Where to go? What to do?

[rafikirules]

Hi everyone, here is my dilema::confused:

I am starting my planning for this summer's vacation. I have been to WDW 3 out of the last 6 years including the last two years in a row. DS will be 6 years old.

I have been toying with the idea of not going back for a couple of years:eek: :eek: :eek: (Please don't stop reading this now!!) I figured it would allow DS to get a little older and change his experience. I would finally have a partner on the coasters/extreme rides (maybe??) Lastly, the resort may debut some new things.

Here is my dilema:

DS and DW really want to go back already. The power of commercials I guess. DW tells me the cold right now is also very inspirational. :sun: Also, quite frankly, I am having a hard time finding another destination that offers the kind of "leave the rest of life behind" type of experience that WDW offers. I have thought about DL California, but that would involve flying and this is about how high DW is willing to get off the ground:bounce:

So here is my question?

What do I do? Any suggestions as to how I could make another summer trip to WDW different from the last? Is there another magical location outside of WDW that I should visit?

[JacksDad]

Simple question.
Answer? No! WDW is it and that is that!

Disney can be experienced in so many different ways.
Try going without a hectic itinerary. Just follow you heart. How about (dare I say) let your DS run the show. It's amazing to see the magic through a childs eyes. What I'm trying to say is what I've learned through 8 years of WDW. Stop running around and trying to get everything done at once. Soak it all in.
Sit back and let Walt drive. :wink:
It works.

[OKWTink]

Great advice Jack's Dad!

Would your family be interested in any of the special tours? Not all would be available to you as some are age limited, but you could check into them.

Have you done some things like Hoop De Doo Revue, or character meals? If not, you may want to try one or two. If you've done a character meal or two, perhaps a different one?

Have you done the kidcot stations in EPCOT, or the passport where each country will "stamp" it and put down a few words (frequently the child's name) in the native language?

Where do you usually stay? Could you choose another resort? Maybe your little one has an idea of where to stay?

Have you seen Wishes and Mickey's Philharmagic at the MK? If not, those are two new things for you to do! :D

Have you been to Cirque?

Have you been to the other parks in the area? I like Sea World, too. It's a very pretty park and different enough from WDW that I am not constantly making comparisons. I'm not a fan of US/IOA but your family may enjoy it.

Have you considered doing something like an air boat tour/ride, or a drive to the Everglades, or a stay at Disney's Vero Beach (for a couple days) or another seaside resort?

Have a great time planning your WDW vacation! :D

[rafikirules]

Originally posted by JacksDad
Simple question.


Just follow you heart. How about (dare I say) let your DS run the show. It's amazing to see the magic through a childs eyes.

I did this last summer and it was a great day even after riding the safari 8x in a row.

Thank you for a lot of great advice. In all honesty none of my recent trips have been hectic. I have always traveled without an itinerary and let the spirit move me. We have done Hoop, Cirque, Sea World, and kidcot. Our stay is generally over 10 days and we have been in POR and AKL and loved them both. Wishes and Philharmagic would be new. US/IoA intrigue me a great deal as and adult but I want to let DS get a lot older first.

The most intriguing idea is to visit the Gulf Coast, maybe Vero. DW has been dying to have a Florida beach experience. She loves the water but has very little tolerance for our New England balmy 65 degree mid-summer water. My problem is that when I am enveloped by WDW I have very little motivation to leave the resort. I would have to pre-plan it to force myself to move on.

Any recommendations on a Gulf Coast experience that will still entertain DS?

[victorlowe]

Hi Rafikirules

Ever thought about driving down to Key West on the Overseas Highway? It's not like anywhere else. Here's a link: http://keywest.com/ . Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum is interesting: http://www.melfisher.org/museum.htm. President Truman used to stay at the Little White House: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-1241824-harry_s_truman_little_white_house_museum_key_west-i.
The ferry from Key West to the Dry Tortugas is fun, but over-priced IMHO:
http://www.yankeefreedom.com/.

My folks live in Ft. Myers, on the lower Gulf Coast, and they think it's the best place in Florida. Lots of well-to-do snowbirds (my folks not included, unfortunately). Here's a link: http://www.fortmyers.org.
Also, it's home to Red Sox spring training, with a great March schedule:
http://www.springtrainingonline.com/teams/boston_redsox.htm. I forgot to mention the Minnesota Twins:http://twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/min/ticketing/min_springtraining_2003.jsp?club_context=min.
Henry Ford (automaker) and Thomas Edison (electric lights) had winter homes here:
http://www.edison-ford-estate.com/home.asp
Great beaches, Caloosahatchie River, deep-sea fishing nearby, Intracoastal Waterway (for boats) goes all the way to Atlantic. Florida used to be all like this when I was little, before the Mouse.
Another link : http://www.naples-florida.com/. Lots of folks down that way build new million-dollar houses paid for with cash and there's lots to do.

Just two general ideas of many. I hope the other members will add other ideas now.

Scrooge McDuck fan, adding more links as I think of them.

