Disneyland or WDW ????

[Travel Mum]

Oh my gosh, this is now making me realise that I'd be best to get back there before DD14 gets much older! If next December, she'll be 15 and, if December 2014, she'll be 16. My sister actually raised a good point that, if we took her away at that age, it would curb her summer holiday job opportunitys. I remember working summer jobs in high school as it was a good way to stockpile some money so what's the bet that I save and save and save to take us on another WDW holiday and then she says she'd rather stay home?!!

Whilst, due to the cost savings and additional flexibility, part of me looks forward to the times when the children have grown up and I'm doing trips with just DH, the other part of me will really miss them as I feel most comfortable travelling as a family knowing we are all together. However, sometimes DD14 does make it easier for me to imagine not taking her - when she shows her cheeky and moody teenage girl side. My girls know I have travel dreams and sometimes I share them with them. A few weeks ago I mentioned to DD14 that my next dream was to go back to WDW and to do NYC as well and asked what she thought about that, presuming she would be happy especially that NYC was included. Well, I was shocked because she had no interest and couldn't understand why I'd want to go back to somewhere we'd already been. It was not the reaction that I'd been presuming I'd get so I replied back (and I was not serious) saying that perhaps we'd just go without her as actually it would save us a lot of money and give us a lot more flexibility (imagine, we'd fit in any hotel room and would not be dicated to by high school holidays ). DD14 replied back that it would be fine with her and that, by the way, did I not understand how important friends are to her? Well I was seriously floored with shock because, as a teenager growing up, sure I loved my friends but, if offered an overseas trip by my parents, without a doubt, I'd choose the trip! I went up to my DH and said "how on earth can this girl be my daughter?!" How has the travel bug missed her considering she has been travelling frequently since she was young?!! .....A few days later she did say she'd be keen to go to New York but really she wishes she could to go to Paris, London or Rome (too bad because we'll take you where we want to go luv ).


In the meantime, if I mention to either DD11 or DD7 that I'm dreaming of going back to WDW, they proceed to dance around the house happily singing "let's go back to Disneyworld" (and I'm singing/dancing with them ) Now THAT'S the kind of reaction I expect and hope for!

Well, this has turned out to be a vent and a bit hasn't it? The joys of teenage daughters and, yes, I am in dread of the other two also becoming teenagers

 

[Caroline NZ]

A few weeks ago I mentioned to DD14 that my next dream was to go back to WDW and to do NYC as well and asked what she thought about that, presuming she would be happy especially that NYC was included. Well, I was shocked because she had no interest and couldn't understand why I'd want to go back to somewhere we'd already been. It was not the reaction that I'd been presuming I'd get so I replied back (and I was not serious) saying that perhaps we'd just go without her as actually it would save us a lot of money and give us a lot more flexibility (imagine, we'd fit in any hotel room and would not be dicated to by high school holidays ). DD14 replied back that it would be fine with her and that, by the way, did I not understand how important friends are to her? Well I was seriously floored with shock because, as a teenager growing up, sure I loved my friends but, if offered an overseas trip by my parents, without a doubt, I'd choose the trip! I went up to my DH and said "how on earth can this girl be my daughter?!" How has the travel bug missed her considering she has been travelling frequently since she was young?!! .....A few days later she did say she'd be keen to go to New York but really she wishes she could to go to Paris, London or Rome (too bad because we'll take you where we want to go luv ).

Aww TravelMum, that must be so hard to hear, I am not looking forward to the teenage years.
Though as a 15/16 yr old I went to the UK with my Mum, and it was me that was the most excited. So I hope my children will be the same.

 

[battymum]

This thread has gone all over , sorry tap dancer! But anyway travel mum, wait till she gets a boyfriend ! You will never get her to go anywhere with you, and if she does she will be a bundle of joy (not)
We are not there yet, having two brothers sort of puts you off boys,

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Since I have a teenage daughter who is 14 and sounds like a few others here do too, I'd love if we could start an OT thread to discuss the trials and tribulations if anyone cares to share. Things are starting to Hot up here and I would love to hear others experiences and thoughts.

 

[cola]

I went up to my DH and said "how on earth can this girl be my daughter?!" How has the travel bug missed her considering she has been travelling frequently since she was young?!! ....

The fact she has been travelling frequently since she was young is exactly why she is not thrilled - it's ordinary, normal, nothing special. Sounds like she is over USA already.
Maybe you should thinnk of Paris Disneyland???????

 

[cola]

Caroline, because you have never experienced staying onsite, I am positive you will love the experience of staying in the house.

