This is your last chance to talk me out of this!

[leighe]

I'm guessing that since you posted that question on *this* board, you are really wanting to be talked into it . (I didn't take Psychology as one of my science requriements in college for nothing! )

However, my parents took us on this really cool trip out west once. We drove around in this really nice RV for almost an entire summer and saw the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert,k Monument Valley, the Badlands, the Grand Teetons, the Redwood forests in CA, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, (no this isn't in any geographical order) and lots of stuff in Texas. We stayed in hotels along the way too - my mom insisted! I found out later that this was my dad's reward for all the years he took us to Disney - he loves Disney, but he really loves is out west. I was 16 at the time and at first completely appalled at the thought of spending 4 whole weeks with just my family, but ended up having a really good time in spite of how "cool" I was. Of course I didn't admit it and kept any enthusiaism to a minimum!

 

[Micca]

Go to WDW, but try some different things and vary your routine.
It'll be a blast

 

[WDWorld2003]

Why not take two vacations!!!!!!!!! One to WDW and the other ?????

 

[EmmasGrammy]

When our kids were small they wanted to do WDW every year for vacation. After the first 5 years of WDW we decided to try Universal Studios, Orlando. We booked an off property hotel and went to U.S. for one day. Then we went back to the hotel, packed our things and drove to WDW to really enjoy our vacation.
Our hearts are at WDW!!!

Since our kids are older and they have added Islands of Adventure to U.S. , we sometimes add a 2 or 3 day stop there after WDW.

 

[Deweysgirl]

9 out of 10 times, you'll find us on vacation at WDW, but there has been a time or two that we've done the Great Smokey Mtns. We've rented a cabin in Gatlinburg and we really have a good time up there and especailly like hiking and the scenery of Cades Cove. (Kids love the black bears!) We've been to Dollywood twice and it's good family fun, but as mentioned, we usually stick with the mouse!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. My older kids prefer Universal to WDW. It's been about 2 1/2 years since my older kids have been to WDW (and they are ready to go back, which we plan to all do next January), but they've really enjoyed last Spring vacation at Unviversal and are looking forward to next month when we go back. The front of the line priveledges for staying onsite at Universal are wonderful and the rides are more thrilling. Theming is good, just very different from Disney. How about 3 days at Universal and the rest at WDW? We were going to try Seaworld, but I really don't think my older 3 kids (10, 13, 16) would like it, but I might bring my 4yo sometime.

A week would be a bit much for Universal since there's just the two parks (unless you want a lot of pool time), but 3 days would be perfect for a first visit, assuming you were staying onsite and using the FOTL to avoid most of the lines. There might not be any availability depending on when you spring break is, unless it's at the Portifino Bay Resort, the nicest of all the Universal onsite hotels.

T&B

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by vicb
Uh-oh... clearly I am in the minority but here goes....

We love Disney but could not go every year. We always feel we need a year off, then we go back refreshed. We (DH and I) also feel very strongly that we live in such a wonderful country and we want our children to see more of it than just WDW.

Some non-WDW trips that we have enjoyed as a family:

San Diego (which would be fabulous in the summer!)

San Antonio

Chicago

Maine Coast (we have family there that we visit but we always play tourist too, it is a beautiful state)

Toronto

This was our WDW year but in our future are: This summer a trip with our whole extended family to Las Vegas rolleyes: not my first choice), Maine, next spring Marco Island (for the beach) and next summer Colorado (for the Rockies).

Good Luck Fargoman2!

Vegas is great. I think you'll be surprised. When I was little (I'm 27 now) Vegas and WDW were our families two big trips each year. I have to say Vegas ranks #2 only to Disney.

I hate casinos and have maybe spent a total of an hour in casinos over the course of 20 trips to Vegas.

There is a lot for kids to do, and there are some places that are very educational . At least there were. There is a neat museum in the Luxor that teaches about ancient Egypt, there are plenty of places around that teach about the old west.

Circus Circus has neat circus games and acts and an indoor amusement park, Treasure Island, and Excalibur and New York New York have carnival midways. Luxor has a virtual reality arcade. New York, New York has rides.

There are some shows that are fine for families, some magic shows, or EFX (if it's still running) or Cirque.

There are also nature centers, water parks, and I think there is an M&M factory you can tour. There is great shopping & dining in Ceasers Palace and Excalibur (as well as the other places). The fashion show mall also has great shopping.

I vaugely recall some sort of Imax movie thing at Ceasars too.
And the star trek thing at the Hilton?? is neat even for non trek fans.

