Can you help me decide?....

[verlee]

Here is my problem.... I guess it is not so much a problem as it is a decision. My dh has given the go ahead for one trip to wdw this next yr. We have about $1200 set aside. Here is my question... What would you do..

1. Take a long adult only weekend to wdw for 4 nights. Dh is discouraged from taking off during the school yr. There is one weekend the end of Feb where we can use school days off to extend a weekend. We would then take the boys to Colorado this summer. DH does not want to take ds for a short trip. He thinks it is more trouble and cost then it its worth.
PROS: A romantic weekend in WDW with DH sounds wonderful. A great way to celebrate turning 40. DH is not a disney nut like me but he wants to do this with me. It might be a way to have him appreciate WDW more which would equal more wdw trips.
CONS: I don't know if I could go without the boys. I know Dh and I would have a blast, but my boys would be sad they were not going, especially ds6. He is right with me in my love of the world.


2. Option 2 would be to take the entire family to WDW beginning of June or the end of aug (hope for free dining) for a 7-10 day trip. Maybe longer if we camped (w/air) CONS: I am concerned about the heat. We are not used to high heat high humidity. We are northern folk. My kids are pretty young and I am afraid they would be so hot and tired that the trip would be a bummer. This week was in the 80's and ds were too warm.

So I think that covers it. What would you do?? I am at a loss and DH says it is up to me.

 

[mjkacmom]

As much as I love getting away without the kids, I'd hate to be in a kid friendly place, such as WDW, without them. I'd go to a nice B&B or something else.

 

[Disney Lovin' Grammy]

When my children were teenagers, I went without them. I didn't give it a whole lot of thought at the time, but in hindsight...I still cannot believe I did it. I'm not sure when my children were the ages of yours I would have been able to do it, but that's just me.

Camping in FL in the summer? Well, I can only say...NO WAY! I live in FL and I avoid WDW as much as possible during those summer months. I think you would find the heat somewhat unbearable and it could make for a not so happy trip.

Have you considered school's spring break? I know the crowds and rates are a bit higher, but perhaps that would give you a suitable amount of days and the opportunity to take the whole family.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

[Hannathy]

I'd go for the 7-10 days with the kids.

As far as camping I would start now saving just a little bit more and stay at POP instead. It really isn't that much more than FW and you would have air conditioning, clean sheets and maid service!!!! (and a BR right in the room for those little ones)

 

[ebtbmom]

My husband and I often take trips by ourselves like cruises, or visits to historic sites. But I think if I went to WDW and saw all of the happy kids running around I'd miss my son so much that I wouldn't have fun.
Is your husband dead set against taking them out of school? You can get fabulous weather if you push it to November. The crowds are low too, although there are still plenty of kids there that are "skipping school"!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Well, I would take your 6 year old out of school for a week and go during off season. We took Ds out till high school with no issues.

If however that is not going to work, I would wait for summer. WDW without the kids is just not an option for us.

 

[pixiewings71]

I've done DL/DCA with no kids, just DBF and I. While we did miss the girls we still had a great time (we've done it 3 times so far) and the girls didn't begrudge our trips at all!! After all we have made quite a few trips over the past 2 years so they really can't "complain". But, if we didn't have APs and weren't going a lot we wouldn't go without the girls, so I think you should do the 7-10 trip, save a bit more and stay in a low priced resort, or even off site. I'm sure I wouldn't camp tho, the humidity in FL gives me migraines.....

 

[Embel]

I'd go for the 7-10 days with the kids.

As far as camping I would start now saving just a little bit more and stay at POP instead. It really isn't that much more than FW and you would have air conditioning, clean sheets and maid service!!!! (and a BR right in the room for those little ones)

I totally agree. We go in August, and it is hot as blazes. That air conditioning is such a welcome relief. I'd cut out a day or two if necessary & stay at the Pop.

 

[verlee]

Thanks for the responces...You all are kind of confirming what I am feeling.
I am not sure I can go without the kids.

I thought of Spring break... but this year I was following it on the Dis and it seemed insanely busy..ie closing parks ect. As far as going other times... I would have no problem pulling the kids out of school (they are young), but it is my dh who can not get off. He works in the schools and he has been told it is out of the question. Last yr was his first yr in the schools so we were able to take our pre-planned feb. trip.

We prefer staying at Pop instead of camping it was just an option to extend the trip longer. ( I have a habit of doing that )
Besides if we go in Aug. we would not be able to get free dining (I hope it is offered) it if we camped.

So is August or June better? Is there much of a difference in the heat and humidity? Are my kids too young to handle this. I am not sure how to approach this. I have been in warm climates but not with kids.

 

[kehlyrsmom]

I don't think the weather is much different heat wise in June vs August. Though you do have the chance of the hurricanes in August. We have done August once and September the last three years. We have taken advantage of the free dining all 4 times and it has saved us $$$$. We have found going the week of Labor day the crowds are much lower then in mid August.

As far as traveling with young ones I would recommend getting a stroller and taking a break during the hottest part of the day. We have stayed at the All Star resorts and I would recommend them over camping personally.

Another thing that we have done was gotten a rental car so that we can come and go as we please and not have to worry about standing in line for a bus. Though you do save some money buy using disney transportation.

 

[clutter]

I've done May, June, July and late August (August for the last 3 or 4 years). Go in August, the later the better. The hottest it's ever been was May 2003. For our August trips, the weather varied. This past year, it was quite enjoyable. We've done Christmas and Spring Break. Not worth the crowds. With August, you will likely get free dining.

 

[ebtbmom]

Thanks for the responces...You all are kind of confirming what I am feeling.
I am not sure I can go without the kids.

I thought of Spring break... but this year I was following it on the Dis and it seemed insanely busy..ie closing parks ect. As far as going other times... I would have no problem pulling the kids out of school (they are young), but it is my dh who can not get off. He works in the schools and he has been told it is out of the question. Last yr was his first yr in the schools so we were able to take our pre-planned feb. trip.

We prefer staying at Pop instead of camping it was just an option to extend the trip longer. ( I have a habit of doing that )
Besides if we go in Aug. we would not be able to get free dining (I hope it is offered) it if we camped.

So is August or June better? Is there much of a difference in the heat and humidity? Are my kids too young to handle this. I am not sure how to approach this. I have been in warm climates but not with kids.

Oh, I see, your husband is a school employee. I am a school nurse, but I am hired by the health department rather than the school system which means I can vacation whenever I want. It's the ONLY reason that I like being through the health department!

You seem really concerned about weather, and I don't blame you. I live in NC where it is sometimes just as hot and humid as FL during the summer. We hardly leave the house from June-Aug. Would you consider a Thanksgiving trip? Sure it'll be crowded, but I could handle crowds better when it's cool than when it's blazing, and August and June will probably be crowded anyway.
Good Luck!

 

[Bren's Mom]

I would do option C:

Choose a location other than WDW for a nice 4 day getaway with dh, without the kids. Take the kids to Colorado in the summer.