Help with planning vacation please

[craftymom]

We are just beginning to look into a disney vacation. I need some help/advice. I stumbled onto these boards and everyone seems so friendly and there seems to be a wealth of information. We are thinking of taking our vaction in April 2006. I want to avoid hurricane season and I want to try and avoid any possibility of cool weather so I thought this would be a good month to travel. Traveling will be myself, DH and DS who will be four at the time. I know every child is different, but I would like some feedback on realisitic expectations. I had originally thought of taking a four night cruise, but the price diff for a 7 night is onlt 500 dollars more. Part of me thinks we will already be spending money on airfare so lets stay as long as possible and part of me thinks this might be too much on DS. I can also do the land sea for about the same price as the 7nt cruise. What do y'all think? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[depomas]

having never done the land and sea myself, I am a tad prejudice to the seven nighter. We travel quite far, and feel that the seven night cruise is the one that suits us well. I mean air for four, hotel the night before, for us is not justified in a four or a 3 nighter.

That is what works for our family! Although if someone offered my a cruise I would accept any time frame..

No matter what you decide, it will be Magical.

 

[giandave23]

Welcome

In my humble opinion - I would do the 7night cruise! Especially with a 4yr old - to walk the parks and then taking a cruise or viseversa would be exhausting to all 3 of you. With the Cruise, there will be a ton of things for your DS to do without you (oceaneers club) - letting you and your DH get in some relaxation time yourselves :. My husband always said, we are not taking our kid(s) to Disney World until the are tall enough to ride everything! He is , but gotta love him! Anyways - Im sure any Disney Decision you make will make a Wonderful Vacation for all of you!

Take Care!

 

[TheWog]

There is plenty of downtime for your son to have and relax. The activities will be plentiful and you will probably wish you had booked the 7 night when the 4 nighter is done. I would say go for the 7 nighter and enjoy it. We went when our son was 6 and he didn't want to get off. We had a great time and I think you will too. Enjoy!

 

[craftymom]

Thanks for all your input. I think the 7 nt is what we will end up doing, I was leaning towards that and that seems to be the consensus. I also thought the park might be too much for all of us( not really relaxing for DH and I). I knew y'all could convince me that would be the best choice, LOL.

 

[mum of two pirates]

WE are in the same boat as fare as airfare goes, from what I have seen it is going to cost us $1600-$1800 and its only costing us $2400 for all four of us at christmas to do the cruise. So I decieded (dh can stay and work and then fly down for the cruise only if he wants) we will do 5-7 at the park before. If I have to fork over that much in airfare I'm getting as much time as I can out of it. Sad thing is wecould almost do two 7 day cruises for what it will cost us to stay at the park. Mum of two pirates

 

[jeannief]

We just did Land and Sea (3 night park, 4 night Wonder) and loved it. Two boys, 4 and 5. For more information check out the trip reports for my and other people experiences.
If you've never been on a cruise then the land and sea might be a better option, also if you have any concerns about your ds with the kids clubs. Mine loved it so we had some alone time too, but others did not have the same experience. Knowing what I know now, 3 days for the parks was not enough, nor was a 4 day cruise. But we'll go again, do 5 days at the park and maybe a 4 night cruise again or hopefully 7, we'll see what the budget holds. I agree with momofpirates, if I'm forking out for airfare I want as much time there as possible.
But the land and sea was a great "first" Disney experience for us!

 

[spencersmom]

Hi Craftymom~! I hope you go on a 7 day April 2006 since I just booked ours this week and our son will be 4 when we go! ;-)

Seriously-we took a 7 night western in Nov 04 and it was perfect!!!! It just seemed like there was enough for Spence to do but not feel overwhelmed. We did go to the park for two days beforeheand and that was overwhelming to him-you could just see it. Just too much going on still.

On the 7 night you get a chance to get used to everything, relax and get settled. I just feel like in the land/sea packages you just get into something and you have to change but that's just me! It's all personal opinion, like everyone is saying!

If you decide on April, let me know!

 

[definately dory]

we also had the same delimma because of the airfare. We had never been to Disney or a cruise so we decided to do both. We are doing 7 nights at Disney and the 7 nights on the Magic the first two weeks of Feb 06. I figured that the flight was going to cost the same no matter how long we stayed so might as well stay as long as we could to get the most for our dollar. At least thats how I rationalized it to my husband. LOL

 

[Dana_Buckley]

Hello fellow early planner!! Next week is my first cruise, my boys are 5 and 1 1/2 and we are traveling with my mom,(DH had to work). But, I tell ya, I just couldn't go to Florida without going to WDW! For our cruise next week, we decided to fly down a day early to avoid any panic of missing the boat due to delayed flight or bad weather. This is what we are doing...

Our flight gets in Saturday at 11am, we are taking Tiffany Towncar to AKL, checking in and getting lunch at Mara, then taking the bus to Magic Kingdom! We may not get there until 1pm or so, but they are open until 10pm and the Electrical Parade is at 8pm. The next morning is no rush, the Disney transfer doesn't pick us up until 12:30pm.

I think it would definatley be worth it to spend 2 or 3 days (or more) at WDW before going on the cruise. It does add up, though. I would get the Disney VISA card and start using it! I already have $200 Disney dollars earned for our November '05 vacation to WDW.

And, every child is different, but we took our oldest son to WDW when he was 2 1/2 for 5 days. He did great! We took a break at the hotel everyday and went swimming and watched cartoons (no naps!). Then did a little more in the evenings. My little one has already been to Disneyland 3 times, and he loves it too!

Happy Planning! I'm sure you will have a fabulous vacation!