What to do in 2012? Need your help disers!

[gemmybear83]

Were having a hard time deciding what to do next year, we both would really like to do a week in wdw on site, a week cruising on the fantasy and then a couple of nights somewhere else after the cruise, but I just cant justify the flights prices anymore to Orlando We would be looking at September or October next year and even for this year I am struuggling to see less than £550 (I find this particularly painful as we only paid £300 with VA to years ago).

So the other option is to do Disneyland - 4 nights at a Disneyland hotel, LA, San Diego and San Francisco. I have never been, DH only when he is younger. Plus by the end of the next year I think all the improvements to California Adventure should be completed - including the Ariel ride, cars land etc (while MK will probably still be a building site?). Flights are easily coming out at £550 also and represent much better value for money for me since its a longer journey (does that make sense?). My only concern with LA would be the driving and I think that would make the holiday stressful?

What do you guys think? I am probably putting unecessary pressure on this trip as it will be the last one for a while (although I always say this )

 

[jtlover]

We did LA a few years back. Didnt love it as much as Florida but it was good to see the original disney. We drove everywhere and went to San Fran. The only problem with SF is that you cant easily drive round there so we off hired the car and got another one a few days later when going back to LA.

 

[irongirlof12]

it's a tough one as I always prefer florida to anywhere else. it's the only holiday that i never want to end. It doesn't help that there is so much to do!some indirect flights work out to be cheaper. i priced up a couple of trips to other places for a change, and it just sems that everywhere costs more to get to. and you do know that every penny is worth it in wdw.

 

[irenep]

We did California last year and had a wonderful trip. I am sure you would too but it does involve a lot of driving around and the LA roads are very busy although I managed fine (definitely found the SatNav essential). You could try some internal flights if the driving seems too much

Try pricing up the whole thing including hotels/tickets/carhire etc and then work out how the two places compare.

 

[disneyholic family]

well i suppose it's good to get out and see other things...
and DL and DCA are fun....
and there is sooooooo much to see in california - just the natural beauty itself if you get to any of the national parks (quite a long drive though)...

but....having said this.....and we did this a few years back...
actually we did a very long 6 week trip starting out at WDW, then a DCL cruise, then flew to LA, then on to Las Vegas, then to Detroit (where i'm from -and where i do power shopping), then to NYC, then home..

of the above, what we most enjoyed was WDW, the cruise and NYC....

i'm not sad that we went to LA and LV....it was interesting and in any case, we were together.....
but if given the choice, i'd choose WDW.......

however, the price issue is definitely real and serious and i don't know the answer to that.....i'm struggling with it myself...

have you checked the price of flights to NYC?
how about flying to NYC, then driving down the east coast with a stop in washington DC, then on to WDW.....
and then drive back to NYC - perhaps taking a different route for the drive north (perhaps though the great smokey mountains and other parks along the way)..

you'd have to have at least an extra week for drive time and to visit NYC and DC....but it would be different.....and you'd still get WDW.

i wonder if the flights to NYC are cheaper.....and i wonder how much it would cost to rent a car in NY....

 

[gemmybear83]

Thanks guys for your posts!

well i suppose it's good to get out and see other things...
and DL and DCA are fun....
and there is sooooooo much to see in california - just the natural beauty itself if you get to any of the national parks (quite a long drive though)...

but....having said this.....and we did this a few years back...
actually we did a very long 6 week trip starting out at WDW, then a DCL cruise, then flew to LA, then on to Las Vegas, then to Detroit (where i'm from -and where i do power shopping), then to NYC, then home..

of the above, what we most enjoyed was WDW, the cruise and NYC....

i'm not sad that we went to LA and LV....it was interesting and in any case, we were together.....
but if given the choice, i'd choose WDW.......

however, the price issue is definitely real and serious and i don't know the answer to that.....i'm struggling with it myself...

have you checked the price of flights to NYC?
how about flying to NYC, then driving down the east coast with a stop in washington DC, then on to WDW.....
and then drive back to NYC - perhaps taking a different route for the drive north (perhaps though the great smokey mountains and other parks along the way)..

you'd have to have at least an extra week for drive time and to visit NYC and DC....but it would be different.....and you'd still get WDW.

i wonder if the flights to NYC are cheaper.....and i wonder how much it would cost to rent a car in NY....

Thanks for your post Beth, NYC flights are much cheaper - £300 ish, but there is no way we would drive down, DH wont even consider indirect flights , and we both could not take an extra week each of leave to travel - thats valuable holiday time, for another holiday later in the year

 

[disneyholic family]

Thanks guys for your posts!



Thanks for your post Beth, NYC flights are much cheaper - £300 ish, but there is no way we would drive down, DH wont even consider indirect flights , and we both could not take an extra week each of leave to travel - thats valuable holiday time, for another holiday later in the year

well my big dream - for when we have lots and lots of time, is a drive trip coast to coast in the US - hitting as many of the national parks as possible..
sort of like what's his name did - the travel writer....the american writer who's lived in the UK for two decades..

anyway, i would love to do that, but i think to do it right would take at least 3 months....

maybe rent a winnebago like robin williams in the movie...of course the gas to run those things would cost a fortune.....hmmm......maybe a train ride

 

[wayneg]

Been to Cali twice and had great trips but 2 things contributed to our enjoyment, 1 we met up with American friends both times, without that I doubt we would have enjoyed half as much, other they were not our main trips, still visited Florida also.
If it was our only trip of the year and the flight prices were similar I would go for Florida every time, everything is far more compact, hotel prices are better value in Florida. Cali we found cost us more per day(tickets, food, gas etc) I would see 3 hours less on a plane a bonus myself.
One day I hope to fly into Vegas and do a road trip to San Fran(or other way) but again it would have to be a 2nd trip after Florida not in place of it.
Thats just me though, I am sure there are people that would prefer to do a west coast trip instead of Florida, we tend to be a little biased on this forum

 

[torsie24]

You can do LA without the driving.

DLR has ME just like WDW, so you could either start or end at DLR, and then you'd get your transfer in.

You could get a train from Anaheim to LA, then from there the Metro and buses are very easy to use. As long as you stay in the centre of Hollywood you'll be able to get anywhere you need easily on public transport.

Have you been to Vegas yet?

It's an amazing city!! I'd certainly recommend it over SF but it depends what type of trip you're after.