Disney vs. Europe Vacation

[crisi]

I'm skipping Disney to spend two weeks in Britain with my daughter next summer. And, no, there isn't even a twinge of regret.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We did an 11 night cruise this summer on Holland America. We started in Rome and went to Naples(Pompeii), Corsica, Sicily, Sardinia, Monaco(awesome),Marseilles, the port near Florence and Pisa, and ended in Barcelona.
Our ship the Noordam had 3 11 night cruises that could be combined and covered about 25 ports. Many retired people were able to book all 3 segments--I would have been exhausted since it was so port intensive. I know they had been to Greece and Egypt. It started in the Eastern Med and we joined in the Western Med.
The seas are so calm there that if you have had motion sickness in the Caribbean you will not have that problem there. My DH said he did not sleep as well because the ship did not rock him to sleep.
The great thing about a cruise for you all is it is easier with the kids to unpack once. You can also leave them on the ship in the kids' program on days when they are tired of touring.
If you don't do a cruise, I would highly recommend Rome. We plan to go back and spend a week there. There is a lot for kids to do there.
Finally, we vacationed a lot at Disney with our kids. We did do other vacations but have spent 100 plus days at Disney. Two of our 3 kids (19-25) are tired of it.

 

[Sammie]

Go to Europe, Disney is not going anywhere.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We love Disney and have gone every year (at least once) the last 12 years. Next year we are going to Europe for a month with friends - visiting Paris, Normandy, Bavaria, Prague, Venice and Florence. We figured it was time to do something different. So today I was reading the Disboards as we were driving back from the beach. I realized that I would rather take a megatrip to Disney with my grandchildren than this Europe trip. I said something to my husband, who said "OK".

Has anyone else experienced something like this? What did you decide? Thanks!

and I would say you're crazy! But the truth is that, as hard as it is to believe, there are those individuals who do not enjoy travel, those who don't have a need to see the world! And there are those like me, who's parents travelled extensively and who instilled that travel bug in me, which I then passed on to my son!

We use DVC for long week-ends, 3 -4 day trips! We have family and friends in France, England, Spain, Canada and throughout the U.S. and beyond that we love to explore new countries and lifetstyles, so we plan travel other than Disney! We try to do it all, save, scrimp, right now planning a 2015 graduation trip for 6 to Greece, that's where my son, who works hard at school, wants to go! And I intend to make it happen!

It you would prefer to do Disney over Europe, just because I think it's nuts, doesn't mean you shouldn't do exactly what floats your boat!

 

[rcchello]

I totally understand choosing Disney over Europe. Europe is a real stretch for some people and exceeds their stress limit.

A Disney trip is stress free for the regular visitor. It is why on cruises people like the private islands better than other ports. You get a stress free vacation as you can possibly get. You know how to get there. You know where you are going to get fed. You don't have to deal with language barriers, changing hotel rooms, not knowing where you are, wondering wether you picked the right itinerary, will you like the food, if you have enough insurance, etc.

A lot of people are stressed by change and the unknown, Europe is filled with these things. I love a trip to Europe, but also love that stress free feeling of passing the Welcome to Disneyworld sign!

 

[sandieb]

Thanks for all the replies. We ALWAYS have had great vacations at WDW, I never like to leave, and I can always find another trip to daydream about...right now Christmas at WDW - SSR is available!!! Some of our non-WDW trips have been so-so to ok to great. This year we went in our camper and stayed at Fort Wilderness - we had borrowed this years points last year and we wanted to get out of the red. BTW Fort Wilderness is not DVC, but we had a nice long vacation at a reasonable cost and it is a wonderful campground.

I went to Munich American High School, so I have travelled in Europe as a teenager, but not as an adult. My friends have been many times and are making all the reservations, etc. I love the idea of Disneyland Paris - what a great tip. Frankly as any experience depends on attitude, I am going to adjust mine! I guess the bottom line is, I don't want to miss a year at Disney, but I won't fall apart. Just think of those folks that may only get there once in a lifetime. How blessed we are!

 

[beachclub]

You are crazy for thinking this. We went to Ireland for the first time ever to Europe this past March, and honestly I dont want to set foot in a disney park anymore, that vacation was 1000 times better than any disney vacation we have ever taken, and we have taken alot of them.
In october we are staying at the Grand Floridian Villas for food and wine and honestly I could care less that we are even going becuase we have another Ireland trip planned for next april.
There is so much more culture, history and most of all places that dont fleece you like disney does making it more worthwhile.
Now we are planning our next to South africa, france and an asian country.

Do the Europe and watch your outlook on vacationing and life change forever.

We love Disney and have gone every year (at least once) the last 12 years. Next year we are going to Europe for a month with friends - visiting Paris, Normandy, Bavaria, Prague, Venice and Florence. We figured it was time to do something different. So today I was reading the Disboards as we were driving back from the beach. I realized that I would rather take a megatrip to Disney with my grandchildren than this Europe trip. I said something to my husband, who said "OK".

Has anyone else experienced something like this? What did you decide? Thanks!

 

[Starr W.]

You are crazy for thinking this. We went to Ireland for the first time ever to Europe this past March, and honestly I dont want to set foot in a disney park anymore, that vacation was 1000 times better than any disney vacation we have ever taken, and we have taken alot of them.
In october we are staying at the Grand Floridian Villas for food and wine and honestly I could care less that we are even going becuase we have another Ireland trip planned for next april.
There is so much more culture, history and most of all places that dont fleece you like disney does making it more worthwhile.
Now we are planning our next to South africa, france and an asian country.

