Should we go to WDW instead?

[NVDisMom]

We already have plans to go to DL in Dec before the holiday rush for 6 days. We're taking my mom this time, so there will be 5 of us in the room. We have been looking at the finances and we could go to WDW this year if we want.

If we go we could stretch the time to 7 nites from 5 to make up for travel days, but that is it b/c mom can't take any more time off from work. Will it be worth it? Will we be disappointed that we didn't do DL this year? We've done Dl 3 times in the last year and a half, but none of us have been to WDW. We're looking at the Poly for a resort.

Give me the pros and cons. Obviously WDW is going to cost us more, about double b/c of air and more nights.

 

[ShawnaF]

I haven't done WDW yet either - I am waiting for our little one to get bigger for WDW (plus I'm scared that I will miss my DL.) They're both fabulous and WDW can actually be cheaper if you really look at some of the perks they offer. I priced WDW for our coming Oct. trip and it was less than DL - then I added days like you and it was more. I'm hoping to try that park when Morgan can walk a little more. I love DL so I can't sway you from going there.

 

[mitchwebb]

We are also Disneyland faithfuls but took our first trip to WDW in Nov 2005.

If your kids are old enough and tall enough to last the many hours and get to go on most of the rides I would say go. Our youngest turned four but she is a dare devil and went on everything she was tall enough for. We wanted to go while our oldest still liked hanging out with mom and dad, she was twelve.

Had such a great time we are trying to get back Nov 2008. Have been to Disneyland twice this year and love it but WDW is more of a Vacation spot for us. More swimming (water parks and great pools) more dinning out extra activities.

Either way you can't miss with a vacation at Disney

 

[ShawnaF]

That's my thinking on WDW too, I don't want to carry our 33 lb 2 year old around that much. And the waiting, impatience to "get there" is hard enough at DL right now.

Mitch - have you thought of the cruise now that your kids are older?

 

[HeatherFeather]

I'm guessing from your user name you live in NV? If you are able to do WDW this year I say go for it. If you live in NV, you will be back to Disneyland again soon I'm sure. You said your mom was going too. I would go ahead and do WDW with mom...you never know what tomorrow holds and I just hate regretting NOT having done something, KWIM?

We are going to CA in June for a wedding anyway, so we said why not do DL too? I'm sure I will miss WDW but I grew up going to DL and it will be fun to go back.

 

[quiltymom]

I adore Disneyland, but if you have never been to WDW, you have to go at least once in your lifetime! It is a completely different experience. Just realize that you could never do everything it has to offer within the confines of a week. We're returning for our second trip, and we're planning on doing those things we either missed last time (like complete sections of parks!), new restaurants, a water park, and only returning to those rides and attractions we love or cannot ride at DL.

So, if you can afford it, then go! I believe that the time you are planning on traveling is in the middle of the free dining promotion. Even if you are not sure about going, start making ADRs for the restaurants you want to eat at IMMEDIATELY! I've heard that many places are already booked during September. You can always cancel them if you decide not to travel to WDW.

You'll have fun either way. My biggest disappointment this summer is that we aren't going to DL so we can save the money for WDW. Oh well...

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree with HeatherFeather and Quiltymom. I don't ever advise someone to skip Disneyland vs. WDW if its a once in a lifetime trip. Because to me, Disneyland is wonderful and while not as big as WDW has a lot to offer and doesn't need to take a backseat to WDW. However, due to your location, it sounds like Disneyland will be in your future so why not venture to WDW if you have the time, money and desire. As somebody else said, you never know if the opportunity will arise again. Here are some other pluses to WDW in December:

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Wonderful, hard ticket event at the Magic Kingdom. Really fun for kids of all ages. It runs in December up until the big rush (last year that was around 22nd). You can check out the MVMCP thread on the Theme Parks board here on the dis.

Candlelight Processional at Epcot: A beautiful event, truly one of the best examples of the "reason for the season" I have ever seen. And it runs most nights in December. Also, Illuminations during December has a spectacular, wonderful ending with Walter Cronkite narrating and a Let There Be Peace on Earth theme. I hghly recommend the dinner package. The meal won't cost anymore and then you are guarnateed a shorter line and entry into the theater.

The resorts. The resorts at Disneyland are decorated at the holidays but nothing like what they do at WDW. Its almost like having a whole new set of attractions to explore and enjoy. If you stay at the Poly, you can take the monorail easily to view the other monorail resorts. And if possilbe venture over to the WL as well as the AKL and the Epcot ones. They are all very decked out and lovely.

Dining: WDW has so much to offer with dining. Its really fun to eat your way around the world, and I am sure your mom would enjoy it. I know my parents did! Disneyland dining has some great choices but dining at WDW is way above and beyond what Disneyland can offer.

Increased entertainment. Unlike Disneyland, WDW never scales down their entertainment. Not sure if your before Christmas dates at Disneyland would have Remember and the Electrical Parade running more than on weekends (if at all with the Electrical Parade). At WDW, regardless of season, Wishes, Soectromagicm Fantasmic and Illuminations all run nightly. Because its a tourist destination vs. the huge local base that Disneyland draws in, there are slower/cheaper seasons but not truly an off season at WDW with a reduction in what you are offered.

Definitely stay 7 nights. You need that for WDW. And the Poly looks fabuolous, I really hope to stay there someday. I think you should give WDW a try. You won't be sorry you did I am thinking and it will feel familiar in many ways yet something new and different to try as well. Good luck with you choice. The good news is that you can't make a wrong decision, since any Disney vacation is pretty exceptional!

