Originally Posted By TinkerbellPatten I'd like your opinions, all: Which would you choose: APs to DL/DCA, or one trip to WDW in Florida? We are huge Disney fans and have done Disneyland/DCA several times the past few years. We are saving and planning for one trip to WDW end of 2008. The wait is getting me fratchety. (No other trips while we scrimp and save every penny for this FL trip.) I'm excited about the trip but question the whole thing now because my research and WDW LPers advice regarding WDW says that 7 days there will just hit the highlights. There is so much to do and see there that many days are necessary. Also if going all the way to FL from AZ, (even though flying and not driving) we'd want to do a lot of other things too like Islands of Adventure, airboating, Kennedy Space Center, and the Disney water parks. We're looking at spending over $5 thousand for a two week trip. Sooooo... Which would you choose? AP's to DL/DCA for one year would be a lot cheaper and give us a lot of trips for less money than this one trip of a lifetime to Florida. Help! Am I just being impatient? Those of you who have done both, please advise. Thanks!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip You would need at least 14 days to do the things you want to do. If I were you I would either cut back on your plans and just do WDW stuff, or take the AP's to DL. I think both Epcot and Animal Kingdom are well worth seeing. If you could spend all of your time at WDW I think the Florida trip would be fun for you.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm hard one. I think if you really are huge Disney fans, it is worth the sacrifice to go to WDW. Maybe plan for WDW in 2009 and have one short trip this year and next at DL? Epcot and Animal Kingdom are amazing parks, no doubt. And I agree, if it's once in a lifetime, then you need to see Kennedy Space Center. But if you keep going to DL, you will never see WDW.
Originally Posted By TinkerbellPatten Hubby and I are number-crunching; we agree that for Florida, 2 weeks minimum is necessary to really see it all even in the low season. We'd hate to go all that way and spend what for us is a lot of money and then be disappointed that we only hit the highlights and missed out on so much. It looks like a full 2 week vacation in FL would run way over $5k, there is so much to do there in comparison to DL/DCA. Even if we got great airline/hotel deals, we're sure 5k is on the cheapest end of the budget, meaning we'd be brown-bagging our lunches and etc and really going "bargain basement." The majority of the trip is planned for Disney but hubby does want to do a few other things also, which I agree would be fun for the kids especially if we are lucky enough to get to see a launch at KSC. On our limited budget, the most we can save is still not enough to do this in 08. So we may have to wait til 2009 to do this, like davewasbaloo suggests. (we are of very modest means) Also we could not do any short DL trips to tide me over til then. I'm thinking I'll have to stop dreaming of Disney parks at all because the wait is making me crazy already. Just save save save and don't think about it or I'll go nuts! Hubby suggested that I stop bellyaching and just buy that winning lottery ticket and then our worries are over, LOL "Six numbers, baby... that's all we need." ;D
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<So we may have to wait til 2009 to do this, like davewasbaloo suggests. (we are of very modest means)>> In that situation (modest means) I don't know if I would go to Florida at all. Disneyland is a wonderful resort, and if you can go there with less sacrifice and do it more often that would be hard to beat.
Originally Posted By TinkerbellPatten ^^^ See why this is so hard for me! I agree, RoadTrip!!! I also agree with Davewasbaloo that is would be a once in a lifetime trip. Decisions, decisions... Should I flip a coin? ;D
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is a difficult decision. I actually have more fun at DL as a rule, but WDW and KSC have so much to offer. Although it is hard, I would recommend you set up two savings plans - one that would allow some quick trips to DL and one that would allow you to save for WDW. It is worth saving for, even if you delay your trip East even further. But not at a 3 year Disney trip sacrifice. For us, I am trying to save for a trip to HKDL and TDL, but I know DLP beckons. Rather than splash out on luxury DLP trips, we are trying to budget so that we can head to the orient in a few years time. It's not easy, but I am sure it is the right thing to do.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Being an "East Coaster" and living only 7 hours drive from WDW, and being a DVC member, and having a lot of young children, still, I will admit I love DL with a passion. That being said, I had to make a choice last week for plans in October. The choice was, fly 2 adults and 6 children to DL, stay 5 days, and come home. OR Renew AP's for WDW, drive down to WDW, and stay 10 days, then drive back. Now keep in mind, I love DL passionately, but in the end, I have to admit, I had to choose WDW, in spite of the fact that I go twice or thrice per year, in spite of the fact that it is so huge, and in spite of all the other facts one could bring to discussion when comparing these two places. BOTTOM LINE: For all of the people faithful to DL, like myself, I have to admit, I would gladly trade AP's at DL, for a one time trip to WDW. It's a no brainer really.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<WDW LPers advice regarding WDW says that 7 days there will just hit the highlights. There is so much to do and see there that many days are necessary. Also if going all the way to FL from AZ, (even though flying and not driving) we'd want to do a lot of other things too like Islands of Adventure, airboating, Kennedy Space Center, and the Disney water parks.>>> You really CAN do this. Days: 1- Magic Kingdom 2- Epcot 3- Animal Kingdom 4- MGM/Walt Disney Studios 5- Univ Studios AND IOA in one day 6- Kennedy Space Center Personally I would skip air boating and Water Parks, unless you get a premium pass and do a Disney Park at rope drop, and head for a water park in the afternoon on the same day. It's very "do-able".
