My kids don't want to go

[VSL]

let's face it. your kids are freaks. Take me instead.

snowy76 may be right though - maybe take a year off from having a vacation. It won't do you any harm and might even refresh theur enthusiasm for WDW.

Maybe the month long trips are just too much?

Either way, I'm jealous!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I would cut Orlando down to a week, maybe 10 days. Spend a few days on the Gulf Coast, I think it's only an hour or so away from WDW. Then maybe spend a few days on the Atlantic Coast, Daytona Beach, again only about an hour from WDW. Or try Hilton Head, SC (laid back) or Myrtle Beach, SC (more crowded, tourist destination & always something to do).

DH & I have said that if we could spend a month in Fl, we would start with St. Augustine, then spend about a week in Orlando and then travel down to the Keys.

 

[Grand Canyon]

Thanks for all the posts.
I had thought about skipping a year.
The kids may need a vacation from the vacations.
Dad on the other hand lives for the vacations.
I have 19 years of government service and I get 5 weeks of leave.
I all ready have the max number of hours of leave that can be carried over from one year to the next. So I have to take 5 weeks a year or give the time back. The government will not pay me for un-used leave.
I can’t go on vacation with out the kids and with 2 of them in school that means summer is the only time I can go. My work takes me to many beautiful National Parks but for the last few years I have not been able to take the family due to school. We have thought about home schooling to free us up to travel as a family. The boy love school and their friends so that’s not a real option.
My work requires approximately 60 hours a week so we have plenty of unspoken for money. My big problem is finding time for my family, and time for myself to decompress. So the long and short of it is the long vacations are more for me than the kids. I get recharged for another year, and I get to makeup to the family for being gone so much. My work does not like it when I am gone. I get phone calls pretty regularly when I am gone. They expect me to be in phone contact and internet connected to their systems.
Don’t get me wrong I love my job it is just that my employer feels that they own me. To some degree they do! Grand Canyon NP is very much like a 19th century West Virginia mining town. We live in a company house, kids go to a company school, shop at a company controlled store etc… for those who have been in the military and lived on base this is the same thing only in a pretty location.

We have talked about a long car trip up to New England but with Gigi being only 1year old next summer I don’t think bouncing from hotel to hotel and 8000miles on the road sound like much fun. We are going to do that trip but I want to wait till Gigi is 5 or 6.

I feel a bit pretentious writing this so here goes. I need a place to go for 4 to 5 weeks that will keep everyone happy and busy most of the time. This place needs to have things to do, restaurants, stores, movies etc…all the things we miss here.. and only cost $15,000 for the whole trip for a family of 5. this seem a tall order which makes 15k not seem like such a large sum of money.

I think we have a plan now. We are going to fly to Costa Rica and rent a large home near the Pacific cost beach town of Jaco. A house with a pool on the beach costs about the same as a pool house near WDW. The house has high speed internet, satellite TV, phone, beach, pool etc… My work will be able to reach me so they will not object.
Maybe we will all learn a little bit about another culture and learn a little Spanish. Jaco has every thing we are looking for have things to do, restaurants, stores, movies etc.

I value the opinions of my Disboard friends. You have helped make so many special memories at WDW possible. So what do you all think?

 

[estherhead]

What about Williamsburg and Busch Gardens in Virginia? You can stay right there, all inclusive and it is right next to the Atlantic so you could also rent a beach house and enjoy the sights. There is history, beaches, great food, and amusement parks all in the same spot. Everyone I've ever known who has been there adores it, as do I. I have friends who just got back and had spent 2 weeks there. They LOVED LOVED LOVED it and there 10 year old daughter says she never wants to go anywhere else for vacation. Just a thought.

 

[holbear]

Estherhead's suggestion was going to be mine, exactly! Don't forget about Jamestown, also. They just opened up a Great Bear Lodge in Willamsburg, with the water parks inside. It looks incredible. You could just spend a whole day there.

 

[Grand Canyon]

What city should I look for a beach house in.
Is the water warm enough to swim in?
We don't like the cold
thanks mike

 

[FARMGIRL]

OK, don't think I'm crazy, but I live in Iowa, and we don't get away much! We will be having our first family vacation to WDW in Jan. took a long time to save the money for this trip, so I'm jealous that you have trouble deciding where to go. But do you have any interest to take a train trip, see any of the historic sites in the US, I think it would be fun, I'm sure it wouldn't compare to Disney, but it might be a thought. South Dakota has the Black Hills which are beautiful, Minnesota has many lakes and resorts to stay at. Maybe this is all too laid back for what you are looking for, but maybe it would be something to do for a week. What about Branson Missouri, it is beautiful there and there are lots of shows to see, nice resorts to stay at. Like I said, don't think I'm crazy, but thought I would just throw out some suggestions, wish I had your problem!!!!

 

[disneydude]

You should trade your kids in, I think you got defective models! LOL

Just Kidding, I can't believe anyone would think 4 weeks at WDW is to much, and some of these call themselves fans!?!

 

[holbear]

What city should I look for a beach house in.
Is the water warm enough to swim in?

If your thinking of near Williamsburg, Hampton or Virginia Beach are close. I've been to Williamsburg/Jamestown, but have never spent time on the shore there. I feel iffy about the water temp. In the summer it should be fine, but I'm a native Floridian and like warm water. N.C. and S.C. are beautiful if you are thinking beach house. Alot of people vacation along Myrtle Beach area. There are so many options!

