Should we go??

[mastersd]

I really want to go to Disney for March Break, Mar 15. We had a trip planned but my grandmother got sick so I cancelled it. She passed away 3 days later. I was too sad to worry about Disney, but now I really want to go. My issues are:

1)I don't have airfare booked and its soooooo expensive, but we could drive.
2)We have no accomodations booked and there is very little--no availability, but we could stay off site.
3)Our oldest son got a job and doesn't want to go--he would think it was a giant vacation to have the house to himself--but I would miss him.
4)We really can't afford to go now, but that's never stopped us before.
5)We are all sad about Nana, so it would really cheer us up.
6)I do have vacation time booked.


Given that the hotels have very little to no availability...do you think it is going to be crazy busy?
Thanks everyone for the input!
Deanna

 

[NancyK]

Well, I'm in the "life is short" camp, so if you can swing it financially without too much trouble, I would go. Sometimes those spur-of-the-moment trips can be better than those you've planned forever.
With Disney, it's the ticket prices that are the budget killer. You can probably find decent accommodation offsite even at the last minute.
I just checked the Orlando Vista Hotel in Lake Buena Vista. It's not too far from Downtown Disney. It has availability that week for $79 per night. We stayed there a couple of years ago when our flight home got cancelled (after we got to the airport). It's an older hotel but very clean and the staff was very friendly. I'm sure there would be availability in similar offsite hotels.
Oh - and I would have a trusted relative or friend check-in on your child staying home alone.

 

[neonurse]

I am in the same boat. I wanted to go too.
Here are some questions to ask yourself...

How long of a drive would it be for you and how many days do you have off? How many days would you have in florida?
Could you leave your son at home and not worry about him?
How much would it put you in the hole$$$? Could be very stressful when you get home worrying about paying the credit card bills.

Good luck!

 

[mtmbyck]

We leave on Thursday (March 11th) and I have to say the weather is pretty much the coolest I have ever seen.....not sure if that plays a factor. We aren't doing Disney this trip - Disney during March Break can be a WILD RIDE.

In tough times, our rationalizing can be off. I agree with a previous post that you should only go if it is financially feasible - coming back to a load of debt isn't great.

See what Son would be interested in doing.....perhaps a mini weekend away at Niagara or dowton Toronto (forgot to see where you live).

My condolences and I hope things get easier.

 

[mastersd]

Well, I'm in the "life is short" camp, so if you can swing it financially without too much trouble, I would go. Sometimes those spur-of-the-moment trips can be better than those you've planned forever.
With Disney, it's the ticket prices that are the budget killer. You can probably find decent accommodation offsite even at the last minute.
I just checked the Orlando Vista Hotel in Lake Buena Vista. It's not too far from Downtown Disney. It has availability that week for $79 per night. We stayed there a couple of years ago when our flight home got cancelled (after we got to the airport). It's an older hotel but very clean and the staff was very friendly. I'm sure there would be availability in similar offsite hotels.
Oh - and I would have a trusted relative or friend check-in on your child staying home alone.

Yes! I forgot to mention that we have annual passes for this year until Sept 3 We won't be having anymore trips for a couple of years, after our passes are done.I am hoping for free dining in August. The 79.00 a night would be great! If I could find a cheapish airfare we would go for sure! The driving is the hard part. I am very worried that it might be so busy that we would hate it! Our oldest son, is comepletly trustworthy, but I would have his grandmother check on him! She would love it!
Thanks

 

[mastersd]

I am in the same boat. I wanted to go too.
Here are some questions to ask yourself...

How long of a drive would it be for you and how many days do you have off? How many days would you have in florida?
Could you leave your son at home and not worry about him?
How much would it put you in the hole$$$? Could be very stressful when you get home worrying about paying the credit card bills.

Good luck!

