After Multiple Park Visits-Is The Magic Still There?

[Raineman]

Just wondering, as someone who lives thousands of miles away from WDW, and has only been twice in my lifetime, for Orlando locals who have gone to the parks hundreds of times-do you still get the same feeling when you go WDW now as you did when you started going? How do you try to make each visit feel special? I guess that there are always different events happening, and there seems to be constant change in the parks, especially lately. I would imagine that going to the parks over and over would allow you to see every inch of the parks and see/experience things that people who visit infrequently do not get to see, as they have a limited amount of time and have to pick and choose what they want to experience.

 

[Nick Wilde]

Just wondering, as someone who lives thousands of miles away from WDW, and has only been twice in my lifetime, for Orlando locals who have gone to the parks hundreds of times-do you still get the same feeling when you go WDW now as you did when you started going? How do you try to make each visit feel special? I guess that there are always different events happening, and there seems to be constant change in the parks, especially lately. I would imagine that going to the parks over and over would allow you to see every inch of the parks and see/experience things that people who visit infrequently do not get to see, as they have a limited amount of time and have to pick and choose what they want to experience.

I live an hour away from the parks and have gone about 30 times. It has never gotten old for me, and every time I go is just as exciting. In, fact I think I like it better every time I go, because I always find something new.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I live an hour away from the parks and have gone about 30 times. It has never gotten old for me, and every time I go is just as exciting. In, fact I think I like it better every time I go, because I always find something new.

Ohhhh you lucky, lucky guy. But only 30 times???? I'm always telling DW... Its got to be so nice to live so close that you dont have to do everything, theres always another day you can go back. You can just decide to go do a little bit at a time knowing all of Disney is close by for another day.... and have plenty of time to do it all at your own leisurely pace.

 

[Nick Wilde]

Ohhhh you lucky, lucky guy. But only 30 times???? I'm always telling DW... Its got to be so nice to live so close that you dont have to do everything, theres always another day you can go back. You can just decide to go do a little bit at a time knowing all of Disney is close by for another day.... and have plenty of time to do it all at your own leisurely pace.

I started going in 2012... I regret not going beforehand.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

Going on my 13th or 14th trip this year, not as many as locals of course, but I can't wait to go back. Probably in part because there's so much to do that now I can take it at my own pace and realize I don't have to go and try to do everything.

 

[marc4ak]

I live about 1.5 hours away and I've gone more than 100 times since December and every time you walk into the park the magic is still there. The hype of getting ready to go I miss out on but getting there it is all still so magical.

 

[Sonconato]

Just wondering, as someone who lives thousands of miles away from WDW, and has only been twice in my lifetime, for Orlando locals who have gone to the parks hundreds of times-do you still get the same feeling when you go WDW now as you did when you started going? How do you try to make each visit feel special? I guess that there are always different events happening, and there seems to be constant change in the parks, especially lately. I would imagine that going to the parks over and over would allow you to see every inch of the parks and see/experience things that people who visit infrequently do not get to see, as they have a limited amount of time and have to pick and choose what they want to experience.

Since I've been married, my family and I have been on both sides of the table on this, pretty close to equal amounts. There was a long stretch of time where we lived in Massachusetts for 13 years and we have now lived in Winter Park, Florida for a total of 13 years, 6 years before we lived in MA and 7 years so far after living in MA. We have visited the parks at least twice a week for every year we were here and we made about 7 trips from MA when we lived there. Honestly, the feeling is probably the same but for different reasons. When you live far away, it's a little like something new and exciting every trip. It brings back memories from previous trips and new adventures for the current one. When you live here and go as often as we do, you tend to explore different things. You don't worry about getting on rides or missing anything. I do pin trading, so that is a never ending activity that I always look forward to. My husband enjoys looking at the details and actually has wondered if people on the forum would enjoy seeing detailed photos of something in which they could guess what attraction, park, hotel or whatever, that that detail might be located. We also try to make more of the parks, like AK in which we can learn something. We have been known to talk to a CM for an hour or more just about a certain animal or a conservation effort, something you can learn from. Raffiki's Planet Watch is great for that. As you mentioned, there are always concerts and special events as well. It's always nice around the Holidays to see the Christmas Trees, not only at the parks but also the hotels. There have also been great displays of large Easter eggs at the Grand Floridian. Frequently you will get to see celebrities roaming the parks too. It's even kind of fun just watching and hearing peoples reactions...especially those that are there for the first time. You just never know what you'll find and we never lose sight of how lucky we are to have this in our own backyard and use it!

 

[bethymouse]

I live in WV. We go once a year. I have yet to have the same experience. I try to plan it that way. It is still the happiest and most magical place on earth to me.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I just like getting to be in Florida...Where it's fun, thrills, and magic every mile...I hope to live there someday..

 

[rob0519]

After about 20 trips and seeing the overall decline in quality of pretty much everything and the huge price increases over the years, yeah the magic is gone. We still go for a number of reasons, but I'm no longer in awe of the place nor it's management. I'm hoping all the new additions over the next 5 years or so will change that for me, but it's a wait and see attitude.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

I don't live there, but I have gone once a year every year since 1997. And it never gets old. I suppose being a once a year spot helps keep it 'fresh', but for me personally, WDW has been a part of my life since I was a little boy. I went twice in 1972-73 (I could have sworn it was 1971 but my mother says no), again in college, and now as an adult. For me - it's like 'home'. As much as it has changed, there are still spots that generate wonderful memories. Plus - I think it cool to be standing in the same spot I may have stood in 40 years ago.

 

[ShoalFox]

I go about once a year, and hope to go more often. I still think it's a wonderful experience because the last three years I've gone in the middle of Summer, and this year, right after school ended. I have an amazing trip every time because it's such a fun contrast from my usual life in school. I don't see the magic wearing off anytime soon!

