Why Only Vacation At WDW?

[Raineman]

Something I've noticed in many threads here since I joined, is the general statement of "I don't feel like I'm getting full value at WDW anymore, used to come twice a year, going to spend my vacation $ elsewhere now." My question is-why were you limiting yourself to just WDW for your vacations in the first place? WDW is probably my favourite place to be-but it is definitely not the only place I want to spend time at during a vacation.Possibly part of the reason that your time at WDW isn't as "magical" as it used to be is that you have been visiting so much, it is losing it's appeal, and you are starting to notice the negatives so much more. If you live in North America, there are so many other great destinations and experiences to be had. My upcoming trip to WDW will be my third since 2014, and I will not be going again until at least 2019-going to be spending time in the Caribbean, and taking a road trip to New Orleans within that time. When I do get back to WDW, with the time spent away, and the new offerings that will be open then, it will still seem fresh and exciting for me.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I think in the beginning your primary focus is a Disney exclusive trip. Your time, money and plans are only directed there and there isnt room for anything else. When we began vacationing at WDW, it was so new and exciting that we didnt even think of leaving the property. There was soooo much to do and see. After several trips we started taking one or two days of visiting other places off property to add to our family time. Over the years we have seen much of what the Orlando and outlying areas have to offer and glad we have. We havent gone off site because Disney has disappointed us, but we know theres other things we want to experience and dont want to miss out on other enjoyable things.

 

[Phonedave]

WDW is not the only place I used to go, but we used to go OFTEN.

At first we went every year, and we would also go to other places as well.

Then it became every other year.

Now its down to about once every three years, and about every other year we do a long weekend for F&W (we are not going this year through - making two years without food and wine)

I don't think its because it is getting stale, I still enjoy it when I go, and if sombody said to me "hey, have an all expense paid trip to WDW on me" I would not say "Nah, I don't feel like it". But the value is not longer there. Funny thing is, we own at DVC and in fact just added on. We actually enjoy the parts of WDW that are NOT the parks. We were just discussing that the next family facation that we take to WDW may acutualy be the first were we dont get park admissions for every day that we are there, and instead plan some days where we go and do something else. It's the park parts that are getting out of controll - crowded, overpriced, and bland

-dave

 

[21stamps]

When I was a child we went to Disney annually, but it was not our only destination, not even during a Disney visit. "Disney visits" consisted of - @ 9 nights in Siesta Key, then 6 nights on Disney property (way before most of the resorts were built). We'd stay at Poly, do 3 days in the parks, spend time at the resort, and usually one evening out and about in Orlando.

Even now I hate going to Orlando, or Florida these days, and remain on Disney property the entire time. I've only done that once in my entire life.

 

[TXDisney]

Everyone's money situation is different so it's hard to say a general statement like what you have or what I will say. I go on about 5 good vacations a year (meaning at least 5 days at my destination). I do make at least 1 or 2 of those trips to WDW though. Normally Mexico and NY are the other 2 and we try somewhere new each year as well. But not everyone gets that many days off of work or has that kind of money. And that's where if I had kids or even if I didn't and just loved WDW and it was a great trip every time I'm all for people who choose that as there only trip if that's what money allows.

 

[Mickey5150]

We do WDW every year for food & wine and now DLR every other year for food & wine. Also do one trip somewhere else every year and I still love every vacation I take.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think a lot of it depends on the age and stage of a family, as well as its finances.

My family has never "only" vacationed at WDW. We do day trips, weekend trips, and even multi-state road trips to other places.

When the kids were small, WDW was our only "big, expensive, fly-to-get-there" vacation destination, for the sole reason that there was no better, safer, more convenient place to take small kids (that DH and I would be able to enjoy equally as much as the kids, anyway).

Now that the kids are older, "big, expensive, fly-to-get-there" vacations to other kinds of venues -- places of historical importance, cultural experiences or natural wonders -- the Grand Canyon, Europe, Caribbean cruising (even visits to Universal, now that they're old enough to be well-acquainted with a certain boy wizard) -- are things the whole family can appreciate, so now they're part of the mix too, which means less time and money spent at WDW. The fact that a vacation to WDW can now cost as much as a vacation to -- say, Sweden -- helps to sweeten that deal.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

When we were married, (1993), we honeymooned at WDW for 10 days...we also had a rental car and went to Uni, Kennedy Space Center and even hit a flea market or 2...took the kids to KSC and Uni once, but we get pure joy visiting the World...we have NO desire to go on a cruise (even a Disney one), we live 5 miles from the beach, so that's old hat...our 2 DD's (17 & 19) LOVE Disney almost as much as their parents...my wife and I also take care of our senior fathers, so now more than EVER, it's our happy place, plain & simple.

