Doing the crazy thing and skipping the Disney Parks

[Susan Savia]

After driving 15 hours to get to the Orlando area, there is no way we could be there and NOT visit the parks. We go once a year and see and enjoy many changes from one year to the other and of course have many favorites that we hope never change. We also visit the beach for a week in the summer and Memphis, TN as well.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

We only take Disney trips every 2-3 years...in between we go visit other parts of the country...take the family to Colorado to see the Rockies, or California to see the coast, or Chicago...or the Northeast!! There are so many places to see! And that's just in the US!! Not to mention Europe etc!! No reason to go to WDW every single year!

 

[ddbowdoin]

I have considered staying @ a Disney resort but not going to the parks. We'd spend time @ DTD and perhaps a water park like Blizzard Beach and maybe some mini golf. Right now, I am tired of the parks. I guess it's just me getting older. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE Disney, I just need a break from the crowds!

I said the same thing myself... I LOVE THE PARKS, but after 5 trips in 3 years (the last three coming in very busy seasons) it doesn't mean the same to me when everything is slammed. I love the HM, but I loved more in May of 2011 when I was able to ride it, walk off, and hop right back in sans a wait... unlike this past june where I was waiting 50 minutes to experience my favorite attraction. Once is just not enough for me.

 

[ddbowdoin]

After driving 15 hours to get to the Orlando area, there is no way we could be there and NOT visit the parks. We go once a year and see and enjoy many changes from one year to the other and of course have many favorites that we hope never change. We also visit the beach for a week in the summer and Memphis, TN as well.

especially since Orlando sans Disney, kind of a dump...

 

[Nemo14]

We only take Disney trips every 2-3 years...in between we go visit other parts of the country...take the family to Colorado to see the Rockies, or California to see the coast, or Chicago...or the Northeast!! There are so many places to see! And that's just in the US!! Not to mention Europe etc!! No reason to go to WDW every single year!

Totally agree! I really think that you do your kids a great disservice if you only vacation in Disneyworld. There's a lot of other things to see and do (even in Florida) besides theme parks.

 

[Kitchandro]

That's not crazy, it makes perfect sense. The best time I went was the last one when I hadn't been for 3 years. The least great was the time before which was the second time in a year (though it was raining tbf).

I hope one day I can be in a position where I can just go to Disney whenever I feel like it - not as a holiday, but just somewhere to hang out and relax. I don't see how it has to be less magical because you go too often, it just depends what the mindset is.

For example, if you're going all the while and seeing it as a 100 mile and hour holiday of a lifetime it probably would lose something if you went all the while. But if you just went casually (assuming you lived close) and just sort of took your time in a place you loved every couple of months, you might appreciate it the same. Of course you'd need some cash to spare.

That's why I'd love to work there. Seeing it as work and not a holiday, I think I'd feel lucky to have that as my work rather than a dark, dirty construction floor or a small office in a boring village in the middle of England.

 

[Spikerdink]

Since I have a good friend who lives in suburban Orlando, I have traveled down to O-town and not gone to Disney. There are many things to do other than our favorite World and my friend introduced them to me. We did Sea World, Universal (and this was before HP), went tubing down a river outside of Orlando, sat by the pool [and maybe after dark there was the possibility of going in sans suit ], see smaller attractions and just relax. Was it hard not going to Disney? Not really. I knew I would still be going to Disney soon enough and it made me look forward to it that much more.

I have a friend who went to Disney and stayed on site and never set foot in the parks. He and his wife just enjoyed the kid-free break (family watched the kids back at home) and tried out the signature dining they couldn't try with young children and reconnected.

So, it's not that crazy you were near Disney but didn't go in to the parks. I think it happens more than we realize and that the lack of new product, difficulty in getting dining reservations, spiraling costs have many people doing the same thing.

 

[luv]

There is nothing crazy about visiting Sea World, lol. It's a great park! Gatorland is fun, too. Not one of the Big Seven, but a fun day that ends early.

I feel badly for kids who never get to go to Uni. If you can afford it, you should take your kids.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

Totally agree! I really think that you do your kids a great disservice if you only vacation in Disneyworld. There's a lot of other things to see and do (even in Florida) besides theme parks.

One family we know only vacations in one spot...every year...and now the kids are amazed because they are able to travel a bit and the parents/kids talk about how much they love the other places in the US...It's what everyone tried to tell them for years...

 

[6laurac]

We always go somewhere else besides Disney because we need to have break to our trip. Last trip in May, we went to SeaWorld (where we had the best Park food ever at the Voyager's Smokehouse) and my DD loved seeing real animals almost more than meeting Micky and Pluto (3x) and Duffy bear a record 6 times.

For us, the Disney bubble is better when you can have a day out of it to get refreshed to go back inside.

 

[Since1976]

We always go somewhere else besides Disney because we need to have break to our trip. Last trip in May, we went to SeaWorld (where we had the best Park food ever at the Voyager's Smokehouse) and my DD loved seeing real animals almost more than meeting Micky and Pluto (3x) and Duffy bear a record 6 times.

For us, the Disney bubble is better when you can have a day out of it to get refreshed to go back inside.

Voyager's Smokehouse was delicious! And a nice big dining room too. We found a quiet semi-secluded spot behind the dividing wall, near the ordering line.

 

[Beholder]

I have considered staying @ a Disney resort but not going to the parks. We'd spend time @ DTD and perhaps a water park like Blizzard Beach and maybe some mini golf. Right now, I am tired of the parks. I guess it's just me getting older. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE Disney, I just need a break from the crowds!

