Monday, September 24, 2007

*UPDATED* why did astroworld have to close????? perhaps we will just go to fiesta texas!


My in laws want us to plan a trip to see the Mouse. You know, go to the castle.........Cinderella's Castle. I can't imagine a more wondrous experience than to see my kiddos' faces light up when they witness the land of enchantment. I have never planned such a large undertaking. And while my in laws will be a part of the trip they are not taking us to Disney, if you get my point. So, this is my quandary.....how do I make the trip affordable and do-able.
My #1 is 4.5 and #2 is 3.5 so I don't want them overwhelmed. My bank account is frighteningly close to $0.00 so I don't want to be overwhelmed. I would love your tips, itineraries, anything helpful you can think of!!

PS. said trip is to take place in January........

Happy Monday~

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The baby will not have a good time. It is no fun going to those kinds of places with a small baby. You might consider putting it off one more year. It is overwhelming for such little ones. (Even #2....)

Bobbie said...

i agree with the previous comment...she won't get anything out of it...she might even get a little scared and overwhelmed(sp?)...also...it's EXTREMELY expensive...airfare, tickets, lodging, food, car rental, things the kids will want to buy...just telling it like it is...start saving for next year...

Kelly said...

When we went Bry turned 12 months there. He LOVED it. I didn't think he would, but he did. He didn't want near the characters unless I was holding him, so I got to be in way more pics than I wanted. lol If you were going in the summer, I would say wait, but jan will be nice weather and I think O will have a good time. When we went #1 was 4 and 3 months & #2 was 2 and 8 months. it was literally our best week ever. There shouldn't be that many crowds and the weather was nice. Keep your eye out for Southwest to have a sale. We were able to go, with 4 airline tickets for $700. They fly nonstop from Houston to Orlando. If O gets hot or tired during the day have the inlaws take her back to the hotel and rest, and you can take the older 2 kiddos with you at the part. If you stay at a value resort on site then you wouldn't have to rent a car, because they will come get you at the airport, and then there is on site transportation. Also, we had character breakfasts and were stuffed. They are fairly expensive, but you get to see the characters and don't have to wait in line when you get to the park. Also, we were so stuffed that we had a snack, but weren't hungry for lunch and then ate dinner. So it was actually cheaper. We also just did the walk up dinner, and not the fancy dinners. The boys could have cared less, but it was a ton cheaper. Also, they do a ton of sales so keep your eye out for that. You can also look into the meal plan. It covers 1 snack, 1 walk up meal, and 1 sit-down meal a day. The sit-down can be character meals as well, and then have a snack, and then the walk up meal. I am sure I have way more ideas, and I'll let you know if I think of them. Good luck, it will be a blast!

Laura Brittain said...

Kelly, you really need to start a blog on how to save money! You could make a lot of money doing that! We'll let you know how it goes after our trip, Jamee!

Shannon said...

I'd suggest making it your Christmas present to your family - save what you would spend on gifts and use it towards Disney. Driving is not that bad - 16 hours to Orlando. We've done it a number of times - usually straight through - even when #2 was 3 months old. And if you're flying five people, it'll definitely be less expensive to drive, even with gas so high. Don't do Epcot or MGM Studios with your kids so young. Stick with the Magic Kingdom and maybe Animal Kingdom. This last time we went, we did two days at the Magic Kingdom and did everything we wanted to do and then some. In fact, we left a little early the second day, because we were exhausted. Eat breakfast before you go to the park, snack lunch, and eat dinner. Character breakfasts are great fun, but only do one. They are very expensive and your kids won't eat enough to justify spending the $$ more than once. If you can find a deal at a park resort, take it. You can catch the monorail or some transportation and it will make going back to the hotel to sleep/rest/nap easier and you'll need it with the little ones. Oh, and check out mousesavers.com. She's full of info. We have some friends who just went... they had no idea that her husband was eligible for half off at the resorts until she found info about it on mousesavers. Good luck!

MiChal said...