Excalibur I think also does shows for kids on their shopping level, with medeial themes. Also, they have a great dinner show that is similiar to Medieval Times.

There is really a lot more to Vegas than buffets and gambling.

WDW is still my #1 but Vegas will always be my #2 fave vacation spot.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by kilee
We always take 1-2 non disney trips a year. We do compare them to Disney the entire time we are on them though. There is a lot of other stuff to see out there. However, I am comfortable saying this because we do go to WDW 1-2 times a year as well. So, go w/ what is right for your family.

We just found ourselves doing this last week. We went to Disney, Seaworld & US/IOA. We found ourselves contstanly saying things at US/IOA like "Disney would have done this better" or this is just not the same as Disney, Disney this, Disney that, lets skip this next time and go to Disney longer.

But maybe take a few days on your WDW trip and explore the rest of Orlando. Try a dinner show offsite, like Medeival Times, Pirates or Arabian Nights. Spend a day at US/IOA (one day is really all you need , we had 3 and were bored to tears . We spent 1/2 day in each park and managed to go on everything, including Dueling Dragons 3 times in a row, Spiderman 6 times in row and the last day we spent wandering around Citywalk and were so bored that we decided to just go hang out at the airport a few hours early. It just was not fun to us. :shrug: But we are two adults, so maybe your kids would want more time there.

Maybe do something at Disney you havent done, like a behind the scenes tour.

Other travel destinations I like a lot are Vegas and Wildwood NJ.

 

[vicb]

EsmerldaX,

Thanks for the encouragement. I just bought a book "Fodor's LV with Kids" so I'm sure we can keep busy there. Probably some of my dread is the travel with a large family group, not really my thing but I'm sure we can make it a positive experience!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by vicb
EsmerldaX,

Thanks for the encouragement. I just bought a book "Fodor's LV with Kids" so I'm sure we can keep busy there. Probably some of my dread is the travel with a large family group, not really my thing but I'm sure we can make it a positive experience!

I think you'll really have a good time It's gorgeous out there too, the scenery is amazing

Enjoy!!

 

[Parrothd]

2 members of my family (husband and wife) have been spending every one of their summer vacations at WDW since 1972. To their credit, they never seem to burn out. I also started going in '72 and went every year for many years. It was very hard to break the every-year habit, but I finally did. Actually, I'm glad I did!

Now, don't get me wrong......I love WDW as much as the next person but, there's SOOOO much more to see in this great country of ours......especially if you have kids (which I see you do -- and one of them is 15.......only a few more vacations for him/her with you until he/she is out on their own).

Anyway, the "food for thought": back to the husband/wife.......the wife recently found out she has cancer with not many years left. They suddenly realized that they've seen nothing of this country except WDW and the highway shoulders between the mid-west and Central Florida. Now, they're scrambling to see as much as they can with their time left together. Last year they took Amtrak to Frisco. This year they're going to LA via Amtrak and they have to stop in Disneyland to get their "fix" (I guess).

If you're really hooked on Disney (like most people become), try alternating your summers. Trust me, years from now, you'll most likely be VERY glad you did. Plus, if you stay away for a year, it might make it THAT much better the next time you go. There's a LOT to be said for anticipation.

Here's some examples of where I've taken my family the past 3 years (this year we return to WDW):

2001 (2 weeks) - We drove the Florida Keys and took our time doing so......spending a few nights in Key Largo, a few more in Marathon, a day at Bahia Honda, a week in Key West, a few nights in Tavernier on the way back up........it was a Wonderful trip that we'll do again. With the exception of Hawaii, it's the most beautiful "tropics" in the 50 states. The Keys are United States' only "Caribbean Islands". PLUS, it only cost you about 1/4 of the cost of a Hawaii trip.

2002 (2 weeks) - Family Sleeper room on Amtrak to Albuquerque (The train is the BEST way to see the country). Spent a few nights there, then rented a 4WD SUV. With that, we drove to:
- Tombstone, AZ for a few nights
- Tucson, AZ for a night
- Sedona, AZ
- Grand Canyon, AZ for a few nights (Sorry you find that idea boring HunnyPots - I've never seen ANYONE else roll their eyes at the Grand Canyon......oh well, personal taste I guess -- no offense intended with that comment)
- Durango/Silverton, CO for a few nights
- Chama, NM
- Santa Fe, NM
- then back to Albuquerque to catch our train home.
This was also a FANTASTIC trip. Talk about seeing some of the country. Yes, it was a lot of driving, but we went off roads in the desert to find "ghost towns" (I had a book telling of their locations) then off road in the mountains of CO to find abandoned silver mines (another book with their locations). It was a BLAST! We went from the blazing desert of Tombstone, to throwing snowballs (in June) just north of Silverton.