Do the Europe and watch your outlook on vacationing and life change forever.

Need a "like" button.

 

[beachclub]

I have to finish the story too, a main facet that I left out.
Since I was a high schooler I have always wanted to goto europe and it has taken me over 20 years to do so because I found my wife and we fell in love with Disney, Disney consumed us like it has for about 90% of the people here for the last 12 years. Like the OP we have gone for once at least if not twice a year until last year, it was my 40th birthday and my wife said to me how do I want to celebrate it so we went to Ireland..During the planning I kinda didnt really get into going at all, I felt like this really up until we were on the plane...I kept saying to myself, lets just goto disney, lets just goto disney.

And then it came, and thus begins my original post.

Need a "like" button.

 

[Starr W.]

I have to finish the story too, a main facet that I left out.
Since I was a high schooler I have always wanted to goto europe and it has taken me over 20 years to do so because I found my wife and we fell in love with Disney, Disney consumed us like it has for about 90% of the people here for the last 12 years. Like the OP we have gone for once at least if not twice a year until last year, it was my 40th birthday and my wife said to me how do I want to celebrate it so we went to Ireland..During the planning I kinda didnt really get into going at all, I felt like this really up until we were on the plane...I kept saying to myself, lets just goto disney, lets just goto disney.

And then it came, and thus begins my original post.

I was sort of the opposite of you, many trips to Europe(business/leisure) and then got the Disney bug. Now the kids are older, they are the ones that have a bucket list of European sites to see. I'm glad they do.

 

[luv2sleep]

I was sort of the opposite of you, many trips to Europe(business/leisure) and then got the Disney bug. Now the kids are older, they are the ones that have a bucket list of European sites to see. I'm glad they do.

After visiting Europe I don't have too much of a. Desire anymore. I'd rather go to Asia. South America, or Africa. Maybe that's why I responded the way I did. Europe doesn't draw me in like other countries do.

 

[Brian Noble]

Our family's rule of thumb: we try to let no more than half of our vacations be "Disney-centric". That includes DLR, WDW, DCL, DRLP, etc.

Other fun vacations over the years include the NC Outer Banks (many times), the Colorado Rockies, Paris, Washington DC, Williamsburg, coastal Maine, the Smoky Mountains, and the Wisconsin Dells. We want to get back to the Dells for some of the new waterpark additions there, as well as hit up the Grand Canyon and some of the other National Parks in that area, and probably catch a couple of Italian cities before the kids are off to college.

 

[jstarcze]

I'm pretty lucky in that I have done both Disney and Europe in the same year. But i have no kids, I can easily drive to Disney and I have an annual pass. So in comparison with families I'm lucky that my expenses are not higher. But I also try to save going to Europe too. I plan and execute my own vacations. So I only book the flight and hotel, generally after finding a good deal. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a great vacation!

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

FYI Europe is not a country?! It is a VERY diverse set of countries that all have their own unique experiences to offer.

 

[Starr W.]

Our family's rule of thumb: we try to let no more than half of our vacations be "Disney-centric". That includes DLR, WDW, DCL, DRLP, etc.

Other fun vacations over the years include the NC Outer Banks (many times), the Colorado Rockies, Paris, Washington DC, Williamsburg, coastal Maine, the Smoky Mountains, and the Wisconsin Dells. We want to get back to the Dells for some of the new waterpark additions there, as well as hit up the Grand Canyon and some of the other National Parks in that area, and probably catch a couple of Italian cities before the kids are off to college.

We are the same way. Usually 1-2 "Disney" trips per year. Last year Disneyland, along with Washington DC & Vail/Beaver Creek.

This year, only "Disney" trip was to Vero Beach. Also went skiing, hit Williamsburg and Northern Michigan.

With the boys getting older, youngest probably going out for cross country/track next year we will need to be a little more selective about the limited vacation time.

 

[rmonty02]

I will agree with everyone on this thread and vote for 1 month in Europe I have only been to Italy, twice in ten years and it was amazing both times. We have only been doing Disney and I think my boys are just getting old enough that we plan to travel across the Atlantic next summer. Enjoy whichever vacation YOU decide to take! I would love to read TR's and have a thread about everyone's European trips. I would trust a Disers travel advice any day.

 

[rmonty02]

I will agree with everyone on this thread and vote for 1 month in Europe I have only been to Italy(no kids), twice in ten years and it was amazing both times. We have only been doing Disney with my boys and I think they are just getting old enough that we plan to travel across the Atlantic next summer. Enjoy whichever vacation YOU decide to take! I would love to read TR's and have a thread about everyone's European trips. I would trust a Disers travel advice any day.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

A thing to consider is we spent more on 2 weeks in Europe than we did on our recent 160 point AKV contract--good until 2057.

It was wonderful but unless you really want to go you might try something a little closer to home.

 

[pouncingpluto]

It depends on whether you're really asking Europe vs. WDW or Europe vs. vacation with grandkids.

If you're asking the first question, I say month in Europe for sure.

But if you're really asking the second question, then I think either answer is very understandable, and it's a very personal decision to make based on various factors, including how often you get to see the grandkids, whether they are still wide-eyed Disney magic lovers, how much you are longing to get out and explore new places (or places you haven't seen in a very long time), etc..

 

[MrsDuck]

I've been to various European and non-European countries thanks to my parents. I've been very blessed and I'm grateful to them for those travel experiences.

As an adult, there is no where else I'd rather go than Disney. That said, if you've never been to Europe - go. Then decide what you love the most.