2014 Planning - What Would You Do?

[UrsulaGirl]

DH and I are planning to visit in October 2014 for the Food & Wine Festival. DH says he can't wait 13 months to be in Disney and wants to take a long weekend trip in February, too.

Here's our dilemma. Budget-wise we could do both trips but would need to stay at Values and probably pull back on extras (dining, tours etc.). So should we just go in October of 2014 and go crazy (MNSSHP, culinary experiences, upgraded hotel, maybe even a spa treatment!)?? OR do we take two smaller budget-friendly trips? What would you do?

I'm torn! I'll be happy any and every time I'm in Disney so it would be nice to go twice next year. BUT on the other hand, it would be cool to splurge a little more on one trip.

Please note: This will be our last Disney trip/trips before we start a family. We will not be going back until our future kids are out of diapers.

Thanks for your suggestions!
UG

 

[Pooh2]

Mmmm tough decision! I think I might wait and do extras like Hoop Dee doo, cirque de soleil and some special dinners. It's harder to do those things when you have little ones along later! Have a great time whatever you decide to do!

 

[UrsulaGirl]

Mmmm tough decision! I think I might wait and do extras like Hoop Dee doo, cirque de soleil and some special dinners. It's harder to do those things when you have little ones along later! Have a great time whatever you decide to do!

Thanks for your perspective!!

 

[mal616]

My husband and I are going in March for our one year anniversary and we are going to splurge and do a lot of dining and that kind of thing!!! We are going back in July or October of 2014 with my family but will not be doing as much. If this is going to be the last time you go before your future kids are out of diapers I would go all out!!! This will be the last time you go just the two of you! You could still do both and maybe not stay on the property when you go for the weekend or even stay at a value resort and just enjoy being at a resort and relaxing you wouldn't have to go to a park but maybe one day. I agree with you that any time at Disney is a good time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hakele]

My husband and I did our First Anniversary in WDW in October 2011. We went with Deluxe Dining and it was AMAZING. We really enjoyed everything and were able to do some great things like upgraded dining at signature restaurants, HDDR, loads! It was awesome. If we had payed Out of Pocket it would have cost us $600 more dollars to cover the cost of all our food!

Also, you could consider doing a trip to Disneyland or doing a different place not Disney. You could consider a mountain vacation or Mexico or maybe a short cruise. Something that wouldn't be as big of a financial commitment. Don't forget the ever awesome and usually quite affordable option of a ROAD TRIP!

Good luck with whichever you decide!

 

[mooncrumbs]

Definitely a tough decision, but personally I would opt for waiting and going all out, especially since this will be your last pre-children disney vacation. A great reason to splurge and do things that you might not be able to do with kids, such as certain less-than-kid-friendly dining experiences.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

Just got back from our 7 anniversary trip no kids! Our dilemma was more so value and go all out or deluxe and cut back on dining and tours. I'm happy to say we did a value room and went ALL out! Tours, private charter for wishes, entire day at spa and amazing dining every day breakfast and dinner! I say do it up, there was some amazing value to our first alone trip,'we saw a different side of disney we never would have saw with our girls. Just as I suspected we left the rooms around 7am and didn't get back till late night! So glad we didn't stay at mod or deluxe!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[dtats]

I've been a visitor to the parks since my wife and I purchased our first annual passes back in 1989. Back then, we were young 20-somethings with no kids, and we had an absolute blast visiting WDW then, just the two of us. And, this was before alot of the perks and extras we all enjoy now. There was no dining plan, no value resorts; we'd usually stay at one of the flea-bag Inns out on 192 in Kissimmee and split a turkey leg for dinner (yes, funds were much lighter for us then). But, just the same, we always had a great time!

Since then, we've added a daughter (now in college) and a son (a 7th grader), and we love to take them to the parks to enjoy all the new rides and shows that Diz put in since. And, yes, we love to experience the magic through our children's eyes. Each visit helps to create new memories we all will cherish for years to come. But, I still love those care-free days of just me and the then-new missus, hitting the parks commando-fashion, loving every minute of it.

As I'll soon be approaching geezerhood in the next dozen or so years, I'm looking forward to return trips as empty-nesters, and then as gramps & gramma. Not trying to wish my life away, but what I'm saying is this... If you have the opportunity to go play at Disney World, I would encourage you to pursue it when you can. You never know what's lurking around the corner waiting to interrupt. We haven't had annual passes since the mid '90s, as life has occasionally made us focus on other priorities that didn't allow for a trip down to Lake Buena Vista. But in the years since, we found ways to get back down to enjoy the magic once again!

Yup, everybody wants to stay at the Poly or the Grand Floridian, but sometimes your budget only allows for a room at the All-Stars. So what?!? You'll have time for the extravagance later on, or maybe you won't, but either way, you can't go back and do a trip you let slip by.

I say... go for it! and have yourselves a blast!

 

[UrsulaGirl]

Hi everyone!! I want to say THANK YOU for everyone's replies! And I also wanted to say I'M SORRY for my looonnng delay in response. I had some personal things going on that kept me away from the DIS and all planning. But I'm back!

