Should we visit CUBA with a small child around Christmas?

[biggroofy]

Was planning to visit WDW this Christmas, but it did not work out. Possibly postpone the trip to May, but have to take DD3 out of school for a week.

Still planning to travel for a few days during her two-week Christmas holidays. My first preference was within the country (i.e. Canada) - however, I am afraid that Vancouver is too raining, Edmonton/Halifax too cold...

A friend suggested Cuba, but it seems he stayed in a resort for the entire trip: beach/sleep/eat. I would like to know if anyone has visited there with small child, and if kids would like there.

Please share your experience

 

[bbangel]

I've been to Cuba. It is a great place to visit, whether you stay in one of the cities or in the beach resort areas. However, there isn't a whole lot of things for kids to do. Most of the resorts have kids programs but they are pretty hit and miss and may not be offered during your stay (even if they are advertised) In the cities, there are a lot of historical things and museums but not really anything for kids that little.

 

[biggroofy]

Thanks for your opinion, bbangel. Honestly, I always put my DD3's interest in priority (that's why I first consider WDW again). Considering Cuba mainly because of its warm weather, trying to stay away from the Canadian cold.

May have to consider some other places.

 

[mbb]

I would do one of the Beaches resorts in Jamaica with a little one that small

http://www.beaches.com/

This has lots of great info for traveling with little ones...
http://www.debbiescaribbeanresortreviews.com/

Or a christmas cruise..??

The only thing that I would worry abour in Cuba is access to medical facilities - hopefully would never need! - and traveling home quickly.

I'm sure other folks have some experience with this - we've never been to Cuba, but Jamaica with kids would be our first choice

The DR would run 2nd

HTH!

 

[Adi12982]

If you want to support oppression and communism while you view places Cubans are not allowed to step inside. . .

Why not go to North Korea?

 

[twinz]

I've been to Cuba and I loved it, the people are GREAT...Visit North Korea...come ON! Cuba is NOT all that BAD!

 

[dsneygirl]

If you want to support oppression and communism while you view places Cubans are not allowed to step inside. . .

Why not go to North Korea?

Ouch! I also see that you live in the US. Perhaps you're not aware that Canada and Cuba have formal relations and tens of thousands of Canadian tourists visit there every year.

I don't know about Cuba but friends of ours took their 9 month old dd to Mexico last year and had a great trip.

 

[Adi12982]

Cuba is not bad if you are a tourist - this is not a country or government that will actually show you the plight of real people. In fact Cubans cannot enter tourist areas except to work there. I have seen the real cuba - opression, starvation, the whole nine yards - Cuba and North Korea are on par. It is inconsiderate and ignorate people like you that keep things going by supporting oppression. Some day you will realize this. There are plenty of Caribbean islands where you could visit.

 

[Adi12982]

Ouch! I also see that you live in the US. Perhaps you're not aware that Canada and Cuba have formal relations and tens of thousands of Canadian tourists visit there every year.

I do realize and know this - I am CUBAN - and I know that those tens of thousands of Canadians aren't helping.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Ouch! I also see that you live in the US. Perhaps you're not aware that Canada and Cuba have formal relations and tens of thousands of Canadian tourists visit there every year.

I do realize and know this - I am CUBAN - and I know that those tens of thousands of Canadians aren't helping.

How about the many American companies that freely operate in Cuba each and every year? How are they helping by forcing out the Canadian companies that have been operating there for years?

Perhaps you could answer the question "How has the American embargo against Cuba helped over the last 50 years?" or "How many anti-Cuban American presidents has Fidel Castro outlived?"

Get over it -- there is no difference between Canada openly trading with Cuba than the United States giving favoured trading nation status to the People's Republic of China. Clean up the crap that is on your own doorstep before you start pointing out what's wrong with other countries.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Adi12982,
You know...your point of view would come off much better and people would actually listen if you weren't so rude and attacking about it. You may be passionate about it but you'll win no support by the way you approach others on this subject. Blunt force trauma doesn't usually yield the desired results.

 

[ferris198]

Holy Crap !
Perhaps everyone has forgotten that Biggroofy was asking for suggestions on a vacation destination !
This is not a political forum.
This is one in which we help each other, which is the Canadian way.
Getting back to our original topic, my friends take a family vaction every December to a resort in Mexico that has a wonderful childrens program, and it is fairly resonable.
I believe it is Puerto Vallarto.
If you like, you can PM me, and I can provide you with the name.

