Help! To go or not to go?

[Mickey Fliers]

Okay, I want to head back to the world and need help making a decision. Here are the facts:

-The cast would be me (DH can't go) and my 3 boys (4, 7 and 8) and a friend and her 3 kids (2, 6, and 8). We would go for 5 nights over Columbus day weekend.

-I could get a Studio at SSR for 4/5 nights and she would stay elsewhere and I would try to waitlist for the Sunday night or

-We would stay at Pop for Friday/Saturday night and then we would all (2 Adults and 6 kids) move to a two bedroom for the last three nights.

-This will "cost" me somewhere between 65-87 points.

-Airfare is $1100 from Portland, Maine and that IS the best deal going.

-I figure the total trip will cost somewhere between $1500 and $2000 depending if we have to stay at Pop and rent a car.

-I already have a trip planned for February 2007 and June 2007.

-I just came back the first week of April.

What would you do? Would you go again? The money isn't a big deal, except that I have to get that darn "practicallity" mentality. On the other hand, I was puchasing AP's in Feb. 07 (ours expire next month) for our two 2007 trips so this would be getting an extra trip out of our AP's, thus making them a more practical purchase. My mind says "you are going in again in 8 months, do you really need to go again and spend the money". But my heart says "DH is about to go on deployment and you need some downtime before he heads out".

What to do, what to do????

Please help.

 

[Granny]

2 adults and 6 kids in a 2BR unit isn't my idea of "down time", but this is totally your call. You indicate that money isn't an issue, so maxing out your points and AP might be a good idea for you.

It's really impossible, though, for me to advise you on something like this. My guess is that since you posted you are looking for reinforcement of a decision that you think might not be wise?

After all, who on these boards is going to tell you that another trip to WDW is a bad idea?

 

[NYMomof4]

Traveling with kids is so much easier with another adult nearby (even with more kids) so I would opt for the 2 bdrm plan and stay together the first 2 nights at POP. Maybe do park days at POP and some resort time at SSR? It seems like a long stretch between April and October so I totally understand the pull to get in another trip!LOL

Have fun deciding!

 

[sistertrip]

I'd say go for it! If you can swing the bucks, it sounds like it would be a fun trip.

P.S. I'm from the Portland, ME area, and the best rate I could come up with was Southwest out of Manchester (it was about the same amount but for only 4 people). Where did you find such a great rate?

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I'd say go for it! If you can swing the bucks, it sounds like it would be a fun trip.

P.S. I'm from the Portland, ME area, and the best rate I could come up with was Southwest out of Manchester (it was about the same amount but for only 4 people). Where did you find such a great rate?

Jetblue out of Portland. I am sorry if I misled you, though. That rate is for me and my 3 sons. My friend would be flying out of Providence. Still, a great rate out of Portland without having to drive to Manchester, or stay overnight at the airport!

Keep the advice coming. I am still mulling it over...

 

[sistertrip]

Thanks for the clarification on the flights. It sounds like you paid about the same us us. The drive to Manchester pays off for us to be able to get a non-stop flight (I hate take-offs!!).

You mentioned the POP resort, but had you considered the All-Star suites? I'm not sure how many they can sleep...

 

[spiceycat]

go with Pop - stay 3 nights and get the free dinning...

now the problem does your friend have their tickets - then great everyone can get the 1 day ticket.

but if your friend doesn't have their tickets - then you got a problem.

either buy tickets for everyone or just go with the 1 day ticket and make them get their tickets elsewhere.

then move to SSR for the final 2 nights.

don't rent a car for Pop. You don't need one...promise.... it has some of the best bus tranportation around. their luggage service will be happy to move your luggage to SSR when it is time for your tranfer.

believe me I have been considering it.... got to decide soon the free dinning quits June 25.....

 

[goalie5hole]

Okay, I want to head back to the world and need help making a decision. Here are the facts:

-The cast would be me (DH can't go) and my 3 boys (4, 7 and 8) and a friend and her 3 kids (2, 6, and 8). We would go for 5 nights over Columbus day weekend.

