If you had to choose...

[mom2rtk]

SW done by 2018?

I believe I read Soy Tory would be 2018 and SWE was 2019.

Even so I would still take those dates with a massive grain of salt. Anyone counting on projected completion dates this far out runs a big risk of being disappointed.

 

[BarbieGal457]

I would bet that your girls may feel differently about being afraid by the time 2018 comes around. I was a very anxious child (still am!) and I think if I were in their shoes, I would've been able to process it and not be afraid anymore if I was given 2+ years to do so. I would try to stay the course you're on now and weigh how they seem to be coping with that fear in a few months' time. I feel like it can't hurt to save for WDW in mind, but if they are truly afraid still and the stress would be alleviated if you went to CA only, the worst that could happen (to me) is that you'd just have extra funds saved up. Since you mention it is a bucket list trip to you, if you can't go in 2018, maybe you could go 2-3 years later when your little ones are old enough that they could stay with family if you felt comfortable doing so? If you can't go in 2018 to WDW I wouldn't give up the notion of ever going, but rather plan it for a further out time that you can go with your spouse or maybe spouse and children who'd like to go, if the others are still fearful but old enough to stay with family or even alone.

Every child is different, but on a trip home from Disney I thought I choked and it sent me into a spiral of being on a liquid diet for about 18 months. What's funny to me is, while I didn't choke, in therapy I learned how to do the Heimlich on myself...one day I was watching the Golden Girls alone and laughed and actually did choke on a hard candy! Because I knew how to do the Heimlich, I was able to dislodge the candy myself and basically save myself, and it totally helped my fears. My parents were very curious as to why they found a Werther's in the dining room later that night (I had no idea where it went when it flew out hahahaha)! I feel like if I was able to conquer that in 18 months, your girls may be okay with handling their fears in 24! I wish you good luck with planning and especially your girls the best because I know being fearful/anxious is really difficult. You seem like a super understanding and supportive parent which is awesome!

 

[DWillowBay]

If you've never been to DisneyWorld, you'll be amazed at how different it is from DL. I have been blessed to be at both and definitely have my preferences, but ...as long as it will not financially impact your family negatively...you should experience WDW even if just once in your life.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

Two years (more or less) is a long time. Your girls are frightened now, but it's unlikely to remain a high-level fear for that long. You will have time to help them process and get a handle on this and other situations like this (they're not ever going to go to Bali, or Scotland, Egypt, or the Olympics? Not likely to even give them pause, right? Because they've never heard of the acts of terrorism that happened there and other places, etc.).

Keep to your bucket list, and help them feel as comfortable with it as you are, for the same reasons you're not afraid.

 

[IrishNYC]

I would stick with your plan to go to Orlando. it would be a good lesson to your children that we can't let fear rule our lives, and people will be more vigilant because of it. It's ok to have fear, but not ok for fear to control you.

 

[Catvondita]

My vote is for Orlando

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

Orlando - We were at Disney when the attacks occurred in Paris. Disney has excellent security, some that you do see and a lot that you don't.

 

[HollyL]

To be completely honest, and I will probably get bashed for it, I prefer the original in California. We (me, husband, 8 year old son, and 5 year old daughter) just got back from a week at WDW in early June, and sure, there was a lot to do/see, but I will take California DLR over WDW any day. We live in Texas, so we're kind of in between both places, so cost is about the same. We decided to do WDW this year over DLR because SWA had such cheap flights between HOU and MCO, I just had to go with it. We also wanted to spend a few days up in Amelia Island.
However, if this is something on your bucket list, and you can manage it, I say go for it.