Just got back from 1st trip....new to DIS

[Katie0677]

Hi everyone-
My name is Katie, and I live in Alaska along with my dh and 3 kids.
We just got back from DL last week, this was our first time, and I am ready to go back! Dh thinks I'm nuts!! I went to WDW a couple times as a kid, but that was like 20 yrs. ago!
I just can't believe how much fun we had, I mean I knew it was going to be fun, but I thought the kids would have more fun than me! It really is the happiest place on earth!
Anyway....I have been looking around on this board and doing some other research for our next trip. I have learned alot, but I think we did pretty good considering it was our first time. I was wondering if I posted about our trip and the costs, could someone please tell me if I did good, what I should maybe do differantly next time, etc. etc., or if I spent too much??
Here goes...
We did the KFF deal through Alaska Air.
Our trip cost us $2197
This includes: airfare, 5 nites at HoJo, 3 day park hoppers, transportation to/from SNA airport and hotel via Karmel, and I think that's it.
We took $1100 for spending money for food, souveniers, rental car for 1 day and a trip to Sea World, we did the princess dinner at Ariel's Grotto as well, which was awesome!!

Okay I hope I haven't confused anyone, any feed back would be much appreciated!
Katie

 

[Hermosa11]

do you really want to think twice what you've already spent? I would personally let go and realize I had the best darn time

How come you did not ask for opinions on your price of trip before you went?
just curious.

What ride did you like the best? what ride did your kids like the best? where did you eat? Is your husband not a big disney fan like we all are? Nobody can be perfect.

 

[JessicaMom]

Just got back from my second trip to WDW (first time for my DS, 6, and DD, 2) and cannot WAIT to get back! Funny, I didn't feel this way the first time-maybe the whining teenagers I took then rained on my parade. This trip was GREAT! I did not want to leave. I have the bug. I'm in the pre-planning stages for another trip in the fall if I can save my pennies fast enough.....

 

[Judy from Boise]

I think it looks like you did very well! Especially on KFF from Alaska on Alaska!

 

[Katie0677]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!
My fav. along with dh's, was definitely soarin', so much more than I had expected it to be! Both my kids enjoyed it as well. My 5 y/o dd LOVED Tower of Terror! She insisted on multiple rides and enjoyed being in front. Dh and I liked it too, but ds (6) wasn't so crazy about it!
Ds's fav was the matterhorn, and my 22 month old loved the "teacups!" Whenever we got near them she would repeat the word "teacups" over and over!
We saw Aladdin, Playhouse Disney, Block Party Bash, Parade, they were all great, but the one that we all really liked was "It's Tough to be A Bug" over in DCA.

To the pp:
I just found out about this site about a month before we left. I had already booked our trip by then. I wasn't thinking twice about what we spent in a bad way, just wondering if I should do anything differant for our next visit!

 

[Pir8girl]

It sounds as if you had a wonderful time.

If you're ready to go back, consider another trip in October. It's a nice time to go to DL, and it's much cheaper too. The parks close earlier, but the weather is still nice and the hotels usually run specials.
Check www.aaa.com and the Disboard for specials!

 

[Hermosa11]

I just found out about this site about a month before we left. I had already booked our trip by then. I wasn't thinking twice about what we spent in a bad way, just wondering if I should do anything differant for our next visit!

Aww, too bad you found us right before your trip. To me half the fun is planning! heeeee
That cracked me up that you young 5yr old loved the tower of Terror. that just cracks me up. how cuuuute!!!!
And a 22 month old loving Teacups! How adorable!
Sounded like a fun trip for the fam.
I can't wait to go in Aug. with my 19 yr son!
And he actually wants to go with me (or rather doesn't mind going with me )

 

[spazzyjazzy]

HAHA! We hadn't even checked out from the HOJO last Friday from our honeymoon and I was already talking to my DH about returning to Anaheim for Memorial Day weekend. I think your amount that you spent is fine. Did you try www,getawaytoday.com? They have good prices also. I love the HOJO!

 

[Katie0677]

No, I haven't looked at that HMMM....But I have been looking around including AAA, and it looks like the Kids Fly Free was by far the best deal. Because we live in Alaska airline tickets are pricey
So, we probably won't be able to go back for at least another year.
Actually dh and I were planning on going to Belize (w/out kids) for our 10 yr. anniversary trip and I kinda mentioned going back to DL instead, by ourselves, he looked at me like I had 4 heads! I was like think of all those little shops we could look around in and oh oh oh, quiet dinners!!
Don't think it's gonna work, I would feel guilty for leaving the kids w/the grandparents and heading off to DL, KWIM?
Katie

 

[KimD]

No, I haven't looked at that HMMM....But I have been looking around including AAA, and it looks like the Kids Fly Free was by far the best deal. Because we live in Alaska airline tickets are pricey
So, we probably won't be able to go back for at least another year.
Actually dh and I were planning on going to Belize (w/out kids) for our 10 yr. anniversary trip and I kinda mentioned going back to DL instead, by ourselves, he looked at me like I had 4 heads! I was like think of all those little shops we could look around in and oh oh oh, quiet dinners!!
Don't think it's gonna work, I would feel guilty for leaving the kids w/the grandparents and heading off to DL, KWIM?
Katie

We just got back from our 15 year anniversary trip to DL without the kids. It was hard sometimes and yes I did feel guilty, but the way we looked at it was that we feel we work hard, take care of our kids and put them first every day and we deserve to have some grown up kid time....if that makes any sense . My kids are a little older and I probably would have felt a lot worse if they were still wee ones. They had a BLAST at my parents house, SO spoiled! So we both got our "break" and they are none the wiser and think we are just going down in November as a family. I feel too bad to "rub" it in that we were there. We just shared our trip with them that didn't include the parks so we didn't make them feel sad that they weren't there. I'm not sure we'll go again without them, until of course they're grown and on their own....even then hopefully some day we'll have grandchildren or even if not, we will still go as a family like we do sometimes with our parents now.

Have fun on your trip to Belize, that sounds absolutely WONDERFUL!!! Happy early anniversary!

Kim

 

[sklimuck]

We have a trip planned to DL in June because of all the GUILT.
A good friend of mine asked if I would like to go on a cruise with her- without kids AND/OR kids. It's none other than the Southern Caribbean 11 day Disney Cruise
Do I feek guilty? Let me think about that for a second- NO- But it make the child (and her cousin and aunt) think I felt guilty- actually- it was just a way to get to go to DL. TEE HEE Now I get 2 trips.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I also stumbled across this site after I'd already booked. And I already know I didn't get the best deal, especially since we have been AAA members for years and I didn't go through them! DOH!

Ah, well, our first trip to Disneyland is in 10 days! Yay!