Originally Posted By tashajilek My original plans were to spend Christmas 2012 in Hawaii. I thought having a year to plan would give me lots of time to get a half decent price on airfare. I was really wrong and it looks like Hawaii will have to wait until February where airfare is cheap and the weather is still cold here. Anyways, i just tackled WDW for my first time and over the busiest time of year. We really did pretty good for the most part and still had a great time. We felt the crowds really bad at DHS and on NYE the MK was the worst. I was wondering is little Disneyland able to handle the crowds better? or is it worse? I have been to DL many times and really just want to enjoy the festivities, see the changes at DCA and when the crowds get to me leave. Anyways any help would be fantastic! I know i am crazy but my husband has time off work and it a good oppertunity.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I waited to see if my thread was posted and it was not. Of course when i post a new one the original one is now posted. Doh.
Originally Posted By ksargen As with everything, midweek, before schools are out, is your best bet. That said, if you're a teacher, or a parent, this is a whole lot harder to do. We did a Christmas trip to Hawaii a few years back, and it was fantastic. Did a few days on Oahu's North Shore, took a week long cruise of the islands (spend NYE on the ship - FABULOUS!), and then a few days on the Kona Coast of the Big Island. Great two weeks, and we loved virtually every minute of it, aside from the usual travel issues (car rentals and airlines!). Tough choice!
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF I have done both at Christmas...I think DL was busier....but, that doesn't bother me....I like the atsmosphere at Christmas and the decorations.....
Originally Posted By tashajilek I would probably be there from the 21st- the 26th or 27th. I will not be spending NYE ever again at a Disney park. I have always wanted to see Disneyland over Christams so i will probably just do it anyways. I would love to visit Hawaii for Christas! I really cant justify $1600-$1700 airfare for 2 people. I also want to visit Oahu and the big island and we would need additional airfare and like you said rental cars.
Originally Posted By ksargen Honestly, I'd aim earlier in the month to dodge more of the school age kid crowd, but that's me. It's Christmas from Halloween clear to January, these days. This year it ran even later than usual, because of the way NYE fell. I hear you on airfare and cars. We're working up a trip to England and France this summer. It's just ugly. We're going, and we'll have a fabulous time, but it'll be the most expensive trip for us ever.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I know it would be a great idea to go earlier in the month but, it just cant happen. My husband gets over a week off from Christmas to New year and we cant afford to take any more time off. The great thing about palnning this far in advance for Christmas is i can get great deals on airfare and hotels. I hope you have a great time in England and France! I hope go to France next year hopefully.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Both DLR and WDW are very, very busy the week between the holidays. It's kind of "pick your poison," I think.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Seeing as i was just at WDW during Xmas i can probably expect the same caos.
Originally Posted By ksargen England and France should be a fantastic trip, and we're all looking forward to it. It's really a three city trip - London, Paris, and Nottingham. We've friends in Nottingham, and we're spending July 4th with them, which will be a hoot. We're doing a guided tour for a week, with a day in London before, and an extra day in Paris to finish, and then a few days with friends, then back to London to finish out. Just over two weeks. I'm just dreading the plane. Never fun anymore.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Sounds wonderful. Thats great that you will be spending time with friends. Will there be anytime spent at DLP? I hate long plane rides too i find it ok when going to your destination because is worth it and horrible coming back. I also want to go to Paris in the summer to ensure good weather.
Originally Posted By ksargen No DLP. Hubby refuses to visit another Disney. Honestly, it would take at least a day, and it's a good two hours from Paris from what I understand. 8/ Daughter and I, or I and someone, at some point, will make a trip to DLP, DLT, etc. I'd like to see them all before I slip this mortal coil. It's just a matter of time and who wants to go with.
Originally Posted By bibliophile Actually taking the RER to Disneyland from the centre of Paris takes about 40 minutes.
Originally Posted By tashajilek My Husband knows that a reason i want to visit France is because i want to see DLP LOL. Its not the only reason, but it has a impact. I understand needing a break from Disney.
Originally Posted By ksargen bibliophile - what's the RER? We still won't have time. We're only getting in an extra 12 hours, at best. We just decided to stay in the hotel an extra night, and take the Chunnel (or something - travel agent is working on it) back to London, to catch the train to Nottingham. Tasha - DH is not a crowd guy. Disney = crowds. And he and the child BOTH like bigger, faster, scarier coasters, rather than the "tame" Disney rides. *LOL* They don't understand my need for my "happy place."
Originally Posted By tashajilek I understand the need for faster coasters. I loved 6 flags a lot but Disney is different. If time is limited DLP should probably be your last priority. Do you guys plan on going on the London eye?
Originally Posted By ksargen Yep! It's part of the tour we're on. We also get to see "Wizard of Oz" in the West End, see the tourist sights, etc.. In Paris, we'll see the highlights - Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versaille, etc. So many things I've dreamed about since I was just a little older than my daughter is now, and I first started learning French. On the other end of the trip, we're going out to Hampton Court where I'll get to see people cooking Tudor era food in a Tudor kitchen. Historical food / reenacting is one of my hobbies, and I've been oohing over their stuff for a while. Pretty much a trip of a lifetime for me. All I need now is to find a way to cram in a trip out to Stonehenge...
Originally Posted By tashajilek Your trip sounds so amazing! Its good you are learing french, i have thought about starting. Make sure you take tons of pictures of everything. "All I need now is to find a way to cram in a trip out to Stonehenge... " I hope you get to! that would be so cool to see.
Originally Posted By ksargen I studied French two years in grade school, two years in high school, and two years in college. I'm passable. I can navigate, and ask for help. *LOL* I had a roommate for a year from France for a year while in grad school. Funniest 10 minutes of my life, trying to talk with her parents once they realized I actually spoke some French. I got 1 word in 20, if I was lucky. I'm much better at reading it and trying to speak than understanding when someone speaks to me. I'll brush up before I go.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Sounds like you will be just fine. A good thing to know would be ordering food. I wouldnt want to end up with frog legs or something like that lol.