My first WDW, stayed onsite, at The Dolphin, yes, not a true Disney stay, but onsite, Disney transportation experienced, decided doing laundry was a pain when it was on the other side of the hotel. Next stay was by myself and got a low grade family suite place near the big orange in Kissimmee for $19 per night, where I decided never to get an off-site shuttle to Disney ever again, though I did realise how little time you spend in your room if you are hitting the parks hardcore. Next stay was Old Key West, the oldest DVC and not over the top themeing. We had a rental car, used it for some parks (AK in particular, some DTD trips, though got the boat to DTD quite a few times and buses to MK and Epcot/HS) - encountered some shocking waits with the transportation system. Since then it's been off property, but I do go resort hopping, so still use the transportation system a bit beyond the parks and most of the time it works well, but there are still some incredible waits....

Every trip since has been offsite, mainly staying at Marriott timeshares, if you know where to look to get them cheap it's amazing We've stayed at Marriott Cypress Harbour (2x), Grande Vist (2x), Royal Palms (1x). One Grande Vista was a studio, kitchenette (microwave rather than a full stove) with 2 queen beds and balcony for $225AU for 7 nights - less than $40AU per night, the rest were all 2 bedroom/2 bathroom stays, with full kitchen and laundry for less than $700AU for one week. It would be great if I didn't notice the extra $1000 to stay on property, until then it's a cheap week at a Marriott and maybe a split stay with a couple of night on property.


If you can get free dining, OR you have teenagers that you are happy to let roam free with the transportation and charge everything back to the room key, OR you won't drive, OR you think you will be splitting up a LOT, on site is the way to go.
Even if you have little ones that need a mid afternoon nap, off property can work, if you are close to Disney and if you split up you can go back to Disney to collect anyone that didn't do afternoon nap time. Marriott Royal Palms was only a couple of minutes from Downtown Disney, there was a lot of rendezvousing at DTD at various points during that trip

When the extra $1000+ to stay at AKL/WL isn't noticeable, maybe I'll do a whole on property stay, until them it's off property for 7 nights with a possible split stay with AKL/WL at the end, NOT hitting the parks hardcore during the on site stay, actually taking the time to soak up the on site atmosphere


But that's just me

 

[Travel Mum]

Just about to start reading the new posts but firstly want to apologize for hijacking your thread Tapdancer! Not sure how it happened but, as I know you have already chosen WDW over DL, I hope you don't mind.

Yes, Ms Shuttergirl, would be happy to participate in an OT teenage daughter thread

 

[Travel Mum]

WOW Cola you have been so many times !!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for sharing your insights with us - very interesting indeed. The offsite deals surely are amazing and definitely put the onsite prices to shame. I'm sitting here reminding myself that I would never consider paying onsite prices at DL so it's frustrating that I've become so hooked on staying onsite at WDW.

I think we were very lucky with the Disney buses during our stay because, despite all the horror stories I'd read about the waits for buses at POR, we never had to wait long at all. DH and I therefore came home loving the Disney transportation system and found it such a relaxing way to get to and from the parks. I know though that others have had bad experiences so it must be luck of the draw.

 

[tapdancer]

haha I don't mind at all, it's been interesting reading and I could also add to the teenage thread. My daughter was absolutely horrible at 14 and 15 but now at 17 has come out the other side as a beautiful young woman, I certainly appreciate the nice DD since I have experienced the horrible one.

We had originally decided on Anaheim and Hawaii but have completely changed to WDW and New York, as she is paying her own way she wasn't too happy to start with but after reading Ms Shuttergirl's New York Trip Report she is now bouncing around excited.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

haha I don't mind at all, it's been interesting reading and I could also add to the teenage thread. My daughter was absolutely horrible at 14 and 15 but now at 17 has come out the other side as a beautiful young woman, I certainly appreciate the nice DD since I have experienced the horrible one.

We had originally decided on Anaheim and Hawaii but have completely changed to WDW and New York, as she is paying her own way she wasn't too happy to start with but after reading Ms Shuttergirl's New York Trip Report she is now bouncing around excited.

I think I need to go back and read that TR, I must have been pretty witty and amazing in it . I'm convincing people left right and centre to go to NYC. I think the city of New York should be giving me some kickback money.

Oh how will I ever be able to create a 2nd TR. I'm feeling like a one hit wonder .

Glad to hear your daughter came out the other side. Off to check out the new teenager thread.

 

[Travel Mum]

haha I don't mind at all, it's been interesting reading and I could also add to the teenage thread. My daughter was absolutely horrible at 14 and 15 but now at 17 has come out the other side as a beautiful young woman, I certainly appreciate the nice DD since I have experienced the horrible one.

That is so encouraging and really lovely to hear TapDancer

We had originally decided on Anaheim and Hawaii but have completely changed to WDW and New York, as she is paying her own way she wasn't too happy to start with but after reading Ms Shuttergirl's New York Trip Report she is now bouncing around excited.

I have a feeling that, if I offered my eldest DD the chance to come on a trip with us as long as she paid her own way, she would choose not to come

I think I need to go back and read that TR, I must have been pretty witty and amazing in it . I'm convincing people left right and centre to go to NYC. I think the city of New York should be giving me some kickback money.

Your wonderful photos were a big part of it too so I have no doubt you will be able to do that again