 

[nolatron]

Before the kids we took yearly trips to WDW with occasional trips elsewhere (Philly, Indianapolis F1, San Fran, Canada, etc.. After we had kids it mostly became WDW only because it's someplace the kids love going to just as much as we do. There's no worry about them finding something "boring" or whatever if we visit a city or somewhere. We don't have to wonder "Will the kids like this?". With everything to do being within that Disney Ecosystem, it's just an easy trip to plan for us well. We may toss in a day at Universal too for Harry Potter.

Also with 4 us now, vacations aren't cheap, so we're pretty much limited to that 1 big week long vacation every 2 years or so. So we're gonna use that vacation savings on a trip that we know will be a good vacation, and right now that's going to WDW.

 

[Matt_Black]

I don't drive, so even if there were other things in the Orlando area I was interested in doing, actually getting out there would be a pain in the tucchus.

 

[marni1971]

Central Florida has more than WDW to enjoy.

 

[DfromATX]

We go to Disney every 2 or 3 years. For some that might be a long time in between, but for us, by the time we book again we are all really missing it. In between we do other things. We also like to cruise (non Disney believe it or not) and in December we're going to Cancun. Our next Disney trip is June 2018. (Last summer we did nothing because I had surgery so we're making up for lost time.) But, I have to say, Disney is my happy place!

 

[Susan Savia]

We've gone to WDW nearly every year since 1984. For the past 20 years we have also taken trips to Memphis, TN as well as an annual trip to the Outer Banks of NC. WDW is just one of many places we enjoy going to. Looking forward to our next visit in January.

 

[UpAllNight]

It's difficult because I love Orlando (not just Disney) and nowhere excites me as much...I could gladly live there and never get bored.

But it is undeniable for me that seeing something a second time so soon after previously seeing something, that it loses some of the appeal, or the wow factor. That's why I like new experiences to top up the old ones, and why we've decided to not go to Orlando every year...let the new experiences build up to justify the costs, and leave it long enough that I miss existing experiences.

However this is particularly difficult period as we go in May...2019 is out of the question as we would likely miss Star Wars. 2020 is the year before the 50th, so it's looking like 2021 for us next....which is a hellish long wait for something you're mildly addicted too....but we'll go all out again. 3 weeks, nice hotel, good location.

I'm always amazed Americans don't make more of your great country...there's so many areas I'd like to visit, especially on the west coast. But then I live in the U.K. And have been to London once, so who am I to comment??

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I believe it's very important at which age you did your first trip to the World. I could imagine that those who have fond childhood memories of the parks will also return with a more nostalgic feeling than those, who didn't experience WDW before adulthood because the magic works of course better when you are young. It is also important that Disney pop culture playes a role in your own life, I grew up with Disney movies, I read a lot of Disney comic books, I dreamed of going to WDW from the moment I read about it in the Micky Maus comic magazine in Germany and when it finally happened, everything was even better than I had imagined so until today these childhood memories are relived in every single trip to WDW. No other tourist destination, at least not any other theme park can even remotely compete with that. Even the feeling of just BEING THERE has something of coming home. My biggest pause was between 1991 and 2007 and I will never forget, when I stood with my GF in my arms in Frontierland and was watching Wishes. When the finale came and I heard the "When you wish upon the star" melody to the huge bursts of the rockets, I had tears in my eyes and thought "I am finally home again". No where else would I have this feeling.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I believe it's very important at which age you did your first trip to the World. I could imagine that those who have fond childhood memories of the parks will also return with a more nostalgic feeling than those, who didn't experience WDW before adulthood because the magic works of course better when you are young. It is also important that Disney pop culture playes a role in your own life, I grew up with Disney movies, I read a lot of Disney comic books, I dreamed of going to WDW from the moment I read about it in the Micky Maus comic magazine in Germany and when it finally happened, everything was even better than I had imagined so until today these childhood memories are relived in every single trip to WDW. No other tourist destination, at least not any other theme park can even remotely compete with that. Even the feeling of just BEING THERE has something of coming home. My biggest pause was between 1991 and 2007 and I will never forget, when I stood with my GF in my arms in Frontierland and was watching Wishes. When the finale came and I heard the "When you wish upon the star" melody to the huge bursts of the rockets, I had tears in my eyes and thought "I am finally home again". No where else would I have this feeling.