My #1 recommendation - wait until they're pre-adolescents. They'll have more fun, you'll have more fun, the kids will remember more, and it would then be a better investment of time and money.

Other comments:

1. I took Holli when she was six. She doesn't remember much about the trip.

2. I lived near Disney when I was teenager so we went ALL the time. What I learned:

a. People with babies can't do much other than stroll or sit around. The ones doing baby-duty usally don't look happy.

b. Children get quickly exhausted and cranky with all the activity and stimulation.

c. DON'T GO IN THE SUMMER. It rains most every day in the late afternoon, making an already miserably hot day that much muggier. Lines are are long. Kids and parents get crabby earlier in the day.

d. When you do go, try to go between October and late February. Weather is good and crowds are low.

You can get some good deals on Disney packages but still even for $1500 (if you could do it that cheaply) you could do waaaaaayyyy more with your family closer to home.

You've got lots of time to save up!

Justin said...

Jamee,

Disney World is an AMAZING place, but I'd wait two or three years.

I was 7 or 8 when my parents took us and I only remember bits and pieces.

Plus if you decided to wait you could start saving now and really do it right...

Kathleen said...

We are going to wait until the kids are older to go. We can't afford to go very often and we really want them to remember it. I went when I was 5 and all I remember is that we couldn't find our car when we were leaving.:)

Anonymous said...

We went in summer 2006, and brought my mom. She stayed in the hotel w/ C3 (he was 2 at the time) and we hit the parks w/ older kids. I would say 3 years and up can handle it.

We drove - it really is NOT bad. But be warned. A Disney trip is INCREDIBLY expensive. We probably spent $4,000 and we only stayed 4 days.

A MUST-HAVE book is "Fodor's Walt Disney World with Kids." I'm sure the library has it. It is very fast to read and breaks the park down by age, gives tips, etc. We really wouldn't have enjoyed the trip without that book. Good luck!

Sarah Knapp said...

Wow! Can I just say you have a lot of loyal blog readers:-)
I have a great idea, hear me out:
Leave the kiddos (whom I love and adore, as you know!) with the Bricks and us grown-ups will go on a roadtrip to WDW. I love it there! We'll take the kiddos when they're bigger but I think this idea will be fun for all. ;-) Love you!

Anonymous said...

Save your sheckles and go with us to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone in a few years!! :) It's only $25 a person for a 7 day pass that can be used at both parks!! :) Mickey, Donald and the gang or the beautiful majesty of God's creation! :) A whole different kind of enchantment! Team Sasquatch on the road!!! Whoop!! LOL!

Laura Brittain said...

You don't take your 3 and 5 year old for THEIR memories, you take them for YOUR memories and the thrill and joy of experiencing something like that with them for the first time through their precious little eyes. Last time I went to WDW, I said I would never take my kids until they were in college :o) I've go to learn not to make blanket, bold statements like that! ;o) My baby (and only child at the time) was only 11 mo. old and staying with my in-laws back at the condo while we were there during the SUMMER ... I will never go during the summer again ... that's a statement I'll stick to. I made the "kids and college" statement at that time, because I didn't know yet how much more fun life is through the eyes of your kids ... especially once they can squeal with excitement and TELL you what they are so thrilled about. I went to Disneyland when I was in second grade and have faint memories ... remember my mom thought I was lost and freaked out. My grandparents took us and I understand why now that I have children. I do remember the thrill and fun of it but not in vivid detail, but I know my grandparents had the time of their lives by watching us thrill at everything around us. The grand canyon would be GREAT and I definitely want to do that with my kids and experience that with them, too. Anyway, those are my thoughts about doing anything with my three precious little preschoolers. We are about to head to WDW within the month and the 18 mo. old will stay with my wonderful in-laws in the condo while we take the 3 and 5 year old (of course, we aren't going to have to be paying for our lodging ... wonderful in-laws are taking care of that). I'll MISS the 18 mo. old, but at that age I know it is what is best for him, us and his brothers.