 

[jorodopo]

So many of these ideas sound so great!!

The last time I was in Costa Rica it rained for the 14 days I was there. Not just rained but RAINED!!!. Check the historical weather report.

I know that you mentioned taking the road trip when the baby was older but.... Last Nov we did two weeks in So. Cal. We rented an RV that had the bed above the drivers/passenger seat - that is where DS9 and DS6 slept. We had the queen bed in the back and our DD at 15months slept on the single bed that is the table during the day. We put full duffle bags on the outer edge and there was still way more room than she ever needed to sleep. (She wakes up with a yell everyday so we didn't have to worry about her climbing over anything). Not counting gas (which now might be prohibitive) it cost about $100/nite + campsite which vary according to amenities. There was no additional charge to picking it up in one city and dropping it off in another. It worked well for us because we could go different places, see different things and were not really confined to any set plans. If we didn't like it we moved on, if we did we stayed longer. Most Six Flags/Sea Worlds and other suburban sites usually have the RV parking very close to the front gate so you can take breaks on those days fairly easily. Having the baby it was very convenient to have all of our stuff with us wherever we went. When Dad and the boys wanted to explore the La Brea tar pits more than I did we just went and took our nap.

Have fun with whatever you choose.

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

Disney 4 weeks every year???

I have to be honest, I think I would go stir crazy...

Have you considered exploring your own state? As a pilot my family travels regularly; 5 to 7 times a year. We all get tired of going, going, going and my children will let us know very quickly when we are "going" far too much...

I would suggest listening to your children, taking what they say seriously, and involving them in the decision-making process. Children florish in stabile environments. The constant press to travel, with the adults, may not be what they want or need to do...

 

[Grand Canyon]

We never thought about an RV. That might be fun. Gas could be a problem (I hate the idea of making the oil companies richer)
I checked on the cost of a house in Virginia Beach. WOW summer is costly. A house with a pool is $2000/week

 

[MOMOFMNM]

OK, don't think I'm crazy, but I live in Iowa, and we don't get away much! We will be having our first family vacation to WDW in Jan. took a long time to save the money for this trip, so I'm jealous that you have trouble deciding where to go. But do you have any interest to take a train trip, see any of the historic sites in the US, I think it would be fun, I'm sure it wouldn't compare to Disney, but it might be a thought. South Dakota has the Black Hills which are beautiful, Minnesota has many lakes and resorts to stay at. Maybe this is all too laid back for what you are looking for, but maybe it would be something to do for a week. What about Branson Missouri, it is beautiful there and there are lots of shows to see, nice resorts to stay at. Like I said, don't think I'm crazy, but thought I would just throw out some suggestions, wish I had your problem!!!!

farmgirl,

from one iowan to another...THE MAN SAID they do not like cold...even in june is HAS snowed here!! LOL

 

[Grand Canyon]

We think its to cold here. We still had snow in our back yard in mid May

 

[TnTWalter]

us driving cross country. We did it in true Griswold fashion [think Chevy Chase in Vacation] and stopped to see all the small towns and unique things like the largest yarn ball, etc. It was bonding and fun and for us, affordable. Since you have extra money and a baby, I'd probably go for a nice RV. You can stop at campsites along the way. Camping is a blast, and I bet an RV would make it luxurious. Map a route, find interesting places to stop and learn and go for it! Maybe you just need to go back to the basics. Oh and make sure 3-5 days involve Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground!

Trish

 

[corie161]

We never thought about an RV. That might be fun. Gas could be a problem (I hate the idea of making the oil companies richer)
I checked on the cost of a house in Virginia Beach. WOW summer is costly. A house with a pool is $2000/week

You said you were a government employee...have you ever looked at getravelop.com to see what might be available in whatever region you prefer to travel? It seem like you can get some pretty decent deals out there if you can find what your looking for...

 

[cgoldburg]

Hi,

I live in Socal and have lots of rsources for you for San Diego. We looked at renting a house there last May, but ended up at the Grand Pacific Palisades in Carlsbad (which we loved). North San Diego gives the kids beaches, mom lots of shopping and Dad amusement parks. Legoland, Sea World, San Diego Zoo (one of the best in the states) Wild Animal Park, About 45 minutes north you get the original Disneyland, California Adventure and Knott's Berry Farm.
I do suggest you rent in July, August or September as they don't call it "June Gloom" for nothing. Let me know if you would like me to send you links to my resources. BTW Grand Pacific Palisades Resort was amazing, especially for kids and next store to Legoland.

Cheryl

 

[momx2]

We did our first 2 wk. vacation this summer. It included WDW, but not all. We flew (only 2 weeks) to Orlando, stayed 5 or 6 nights. We rented a car for the 2 wks. We then drove to Duck Key (6 1/2 hrs.) and stayed at Hawks Cay Resort. Love it! They have a dolphin program and a fantastic Kids Club. It has 4 pools, saltwater lagoon and spa. There is also a cheaper and better dolphin site, the Dolphin Research Center. My kids loved it!!! Want to go there instead of WDW, but we got those APs. My 4 yr. old snorkled in the middle of the ocean! Can't wait to go back.

We then drove back to WDW for 2 nights and flew back. You could take longer and see more of Florida. The keys are great!