Anyone ever vacation somewhere else?

[NYwdwfan]

OK - so we just got back from another awesome WDW vacation in December. It was COLD but we had a great time. We definitely didn't get to do everything we wanted to, but I guess that's what keeps you (us) going back! Anyway, we went last year in November and the year before that in July. We are definitely going back, but I think I want to wait until 2012 or whenever FLE is complete. We like to stay on the monorail and for a family of 4, with airfare, dining, souveniers and using 40% off it always tops out around $4,500. So I figured MAYBE we would go somewhere else for our 2011 vacation. So I started pricing. Atlantis - 5 days - over $5,000. Beaches - 5 days - close to $6,000. What the heck?! I'd rather go to Disney for 7 days!! So my question is - does anyone ever go anywhere else? If so - where? I'm thinking of just doing a few weekend trips (Hershey Park, etc.) and saving the cash for Disney. Any ideas?

 

[WDWmazprty]

When we're not at Disney we go to OBX (Outer Banks, NC)

We rent a huge beach house for our family and usually stay a week and do nothing! its great! All we do is eat,sleep, swim, and relax.

 

[WDWmazprty]

When we're not at Disney we go to OBX (Outer Banks, NC)

We rent a huge beach house for our family and usually stay a week and do nothing! its great! All we do is eat,sleep, swim, and relax.

This was the house we stayed in last time:

:wave:

 

[NYwdwfan]

Cool - I'll look into it. I definitely don't want to do a commercialized resort thing - way too expensive (who knew?!)

 

[mickeysshoes]

What fun would it be to go any where other than DISNEY!!!!!?????? Other than short weekend get aways to see family...NO!

 

[mkt]

Once I moved away from US, I found WDW/DLR to be less attractive as it was when I lived there. I discovered that proximity was a HUGE factor for me in deciding to regularly travel there. I still go or twice a year on short trips, but there are definitely other places I prefer now.

I'm a regular visitor to the British Virgin Islands, and go least once a year if not more. It's pricey, and depending on the island you head to, it's a pain to get there, but it's worth it. Especially when this is your backyard:

I'm also a fan of Panama (the country, not the city in Florida), and have always had a good time there. Getting there isn't exactly cheap (but it isn't expensive either), and once you're there, it's one of the cheapest places I've ever vacationed at. Seriously, 3 course meals, including drinks and tip for under $20 per person. I remember buying a round of drinks for my friends, there were 7 of us, and the drinks included Black Label, Grey Goose and other top shelf booze... the total for my round was $14. That was it. Fourteen US dollars. For what stateside would have been $50 on the cheap end and over $100 in NYC.

This year I'll be doing Spain and hopefully Argentina. And I also keep in close review the sunday newspaper, specifically the travel section. I've found 4-5 day all inclusive trips in neighboring islands (Dom. Republic, St. Martin/St. Maarten, etc) for $500-600 per person, including airfare!... or 3-4 cruises (with a few days notice) for $300 including taxes.

 

[NYwdwfan]

What fun would it be to go any where other than DISNEY!!!!!?????? Other than short weekend get aways to see family...NO!

See, that's how I feel. But my husband, while a Disney lover on the inside, I think is bending to the peer pressure of "don't you ever go anywhere else?". Although I asked him where he wants to go with our 2 kids, ages 5 & 7, and he had NOTHING. He always mocks people that sit on a beach for a week. And I, for one, don't find chasing my kids down a beach relaxing! Sitting on a loungechair with my eyes closed, yes. Chasing kids - absolutely not. I think I may be "winning" though (loosely put - notice the quotes), since we have a big purchase to make and when he asked what card to put it on I said the Disney Visa and he agreed that was the best place for it.

 

[NYwdwfan]

I've found 4-5 day all inclusive trips in neighboring islands (Dom. Republic, St. Martin/St. Maarten, etc) for $500-600 per person, including airfare!... or 3-4 cruises (with a few days notice) for $300 including taxes.

My husband is a HUGE fan of all inclusives and loves cruises - I think we may need to start keeping our eyes open for deals. The nice thing is that both of our jobs are flexible when it comes to vacation time, so we could do something on a moments notice. I would just want to go when school is out - I only pull them out for Disney (no flames, please).

 

[becanya]

We go to WDW once a year, but we also do at least one other big family vacation, and several small weekend trips. This year:
- Indianapolis for 4-5 days to see the kids museum, zoo, and indoor waterpark
- Hilton Head DVC resort for a week
- Anniversary trip somewhere cheap and last minute (maybe NYC or a cheap carribean vaca)
- St. Louis for 4-5 days to go to the Citi Museum and Magic House (yearly trip for us!)

