Thanks everyone for weighing in with your opinions and giving us ideas and things to think about. Still not sure what we are doing...
OMG Dee what a tough decision!!
My parents went to the Grand Canyon about 5 yrs ago and ever since they got back she has been trying to talk us into bringing the boys there. I know we would love to see it, but I know what you mean about the getting boring fast factor.
I have always wanted to go to Hawaii!!!! And from what you described, yes sounds like a perfect fit for your family. I think I would deal w the long flight. Your boys are older too.
St. Lucia sounds like a good alternative, but I think I'd still choose Hawaii, just bc it's Hawaii. My sister honeymooned in St. Lucia. Pix were beautiful!!
My DS16 has been asking us to go on a cruise for years now, so I think we're going to do it for his graduation gift.
I know I'm not much help bc I've never been to any of these beautiful places, but I'm sure whatever you choose will be a great family vacation w wonderful memories!!
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Hawaii is definitely the most appealing to me if we can just suck it up about the travel days.
It is so tough when you are trying to make the best decision.
Where would you cruise? Which cruise line(s) are you considering?
We have been to Hawaii many times and took our teenage daughters on one of the trips. The flight to Hawaii is a real bear, especially with the small airline seats and lack of good leg room, but you'll survive. I don't think it is worth the trouble to stop in a city on the mainland overnight. Just get to Hawaii and enjoy it. The time change is huge, so you'll need time to adjust. But it is a great trip.
We like to rent a condo. It is much cheaper than a hotel and you have the washer/dryer, the kitchen for breakfast, and a living room so you are not on top of each other.
I would also pick just two islands to do. Honolulu is just another city to me, so unless you want to see Pearl Harbor, I would skip Oahu. Kauai is a very nice island, our favorite in fact, very laid back and unspoiled. It has the most beaches of all the islands. We like to go to this island because of the great hiking. But you might consider waiting until a second trip if you just want to do two islands.
The Big Island has the volcano, which is really cool. This island is very unusual, with its fields of lava and people putting their houses in the middle of the black rock.
Maui is the big tourist island and has the wonderful road to Hana with the Seven Pools at the end. There was a cool 2 mile hike to the seven waterfalls or whatever it was. We'll never forget walking through the forest of bamboo - so eerie. There is also another great volcano to explore on Maui. Our teens really enjoyed snorkeling and boogie boarding.
So I suggest spending some time with exploring the options. It all depends on what you like to do.
If you try to do four islands on a Hawaii trip you are going to spend all your time in a car. These islands are small with only one main road in most cases, which means lots of traffic. And with the gorgeous tropical breezes, sand and surf and dining al fresco opportunities that are unique to Hawaii, I wouldn't waste it in a car.
Yellowstone was nice, too. We took our teens there. Once again, though, it is a lot of time in a car, since the main attractions are far apart, like 45 miles apart. And unless you camp or manage to get a reservation in a lodge onsite, the hotels are far away, too. But it is a must do for everyone once in their lives.
We have never taken the kids to Grand Canyon. We did that park combined with a short visit to Las Vegas. We've also combined it with a trip to Sedona. but that was just the two of us.
Thanks so much for your detailed comments! I think you are correct about concentrating on just two islands. We want to do the Big Island for the volcanos, Oahu for the USS Arizona Memorial but in my heart I know Kauai would be my favorite, too.
Such a tough decision Dee, but if I personally was voting, it would absolutely be the West Coast. Since you're all so into Disney and Universal I think you would have a blast seeing Disneyland and Universal Hollywood. So familiar and yet so very different and unique. It's hot, but not "Florida Hot" as in much lower humidity. Not to mention all the other amazing sights.
Of course, no matter what you all decide it's sure to be wonderful.
That vote is such a surprise coming from you!!!
What a great conundrum!
I too vote Hawaii. My husband's family has some Hawaii a lot. Their favorite island is Kauai. The land based sounds like your best bet, but maybe do less islands?
Love to hear another vote for Kauai, and for land-based. I just think we would see more of the islands that way, even if we had to settle on fewer than we would on a cruise.
Wow....nice dilemma to have!
Southern or Northern California has so much to offer. You could certainly design a memorable trip there. Disneyland is more than a 2 day park now....with all the new things there! It's like apples and oranges to compare DW and DL--both fruits but totally different! All the additions to CA make it really fun--and Cars Land was AMAZING!! I was prepared to be disappointed but it was really really cool.
