You’ve been bitten by the Disney bug! Seems like you’ve got some great ideas for your next trip.
What I would say is that MK and AK both have great theming in common. There’s a lot of “hidden” stuff to see, especially in Main ST and Adventureland, into Liberty Square. And Harambe too. And I’m not just talking hidden Mickey’s! You might enjoy a tour like Keys to the Kingdom or the Marcelina one in MK.
Kennnedy is well worth it. We usually do a couple of days there. Or take a trip down to the Keys, or Sarasota.
Anyway, good to see you back and planning - sort of planning then.
I got the addiction when I started planning for this last trip of ours. There was nothing I regret per se, but there are things we will do differently. I enjoyed going to the character meals, but next time we won’t do them. They were much more age appropriate for my daughters then. I will for certain do some of the bigger rollercoasters that we didn’t do this time due to their age.
I’ve been able to justify going every 2 years or so as long as Disney keeps renewing the Armed Forces Salute discounts. It’s such a good deal. I mean, you’d almost be losing money by NOT going.
You should be going multiple times a year. Every time you go you’re saving money! If you went 20 times a year for two weeks at a time, you’d save so much money you could probably retire!
Yeah, I used to say once every 5 years. Then I found someone to stay with the dogs. It became once every 2. Then once a year. Now twice a year or more. There are worse addictions out there.
Fist thing I did when I returned with the family in
September is started planning my return next year to the Food and Wine Festival without them. lol!! Girls trip only. - And yes, it is an addiction. Ditto on the Salute to Service benefit - I can afford (ok stretch) and stay at the Grand Floridian.
BTW - You will love Boardwalk if Epcot and HS were your favorite choices. The only reason I am not staying there next time with the girls trip is well… Grand Floridian deal of a lifetime.
I think you might find the stop and smell the roses part might be the most dramatic change.
This year was our 3rd family trip. Because it was our 1st time ever at AK, we still really pushed it hard that day.
But in each of the other parks I left big gaps in the day to wander and it really changed the feeling of the trip.
(Especially for my DW who is a trooper and keeps up until she just can’t anymore.)
On our 2nd MK day it was especially noticeable: we hit EMH and ran through most of Tomorrowland and Fantasyland by 10:30AM, plus used some headliner FPP. Then we mosied over to WL to eat at Geyser point and wandered around the lodge for a nice long time.
When we got back to MK I finally got kids to listen to me and stop for SOTMK cards and we spent the rest of the day wandering to play that game while I scored FPP for rides on the way. It was still a physically tiring day because: walking. But felt SO nice to not be rushing ANYWHERE.
I recall driving home from our last trip, DW and I both felt like it was a nice vacation, but there was way too much Tension Convention getting everyone on the same page.
This trip we were all leaving with smiles and even somehow felt relaxed even though we averaged 25K steps a day. (And we took a a break day in the middle to play at the pool. (We did make a rookie mistake scheduling an ADR at Villa Napoli for dinner on that day: even if you do nothing else, that walk to the back of EPCOT is looooooong.)
TL;DR: The freedom of a mostly unscheduled day is relaxing.
I so get it… We have been 4 times in the last 6 years but we are taking an extended break for the construction.
I am saving now. My oldest will graduate HS in 2021 and she, her will be 14 year old sister and I will be doing a blowout for her graduation. At this moment she is still saying she wants that for a graduation present. I am praying she never changes, stays young at heart forever and we have the time of our lives.
Being a single Dad, some of my sweetest memories with my girls are at the most magical place on earth. Our Epcot nights especially are moments that got us through some tough times. It’s truly an addiction and welcome to the club.
2021 initial plan. ---- (pretty sure most of the new attractions will be open)
10 days 9 nights
7 at polynesian or yacht club (always wanted the PC but fell in love with and leaning towards the YC and its killer location). Might try AKL because everyone raves about it.
Then uber over to 3 nights at universal.
I’m already putting together some touring plans, “I have issues but hey, if it’s the worst thing I have going I think we will be alright…”
Do you have hotel branded credit cards in the UK? Get a Starwood branded card and you can stay at the Swan/Dolphin for free if you bank your points (+ resort fees).
Oh this is so how I felt after our trip! Especially as ours had so many curve balls - mainly that we lost two days at the front end from Irma and then my 4 year old came down with strep on our last full day so we had to cancel all of our Halloween party fun (and she and my husband went back to the hotel and the rest of us basically had a half day in AK due to that). But it was still such a fantastic trip! And getting to ride FOP 5 times pretty much made up for all of the other things I didn’t get to do. But luckily I’ve gotten my husband on the WDW bandwagon also, so we’re already looking at a trip next winter and staying at Wilderness Lodge. Hoping that actually happens!
It’s funny that as soon as everyone is back we start planning for the next time! I knew the first trip was always going to be about getting a feel for the place and matching dream to reality. I found it hard to go at a relaxed pace with the thought it may be my one chance to see it. It was always - I don’t what this is but I’ll try it! Next time I will know what to include and what was a one-and-done experience (looking at you FEA and COP).
Other important things I learnt - whatever relaxation time you allocated - double it! We didn’t have the luxury of whole days off but next time I’ll make sure we do.
Don’t shop at outlets in your relaxation time= more walking.
Next time (hopefulIy 2019?) I will go without teenage boys who love the thrill rides but don’t get the magic. BUT ADRs can be used as a lure for a hungry teenager.
Absolutely and maybe that’s what keeps drawing people back - to do it again minus all the pain. It’s nice to have something you can do again with benefit of hindsight!
So much for the “once in a lifetime” trip eh?