I'm a nurse,too. I work days Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri so I'm done 7pm March 12We could start driving right after work. Realistically, I'd like to hang out with our oldest son for a while, maybe leave Sat early morning. We could be there Sunday evening if we stopped for one night along the way. I think it is 24h. I don't work again until Mar. 27. The kids should be back in school on the 22nd, but we do have some leeway. If we drive, it would cost maybe 1200.00. 600.00 for hotels, 300.00 for gas,300.00 for food and 400.00 for me underestimating the costs. It is doable, if we drive. If we fly...probably not. I wouldn't worry, too much, about my son, but I would miss him. I wish I could decide! I wonder how busy it will be? The crowd calender say 7.
I don't like it when it is crazy busy.
Thanks

 

[mastersd]

We leave on Thursday (March 11th) and I have to say the weather is pretty much the coolest I have ever seen.....not sure if that plays a factor. We aren't doing Disney this trip - Disney during March Break can be a WILD RIDE.

In tough times, our rationalizing can be off. I agree with a previous post that you should only go if it is financially feasible - coming back to a load of debt isn't great.

See what Son would be interested in doing.....perhaps a mini weekend away at Niagara or dowton Toronto (forgot to see where you live).

My condolences and I hope things get easier.

What do you mean, Wild Ride? I've never been during March Break. We been many times but never March Break. When it comes to Disney--my rationalizing is aways "off". Thanks for your condolences.

 

[NancyK]

March Break is busy but not nearly as busy as Easter week, Christmas week, summer holidays. As long as you get there early, get your fastpasses and "go with the flow", it is definitely doable. I wouldn't recommend March Break for a first-timer, but it's fine for someone who has been there before.
It's too bad we don't know for sure that free dining will be offered in August.

 

[webworm]

I really want to go to Disney for March Break, Mar 15. We had a trip planned but my grandmother got sick so I cancelled it. She passed away 3 days later. I was too sad to worry about Disney, but now I really want to go. My issues are:

1)I don't have airfare booked and its soooooo expensive, but we could drive.
2)We have no accomodations booked and there is very little--no availability, but we could stay off site.
3)Our oldest son got a job and doesn't want to go--he would think it was a giant vacation to have the house to himself--but I would miss him.
4)We really can't afford to go now, but that's never stopped us before.
5)We are all sad about Nana, so it would really cheer us up.
6)I do have vacation time booked.


Given that the hotels have very little to no availability...do you think it is going to be crazy busy?
Thanks everyone for the input!
Deanna

You live in London so you could fly out of Detroit with ease. Spirit still has some decent fares if you are flexible on your days. You could also fly into Tampa as well or into one city and back from another.

http://www.spiritair.com/Reservations.aspx

 

[dis_guy]

March Break is busy but not nearly as busy as Easter week, Christmas week, summer holidays. As long as you get there early, get your fastpasses and "go with the flow", it is definitely doable. I wouldn't recommend March Break for a first-timer, but it's fine for someone who has been there before.
It's too bad we don't know for sure that free dining will be offered in August.

You know, it varies a lot and there is some luck involved when it comes to crowds. We went over spring break 2008 and it was just nuts, super crowded for everything and lines were long. Boy, did we wait for everything.

Our last trip was Christmas 2009, and while crowded, we only had one experience with a "traffic jam" that just was not moving. In fact with judicious use of fast passes, we had hardly any waiting for anything on that trip.

Your mileage may vary!

 

[brighteyes]

We went Christmas 2009 also and compared to our 2007 summer trip we hardly waited for anything. In fact, many rides, we rode over and over again. Walk off, walk on. I remember waiting much more in the summer months.

The crowds were definately larger during Christmas in the parks, but everyone must have been just standing around, cause the rides weren't busy.

 

[NancyK]

Agreed - the crowds can definitely vary. In fact, they can vary from park to park on any given day any time of the year. In January 2009, we were to meet DSis and family at MK. We got there first and the crowds were so bad, you couldn't move - in January no less! Needless to say we called them and headed to a different park. So you reallly do have to go with the flow.

 

[dis_guy]

We went Christmas 2009 also and compared to our 2007 summer trip we hardly waited for anything. In fact, many rides, we rode over and over again. Walk off, walk on. I remember waiting much more in the summer months.

The crowds were definately larger during Christmas in the parks, but everyone must have been just standing around, cause the rides weren't busy.

One thing we did notice over Christmas was any ride involving water (Splash mountain, Kali River Rapids, etc.) were walk on because of the cool temperatures. We must have gone on Splash Mtn 6 times in a row. A very memorable experience was coming out of the mountain and going over the drop just as the fireworks were beginning. Wow!