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

To answer the question in the OP. Yes. There is just so much to do that multiple visits do not detract from the experience. Although not an Orlando local, I live close enough ( about an hour and a half from driveway to Disney entrance). I go about 8 times a year for 3 to 4 nights a pop. It never gets old, maybe because I plan my trips around things that are going on (Star Wars Weekends, Flower and Garden, Food and Wine, MNSSHP, and the holidays). There is always something different and the parks take on a different character depending on time of the year. I think the ability to go frequently allows the opportunity to explore the Disney Kingdom and experience things you probably would not get the chance to do if everything was crammed into a 5-7 day trip. It gives the flexibility to sacrifice a night at the parks to hang out at Trader Sams or check out Yeehaw Bob over at PO, catch the Luau over at the Poly or hit MBYBBQ.

 

[DisneyJunkie]

I live about 10 hrs away and my last trip was nearly 3 years ago. Prior to that, I was trying to go at least once every other year. Each time we plan a trip, I'm as excited in anticipation of going as every other time......knowing full well we'll be seeing and doing the usual things that we love so much. Then I still get a thrill in seeing the first I4 signs for WDW, then going through the first "Welcome to Walt Disney World Resort" gateway, then checking into our resort, then going to the park and getting onto our favorite rides....etc....etc..... It simply doesn't get old. There are a lot of things that are new that I haven't seen yet, and a lot of old things that I never had interest in before. Sometimes I make it a goal to try one of those older things to see if I've been missing anything. Doing that makes each trip a little newer than the last.

 

[Retroman40]

Quick answer - Yes! I see the castle from the TTC multiple times a week and day or night I never get tired of the view. As far as walking in, everything "Mickey" turns green and I enter to quote the Foreigner song "It feels like the first time".

 

[BuddyThomas]

I live about 1.5 hours away and I've gone more than 100 times since December and every time you walk into the park the magic is still there. The hype of getting ready to go I miss out on but getting there it is all still so magical.

100 times since December? Wow, you are hardcore.

Considering that we are in day 231 of 2015, that means you've gone nearly every other day. I can't even wrap my head around that is physically and financially possible, but you go boy!

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

After about 20 trips and seeing the overall decline in quality of pretty much everything and the huge price increases over the years, yeah the magic is gone. We still go for a number of reasons, but I'm no longer in awe of the place nor it's management. I'm hoping all the new additions over the next 5 years or so will change that for me, but it's a wait and see attitude.

This is my exact feeling as well. We are not locals, but have somewhere between 25 and 30 total trips over the years, with around 18 or so in the last 16 years. We are DVC and have gone a few times in the past few years without stepping foot in any of the 4 main parks. We enjoy the activities other than the parks as well as some things off property. The most recent trip(last week) my wife and kids got a 3 day ticket(MK,AK,& DHS) and I got a 2 day(MK & AK). I enjoy the planning of it but must say the magic, while not gone, has certainly greatly diminished. While I knew the state of DHS, my wife and kids comments were "it is not the same anymore" and " they are making it in to a Frozen park." To which I said... Told ya so.

I too am hoping the additions will change things for us... but we will see. I really want to go to DLR, but family doesn't want to fly.

I will say the DVC Beach Bash event at Typhoon Lagoon was very nice though... first time we ever had something like that during our trip

 

[BuddyThomas]

This is my exact feeling as well. We are not locals, but have somewhere between 25 and 30 total trips over the years, with around 18 or so in the last 16 years. We are DVC and have gone a few times in the past few years without stepping foot in any of the 4 main parks. We enjoy the activities other than the parks as well as some things off property. The most recent trip(last week) my wife and kids got a 3 day ticket(MK,AK,& DHS) and I got a 2 day(MK & AK). I enjoy the planning of it but must say the magic, while not gone, has certainly greatly diminished. While I knew the state of DHS, my wife and kids comments were "it is not the same anymore" and " they are making it in to a Frozen park." To which I said... Told ya so.

I too am hoping the additions will change things for us... but we will see. I really want to go to DLR, but family doesn't want to fly.

I will say the DVC Beach Bash event at Typhoon Lagoon was very nice though... first time we ever had something like that during our trip

Yeah. But did ya tip?

Kidding. Just giving you a hard time. Carry on.

 

[jengrey]

I've only been to WDW six times and all the trips have been spread out through the years. The magic never, ever gets old for me. I still can't sleep the night before leaving for my trip. I still get super-giddy the minute I drive under the welcome sign, and I still think it's special when I see characters around the parks (although it's not as exciting now, with all the meet-and-greets and Fastpass+ stuff. I liked it more when you'd just be walking around the park and come across Goofy or Baloo).

However, I used to live in Los Angeles and had an annual pass for Disneyland. I would go there pretty much every Saturday or Sunday and spent numerous holidays there. Sometimes I'd go with my then-husband, but most times I was solo. Around trip 15, I started to lose that "magic" feeling. I even dare to say that I started taking for granted the fact that such a classic destination was a 45-minute drive from my house. I would go to the parks and get bored after a couple of hours. I think I just went there way too often and it became overkill for me. Since WDW is a whole lot bigger than Disneyland and I haven't gone there often, and since a vacation there is an EVENT that doesn't happen every year, I don't think the magic of WDW will ever fade for me. I do plan on returning to Disneyland sometime in the future and I'm thinking that it might feel more "special" to me then.

 

[networkpro]

I've been going for 43 years and still cant get enough . We don't live in Florida, but have the resources to travel whenever we get free time. Lots of things we love to repeat almost every time and still things we haven't done left to try. Always have to make trade offs.