How do you get the kids to holiday anywhere else after you've been to disney?

[tracy021083]

We had our first trip to dlp in June with an almost 4 yr old princess mad girl and 6 yr old boy.
Everything about the trip was magical and they ask constantly if we can go back next year, there's just no where else they want to go.
Me and the hubby loved dlp too but it was our only hol this yr at a cost of 2k, and would like to go somewhere new (could get a week abroad for that!) but kids are so set on going back - which again would be our only hol.

Has anyone ever managed to get the kids to go anywhere else after dlp!? If so where?
Wondering if we should just take them back (being so young we feel whatever hol should be all about them) but I can't shake the feeling of wanting to do something different/so many places to visit! There's no way it could be as magical next year as it was this first time (we got lots done).

 

[Ms Poppins]

Well, we did a beach/Spain holiday after DLP when our kids were around your kids ages. After a week of a two week stay they were asking to go home and when they would be going to DLP again

I suppose I am biased, as I love DLP - but with the ages of your kids then I would stick with DLP whilst they are the right age for it. Could you maybe compromise and go out of season when it would be a bit cheaper? You could maybe afford another summer holiday too.

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

We go on beach holidays; Spain, Tunisia, Italy etc but nowhere compares to DLP for us. They doesn't mind where we go its dh and I who keep dragging the kids back to DLP (not that they take much convincing!)

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

That should say they don't mind, silly predictive text!

 

[tracy021083]

Thanks for the replies.
Would love to try a different time of year but we are set by school hols now with the government changing the legislation for taking time off in term time. So it really would be our only hol again.

It's just the thought of having the exact same hol again, nothing would have changed but then it was amazing.
We had perfect weather, did cafe mickey, auberge girly lunch and inventions so not much left to do (or so it feels) guess there's the Wild West show.

 

[Princess Leia]

With great difficulty! We went for the once in a lifetime holiday to Walt Disney World in 2008, returned 2009, 2011 and just back from this summer holiday. It does spoil you for other places. If you do go back and the children are happy with DLP don't start the Orlando holidays. The costs have shot up over the last few years. My daughter is campaigning to go to DLP next summer and says there will be nothing for her to do on a beach holiday. After 2 weeks of getting up at 6am that sounds bliss to me!

 

[tracy021083]

My thoughts exactly re disney world. We went when our son was 18 months before our daughter came along and it was amazing but around 5k to go back now so it won't be happening! And we def could never make a return trip there so I see what you're saying.

Thought about going at Halloween for a change but its loads more expensive. And thought about staying offsite as loads cheaper but kids would miss the characters at the hotel and me and hubby the nice walk to the parks.

Arghh is this it then for the next few years until the kids are a lot older!? Lol

 

[DLPdaft]

My thoughts exactly re disney world. We went when our son was 18 months before our daughter came along and it was amazing but around 5k to go back now so it won't be happening! And we def could never make a return trip there so I see what you're saying.

Thought about going at Halloween for a change but its loads more expensive. And thought about staying offsite as loads cheaper but kids would miss the characters at the hotel and me and hubby the nice walk to the parks.

Arghh is this it then for the next few years until the kids are a lot older!? Lol

theres nothing to stop you staying offsite, and visiting the DLH in the morning on your way into the park to see the characters there .

 

[mommy2ash]

theres nothing to stop you staying offsite, and visiting the DLH in the morning on your way into the park to see the characters there .

we stay onsite and do this on our way to the park but we are a bit character mad

 

[Princess Leia]

We did a really good road trip in Western Canada the other year (having been inspired by the Circlevision film in EPCOT). We had to introduce SMORG points (Seldom Moany Often Really Good) to stop the fights in the back of the car. I remember stopping the car to get out and admire this amazing view. My DD refused: "It's only another mountain and a lake". Now if Minnie Mouse had come dancing over the hill that would've been another story. I think we'll keep road trips until after the children have grown up.

 

[HappyPanda]

My DD only ever wants to go to either DLP or to stay in a caravan in Weymouth! Lol

We've booked to go to Lanzarote in May 14 and she's not excited about it at all!! Hoping that changes nearer the time... !

 

[tracy021083]

Thanks hadn't thought of staying offsite but then calling into one of the disney hotels for breakfast and for character meets. Only thing we'd miss with this is the EMH I guess, but can't have everything.

Does anyone know of a site to price up staying offsite? I've never looked at offsite so no idea on a popular/good hotel with a pool but would love to compare price to the £800 it'd be for 4 nights at the sequoia.

 

[DLPdaft]

Thanks hadn't thought of staying offsite but then calling into one of the disney hotels for breakfast and for character meets. Only thing we'd miss with this is the EMH I guess, but can't have everything.