-I could get a Studio at SSR for 4/5 nights and she would stay elsewhere and I would try to waitlist for the Sunday night or

-We would stay at Pop for Friday/Saturday night and then we would all (2 Adults and 6 kids) move to a two bedroom for the last three nights.

-This will "cost" me somewhere between 65-87 points.

-Airfare is $1100 from Portland, Maine and that IS the best deal going.

-I figure the total trip will cost somewhere between $1500 and $2000 depending if we have to stay at Pop and rent a car.

-I already have a trip planned for February 2007 and June 2007.

-I just came back the first week of April.

What would you do? Would you go again? The money isn't a big deal, except that I have to get that darn "practicallity" mentality. On the other hand, I was puchasing AP's in Feb. 07 (ours expire next month) for our two 2007 trips so this would be getting an extra trip out of our AP's, thus making them a more practical purchase. My mind says "you are going in again in 8 months, do you really need to go again and spend the money". But my heart says "DH is about to go on deployment and you need some downtime before he heads out".

What to do, what to do????

Please help.

Stay home with your husband

 

[gcbsdad]

go with Pop - stay 3 nights and get the free dinning...

now the problem does your friend have their tickets - then great everyone can get the 1 day ticket.

but if your friend doesn't have their tickets - then you got a problem.

either buy tickets for everyone or just go with the 1 day ticket and make them get their tickets elsewhere.

then move to SSR for the final 2 nights.

don't rent a car for Pop. You don't need one...promise.... it has some of the best bus tranportation around. their luggage service will be happy to move your luggage to SSR when it is time for your tranfer.

believe me I have been considering it.... got to decide soon the free dinning quits June 25.....

Just a question? Doesn't Free Dining go through September 30th? If so it wouldn't be available for Columbus Day Weekend which is in October.

Maybe I am wrong on the dates?

 

[spiceycat]

no you are correct....

I though for a minute it ended oct 15....

but it does end Sept 30....

 

[sistertrip]

Stay home with your husband

I had missed the part about your husband leaving on deployment. Follow your heart and be with him.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I had missed the part about your husband leaving on deployment. Follow your heart and be with him.

Actually, he may very well being going to Japan that week!!! So, either I book and hope that he is gone that week as well. Or, I decide not to go and then he ends up going to Japan. Then I am stuck home in Maine with the boys, not in WDW

For the record, he is telling me that I should go. He is going to be crazy busy trying to get the squadron ready to deploy that we won't be seeing much of him in that time frame.


Still thinking, still thinking......

 

[*elaine*]

You know your kids and what you can handle. I'm still not ready to handle my two boys at WDW by myself, I can't imagine handling 3, along with another friend handling 3. But, again, you know your family. It sounds to me, listening to your posts, that you really want to go and are leaning that way. It would be more stressful for me, rather than less, to try that scenario with my kids, so I wouldn't do it. But I wish you all the success in the world, if that is what you choose to do - it would be a blast with some kids!

 

[sistertrip]

How much notice will your husband have on whether or not he's going to Japan? If you book a vacation now (cash reservation), even if you give at least just 5 days cancellation notice, they'll refund all but $100. (Full refund if it's at least 45 days). That way, you can feel things out and make a decision when the dates get closer. Just a thought!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Judique]

Okay, I want to head back to the world and need help making a decision. Here are the facts:

-The cast would be me (DH can't go) and my 3 boys (4, 7 and 8) and a friend and her 3 kids (2, 6, and 8). We would go for 5 nights over Columbus day weekend.

-I could get a Studio at SSR for 4/5 nights and she would stay elsewhere and I would try to waitlist for the Sunday night or

-We would stay at Pop for Friday/Saturday night and then we would all (2 Adults and 6 kids) move to a two bedroom for the last three nights.

