If we took a holiday...

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
If we took a holiday...
13
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 11:10am

took some time to celebrate... it would be, it would be all right...

So, I have seen some mention of vacation plans going on- let's have a thread about travel! Are you going somewhere soon? For business or pleasure? With kids or without? Not planning a trip but wish you could go somewhere? Where?

I'm currently planning my very first "family" vacation with my kids. We went to Hershey Park for a weekend last summer, and I often take them camping for a weekend here and there, but this is the first actual vacation we will have.

We're going to the Happiest Place on Earth- Disneyworld! The kids are excited, I'm excited, and we're all counting down the days. We're going the week of Spring Break, which is the week after Easter. Very exciting stuff.

I'm a touch nervous about traveling with them and no other adults- none of us has ever flown, so that'll be new. I know we'll have a great time, though, and the anticipation for them has been wonderful for me to watch.

So far this is better than Christmas, since it's totally tailored to us, and we chose it. The whole rest of the world isn't doing the same thing (although I'm sure it'll seem like they are when we're standing in line to hug Cinderella!) and it's something I've always wanted to do, even before I had children.

So, those are my plans- what are yours??

Moody, who now has that song stuck in her head


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2006
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 11:52am

You will have so much fun, your kids are the perfect age for Disneyworld. I look forward to going to Disneyland with my D3 in a few years, she's too young for it now, the characters are too scary at that age. Actually, M's parents are in Orlando so perhaps we'll do Disneyworld, which I've never been to, someday.

My advice on travel with kids is to allow extra time for everything. Be prepared for someone to get motion sick on the plane most likely during landing. Hopefully, you have a direct flight, if not, don't take much in carry on baggage, just another thing to keep track of. Just your purse and a backpack for the kids to share for some games, cards, books (although reading on a plane can make motion sickness more likely). Flying is exciting the first time, in spite of all the security hassles now.

My Spring Break from school is next week, hence the Paris excursion. We're flying British Airways, my favorite airline. Just got new luggage, needed something bigger since I plan to do some shopping while I'm there. For my kids Spring Break, the week before Easter, I won't have a big chunk of time off school to have a family vacation, but my boys will probably make plans w/friends. We did our family ski trip at the beginning of Jan. and it's already time to figure out what 2 weeks I want for summer vacation, have to notify the X in April. Last summer we did a big Eastern tour looking at colleges: NYC, upstate NY, Providence, RI, Plymouth MA to see my cousin, then across CT, Long Island, and over to NJ to see a friend from my college days. My kids love those kinds of trips. M is trying to figure out a way to do a group thing with all our kids, but I doubt his D almost12 will be any more likely to accept having me there.

Avatar for mom2maggie
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 2:37pm
I just booked a cabin in the mountains (about 3 hours from here) for four nights. This is the first time I've planned a trip with my kids without my ex or my parents. HN might join us - we're still talking about it. He's kind of leaving it totally up to me as to whether or not it's a good idea for him to join us. I know we'd all have a great time - but he knows I'm a little concerned about us acting too much like a "family" unless we intend to be one. On the other hand, I want us all to get to know each other better before things get any more serious. If he does join us - he knows that he'll have his own bedroom. In that regard, I definately want to set a different example from what their father has.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 3:48pm

You will LOVE the Disneyworld experience!! Everytime I went I loved it more than DS I think. I agree with Queenbun to allow extra time for everything. The only tips I can add is lots of sunscreen and be early to the parks - that way you can pick a fun favorite ride to do right off the bat without too bad of a line. I bet the favorite for you guys is the new Winnie the Pooh ride! You might also want to consider a day at one of the water parks - they are relaxing as long as the weather is good - and they are not as expensive as the bigger ones.

Anyway, for us, we have to scale back just a bit since I am having some work done on the house and we went full bore to Europe last year. So this year I have decided to go someplace in the states I have always wanted to see - Jackson Hole Wyoming. We are camping!! I rented a tent cabin and it has a wood burning stove for heat and cooking. No electricity, no tv, no internet! There is so much to do - lots of wildlife, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, Yellowstone park nearby and more. DS is just the right age and I want bonding time and memories for both of us.

I used to love camping - can pitch a tent, build a fire and cook over it just about anywhere. This tent cabin thing will be much cheaper than a cabin and more civilized than just a tent. They have showers and a laundry mat so that is just the ticket for us. I love to cook in the outdoors - and we will toast marshmallows every night and talk about our day.

