*** The Official July 2014 thread, join us won't you? ***

[DisneyMomFanatic]

So happy to have so many kindred spirits on the boards. BTW, I just couldn't imagine driving to Orlando.

We drove down to Disney YEARS ago when my DD was in diapers and still drinking from a bottle (she was under a year old) and not since then. We had to make many stops for bathroom/diaper breaks but now they will be 15 and 11. Will it be better or worse? We aren't sure whether to take our van, which gets worse gas mileage or the midsized car which would get good gas mileage. Is more space going to give me sanity and I have to output more money for gas? Or will they be okay for the trip right next to each other and save me money, or will I be insane by the time we get to Florida and then I won't enjoy the first part of my trip??? HELP!!!!

 

[wintershawl]

Me too My mom and I were talking last night about what it would be like to actually go to Disney when it wasn't crowded. Ah, to dream

Ditto
We also go every school vacation when flights are most expensive . We are driving in April.

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Well, to add to the pain of not going when it is less hot. There is a big fair in the area I live in. Most of the school districts get a few days off, if not the entire week. Many, many families from this area go down then. It is the last week in September when crowds are lower and discounts abound! Yep.

Of course, I prefer when we go to that because we always stay more than a week, so it gives me that chance. But it is painful to see everyone else's photos.

All the same... DIS TEACHERS UNITE! hehe.

 

[wintershawl]

We drove down to Disney YEARS ago when my DD was in diapers and still drinking from a bottle (she was under a year old) and not since then. We had to make many stops for bathroom/diaper breaks but now they will be 15 and 11. Will it be better or worse? We aren't sure whether to take our van, which gets worse gas mileage or the midsized car which would get good gas mileage. Is more space going to give me sanity and I have to output more money for gas? Or will they be okay for the trip right next to each other and save me money, or will I be insane by the time we get to Florida and then I won't enjoy the first part of my trip??? HELP!!!!

It probably depends on your kids' personalities. My family always drove places when I was little... in our station wagon! lol. We would go through phases of fighting and bonding. Thus is sibling rivalry. As my one brother and I got older, and my oldest brother was out of the picture, the rides got better. We would still fight at times, but most of the time we bonded. I still remember our last drive down to Disney when I was 15 and my bro was 16. We had some good bonding time.

I say it is what you make of it, but it could still be painful.

 

[anjalee6]

Teacher here too. That's why we do Disney in the heat!

Me too My mom and I were talking last night about what it would be like to actually go to Disney when it wasn't crowded. Ah, to dream

Ditto
We also go every school vacation when flights are most expensive . We are driving in April.

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So happy to have so many kindred spirits on the boards. BTW, I just couldn't imagine driving to Orlando.

I'm a teacher too. So is my DH. We find that summer is the time that works best, but we have snuck in several fall trips as well, due to extended long weekends. It's getting crowded in the fall also just not as bad as summer.

 

[Ferrentinos]

I'm a teacher too. So is my DH. We find that summer is the time that works best, but we have snuck in several fall trips as well, due to extended long weekends. It's getting crowded in the fall also just not as bad as summer.

Teacher here too! This is the first school year that I have taken some long weekend trips - one in January and there is one coming up for me in May - we have lost all breaks due to the snow this winter so I'm thankful I didn't plan our trips on any of those! We like to also do an extended trip in the summer so we brave the heat for that experience... and next year we are going again in the fall for an extended trip that is tacked on to a long weekend at school! 2014 is our year of Disney and we are going to make the most of it while we can! I've been able to arrange a perfect substitute for my class for all trips this year which has helped because I know my students will get a really good education on the few days I miss... but this is my 11th year teaching and the first time that we are doing any trips like this!

 

[Aliceacc]

Another teacher here, married to a teacher.

My husband is fortunate enough to be chaperoning the Senior Trip to WDW in a few weeks. (I never sign up for ours. Somehow I can't make myself go to WDW without my kids.)

Aside from that, though, we only go over the summer.

I'm very happy to be planning a summer trip, as we look at yet another probable snow day tomorrow. The distraction is fabulous!!!

 

[thrillridejunkie]

We drove down to Disney YEARS ago when my DD was in diapers and still drinking from a bottle (she was under a year old) and not since then. We had to make many stops for bathroom/diaper breaks but now they will be 15 and 11. Will it be better or worse? We aren't sure whether to take our van, which gets worse gas mileage or the midsized car which would get good gas mileage. Is more space going to give me sanity and I have to output more money for gas? Or will they be okay for the trip right next to each other and save me money, or will I be insane by the time we get to Florida and then I won't enjoy the first part of my trip??? HELP!!!!