 

[pxlbarrel]

If it's not too personal, why can't you do WDW? I'd say the original plan is the best!!

Or have you thought of DL in California?

 

[biggroofy]

If it's not too personal, why can't you do WDW? I'd say the original plan is the best!!

Or have you thought of DL in California?

Thanks for everyone's input.

pxlbarrel, I'd love to do WDW (not the christmas week, want to avoid the crowd & top prices) in early Jan. However, it seems that we are a little bit late as most popular dining plan restaurants are fully booked. Furthermore, we had visited WDW in March break, and Tokyo Disneyland in July, so try to deferr our next WDW trip to mid 2007

I'd consider Disneyland in CA too, since my DD3 have never been there. DW prefers a warmer weather, just to escape from the Canadian cold. How is the weather in CA? If we go to CA, do u think we shall visit Universal Studio too?

I think Mexico would be another option, but not sure if my DD3 can meet her favourite DORA THE EXPLORER there

 

[pxlbarrel]

Thanks for everyone's input.

pxlbarrel, I'd love to do WDW (not the christmas week, want to avoid the crowd & top prices) in early Jan. However, it seems that we are a little bit late as most popular dining plan restaurants are fully booked. Furthermore, we had visited WDW in March break, and Tokyo Disneyland in July, so try to deferr our next WDW trip to mid 2007

I'd consider Disneyland in CA too, since my DD3 have never been there. DW prefers a warmer weather, just to escape from the Canadian cold. How is the weather in CA? If we go to CA, do u think we shall visit Universal Studio too?

I think Mexico would be another option, but not sure if my DD3 can meet her favourite DORA THE EXPLORER there

Well, I'll defer the weather question to somebody who has actually gone there during Christmas in recent years. The only time I've been there when it's not been hot as hades summer was something like 7 years ago a few days after New Years. I can say that at that time, I was warmer than I have been the past couple of times I've been to Orlando in December. The last two times I was at WDW, it was very cold. I think Anaheim will be cool but not very cold and the bonus is it won't be very hot.

The one thing that DL has going for it at Christmas is the Holiday Haunted Mansion and the It's a Small World Holiday. I've seen IASW decked out for Christmas and I love it. I've never seen the HM decorated for Nightmare Before Christmas so I'm envious of all who have.

Universal...why not? Disney Soda Fountain for a nice ice cream treat for the kiddies (and you) in Hollywood...why not? Legoland...why not? Maybe a trip down to San Diego to the famous San Diego zoo to see some panda bears? Seaworld? Lots of possibilities in California.

I'm biased...I'm not a person who likes resorts where you just lie on a lawn chair basking in the sun. LOL I like to hit the ground running as early in the morning as possible and not stop until my feet are aching.

And as a kid...I only got to go to a Disney park once....so I say...get those kids to a Disney Park as often as possible!!! It'll save them money later since as we get older, we try to relive our "deprived" childhood by going multiple times. Maybe if they get their fill when they're kids they won't spend thousands of dollars going back as adults. hehehe...ok, who am I kidding? haha

 

[dsneygirl]

Holy Crap !
Perhaps everyone has forgotten that Biggroofy was asking for suggestions on a vacation destination !
This is not a political forum.
This is one in which we help each other, which is the Canadian way.

Amen. If you want to talk about YOUR government supporting oppressive regimes that is a whole other thread for another forum. What do they say about people whole live in glass houses...

 

[Scratch42]

As for DL at Christmas, beautiful time to go but not for your first time!

We were there last Christmas and will rethink if that idea ever crosses my mind!

Weather was at par for a fall day here. But the Crowds! If you were not in the park as soon as it opened, forget about it! And there is no going out of the park once you are in!

Leave DL for another time!

As for Cuba, no guarantee for warm weather there either.

j

 

[twinz]

We went to Disneyland in December of 2003, and we brought shorts/capris/t-shirts. We had to buy a sweater...it was too cold for me. It was like a chilly autumn day, and it was pretty dreary (cloudy, rainy). We were there at the beginning of the month, but like I said definately colder then I thought it would be.