Sad our trip is over. Where else can we go?

[robinbutterfly]

Ok we did Disney 2 years in a row and had an amazing time on both trips. I want to plan another trip somewhere. I just don't think we should only expose Disney WOrld to the kids when there are so many other amazing places to go in the World. Problem is, I can't think of anything that would come close to the wonderful trips we had a WDW.
Anyone have any thoughts? btw, my kids are 4 and 5. Thanks.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

Disney Cruise? Disneyland California? Disneyland Paris?

Seriously though, my kids are 6 and 3. They have had multiple trips to WDW. We have also visited the Bahamas, other places in Canada, and several countries in Europe.

For us WDW has consistently been the most fun and relaxing vacations. I figure as they get older they probably won't want to go to WDW as much. The kids have had fun vacations - DD6 wants to return to Holland soon - but my fave have been Disney trips and I am going to get in as many was I can while they are still small (and are still willing to spend time with mom and dad )

 

[zeferjen]

My kids are slightly younger (2 &3) and right now our vacations have been more friends and family oriented. So we have gone on several beach vacations with friends, we have gone to visit other cities/states to visit friends and relatives, etc.

We are trying Disney for the first time in 2 weeks and I have high hopes that it will be a really enjoyable trip for the two of them.

We are putting off more adventurous traveling until the kids are older. I think when our youngest is 3 I'd like to try a ski vacation so that both kids will be able to go to ski school. When they are older than that, we can go back to Europe or Asia.

Good luck on whatever you pick!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Take a Disney cruise and explore the ports it visits! We loved our western which took us to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. The kids loved getting money from other countries!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

Hmm...this is a tough one with your kids so young. I definitely think that when they are in the 8 & 9 year old range trips to NYC and DC are a must for them. So many interesting things to see and do in those two cities.

I think it all depends on what your kids are into. I have heard from MANY people who have younger children that the all-inclusive Beaches resorts are great. We'd really like to take our kids there at some point in the future. Our daughter is turning 2 in a few weeks and we feel she's still too young for a trip like that. Maybe when she's 4 or 5 it'll be great for us. I've also heard good things about the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

Good luck planning!

 

[Disneychix]

As a kid we went to FL every year for Easter break (parents were both teachers). We didn't do WDW every year though, we'd do the beach and other amusement type parks.

We also did Philly, DC, Boston, Niagara Falls/Canada, Ohio (Cedar Point) and one trip driving out West.
As a young kid I remember going to Zoos and Aquariums, as well as beaches the most!

 

[littlezar]

My parents live in NJ so these are day trips for us when we visit. Sesame Place (Langhorne, PA) is fun - we're planning on going this summer when we visit family. Over Christmas break we went to the Crayola Factory (Easton, PA) Not sure how far apart those 2 are or what else is in that general area that might be of interest.

 

[littlbugmom]

We have decided that Disney will be an every other year vacation for us for 2 reasons:

#1 It gives us a chance to take the kind of WDW vacation we want without having to pinch pennies.

#2 The non-Disney years are open for other kinds of family travel. 2009 was a non-Disney year, so instead of flying to Floriday we drove to Va Beach. Had a great time and the kids got to soak in the ocean life. Not going to Disney also gave us a chance to enjoy our own area more. We spent more time at the zoo and waterpark than we do during a Disney year. We did more weekend getaways, too. There are cabins, lakes, hiking and fishing to enjoy.


We look forward to the non-Disney trips we plan on taking to different states. I think every area has something to offer and I want my kids to have a variety, too.


But Disney is the only vacation we plan for constantly!!

 

[karemore]

At that age kids are happy anywhere with their parents. We love WDW, but like you we want DD to see the rest of this country and some of the rest of the world as well.

We've been to the Jersey shore several times, DD loves the ocean and the boardwalk. She's happy anywhere with a pool.

We went to Cape Cod last year. DD talks about that trip as much as our trips to WDW. We had an indoor pool and took our bikes, went to the beach.

We've been to Lake Placid several times.

We recently spent a weekend in Cooperstown, again the indoor pool was all it took to ensure a great time.

This year we're going to the FL Gulf coast, Siesta Key area so DD can experience the difference from the Atlantic coast up here. We'll stop at Sea World on the way through. And sneak in a day at MK since we're so close....

Rent a cabin somewhere, kids tend to love the outdoors and adventure. It's such a great age, enjoy!

 

[HeatherC]

A Royal Caribbean Cruise! You will love it! Kids will have so much to do and you would be able to spend time together as a family and have some alone time with your dh if the kids go to their adventure ocean club. My 3 kids would take one of these cruises over Disney any day!

Check out some of the boards on cruisecritic.com.

 

[disneymarie]

Ok we did Disney 2 years in a row and had an amazing time on both trips. I want to plan another trip somewhere. I just don't think we should only expose Disney WOrld to the kids when there are so many other amazing places to go in the World. Problem is, I can't think of anything that would come close to the wonderful trips we had a WDW.
Anyone have any thoughts? btw, my kids are 4 and 5. Thanks.

I guess you have done beaches in your area?
If not, PA has a ton of things of value, historical, entertaining. Hershey, Lancaster; Dutch Wonderland, Gettysburg, and even Knoboles Park.

Sesame Place, Please touch museum..

On the way you could do Baltimore inner harbor, Aquarium.

I wish I could get to a Beach again. May do the Rehoboth area again if I can swing some $$$.
LOVED the area and the outlets. there are wild horse area, but we never got there.
I even love the huge, Salvation Army. The stuff there is great, so retro, everything of anything....