[rafikirules]

Wow, a lot of great links. This gives me something to think about. It certainly seems like WDW is the only resort that will satisfy everyone and I'll just have to throw something extra in to satisfy my curiosity.

[Alexander]

Have you thought about staying at Disney's Vero Beach?

We always go to WDW and I am soooo leary of staying in another hotel anywhere! There is just something about the guarantee of a nice hotel and being treated so well at WDW! Magical sums it up, there's no place like it! I am so comfortable there I don't hesitate for my 5 year old and I to visit alone once a year.

We are heading for St. Pete/Clearwater in May for three nights but only because my sister is getting married there. Does anyone have suggestions for things to do there or hotels to stay in? Looking at the Don Cesar anyone been there?:confused:

[Breeze]

If you're driving down how about just doing the sites along the coast. Daytona beach (drive on the sand and there is also a really neat tour of the nascar track you can take), cocoa beach and the space center, Ron Jon's, and a hotel right on the water (we like the Holiday Inn) also check out shuttle schedules as the HI had a huge beach party one of the nights we were there for a midnight rocket launch and it was awesome, or how about the wild life park in Palm Beach where you drive your car and the animal roam free (we actually had to sit and wait almost a half hour for lion to move out of the road), Ft.Lauderdale has some of the prettiest (and cleanest beaches) and the ocean is beyond pretty as you head down the coast. The keys are awesome and there are a couple of dolphin research centers in the keys that offer swimming with trained dolphins or for the big $$ you can take a boat ride and they'll take you out to swim with the wild ones.

After doing the coast then head back up to disney and make that the last stop before heading home. Of course when we follow this kind of schedule we usually end up needing about 2½ to 3 weeks to get everything in and then get back to Illinois

[rafikirules]

More great ideas. I have done and I know that Ron Jon/Space Center is within a reasonable distance from Orlando but how far is Palm Beach. I didn't know that Florida had an animal reserve to drive through.

Driving from New England I always try to make my trip about 2.5 weeks as well.

[rafikirules]

Originally posted by Alexander
Have you thought about staying at Disney's Vero Beach?



I'll have to do some investigating about Vero Beach. I agree that Disney is so magical and the feeling that I get when I stay with them is unmatched. I have been hearing some great things about Vero Beach. Any great sources out there?

[Mickeymac]

Rafikirules - have you thought about where to stay along the way and see a bit about the country? We try to stop in the DC area for a couple of days, then around Atlanta area. This time on the way back, we stayed in Santee, SC, and I just fell in love with the area (not necessarily the town - kinda weird little place if you're from NE) It was really neat seeing the tidal basin area.

OKWTink has some really great trip reports about Vero Beach. I would SO love to time a trip there and watch the baby turtles hatch. I doubt I'd ever have the opportunity, but it's one of those small things in life that's just so neat.

Have you also tried having someone else plan an itinerary for you? Some of the best days we've had have been when Ray's planned them. (oh, don't go telling him I said, don't want to inflate his ego past his mouse ears! - JK, Homie dear! :D) It's sort of like looking at Disney through someone else's eyes.

[rafikirules]

Originally posted by Mickeymac
Rafikirules - have you thought about where to stay along the way and see a bit about the country? We try to stop in the DC area for a couple of days, then around Atlanta area.


I have always wanted to visit the Smithsonian but with the on again, off again, orange alerts I must admit it has made me leery. It is funny how I don't let it bother me in WDW.

As a child I can remember visits to Stone Mountain and the Atlanta Zoo and it was quite fun. However, WDW is so perfect for a 5 year old that I feel so guilty spending time anywhere else. I know that I am wrong because he is so easy going he makes it fun going anywhere.

I usually travel without an itinerary. Maybe a different perspective would be a nice touch. Without Santha at AKL I will have a lot more time to fill.:(

[Mickeymac]

I know... :( I'm so going to miss her. It's weird to know that I may never see her again in my life. Some people you say 'goodbye' to and it doesn't matter. Did you know she's leaving - 20 days from today. She just sent me the most incredibly moving note. I adore her and am thinking of sending down a US care package before she goes home. She introduced us to Bobson, who has a laugh like liquid honey, and knows all about the different fecal matters of the savannah animals. :lol: Although I told her there is NO replacing her.

Hey, we should ship her down some lobster as a going away dinner. :D Don't know if crustaceans are in a Hindu diet though...

Oustide of alerts, the Smithsonian is sooooo difficult to do with five year olds. The Zoo there is great, but downtown is just a nightmare, even with no alerts - LOL! You're right, I'd wait until the kids get a bit older.

Seriously though, try Disney from a different perspective... get a family Mouseboats pass for the week and gun around the lagoon for several days. Have your son go to the Cubhouse for a night and you and your wife go to the Adventurer's Club. Do the Family Magic Tour (totally butchering the name of it, but its in the MK)

Hey, we could each plan out a Rafikiday and run it by you. :D You could choose the top three plans and run with them, then report back to us. :D

[rafikirules]

Originally posted by Mickeymac
I know... :( I'm so going to miss her. It's weird to know that I may never see her again in my life. Some people you say 'goodbye' to and it doesn't matter. Did you know she's leaving - 20 days from today. :D

Yes I know that she leaves the beginning of February. I tried my best to get down there again before she left but it was not meant to be. Maybe my next trip should be to South Africa:D . Too bad I hear that it is a long drive:hehe: .