You can get a Southern CA pass which includes many of the great attractions you mentioned. However, unless you really really enjoy crowds....there are other beaches besides Newport that are much prettier. Laguna (my personal favorite!), LaJolla, you can even get a boat over to Catalina Island which is fun. There's no humidity and the weather is nearly always perfect. (lived there 7.5 years during graduate school).
A few years ago we went to CA, met up with some friends who live there and took their RV to Utah to camp and hike in Zion National Park. We did this AMAZING river walk hike where you actually WALK in the river for many portions of the hike. It was one of the coolest things our family has ever done and to this day we all (the friends too) say it was our favorite part of that whole trip--and we visited Disney while we were there too!! 
My parents took us to Hawaii when I was in high school--we traveled from IL, stopped in So California for a few days and then flew on to Hawaii so the flight wasn't quite as bad. You could do both then....just a thought. And there's always Aulani!! They are finishing up (or just finished) the new part.
I'd say you can't really go too wrong with any of your choices!
Thanks for some of the other suggestions about California. I have followed a few trip reports from people who have gone to DL and I am amazed at all of the differences!
I agree with you about the weather in Southern CA. I have been to San Diego a couple of times and I have always said that city has the most perfect climate!
We are having almost this exact discussion about the summer of 2015. We are considering all the same trips- except St Lucia- with all the same pros/cons. We are leaning toward a West Coast trip but Hawaii looks awesome.
Podsnel has sons close to yours in age and she is currently writing a TR about her California trip
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3171488 . She also did a great TR from their Hawaiian trip last summer. You should check them out!
That is too funny!!! We really do seem to have similar travel habits.
Thanks for the heads up on the trip reports.
Brilliant cause Amanda. Glad to hear the training is going well My next door neighbour is running the Dublin marathon at the end of the month for charity and my youngest is taking in his moneybox to give to her because he knows "he's lucky"! Made me a very proud (and somewhat emotional) mum this morning
Dee how long is the flight to Hawaii? I can tell you that the last 3/4 hours on our flight to wdw tend to just blend in to eachother and once you get to that last hour excitement tends to carry us through (we fly 9 hours). I would love to see Hawaii but also love the sound of San Diego so I'm really no help at all
I can totally agree however on teens lack of interest in cities of culture/museums etc as we live near the now world famous Titanic building and I've yet to persuade my 16yr old that it would be good to see! According to him "it's about a boat that sunk-big wow!!"
That is amazing about your son donating his money! What a kind heart!
I think the flight is somewhere between 13-18 hours from the east coast, depends on the layover and then the time change just screws me all up when I try to figure it out.
See, now Ben would be all over visiting the Titanic building. He is obsessed with the Titanic!
I wish I had that problem. I have issues just getting my husband to Florida.
Have you thought of a medditeranian cruise? That would be cool to see bits of Europe and still have one place to call home. And Siney is sailing there next summer!
We don't really have Europe on our radar, but the Mediterranean is definitely appealing. I think if we were going to cruise, we would stick to Hawaii or the Caribbean though.
We are beach bums!
Ooohhhhhh.....good vacation choices! My vote would be either Hawaii or California. I agree with Wood Nymph....pick two islands in Hawaii. Joel and I went there on our honeymoon and thought about doing three islands but then decided we wanted to spend more time relaxing and less time traveling. We went to Oahu and Maui. I think I am the only person in the world who prefers Oahu over Maui. I love the hustle and bustle of the city plus the beach is right there as well as the wonderful Dole plantation and Pearl Harbor.
California would be another great option! Your boys would enjoy Disneyland and Universal Studios plus all of the sights and sounds of California. Maybe you could head even a little bit further south and take a day trip into Tijuana. Decisions, decisions!
It's funny you mention summer 2014 vacations. Last night Joel and I were trying to figure out when we'll be heading back to WDW next year. And when I asked him where we should stay, he looked at me as if I was stupid and said, "uh, Beach Club". I threw out a couple of other resorts....Poly, CR, BW....and he said no way. He also made me book CL! I love it!
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Again, thanks for the advice on narrowing down to just a couple of islands.
California appeals to much because there is so much to do to keep the kids interested.
I like the way Joel thinks!!!
I'd definitely try to get on your dance card if I knew our dates synced up!! 
I'm LOVING your title and your photos! Oh my gosh. You are funny! I can't wait to read some more. And your family looks like a lot of fun. 
