What is your Disney "Breaking Point"?

DadTriton;2459758 wrote: This year (Nov) will be the last with all my "kids" - the oldest is a senior in high school next year. I fear it will be my breaking point until I get grand children. :confused:

We took two "Parents Only" trips between the time when my daughter got married and our upcoming "With the Kids and Grandkids Trip!" It took us that long to get grandkids. lol!

Well I guess we have hit our breaking point. We've been at least once a year, often times more, since around 2002. As of now our last trip to Disney was November 2013.

While I miss it a lot, and think about it often, my last few trips just weren't as enjoyable as they once were. Perhaps it's become too familiar. Maybe it's because I don't vacation well with the way Disney has evolved as of late. But I know that our last two trips did not "wow" me like it used to. The kids, while I am sure they will always have a special place in their hearts for Disney, seemed kinda "over it" on those last few trips.

I am a planner by nature. However, I don't like the amount of pre planning that needs to go into a Disney vacation these days. Add that to our last few not so magical trips, and it just kinda lost it's luster....for now. I have no doubt that we will be back. Hoping to try and go next summer, as a matter of fact. Just really needed an extended break.

Instead we are trying now to focus on Disney destinations we haven't been to yet, or have not visited often. I just booked Vero Beach for later this summer (with one night in Disney World to eat at Ohana's and shop at Basin for bath bombs-lol). We are also currently booked for Disneyland this December. And I am hoping to plan Hilton Head Island next 4th of July. If we can swing it next year my mom and I may take the kids to WDW the first week they are out for summer while my hubby is away at military training. Or we may do Universal that week instead...... And we are using this time to try and see non Disney related places. With a 15 and a 13 year old we feel like time is running out on us to have different experiences with them before they are off to start their own lives.

buzznwoodysmom;2459857 wrote: I have no doubt that we will be back. Hoping to try and go next summer, as a matter of fact. Just really needed an extended break.

I would argue you haven't broken yet. ;) Not if you're planning to go back.

I'm with you, which is what prompted me to start the thread. I'm feeling less excited, less "magical" with our trips. But we still have at least two planned (this fall and next fall), and by sheer coincidence i'm attending a conference at Coronado Springs in November. But after next fall, we'll see.

1.) WDW closes down
2.) They stop offering pay monthly for passes [it's the only way we can do it as a lower middle class family]
3.) Jesus returns ;)

I've been going to WDW [as a Florida resident] for the last 15 years at least monthly and it has never lost it's magic.

azcavalier;2459900 wrote: I would argue you haven't broken yet. ;) Not if you're planning to go back.

Well, maybe we haven't! However, to go from our trips averaging every 6-9 months for over 10 years to an almost 2 year dry spell must mean we've gotten to some point!;)

John;2459208 wrote: Same here and I think those days are pretty much done at Disney. Staying on site at Universal though would afford you that luxury ��

Its a different world out there with FP and MDM.

I so agree. Universal is a much "easier" vacation now and I love the fact that no transportation is needed to get to the parks.

I'm pretty close. Week before last we went to WDW for the first time in almost 5 years. First time with MDE and FP+. We went primarily for Star Wars weekends, and enjoyed that. But our visit to the MK was not very magical. We did a few things, but given the heat and the crowds (40 minute wait for TTA?!), we only spent a few hours there. We used our FP+ and went on a couple of other rides, but missed a lot because the lines were simply too long. I realize we were entering summer season (we usually go during school times, but this trip we went with friends who have kids), but it just didn't make me want to go back anytime soon.

I have a lot of other places to spend money going to. In the future, I'll probably plan Disney parks trip mainly based on special events like Star Wars Weekends, Food & Wine, etc. (if that).

buzznwoodysmom;2459857 wrote: we are using this time to try and see non Disney related places. With a 15 and a 13 year old we feel like time is running out on us to have different experiences with them before they are off to start their own lives.

Denise.. IMO this is so important. If you can afford to travel with the kids, it will be something they will never forget. We have traveled with my now 17 years old son, in and out of the country, since he was young. He has been able to experience so much. I think it is one of the best things we have done for him. He still talks about all of the places we have visited and the cool things he has seen. Adventures that a theme park can't give you. A lot of once in a life time trips. So if you can, take them different places in between your Disney trips. You won't be sorry.

....and No, going to EPCOT is not the same as visiting the real Italy, Canada, or Mexico ....not even close.

buzznwoodysmom;2459857 wrote:

While I miss it a lot, and think about it often, my last few trips just weren't as enjoyable as they once were. Perhaps it's become too familiar. Maybe it's because I don't vacation well with the way Disney has evolved as of late. But I know that our last two trips did not "wow" me like it used to. The kids, while I am sure they will always have a special place in their hearts for Disney, seemed kinda "over it" on those last few trips.

I think for most people (except for the most avid) it can get too familiar. This is especially true if one of the biggest draws is the actual rides as opposed to just a love of Disney, Walt, the sense of being in another world etc. Disney changes slow and a lot of the appeal is the atmosphere more than thrilling rides. And I love the atmosphere. I can happily wander around Epcot and do absolutely nothing but those are not the visits where my kids come. And yeah when you go as much as we do, it becomes routine and sometimes we grow out of that and need a break. As kids grow older the trips change too. My kids are still only 7 and 9. My son is not a thrill ride kid at all so Disney still works for him but a lot of kids want to move up to the more exciting rides. I've found with many of my friends as the kids get into that 12-16 range, they start to prefer Universal or Busch or something similar.

buzznwoodysmom;2459857 wrote:
Instead we are trying now to focus on Disney destinations we haven't been to yet, or have not visited often. I just booked Vero Beach for later this summer (with one night in Disney World to eat at Ohana's and shop at Basin for bath bombs-lol). We are also currently booked for Disneyland this December. And I am hoping to plan Hilton Head Island next 4th of July. If we can swing it next year my mom and I may take the kids to WDW the first week they are out for summer while my hubby is away at military training. Or we may do Universal that week instead...... And we are using this time to try and see non Disney related places. With a 15 and a 13 year old we feel like time is running out on us to have different experiences with them before they are off to start their own lives.

