How often would you go?

[NormC]

If I were less than a two hour drive I would be there at least monthly.

 

[JasonDeyoung]

For those of you that go regularly, how is it at night versus morning? We have been doing a lot of half days, but getting there around 9 and leaving around 2. It has been great since we haven't experienced long lines or big crowds. I've noticed around 1-2 the crowds picking up, so we have just headed out.

We are adding in my husband to the fun. The kids are begging for daddy to come, but we have been nervous since he really can't handle long days of standing/walking. I don't want to do too much (even 4-5 hours will probably be too much) and turn him off from attempting it again, but we all want him to experience the magic, too! Our first trip with daddy will be next week and the kids have no idea

I go at rope drop and you can usually hit everything in a few hours with no crazy lines. I'm usually heading out of the parks by noon when it starts getting pretty busy. I will usually go back in the evening when the suns going down and the afternoon crowds are starting to head out. It usually stays fairly busy till around fireworks but if they have late EMH it's awesome and lines are usually small. I guess some people don't like being in the mk at 2am ️haha and that just seems crazy to me

 

[Seanual757]

The family and I are about 20 minutes away we try to go twice a month if not more and in the summer we normally hit the water parks almost weekly and the parks in the evening due to the high temps, around the holidays we try to increase to every other week just to enjoy the holiday season. We stay on average 3-4 times a year anywhere from 2 days to 6 days just depends.

 

[6laurac]

If we lived a couple of hours or closer, we would go every long break my Husband has off. If nothing else to check out what might be new in the shops and to eat fish n chips at Yorkshire. I could spend all day just browsing in the shops and not riding rides now truly.

 

[SMS55]

I live 3.5 hours away. We make 3-4 trips a year. We go for a long weekend though. If the kids have a day or two off of school, those are the weekends we go. We don't feel as if Disney has lost it's magic, but then we're Disney fanatics too. That might play a role in it too. It's a lot easier when you know you'll be back in 3 months or so. Since it's only for a long weekend, there are always a couple of rides we miss, even though we do go at rapid pace in the parks. We'll skip a few rides. We don't need to go into the Tiki Room or It's a Small World. Of course if we have time we'll do it. Usually there will be a ride we miss, so that allows to have something to look forward to for the next trip. We always look forward to December to see the parks are decked out for the holidays.
Ironically enough I've known two people that have lived in and around Orlando. One lived for 3 years in Orlando and wen't once. Another person lived 6 years in St Cloud and never went. She's been more to Disney since she moved down to Miami.

 

[fireworksandfairytales]

When I was growing up, I lived in Lakeland which was only 40 minutes away from WDW. My Grandma and I went every Saturday and spent the day together. Sometimes we'd go more than once a week, during school holidays and such. I never got tired of it and even into my teenage/adult years I'm still as obsessed with the parks as ever. I live three hours away now and my boyfriend and I still go to the parks at least every two months. My Grandma hasn't had the chance to go much in recent years, but she says she misses it and always asks for tons of pictures when I go on my trips because she wants to see all the things that have been changing and such.

For us though, we didn't necessarily always go to the parks. Sometimes we would just go to have a character meal at Chef Mickey's and walk around the Contemporary. Or we'd go to Epcot and just spend the whole day in Innoventions. I think that there's so many different things to do on property that as long as you change it up every now and then, you could go all the time and never lose that magic.

 

[hth1917]

I live 30 minutes away and have an AP. I go a couple of times a month during (what used to be called) the slow seasons. I generally avoid the parks during the summer and Christmas crowds. As others have said, it's very pleasant to be able to go for just three or four hours and not feel that I have to stay longer. I also have a Universal AP and use it the same way.

I will say that MyMagic+ has changed the experience and not for the better. Some of my favorite attractions, like the HM, now have hour-long waits around midday seemingly every day. So I now frequent the parks mostly during the first couple of hours after opening or the last couple before closing.

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

When we moved to the Orlando area 4 years ago I was super excited about living so close to WDW and we got annual passes right away. For two years we went about 2 or 3 times per month (often for just a half day, to eat or see a concert) and I thought we would continue to get annual passes for a long time, but toward the end of the second year I got a bit tired of it and wanted to do other things on my days off. We had also seen everything so many times, we decided not to renew our APs.

Now I have been AP-less for 2 years and don't miss it very much. Last year we bought a 4-day pass for Florida residents and hit all the parks for one day and that was fun. We will do the same again (or get a Weekday pass, as that is not much more), but there isn't much new to see at the moment and there is so much construction. I do miss going to the special events like Flower and Garden and concerts at Epcot. We also really enjoyed going to AK and just looking at the animals and special exhibits. The great thing about an AP and living nearby is that you can always take it easy, so we would mostly just go to walk and look around for relaxation as opposed to running from attraction to attraction.

