WDW As The Only Vacation Option: Why?

[Archie123]

Dumbest post I've seen in a long time.

He/she has posted other ones that may be in the running for dumbest post of the year.

 

[Stellajack]

You lost me at that.

Ain't it da truth!

 

[91JLovesDisney]

So for me, its not the only vacation option for me and my wife, but we do go 1 or 2 times a year, which will most likely shrink to 1 next year. We live in Atlanta, GA, its a 7 hour easy drive and I have family that lives in Orlando, so its a no brainer a lot of the time if we are trying to get out of town for a few days.

Fun - that seems like a pretty good setup!

 

[rubydoo2]

I've travelled to many countries with my husband so I go all over apart from Orlando, but my parents have no interest in going anywhere other than Disney. They're both 68 and we have been (from the UK) on average every 2 years since I was little- it is something familiar, it is something we know inside out (or used to, before COVID and all the recent changes haha) and I think they just like going back to somewhere they know and have great memories of. I have tried to convince them to go elsewhere- we looked at Disneyland Paris at one point but my Dad was very much of the mindset "If I'm going to Disney, we might as well just go to Orlando".

Although they are both going to the seaside at the end of September for 3 days here in England so maybe they're starting to branch out...

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Just my 2 cents...for my family, WDW has always been our happy place. My first time was our honeymoon in '93. I live at the Jersey shore and spent MANY summers here as a kid, so I've had enough of beaches...we're also not big drinkers, so sitting at a resort bar is not for us. I also don't like the feeling of not being in control of my own destiny (even though we fly down, I still rent a car), so as much as some of our friends and family rave about cruises, they're out too. IF I ever relented and went on a cruise, it would be to Alaska. I've spent MANY days and nights in Philly, Boston and NYC, so I've had my fill of city life. Same goes for traveling abroad...we just really have no desire to do it. I just don't understand why some on here think it's so strange NOT to want to globe trot or go sight seeing, museums or art galleries. IT'S JUST NOT OUR CUP OF TEA! We are not sick, deprived, underprivileged, uncultured or strange (well maybe a LITTLE strange, lol). That's just us.

My youngest DD (20), is now going to college in Northern California...2 weeks ago, we started 5 miles from our house in NJ, went to the beach at the Atlantic Ocean, and drove cross country to Cali. We took a week, just my daughter and I, she kept her car, and I flew back. So, we drove from the Atlantic to the Pacific (she's only a mile from the ocean)...we saw TONS of great things, did some "touristy" stuff...visited the American Pickers store in Iowa, saw Lake Erie, the Bonneville salt flats, the depleted Great Salt Lake in Utah and drove through the Rockies...AWESOME TRIP, crossed it off my bucket list, and next year, perhaps my DW and I will visit her and go to Disneyland (which I have never been to).

That being said, EVERYONE on here is entitled to their own opinions as far as vacation spots goes...while I don't understand spending a week in the Caribbean...traveling thru Europe or Mexico, going on a cruise etc., I would NEVER talk down to/at people who want to. My own family members think we're nuts for just opting for Disney. Now my Cali DD is "Disneyed". out, she went with us in May on our last family vacation...my other DD LOVES the Orlando mouse, did the DCP, and is going down solo in a few months. That's what she loves, that's what we love, and for just a week, we don't have to deal with the real world, always have smiles on our faces (even while opening up our wallets), and for all the complaints, upcharges, and extra $$, we never come home bitterly disappointed.

That's just us...are we nuts? Yup, and trust me, sometimes being a little nuts is NEVER boring.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

My husband and I used to go different places mostly east coast from Key West and north to Maine, had a trip in the planning stages to Nova Scotia but COVID canceled that out. There were yearly ski trips to Vermont and fishing trips to the lake a few hours away. The closest thing to a city vacation was New Orleans 20 years ago. I prefer small town or country sites. Recent medical issues have forced use to make changes to the way we vacation. The WDW bubble seems to work for us now. My dream vacation is a trip to Ireland.

 

[John park hopper]

My husband and I used to go different places mostly east coast from Key West and north to Maine, had a trip in the planning stages to Nova Scotia but COVID canceled that out. There were yearly ski trips to Vermont and fishing trips to the lake a few hours away. The closest thing to a city vacation was New Orleans 20 years ago. I prefer small town or country sites. Recent medical issues have forced use to make changes to the way we vacation. The WDW bubble seems to work for us now. My dream vacation is a trip to Ireland.

Pre covid we did a 2 week road trip all around Nova Scotia it was amazing and so much to see . Never ate so much lobster in my life.

