What did you do differently on your second "once in a lifetime" visit?

[disney332]

My formula is simple and we are generally WDW only, with an outlet day...

We have done less and seen more.

Disney332

[daisydoo]

First time we stayed on International Drive but the 2nd time we stayed on site - it made a huge difference to us and we felt we got to spend a lot more time in the parks.

3rd & 4th time have been off site again but at a slower pace and NO Disney .

Wee are tentatively looking at going back in October 2021 - onsite for 11 nights and 3 nights at Universal for HHN. This will be full on though as DD's best friend is coming with us and he has never been before.

Daisydoo

[Gadge]

All the below ar based around orlando.

First and 2nd visit we were four adults and hit it hard. Early mornings till late evening daily.

3rd visit we has 1 yr old twins and we slowed it down and went for 17 nights.

4th visit (last week). We somehow got incredibly licky woth fast pases and parking, photo opportunities and managed to do many new firsts we didnt do on the previous 3 trips. We picked up a pace and got everything done we wanted apart from a beach visit.

If we go back we will do a split between a beach and the theme parks.

[Rincelex]

Our first trip when the kids were 8 and 5 we did one week AKL and then two weeks in a villa, this suited us as it was the first time we had spent with all four of us sleeping in the same room and with younguns you don't want to make too much noise after they are in bed and being so young they did not want to be out really late. It was nice to have our own pool and the separate bedrooms later on.

Second time they were 8 and 11 and we did just two weeks at POR with a night at Universal and then one night at the beach at St Petes at the end before we flew home from Tampa which we had never been to before, loved loved loved it.

This time they are 14 and 11 so probably do a few more later nights, we have extended our Universal stay to two nights this time and then also extended the beach stay at the end to three nights, inbetween we will be at POR as we loved Alligator Bayou (hoping, fingers crossed we don't get Magnolia Bend). We fly in and out of Tampa so the beach to finish off will be nice.

[Star87]

First stay was 14 night onsite at disney with 1 night in the middle at Hard rock hotel to do 2 day Universal. That wasn't enough universal for us, so now we start our holiday 3 nights 4 days at universal then onto Disney onsite for the remaining 11 nights.

We've done international drive pre kids so not fussed about going back there.

[TC Devon]

First time-14 nights in villa. Virgin allocation on arrival. October. Villa was grotty. With in-laws.

Second time-21 nights, lovely dibb villa (thanks Steve) with in-laws. One night at universal

Next visit- just the four of us. Starting with five nights at pofq, then 16 nights at a villa. Our last villa was nt available If money allows will add in two nights at rpr. I’d love to include beach trip but my husband won’t do the drive. 😭

[JoJo88]

First three trips were pretty much the same, entire time in a villa, 14 day Disney tickets, full on park visits with a night at a Universal hotel in the middle.

Visit number 4 was completely different, a week at Clearwater Beach staying in a lovely little cottage, and a week at Royal Pacific. Only did the US parks (and Busch whilst at Clearwater).

Visit number 5 was 3 nights at Clearwater Beach staying in a hotel. Then 3 nights at the Caribe Royale, LBV area, followed by a week at Royal Pacific again. Just the US parks, Aquatica & BG.

Visit number 6, most of the time in a villa, no parks. Then we moved to Sapphire Falls, again no parks.

Visit number 7, booked a villa for the entire time but with a couple of nights at RPR in between. US parks only.

Visit number 8, coming up. We're spending 3 nights in Miami and then the rest of the time in a villa. No parks, other than maybe BG planned.

As you can see we've not been to Disney in a while, with no plans to return in the immediate future. We've loved each and every holiday, but particular favourites are the first one - seeing everything you've imagined materialising in front of your eyes is so special.

Second visit was fantastic as we knew what we were doing, and stayed for almost three weeks so were really able to get the most out of the holiday.

Third visit, we realised we were more suited to the Universal parks as our boys were getting older. When we walked past POTC and couldn't be bothered to go on it, we realised the ticket price just wasn't worth it to us anymore.

Fourth visit was really special as it was completely different. We loved spending time in Clearwater, and completely fell in love with Royal Pacific. Club level spoilt us!

Fifth visit was good as my parents had always been with us previously, except for visit 4, so it was nice to have them back with us again, and we showed the Clearwater and RPR.

Visits 6&7 were by default really as we had planned to go somewhere in Europe instead, a villa holiday, and the cost was ridiculous for a week so we ended up back in Orlando! Loved the relaxed pace and spending time around our own villa pool, shopping trips, crazy golf, Disney Springs, nice food etc.

Visit 8 I'm sure will be our last for a while. Last year was supposed to be our last but we ended up with fantastic flight prices so decided to go for it one last time. My boys are so excited, and cannot wait, so it might be that this isn't quite our last visit

[sharpers42]

This time we are flying to NYC for a couple of nights, then down to Miami for 2 nights, 3 nights in the Keys, then 10 nights at POFQ, 2 nights at Universal Hard Rock and 2 at Universal Cabana Bay. Can't wait! We've scheduled in time to explore the real Florida and not just the parks as last time we did a much shorter trip and the brief time we went outside the parks we really wanted to do more of.

[tiger01204]

Our first trip we stayed at AOA in a Lion King room for two weeks, no free dining plan ( didn't know it existed) but managed to get FP booked. Spent one night at RPR in universal for the fast passes. Spent a fortune on food.
We now go for 4 weeks. three weeks in Disney with free QSDP and one week at Universal at HRH. We have tried CBR and POR and we are going back to POR this time as we loved the resort and hanging around listening to Bob. We take everything a lot easier. No rope drops for us. FP all booked and a little bit of dining. At HRH universal it's a total slow down. Lie ins as DW is at the pool then late morning. midday walk to the parks and just dib in and out. Definitely nothing like the rush of the first trip. We still do Seaworld, Aquatica, Busch for the first time this year along with a another couple of days out.

[Tj28]

First trip was with 6 year old twins. 13 nights in a villa, just Disney and KSC. 3 trips to water parks and only one non-park day. Felt like the perfect holiday for us!
This 2nd time 4 years later, 16 nights in a villa (same community). 1 night RPR mid holiday and we are getting Disney and Universal tickets. Plan on a similar schedule but I would like to see a bit more beyond Disney, e.g. Wild Florida trip. Would loved to have a few days at the beach but to be honest we live near great beaches so not a major issue.