Possible "off year" alternatives to Disney World??

[HoldenFamily4Disney]

My family is, likely as yours, obsessed with the magic of a Disney World vacation. We have vacationed there each of the past 2 winters, and I believe 3 out of the last 5 winters. We were there last in December 2015 and are already having withdrawls, but know that it is most responsible to take a 1 year break from Disney, before our next scheduled vacation there in January of 2018. Mostly this comes to dollars. Not including airfare (we drive 1400 miles each way), we spend about $7,500 with spending modest spending money each vacation due to our love of the deluxe resorts and wonderful dining experiences. I'm sure we could cut that down to $6k, but I'm not sure it would be as fun.

So the question is, is there such thing as a good alternative to Disney World for a fun family vacation, aside from the traditional national parks, camping, etc.? My guess is nothing lives up to the magic, but if there was a vacation that comes in a distant 2nd place, what would it be in your opinion?

Mom, Dad, 11 year old son, 13 year old daughter.

Thanks-
The Holdens

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

After a period of 8 years where our family went at least once, and often twice each year, we took 2015 off from Disney. My husband and I decided that since the kids had gotten a bit older, we needed to branch out a bit. Our oldest son studied Civics last school year, and our youngest studied the Constitution, so we decided a trip to Washington DC was timely and age-appropriate.

Honestly, we had an awesome vacation. And I spent as much time planning our DC trip as I do a Disney vacation (which is good - I enjoy the planning). Our Disney vacations prepared us for go-all-day days, moving from one thing to another, and waiting in line occasionally.

We spent 6 days in DC and over the course of the week, we saw a LOT. And we all had different favorite things, much like a Disney vacation. We all agreed at the end of the trip that we'd go back if we had the chance. There is so much to see and do there!

Overall, we spent a little over $3000, including airfare, but we didn't have to pay for lodging or car rental because I have a family member with a second house just outside DC in Virginia, and she allowed us to stay there for free, plus we had the use of the vehicle they keep there.

I think your kids are great ages to go to DC - very similar to ours. Right now we're trying to decide what to do this year. We're going to St. Augustine for a few days of Spring Break next week and we're all looking forward to it.

 

[Hikergirl]

Are you looking for a budget family vacation or just looking for alternatives to WDW at the same cost?
There are plenty of great family vacation destinations other than WDW.
We just spent a week in CA. San Francisco for a few days then drove down the PCH to Monterey Bay for a few days, then drove down the Big Sur Coast. It was amazing and the natural beauty of that area is far beyond the Disney magic, at least for our family.


What about a cruise, or an all inclusive somewhere tropical?

 

[DnA2010]

Have you done any cruising? We've cruised on Disney and royal Caribbean and are hooked on it along with Disney trips

 

[mrsp1030]

We are also a Disney loving family but try to go every 2 years now. We did Southern California, mainly San Diego and hit up Legoland, the zoo, Corando, etc... Our kids had as much fun there as anywhere as they ask to go back. We've also done the major East coast cities as a long trip: think DC, NYC, Boston. We do Beach trips as well as love them!

 

[HoldenFamily4Disney]

After a period of 8 years where our family went at least once, and often twice each year, we took 2015 off from Disney. My husband and I decided that since the kids had gotten a bit older, we needed to branch out a bit. Our oldest son studied Civics last school year, and our youngest studied the Constitution, so we decided a trip to Washington DC was timely and age-appropriate.

Honestly, we had an awesome vacation. And I spent as much time planning our DC trip as I do a Disney vacation (which is good - I enjoy the planning). Our Disney vacations prepared us for go-all-day days, moving from one thing to another, and waiting in line occasionally.

We spent 6 days in DC and over the course of the week, we saw a LOT. And we all had different favorite things, much like a Disney vacation. We all agreed at the end of the trip that we'd go back if we had the chance. There is so much to see and do there!

Overall, we spent a little over $3000, including airfare, but we didn't have to pay for lodging or car rental because I have a family member with a second house just outside DC in Virginia, and she allowed us to stay there for free, plus we had the use of the vehicle they keep there.

I think your kids are great ages to go to DC - very similar to ours. Right now we're trying to decide what to do this year. We're going to St. Augustine for a few days of Spring Break next week and we're all looking forward to it.

Thanks for the good insight. This is something my wife has wanted to do for vacation, but we have never been certain on the age in which they will appreciate it...Very helpful.