 

[DfromATX]

Disney is by far my favorite vacation destination and we usually go every 2 or 3 years, but now that are kids are grown, my husband and I may go MORE often... BUT, it is not the ONLY vacation destination for us. In between Disney, we go to other places as well. We already have 3 vacations booked for 2022 - Disney World in January and 2 non-Disney cruises (hopefully, if nothing happens as far as Covid goes). Then in 2023 (hopefully) London and France (and yes, that will include DLP).

 

[DfromATX]

I'm lucky enough that Disney isn't a vacation for me, it's a hobby. I'm there weekly, sometimes even for an evening after work.

For vacations, I like cruising. That's been put on the back burner for quite a while now.

Since you said you like cruising, have you considered booking one since they've restarted? We like to cruise too. In fact, we have 2 booked for next year! But, I won't believe it until I actually step foot on the ship. I've also been watching the news and keeping up with what's happening on the ships (as far as Covid goes). It seems like "so far so good." I know there have been some cases, but I suppose that's not really any different than land. Now they all require vaccinations and testing before you can get on, so that's even more reassuring. I'm really hoping we get to go, but we'll see...

 

[SSH]

There are many stunning vacation spots, but very few that don't have some "real world" sadness or discomfort for visitors: growing number of homeless camps in touristy urban areas, crime, and - in some of the most gorgeous nations across the Caribbean and elsewhere - extreme poverty that breaks your heart.

Or maybe it's a vastly different local culture that might disrupt the mood for some, (dominant blue feel if you're a red state guy/gal or vice versa & something like that bothers you.)

Pre-covid, WDW was incredibly safe and blissfully neutral: you knew you were in for a carefree day in a fun environment....no worries about personal safety. No looking over your shoulder or staying on guard constantly. The only stress - maybe a little longer line or hotter temp than you expected.

For solo females or single parents w/little ones, this is comforting - and hard to give up.

 

[Goofyernmost]

As I stated, it isn't possible to have visited one place, WDW, 45 times and say it isn't my favorite destination. I saw a lot of the world, partially due to Uncle Sugar and his Flying Circus (USAF) and some on my own. The Texas Panhandle (thanks a lot for that one USAF), Denver, Niagara Falls, San Francisco, Hawaii, Guam, Vietnam, Japan and Seattle. I have on my own been to 38 of the lower 48 States, Went to New Orleans and to Disneyland and Universal in California, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Savanna, Orlando, Key West, Bahama, Portugal, Spain (2), France (2) Italy (2) London and since I lived in Vermont, many trips to Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Also two cruises... one to the Bahama's and the other was a Trans-Atlantic Cruise from Rome to Fort Lauderdale and now have retired to Raleigh to be with my children and their families.

My desire to travel extensively no longer exists. When I moved to Central North Carolina I was excited because I was so much closer to my favorite place. Then they started to change the system which was the only way that I could take advantage of the prices by buying multiple day tickets at a discounted rate and using them over a couple of years or more. That took away the incentive to just go there on a whim, followed by lack of flexibility that made me commit to a specific park on a specific day. And it got worse then that, which is were we are now. I'm glad I took the time when I was younger to explore parts of the world and the states, because age is now a much stronger factor in determining when I can and cannot go. My last trip to WDW was in September 2019. That time I had two day PH tickets for WDW and two days in Universal. For the first time, even though I always enjoyed Uni, I found Universal a more interesting time. Things change and I have always changed with them, but changing with them does not necessarily mean staying with one thing and never following something that I enjoy more.

 

[Namaari]

That being said, EVERYONE on here is entitled to their own opinions as far as vacation spots goes...while I don't understand spending a week in the Caribbean...traveling thru Europe or Mexico, going on a cruise etc., I would NEVER talk down to/at people who want to. My own family members think we're nuts for just opting for Disney. Now my Cali DD is "Disneyed". out, she went with us in May on our last family vacation...my other DD LOVES the Orlando mouse, did the DCP, and is going down solo in a few months. That's what she loves, that's what we love, and for just a week, we don't have to deal with the real world, always have smiles on our faces (even while opening up our wallets), and for all the complaints, upcharges, and extra $$, we never come home bitterly disappointed.

100%! Do what makes you happy. Everyone is entitled to spend their time and money on whatever that may be, and just because world travel is someone's jam, it may not be someone else's cup of tea. Heck, my in-laws have never traveled abroad (and have barely left the state we live in) and they are just fine with that.