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

We did WDW for the 1st time w/our daughter last year & are planning a DL trip this year (Dec). Now I have never been to DL, but I have been reading alot & from my WDW experience last year here is my opinion....

The age of the kids says alot.... there is alot more parks - very far from each other. You have to take a bus everywhere (or drive) or water taxi if you stay really close. If you use the Disney bus, bank on atleast 30-45 minutes to get anywhere (waiting for the next bus, the bus ride & getting off the bus into the park). The cheaper Disney hotels are farthest away but still very nice. You can see most of the parks in that amount of time if you do your homework. There is really no time to go back to the hotel for swim breaks or naps unless you have time to spare. Or when we went (April 06) they had late hours....so we went from opening time to supper - went to hotel, eat, swam, showered & back to the park for parade, firworks, fantasmic, some rides & home late (only 2 nights we did that). We were there 7 nights & 8 days & didn't see it all..... DO your planning & pick & choose the most important things, do them 1st. Epcot was nice - the rides were awesome & the different countries was neat to see, but I have seen them & next time I will spend more time elsewhere. Nice, but - much more fun things to do elsewhere. I would say 1 day at Epcot, 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 1 day at MGM, 2 days at Magic Kingdom (split them up), then decide what you missed (shows, rides, parades, firworks, etc) & what you want to go back to for the rest of the day or days.

Have fun - & good luck w/your decission.

 

[mitchwebb]

Shawnaf, I really hadn't thought of a Cruise but it is a wonderful idea. I know my oldest almost 14 would love it.

NVDismom if you do stay at the Poly make sure you get a couple hours at the pool. We were running around so much the three days we were staying at the Poly we never got to the pool, boy do I still hearing about that. I also have to say my favorite memory is spending an hour on the beach waiting for the water parade (can't remember the name) it never did come but we had a blast.

Depending on your number a Vacation rental from DVC might also work.

 

[ShawnaF]

I know I'm really toying with the idea of doing WDW/Disney Cruise combo when we visit WDW - you know, really hit it with a bang and when we have the energy and patience to really go after it - a once in a lifetime trip. I figured if we did the cruise and then 6-7 days at WDW we'd get a lot in (not all but a lot.) Then the Disney Cruises started doing the Pacific and that threw me - maybe consider throwing that into a DL trip.

It's a tough choice NVDismom, I've been thinking and toying with your same ideas the past year and trying to decide when would be the best, most appropriate time for our family. What way are you feeling after all these posts? You might think about saving up even a bit more and really making WDW a big trip for next year. I know I'd want the 7 full days in the park - none of those for travel so you'd have to figure on 9 with travel days included there and back. Either way, I agree, you can't go wrong with a Disney vacation.

One other nice thing to think about with Florida is the temps! I'm from Colorado but acclimated to CA and CA winters are cold to me now (yeah, you can all laugh at that.) Florida weather is pretty darn nice during the winter!

 

[NVDisMom]

I'm torn. It would be so much fun to put mom and the kids on a plane and end up in Florida instead of CA. But I want 10 days down there ideally. I think I may call Mom's work and see if I can sneak a few more days onto her vacation ( I know she as plenty of vacation time available). Maybe move it a little further away from Christmas so they won't complain as much and then go for it. I am worried we'll be in a state of overwhelm and miss out on alot if we go for just a week. If I can't swing her vacation, then stick with DL this year and do WDW next. Maybe do it in the fall when there is free dining to help alliviate the costs some. Mom may miss out on WDW but I haven't gotten the feeling in the past that she cares THAT much. She just wants a Disney vacation with her granddaughters while she is still young enough to hve fun and keep up with them, not slow everybody down and frustrate the vacation like DH's parents did.

 

[quiltymom]

Well, as Disney vacation is a Disney vacation, no matter where it is! Just follow your heart on this one as to what to decide. If waiting for WDW is a year away, then you've a year to plan for it! Just think of all of the fun you'll have over on the WDW boards.

IMHO, nothing beats Disneyland, so you'll be having just as much fun.

 

[ShawnaF]

Gotta agree, you just really can't go wrong! Take the time to do WDW the right way!

 

[disneydance]

I would wdw actually 4 night at wdw is not much more than 7nights at wdw and if you get i good value you could have a great time we are also dl faithful but aqre taking the kids to wdw in june and are very excited and cannot wait

 

[NannyPooh]

Go to WDW! Go to WDW!!!
We love Disneyland, but we REALLY love WDW!! Like someone said earlier - they are really two completely different places: you just can't compare the two resorts.
We go to WDW about every other year with our DS11 and DS7, and with my in-laws (late 60s). The boys love it, and the in-laws love it - just so much for people of all ages. As great as WDW is for kids - I think that adults have just as much, if not more, fun! Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM each have so many activities for adults.
We tend to take our days easier at WDW - taking a break mid-day - seems that we start earlier there, and go later at night, so the break is nice!
I would suggest that you do research before going for the first time! Passporter, Birnbaums (for kids!), or the Unofficial Guide would each come in really handy - WDW is just so big, and offers so mcuh, that you really need some kind of a game plan before going.
We usually stay for a little over a week, but we go in knowing that we won't get everything done each trip!
The Poly is a great property, easily accessible, with great restaurants. The Holidays are a wonderful time to be on-property - we usually take some time to visit the other resorts. The MVMCP is a must-do for us also.
Whatever you decide to do - go with it, knowing that you have made a great decision! Can't go wrong, either way!