WWYD Disney or Arizona?

[cjbcam]

So my DH told me to book a trip to Disney and I said no because of the cost. Well now I'm wavering... here's our choices...
1. Go to Arizona stay at my parents place and hang by the pool for Easter 2018. This would be fairly cheap as we have all home cooked meals, free lodging, and only have to pay for flight. Then go to WDW starting the week before Easter 2019 for two weeks. This will give us 3 weekends in Florida so we would do Universal Studios for a couple days, clearwater, for a couple days and Disney for 9 days. Downside would be our oldest DD will miss about a week because she doesn't want to miss any school so would fly up on her Easter break.

2. Go to WDW for February break 2018 for one week. My kids love Art. I wouldn't doubt my one DD becomes an artist. I have a ton of really good sketches she has done of stitch. They really want to go to Disney Art festival. Then go to WDW Easter 2019 for one week. Easter is really late that year and my parents will not be in Arizona still by then. Then we would also sneak in a parents only trip to Vegas this summer.

I really can't decide what to do. My DH says either would be ok but he's leaning towards choice 2.

 

[Tink_83]

I like having many shorter trips to Disney planned then one big trip. But my DD is not big enough for Universal rides yet so not worth it for us to even consider going. Honestly if your kids want to do the art festival though that would be a nice extra they can't have on the first trip. Maybe ask your kids what option they would prefer and put it up for a family vote? If both are almost equal for you and your DH maybe your kids have a strong opinion that would help decide it.

 

[cjbcam]

I like having many shorter trips to Disney planned then one big trip. But my DD is not big enough for Universal rides yet so not worth it for us to even consider going. Honestly if your kids want to do the art festival though that would be a nice extra they can't have on the first trip. Maybe ask your kids what option they would prefer and put it up for a family vote? If both are almost equal for you and your DH maybe your kids have a strong opinion that would help decide it.

I have asked the kids and they say they don't know. Other than my son he wants Disney and Disney. My girls are all "we want to go to the art festival but we also want to do Arizona." They all just want me to decide.

 

[Tink_83]

Is there a reason you can't visit Arizona at some point in-between Disney twice? I guess with that being such an inexpensive trip and a trip to family it wouldn't impact my decision making on Disney trips... (i.e. Option 2 plus Arizona at some point)... If you have to choose and can't do Arizona unless it's with Option 1 then I'd choose option 1 only because I'd want to make sure I saw my family as well (but my family is in Florida and thus my excuse to drive down to Disney for a couple of days; this may be clouding my opinion on family visits Whenever I can't decide I flip a coin and if I'm fine with the toss I go that way if I'm not happy with the outcome then I know that the other option is better. Maybe do this with the whole family and see what the reactions are? Good luck!

 

[srwarden1928]

If it were my choice, I would go with option 2.

 

[cjbcam]

Is there a reason you can't visit Arizona at some point in-between Disney twice? I guess with that being such an inexpensive trip and a trip to family it wouldn't impact my decision making on Disney trips... (i.e. Option 2 plus Arizona at some point)... If you have to choose and can't do Arizona unless it's with Option 1 then I'd choose option 1 only because I'd want to make sure I saw my family as well (but my family is in Florida and thus my excuse to drive down to Disney for a couple of days; this may be clouding my opinion on family visits Whenever I can't decide I flip a coin and if I'm fine with the toss I go that way if I'm not happy with the outcome then I know that the other option is better. Maybe do this with the whole family and see what the reactions are? Good luck!

Easter is early in 2018 so my parents will still be there. In 2019 it's late and they will have come home (back to Canada) before Easter. So it's not an option for in 2019. I think we have decided on option 2. Then we also can have a couples trip. Thanks for your replies.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Canada turns 150 this year. Good excuse to go camping in Banff, Lake Louise etc! Your DD could do sketches of mountains etc.

 

[brockash]

So my DH told me to book a trip to Disney and I said no because of the cost. Well now I'm wavering... here's our choices...
1. Go to Arizona stay at my parents place and hang by the pool for Easter 2018. This would be fairly cheap as we have all home cooked meals, free lodging, and only have to pay for flight. Then go to WDW starting the week before Easter 2019 for two weeks. This will give us 3 weekends in Florida so we would do Universal Studios for a couple days, clearwater, for a couple days and Disney for 9 days. Downside would be our oldest DD will miss about a week because she doesn't want to miss any school so would fly up on her Easter break.

2. Go to WDW for February break 2018 for one week. My kids love Art. I wouldn't doubt my one DD becomes an artist. I have a ton of really good sketches she has done of stitch. They really want to go to Disney Art festival. Then go to WDW Easter 2019 for one week. Easter is really late that year and my parents will not be in Arizona still by then. Then we would also sneak in a parents only trip to Vegas this summer.

I really can't decide what to do. My DH says either would be ok but he's leaning towards choice 2.

I mean you're probably asking on the wrong boards, but we'd def. do option 2.

 

[Hikergirl]

Would Arizona just be hanging by the pool? I would love to go to Sedona so my pick would be AZ if it included that or other stuff besides hanging by the pool. Then WDW the following year.

 

[cjbcam]

I mean you're probably asking on the wrong boards, but we'd def. do option 2.

Wasn't sure what boards to ask on?

 

[cjbcam]

Would Arizona just be hanging by the pool? I would love to go to Sedona so my pick would be AZ if it included that or other stuff besides hanging by the pool. Then WDW the following year.

Arizona would be just hanging around the pool. Very nice when it's so cold here for so long.

 

[Hikergirl]

Wasn't sure what boards to ask on?

I think they meant that since its a Disney board everyone will tell you to go to WDW instead of AZ

I'm sure AZ would be nice for hanging by the pool but if that is all it would be I would definitely go with option 2

 

[cjbcam]

Canada turns 150 this year. Good excuse to go camping in Banff, Lake Louise etc! Your DD could do sketches of mountains etc.

I would like to get out of the cold. I love going south. Now that the dollar is falling that may change. We have done a lot of hiking up in the mountains. It's nice but I prefer heat.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

I would like to get out of the cold. I love going south. Now that the dollar is falling that may change. We have done a lot of hiking up in the mountains. It's nice but I prefer heat.

Arizona then its cheaper for you . You could always do hawaii

 

[brockash]

Wasn't sure what boards to ask on?

Lol...I just mean most people on here are huge Disney fans and would probably favor Disney in most scenarios, so it just may be a little biased . Even still, I'd choose option 2.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm gonna disagree...

It sounds like you have one shot at Arizona for practically no cost...and if you do it, you can plan a blowout trip for Florida in 2019. I have a rule in my house - if no one wants to spend the money, why are we spending the money? It sounds like the kids are in equipoise about wanting to see their grandparents and Arizona and wanting Disney - so if they want them equally, don't spend the money for the pricey option, especially when you can do both by choosing Arizona 1st...and even if you plan mostly pool time for Arizona, nothing says you couldn't grab a tour of some of the amazing natural sites down there for one day.

The art thing in EPCOT was not a "wow" this year, but a hopeful step for "more" in future years. If it gets no better in 2018, most folks would say you're not missing much anyway...

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Lol...I just mean most people on here are huge Disney fans and would probably favor Disney in most scenarios, so it just may be a little biased . Even still, I'd choose option 2.

I Agree with this. Flyertalk is your friend

 

[cjbcam]

I'm gonna disagree...

It sounds like you have one shot at Arizona for practically no cost...and if you do it, you can plan a blowout trip for Florida in 2019. I have a rule in my house - if no one wants to spend the money, why are we spending the money? It sounds like the kids are in equipoise about wanting to see their grandparents and Arizona and wanting Disney - so if they want them equally, don't spend the money for the pricey option, especially when you can do both by choosing Arizona 1st...and even if you plan mostly pool time for Arizona, nothing says you couldn't grab a tour of some of the amazing natural sites down there for one day.

The art thing in EPCOT was not a "wow" this year, but a hopeful step for "more" in future years. If it gets no better in 2018, most folks would say you're not missing much anyway...

That's what keeps me thinking we should do Arizona. The one really (possibly deal breaker) thing is my oldest will be in High School then and can't miss a week of school so she would miss half the trip to Florida if we ended up doing it that way. We also have a 2 hour drive to the closest airport. She will only be 16 and would have to drive herself to the airport and fly by herself to meet us. Everyone I've spoken with thinks she's mature enough, has been on enough flights to know how airports work and would be fine. I would be nervous though. This is the one major thing stopping me from the Arizona option.

 

[TwoMisfits]

That's what keeps me thinking we should do Arizona. The one really (possibly deal breaker) thing is my oldest will be in High School then and can't miss a week of school so she would miss half the trip to Florida if we ended up doing it that way. We also have a 2 hour drive to the closest airport. She will only be 16 and would have to drive herself to the airport and fly by herself to meet us. Everyone I've spoken with thinks she's mature enough, has been on enough flights to know how airports work and would be fine. I would be nervous though. This is the one major thing stopping me from the Arizona option.

Then don't have her drive - have an airport rapid rover service (or cab/Uber) pick her up or even a family friend pick her up and drop her off (and pay the friend for the time and gas like you would a taxi)...

If you went with the family friend option, that family friend could also get her all the way through the process to the security line...and from there, it's pretty straightforward...

 

[cjbcam]

Then don't have her drive - have an airport rapid rover service (or cab/Uber) pick her up or even a family friend pick her up and drop her off (and pay the friend for the time and gas like you would a taxi)...

If you went with the family friend option, that family friend could also get her all the way through the process to the security line...and from there, it's pretty straightforward...

We don't have Uber/cabs here. We also don't have any family near us. My DH parents live close to the city she would have to fly out of so we have discussed her driving there and having her grandparents drop her off at the airport. I know she would be fully capable of flying by herself it's just my nervousness lol. That and I would be sad she was missing half the trip.