We're Gona Take First Trip "Home" Next Year - Now What?

[ArRzrbk]

After reading all the great responses to my poll about what ages would be best to take my two young boys to Disney, we have decided to try for next year Now what? Our use year is April...

Easter Trip/First Birthday Trip for Second Son...
This might be a very appropriate trip, since I used my DVC buy-in "proposal" to tell DH I was expecting, but it is at the very end of our use year, and kids do tend to get sick last minute. And this would require borrowing points, as we rented out this year's allotment.

Third Birthday for First Son...
This would be wonderful. It falls at the start of our use year, and I don't think it would be a busy time of year. The only catch is that Gram isn't out of school at this time (Jr. High School Counselor). She'd have to try and take off to go with us. Not only would her help probably be needed (first big trip with the boys), but she is helping us pay for DVC right now, and she misses the boys so much (we live 16 hours apart).

Summer Trip...
Could go anytime from June to first week in August, but know it will be hot, hot, hot, and probably busy, busy, busy. Maybe that's true of Spring Break/Easter Break too? But this time does fall into our 100% banking window.

Thanksgiving...
Could be magical, waking up day after Thanksgiving to a Christmas Disney wonderland! Just not sure I can wait that long. This will fall within our 50% banking window. This too may be a very busy time, and it's the start of cold and flu season - boys stand a bigger chance of being sick when it's time to go.

I have checked into travel insurance, and frankly, was very unimpressed with the $5.00 per point refund, but I would do it if we picked a trip near the end or at the end of our use year, just so we wouldn't lose out entirely.

Anyway, that's it folks. Thanks for listening, and your help is much appreciated in this decision

Char

P.S. Have thought about renting out points again and just using the money to travel on, but that's a lot of work, and there is no guarantee the trip still wouldn't get canceled. Not even sure what the policy is on cash reservations - think it's 7 days out. But I digress... Unless yall have specific advice on trying something like that. Thanks!

 

[rocketriter]

Why not go the first day Gran gets out of school? There are probably other school districts that haven't let out yet, so the crowds (and heat) would be a factor but wouldn't be as unbearable as in August.

 

[laceemouse]

While Easter will be cooler than summer, it will be more crowded too. I would not worry about the kids being sick, that is just something no one could ever predict. Yes, take Gram with you!!!! I guess I agree with the previous poster, maybe try to go as soon as she gets done with school......what date is that? School ending dates vary widely from region to region. You may be able to beat the largest summer crowds.

 

[pumpkinboy]

I'd recommend trying the April dates. It's going to be less crowded than Easter, Thxgiving or Summer, and the weather will be the best. Perhaps just have Gram take one or two days off, and do a long weekend, with the rest of you hanging out the rest of the time.

Another possibility might be next October, over Coumbus Day, or November around Veterans' Day, so Gram gets the long weekend with the Grandkids and you all get the lower point costs and crowds (not to mention the Food & Wine Fest). Stay a few days on either end of when Gram can come, and take advantage of travelling in less crowded times before the boys enter the school calendar, and you become wedded to the most crowded times.

Good luck, and have a great trip, whenever you take it.

Oh and you might want to pick up the newest (2005) edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as this year's edition has day-by-day crowd predictions from now thru end-December '05, in addition to the wonderful illustrations of room layouts at all the various Disney resorts (including the DVC ones). The wry and witty wrting is all still there, and I think it is even funnier than previous years' editions.