 

[HoldenFamily4Disney]

Are you looking for a budget family vacation or just looking for alternatives to WDW at the same cost?
There are plenty of great family vacation destinations other than WDW.
We just spent a week in CA. San Francisco for a few days then drove down the PCH to Monterey Bay for a few days, then drove down the Big Sur Coast. It was amazing and the natural beauty of that area is far beyond the Disney magic, at least for our family.


What about a cruise, or an all inclusive somewhere tropical?

Well, for us as a pretty young family, spending $15k on vacation every two years probably isn't sustainable. I'd like to figure out a nice vacation for $4k or less to give us a break from the madness and expense that is our Disney addiction. We are a pretty "outdoorsy" family, so have spent time in Colorado and South Dakota. I guess the answer is that we are looking for something "budget friendly" (which means not flying, most likely), that isn't Disney World, but provides a comparable feeling of magic, family closeness, and giddyness. Does that make any sense at all?

 

[HoldenFamily4Disney]

We are also a Disney loving family but try to go every 2 years now. We did Southern California, mainly San Diego and hit up Legoland, the zoo, Corando, etc... Our kids had as much fun there as anywhere as they ask to go back. We've also done the major East coast cities as a long trip: think DC, NYC, Boston. We do Beach trips as well as love them!

How old are your kids? We have considered some of those as well. I think my 13 year old daughter would love a beach vacation. Not sure about my son. My wife (and I) are concerned they would be bored out of their minds. We are a busy "one sport to the next concert to the next sport" type family. This is one of the reasons we love Disney so much. But, also probably a good reason to rent a cabin on a lake or on a beach and just relax for a week...

 

[Hikergirl]

Well, for us as a pretty young family, spending $15k on vacation every two years probably isn't sustainable. I'd like to figure out a nice vacation for $4k or less to give us a break from the madness and expense that is our Disney addiction. We are a pretty "outdoorsy" family, so have spent time in Colorado and South Dakota. I guess the answer is that we are looking for something "budget friendly" (which means not flying, most likely), that isn't Disney World, but provides a comparable feeling of magic, family closeness, and giddyness. Does that make any sense at all?

Definitely makes sense
Not sure where you live so don't know what is in your driving area. We are pretty outdoorsy so my suggestions will tend to be vacations like that. We love Gatlinburg TN, plenty of outdoorsy stuff and touristy stuff. We also love beach vacations because you can relax, or be active or be touristy on those too. I know people think beach vacations are boring but when we do them we don't spend every day just sitting on the beach.

 

[Pesky]

We went to the Big Island in Hawaii, using up DH's airline miles and hotel points. Kids absolutely loved it. They loved just going to the pool or lagoon every day, paddle boarding, snorkeling, swimming and just relaxing by the pool. Another favorite was the beach vacation in OBX. Kids loved it -- catching crabs, baby clams, and so on (though those waves can give you a pounding!). Agree with pp that DC was such a great trip when I went with my family. I figure it is better for when my 2 are older. I loved visiting Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg and original Jamestown at that age. There are some great places around so just a matter of figuring out what is best for you all. GL!

 

[jacknsally19]

I always enjoy these threads where people talk about other vacations that they enjoy! It's fun hearing new ideas and dreaming about the next vacation! Like others, we have enjoyed Disney cruises but it sounds like you are thinking a little less pricey. I live in New England and there is a lot to enjoy up here. We have done smaller trips to Mystic Seaport - which has a great aquarium and an amazing old seaport museum. My DD really loved it when she went through her pirate phase! It was also pretty close to the beach so we included it as well - that was a good 5 day trip for us. We also enjoyed renting a house on the Saco River in North Conway New Hampshire - there are old school amusements parks and lots of outdoor activities. We enjoyed it so much that we booked again for this summer. We also love Newport, RI & the Jersey Shore. We have also gone up to Canada - Quebec City and Charlevoix was a fantastic trip in the summer. With the strength of the dollar, a trip to Canada can be a really great value.

I would guess with kids your age, you could really enjoy a non WDW, Orlando trip. If you rent a house in fl, you could do Universal, SeaWorld and Kennedy Space Center. Universal is a lot cheaper than WDW but the Harry Potter world is more magical than anything at WDW! (Sadly, my kid was too young to really enjoy so we have shelved trips there for the time being!)

