O.T. where do you go on non disney years?

[latenthart]

is there such a thing as a non disney year???

Looking to plan a non disney trip next year, however i want to do it in the winter and I want to go someplace warm?No cruises, I am afraid I will spend all that money and we will all be sick.
It would be my husband, my 7yr old and myself.

I couldnt locate another forum that was as well informed as you folks to ask non disney questions. Does anyone know of a forum that they would suggest.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by latenthart
is there such a thing as a non disney year???

NO, there isn't! Not in this family at least. But we do vacation more than once a year so I'll put in my 2-cents.

Looking to plan a non disney trip next year, however i want to do it in the winter and I want to go someplace warm?No cruises, I am afraid I will spend all that money and we will all be sick.
It would be my husband, my 7yr old and myself.

Have no fear about cruising. Even those with the weakest sea legs can do perfectly well with a Scop patch or other motion sickness aid. We took a cruise in Oct. '01. My wife and I don't get motion sick. My cousin doesn't either. My mom does and stupidly decided to try going without medication. Well that lasted until dinner on nite 1. She got sick, then agreed to put on the patch I had brought. She was absolutely symptom free for the remainder of the week. And we had a very rough trip due to bad weather. If she could make it on that trip, so can anyone else.

Personally, I recommend Carnival Cruises. They are very reasonable priced, have a great kids program, excellent food and service. We did a 7-day cruise for less than a 4-day Disney cruise!

Other options - Beaches, the family resort by Sandals. Ultra all-inclusive resorts. I believe the one in Turks and Caicos is the most family oriented.

I haven't been, but I'm sure someone will suggest either California or Hawaii.

Steve

 

[BonnieA]

We've been to Mexico twice. Stayed at all-inclusives in Playa del Carmen. It is about 45 minutes south of Cancun. This year we are going to Cozumel, an island off the coast of Playa del Carmen, MX. But these trips have been in addition to Disney trips.

 

[disneysteve]

I'm curious... I know that we take at least 2 weeks vacation each year, and usually 3 weeks. Disney is always one of them, and often 2 of them. The 3rd is for non-Disney like places I listed above. How many folks only do one vacation week per year?

Steve

 

[goofymom23]

We do at least 2 trips per year, at least 9 days each and always Disney. Each year we say we are going to do something different for one of them and never do. WE have looked at the Dells in Wis. plenty of indoor water parks and good stuff, but have never been. Disney or nothing.

 

[latenthart]

Originally posted by BonnieA
We've been to Mexico twice. Stayed at all-inclusives in Playa del Carmen. It is about 45 minutes south of Cancun. This year we are going to Cozumel, an island off the coast of Playa del Carmen, MX. But these trips have been in addition to Disney trips.

are these resorts you would recommend? how long was the flight? how was the airport in mexico? Did you leave the resort at all? Did you bring your children? their ages? I am not looking for any babysitting services but would like my son to be entertained enough for my husband and I to have a conversation.
I did go to an all-inclusive in Jamaica in Ocho Rios called Couples, but it was for my honeymoon.

 

[HockeyDadof2]

We took the boys to Atlantis in the Bahamas last summer. It is an absolutely incredible resort. They had a day camp for the kids and the wife and I were able to shop and lay out on the beach. The aquariums were absolutely incredible. We stayed in a waterview room in the Royal Towers. We love Disney but we also fell in love with this resort......we will be going back.

 

[Duckbarn]

We are hooked on Disney World and the British Virgin Islands. We've done two sailing vacations there, but will probably do a land vacation next time. This is a link to a great forum if interested.


http://www.traveltalkonline.com

 

[sln88]

we go almost every easter- cheap hotels- Dollywood, natural beauty. It is driveable for us.
It would not be warm enough there in winter- spring is nice

I have been on several cruises, and agree with the previous poster- I don't think you will get sick. It is a great way to see different places, very reasonably priced if you get an inside cabin, and they have terrific kids programs.

went to California once- Disneyland, Knotts berry, zoo, seaworld

I have been looking at doing Williamsburg lately- they have Busch gardens and the historical sites.

An inclusive would be nice- but I can't afford it. Of all the islands I have visited- I would say I liked Cozumel the best for the snorkeling. I think Cancun has alot to do. I thought Nassau was kind of boring.

