg 10 day hoppers (1,300), plus air food accom (best case $3000). This would end up being around $5,000.

I think something new would sit well with my wife ...

I haven't been to Europe since 1990 ....

 

[tgropp]

It comes to a point where your children get older and it seems that the magic wears off. My wife and myself have enjoyed many solo trips in the past 10 years. Sometimes we visit the parks, other times we mix it up by going to football games etc. My children are now 25 and 30 and we are expecting our first grandchild. We are taking our family and spouses to WDW for Christmas again this year and they are so excited as they have not been there since Christmas 2005. They have since refound the magic and keep asking about my points and if they can use them. I told them that they would have to fight me for them unless I am going also. Everything goes full circle.

 

[SydneyFalco]

Well, after our last Disney vacation, my wife was pretty adamant that we would not be going back for a while. Even I was a little burned out and unimpressed after three trips in three years. But very quickly I felt the tug to go again and eventually she conceded WDW could be our every third vacation (or so). Then, after a while, she agreed to it being our Spring, 2012 trip.

It's some kinda crack, that WDW. Even if one or more members of your family seem carved in stone about this, give 'em time to get their jones on.

 

[retiredkid]

and then....of course.....there is Disney Cruise Line.

 

[Disney-Chick]

I LOVE going to Disney and so does DF. This Dec will be our 5th trip. I get excited going as the first time we planned. My DD is 13 and I hope she never stops loving Disney.

You could always do the Disney Cruise so that your whole family is happy. You get Disney they receive their "other vacation" Good luck with all your vacation planning.

 

[fan1080]

and then....of course.....there is Disney Cruise Line.

Yeah, I checked into that. Far too expensive for us, even with the 25% Canadian resident discount they are/were offering.

Sounds nice, but I can get a much better price for a cruise elsewhere. I know it would be Disney themed and all, but not worth the extra in my opinion.

But, maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places for Disney Cruise fares. I received a quote last year from Dreams Unlimited, $7800 for a family of 5 (flights not included), ouch! And I looked at the Disney cruise site within the last month or so. Are there other discounts available out there?

 

[LSmith]

LSmith will be my new Med Cruise consultant !!!

Just play with numbers ... if the Cruise cost $4500, and the flights for 2 adults 2 kids (3500), add some excursion moneys and transfers +extra hotel (say 2,000). This would be a $10,000 that would cover 2 weeks.

If we went back to WDW for a 10 day it would mean either renewing our AP's ($2000), or just reg 10 day hoppers (1,300), plus air food accom (best case $3000). This would end up being around $5,000.

I think something new would sit well with my wife ...

I haven't been to Europe since 1990 ....

Our med cruise so far is Cruise: $5500 (including insurance) mini suite
Flights: $4000 (4 people)
Barcelona hotel: US $500
Excursions booked through cruisecritic.com (not the cruiseline, too expensive)
Egypt: 2 day tour, one night 5 star hotel US$600, pyramid light show and dinner US$200 both lunches included
Greece: tour with greece cab driver 120 Euros
Rome on our own: Train/metro tickets 35 Euros (approx) Vatican and Sistine Chapel tickets 65 Euros
Turkey: No excursion yet
Malta: On our own, cheap bus fare
End of cruise: Barcelona

Fly to Paris after cruise (part of original airfare expense)
4 nights Paris (not sure of price yet)
Notre Dame: Free!
Eiffel Tower: 45 Euros (approx)
Disneyland Paris: Tickets for one day (both parks) -208 Euros

Food: Kraft dinner for a year

 

[Cdn Gal]

Two years ago we had a Med. Cruise planned but Carnival backed out b/;c of the increasing gas prices- so... we went to Alaska instead. We are looking at Med. again now, but... I would like to get some stuff done around the house this summer. Perhaps next summer. But us too, I don't think that we will be going back for a couple of years. We have gone every year for the 3 years and my DH is well... understanding. He knows about my addiction. But, you never know we may go next Christmas as a 'surprise' him.