I guess that would depend on whether they mostly argue or if they can manage to be in the same space for an extended period of time.

Well, to add to the pain of not going when it is less hot. There is a big fair in the area I live in. Most of the school districts get a few days off, if not the entire week. Many, many families from this area go down then. It is the last week in September when crowds are lower and discounts abound! Yep.

Of course, I prefer when we go to that because we always stay more than a week, so it gives me that chance. But it is painful to see everyone else's photos.

All the same... DIS TEACHERS UNITE! hehe.

Teacher solidarity here! I also brave the heat so that I can stay longer than a week. Perhaps one year I'll take a sabbatical and get to experience Disney when there are less crowds & heat.

Another teacher here, married to a teacher.

My husband is fortunate enough to be chaperoning the Senior Trip to WDW in a few weeks. (I never sign up for ours. Somehow I can't make myself go to WDW without my kids.)

Aside from that, though, we only go over the summer.

I'm very happy to be planning a summer trip, as we look at yet another probable snow day tomorrow. The distraction is fabulous!!!

When I was in high school that was our trip as well, which contributed to my Disney obsession!

 

[karatemom2]

I'm a teacher too. So is my DH. We find that summer is the time that works best, but we have snuck in several fall trips as well, due to extended long weekends. It's getting crowded in the fall also just not as bad as summer.

I'm a teacher too. I dream of the day I can go on vacation when it isn't hot and crowded. If I take a day off before or after any day the district is off I get docked without a doctors note. Just trying to find a doctor who will prescribe Disney.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We drove down to Disney YEARS ago when my DD was in diapers and still drinking from a bottle (she was under a year old) and not since then. We had to make many stops for bathroom/diaper breaks but now they will be 15 and 11. Will it be better or worse? We aren't sure whether to take our van, which gets worse gas mileage or the midsized car which would get good gas mileage. Is more space going to give me sanity and I have to output more money for gas? Or will they be okay for the trip right next to each other and save me money, or will I be insane by the time we get to Florida and then I won't enjoy the first part of my trip??? HELP!!!!

It should be better. The first long road trip we took was to visit friends in SC. The boys were 4 and 8. We found out the hard way that DS4 got car sick from watching the DVD player for to long. UGH!!!! Not fun.....poor thing.
But once we figured that out, it was better. Back then, yes lots of stopping for bathroom. It was however a LOT better than we thought it would be. They didn't really fight and were very occupied.

Fast forward to last year, our first drive to Disney. DS11 and 15. A lot less bathroom breaks. They had iPhones, iPads, and other stuff, but really just used those. It is a long drive, (from MA) I'm not gonna lie, but we stop over night half way down. I look at it as an adventure, and you never see all those things on a plane. We are also able to bring our dog w us. He loves going for rides and he sleeps most of the time.

As for the car you should take- for the amt. of gas $ you'd save I would definitely take the minivan!!!
We don't hit a park on the day we arrive unless it's just to have dinner.
We are driving down in April and July ( just like last year)

So bottom line is we always fly when we can. ( definitely preferred) but if it means we can't go bc of flight prices, we drive.
I would never let the airline control whether I go or not.
If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them.

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[ddluvsdisney]

Another teacher here, married to a teacher. My husband is fortunate enough to be chaperoning the Senior Trip to WDW in a few weeks. (I never sign up for ours. Somehow I can't make myself go to WDW without my kids.) Aside from that, though, we only go over the summer. I'm very happy to be planning a summer trip, as we look at yet another probable snow day tomorrow. The distraction is fabulous!!!

That is so awesome!!! I wish my DS's HS did a senior trip to WDW. the marching band is marching and performing in WDWin April. My DS's best friend is in the band, so he is excited to hang out w them while we're there.

We were supposed to have a snow day tomorrow too, but the track of storm is going more south.
I'm in the minority, I like the snow days bc it gives me a break and more time to plan ( especially on a Monday).

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[ddluvsdisney]

rotfl: Teacher solidarity here! I also brave the heat so that I can stay longer than a week. lmao:

That is the #1 reason I love going in the summer, no rushing to get back!!

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[Ferrentinos]

I'm a teacher too. I dream of the day I can go on vacation when it isn't hot and crowded. If I take a day off before or after any day the district is off I get docked without a doctors note. Just trying to find a doctor who will prescribe Disney.