Last year we went to Orange Co CA...just outside of LA and it was AWESOME! We also did Atlanta for a week.

 

[NYwdwfan]

I think this is where I've become a bit jaded. We got to NYC all the time. See a show, have dinner, take the train home. I think we have gotten so used to this being just "something to do" and not a mini-vacation. If I can sell it as a vacation, then we can just go to Disney!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Yes, although WDW is our main break we always have time away somewhere else, usually a city break. Edinburgh for the festival, Prague, gigs in London, etc etc. Dont do beach holidays nothing would drive me nuts as quick as that.

 

[Nemo14]

We love the National Parks, and as much as we love Disney, we try to get out West for a week or 2 whenever we can. So much to see and do! Also we want to go back to Germany once we're both retired. There's a lot of world out there that isn't animatronic!

 

[The Mom]

Once our youngest was a reasonable traveling age, we went beyond the WDW/beach or mountains.

We went to Greece a couple of years ago, and will be going to Russia via Sweden & Finland this summer. It's a hell of a lot more expensive than WDW, but worth it to us.

The trip after this one (we wanted it to be this one, but it may be the last one with the whole family for a while, so we let our son have final say) will probably be to Scotland, Ireland, England and perhaps Wales.

But friends of ours want to take a joint trip across Canada by train, so who knows? I'll just keep on saving so when the time comes we can pay for it.

 

[jformica]

Like everyone we get teased frequently from friends and family. They all know we spend between $5000-$6,5000 on our yearly family disney trip and another $2,000 for just my wife and I going to Epcot Food and Wine Fest for 3 nights. They always say for what we're paying we could go anywhere in the world for 7 nights. My response always is we don't want to go anywhere else in the world! Then I throw in that when we're at Disney we always visit Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Japan, France, U.K and Canada anyway! I get all I need from spending 45 minutes in each Pavilion in the world showcase getting info on the culture and interacting with the cast members, all the beach bumming around on the beach at Grand Floridian or swimming at the resorts. I go fishing, waterskiing and eat 5 star meals! I think this year we may incorporate a Disney Land/Sea Cruise combo just to switch things up.

We do a lot of car travel to NYC and Washington D.C. to visit family a few times a year. We also live 45 minutes from the Adirondack Mountains and camp often. When are kids are older (in their teens) we may consider going out of the country for vacation but certainly not now. I'd prefer to give my money to help boost our own economy which will in turn enable to continue our vacation madness!

 

[NYwdwfan]

Thanks for all of your input - I really appreciate it. I did a lot of world traveling when I was young (youth orchestra that literally traveled the world) that as I got older I just wanted to stay in the US. I was thinking maybe a cruise to Canada - or something else - I guess I ahve time to think since we JUST got back from Disney and currently my husband is furloughed so we're not going ANYWHERE until he's working again!

 

[Disneybird]

We love the National Parks, and as much as we love Disney, we try to get out West for a week or 2 whenever we can. So much to see and do! Also we want to go back to Germany once we're both retired. There's a lot of world out there that isn't animatronic!

I love this. My husband and I flew into Vegas, drove across the desert into California and went to Sequoyah and Yosemite a few years ago. It was a great quick trip that I hope to duplicate sometime in the near future. Then I want to go to Yellowstone. We can drive through the Smokies anytime because we live very close.

We take a lot of long weekend trips to places like Savannah, Charleston and Nashville.

I would love to take a cruise into Canada and visit the islands around the Chesapeake Bay.

Someday I am going to Germany though and back to Hawaii where I was born.

My husband tells me that we could travel to alot of places if I would stop spending vacation money at WDW though.

 

[wizards8507]

One of my favorite family vacations was a mountain house in Tennessee. We were able to see Gatlinburg (sp?) and Nashville and had a great time.

Canada can be fun and easy too. Close enough to drive if you're from New York. We've done Toronto and Niagara Falls and we've had a blast both times.

 

[becanya]

We just decided to return to St. John in the USVI (where we honeymooned) for our 10 year anniversary this year! I can't even tell you how excited I am about that trip. St. John and Ireland have been my favorite non-WDW trips ever.

 

[ScorpionX]

When I went to Cape May, I stayed at this hotel: http://www.victorianmotelnj.com/

 

[lilclerk]

I go to NC to visit my sister's family... but I think they should just come to WDW with me :lol:
My friend and I have some big plans to visit the UK and Australia, but who knows when that will happen. My mom wants me to go to Hawaii with her and, while the idea sounds fantastic, I think I'd get bored.