Poll: New Gear or Trip to WDW?

[annnewjerz]

Thanks for the input, everyone! It was surprising to see what a landslide response I got...most being in favor of the trip over the gear. If I can't depend on all of you to fuel my NAS, who can I turn to?!

My experience is different. When our kids were very young, we made lots of trips to WDW. Now that they are in school, it is much harder. Trips have to either be during the summer (too hot), during long holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring Break (too crowded), over a weekend (too short), or we have to take the kids out of school (not our preference at their current ages). So for us, little kids were great for Disney trips but older kids are not.

Mark, for us this scenario would be ideal. I'd love nothing more than lots of trips to WDW citing the kids as my "excuse" of why we have to go. Unfortunately, full-time child care is something like $1200-$1500 per month here in New Jersey...so until the future kid is in preschool, chances are there will be no vacations. Ugh! The sacrifices I'm making for my unborn child are already getting a bit ridiculous!

 

[WDWFigment]

My experience is different. When our kids were very young, we made lots of trips to WDW. Now that they are in school, it is much harder. Trips have to either be during the summer (too hot), during long holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring Break (too crowded), over a weekend (too short), or we have to take the kids out of school (not our preference at their current ages). So for us, little kids were great for Disney trips but older kids are not.

With that said, I still lean towards your conclusion. You have gear enough already and the improvements for newer gear aren't going to be all that great. I would opt to do the WDW trip but do it on the cheap.

The time I was referring to was when they're too young to take to WDW. I don't know much about kids, but I'm guessing they can handle a trip to Disney by age 2 or 3? That's 2 or 3 years you can't go, plus however much time you can't go while pregnant (I'm thinking I would be averse to taking a woman 5 months plus pregnant would be unpleasant (for the man, at least) ). So that's nearly two and a half years on the low side, three and a half on the high side. That's way too long for me.

Conversely, I can imagine having a problem pulling kids out of school, and i don't think Sarah would take issue with it either. My parents pulled me out of school on a yearly basis for WDW trips, and I think I turned out fine (well, besides the fact that I still don't know where babies come from, since that was covered one of the weeks during which I was pulled). I guess I don't quite understand the reluctance to pull kids from school.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ahh..... live a little. Post that question over on the theme parks board... There have been some lively threads over there on that topic....

It really depends on the kid and the school policies. We took my then freshman son out for a week last fall and he didn't miss a beat. He stayed after and made up the work and had no trouble catching up. He finished out the year with straight A's including honors classes.

We subscribe to the "work hard, play hard" approach here. And since I hate heat and crowds, it doesn't leave us with many other alternatives.

It IS a very individual decision though.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I think you should jump on the 72 hour SWA sale for air and get a short inexpensive Disney fix then buy one new piece of equipment.

 

[WDWFigment]

Ahh..... live a little. Post that question over on the theme parks board... There have been some lively threads over there on that topic....

It really depends on the kid and the school policies. We took my then freshman son out for a week last fall and he didn't miss a beat. He stayed after and made up the work and had no trouble catching up. He finished out the year with straight A's including honors classes.

We subscribe to the "work hard, play hard" approach here. And since I hate heat and crowds, it doesn't leave us with many other alternatives.

It IS a very individual decision though.

I think I'd rather not head over there to say anything controversial. I realized after about 20 minutes in the other areas of these forums that the Disboards, other than photography (and occasionally the camping section), is not for me.

For some reason, the non-niche forums here seem to be overrun with people who have strong opinions about everything and have really short fuses. At the same time, many of these folks don't have the mental wherewithal to discuss/debate in a rational manner. I know that sounds pretty brutal, but that has been my take.

No offense meant to anyone who loves the 'larger' areas of this site.

 

[annnewjerz]

II realized after about 20 minutes in the other areas of these forums that the Disboards, other than photography (and occasionally the camping section), is not for me.

No offense meant to anyone who loves the 'larger' areas of this site.

For the most part, I actually agree with this sentiment. I enjoy reading trip reports and if I have a specific question about something, I may pop over to the Theme Parks/Restaurants board...but for the most part the DIS is fairly clique-y.

 

[ukcatfan]

I think I'd rather not head over there to say anything controversial. I realized after about 20 minutes in the other areas of these forums that the Disboards, other than photography (and occasionally the camping section), is not for me.

For some reason, the non-niche forums here seem to be overrun with people who have strong opinions about everything and have really short fuses. At the same time, many of these folks don't have the mental wherewithal to discuss/debate in a rational manner. I know that sounds pretty brutal, but that has been my take.