2003 (2 weeks) - Amtrak to Chicago for a night, then Family Sleeper room on Amtrak to New Orleans for a few nights. Rented an SUV and drove the coast road over to Gulf Shores, AL for a week. Saw the Pennsacola Naval Air Station and the Blue Angles practice. Drove back to New Orleans to return the car, then Amtrak back to Chicago and on to home.

Other vacations have included the Ft. Myers/Naples coast of FL; Cancun/Cozumel; the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale coast of FL; the Atlantic Coast from Charleston, SC to Hilton Head to Jekyll Island, GA; the Washington, DC area, and Jamaica (just to name a few).

I guess what I'm trying to say with all of this is: life is too short to find yourself stuck in a rut. I've found that most people who "expand their horizons", are (in the end) usually NEVER sorry they did so. Conversely though, I know that I don't want my last thoughts in life to include things like "If only I'd......", "What if I would have.......", "I sure wish I would've had time to see........", etc.

Yes, I realize that there are some people whose only goal in life is to visit WDW as many times as they can before they die. I can't speak for that mind-set because it's not mine. Yes, a good time CAN be had on a non-Disney vacation (at least for me it can).

With all that being said, we're heading to WDW in 3 months.......WOOHOO! Polynesian here we come! :jumping4:

 

[vicb]

Parrothd, nicely said!

So sad about the family member with cancer, hope she gets to do some more of the trips she really wants before she is unable.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I have to say I am one of the minority too.

Instead of a 4-peat. Try something else.
My parents took me to WDW when I was 2 (no, I dont remember)brother 6yrs in 1972- First year of Space Mountain.

We never went again.

We went to Florida for Thanksgiving, Bermuda- twice, Maine- nice cottages and lakes. Cape Cod- a LOT- LOVE the ocean I know how to swim, sail, have seen whales and seals, build sand castles, drive a moped down a cobblestone road in Nantucket.

Vermont is nice too, bike riding, hiking, camping, fishing, boating, swimming- horseback riding. Mt Snow is a great summer area.

San Diego is great fun- Seaworld, Wild Animal Park, SanDiego Zoo, I loved that trip.

Florida Keys is nice. Spend time on the beach, biking, shopping, playing shuffle board, walking, concerts, sailing, collecting seashells, dont think becauses its not an amusement area that you cant entertain your kids.

Anywhere there is water is where you will find me.

For me to go to WDW for honeymoon was like pulling teeth-now look what board I am on- hoping my 2nd trip is better than first.

 

[Fargoman2]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your great insights--you've definitely given me some more food for thought.

I should have also explained that we have 5 free airfares, so we are looking for a destination that makes that worth it. We have been to San Diego--very nice! We've also done the Yellowstone, Teton, Rushmore thing--excellent (I think we'll do that again next year.)

I'm not sure what we will do this time. Time is running out on my decision. I'll let you know--if you care--what we ultimately decide.

Thanks again for all the great ideas!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I thought that you were looking for ideas in the Orlando area.

How about Alaska? That is on my list. Also, I'd like to go back to NW Canada (was there when I was a teen) and show my family the Lake Louise area. Very beautiful!

I'm from Oregon--you could fly into San Francisco, drive north through the wine country, Redwoods, and northern CA/So Oregon coasts, go to the Oregon Caves, and then to Crater Lake (that's where I met my DH almost 25 years ago). If you haven't been to Crater Lake then you need to do it in your lifetime--it's out of this world beautiful. In the bay area don't forget the Jelly Belly factory tour and the San Fran sites. How many weeks do you have?

I once saw an article in the newspaper about making a list of things you want to do in your life and I made my own list of "50 things I want to do before I die". I know that I still have it someplace (I've since moved and I stuck it somewhere) and I do think about it sometimes. No, I don't have any life threatening disease (other than the one that we all have), but it's good to focus and think about things that we want to accomplish in our lifetimes. Many of my things involved travel so I should get busy. I did take horsebacking riding lessons and also swimming lessons (but gave up on learning the breaststroke), two of my non-travel things. I don't want to be in the same situation as Parrothd's relative and have too much unfinished business.

T&B