hubby will not let us go to disney..

[ToddyLu]

Airtran has a non stop flight from PNS to MCO for $166 dollars one way ( in Dec) when we are going. The drive is not too bad though. I live 100 miles from P'Cola and it usually is a 9 hour drive for us. We try to fly ( DH always wants to get there the fastest route), but will drive this year. We usually stay overnight in Lake City then wake up the next morning ready to go, it is about 150 miles to WDW from there. The other poster was correct, once out of Pensacola the drive to Tallahassee is boring so try to do it at night. My MIL always loves to go to WDW with us and I love her going. This year my parents are going with us--yeah!!

 

[PoohPhan]

If I may venture into your husband's psychology (after talking to mine about this one), he may just be making excuses for not going to WDW right now. If you magically moved Pensacola to 5 miles from Orlando, he might find another reason.

But, you can try a few things. Mention how much it will cost to drive between Orlando and Pensacola, in terms of gas money and in terms of time. You could look for flights to and from Tampa or Jacksonville -- both are served by Southwest Airlines, which means they probably will be cheaper than any flights into Pensacola.

 

[saratogadreamin09]

best advice, try to fit both into one trip. i can understand that your husband wants to visit family but he should also want to take his kids on a trip that they'll enjoy more then visiting relatives.

 

[jtopp]

I have lots of family (3-4 families) all in the Orlando area, and would feel guilty not visiting every trip. We would compromise and visit every other trip, which means we would take the whole group out to dinner and foot the bill. Once, we asked them to meet us at WDW, and none could make it(empty pocket syndrome, maybe). Since then, we have not visited, nor have they offered to visit us when we were in town.
How close is the family? Could you visit for one day and then continue your vacation. Does the family visit put unknown or unacceptable limitations on your vacation. Or should you just suck it up and make the visit with the shorter WDW visit

 

[nessz79]

Hey, at least your DH said that he WOULD go IF he could also see his family. I'd be jumping all over it!

We've driven long distances with our kids, ages 5 and 3. It can be done! We brought dramamine as both kids get motion sickness and that helped quite a bit...they would take a good nap each day with it. Also, portable DVD players.

If you can't do NJ to Orlando, fly to Orlando. Then rent a car and drive to Pensacola.

Personally I'd drive the whole thing. It would save a lot of $. $ that you could be putting into your WDW vacation.

 

[DVC Sadie]

When was the last time your family went to Florida to visit his relatives? When was the last time you all went to WDW? When was the last time you visited your family?

After asnswering those questions and if the answers are close to equal then I see where you might have a valid point. If the answers are skewed in any way then your dh might have the edge.

I see nothing wrong with your dh wanting to combine a trip to WDW while still making time for family. I guess I don't understand why it's such a big deal.

 

[npmommie]

Well, we live in Massachusetts and have driven all the way to Disney several times. We are a family of 5 and playing the airline game got so ridiculous we decided to try the drive, and it wasn't so bad. The kids get excited and are always well behaved on the way (these are the same children who fight if we're driving 2 blocks for something else, but I digress ). I guess you never know until you try it once for yourself. For us, it became drive or don't go...so, we drive.

I can see your husband's point. If you are going all that way and will be that close to his family, it would seem wrong to not visit. I only wish I had family in Florida, it would be a good excuse to visit more often!

Did you drive straight thru? or stop over anywhere? how long did it take total driving?

 

[mavslab]

Did you drive straight thru? or stop over anywhere? how long did it take total driving?

I'm not the person you were asking, but we drive from CT, we used to drive straight through but with 3 kids now we usually stop half way.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I don't think it unreasonable that he wants to see his family - they are your kids' family too I am sure they want them to come & enjoy them also. Where there is a will there is a way - the drive can be done - we drove to Maine which is a 5 1/2 hour trip with 4 year old twins & a 2 year old. Not the greatest trip but doable. We left really early in the morning when the kids were still sleeping- they slept for most of the trip & woke up in time for breakfast. I am sure if you research it you will find things for you all to do while you are visting. There must be local parks & pools & what not.
Enjoy! You husband is willing to also go to Disney! THat is a plus!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

When was the last time your family went to Florida to visit his relatives? When was the last time you all went to WDW? When was the last time you visited your family?

After asnswering those questions and if the answers are close to equal then I see where you might have a valid point. If the answers are skewed in any way then your dh might have the edge.

I see nothing wrong with your dh wanting to combine a trip to WDW while still making time for family. I guess I don't understand why it's such a big deal.

Ditto. I don't quite get what the big deal is. If I were going to be in the same state as my family who I don't get to see very often, I'd try find a way to tack on a side trip to see them.

 

[Rylee]

yes its true. he says NO DISNEY unless we visit his family in pensacola first. too far for us to drive and airfare is 1700$!!! yikes-thats a whole week at disney for us. think its insane to pay this much to fly to pensacola and then have to pay for entertainment( which i think the most exciting thing to do there is walmart-sorry dont mean to offend any panhandlers) dont know what to do-should i bite the bullet..? then that means disney has to wait till maybe 2009 -we planned for 2010..ahhh!!!!!!!!

