No Disney Trip Next Year!

[Kevenswife2]

DH just told me next year we will not be going to Disney . Then he said next year we'll go to HAWAII instead !!! I guess I can do without my annual Disney fix for one year...if the alternative is 'Paradise'.

I'm comfortable planning my own Disney vacation as I've been there several times. Is it possible for me to plan my own Hawaii trip or should I trust someone like AAA to do it for me? Will I save money if I do it myself? Anyone know any good websites to get me started?

I still can't believe it...Hawaii!

 

[momxx5]

How cool!

We are probably going to skip Disney next year as well. Our children are bumping up in age and it will be a double whamy cost wise. We have been many times to WDW and the past two summers in a row.

Now, we will not be going on a trip to Hawaii either. That trip, often talked about by DD, will be when the kiddies are a bit older.

Not sure where we will be next summer.
I am looking forward to planning a great 2006 trip.

Have fun planning you vacation at paradise

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Hawaii... Enjoy it! I think that's definitely a nice trade off.

 

[Doodlebug939]

I dont get to go in 2006 either. I also dont get to go somewhere wonderful like you. I get to visit the mother in law.

Anyone know of any cool places to go to in Pittsburgh


But I am going TRY to make the trip from New Orleans to Pittsburgh a Vacation in itself.

And with that I get to plan a big trip in 2006 to Disney and stay at the Poly for the first time which is my dream come true.

 

[Rapunsel]

There is always Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. Also Amish Country!

Not as good as WDW but, if you are a chocolate lover!!!



Rapunsel

 

[safetymom]

Lot's of things to see and do in Pittsburgh. That's where I lived until I moved to FL last December.

What do you like to do? I can make some suggestions.

Amish country is about 4 hours away. The same with Hershey.

 

[disneymom3]

For the Pittsburgh traveller--we are actually planning a whole trip just to PA in a couple of years because there is so much we want to do there! There are some very cool museums in Pittsburgh itself. Also some factory tours very nearby. We got a great book on Pennsylvania with Kids. Now, if you don't get along with MIL that is another story!

And to the OP, have fun on that Hawaii trip. We are considering a "beach vacation" unfortunately, you can't drive to Hawaii, so that is not on our list! lol

 

[ErinInCT]

Keven's wife,
You lucky lady!
There are TONS of planning websites:
www.hawaii.com
www.bestplaceshawaii.com
www.hawaii.worldweb.com
www.gohawaii.about.com
Are just a few...
My 1st trip to HI (Before internet!) I used the Entertainment book for my lodging & got a 2 bed/2bath condo in Maui right on the ocean. Go to the Entertainment book website to see the hotels offered & then go on the net to check out the hotels & if you see something that interests you then get the Entertainment book & you can save up to 50%.
Dh & I lived in HI (on Oahu) from 1996 - 1999 (b4 kids!!) & visited most of the other islands. If you have any questions once you start your planning, feel free to email me at keasilver@adelphia.net. I will be happy to give you advice.
You really need to stay for AT LEAST a week (just getting used to the time zone is tough!). Oahu is the most commercial (Honolulu, Waikiki) and it has a lot of cool sites (Pearl Harbor Memorial, Polynesian Cultural Center & other stuff). Maui is our favorite - still lots of stuff to do (Haleakala, Hana) but very relaxed. I like the Big Island (Hawaii) which has Volcanoes National Park but dh finds it boring (good golf though!). Kauai to me was boring but I am not a slow paced person (it took us a LONG time to get used to the slow pace of living in HI). Kauai does have some pretty cool stuff (scenery stuff). They have cruises that will take you to each of these islands if you want a taste of each one.
Anyway, I'm going off on a tangent. Just wanted to say there are tons of websites to help you plan. If you get overwhelmed, try to find a travel agency that specializes in HI.
Alooooooooha & Hang Loose!

 

[Kevenswife2]

Thanks Erin. Those sites will give me a start. I'm still in my 'Disney planning mode' but will start my Hawaii trip as soon as I get back from Florida. That gives DH less time to change his mind.

Mt. Airy...isn't that where The Andy Griffith show was based on? On a driving trip to Disney 10 years ago, my ex hubby (a cop) made a side trip through Mt. Airy to see the police station and take a pic of the old police car beside it. We also looked through all the gift shops with the Andy Griffith items.

I've heard many good things about Maui so it's a 'must see'. What ever made you move back?