I agree that nothing will ever come close to Disney, but my FIRST trip to WDW was on my honeymoon in 1993, first time on a plane too...I guess I became hooked on our second trip when the kids were young...and as you can tell by my username, the OCD is Obsessive, Compulsive DISNEY!!! I wish we could afford to go every year, but it's been every 2-3 years (this year is unusual because we went last year and are going again in November). But it's kind of a double edged sword...we get itchy to return our last day there and it's very frustrating knowing that it will be 2 -3 years until we return again.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

We went to Florida every other year growing up for about a decade. I've done it a lot less as an adult but would definitely do it annually if I could. Or at least WDW one year and Disneyland the other year. That being said, the world is your oyster. There is a lot to see. I live near Niagara Falls. See that before you die, I insist. I love New York City. I am a huge sports fan and I've visited a lot of sports venues and still have some on my bucket list. I would love to see Wrigley Field. I just saw Fenway Park last year. I went to old Yankee Stadium, was at Tiger Stadium before it closed.

I wanted to see southern California, not just for Disneyland but for everything. I am glad I did. My honeymoon was in Cuba. I've been to Dominican. We used to vacation in Stowe, Vermont for the skiing.

Yeah, Disney is probably my favourite place to visit, but you are cheating yourself if you limit it to that. Even in Orlando it was never just all about Disney. We stay off-site and we've done everything down there over the years such as Universal, Busch Gardens, Sea World.......heck even Gatorland just for a partial day. I can never understand the people who love Disney but are indifferent about Universal, or don't even give it a chance.

 

[I am Timmy]

I believe it's very important at which age you did your first trip to the World. I could imagine that those who have fond childhood memories of the parks will also return with a more nostalgic feeling than those, who didn't experience WDW before adulthood because the magic works of course better when you are young. It is also important that Disney pop culture playes a role in your own life, I grew up with Disney movies, I read a lot of Disney comic books, I dreamed of going to WDW from the moment I read about it in the Micky Maus comic magazine in Germany and when it finally happened, everything was even better than I had imagined so until today these childhood memories are relived in every single trip to WDW. No other tourist destination, at least not any other theme park can even remotely compete with that. Even the feeling of just BEING THERE has something of coming home. My biggest pause was between 1991 and 2007 and I will never forget, when I stood with my GF in my arms in Frontierland and was watching Wishes. When the finale came and I heard the "When you wish upon the star" melody to the huge bursts of the rockets, I had tears in my eyes and thought "I am finally home again". No where else would I have this feeling.

That was beautiful. I always had that same feeling at that fireworks show with that same melody, with my boys hugging me on each side. Priceless.

 

[I am Timmy]

When my boys were growing up (DS 25, DS 22) we actually started them out travelling internationally - then around 8 & 5 we started hitting theme parks and other attractions. All of em' in Cali, then Orlando. We're from Washington, so I always saved for our trips since flying was a big chunk. When we'd go to Orlando, we'd do other things first (Nasa, beach, Uni, Discovery Cove, lots more) and end our trip in Disney. But, we still went other places, too. My kids love to surf, so we go to Cali a lot, and Hawaii a few times, too. But, we keep coming back to Disney World. Now when we go, we've narrowed it down to Uni (first) then WDW, and that's it. I always feel like a kid when I'm there!

 

[75disney]

Disney is home to me. We went every year when I was child from the time that I was 2 until I got married at 25. To keep it fresh, my family would do other Central Florida attractions as well, several of which are no longer there. My husband and I have chosen to go every two years with my girls. Any longer than that and I start going through withdrawal. Each trip we stay at a different resort, try some new restaurants, experience anything new, and revisit favorite attractions and shows. In our off year, we have taken the girls to Washington DC, Boston, Williamsburg, Niagara Falls. Trips that are within driving distance and a little less expensive so we can save up for the very expensive airfare and trip to WDW. We also do two mini trips to places closer to home each year. This year, we really splurged and did a trip to Southern California; we did Disneyland (of course), LA, and San Diego. We all were most relaxed at Disneyland because it felt like home. Next year we will either return to Disney World or do a trip to Vermont. We do acknowledge that there are other fabulous places to see in the world; we just balance them with them with Disney.