WDW or DLR Budget WWYD?

[GOOFY4DONALD]

So we have decided to take the kiddos to DLR for a week, go to Universal Studios and Mideval Times. I know this sounds like a fun but I can't help be a little sad for WDW. I have gone to DLR many times in my life (growing up in So Ca) and it never was a true vacation (sleeping on my grandmas floor no hotel). But after visiting WDW and staying in a world away from everything it was so magical. I know I should be more excited than I am but I can't justify a trip that the airfare would cost more than a whole week at DLR.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

So we have decided to take the kiddos to DLR for a week, go to Universal Studios and Mideval Times. I know this sounds like a fun but I can't help be a little sad for WDW. I have gone to DLR many times in my life (growing up in So Ca) and it never was a true vacation (sleeping on my grandmas floor no hotel). But after visiting WDW and staying in a world away from everything it was so magical. I know I should be more excited than I am but I can't justify a trip that the airfare would cost more than a whole week at DLR.

We were just looking at Universal online. Looks like fun and would be different. We usually stay at the Candy Cane Inn when we go to DL, but would you be more excited if you stay somewhere really nice? Without the airfare you would have a little more leeway with that? I love DL and the easiness of going back and forth between DCA and DL. Plus you will get to see World of Color, which was our favorite thing last year. And focus on how nice the weather will be for you! You will have a great time and no hot and humid crankiness.

 

[starry_solo]

$700 per person!!! I have never heard of flights that high before unless you are flying first class. I would never go to Disney if it cost that much per person.

That being said, I guess I would pick option #2 or I would do Disney this year and find a less expensive option for the whole family next year.

Flights from CA to FL are hovering around $500-700 per person for May 2012. I see people getting great deals for $100 and wonder, how the heck can they do that?

 

[limace]

Do you ever consider flying out of someplace like Spokane instead? I grew up in Montana and that's generally what we did, unless we were flying on someone else's dime as part of a business trip for my dad . I know the convenience of Spokane depends on where in Montana you live (people don't realize how huge the state is); we were in Missoula, so it was definitely a reasonable drive to save some money.

And yeah, while I looove WDW, I think Disneyland is my single favorite park. With three kids, the logistics are so much simpler than at WDW (dealing with internal transportation, etc) and it's much less expensive once we're there, since we aren't restricted to eating onsite.

My daughter is almost 15-we are contemplating letting her have a friend meet us in DL in we do our road trip down there this year. I'm not sure I want to have the friend in the car both ways, since the girls' drama is exhausting, but it would be a lot more fun for her to have a friend at the park.

 

[pixiewings71]

So we have decided to take the kiddos to DLR for a week, go to Universal Studios and Mideval Times. I know this sounds like a fun but I can't help be a little sad for WDW. I have gone to DLR many times in my life (growing up in So Ca) and it never was a true vacation (sleeping on my grandmas floor no hotel). But after visiting WDW and staying in a world away from everything it was so magical. I know I should be more excited than I am but I can't justify a trip that the airfare would cost more than a whole week at DLR.

That will be fun!! Medieval Times is fun but so is the Pirate Adventure dinner. If I had to chose I'd honestly go to the Pirate Adventure meal instead. This trip will be different, no sleeping on your Grandma's floor first of all, second you'll have your family with you, that really makes a lot of difference! Last of all, you should come down to the DLR portion of the Dis, we have a lot of good info down there for you!!

 

[NokOnHarts]

Wow, I could have written this post. I have been struggling with trying to figure out WDW or DL for this same reason! We really wanted to go this year to see the Christmas decorations in mid November and I can't believe how crazy the plane tickets are to FL. We are in WA state so it seems most of the West is struggling with this issue. My DH really wants to go to FL (and I do too, for a lot of the same reasons you posted) but I can't seem to justify the cost of tickets to get down there. And it doesn't look like it's gonna get any better in the months to come thanks to gas prices. I keep trying to convince my DH that for plane tickets to DL costing less than $200 ea., while to WDW they're costing $500 some ea., it's worth it to do DL instead. He doesn't seem at all excited about that option. I just don't know what to go with so I'm basically planning 2 trips in hopes that the cost of tickets will level out. (Wishful thinking.) I just want it to be magical for my kids (4 & 1) but obviously spending a couple grand on a trip not everyone is super excited about is kind of depressing.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Wow, I could have written this post. I have been struggling with trying to figure out WDW or DL for this same reason! We really wanted to go this year to see the Christmas decorations in mid November and I can't believe how crazy the plane tickets are to FL. We are in WA state so it seems most of the West is struggling with this issue. My DH really wants to go to FL (and I do too, for a lot of the same reasons you posted) but I can't seem to justify the cost of tickets to get down there. And it doesn't look like it's gonna get any better in the months to come thanks to gas prices. I keep trying to convince my DH that for plane tickets to DL costing less than $200 ea., while to WDW they're costing $500 some ea., it's worth it to do DL instead. He doesn't seem at all excited about that option. I just don't know what to go with so I'm basically planning 2 trips in hopes that the cost of tickets will level out. (Wishful thinking.) I just want it to be magical for my kids (4 & 1) but obviously spending a couple grand on a trip not everyone is super excited about is kind of depressing.

I'm feeling better about it. There are a lot of things that I wanted my kids to enjoy while they are still little (esp at DL's Fantasyland). The more I think about WDW, the more I remember DH and I wanting to go go go. Wore the kids out. We got up and left our resort at least an hour before an ADR. AND DH and I didn't see everything we wanted to. By the end of the week we had the most tired crabby kids on the planet. I figure by the time we go back it will either be DH and I alone (I hope) or the guilt will set in and we will take the kids (but they will be older)