My husband and I are going in March for our one year anniversary and we are going to splurge and do a lot of dining and that kind of thing!!! We are going back in July or October of 2014 with my family but will not be doing as much. If this is going to be the last time you go before your future kids are out of diapers I would go all out!!! This will be the last time you go just the two of you! You could still do both and maybe not stay on the property when you go for the weekend or even stay at a value resort and just enjoy being at a resort and relaxing you wouldn't have to go to a park but maybe one day. I agree with you that any time at Disney is a good time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks taking the time to reply! Have a wonderful anniversary trip <3 Any ADRs that you are really looking forward to?

My husband and I did our First Anniversary in WDW in October 2011. We went with Deluxe Dining and it was AMAZING. We really enjoyed everything and were able to do some great things like upgraded dining at signature restaurants, HDDR, loads! It was awesome. If we had payed Out of Pocket it would have cost us $600 more dollars to cover the cost of all our food!

Also, you could consider doing a trip to Disneyland or doing a different place not Disney. You could consider a mountain vacation or Mexico or maybe a short cruise. Something that wouldn't be as big of a financial commitment. Don't forget the ever awesome and usually quite affordable option of a ROAD TRIP!

Good luck with whichever you decide!

Thanks for sharing - we never thought about Disneyland! Have you been?

My hubs loved the HDDR as a kid and realllllly wants to go again. I will def be checking into the Deluxe Dining Plan.

Definitely a tough decision, but personally I would opt for waiting and going all out, especially since this will be your last pre-children disney vacation. A great reason to splurge and do things that you might not be able to do with kids, such as certain less-than-kid-friendly dining experiences.

I think this is what I'm leaning towards - one, big fantastic trip. But I can certainly understand why he doesn't want to wait a year. LOL! Thanks for pointing out restaurant aspect... it wasn't something I thought about.

Just got back from our 7 anniversary trip no kids! Our dilemma was more so value and go all out or deluxe and cut back on dining and tours. I'm happy to say we did a value room and went ALL out! Tours, private charter for wishes, entire day at spa and amazing dining every day breakfast and dinner! I say do it up, there was some amazing value to our first alone trip,'we saw a different side of disney we never would have saw with our girls. Just as I suspected we left the rooms around 7am and didn't get back till late night! So glad we didn't stay at mod or deluxe!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Your trip sounds like a dream!!! I'd love to hear what your favorite tour was.

I've been a visitor to the parks since my wife and I purchased our first annual passes back in 1989. Back then, we were young 20-somethings with no kids, and we had an absolute blast visiting WDW then, just the two of us. And, this was before alot of the perks and extras we all enjoy now. There was no dining plan, no value resorts; we'd usually stay at one of the flea-bag Inns out on 192 in Kissimmee and split a turkey leg for dinner (yes, funds were much lighter for us then). But, just the same, we always had a great time!

Since then, we've added a daughter (now in college) and a son (a 7th grader), and we love to take them to the parks to enjoy all the new rides and shows that Diz put in since. And, yes, we love to experience the magic through our children's eyes. Each visit helps to create new memories we all will cherish for years to come. But, I still love those care-free days of just me and the then-new missus, hitting the parks commando-fashion, loving every minute of it.

As I'll soon be approaching geezerhood in the next dozen or so years, I'm looking forward to return trips as empty-nesters, and then as gramps & gramma. Not trying to wish my life away, but what I'm saying is this... If you have the opportunity to go play at Disney World, I would encourage you to pursue it when you can. You never know what's lurking around the corner waiting to interrupt. We haven't had annual passes since the mid '90s, as life has occasionally made us focus on other priorities that didn't allow for a trip down to Lake Buena Vista. But in the years since, we found ways to get back down to enjoy the magic once again!

Yup, everybody wants to stay at the Poly or the Grand Floridian, but sometimes your budget only allows for a room at the All-Stars. So what?!? You'll have time for the extravagance later on, or maybe you won't, but either way, you can't go back and do a trip you let slip by.

I say... go for it! and have yourselves a blast!

What a beautiful perspective on vacations AND life. Thank you for making me remember life is meant to live!

 

[Disneyaddictz]

Hi everyone!! I want to say THANK YOU for everyone's replies! And I also wanted to say I'M SORRY for my looonnng delay in response. I had some personal things going on that kept me away from the DIS and all planning. But I'm back!

Thanks taking the time to reply! Have a wonderful anniversary trip <3 Any ADRs that you are really looking forward to?

Thanks for sharing - we never thought about Disneyland! Have you been?

My hubs loved the HDDR as a kid and realllllly wants to go again. I will def be checking into the Deluxe Dining Plan.

I think this is what I'm leaning towards - one, big fantastic trip. But I can certainly understand why he doesn't want to wait a year. LOL! Thanks for pointing out restaurant aspect... it wasn't something I thought about.

Your trip sounds like a dream!!! I'd love to hear what your favorite tour was.

What a beautiful perspective on vacations AND life. Thank you for making me remember life is meant to live!

That's a tough one! The private wishes boat ride romantic, relaxing and special. The kids wouldn't have appreciated the view, the keys to the kingdom was amazing! Although a lot a lot of walking it was soo cool to learn about the magic def must do for Disney lovers!! Once you have gone as much as we have it was nice to do something completely different and made our appreciation of Disney go up even more so then before!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards