Which trip would you do? *Update*-3rd trip option added

[melk]

We have no plans currently for our next WDW trip but are tossing around a couple of things and thought I would ask for some input.

Trip #1: Stay at VWL the week before Thanksgiving in a 1-br, 2004. We currently have no points this use year but could borrow 200 from next year.
PROS: We would be going to WDW this year! Low crowds, nice weather.
CONS: A 1-br is 214 points so we would have to rent 14 points.
The kids would miss a week of school (we have taken them out the last two years, it's never been a problem, but of course would prefer them not to miss)

Trip #2: Go the last two weeks of August, 2005. We would then have our 200 current points, plus access to 200 more.
PROS: With 400 points we could stay at least 10 days, even more if we stay at OKW. Could possibly do a couple of days at Vero Beach. Could make it a three week vacation if we drive, we would have the time to do the two-three days each way down and back, could stop at other places, Washington D.C. for example.
The kids wouldn't miss any school.
CONS: Florida in August...are we nuts?
It's a year and a half away.

Are there any things I haven't thought of? Thanks everyone, I would appreciate your opinions!

*UPDATE*--DH and I read all your posts last night and realized we hesitate on the August trip due to the heat, and hesitate on the November trip because we would need to rent some points.

Our use year is December so DH said why don't we just go in December and then we have 200 points, plus could borrow on our next 200? So....

Trip #3: The week before Christmas at VWL, then 2-3 days at Vero, over Christmas (until like the 27th).
PROS: We have the points! I don't mind at all taking the kids out of school this particular week (I know there is little to no chance of testing this week, it's mostly parties, etc).
CONS: When exactly does it get crowded (I'm thinking around the 23rd?, we would probably be checking out of VWL the 25th and going to Vero).
Weather--I know we're taking a chance. I'm not asking for summer weather, just not frigid. I know it can go either way, but mostly I'm thinking about Vero. What are the chances we can actually go to the beach in December?

Thanks for all your replies! I have to say when we thought of this December trip, we got really excited about it, I think it may be the one that works the best for us, but I'd like to know what you all think!

Thank you!!

 

[gtrist4life]

IMHO
I would choose option 2 - but maybe stretch the points so you don't have to borrow as much. From what I've heard, once you start borrowing you never stop.

Also while Number one does sound good, weather at the end of November is not guaranteed to be "nice"

Peace,
G4L

 

[mickeymom629]

I would go both times! Why not go in November and stay at OKW for less points for the whole week, or stay at VWL for 5 nights, or OKW for 5 nights for even less. (I've never rented points and don't plan on it, so I can't say if that's a good idea or not.) When you go the following summer, stay at OKW to make the points go farther.

I don't know how old your children are, but I don't think it's bad to take them out of school as long as they can make up the work.

I always like to get the most trips in and we usually only stay Sun.-Thurs. nights rather than making really long trips. Of course, I would love longer trips, but so far taking the weekends to drive to and from MD is the way we do it. But we only have 200 points also and 4 kids, so we always need 2 bedrooms.

Just my opinion and I'm sure you'll have fun planning whatever you decide.

 

[brandip22]

I'm in a situation much like yours, but looking at Thanksgiving week and the last week of May, 2005. I am really leaning toward the May trip, mainly b/c I won't have to borrow points. Plus, I know if I go this year, I'll want to go agan next year. But,if I put it off, it won't be so bad- it's only 6 more months for me! That's my goal! Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[3rugrats]

It is not uncommon for it to hit a 100 degrees in August. This has happen to us and we no longer consider going in the middle of the summer. As for borrowing points and taking the kids out of school, I don't see the problem. I feel family time will be remebered longer than most school work. In addition the X-mas decorations are up the last weeks of oct.

 

[DrTomorrow]

gtrist4life is correct - once you start borrowing, you're always a year behind. Of course, once 2041 comes, it won't be an issue!

 

[kweaver]

I'd avoid the end of August at all costs!

 

[MAC3]

I'd select option 2 as well. We have been and like Florida in August. 3 week vacation, I'm sold!

 

[JimC]

Option 2. We have, and will be again this year, to WDW in August. The last two weeks have slightly less crowded conditions as summer travel winds down. The weather is hot and humid. But we usually take a break in the afternoons and do the parks in the AM and evening. Have fun

 

[eporter66]

Thats a tough call.

I guess the way to look at it is as members, you have a lifetime of trips ahead of you now.

I dont see a problem with borrowing points and going this year. But, you didnt say how many kids you had so the one bedroom might be an issue.

Actually - we figured we would go every other year and take a longer vacations at WDW. But - the minute we became members we threw that logic out the window and booked a vacation this May.

I would go with option 1 for these 2 reasons - avoiding the hot weather and larger summer crowds. You have plenty of years of membership ahead of you to do that big vacation!

Eric

 

[jaysue]

Option #1 but stay within 200 points

thanks
jaysue

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd vote for the August trip, because I am all for taking the longest vacation possible!

 

[melk]

"Actually - we figured we would go every other year and take a longer vacations at WDW. But - the minute we became members we threw that logic out the window and booked a vacation this May"

LOL, this is exactly why we are in the situation we are in! So we have been borrowing for our trips so it seems like we'll always be a year behind!

I'm leaning a little toward the August vacation only because it's longer and I figure we'll be there so long that we can do parks early in the day, spend the better portion of the day at the pool and then head back at night. But then again we've gone the week before Thanksgiving and loved the absence of crowds!

Thanks for all the responses thus far, everyone is making some good points!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by kweaver
I'd avoid the end of August at all costs!

We didn't mind the heat but the daily rain really started to get on my nerves by the end of the trip.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

As one who never allowed his schooling to get in the way of his education, I'd vote for Option # 1. To quote my late great father when friends and family would question him about taking my brother and I out of school for those family vacations to Florida -- "It just lets the other kids catch up to them." What a great dad!!
I've suffered through 36 consecutive Ontario summers and can't imagine doing Florida in August. DW and I went to WDW on Nov. 12, '97. Weather was great (especially compared to the snow that had fallen in southwest Ontario on Nov. 11); 30 minutes of rain each day; low crowds at all parks -- we spent about 90 minutes waiting TOTAL over about 5 days, prior to the FASTPass. Such low crowd levels ALMOST made the Unofficial Guide touring plans redundant -- we were able to complete the 2-day EPCOT touring plan in 1 day.
The only "down" point was Brazilian school tours roaming the parks like packs of hungry wolves in very skimpy shorts and t-shirts. No position in the short line-ups was safe. YMMV.

 

[melk]

bumping

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I'd go in December. We arrived in Orlando on Thanksgiving day last year and took advantage of the days the kids were already out of school and then stayed through the next week as well. For some reason, our school district always schedules the first Friday of December as a day off so the kids only missed four days and we got to spend 10 days in Orlando.

Now that I have experienced the Christmas decorations @ WDW, I don't think we could go any other time of the year. If that doesn't get someone in the spirit of things, I don't know what would!

Have fun making your decision...it doesn't matter when you go when you know the destination is WDW!!!

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by 3rugrats
It is not uncommon for it to hit a 100 degrees in August. This has happen to us and we no longer consider going in the middle of the summer. As for borrowing points and taking the kids out of school, I don't see the problem. I feel family time will be remebered longer than most school work. In addition the X-mas decorations are up the last weeks of oct.

Actually, Christmas decorations don't go up QUITE that early! They normally start appearing in mid-November, and the big stuff doesn't go up until after Thanksgiving.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Weather--I know we're taking a chance. I'm not asking for summer weather, just not frigid. I know it can go either way, but mostly I'm thinking about Vero. What are the chances we can actually go to the beach in December?

The weather is so unpredictable that time of year, could be cold, could be hot. It will probably be warm during the day but at night it will most likely be pretty chilly.

Check out this site for a historical weather chart-

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=150227&refer=

 

[Pluto4Pres]

I'd go for the long trip in August. We did this about 10 yrs ago. It has to be one of my favorite trips. Yeah it was hot, but you adjust your priorities. Leave the parks during the hottest part of the day and hang out at the pool. The crowds thinned out noticably from the second to the third week of August. A lot of kids go back to school then. Good luck!