I often think about the day when my wife and I can go to WDW and just relax. No schedule, no kids, no getting up to make rope drop, just taking it easy. Hang out at the resort, maybe hit DTD, leave the property, whatever. And going in the off season not worrying about school. One day, one day.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

It isn't crazy at all there are lots of things to see in this world and Orlando that you can have great vacations with out Disney.

 

[hull327]

I don't think it's crazy at all. We're doing one more WDW trip in 2014 and that's probably it for a while unless there's a substantial expansion to one of the parks or new rides are implemented. Sadly, at 9 and 7 my two girls are more intrigued by Uni's thrill rides. My kids want to go to WDW just for Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur and Splash Mountain. Almost everything else bores them. They do like Wishes and the nighttime parades.

 

[6laurac]

Voyager's Smokehouse was delicious! And a nice big dining room too. We found a quiet semi-secluded spot behind the dividing wall, near the ordering line.

We ate "free" and didn't even know the meal was included until we exchanged our internet tickets for the real ones at the gate. My Husband was initially upset b/c he thought we had a day free but he'd selected a full meal as the freebe. Turns out one day was enough and the combo was terrific.

 

[cheezbat]

I applaud you!

Growing up, every visit to Florida always included Disney, until the mid 90's...then I found out how much more there was to do. Boy was I glad!

I think there's more appreciation for WDW when you don't go as often.

 

[mickeymatt]

The only reason I think it's crazy is because at least from my perspective their isn't enough to do at the other parks to take up a week. Haven't been to Seaworld in years though so...

Don't get me wrong either I enjoy Universal, I got an annual pass while I was on the Disney College Program. It automatically renews at the same price every year, so even though I barely use it, 1 trip to the parks a year and it's pretty much me breaking even now between Ticket plus pakring. My day there usually goes like, walk into IoA, look at the Hulk line times, if it's not long just continue on with my day, if it is buy an express pass, go on Hulk, Spidey, P&B, Dudley (If open), Jurassic Park, Dueling Dragons (Haven't been there since HP opened), Look through shops in Dr. Seuss area, go to Studios hit RRnR, Mummy, ET (Which I heard might be gone next year), MiB, maybe Terminator, and I can usually get it all done by lunch. Then again when I go the people I'm with never want to spend the money on Universal so it's usually just me walking as briskly as possible from ride to ride. I also need to check out Transformers and Harry potter Land next time, I'm not a motion sim fan so I'll skip the HP ride and the Simpsons ride.

I also know people who never go to O-Town and decided to do Harry Potter and Seaworld for their Honeymoon, went to Disney just one day of their trip and regretted not making it the basis of their trip. So like I said, if you can visit the other places and have it take up all your time, I don't think it's crazy, but if your just about trying new stuff and riding what you like, like I am, there is not enough to fill up any decent length trip. I can tour both universal Parks in under 4 hours, which will change if the WWE HoF actually opens at NBA Zone, rumor right now, but for now I can, and from what I understand there is less to do at Seaworld and the like and I'm not a show watcher.

I feel the same way about Hollywood and AK as I do about the Universal parks as well, but transportation is easy enough where I can hit my favorites and get back to Epcot or MK with a reasonable amount of time.

I took my family to UIOA this past thanksgiving weekend. I saw the HP land for the first time and it was incredible (and I'm not even a HP fan) but I agree the ride made me super queasy. It's too bad too since it is an elaborately themed ride. BTW how can you ride Spidey? I get sick on that too!

 

[ChevisMickey]

We live in Florida in the panhandle, however my whole family lives in Orlando. For some trips we will stay with family, or split time, yet lately we seem to be staying on Disney property more. We've done quite a bit in Orlando other than Disney. BUT! We go to Orlando for a Disney trip, even if it is a long weekend, at least once a year. Last year we went in February for a long weekend, and in early November for a long weekend. In late June we went to Orlando for a week, stayed at the Buena Vista Palace, on property by DD, and only went to DD for anything Disney that trip. We had fun doing other things in Orlando, with family, and at Sea World. We had our Disney fix earlier in the year, so it made it easier. I could probably go a year away from Disney if I did a late trip the year before, and an early trip the year after.

 

[Soarin2u]

It can be bad to have too much of a good thing. We skip Disney every other year or more. We like to get more hyped up for our next trip than making it become an ol' Tradition to go every year or so. I love Disney but I the thought of going every year makes me sick. It's like a favorite food, you may love if but if you had to eat it everyday for the rest of your life, it wouldn't look nearly as appetizing a week in. Every time we go we like to change it up anyway. The first tear I went we had a different resort and of course, its our first time as a family! Year after that we switched to our beloved Coronado and had family with us from Florida. Third year was the year we didn't change anything except for I got to ride all the coasters I wanted to that year ^.^! 4th year we had Water Parks. Last year was the cruise. Next time we might consider moving up resorts or increasing amount of time there. Tomorrow we are actually heading down to Wisconsin for vacation and I'm excited to see a new state than visiting my precious Disney. We need change too. Everyone does.

 

[Chezman1399]

BTW how can you ride Spidey? I get sick on that too!

Spidey makes me sick sometimes, but I can usually remove my glasses and since the ride is moving I get over it quick. For whatever reason motion sims just get to me. So normally if I'm actually moving I have no problem if something is trying to make me believe I'm moving that's when I have issues.

Not sure what exactly HP is, but I know people who don't get sick ever and get queezy on it.