Do you ever try to 'mix things up' when you visit Disney?

[mergatroid]

When I say 'mix things up' I'm really meaning do things a little differently to keep things fresh, especially if you go quite a bit.

For instance my wife and I usually spend 3 weeks a time in Orlando and having annual passes it means we can go as often as we like as we're not wasting a day of a pass if we say visit a park for just an hour or so for a stroll and an ice cream etc. This means sometimes we try to come up with ideas of doing things a little differently so as not to let things get a little bit stale.

Last year for example we decided we'd try some meals at the Disney Hotels (we stay off property) and visited Fort Wilderness and had the buffet at the Trail's End Restaurant before having a pleasant evening's stroll around the resort. We also thought we'd try a meal at the Contemporary Resort one night and tried a Chef Mickey's buffet which was nice before heading back into the MK for the evening's fireworks. We've also tried various boating options using different watercraft and next year I'm thinking of splashing out (no pun intended) on a parasailing trip.

So for those who are fairly familiar with the parks, do you consciously make the effort to change things up during your visits, or do you just do the same type of routine each time you go?

 

[DisneyDoug85]

I'd say for my family and I we generally have a sort of routine that we stick to. Besides the obvious trying new restaurants, or new rides if theres something new since our last trip. We live outside of Philly so its a pretty decent trip for us to make, so we feel comfortable doing the things we're familiar with and know we enjoy since its an every couple of years visit for us. We do have our first Cruise booked for next fall, 3 nights in Disney followed by 4 nights on the Dream. So that is a big change for us that we're super excited for!

 

[drizgirl]

I would definitely mix things up a lot more if I had 3 weeks to spend there. But most people don't.

 

[rreading]

My wife does not doing the same thing again and again. Thus, every trip we have to mix it up a bit!

Different resorts (we're DVC members); different parks on different trips. We're in the opposite situation: we most commonly have 2-3 days with many of our trips, so we can't include it all each time, so have to think about what the next trip will be about!

 

[Lets Respect]

We only get to go a week a year so yeah, we just focus on the parks.

If I had three weeks, I don't think I would spend it all in Orlando. I'd drive around and see all of the beaches and all that. That's how I would mix it up.

 

[JIMINYCR]

We know what we like to do and what works for us so I'd say most of our time at WDW is the same. Why change what works and gives us pleasure. But when we plan our trips we always try add in somethings new and different to make the vacation unique from the others. With Disney adding in new things we never have a hard time finding something new to try. We also will go off property to seek out something in the Orlando area... theres so much around to explore. Weve done Characters in Flight, Dinner theaters, several Park tours and events, and more... so yes we do the same but also add in the new. Each trip is a chance to increase the pleasure and the magic.

 

[Disneyfreak Jen]

I try to add new and different things each trip too. New restaurants, trying a different meal at my favorite restaurants ( like the hummus sandwich at Columbia HH) taking more time to enjoy the shops in World Showcase, and exploring any new experience I can. For example, I always skipped the Frozen Sing Along at HS, because I had the idea it was for young children....but, the friend I went with a few trips ago insisted we do it because it was really good. I'm so glad I listened because it's hysterical!! Be open minded about doing a ride or show because you may have the wrong assumption about it and might end up finding a new experience to love!

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

We have a routine. Although, the last few times, we've stayed at different hotels. Last time, we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. However, we always start and end our trip at Magic Kingdom.

 

[DfromATX]

We only spend about a week at Disney (5 park days and 2 travel days). The only mixing we do is a different hotel each trip and we eat at new places. We usually do one park a day with one extra day at MK, but I think next trip (June 2018) we'll do an extra day at AK for the first time.

 

[DfromATX]

I try to add new and different things each trip too. New restaurants, trying a different meal at my favorite restaurants ( like the hummus sandwich at Columbia HH) taking more time to enjoy the shops in World Showcase, and exploring any new experience I can. For example, I always skipped the Frozen Sing Along at HS, because I had the idea it was for young children....but, the friend I went with a few trips ago insisted we do it because it was really good. I'm so glad I listened because it's hysterical!! Be open minded about doing a ride or show because you may have the wrong assumption about it and might end up finding a new experience to love!

I thought the same thing about the Frozen singalong, so maybe we'll give it a try next time. Thanks!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

It can be challenging for us to mix it up when we go only once every 1-2 years, but we try to stay at a new r sort/one we haven't been to in a while each trip, and we try to mix new and classic dining options for us each time.

 

[WondersOfLife]

When I say 'mix things up' I'm really meaning do things a little differently to keep things fresh, especially if you go quite a bit.

For the first time in my LIFE... I'm actually choosing to park hop this fall! Because I only have 3 days in the parks, and it is my friend's first time ever going, so I'm making sure she gets to visit all four! (We're theatre majors. So obviously every show at Hollywood Studios is a must-do especially for research purposes)

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

We always eat at Crystal Palace. We tried Via Napoli back in 2014 for the first time and went back on my last trip back in May.

 

[Courtney6682]

We always do SOMETHING new each trip..a new restaurant, ride, show, tour, or resort...whatever we can think of really...

 

[Schneewittchen]

I'm a park commando, so my plan of attack for the park days never changes. Rope Drop. Rides, rides, rides til lunch. Quick lunch. Fastpasses in the afternoons. Sit down dinner. Gift shops at night.

And we do have some reliable meal choices. We're very fond of Artist Point. The kids love the Crystal Palace and Akershus.

But I do like to mix up restaurants sometimes. We're doing 3 new table service restaurants for our next trip in November - Garden Grove Cafe @ the Swan, Le Cellier @ Epcot and the Wave @ the Contemporary.

 

[danyoung56]

It's hard to mix things up when there are so many things that I like doing every time. I try to stay in a different hotel every time, as well as mixing in a few restaurants that I haven't been to in quite a while, if ever. But then there are repeat restaurants like the Coral Reef that I have to so almost every time. I'd have to say that I'm a creature of habit, and like doing the same things when I visit twice a year. So it's a constant effort of filling this requirement while also hitting new stuff or cycling through other stuff. Keeps it interesting!

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I admit I'm a creature of habit. When I went in May with my Mom and younger siblings, we saw the new castle show at Magic Kingdom. I liked Celebrate The Magic better.

 

[Disneyfreak Jen]

I thought the same thing about the Frozen singalong, so maybe we'll give it a try next time. Thanks!

Definitely do it, you won't be disappointed!

 

[JohnD]

I just got back. I tried to mix it up a little bit and still hit everything. On this trip:

• Sat. 9/16: Arrive. HS evening (see Disney Movie Magic and SW shows); Disney Springs
• Sun. 9/17: Chef Mickey's Brunch. MNSSHP
• Mon. 9/18: Squeeze the life out of HS with Fantasmic in evening; Check out Boardwalk afterward
• Tue. 9/19: AK
• Wed. 9/20: Epcot. F&W Festival morning / afternoon; MK evening to see Happily Ever After with dessert party
• Thurs. 9/21: Epcot. Spice Road table dinner.
• Fri. 9/22: Sea World during the day; Hop into Epcot in the evening to graze F&W booths for dinner
• Sat. 9/23: Boma Breakfast. Water parks (both). Sanaa dinner
• Sun. 9/24: Narcoosee's brunch. MK until 2:30. Drive home.

 

[GVentola]

As a local passholder, I go for just a few hours to the parks instead of full days. I usually plan the outing in advance. If there's nothing new to see or experience, I might theme the outing to a land or pavilion. Say, an outing focused on China at Epcot would include eating at either the table service or counter service restaurant, looking at the museum exhibit, watching Reflections of China, and browsing the department store.