To Disney now or to Disney later- help me to decide!

[Queila]

Hello fellow DISers! My name is Queila and my husband and I have a tough decision to make in the next few days. So our family has been taking yearly Disney trips since 2009. The first time we went as a family my daughter was 14 months old. We went back to WDW in 2010, 2011 and 2012. In August 2013 we took a break from Florida and visited Disneyland instead. I was 8 weeks pregnant then and did not get to do a lot of rides. We finally were able to welcome a second baby to our family last March.

She is 3 months old now. Her 6 year old sister is over the moon! I am on maternity leave now and will be back to work in April 2015. So as any other Disney addict I am itching for my next Disney hit. I feel that I should add that I am originally from Brazil but have lived in Canada since 2001. We have a trip planned to Brazil in Dec. 2014 to introduce the new baby to family and friends. I haven't been in Brazil since 2012 so I am homesick and I just cant postpone a trip to my homeland much longer.

So here is the dilemma: Right now we have reservations for 9 days at WDW in the beginning of October with free dining. We were very much disappointed they did not offer free dining on the last week of August like they have done the previous years. They did not make POR resort part of the promotion either and even though we called Disney the day they announced free dining there were no moderates available and we were "forced" to book a value hotel. I am not going to lie, I am not a fan of the value resorts. Call me a snob. I can live with it.

I should add that we are actually paying MORE to stay at a value in 2014 than we payed to stay at a moderate in 2012. We tried to book Coronado for that week and it comes up to $4000! When did a week at a moderate start costing this much money?? I am slightly ticked at Disney for the amount of restrictions they have for free dining this year but... whatever... it is free so they can do whatever they want. I get it.

By then the baby will be 6 months old and we will get to experience Food & Wine which is a first for us. However, that means taking my daughter out of school for a week in October and then again in December for Brazil. Also, it means I have to wait all the way until October for a much needed vacation and I kinda wish we could go now but who wants to face WDW in July with a 3 month old?

So my husband suggested cancelling this Disney trip and just taking a vacation somewhere else this July (he already asked for the time off and, as I said, we need it badly). That will hold us off until Brazil. He then suggested we go to WDW next March instead right before I have to go back to work and when the baby turns one. We can try to rent DVC points and stay at a Deluxe like we have done before and probably enjoy it more than we would enjoy it now.

My brain says this makes sense but my heart is having a hard time letting go of a Disney trip this year. I already have my ADR's and just cant bring myself to call Disney and cancel my vacation. It will be the first year with no Disney in a while for us.

I know this is getting long but I guess what I want is your opinion. What would you do?

1- Go to WDW in Oct 2014 with a 6 year old and a six month old, stay at a value, enjoy free dining and experience Food & Wine festival?

or

2- Go one year and a half without Disney, wait until March 2015, possibly stay at a Deluxe during the Canadian March break (very first week of March) with a 7 year old and a 1 year old?

Decisions need to be taken soon because if we opt for #2 we need to book our Summer vacation somewhere else ASAP. Your input will be greatly appreciated!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I'm glad to see you back on the boards! I do wish you would finish your last trip report.

I love Disney World , but in your situation I think that waiting until next year to go back might be best. I am also an value resort snob, but I say that having never given them a try I would personally post pone just so I could stay in a deluxe resort on dvc points. I also think that missing two weeks of school in one year might be tough on B.

I think that Joey's idea of going somewhere else next month, going to Brazil in December, and going to Disney next March when the weather is cooler and B is out of school would probably be the way to go. I think that the crowds the first week of March shouldn't be too terrible since most U.S. schools don't get out for Spring Break until later in the month. Some one correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[KelleyK75]

I feel your pain. We just went this past March and I am already itching to get back, but do not have anything planned right now. If it were me, I think I'd wait and go in March, when you can get the resort that you want and enjoy it more. I think the biggest question would be how much time you spend at the resort. If you don't spend much time there, then maybe you'd be happy with a Value. But if you do spend a lot of time there, it might be best to wait and get a resort you really love. Plus in March it would be a nice time to celebrate your babies 1st birthday. Just my opinion. I know it's hard to wait that long, but you are spending a lot of money, so you might as well go when it makes you most happy.

I hope you are able to finish your last TR, too. I am not sure if I posted or was just lurking, but I was enjoying reading it.

 

[Queila]

I feel your pain. We just went this past March and I am already itching to get back, but do not have anything planned right now. If it were me, I think I'd wait and go in March, when you can get the resort that you want and enjoy it more. I think the biggest question would be how much time you spend at the resort. If you don't spend much time there, then maybe you'd be happy with a Value. But if you do spend a lot of time there, it might be best to wait and get a resort you really love. Plus in March it would be a nice time to celebrate your babies 1st birthday. Just my opinion. I know it's hard to wait that long, but you are spending a lot of money, so you might as well go when it makes you most happy. I hope you are able to finish your last TR, too. I am not sure if I posted or was just lurking, but I was enjoying reading it.

I actually plan my vacation around my hotel and its location. If I'm in a deluxe I make sure to include a resort day to our itinerary and try to eat at all their restaurants to save time going to and from other locations. Same doesn't really apply if we stay at a value.

 

[natebenma]

Sorry I didn't get a chance to comment on this previously, but I have an inkling about what you have decided.

My advice would be to delay your trip to Disney until March (it really is not that far away) and go someplace else this summer. You won't have to take Beatriz out of school and I think Disney with a year old toddler would be slightly easier than with a baby. Unless she is moving around like crazy at that point.

And that way you get to stay in the Deluxe you want.

What a treat before your return back to work.

 

[LB1122]

As much as it pains me and I want to say do both...I so understand what you are saying about waiting.

How fun will it be with a one year old in March? I would wait and relax elsewhere this summer and get the trip you really want later. It sounds like right now it might not be exactly what you are looking for

 

[Queila]

Thanks everyone for the input. Decision is taken. We are going to Mexico (the real Mexico, not the Epcot one) this Summer and saving our Disney vacation for the Spring!!

My heart bled a little bit when I had to cancel all my carefully planned ADR's but that is okay. I will just get to do hem again for March.

Q