How short is too short?

[Mom B]

Okay, so I see I can get some pretty good airfare out of MSP to MCO for Jan 13-16 (Thurs thru Sun). Jan 12 is our wedding anniversary. We hadn't planned on "doing Disney" this year, actually our next official family trip isn't planned till Jan 2007. But do we really have to wait that long, I ask? DH says that's not long enough for a Disney trip; his arthritis would just about get to the point of not hurting (due to the nice warmer weather) and then we'd have to leave. But I'm thinking it sounds a heckuva lot nicer than driving half an hour to the nearest tribal casino for dinner and maybe spending a night. At $150 per person for airfare, the price of parking our car at the airport and transportation to WDW from MCO, it wouldn't be that much more expensive, really (maybe less, as we don't generally do well at the casinos). We have points to spend and a day or two left on our last Park Hoppers. Lots better places to have dinner, to my way of thinking. And I hear it's in the 70s down there, as opposed to the negative numbers here.

So what do you think? Is a 3 night trip too short to enjoy the benefits of WDW? Given most of a day for travel on each end, two days in the parks, is it worth it? Or would we just end up frustrated?

 

[lauran cameron]

We did this once a few years ago due to tight sceduling and attempting to keep up with tradition.

But no, i do not think a 3 night trip/ 2 days at the park would be too overwhelming at all.

Just as long as you don't try and do EVERYTHING in those 2 available days.
Just kick it back relax...if the lines seems too long and not worth the wait just take a stroll around the park or sit under a lovely palm tree, and remember you have another trip comming up soon! So anything you miss this time you can always make up for

And yes, I agree with you on the "better places to have dinner" part

GOOD LUCK & ENJOY!!!

 

[Frozenfingers]

Last Jan I did a solo trip for three nights. My flight out didn't leave till around 5 pm though so it was really 4 days. I had a very relaxing time just strolling and people watching. course I was chuckling about DW and fam in their long johns back home.

If I were in your shoes, I'd do it. But..., I would also try get a later flight out again.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm doing a 3 night trip to WDW in Feb with some friends of mine (got $156 on SW airlines !). I will welcome the escape from the cold/ice/snow if even for a few days. I'm hoping it will rejuvenate me enough to face the rest of the winter in Philly when I get back. I've done 2-3 night trips about 4 times in the past 4 years and have come to look forward to them.
Happy anniversary !

 

[jmminarik]

Well, living in Philadelphia I don't go to WDW for the dinning options, but sometimes you just need a small break from winter. We did a 3 day/4 night trip back in September. While I don't like flying (due to the tiny, cramped coach seats), we spend 4 hours total travel time each way and being on our own, we took the opportunity to check out the outlet stores, do the Keys to the Kingdom tour, just sit and people watch, and all of the other things we don't get to do as much when we have guests with us.

As a DIS stockholder, I'd much rather you go to WDW anyway.

-Joe

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have 2 three night Florida trips planned. We call them mini-vacations and enjoy them very much.


Happy Anniversary, enjoy whatever you choose to do!


Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'd say go for it! It would be a welcome break from our cold weather. We are actually thinking about doing that for the Twins spring training camp! Hope the airfares hold out! We have never been able to do less than 200 to MCO from MSP in the past. I looked at those fares the other day and cried a bit about it!

 

[CarolMN]

Another point of view from a fellow Minnesotan - (with relatives & friends living in Duluth, Two Harbors and other points on the range). LOL!

No, a 2 night/3 day trip isn't too short for WDW. But it is too short to plan on getting there from Minnesota in a timely manner - we live in Minnesota and cannot count on the weather cooperating! Travel time will be a big part of your trip and what if you run into snow, ice, wind, etc. and either your car trip to the airport or the plane itself is delayed? Chances are not in your favor - it's January in Minnesota.

My advice is to do the overnight at the nicest casino resort within driving distance - it will be more relaxing than worrying about the weather and possible delays.

Sorry to be such a pessimist, but living through more than 50 Minnesota winters has taught me that winter vacations to warm places on airplanes almost always have a glitch or two getting there. You cannot afford delays with your short timeframe.

Best wishes -

P.S. If you do decide to go, I'll wish very, very hard for good travel weather!

