Planning Our First Trip - HELP ME !!!

[KingCallumBeckett]

Hey guys, here's my situation = My beautiful wife has never been to Disneyland and I've decided that it's high time, that I changed that ... I want to plan a family vacation for her and our four children as a surprise but I have no idea where to start She's the one who usually plans everything in our house but I think it's high time, I did something for her so I'm asking for anyone's help to plan the best vacation for her and my family?

 

[Metro West]

 

[T1gger]

Hi & welcome

These are great boards for advice on everything!

You need to decide -

When to go
How to get there
Where to stay (onsite (which resort)or offsite)

and then the rest will start to fall into place and you can look at the little things to make your visit special

Good luck & I am sure you will do an amazing job!

 

[(King)CallumBeckett]

Hi & welcome

These are great boards for advice on everything!

You need to decide -

When to go
How to get there
Where to stay (onsite (which resort)or offsite)

and then the rest will start to fall into place and you can look at the little things to make your visit special

Good luck & I am sure you will do an amazing job!

I'm looking to go in August 2012, probably around the 10th - 24th which I figured would fit in between our anniversary and my son going back to school Does anyone have any information on crowd levels, weather, etc for that time of the year?

Driving seemed like the best option for our family, I'm not keen on air travel unless I'm in the pilot's seat and my wife's just not keen on it at all Plus our family doesn't pack light so I figured we would drive down and be able to fit more luggage into the car and keep the kids' car seats during the fortnight

I've done a bit of research on it and have decided that staying on-site is probably the best decision because it allows us to pop in and out of the parks in case of any meltdowns or problems we have. Also, I personally think staying in a DISNEY hotel just adds to the DISNEY experience but I can't decide on which one to stay in ... I've not exactly got a budget in my head yet so I just want to best one for my family, has anyone got any suggestions?

What sort of little things can make our trip special?

Thanks

 

[T1gger]

If you post on the resorts board you will get loads of help in choosing the best resort for you - I've never stayed onsite but been reading up on it for next visit!

I'm not sure if any of the predictions are up to 2012 yet (we are planning a trip on Oct that year) but it is worth looking at past August crowd levels for some guidence and in either the Planning board or the Theme Parks board (cant remember which is best) there is a lot about the different times of year and crowd levels

You sound quite organised already - I am impressed!

 

[c3h3a3r]

It will be busy during August, but if that's when is best for you to go - stick with it.
There are loads of hints/tips on here about cutting down queues/wait times etc.

I think it's great that you've decided to surprise your wife and children - they will be happy with whatever you choose I'm sure.

Good Luck, and enjoy planning.

 

[glencoe]

First you are on the right track for your family!! I am booking this august as well. I have done it before and although there will be people there....it is not as bad as going during the height of the holiday seasons! We did april break once...never again. August is hot, but the parks are open early and stay open late...so you can adjust your day and have time to see all the stuff!!
You can also Go inside or go back to your on site hotel pool during the heat of the day for a break. So much of disney has indoor a/c attractions so you get a blast of a/c often.

I am driving as well. What is w/ the prices to fly??? I checked prices last week....not too bad...then this week...double!! It would cost me 1/3 the amount to drive, and not have to get a rental (for other driving outside disney) and like you said you can pack your stuff!! Now that the airlines charge per bag expecially!!

Enjoy!!

 

[(King)CallumBeckett]

If you post on the resorts board you will get loads of help in choosing the best resort for you - I've never stayed onsite but been reading up on it for next visit!

I'm not sure if any of the predictions are up to 2012 yet (we are planning a trip on Oct that year) but it is worth looking at past August crowd levels for some guidence and in either the Planning board or the Theme Parks board (cant remember which is best) there is a lot about the different times of year and crowd levels

You sound quite organised already - I am impressed!

Thanks for all your help I'm a military man, but missions are so much easier to plan than family vacations ... I feel like I need to be on top of everything

 

[(King)CallumBeckett]

It will be busy during August, but if that's when is best for you to go - stick with it.
There are loads of hints/tips on here about cutting down queues/wait times etc.

I think it's great that you've decided to surprise your wife and children - they will be happy with whatever you choose I'm sure.

Good Luck, and enjoy planning.

Thanks I'm hoping we can handle the crowds, where would I find these hints/tips on cutting down wait times? ... Thank you, I just feel like she's given up so much by marrying me and she is the one who holds our family together, she's the one who has to comfort our kids when Daddy has to leave to fight in a plane AGAIN and yet she has no one to lean on when I'm gone ... She told me once when we were in high school that she always wanted her children to enjoy Disney at the same age as ours are now so I figured I would make one of her dreams come true

 

[(King)CallumBeckett]

First you are on the right track for your family!! I am booking this august as well. I have done it before and although there will be people there....it is not as bad as going during the height of the holiday seasons! We did april break once...never again. August is hot, but the parks are open early and stay open late...so you can adjust your day and have time to see all the stuff!!
You can also Go inside or go back to your on site hotel pool during the heat of the day for a break. So much of disney has indoor a/c attractions so you get a blast of a/c often.

I am driving as well. What is w/ the prices to fly??? I checked prices last week....not too bad...then this week...double!! It would cost me 1/3 the amount to drive, and not have to get a rental (for other driving outside disney) and like you said you can pack your stuff!! Now that the airlines charge per bag expecially!!

Enjoy!!

How bad is the heat usually, we live in Washington D.C. which isn't exactly known for it's all year sunshine The fact that we can pop in and out of our hotel during the day was one of the factors which pushed me towards staying on site ... As for the drive, I must be mad to attempt a fourteen hour drive with four young children but as you said, flight prices are very expensive and I hate not being in the pilot's seat ... Good luck with your own trip

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I'm looking to go in August 2012, probably around the 10th - 24th which I figured would fit in between our anniversary and my son going back to school Does anyone have any information on crowd levels, weather, etc for that time of the year?

Driving seemed like the best option for our family, I'm not keen on air travel unless I'm in the pilot's seat and my wife's just not keen on it at all Plus our family doesn't pack light so I figured we would drive down and be able to fit more luggage into the car and keep the kids' car seats during the fortnight

I've done a bit of research on it and have decided that staying on-site is probably the best decision because it allows us to pop in and out of the parks in case of any meltdowns or problems we have. Also, I personally think staying in a DISNEY hotel just adds to the DISNEY experience but I can't decide on which one to stay in ... I've not exactly got a budget in my head yet so I just want to best one for my family, has anyone got any suggestions?

What sort of little things can make our trip special?

Thanks

I'm sorry, but are you talking about planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California. In your original post you said Disneyland, but then you said you were going to drive. It would take multiple days to drive to Disneyland from Washington, D.C.

If you are planning on going to Disneyland, then I would visit the Disneyland section on this board. It is VERY different planning a trip to DL as opposed to WDW.

 

[fast43]

Seems like you are well on your way in planning your vacation. The driving part is not that bad. Just take your time and it is no big deal..............