Originally Posted By TinkerbellPatten <<I would recommend you set up two savings plans - one that would allow some quick trips to DL and one that would allow you to save for WDW. It is worth saving for, even if you delay your trip East even further. But not at a 3 year Disney trip sacrifice.>> Very good idea, Davewasbaloo. Pushing the trip back even by years is not so hard to do when getting the DL magic to tide me over. We WILL do a 2 week trip there (off season of course) and do everything we want, it's worth saving for and with Davewasbaloo's suggestion, the time involved will be more manageable with DL trips in between. I would not want to skip the Disney water parks, I saw the snorkeling with sharks on TV that they have at Typhoon Lagoon and I sure would love to experience that. Not sure about Blizzard Beach but have heard there are more slides there??? Are the waterparks even open in November? The airboating is my hubby's want and although not my first choice, I want him to get a chance to do "his" things with the kids too. (This includes KSC.) He likes DL but I LOVE it, it's my happy place. So I'd like to accomodate him with his things too and that's a lot of the reason why the trip stretches easily into 2 weeks. Definately "do-able" as DVCdad says and definately worth it. Now I have a gameplan, thanks all. Now to convice hubby that APs to DL is a good idea in the meantime! heehee! Original question: which would you choose: APs to DL, or one trip to WDW? Answer: BOTH!!!! Perfect answer! Yay LPer's!!!
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x Hmm...I'm interested to see what everyone has to say. I'm torn, too, because our APs are up in Feb, which is tax refund time, and I'm trying to decide between the 2 for Christmas 2008, also. Off to finish the thread.....
Originally Posted By ABBY If it were me, I think I would go for the trip to WDW. But then I just got to take a 3 day trip to DL at the beginning of May. We went to WDW for 8 days in 1996 (this was before AK). We spent 5 days in the parks and didn't get to see/do everything. One day we went to Kennedy Space Center (we were a bit disappointed) and to the Arabian Knights show in Kissimee. And another day to Daytona Beach/Speedway. And don't forget about SeaWorld!! When we get to go back to the Orlando area I want to stay for about 2 weeks
Originally Posted By LuLu >>Are the waterparks even open in November?<< Better check on this - I think they alternate in the off-season, ie both aren't open at the same time. >>I saw the snorkeling with sharks on TV that they have at Typhoon Lagoon<< Hmm, we did this last year and it was fun, but honestly, not that memorable. Also, we went in late June, and as I remember the water in that snorkeling pond was frigid cold! I know you're convinced that the trip's not worth it if less than 2 weeks, but if you've only saved enough for a week or 10 days, I'd go for it. The only thing you're saving on by making it "once in a lifetime" is the airfare. Save up again and go back for another week in 5 or 10 years!!
Originally Posted By LuLu Oh, more info on the snorkeling, basically they allow you to swim across this small pond once. Takes about 5 minutes if you go reeeeally sloooowly. ;-) If you want to go again, you have to get back in line. If you go early in the day, you can beat the lines, but you still have to get out, hand back your equipment, and start all over. The chutes and slides are WAY more fun, imho.
Originally Posted By Doo-Dah We went to WDW the first week of Dec and it was an amazing trip. I love DL, but it was great to see something different. Only one waterpark was open that month, but it's still a great time to go to see all the Christmas decorations (they set up sometime in Nov) and it was snowing in MGM. We spent 10 days in FL and were able to see everything at AK, MGM, MK, and EPCOT, and also Kennedy Space Center and a day at the beach. If you have to chose, I would chose a change of scenery and save up for FL. Don't miss the firework show in Epcot.
Originally Posted By TinkerbellPatten Update: Hubby loved the idea of the DL AP's. (Last year he thought this was a bad idea, haha!) Numerous trips to DL is way less $ than one WDW trip so it makes sense to us and to be card-carrying AP holders, what bliss! We will still do WDW "someday"... Question: is it a savings to buy the DL APs online or should we just get them at the park? If we buy them online, how long does it take to get them in the mail?
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x Renewing online will save you some money. I think even upgrading online will save $. Buying them at the park will cost you full price, more than likely. I think even buying at the Disney Store will save you some money.
