Surprise Trip: When to Go?

[Jing]

My niece, who lives in Orlando, turns 14 in February. Since she was 6, we had an agreement that this would be her spa birthday (17 is a foreign country, 21 is Vegas if we are still cool enough). I thought it would be an even more incredible present if I told her we were going to Mandara Spa. In Disneyland. My brother is on board and neither have been before, but timing is where I need help. I would like a good balance of weather and crowds, preferably with a opportunity to hit the beach for a few hours. We would prefer to stay on-site but would be open to good neighbor hotels. 2 rooms is probably better than 1. I am thinking 3 nights would be reasonable for hubs, my 2 year old boy, neice, and brother. Here are the options I have without taking neice out of school:

December between Christmas and New Years (we would all fly out from SDF, early surprise)
MLK weekend (early surprise)
Presidents Day Weekend (when she would expect us to meet her in MCO)
Memorial Day Weekend (also hubs & my 9th anniversary)
First 2 weeks in June (all flying out of SDF while they are visiting)

How should I play it?

 

[chickapin parterre]

neither have been before....that is the clue to your date choice. first two weeks in june is your best choice.

1. Christmas choice, forget it, just not fun for new folks and your range of ages !!!

2. MLK and pres day. weather is not in your control
3. Memorial day....bumping up against grad nights
4 tail end of grad nights, so the later into june, the better for you.

 

[VandVsmama]

I vote for MLK weekend or Presidents' Day weekend.

 

[SMD]

I would do Presidents' Day as it's the month of her actual birthday.

Week between Xmas & New Years is the single busiest week of the year and there will be capacity closures. MLK weekend is a half marathon weekend (registration is opens on Tuesday, you could register). Memorial Day is always crowded and there have been 24 hour days the last 3 years that drew crowds (though that may be on Feb 29th this year), it's still the summer kick off. First week of June is traditionally the last week before summer blocks start, you do get the full midweek entertainment schedule you'd miss during other parts of the year, but it's the farthest from her birthday.

 

[ADLFAN]

I vote for Presidents Day, too. Maybe not the best beach weather, but maybe it will be just fine. We went the week before PResident Day weekend and it was 80 degrees out and beautiful, plus short lines. No one thought it was too crowded and we did not have to wait for more than 20-30 minutes for standby lines! Christmas sounds very hectic, it might wreck the effects of the spa!

The on site hotels are awesome but expensive, but the Grand Californian is home to the spa, and offers some pretty sweet views RIGHT into California Adventure and their own private entrance into the park. That would be my number one choice if I could afford it!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

If you do Christmas you want early nov or early dec (1st week).
Other wise from the dates you have chosen I would say
The month of her b-day (nice line wait times) or I say your anniversary. (for that extra magic)

 

[Geemo]

My niece, who lives in Orlando, turns 14 in February. Since she was 6, we had an agreement that this would be her spa birthday (17 is a foreign country, 21 is Vegas if we are still cool enough). I thought it would be an even more incredible present if I told her we were going to Mandara Spa. In Disneyland. My brother is on board and neither have been before, but timing is where I need help. I would like a good balance of weather and crowds, preferably with a opportunity to hit the beach for a few hours. We would prefer to stay on-site but would be open to good neighbor hotels. 2 rooms is probably better than 1. I am thinking 3 nights would be reasonable for hubs, my 2 year old boy, neice, and brother. Here are the options I have without taking neice out of school:

December between Christmas and New Years (we would all fly out from SDF, early surprise)
MLK weekend (early surprise)
Presidents Day Weekend (when she would expect us to meet her in MCO)
Memorial Day Weekend (also hubs & my 9th anniversary)
First 2 weeks in June (all flying out of SDF while they are visiting)

How should I play it?

To avoid crowds it's nice to have an option other than traditional holidays.

If I were you, I'd look on line for her school 2015-2016 calendar. I'd look for NO school days making a long weekend.
I know my grandkids school has a few times a year where there is a Wed, Thur and Fri NO school. Love the 5 days to head to DLR.
Some schools districts have the Friday/Monday NO school combo for a long weekend.

If you're able to tie into a time like this you might be able to travel at a lower crowd time.

Good Luck
Geemo

 

[Jing]

Thanks for the great input! Im leaning to Presidents Day since the 60th will definitely be in progress - something about singing "Happy Birthday" on Facetime and ending with "see you in DL!" sounds pretty cool. Navigating a teenager's many extracurricular activities during the school year will be the main hurdle - school calendar will be out soon so I can see what other dates might be available.

 

[Geemo]

Have you checked now for the 2015-2016 calendar?
The districts around me have been out for at least two months.