What's the problem...

The money?
The drive?
The In-Law's?

My mother lives near Tampa, and I would never take a family vacation in FL, without visiting her. (Luckily, my husband agrees it is important to visit my mom, he has already loss both his parents.) We fly into Orlando, from NY, stay inside of Disney for 8 days or so, then rent a car, and spend 4 or 5 days near my mother. We fly home out of Tampa. She lives in a small town with nothing to do, so we stay on Clearwater Beach, about an hour away, and spend a little time on the beach each day, then drive to visit and have dinner with her each evening.

Imagine years from now... your children live miles away, they will be vacationing near you, so close, yet... they don't want to take the time or spend the money to visit you...

There are many ways you can go about this... Start with your biggest expense, if it's airfare, find the lowest rates, one way or round trip, to either MCO or an airport near the In-Laws, you can fly into one and home from another. Check car rental discount codes at the mousesavers site, and make sure the company is available at both locations. Travel when the children are likely to sleep, naptime or late evening. Consider staying at a travel destination near the In-Laws, rather than right in their hometown, if your concerned with finding something to keep the kids entertained. Also, consider visiting the In-Laws on the first part of your trip, so you'll be guaranteed to have a "good time"... (DISNEY)... on the last part of your trip!

 

[Tink-aholic]

If you are going to be doing a long drive, I have a tip for you: buy a bunch of items from the dollar store that you know your kids would like. Wrap each one in tissue paper like a gift and give one to each kid every milestone (each hour, every 100 miles, every time they start to get on your nerves ). It will cost you very little and will delight your kids and save your sanity! Good luck!

 

[dana1003]

well actuallu my parents have gone on every disney trip w/us so i guess its not fair for me to not wanna take the trip..maybe i will find a way to combine the two..

 

[Aliceacc]

I think you'll be glad you did!

 

[daisy2jae]

How about plan with the family. Have them meet you in WDW. Then you can see them and everyone goes on vacation together. We are making a large family trip in 2001 with my husband's family. It gives us time to save up and for them to put money aside. Airfare...We use priceline after going through big crumbs. We get cheaper airfare and get a rebate back.

 

[lucigo]

OK, my family is in P-cola, (I know what you mean about the Walmarts, there is one every 5 blocks it seems!)

Boy if all you are seeing is Wal-Marts you are missing out! Have you been to the Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola NAS (its free)...or how about that beautiful white beach...(also free)...still bored? How about Sam's Fun City, Canoeing on the Blackwater River, exploring Fort Pickens (is it open yet?), or trip over to Destin for the Gulfarium, the Zoo or Big Kahunas.

 

[lucigo]

What's the problem...

Imagine years from now... your children live miles away, they will be vacationing near you, so close, yet... they don't want to take the time or spend the money to visit you...

In her defense...Pensacola to Orlando is 7-8 hours (460 miles)...its really not close enough to be offensive. If my family drove to Nashville I wouldn't be offended that they didn't come on down to P'cola to visit LOL (same distance)...but then if my family drove to Orlando I would have to meet them there LOL

 

[Rylee]

In her defense...Pensacola to Orlando is 7-8 hours (460 miles)...its really not close enough to be offensive. If my family drove to Nashville I wouldn't be offended that they didn't come on down to P'cola to visit LOL (same distance)...but then if my family drove to Orlando I would have to meet them there LOL

Obviously, it is close enough for it to be an issue with her husband or he wouldn't be making such a request/demand.

Living in NJ, traveling to FL, within 7-8 hours of my parents... I would make every effort to visit them. Also... We're spending X amount of dollars on our Disney vacation, sorry, Mom, we can't afford to visit you. ???

I would invite them to spend a few days at Disney with us, or choose a location, half way, and have them meet us, or I would go the distance, but I would see my mother. Seeing my mother and having her spend time with her grandchildren is important to me/us.

 

[lucigo]

Obviously, it is close enough for it to be an issue with her husband or he wouldn't be making such a request/demand.

Living in NJ, traveling to FL, within 7-8 hours of my parents... I would make every effort to visit them. Also... We're spending X amount of dollars on our Disney vacation, sorry, Mom, we can't afford to visit you. ???

I would invite them to spend a few days at Disney with us, or choose a location, half way, and have them meet us, or I would go the distance, but I would see my mother. Seeing my mother and having her spend time with her grandchildren is important to me/us.

Yea I see your point...if we drove to NJ we would HAVE to go ahead and go to Maine to see the in-laws.

 

[nessz79]

Yea I see your point...if we drove to NJ we would HAVE to go ahead and go to Maine to see the in-laws.

Well, I think what the point is is that Pensacola is somewhat on the way to Orlando (yes, I know it is also out of the way)...it's in the general direction (South) on the way to Orlando.

Whereas Maine is obviously a second trip after hitting NJ.

The main point is her DH wants to visit his family. Period. Not a huge deal in my opinion and the OP seems to be warming up to it.