I think you have a great plan. I love Vero. It still has that Disney atmosphere but is totally different than a park visit and Disnelyland is a a great experience. And different is good. For the last 7 years we usually do day trips plus stay at WDW 3-5 times a year. The last year or so I have started to try to mix it up. There are so many great places to visit. I don't think letting Disney be for awhile has to mean that you are at a "breaking point" as much as it means it is time to explorer something else.

NJGIRL;2460243 wrote: Denise.. IMO this is so important. If you can afford to travel with the kids, it will be something they will never forget. We have traveled with my now 17 years old son, in and out of the country, since he was young. He has been able to experience so much. I think it is one of the best things we have done for him. He still talks about all of the places we have visited and the cool things he has seen. Adventures that a theme park can't give you. A lot of once in a life time trips. So if you can, take them different places in between your Disney trips. You won't be sorry.

....and No, going to EPCOT is not the same as visiting the real Italy, Canada, or Mexico ....not even close.

Rita, I agree with everything you said! My kids have not traveled outside the country yet, but they have been to well over half of the US states. Some states, multiple cities/destinations. Travel has always been a part of their lives. And while Disney has been great, we have some pretty amazing memories from those trips, the rest of the country has some petty amazing places to see as well!

buzznwoodysmom;2460313 wrote: Rita, I agree with everything you said! My kids have not traveled outside the country yet, but they have been to well over half of the US states. Some states, multiple cities/destinations. Travel has always been a part of their lives. And while Disney has been great, we have some pretty amazing memories from those trips, the rest of the country has some petty amazing places to see as well!

That's great! We have so much to see in this country. I'm sure your boys love it too!

My kids are grown now, and it is very easy for me to see a difference in their world view from travelling as opposed to their friends who have never been out of our home city. Even when they were in school, I think they connected more with things in their history class that they have seen instead of just hearing the stories - the hole at Ground Zero, the Liberty Bell, Carpenter's Hall, underwater Icebergs,, etc.

We loved our Disney trips, but there is more to life than just Disney.

Our older kids (now 18 & 15) have been to about half of the states, but never out of the country. My oldest is now getting ready to go on a mission, and he could go almost anywhere in the world. I'm really, really hoping that he gets sent to a foreign country, but he could just as easily get sent to Cleveland.

In a few years, my brother hopes to go on sabbatical to Bern, Switzerland. If he does, man, we're going to go visit for a few weeks.

Cinderelley;2460337 wrote: My kids are grown now, and it is very easy for me to see a difference in their world view from travelling as opposed to their friends who have never been out of our home city. Even when they were in school, I think they connected more with things in their history class that they have seen instead of just hearing the stories - the hole at Ground Zero, the Liberty Bell, Carpenter's Hall, underwater Icebergs,, etc.

We loved our Disney trips, but there is more to life than just Disney.

That was how we were raised as well. I have lived in 5 different states and have visited over 30 other states, as well as various Canadian cities and Paris, France. This has never stopped us from loving our trips to Disney, but it is balanced with trips to other places. I will continue to do it that way as I am fortunate to have the resources to do that.

While I agree that Epcot is not the same as visiting any of the actual countries, it does provides you with a place to fondly remember your visits to those countries. So, we are going to eat in France our first night this upcoming Food and Wine trip to reminisce about our trip to Paris last year by eating in a restaurant in the France pavilion. Having eaten at bistros and higher end restaurants in Paris and Reims, I can say the menu at both of the France sit down restaurants is a good representation of menus over there.

Hammer;2460372 wrote: That was how we were raised as well. I have lived in 5 different states and have visited over 30 other states, as well as various Canadian cities and Paris, France. This has never stopped us from loving our trips to Disney, but it is balanced with trips to other places. I will continue to do it that way as I am fortunate to have the resources to do that.

While I agree that Epcot is not the same as visiting any of the actual countries, it does provides you with a place to fondly remember your visits to those countries. So, we are going to eat in France our first night this upcoming Food and Wine trip to reminisce about our trip to Paris last year by eating in a restaurant in the France pavilion. Having eaten at bistros and higher end restaurants in Paris and Reims, I can say the menu at both of the France sit down restaurants is a good representation of menus over there.

I like what you said about EPCOT
I do agree that EPCOT isn't a substitute for the real thing but it can be a great spring board to teach and introduce children to other cultures.
I know for us personally we do not have the resources to travel much, especially out of country. And I'm okay with that.
The good news is even if people do not leave their 'own back yard', they can still be aware of the bigger world and the various cultures and diversity. I always strive to teach my children about the bigger world.

Since we live so close to Disney we do go a lot, thanks to the payment plan. I use it [EPCOT] as an opportunity for my sons. We talk to cast members in each country about where they live and what it's like. We do the passport book quit a bit. We look things up at home. We often pick a foreign place and learn about it, have some type of food that they eat there, listen to the traditional music of that place, etc.

My sons love that. They love learning. And in some ways, they know more about other countries than some of their peer at school because we take the time to arm chair travel.
So even though we do love Disney and go on many day trips, and we have not travel outside of the USA, doesn't mean we don't know less or not as exposed