I am not familiar with a family mouseboat pass?

I have been researching Vero Beach and I don't think it is the type of beach we are looking for. It resembles our New England beaches just warmer. Sharp drop, sharp shells, and dark sand. We want to experience the type of beach you see on TV, most often the fishing shows, where the sand is white and you can see your toes even when you are up to your neck in water. Would that be a Gulf Coast beach?

The Let's Make a Deal approach to vacation planning is very intriguing. I wouldn't mind dedicating a couple of vacation days to what is behind door #1.

[dizzyknee]

Hi rafiki

I started planning a trip to Florida/Disney where the goal was to stay at an on-site resort but go off site for most of the trip. I had pcked Fort Wilderness because it would feel totally new and different and we would be able to park our car right at the cabin (very convenient!). Then I wanted to go to the Wonderworks Science Museum (http://www.wonderworksonline.com/) and stay for the Magic and dinner show. I wanted to go for a hot air balloon ride. I wanted to go to SkyVenture (http://www.wonderworksonline.com/). I had us taking a ride on a boat in the Gulf that speeds thru the water while dolphins jump alongside the boat in the wake. I wanted to go to Discovery Cove and spend the day swimming with the dolphins. My list went on and on but ultimately we decided that our kids were too young for all that still and we went to Disney World and had a wonderful time. I made a list for each park of all the things we have never done and that is what we tried to do. Some day we will get to that other vacation.

On the other hand how about "Atlantis"?
Or how about rafting thru the Grand Canyon?
San Fransisco and New York are unbelievable places.

Good Luck!

[srbehnke]

Rafikirules, I don't know if you've ever considered a cruise...I haven't been on a Disney Cruise yet, but perhaps one day. If you want to include the parks and visit other places as well, or just go to the places the ship goes to, you might have fun. I have been on other lines, & the experience is what you make of it. The Disney cruises have children's areas, too, so that DS could be his on his own, and Mom & Dad can have time to themselves, too! Just a thought. Fun, if you have something else to celebrate, too::group:

[marivigi]

I think OKWtwink has some brilliant tips

I was also going to ask if you had considered a cruise... or a combination of a few days inWDW and then a Disney Cruise... thats is something that I would like to do in the future.

Other ideas: miniature golf, an Illuminations cruise, hotel hopping, horse riden carriage ride, disneyquest, more time at water parks..... and also visiting other parks and attractions!

[ukwdwnut]

Hi rafikirules

if you do decide to go to the gulf coast there always Busch Gardens it takes about 60-90 mins from orlando, personally i didnt like the park but loved the rides but thats just me, i agree with most already said, we go also without an itinery and decide on the night before, splitting park days with either shopping or water parks so as to have some chillout days after all the walking. we visited clearwater beach, what a terrific beach. theres also cocoa beach and ron johns surf shop while your there. on the last trip in 2002 we stayed at the villa for the day by the pool and the pool cleaner came, and we got talking and he only lived just down the road from us before moving to orlando. small world eh

mike

[Alexander]

Originally posted by rafikirules
We want to experience the type of beach you see on TV, most often the fishing shows, where the sand is white and you can see your toes even when you are up to your neck in water. Would that be a Gulf Coast beach?
I'm not a big fan of the ocean or lakes for that matter (dirty, fish, ugh), I kind of like the cleanliness of a pool myself, but anyhow, the only place I have been that has water that clear was in the Carribbean. That part of the ocean I did like! When I was parasailing I couldn't believe that I could see the ocean floor, and the water was at least 14ft deep! Maybe as someone suggested earlier, a land/sea package would be a possibility for you. I only wish I could afford one for us!

[marivigi]

As said before... if you want white sands and clear water.. try the caribbean... a cruise would give you a pretty good idea, since it goes to quite a few islands.

Now, if you want more BEACH time, than cruise time.... maybe take a holiday somewhere else... I know for a fact that Cancun, and the rest of the Mayan Peninsula have excellent beaches, beautiful white sands and light blue, emerald waters...

[rafikirules]

Originally posted by Alexander
I'm not a big fan of the ocean or lakes for that matter (dirty, fish, ugh), I kind of like the cleanliness of a pool myself

I am with you. The last time I was in freshwater that wasn't in a pool I was bitten by a fish. I visited a reserve about 10 years ago about 30 miles outside of Orlando. After that, the turkey vultures began to circle and I knew that it was a good time to leave!

I am getting some great suggestions. I have a lot of thinking to do.

[Alexander]

Just have fun making your decisions. Sometimes we get so caught up in the right thing to do we don't sleep well (at least I don't). Make the planning as much a part of your vacation as the actual trip!:ears: