whta price to put on extending a Xmas trip?

[FINFAN]

DH has told me that he thinks we should leave 12/17 instead of 12/18, and return on a 7 hour later flight on 12/25 than we have booked. As excited as I am to every extra minute during holiday crowds...and even more so to not have to rush to the airport by noon on Xmas day w/2 kids.....th budget planner in me is holding back just a bit. It is the penalty on the airfare that hurts...however the thought of maybe seeing MVMCP is SO appealing..but would normally wait 'till we arrived to buy tix (weather)but know it is the last one, so that's a big gamble. DH says it's our gift to ourselves..I have given him 2 days to change his mind and he hasn't. I think we are looking at about $600 overall....when I add it to the total of the est costs, it doesn't seem too bad, but when I think of it over a 30 hour time period...OUCH!
What would you do?

 

[mommytotwo]

I would stick to your original plans and use that $600.00 on something special for your whole family while you are on your trip.

 

[FINFAN]

Tough choice still, mommytotwo as extra time is always what we wish for most when we are there! Or on any vacation for that matter. Right now the airfare we would change to is $20 less per person, so that helps to chip away at the penalty, but I think MK closing early and not buying MVMCP ahead is what gnawing at me. But being able to enjoy Christmas day is huge also...we've never had the oppportunity to be just our own little family on Christmas before, and the thought of stressing and pulling 2 kids from WDW on Christmas day morning is pretty depressing. However, we can treat Christmas Eve as our holiday and alleviate that "feeling". Maybe I better check the vacation jar and see what that ads up to, if it is more than half, we will probably add the days...but only if our airfare does not go up!

 

[4greatboys]

$600 is a lot of money but it sounds like you really want to do and in the end will be happier that you did than if you didnt.
Plus how many Christmas' will you get spend at WDW. If this might be the only one then I say make the most of it.

 

[FINFAN]

Well, the airfare DID indeed go up! SO, unless the airline changes the schedule or something and we can get out of the penalty...looks like we are sticking w/the 18-25. I am way more bummed about heading out so early Xmas day than I am about MVMCP, but $600 is a nice chunk towards a future trip, or even a quick get-a-way somewhere closer. Wouldn't it be nice if $$$ were no object? f course, then the parks would be crowded ALL the time!

 

[4greatboys]

Sorry to hear about the flights going up. Maybe you could plan a trip for spring or summer and have a $600 head start.
Really the only thing that stops us from going more is the airfare. Its just a killer and with 7 us, its a big chunk of our budget. Yes we could drive but 20 hours with 5 kids I would be insane by the time we arrived, lol.

 

[shortbun]

better hurry or the cost may go up even more!!!