I have 3 weeks off in June and want to take my daughter… somewhere. I just don’t know where.
She is 8. She LOVES beaches. LOVES the water. Me? not so much. I can tolerate it but if I go somewhere with a beach I would prefer she have lots of children to play with so I can kick back on my chair and draw.
I looked at Disney Cruises. I have never cruised before. Are they worth it? They seem to be 1,500 more than other cruise ships. Is it better to just fly somewhere directly and spend the time and money there?
We’ve been to Hawaii, so someplace different would be good.
So what do you say? I have about $4,000 for this trip.
I’d look into all-inclusives in Cozumel. Those places are swarming with kids and you don’t have to worry about food and transportation on top of all the other expenses.
Disney cruises are a world apart. There’s a guy at the office who is addicted to them, he and his wife have joined some sort of Disney Cruiser’s club and they book their cruises a year or more in advance and go as often as possible on Disney. They’ve done other cruises, but the Disney ones are far and away the best they said.
I only have tangential exposure to cruise culture, my family would need a large stateroom and that’s been cost prohibitive, but they’re something you might want to do once in your life at least. If this guy’s account is any guide then the Disney experience really is worth the extra cash. They know how to run an entertainment/resort business.
My wife and I enjoyed our time in Jamaica at the all-inclusive Sandals resort, and Sandals has a family oriented line of resorts called Beaches which I have on the list for a family trip eventually. If the Beaches resorts are run like the Sandals we went to it would be a good time.
I’m not real into cruises myself… I’m also not a fan of all-inclusives, and a cruise just sounds like a floating, densely packed, highly polluting, all-inclusive resort with no beach, Third-world level worker exploitation, and constant upselling. Plus being forced to dress up at dinner. That’s like some circle of hell to me, but then I also know LOADS of people who enjoy them, so what the heck do I know?
My husband and I went to Surf Camp in Costa Rica for our honeymoon and it was amazing. If you’re not too into surfing there’s also 3-4 places for yoga, massages, horsebackriding, ziplining, etc. If you are into active vacationing, I would highly recommend it – there were all kinds of people, families, couples, people traveling alone. Friendly, “summer camp” atmosphere.
A friend and her son just got back from their first Disney cruise and they loved it. In addition to all the pure Disney stuff for the kids they love the daily activities that are designed to lead you around the ship.
I’m a huge proponent of exposing kids to other cultures.
I went with my ex and 3 kids to Beijing (ages at the time 6/8/14) and they had a ball. They were treated as stars (not many caucasian children, especially red heads in China even as visitors). Lots of requests for pictures to be taken with the kids and there was just so much genuine warmth that it was irresistable. There’s so much to do-see-eat. The one catch I see for sure would be getting the visa done in time.
Over the years, we also went with them to Puerto Vallarta, Jamaica, France, India, Peru, and Egypt. Amazing places and at your daughter’s age, places she’ll remember and appreciate when she’s older.
Have fun with it. Work on learning a new language together before the trip and get excited when she learns “Ni hao!” or “Gracias”.
Waterparks are a dime a dozen, but seeing the pyramids of Giza or Machu Picchu are memories you’ll always share together.
I like the Cape May, NJ area. I’ve been there many times over the past 20 years. Wildwood has large beaches with plenty of people, and there is also a boardwalk with RIDES! Cape May itself has a still-operating 1800’s lighthouse that you can tour as well as WW2 coastal defense infrastructure. The stereotypes about the Jersey Shore are not entirely accurate.
Depending on where you are and how you get there, going to Cape May could involve taking a ferry from Lewes, Delaware (e.g. if you are approaching it from the Washington, DC area or anyplace south of it), which can be an adventure in itself.
I am also all about exposing my daughter to many cultures. I love to travel and do so when I can.
For me, an ideal vacation is a big city with lots of art (Rome, NYC, London, etc). The idea of surfing and such really does not appeal to me (at all!), but this is for her.
We take turns picking vacations. This year it is her turn and she wants a beach.
I have never been to an island (outside of Hawaii) so a place like that might be fun. She could stay at a beach for days and days. Since we live in Fort Worth,Texas, we don’t get to the beach as much as she would love.
My mother and I spent a week there, and it is not only on a beach (the Irish Sea), but is an *insane *little village made up from bits and pieces rescued from demolished old manor houses. One of my most memorable vacations, and if you stay there, you have the run of the village after the day-trippers have left.
Im a huge Disney fan. If you dont cruise, WDW is a great place for kids. I dont know what your budget is, but maybe 5 days at WDW paired with a 4 dy cruise would work. I suggest doing the parks first so you have the cruise later to relax
I’ve been on 2 Disney Cruises. I’m going on my third next month.
Disney Cruises are more expensive than other cruise lines. Families are willing to spend the extra money because, so far, Disney is the best for children. Other lines are catching up, and some might even say they have, but the Disney name commands a higher price. If your daughter were into the whole princess and/or pirate thing, then a Disney Cruise might be worth it.
A Disney Cruise will allow for beach-days, but beachiness will not be the main part of the vacation. