Questions on mother/daughter trip...

[MNborn]

Hello everybody-
I'm actually not new to these forums, though have been absent for quite some time. I used to be known as "snowmom", but have moved since then and can't remember my password, etc.

Anyway, my soon to be 20-year-old eldest daughter and I will be traveling to WDW sometime in the next 10 months. I decided to treat her to a one-on-one trip since I realize those opportunities will be few and far between. We have traveled as a family of five in the past, but are looking forward to this special time together.

It looks like we will either have to go in early January or wait until her college spring break in mid-March. We're leaning towards the January trip since we'd rather not deal with the crowds. At the same time, we'd miss the chance to bask in the sun around the pool. I'm pretty sure that the crowds will be the deciding factor, but would like to hear recommendations or advice from some of you who have traveled in January.

Thanks - you'll be hearing a lot from me in the next months!

 

[sters]

I'd avoid Martin Luther Kings Birthday weekend if you want to avoid crowds.

How great to have this mother-daughter trip! What are your plans?

 

[jsmla]

Hubby and I have gone to Disney several times in early January to celebrate our anniversary. For the most part crowds are not usually a problem. This year we ran into large crowds at the start of the trip (January 1, a Saturday). The numbers dwindled slowly as the week wore on but Disney did seem more crowded this year than I remembered from previous January trips. Still much, much better than spring break or summer vacation though. On the plus side, it was in the 80's almost every day. We did quite a bit of lying around the pool and even snuck in a trip to Typhoon Lagoon.

DD (17) and I are taking our first mother/daughter trip this June and I'm so excited! We've got all sorts of girlie stuff planned!

Jennifer

 

[AJKMOM]

We have gone around New Years more than once. The weather then can be cold. Our concern is mainly with the travel to and home from WDW, since it snows in PA, and sometimes the airport closes.

If you avoid MLK Weekend, the crowds should be light.

 

[MNborn]

Sters-
You asked what our plans are... I just decided to give her this trip over the weekend, so we're just getting started. I had been debating whether or not to wait until Christmas. Then I realized that she's SO MUCH like me and loves to be a part of the planning and to look forward to the trip!

Anyway, we really haven't done any planning yet. I assume we'll go for one week in January, stay at an onsite resort and get a five-day pass. It would be fun to surprise her with a special dinner and/or event. Any great ideas?

I noticed under your name that it says something about loving to try out the resorts at WDW. I have a thread started under the resorts asking about which resort to stay in. So, if you have any advice - please share!

We're both very excited about the trip. I'm lucky enough (blessed) to have a daughter who really likes to spend time with me. I don't take that lightly! She has a serious boyfriend, so I know that there won't be many more occasions (if any) when she & I could get away. So, this should be great for both of us!

Thanks for your help...

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

What a nice thing to do! I also have a 20 yr old daughter, and I know what you mean about finding time for special activities.

One thing you might consider is an evening at Cirque de Soleil. DH and I did this on our anniversary trip, and it was wonderful. We'd never gone before (a bit pricy for us AND 4 kids) but for just the 2 of us it was nice. I know my DD would have liked it.

 

[bridget8822]

Just thought I'd say that a "mother-daughter" trip is an awesome idea. In 2003 my mother, my sister, and I went on a disney vacation together. We stayed at the All Star Music (which I wouldn't stay at on a romantic trip but for the 3 girls it was fine). It was fantastic. It's memories you'll always have of just the girls. And once there are husbands and babies you may not get the chance. So go have a great time and take LOTS of pictures!!

 

[cindyfan]

It's only 12 days to our Mom/Daughter trip!!!
DD is 14 and I am so lucky and excited that at that age she really enjoys being with "Mom"!
Most 14 yr old's don't like to admit they like being with Mom.

I wish that some of the tours, etc were open to younger teens.....there are a couple tours we would love to go on, but she isn't old enough......

What are some of those great ideas that you are planning on doing??

 

[dakyak]

My mom and I just came back onthe 21st.
We have also gone in January in the past.

January is nice, but not waterpark nice
This time it was warm, but we had an AWESOME time.

 

[MagicTime]

We took a mother/daughter trip Oct 2004. My daughter is 15. We had the best time. In fact, it was perfect. We stayed at Coronado Springs and fell in love with the resort. We stayed 5days/4nights. We are planning another trip for just the 2 of us in October of 2006 (would have been this year but we have too many other family trips planned). We'll stay at Coronado again and stay a little longer this time. I think it is wonderful to share an experience like this with your child. They grow up so fast.

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

I hope you have a wonderful trip with your daughter. My 21 year old daughter had been trying to talk some of her friends into going to WDW and was disheartened when they didn't seem to share her excitement for the plan. So she asked if I would go with her - I jumped at the chance. We are going Dec 18 through the 23rd and staying at the All Star Sports. We thought we would save money on the lodging and then purchase the dining plan. It has been great planning this trip. We talk about it all of the time. My husband is not quite a disneyfied as I am and since he has been good natured enough to go with me the past two years in early Dec he is very happy to have a "break" this year.
I am looking forward to seeing all the Christmas decorations with my daughter. It has been 5 years since she has been to WDW so she is very excited.

 

[ArielDreams]

Mother daughter trips are so much fun! If you're still debating over january vs. march, i wouldn't rule out going in march on your daughter's spring break. depending on the week it is, it really may not be that crowded at WDW. i went on my own spring break (march 6-12) this year and the longest line i saw the whole trip was 20 minutes.

 

[CinderellaIam]

I surprised my DD18 with a trip for just her and I this past December as her Christmas gift for the same reasons you want to go alone with your DD, who knows how many more times we can do this. We had a great time! We stayed at OKW, it was great, but next time we will head back to our all time favorite resort the Beach Club. This area is so much more fun and convenient. DD loves the pool area, the beach and the Boardwalk here.

I only made one PS prior to the trip, which was CP (one of our favorites) and let DD choose on the plane ride there where she wanted to eat and called in our PS as soon as we arrived. She chose Mama Melrose in MGM, Futons Crab House in DTD, San Angel Inn in Epcot.

We took our time, I let DD guide us through the parks (this was a first) and we just took everything in. At night we went to Pleasure Island and DD loved the Adventurers Club.

Her favorite thing to do though, and we actually went twice, was to go to DTD and shop (big surprise, a teenage girl who likes to shop), which was a surprise to me since WDW is her favorite place in the world, I didn't think I'd get her out of the parks at all.

 

[MNborn]

Thanks, CinderellaIAm, for sharing your story. It really makes me excited to go! I have never spent any time at Pleasure Island. In fact, I didn't realize that there were places for under 21s to go. What is the Adventurer's Club?