 

[Figaro]

Friends invited us to Puerto Vallarta (where they have a timeshare) and we loved it so much we bought a timeshare at the resort next door. I use a wheelchair, and so was worried about how much I would be able to do and found that the Mexican people are so friendly and helpful that I was able to do just about everything I wanted to do.

I hadn't realized until we were there, how much I was used to people being annoyed or aggravated by the wheelchair. Everyone down there spoke to me, not my spouse and if there was any help they could offer, they did and were so kind and decent about it. I knew I was back in the U.S. when my spouse parked me next to a kiosk at the Memphis airport so he could run to the bathroom and a man talking on a cell phone (and not looking) tripped over me and cursed at me. We never ran into one unpleasant person in Puerto Vallarta and the resort was gorgeous with lots of activities for kids.

Now we are returning the favor and inviting our friends to spend a week with us at Disney (they've never been there) and we hope they have as much fun there as we did with them in Puerto Vallarta!

 

[yecats]

I love to cruise. I have been on many but I don't get sick even on uncalm seas. My suggestion is if you think you will be sea sick, begin taking non-sleepy dramamine 2 to 3 days before you go. Take 1/2 pill every day and the day you leave take one whole pill and keep taking one daily throughout the cruise. This is what one of my family members has to do as she does get sea sick but since she started doing this she hasn't experienced any problems. Also, take what I call a starter cruise, one that only goes out to Sea 4 days. You can go and check out the city where the cruise will leave from both before the cruise and after the cruise.

I live in New Orleans. We have several 4,5 and 7 day cruises leaving year round from here. I have been on several of them and recommend it. Many people love to come and visit New Orleans before and/or after there cruise. Most of our winters are mild and temps range in the mid 50's. However, we do drop to high 30's often for several days at a time which to us is cold but to someone from up North it is managable. I also tell people that if they do visit N.O., we are only 1 1/2 hours from the beaches of Biloxi, MS and the various Casino's there. Its a nice short drive to a completely different state.

Other suggestions for winter, try Las Vegas (city is now more kid friendly), Arizona/New Mexico, you know rock climbing and the Grand Canyon. Otherwise there is always California, Hawaii, Mexico, islands of the Carribean and Costa Rica (really pretty).

If I am lucky, I get to take a one week vacation per year and a smaller long weekend trip per year. It all depends on my salary and whatever happens that year. This year it has been one week at the Alabama beaches and with any luck, one week at Disney with FTP.

 

[spiceycat]

what go somewhere else.....I have and I generally don't like it

I like the Panhandle area of Florida - Pensacola to Panama City Beach - but the gulf can be cold here in the winter - I preferred fall - Sept, Oct - even Nov - it is still pleasant.

you might across try the Key West part of Florida - now the beaches here aren't that great - but the ocean is beautiful and the temperatures are too

how about Tampa/St Peterburg?

We went to Williamsburg this past May - and boy can I regulate to the wheelchair - this place was horrible - even the so called historical places were not really wheelchair accessible - on James Town (the national park - tried) but Col Williamsburg - no way - are we going back there. I was very unhappy with the services here.Or should I say what services?

Bush gardens - oh - mother does not like the electric wheelchairs - she says she can't controll them and refuses to use them - so I have to push her - do you know how many hills that thing has - oh I hurt....

now if you are going without someone who needs a wheelchair - then you will probably be fine - but don't expect the personal attention or the details there - it is not going to happen - oh I stayed at the Marriott Manor Club at Ford Colony's - it was a beautiful resort - however you had to drive to everywhere - I repeat everywhere - unless you wanted to play golf. I really wasn't that impressed by Williamsburg not compared to WDW - but then I am spoiled by DVC.

anyway by the 2nd day - mother kept wanting to know why we were here and not at WDW.

 

[Bobrow]

I have trouble every year trying to find something other than Disney that I know my 3 boys and hubbie will like. Sitting on a beach all day is not for them. I just saw that Carnival Cruises has a "trip to nowhere" cruise,from NY,in thesummer. Its a 2 nighter that just goes out to sea and back. I think it would be a great way to see if you like a cruise. I also have heard great things about several all inclusives in Jamaica.HockeyDad I would like toknow more about Atlantis. I have 3 hockey kids. Did the kids enjoy it. How expensive is it?