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

We love Disney, but we like other places, too. Our favorite is Washington, D.C. We're big history buffs. We also enjoy going to comic book conventions so when we aren't planning a vacation we typically add more conventions to our circuit than when we are going to Disney. San Diego or San Francisco are great spots, too, and both of us love visiting Arizona. Roswell, New Mexico is a favorite of ours, too, but that definitely caters to a specific type of vacationer.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Unfortunately it doesn't fit into your budget requirement, but it would certainly provide family closeness, magic and adventure. We did an OARS guided kayaking trip on Jackson lake two summers ago and it was amazing. I'm patiently waiting for my son to get bigger so we can do some of their whitewater tours. Since you said you were outdoorsy this might be the perfect non-Disney vacation for you.
www.oars.com

 

[2DisPrincesses]

We have rented a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN this summer (Smoky Mountains). The kids are excited as we plan to try zip lines, whitewater rafting, and horseback riding on some trails. Even with everything new we want to try, it's going to be MUCH cheaper than Disney for us, as we plan to do many of our meals ourselves at the cabin. The cabin is huge and has a game room, hot tub, gas grill, and access to a pool.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I really believe your kids would have just as much fun at Disney staying at a moderate and having less dining experiences. As our kids got older, they asked that we not go to as many sit down restaurants bc it was taking up more time. I see your kids are entering the teen years so vacationing with them will become different. Also, we don't spend a lot of time at the resort as our kids outgrew long naps and down time. We have gone on other vacations and although they have been "fun", they have not been as magical or as stress free as Disney for us. Your post sounds like you really want to go back so just do it.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I gotta 2nd DC. Come down in the spring for the Cherry Blossom Fest. Rent a kayak on the Potomac and enjoy the beautiful weather and the view. Get a tour of the White House, the Capitol, or the Supreme Court. Check out the Smithsonian American History, Natural History, and Air and Space (and give one of the art museums a chance, especially if they have a free program going on). See the National Spy Museum and do a special activity and see the Newseum (2nd day free) and even Madame Tussaud's (your kids are the perfect ages for all). Go to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for another tour, go to the Archives to see the country's docs, get tickets for the Washington Monument, see the Lincoln Memorial, etc. Head into VA and take a tour of the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, the Air and Space Museum (I would do this one), the civil war and revolutionary war battlefields and sites. Head to a trampoline park (of many), hit a Jose Andres restaurant (Jaleos is a good one). If you have time and don't mind the drive and love awesome outdoor stuff, head down to see the Luray Caverns (about a 2 hour drive from DC). I could fill 3 weeks of activities for kids with families your age to have a ton of fun...and the best part? After the hotel and food, it's almost all free!

 

[disneypolybride2008]

We like to go on a spring time cruise, and in the fall go to disney. There are lots of new cruise ships with lots of bells and whistles! NCL, RC, and Carnival are great ones. Your kids should love their new ships. RC has one with a 7 story tunnel slide.. Harmony of the Seas! Just watch for their sales and you can get a good deal. I got the Escape with NCL for us 4 for $2700 balcony and a $50 per port shore excursion credit. Carnival Vista has awesome new rooms with a huge balcony that has a hammock! The rooms are adorable looking!

 

[mrsp1030]

It's kind of funny but our latest "off" year has been a Disney cruise, yes, still Disney but it suits our family very well. We have 3 boys: 9,7,3 so it works for our crew the best. We have tried to consider AI options in the Caribbean as well but our youngest wants to do what his older brothers can do and he would be separated in the kids clubs at many resorts from them and he can't do all the fun excursions yet. We tend to do one big vacation a year and other trips as well as finances permit. The smoky mountains are a lot of fun and the cabin rentals there are very reasonable.

 

[Hikergirl]

Unfortunately it doesn't fit into your budget requirement, but it would certainly provide family closeness, magic and adventure. We did an OARS guided kayaking trip on Jackson lake two summers ago and it was amazing. I'm patiently waiting for my son to get bigger so we can do some of their whitewater tours. Since you said you were outdoorsy this might be the perfect non-Disney vacation for you.
www.oars.com

Those trips look amazing, I will be looking into a few of them for next year!

 

[blackpearl77]

What about Atlantis (Bahamas)? It has the beach, aquarium, water park, museum, dining plan. You can fly or take a ferry from FL. It's on our list to go on on off disney year!