WDW or DLR in April '07?

[ksoehrlein]

DH doesn't like to plan. He's a "tell me when and where to go and I'll be happy" kind of guy when we vacation. So with him being no help whatsoever, I turn to you: Where should we vacation next April?

The facts:

• Either way, it will be a Sun-Thurs stay to conserve points. We have 147 remaining in our Feb 2007 Use Year and are not afraid to borrow a few from 2008 if necessary.

• WDW is driving distance for us and DLR will mean flying. DS has never been on an airplane before, and I'm sure he'd love it. DH and I sure won't love the additional cost, however. We'd probably need to rent a car to do a day trip or two (San Diego Zoo, etc.), so that adds to the extra cost as well.

• DH and I have only done a day trip to DL (pre-DCA days) and the kids have never been, but we're all WDW veterans. None of us has ever set foot in a DL Resort hotel. If we do go, I'm leaning toward using points to stay at the Grand Californian, thanks to Samantha Brown's Great Hotels, but I'm open to suggestion here.

• DH's, 6-yo DD's, and my WDW APs will have expired, but 3-yo DS's will still be good (we plan to activate his this December). At DLR, obviously, we would all need to purchase tickets.

• DD watched the DLR planning DVD about 100 times a few weekends ago and keeps asking when we can go.

So, WWYD? Please vote and comment below to help sell me on your selection. Thanks, everyone!

 

[Lady SnowElla]

I'm probably not going to be a lot of help but here goes. . .my first vote is to go DLR & stay at the Grand Californian. My girls & I went with friends the first year the Grand Californian was open & we used our DVC points. It is a magnificent hotel. . .we loved walking in the back of California Adventure. We are WDW veterans also but this was the first trip for both the girls & I to go DL. It was magical to me as it was truly Walt's park. As a kid in Louisiana I had watched him every Sunday & dreamed of being there, it was so special. Our friend's brother lives there so we rented a minivan for a couple days & he drove us to the San Diego Zoo to see the pandas especially. We went to the Santa Monica Pier. We drove around Hollywood & went to see the stars handprints. It turns out to be the opening of the first Princess Diaries movie. We saw Julie Andrew from a distance. After the crowds left & we were walking around, we got to meet & take pictures with Anne Hathaway. It was a magical time, however my oldest daughter was 8 & my youngest was 3. She remembers it from pictures, movies, & our talking about it. We plan to go back in a year or two so she'll remember it as a child.
I guess because of the age of your children I would say go if you'll easily be able to go back in a couple years if not I'd wait till they are a little older.
Sorry I wasn't more help!

 

[gtrist4life]

I voted for DLR. We stayed at the DL Hotel last fall on points, and while the weather was cooler than I expected, we had a great time. Nothing like walking where Walt walked and enjoying his original park.