Does anyone know of a site to price up staying offsite? I've never looked at offsite so no idea on a popular/good hotel with a pool but would love to compare price to the £800 it'd be for 4 nights at the sequoia.

you won't miss out on EMH if you buy Fantasy or Dream annual passes - EMH is included in both of those, regardless of where you are staying.

Have a look at the Annual Pass sticky thread at the top of the forum - if your children are aged under 12 you could get 2 adult and 2 childs APs, which include EMH, for around 350 euros.

Depending on what time of year you go, you should be able to get a nice offsite but nearby hotel for easily less than 100 euros per night per room, including breakfast.

Have a look on travelrepublic, expedia, alpharooms, hotels.com etc etc for Disneyland Paris hotels - loads will come up, from super-budget to super-pricey.

 

[Lolsmum]

Mine are taking their first trip to Dlp in October but we did WDW last summer. They've done Disneyland in CA a couple of times, but don't remember it. I have family there. We wouldn't have taken then at not yet 2 and 3 otherwise.

They loved WDW, but luckily for us they love other holidays too. Centerparcs is their favourite outside of Disney, but a week on the beach in Spain went over well last week. We've already booked WDW (along with a trip to see family) in 2014, but I think we'll be trying someplace with a kids' club after that. They are happier when we are busier, but we'd like to relax. Disney keeps us busy.

 

[Princess Leia]

My DD only ever wants to go to either DLP or to stay in a caravan in Weymouth! Lol

We've booked to go to Lanzarote in May 14 and she's not excited about it at all!! Hoping that changes nearer the time... !

You should be alright with Lanzarote. I was going through holidays we've had that weren't Disney and DD said Lanzarote was alright as she got to ride on a camel and see a volcano. I really liked Lanzarote. It was different from what I expected. We ended up staying two weeks instead of one due to the ash cloud. Hey, you've always got the characters from the mini-disco! Disney's Long Lost Friends!

 

[MummyMinnie]

When ours were younger we would visit Disney then travel on to another area in France for the relaxing part of our summer holiday. Recently we've always stayed offsite our favourite is the Explorers as it has the pool and feel its a bit more 'holiday like'. You can visit any of the hotels to meet the characters whether you're staying there or not. This year we had our Disney fix in May half term, great time to go, less crowded and warm weather., as we had annual passes was a budget trip which enables us to have our two week beach trip in the summer.

 

[Princess Leia]

When ours were younger we would visit Disney then travel on to another area in France for the relaxing part of our summer holiday. Recently we've always stayed offsite our favourite is the Explorers as it has the pool and feel its a bit more 'holiday like'. You can visit any of the hotels to meet the characters whether you're staying there or not. This year we had our Disney fix in May half term, great time to go, less crowded and warm weather., as we had annual passes was a budget trip which enables us to have our two week beach trip in the summer.

Out of interest where do you go in France for the relaxing part? I have never done DLP and would want to combine with another part of France.

 

[MummyMinnie]

Out of interest where do you go in France for the relaxing part? I have never done DLP and would want to combine with another part of France.

We've (so far!), been to the following and we've always done mobile homes on campsites : Croix du vieux pont, (great site just an hour from Disney). The Vendee, Loire, Dordogne, Normandy, and I forgot we also did Belgium. Lucky that hubby enjoys the driving but it's so different to driving over here, a lot easier. Not all beach holidays but all beautiful places, but the Croix does have a man made beach so that counts too . Sometimes we've done a week at each and sometimes just a few Disney days with longer at the second destination.

 

[Princess Leia]

We've (so far!), been to the following and we've always done mobile homes on campsites : Croix du vieux pont, (great site just an hour from Disney). The Vendee, Loire, Dordogne, Normandy, and I forgot we also did Belgium. Lucky that hubby enjoys the driving but it's so different to driving over here, a lot easier. Not all beach holidays but all beautiful places, but the Croix does have a man made beach so that counts too . Sometimes we've done a week at each and sometimes just a few Disney days with longer at the second destination.

Thanks -sounds interesting. It would be good to let the children experience some French culture. They have learned French for years at school and have never been to a French speaking country.

 

[kizzabel]

We brought the kids camping twice so far this year (bargain €80 two bedroom tent from Halfords thst came with two double air mattresses and 4 sleeping bags) - once ten minutes from home by the river and once to a campsite with pet farm. Both were heaven and our pair (4 and 7) loved it almost as much as DLP and I am admittedly not into roughing it at all but it was brilliant. Plus mucho cheapo therefore more in the budget for sneaking off to DLP