We also have a mini weekend to Disneyworld planned coming up soon. Will probably do the waterparks - that is what DS loves.

I am doing a race in NH in the latter part of the summer - but that is a weekend trip for just me.

DS is going up north with his dad in the middle of the summer as well.

So that is us - pretty good I guess. Will love to hear about what everyone else is doing and about Queenbun's trip to Paris.

Avatar for mom2maggie
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 4:16pm

I'm jumping in again to add that the cabin in the mountains is only one of at least three small trips I'll be making with the kiddos this year. We're travelling to Michigan to visit my brother's family for a weekend in April - the cabin is in June - and I'm planning to take the kids to Idlewild in August for two days. Idlewild is a small amusement park - geared for younger kids with a storybook forest and water park.

HN is hoping I'll go with him on a couple other short outings as well on the back of his motorcycle - but those will just depend on whether or not my kiddos are with their dad on those weekends.

I better invest in one of those self-feeders for our two cats.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2005
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 5:01pm

Moody, you and the kids will have a blast!

I go every year to Disney, unfortunately because I'm losing my job in June, there will be no vacation for us this year. Unless I get a job before June 30th(not looking good at this point-but who knows). If I do land another job, then it's off to Disney I go!
I stayed at Coronado Springs last year and absolutely loved it!

I hope you got a great package deal for your trip,The Disney Dinning Plan is the best thing every invented-I highly recommend it.
There are some great websites out there, I recommend: Mousesavers.com and allearsnet.com they are loaded with great tips and advice.
The PassPorter Disney guide is also a must,as it rates the rides(that can be very helpful for deciding the scary factor). A one day or half day at the water parks is also a must, my daughter loves Typhoon Lagoon above everything else, she says that if I let her she would spend the whole vacation there.

The T Girl
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 7:22pm

Thanks so much for the info! I will actually be booking the trip by this weekend- so it was timely advice.

I did find a nonstop flight from an airport fairly close to us- I actually shopped around, since living in the middle of nowhere means I'm equadistant from five different airports. I'm happy to have found a nonstop flight, especially since none of us has flown.

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful advice and encouragement!

I'm excited for all of us- looks like we have some travelers here!

Moody, dreaming of warm warm warm Florida


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 10:24pm

I just have to say THANK YOU to everyone. My trip to see Mickey and cohorts has been officially booked. My checking account is currently weeping, but the flight, the resort and the parks have all been paid for in full- AND thanks to the websites mentioned, our dining package is included, and our character meals have been planned.

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO

Moody, who may have a few words for Cinderella out of earshot of the little ones


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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2003
Thu, 03-08-2007 - 2:48am

Hi

Your trip to Disneyland sounds fabulous! I went there about 12 years ago before I had kids, and I loved it! I'm sure you will have a blast.

My kids have always had loads of fun breaks with their dad, and have been to Disney Paris twice. I always felt kind of left-out, because I couldn't really afford to take them anywhere fun, but during the summer break, we would go on day trips. Last year, Monkey pitched his tent in the garden and they slept in there all summer long - they really loved it.

Two summers ago, I managed to save up some money and took them on a package-deal holiday to Djerba, an island off the coast of Tunisia. I still remember that week as probably the happiest week of my life. I met up with another single mum, and we spent almost the whole week together. We went on camel rides, trips to the market, relaxed on the beach and in the pool, and all stayed up late to have dinner around the hotel pool, followed by the "Snoopy Disco" for the kids and a show later. It was just fabulous.

This summer, my parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and they have invited all four of us to the south of Spain, near Malaga, for one week. It is great, as I probably couldn't have afforded a real holiday again this year, having been smacked with a huge tax bill, so this is just perfect. The four of us are staying in a separate appartment from them, but in the same complex. The ensures I will not go nuts, as I find staying with my family really claustrophobic after two or three days. We're all counting the days! We are going to hire a car, and Monkey and I will take off for a couple of days on our own to visit Grenada and maybe Seville. I am lucky that my parents love babysitting!

Clem xx

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2004
Thu, 03-08-2007 - 3:04pm
I am going to brave a 12 hour drive with 2 kids to Portland OR to see my mom. we plan on cathcing up on our scrapbooking and going to OMSI (hands on science meseaum. all week and then drving home on the sat before easter.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Thu, 03-08-2007 - 9:58pm
Actually, JUST booked a suprise Disney trip for June!

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