 

[fmed845]

I think all trips to WDW are to short no matter how many days you go. So that being said have fun.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Carol, while I agree that it might be best to get to the Twin Cities a day ahead, I doubt once they are in the metro area that weather would be much of a factor. We have had weather caused delays getting out of MSP, but never anything that completely blew a short trip. My advice is stay away from Delta airlines! They had a mechanical problem that caused us to miss an entire day of a WDW trip once. I only fly NWA to MCO now, because they have equipment here to replace anything that's broken!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I can recall, on a couple occasions, the Philly airport being closed due to snow/ice. One year (maybe 4 years ago ?), my in-laws were stuck in Orlando because their plane would be unable to land in Philly due to a storm. I think there was about a 24-36 hour delay.
Though it could happen, I think it's rare that it would cause the airports to shut down. The incident in Philly involved 20+ inches of snow and then another time it was an ice storm.
I'm a little nervous about my Feb trip because this tends to be the worst month for storms in my area, but I'm not going to do anything differently at this point. I will play it by ear and stay at an airport hotel the night before if necessary but fingers crossed it won't come to that.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's philly though, and MSP is rarely closed for weather, because they know how to deal with snow and ice.

 

[nowellsl]

I don't know if I would do it if I had to fly, but we do short trips all the time. In fact we normally can't get away for much longer than 2 or 3 days so it's perfect for us. But then, we don't have to travel far...

 

[MiaSRN62]

That's philly though, and MSP is rarely closed for weather, because they know how to deal with snow and ice.

LOL....so true Diane ! Hadn't taken that into consideration. We just had an inch of snow/ice in my area last week. No salt trucks out for many hours.....I was on my way home from work and did a 360 degree spin on a major roadway---long story short---my van needs a couple thousand dollars of body work. I'm fine phyisically though. I was just so angry that our road crews weren't prepared to deal with this in a timely manner. I heard there were MANY accidents that night. I guess Philly (and it's suburbs) just can't handle the bad weather

 

[CarolMN]

That's philly though, and MSP is rarely closed for weather, because they know how to deal with snow and ice.

I agree. However, backups at other airports and storms that do not affect MSP can and do affect flights out of MSP! I've been delayed several times at MSP (sitting in an airplane that pushed off from the gate) due to problems at Denver, Atlanta, & Chicago.

Diane - I agree that it's best to fly non-stop if at all possible during the "bad weather" months.

Best wishes -

 

[goofy4wdw2]

I say go for it! My Dh and I took a quick 2 night trip in December. We got in late Friday night and flew home late Sunday night. We had the same concerns before leaving, but not now. Some would say it wasn't worth it, but we got a good deal on a flight, and we wouldn't trade those memories for the world. We had such a good time, we did a few new (for us) things (Candlelight Processional, Chefs de France, Prime Time 50s Diner) and chose plenty of "old" things to see without making ourselves crazy. We even made it to DD for some late night Christmas shopping. It was such a great way to start off the holiday season.

 

[Tooneric]

I don't think it would be too short. We just did 2 days and 3 nights in December. However, we're going back in a month, so I didn't feel the need to see and do everything. Still, we did much more than I expected even with the December crowds. It was a really fun trip!

 

[pumpkinboy]

I don't think the time period is too short, assuming you don't get stuck somewhere due to weather.

What I would worry about is DVC availability. That time period is MLK weekend which both govt and stock markets have off, so I would expect availability to be tight. We've had our VB ressies for that weekend set since June, and scored a VWL 1BR back in October or November for the nights of the 16th & 17th.

It's really nice to get out of winter for a little while. I hope it works out for you.

 

[Mom B]

Thanks so much for all the encouragement and advice. Unfortunately, I just didn't seriously think I'd be able to convince DH so I waited too long and now the airfare rate is gone.

Diane and Carol, you are so right about MN winters! I guess I knew it would be taking a risk, but sometimes ya gotta try. (What were we thinking, getting married in January, anyway? Every year you have to expect either 40 below or a blizzard...although occasionally we're lucky enough to get a January thaw!)

Anyway, I guess I'll just look around for a place up here to have dinner. Unfortunately, it's pretty hard to get excited about any of the alternatives right now (and DH is in food service, so he's really picky about where we go). Sigh...Maybe next year!

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

3 days is not bad @ all. Did it this December, it was great!!! Have fun!

Allison