Plan "B" For Next March Break

[FayeW]

We have been to Orlando 4 times since 2003 and are "theme parked out". I have booked Beaches Sandy Bay in Jamaica for March Break 2010 at a tremendous savings (one bedroom beach front, 2A/2C all inclusive for $3779 US, not including flights). I suspect that once the flights and exchange are added we will be at about $5500.

I have to pay the hotel in full 45 days before arrival, so I have until Jan 27th to get reasonably priced airfare and decide if we are actually going to Jamaica or not. I thought I might look at a Plan "B" in case we decide not to go.

In Dec we stayed at Windsor Hills for the first time and loved it so I started looking on the website today to see what kind of prices we would pay for March Break. We could book the same condo we had before for about $1000 for the week, including tax and cleaning fee. We also have 1 park admission left on our tickets, as well as 3 or 4 plus features/ water park. Basically we could go to Windsor Hills, hang out at the pool, do Disney Quest and the water parks, one park day (we have hoppers so we could go to more than one). If we go, we would also go to Islands of Adventure for one day to check out the new Harry Potter area. If we got cheap flights we could probably do the whole trip for about $3000, or about half the cost of going to Jamaica. If hubby would agree to drive, it would be even less!

Not sure which we will end up doing, but it is nice to have a less expensive option for vacation (other than just staying home).

 

[Hockey Mom KQ]

We decided to minamize the parks next year also. We are doing a 7 day Eastern Caribean cruise and 3 days at the parks. I think it is time for a more "relaxing" vacation, although we really love the parks.

 

[casper_jj11]

Funny. After our fourth trip in 3 years, we decided that our next trip will be a Jamaican all inclusive. We've got 3 kiddos tho and it seems that many of the resorts only accomodate families of 4. I'm going to keep trying tho. I think we're getting Disney'd out and need a bit of a break so the next trip there will be even more fun.

 

[FayeW]

Funny. After our fourth trip in 3 years, we decided that our next trip will be a Jamaican all inclusive. We've got 3 kiddos tho and it seems that many of the resorts only accomodate families of 4. I'm going to keep trying tho. I think we're getting Disney'd out and need a bit of a break so the next trip there will be even more fun.

The "Beaches" Resorts can accomodate your family of 5, and they have a special running right now for 60% off. If you were to book now for next March Break like we did, you could get a 1 Bdrm Beachfront room with 2 double sofa beds in the livingroom for the kids. It would be $4168 USD for that week + flights.

A co-worker of mine went to Beaches Negril and her cost, including flights, was over $11K CDN for THREE people. We chose Beaches Sandy Bay because it is on the same beach as Beaches Negril, and you have full access to all their amenities and restaurants without additional charge. You can either walk up the beach (about 10-15 mins) or take the free shuttle that goes every hour and you have access to everything at both resorts. All the watersports are included at no extra charge (kayaks, hobie cats, water bikes, snorkelling, water skiing, etc). By choosing Sandy Bay, we were able to book the 1 bdrm for about $400 LESS than the double room at Negril. Better room and less money, but the trade off is having to walk or take a 5 min bus ride to the waterpark. Hey, in Florida you have to bus or take your car to the water parks and theme parks, so what's the difference!

The ticker on Beaches website shows that the special is on until Tuesday at midnight (but it's been extended twice already. I booked two weeks ago and it was supposed to be ending that night!)

I really want to be able to take this trip, but I am afraid that my inner cheapskate will rebel at spending $6K on a vacation, when we could go to Florida for half of that.

Here is the Beaches website: http://www.beaches.com/specials/

 

[snickerboo]

My dh just said, 'our next vacation is not to the World of Disney.' We're looking at Hawaii. We were considering DLP but I don't know if my 6-year-old ds would enjoy the rest of paris. I don't need him whining his way through the Louvre. Kwim?

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

I've found lots of cruises for next years march break for great prices.... we either do a cruise or go to HH or Vero Beach - I'm leaning towards the cruise though!
I've already had enough of theme parks and I'm sure will be completly theme parked out after we go to California in the summer.

 

[Cdn Gal]

We're doing a cruise next March Break too! It will be our first Carribean one so we're excited. We figure around $3000 for both of us flight included. This Aug we are doing the northbound Alaska cruise. We're using our airmiles for the flights s it cuts down on the expense alot!

 

[princess pooh]

I love disney but we went to a destination wedding in Jamaica last month and I'm itching to go back. The whole trip was just so mellow and relaxed. We're going to WDW next week but I think that's going to be our last theme park vacation for a few years.

 

[SuAnne]

We just returned from a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise for Spring Break as we wanted to do something different than Disney. Can't resist Disney though, so are still going to do our yearly trip at the end of the summer with free dining.

For next Spring Break I have put a deposit down on the Freedom of the Seas out of Port Canaveral and we will do a couple of days at Disney before the cruise

 

[rjan67]

We decided to minamize the parks next year also. We are doing a 7 day Eastern Caribean cruise and 3 days at the parks. I think it is time for a more "relaxing" vacation, although we really love the parks.

Hey!!! We are also doing an eastern Carribean cruise next March break!
Are you doing a Disney cruise? We are going with Carnival as we are celebrating my sister's birthday and a large group of my family are going. Should be awesome!

 

[FayeW]

I wish I wasn't so frugal. Since I've been pricing out "plan B" I see my Jamaica trip falling through, because I just don't know if I can bring myself to spend $6K, when we could go to Orlando for $2K-$2500. We have 1 day left on our hoppers, and 3-4 plus features so we could do one park day, hitting our favourites at a couple of the parks, do both water parks, and Disney Quest. I am talking to an owner at Bonnet Creek and he will rent us a 2bdrm for $135 a night (about the same as Windsor Hills).

Hubby actually said he would consider driving down (he REALLY doesn't want to go to Jamaica!) so we wouldn't have to rent a car. Basically our expenses would be gas, condo, and food (we could bring snacks and some packaged stuff with us to reduce costs). IF we go, we would also go to IOA for a day to check out the new Harry Potter attractions.

Bonnet Creek: $945
Gas (Rnd trip):$500
Attractions: $250
Food: $500

$2200. for a March Break trip at a luxury resort doesn't sound bad (Compared to $6K for Jamaica!)

I used a trip calculator to estimate gas costs, and then I doubled it to allow for increased fuel prices, and an extra tank or two while we are there.

I also over-estimated the food costs as I would bring as much of the non-perishable stuff with me that I could (water, juice boxes, cookies, chips, cereal, coffee, etc)

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

This week I've made a spreadsheet of cruise pricing for our family of 4 - I think I've narrowed it down to Norweigan on either the Jewel or Pearl or HAL on the westerdam or Ryndam. Those ships are all less then 3k for my family of 4 for a verandah on HAL and a mini suite on Norweigan. Add in shore ex, sp money and getting there and we have a march break for $5500 or less!

Now to decide which one we like best and if we want to downgrade to an OV to save even more $$.

 

[FayeW]

I would love to do a cruise but hubby won't even consider it. He spent 6 yrs in the navy and a "boat" isn't his idea of a good time. Of course, it's just an excuse, just like having no interest in going to Jamaica. Basically he disagrees with everything and will eventually throw up his hands and say "do whatever you want". Then he's on record as being against the trip (whatever it is) and he can feel justified in being a miserable SOB and suck all the fun out of it.

He was a jerk yesterday, and I'm a little bitter this morning...can you tell?