Ouch! Our district is much more understanding! We can use our personal days as we wish and without question. I feel very blessed in my position there!

 

[Ferrentinos]

That is the #1 reason I love going in the summer, no rushing to get back!! Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Me too!!! People think we are crazy but we feel like we get so much out of a longer trip.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I'm a teacher too. I dream of the day I can go on vacation when it isn't hot and crowded. If I take a day off before or after any day the district is off I get docked without a doctors note. Just trying to find a doctor who will prescribe Disney.

Same here! We get three personal days a year but we can't take them back to back and can't take them connected to a holiday. Therefore, if you look at my signature, the last time we took a trip that wasn't in the summer or over a holiday was in 2004 right before I started teaching! Let me know if you find that doctor

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

It should be better. The first long road trip we took was to visit friends in SC. The boys were 4 and 8. We found out the hard way that DS4 got car sick from watching the DVD player for to long. UGH!!!! Not fun.....poor thing.
But once we figured that out, it was better. Back then, yes lots of stopping for bathroom. It was however a LOT better than we thought it would be. They didn't really fight and were very occupied.

Fast forward to last year, our first drive to Disney. DS11 and 15. A lot less bathroom breaks. They had iPhones, iPads, and other stuff, but really just used those. It is a long drive, (from MA) I'm not gonna lie, but we stop over night half way down. I look at it as an adventure, and you never see all those things on a plane. We are also able to bring our dog w us. He loves going for rides and he sleeps most of the time.

As for the car you should take- for the amt. of gas $ you'd save I would definitely take the minivan!!!
We don't hit a park on the day we arrive unless it's just to have dinner.
We are driving down in April and July ( just like last year)

So bottom line is we always fly when we can. ( definitely preferred) but if it means we can't go bc of flight prices, we drive.
I would never let the airline control whether I go or not.
If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I keep checking for flights that won't cost me at least double what driving does. We stay over night at about the half way point at a name brand cheap hotel with a free breakfast (gotta get my money's worth! ). My DH doesn't like to drive more than 2 hrs at a time and I can drive more than that. I tried to convince him to start at like 8pm and drive straight through the night and he was having none of that!

My kids can and do get along most of the time but when they fight, they can get crazy. It is usually my DD pushing my DS's buttons just to give herself something to do. I guess if I can give her enough to keep her occupied, we should be fine

The money part:
the van gets like 15 miles/gallon so I would need to fill up 7 times for the entire trip costing about $497 (assuming gas is $3.55/gallon with a 20 gallon tank)
The car gets like 21.5 miles/gallon so I would need to fill up 6 times for the entire trip costing about $347 (assuming gas is #3.55/gallon with a 15 gallon tank)
Price difference is $150 dollars round trip saved by using the car. That is the difference between eating at a nice sit down TS meal and canceling one ADR. We are on a really tight budget this time which is the only reason I am not dishing out the extra money to fly there in 2 1/2 hrs.

We will be bringing some snacks and such to eat and just do fast food on the way. Our whole journey there and back including gas, hotel, food, and tolls is budgeted to be $675.

What is a girl to do???

 

[patclairesmom]

We drive more often than fly. Disney is so expensive there really isn't any $$$ left for 4 plane tickets. I don't mind driving though, as long as there's no traffic.

 

[Koh1977]

We drive more often than fly. Disney is so expensive there really isn't any $$$ left for 4 plane tickets. I don't mind driving though, as long as there's no traffic.

We drove last year (and actually drove straight through, leaving in the evening and getting in just before dinner time the next day). It helped to get a good chunk of the trip done while the kids were sleeping (saved time on breaks too!).

That being said, we are flying this time but only because we have enough miles to do the 4 flights (but they have to be super saver awards which aren't usually at the most convenient times).

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[RHMH]

Don't Laugh - We got some Snow/Ice

 

[SRUAlmn]

Don't Laugh - We got some Snow/Ice
http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/h...ictures/2014-03-02142623_zpsb46c7d3b.jpg.html

I'm laughing......but only because I took a similar picture of our house when we got about the same amount a few weeks ago Beautiful house btw!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Don't Laugh - We got some Snow/Ice http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/h...ictures/2014-03-02142623_zpsb46c7d3b.jpg.html

Very funny! You have a beautiful home!!
I was kinda hoping for a snow day tomorrow. ( really need a mental health day lol). But it's looking like it's going to be south of us. We'll get mostly rain or no accumulation.

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