 

[Brian Noble]

Anyone know of any cool places to go to in Pittsburgh

If you are there in the summer months, go to Kennywood. It is perhaps the best "traditional" amusement park around. and quite a bit closer than Hersheypark. There are a number of other small traditional parks nearby---see www.rcdb.com for a listing. Pittsburgh also has a good-quality, easily-accessible and affordable performing arts corridor. (Symphony and Light Opera (==Broadway) are very good. The ballet is okay. The opera not so much.) The Carnegie Museums are also great, and the natural history museum especially so for kids. Finally, take the "incline" up to Mt. Washington for a spectacular view of the city.

If you really want to do Pittsburgh as the Pittsburghers do, you should also get yourself a mystery meat sandwich and an "imp an an Ahrn" (read: shot and a beer) at Chiodo's Tavern. Also, go to the Oakland Original by Pitt and get a large order of fries. It will redefine your notion of "large". You should also try Primanti's, where the cole slaw and fries are served as an integral part of the sandwich. Go to the Strip Distrct Primanti's, and wander around the farmer's market there on a Saturday. If you are there in the fall, don't miss Octoberfest at the Penn Brewery. Good times.

-brian, who spent seven years as a "Gradual Student" in da burgh.

 

[ErinInCT]

Originally posted by Kevenswife2
Thanks Erin. Those sites will give me a start. I'm still in my 'Disney planning mode' but will start my Hawaii trip as soon as I get back from Florida. That gives DH less time to change his mind.

Mt. Airy...isn't that where The Andy Griffith show was based on? On a driving trip to Disney 10 years ago, my ex hubby (a cop) made a side trip through Mt. Airy to see the police station and take a pic of the old police car beside it. We also looked through all the gift shops with the Andy Griffith items.

I've heard many good things about Maui so it's a 'must see'. What ever made you move back?

It is hard to plan one trip when you haven't even gone on the other. So enjoy your WDW planning!!

Yes, Mt Airy is the "real" Mayberry, but THAT Mt Airy is in NC & I live in Mt Airy MD. Mt Airy seems like an uncommon name for a city but there are Mt Airy's in NC, MD & PA!!

Dh was transferred to Oahu with General Motors (Chevrolet Mtr Div). After a little over 3 years he got transferred to NY. Flew out on New Years Eve from HI (probably around 80 degrees) to NY (probably around 10 degrees). He used his Aloha Airlines frequent flier card to scrape off his windshield at the Westchester County Airport! I'll bet he is the 1st person to use it THAT way!! So, basically if he wanted to get his paycheck, he had to go to NY! We've moved 3 times since then! As you can see my DIS name is Erin In CT & now we are not in CT anymore either!!!

Have a great time on both trips!!

 

[laceemouse]

Much as we love Disney, there are so many other great places to visit. Luckily we do 2 or 3 trips a year. We will be in Hershey next spring, going to Branson for the 2nd time next summer. We also love Williamsburg and the Smokey Mountains. We hope to go to Mt.Rushmore sometime, and would LOVE to see the Grand Canyon! California and Hawaii will be a few years off for us! For those who dont' fly there is STILL a lot to do in the USA It kind of bugs me when folks only go to WDW....I want my kids to see it all!!!!

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

Originally posted by Kevenswife2
I guess I can do without my annual Disney fix for one year...if the alternative is 'Paradise'.

I am happy for you, but DISNEY IS MY PARADISE!! Hawaii is a close second! I would go through AAA.

 

[FOV]

If you enjoy planning a vacation then you can definitely plan your Hawaii trip yourself. There are so many great books and websites to help you out! If you aren't an enthusiastic planner then you may do better going with a travel agent that specializes in Hawaii and the South Pacific.

I have been to Hawaii twice and both times I planned everything myself. Search the web for good travel forums (like fodors and frommers). I'm sure there are a couple Hawaii-specific ones out there as well.

I would start at the library because the internet can be overwhelming. Once you narrow your trip down to which islands you will be visiting and how many days you will be going you can use the web for specifics such as getting a great rate at your hotel.

As Erin said - try to go for at least one week - 2 weeks would be even better!

We are planning to go to Hawaii once our youngest turns 7 and we can't wait! Have a wonderful time planning!

 

[LovePug]

Originally posted by Kevenswife2
DH just told me next year we will not be going to Disney . Then he said next year we'll go to HAWAII instead !!!

What a great surprise...... maybe I'll pull that one some day .