 

[melmel89]

I would go every other weekend but alternate which park I did to keep things fresh.

 

[draybook]

I would do what I've done a few times on this trip and that would be this; I would grab a nice cold iced tea and plop down on the bench in front of the general store on the Boardwalk and just enjoy the beauty and serenity of it all.

 

[msbrit90]

Living that close with an annual pass would be a dream come true, my husband and I were just discussing that the other day. I would try to go every weekend, or at least once a week. Even if its just to go to the Magic Kindom and sit on a bench in front of the castle and read a book by myself.
I live 9 hours away and even if I don't move closer I still plan on getting an annual pass and going at min. 5 times per year

 

[KCheatle]

I do think going too much can ruin the magic. I think ideally, I would go every 7-8 months of so if I had limitless funds and time availability. But, but the same token, the reason I love it so much is that it is an escape from my life. So, if I had limitless funds and availability, I probably wouldn't need an escape

After we go, I usually take a 1-2 month hiatus from all-things-Disney because I need to decompress a bit. But, right about now (6-7 months post-trip) it hits me that I miss it a lot. Planning wise, I would need to start planning about 6-months out, so that would give me my 1-2 months off, and then start planning the next one. That would be my ideal. But, with a full-time job, a DH with full-time job, and kids with packed schedules, my ideal probably won't ever become my reality

 

[Doc Disney]

My Mom and I were just talking about this the other day! She says she would like to go every other year but I think I could go more often than that! I feel like maybe its because I'm a Disney fanatic but I can't imagine ever getting sick of Disney! Theres so much to do and things are always changing

 

[wdwjmp239]

If you lived within an hour of Disney World and had annual passes (premium/annual/seasonal/weekday... whichever), how often would you go? Do you think going too much could ruin the "magic"? How much is too much?

This is a really great question and I think it depends on how much does that person like Disney? Speaking for myself (and for my wife and two kids), if we lived within an hour of Disney World - we'd be there every waking moment. My younger brother who recently moved to Orlando goes probably as much as he did when he lived 3 hours away.

"Ruin" the magic? I think so if you did go "every waking moment."

 

[WDWoptmist]

We live a little over an hour away and not only do we go all of the time but we about once a month take a long weekend and stay on property for a night or 2. It never gets old at all we have probably gone 50 times in 3 years and done something different everytime. The only thing that changes is the way you tour the parks. Instead of flying around trying to ride everything you can you just go with the flow of the day and do whatever you want. Plus Disney is always different depending on events and seasons. Being so close we love doing the runDisney races, Food & Wine, Flower & Garden, the Holidays around the resorts and parks. Nothing beats living close!!! We went 2 weeks ago for 3 days and all we can talk about is how we need a day in Disney so we're going this weekend for a day just to get that magic and escape for a day!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Oh what a beautiful thought. I think if we lived that close, it would be a place we go for long weekends, birthdays, special celebrations, special dinners, and probably two 1 week vacations a year.

 

[TXDisney]

If I lived in Florida I'd for sure go atleast 3 times a year. During Christmas, F&W Festival and Flower and Garden Festival. Since I live in texas I can't afford to go that often so we normally choose 1 of those times and go once a year.

 

[mouskateer carrie]

I am a 4 hour drive away and we go about once per month (sometimes twice). I just moved to Florida this summer so my pass is a new, exciting thing for me... so far I don't see the thrill fading

It takes the pressure off of seeing everything and I get to see all the different Holidays/seasons. We went the week before Christmas and it was crazy busy (I knew it would be) but I wasn't stressed about it. We just wanted to see the decorations, special shows, etc. I also love how I can come see family/friends when they visit Disney. I love experiencing the parks with different people

 

[Uncle Remus]

I live a little under an hour and a half away. We have annual passes and between the 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and Disney Quest/Downtown Disney we go twice a month. We stay on sight about 4 times a year.

The magic has actually grown for us not diminished. It's a "second home" of sorts and we get to take our time and cater our experience to the mood we are in. We never have to rush or feel that we have to get every thing in. My wife and I have gone down just for dinner and fireworks on many occasions. We've literally experienced everything there is to offer over the years. Unfortunately most families can't say that.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I'd probably go at least once a month. Though honestly, I'd be very tempted to pop on over pretty much every week. Even if it's just to eat, have a drink or take a walk. Photography in the parks is sort of "my thing" and that alone would bring me over an awful lot.

If it's that close and "already paid for" on top... Fuhgeddaboudit!

Of course, most Florida natives/locals that I know... Avoid the Mouse House like the plague.