 

[DVC1979]

Over the years that I've been on this board, I have gotten the impression that, when it comes to vacations, WDW seems to be the only option for some people. And, now, with the furor over Genie +, some people, who say they visit WDW multiple times a year, are stating that they will not be returning, or not visiting as much, and I get the impression that they don't know what they will do with their vacation time if they are not at WDW. I have asked this question before, but why would you make WDW your ONLY vacation option? I know the love people have for this place, but there are so many other experiences out there, and to intentionally deny yourself of them is doing a disservice to yourself. Even looking at the US alone, there are so many interesting/historical places to, so much natural beauty to see. Then, (pandemic permitting), you have other countries that can offer the same types of things and more. We have been visiting WDW every year to 2 years since 2014-but they aren't the only vacations we take. We love spending a week at an all-inclusive Caribbean beach resort. We've also visited the Orlando area a couple of times, just to rent a vacation home, sit around the pool, and get out to see local places like Kennedy or a spring training game. I would love to someday drive part/all of Route 66. We've been to Nashville a couple of times. We've spent time in Savannah, Georgia, which is an amazing place, especially for history/paranormal buffs. Deciding to stop giving Disney your vacation $, and going somewhere else, will be a blessing in disguise, and maybe widen your horizons and show that a theme park is not the be-all, end-all of vacations.

I am in total agreement with you. Also, the way prices are consistently rising at DW, I can't understand how the average family is able to afford multiple trips in a year, yet they still manage to keep going! We have been DVC members since 1997 and although we haven't been going as often since our children have grown, we are now using our points to visit other places through RCI exchanges and are enjoying the ability to see places. Our membership is definitely not being wasted. Of course, when our grandchildren are old enough we will be taking them to DW for sure, but there is a lot more world to see and you don't have to pay a fortune to enjoy it!

 

[Jrb1979]

For me my vacation place is Cedar Point. Til this year due to the border being closed, I always spent a weeks vacation there on property. Their hotel is just as good as most Disney ones. Then I'm at the park almost every day for 7 days.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Pre covid we did a 2 week road trip all around Nova Scotia it was amazing and so much to see . Never ate so much lobster in my life.

Even though there's probably not a whole lot to see, I would LOVE to go to Oak Island...I'm hooked on the show, and would love to see the island.

 

[Giss Neric]

You have to factor in what everyone in your family enjoys doing. If we're not at Disneyland, our other alternative destination is Las Vegas. Some of us are not nature lovers so nature parks are out of the question. With Disney and theme parks in general as well as Vegas, there are lots of things to do for everyone.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I'm not sure why anyone would be bothered by the fact that someone only visits Disney resorts, but apparently, these types of ridiculing comments exist in cyberspace. Heck, I've read statements like that on the Rick Steves forum, from people who will never eat at a restaurant, stay at a hotel, take a cruise or visit a museum or tourist site unless their guru has recommended it and included it in his guidebooks. Pot, meet kettle.

Really, the only tourism that really bothers me is the seedy type that certain men take to SE Asia... and hunting trips going after endangered animals.

 

[J_Carioca]

We have always done other vacations, but our "big" vacations have tended to be WDW. My husband and I have both travelled a lot, and yes, going other places is always interesting and often fun. But nowhere else gives me the joy, excitement and plain old happiness that WDW does. It's just a feeling that I only get from WDW. It's precisely because I have travelled to lots of places outside of WDW that I'm aware that a vacation elsewhere will be fun/relaxing/interesting, but it won't give me that amazing disney feeling.

That said, I'm so bummed about all the changes that I doubt I'll be back for a while.

 

[J_Carioca]

Disney was like that absolutely favorite dish that you put on your plate at Thanksgiving. Everything else is really good too, but when you're looking at that 2nd or 3rd trip through the buffet, it's the favorite that you just can't get enough of.

Unfortunately, with all that's going on @ WDW now, I'm feeling I may have developed a "food allergy" to my favorite dish. I'll have to fill up on the rest of the buffet for awhile.

Wow, you summed up my feelings perfectly!

 

[J_Carioca]

People fall into two camps when it comes to vacation. Those that like familiarity- revisiting favourite places year in year out and people who love to explore somewhere new. Personally I love visiting new places. Growing up as a family we always did the former because my Dad didn’t like change that much. Around the millennium we changed and ventured further afield and loved the excitement that going to a new place brings. Pre covid I tried to go to at least one new place a year.

My ideal vacation would be a trip to Japan - spend time exploring the country (my favourite place in the world it just touches your soul) visiting new places and end with a few days at TDR before I fly home

I dont think that's true (that people fall into two camps). I think the majority of people can both appreciate going somewhere familiar and comfortable, as well as the fun and excitement of going somewhere new. I think the majority of posts in this thread are by people who say they do both WDW trips and trips elsewhere.