-This will "cost" me somewhere between 65-87 points.

-Airfare is $1100 from Portland, Maine and that IS the best deal going.

-I figure the total trip will cost somewhere between $1500 and $2000 depending if we have to stay at Pop and rent a car.

-I already have a trip planned for February 2007 and June 2007.

-I just came back the first week of April.

What would you do? Would you go again? The money isn't a big deal, except that I have to get that darn "practicallity" mentality. On the other hand, I was puchasing AP's in Feb. 07 (ours expire next month) for our two 2007 trips so this would be getting an extra trip out of our AP's, thus making them a more practical purchase. My mind says "you are going in again in 8 months, do you really need to go again and spend the money". But my heart says "DH is about to go on deployment and you need some downtime before he heads out".

What to do, what to do????

Please help.

Well, it's no problem for me to tell you to just go and have a great time! We were there in April for Easter Break, are going after a week at HH in July, have a week booked in October for Food and Wine and another HH trip booked for Thanksgiving. I'm not going at Xmas this year - but now that you mention Feb, that sounds like a good time to book.......

 

[Judique]

Actually, he may very well being going to Japan that week!!! So, either I book and hope that he is gone that week as well. Or, I decide not to go and then he ends up going to Japan. Then I am stuck home in Maine with the boys, not in WDW

For the record, he is telling me that I should go. He is going to be crazy busy trying to get the squadron ready to deploy that we won't be seeing much of him in that time frame.


Still thinking, still thinking......

Having experienced plenty of deployments, go! Lol.....you are probably used to being the one getting left behind as he flies away. I think WDW will help soften that separation just a bit!

Per another post about handling the kids - military families(wife or husband left stateside) I think learn to deal with this - you have no choice many times and you get stronger in certain ways by having to do things alone, such as traveling, and making family decisions. Having another family of friends along is great in cases like this, albeit the kids outnumber the adults.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I actually took the boys for four nights this past March/April by myself. That trip was actually more convoluted b/c I had to drive 2.5 hrs. to Manchester first and stay the night there before our flight. I am thinking this one would be easier b/c we would be flying right out of Portland. My friend and her three kids met us down there that time as well. It does make for a busy vacation .

As far as knowing about DH's trip to Japan. Unfortunately, everything with the Navy is carved in mud and can change in a second. I think I either need to just "do it" or "not". I need to decide by the end of the weekend.

Ugh, I hate decisions. I am at this point, however, leaning towards going. But just when I decide to do it, I talk myself out of it again in the next 10 minutes.

You should put a sign over my door that says "Waffle House".

 

[*elaine*]

Per another post about handling the kids - military families(wife or husband left stateside) I think learn to deal with this - you have no choice many times and you get stronger in certain ways by having to do things alone, such as traveling, and making family decisions. Having another family of friends along is great in cases like this, albeit the kids outnumber the adults.

I am a part of a military family. My husband is active duty US Navy (has been for 14 years). I am home alone with my kids a lot. Both of my boys also are on the autistic spectrum, which makes going to places like WDW as a single parent an impossibility for me right now. That is why I said that I, personally, couldn't do it, but thought that it was great if it would work for her family. I think it would be a great thing to do if the kid situation was manageable.

 

[Judique]

I am a part of a military family. My husband is active duty US Navy (has been for 14 years). I am home alone with my kids a lot. Both of my boys also are on the autistic spectrum, which makes going to places like WDW as a single parent an impossibility for me right now. That is why I said that I, personally, couldn't do it, but thought that it was great if it would work for her family. I think it would be a great thing to do if the kid situation was manageable.

I understand where you are coming from now! You certainly have more to deal with then the average Navy famly. God bless.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Just as an update....

Thank you so much for the advice. I have actually decided not to go. I am not sure when my DH is going to Japan and we have 2 trips already planned between now and June 2007.

Believe me, I am aching to go, but I don't think it is in the cards.

Thanks again for all the help.