 

[disneylovin24]

Ok we did Disney 2 years in a row and had an amazing time on both trips. I want to plan another trip somewhere. I just don't think we should only expose Disney WOrld to the kids when there are so many other amazing places to go in the World. Problem is, I can't think of anything that would come close to the wonderful trips we had a WDW.
Anyone have any thoughts? btw, my kids are 4 and 5. Thanks.

I think at the age your kids are you should stay with disney parks and cruises right now. They're too young to do much else in the world and understand it. I would visit another disney park or do a disney cruise.

 

[susykt4]

My kids love waterpark resorts. They are 7 and 9. We took a 4 day weekend trip to Wisconsin Dells, stayed at a waterpark resort, rode go karts, played mini golf, etc. We also rode the Wisconsin Dells Ducks, went to a big cat rescue and a zoo. They loved that mini vacation so much they want to go back to the Dells instead of Disney this year. If the Dells isn't within driving distance, I'm sure your nearest tourist trap town has all of the same things

 

[littlbugmom]

My kids love waterpark resorts. They are 7 and 9. We took a 4 day weekend trip to Wisconsin Dells, stayed at a waterpark resort, rode go karts, played mini golf, etc.QUOTE]



We've never been to the Dells but I've heard so much about it. Sounds Fun!

We have a February tradition of going to the Kalahari indoor waterpark in Sandusky. We've escaped the Ohio winter for 3 days every year for the last 5 years. We're going next week.

 

[jetprincess]

I am a Disney lover and I am in the same boat. We went to Disney in October and it already feels like it has been an eternity. I would love to go back for Spring Break but I don't think my husband will have it.

Since our October Disney trip we have done several other things. We are in NC too! We went to Myrtle Beach after Christmas to visit some attractions and "cheese" out a bit. We also went snow tubing near Boone over the MLK weekend. For Spring Break we are going to DC and Williamsburg/Busch Gardens. I am in the midst of planning that trip right now. I'll be honest, I'm having a hard time getting truly excited about it. But, that is what is what our budget will allow us this year. Most of the DC museums/zoo are free and we will stay with a few different friends and family while we are there. We also get into Busch Gardens for free so we will only be paying for hotel while in Williamsburg.

I don't know where you are in NC but don't underestimate the value of renting a cabin and hanging out for a week. I realized I had to change my vacation strategy when it struck me that my kids expected me to "entertain" them 24/7!!

 

[taitai]

With our kids, whatever trip we did last was their favorite trip. Don't think kids need all the bells and whistles and sensory stimulation of Disney to have fun. My boys are only 6, 6 and 7 and when we took them to the Caymans, that was their favorite trip, until we went to Disney and then that was their favorite trip until we went to Mexico and then THAT was their favorite trip, until we went to Spring Training in Phoenix and hiking in Sedona and then THAT was their favorite trip until we went to DC, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, etc. etc. etc.

I really think kids just want to hang and have fun with their parents. EVERYTHING is new to them at this young age and so it is all fun. They are not jaded and don't have the lofty expectations of adults. Yes, my kids had a BLAST at Disney and can recite, in excruciating detail, every ride and every character they saw there. However, they also had a BLAST at the cabin we rented up North and can recite, in excruciating detail, their biggest cannonball off the dock into the lake and how many S'mores they ate around the bonfire each night.

Have fun planning the next big thing. Right now, we have three trips on the horizon and none of them are Disney (China, Yellowstone and BWCA). I know each will be my son's favorite trip ever.

 

[robinbutterfly]

I guess you have done beaches in your area?
If not, PA has a ton of things of value, historical, entertaining. Hershey, Lancaster; Dutch Wonderland, Gettysburg, and even Knoboles Park.

Sesame Place, Please touch museum..

On the way you could do Baltimore inner harbor, Aquarium.

I wish I could get to a Beach again. May do the Rehoboth area again if I can swing some $$$.
LOVED the area and the outlets. there are wild horse area, but we never got there.
I even love the huge, Salvation Army. The stuff there is great, so retro, everything of anything....

Is sesame place near Pittsburgh by chance?

 

[loveysbydesign]

Is sesame place near Pittsburgh by chance?

No,it's I'm guessing at least 4 hours away...on the NJ/PA border in Langhorne, PA

 

[Harlie]

One of our favorite nonididney vacations is in Jasper Alberta Canada in the rocky mountains! Wilk elk roam the town and can be found eating their lunch from peoples gardens! The trails are endless and there is so much to see and do! We spent a whole afternoon playing ina a beautiful waterfall! There is a gondola that takes you up the mountain that is so fun. We hiked up the rest of the way up the mountian when our younger ds was only 2! He stll remembers that! We took our older kids horseback riding and it was fun. They have white water rafting trips that caters to familys with younger kids! The national glacier park is close by! Our kids still talk about standing on a real live glacier!

In the winter went snowboarding there and had fun!

Then there is the bear paw bakery ans the other paw bakery they have the best london fog teas I have ever had!

We totally love jasper and if we don't go to disney we usually can't pass up jasper. Even if we have a long weekend we trek up there!

 

[mullii5]

We went to DC in May 2008...our youngest kids were almost 5 and barely 7. It was an awesome trip!! A lot of people think that DC is for older kids and adults but all of our kids enjoyed it...the Smithsonian museums (especially Air and Space and American History), the DC Zoo...we were only there a few days and wish we had been able to stay longer.