No offense meant to anyone who loves the 'larger' areas of this site.

For the most part, I actually agree with this sentiment. I enjoy reading trip reports and if I have a specific question about something, I may pop over to the Theme Parks/Restaurants board...but for the most part the DIS is fairly clique-y.

I have pretty much given up on the other parts of the boards. Recently, I felt like I was treated rudely by a mod on another board and when I let them know that I thought they were rude, I got kicked off for two weeks. I will stay here from now on.

 

[mrcricket]

I think you have enough gear. Go for the trip. I agree with what others have said, going to WDW may have to wait awhile with younger ones, so do it now. The camera you have is great and the lenses are nice too. Plenty enough to capture your young ones.

 

[MICKEY88]

go to WDW, and bring home a little souvenir

 

[Gdad]

I vote for family vacations- both now somehow and with the kids while they are little. All mine were at Disney plenty before their first birthday. Remember they are FREE for the first couple years- not until 3 does Disney consider them payin' customers.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

The time I was referring to was when they're too young to take to WDW. I don't know much about kids, but I'm guessing they can handle a trip to Disney by age 2 or 3? That's 2 or 3 years you can't go, plus however much time you can't go while pregnant (I'm thinking I would be averse to taking a woman 5 months plus pregnant would be unpleasant (for the man, at least) ). So that's nearly two and a half years on the low side, three and a half on the high side. That's way too long for me.

Conversely, I can imagine having a problem pulling kids out of school, and i don't think Sarah would take issue with it either. My parents pulled me out of school on a yearly basis for WDW trips, and I think I turned out fine (well, besides the fact that I still don't know where babies come from, since that was covered one of the weeks during which I was pulled). I guess I don't quite understand the reluctance to pull kids from school.

I've been there with a seven month pregnant wife (who had no problems riding the Rock'N'Rollercoaster) and with a 6 week old baby. Little ones travel just fine. They don't get much out of the trip, but they don't add much cost either.

As for the skipping school part, that's a choice that each set of parents has to make based on their kids, their school policies, and their kids age. As is obvious by the hordes of kids there during the school year, a lot of people take their kids out of school. A lot of people don't.

 

[WDWFigment]

I've been there with a seven month pregnant wife (who had no problems riding the Rock'N'Rollercoaster) and with a 6 week old baby. Little ones travel just fine. They don't get much out of the trip, but they don't add much cost either.

As for the skipping school part, that's a choice that each set of parents has to make based on their kids, their school policies, and their kids age. As is obvious by the hordes of kids there during the school year, a lot of people take their kids out of school. A lot of people don't.

I guess I was mistaken on the time-frames; I will fully admit that it's not within my 'zone of knowledge'. My experience with pregnancy is largely based upon television sitcoms. From that I've gathered that pregnant women are unpleasant and immobile, and small babies are mischievous. I'm now beginning to question whether any of those conclusions are accurate. Darn you, studios, for presenting such a caricature of reality!

As fort the skipping school thing; yeah, probably no point in opening that can of worms. Definitely an individual decision.

 

[boBQuincy]

Yes, new gear.
Yes, trip to WDW.

The $$$ will be forgotten in a few years but the memories will still be priceless.

 

[Todd_H]

Yes, new gear.
Yes, trip to WDW.

The $$$ will be forgotten in a few years but the memories will still be priceless.

^^ +1

But, if choosing one OR the other, I vote for WDW now as the thought of not making it down there for another 4-5 years is just too depressing.

 

[annnewjerz]

Yes, new gear.
Yes, trip to WDW.

The $$$ will be forgotten in a few years but the memories will still be priceless.

^^ +1

But, if choosing one OR the other, I vote for WDW now as the thought of not making it down there for another 4-5 years is just too depressing.

Oh if only I could do both...I totally would! The thought about money being forgotten in a few years, unfortunately, is how we racked up some credit card debt in the first place and now that we're pretty much rid of it, I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible (which will probably only be a year or two until we have kids, I'm sure )


On a much more exciting note, I decided that I agree and that we will make the trip in the Fall together if funds allow. AND, my neighbor asked me to tag along with them for a quick trip in February. My initial thought was that I should say no, but I found $75 round-trip airfare and they get discounted military park hoppers...so it's really an opportunity I can't pass up!! Here's to the potential of two trips in one year. It will be glorious!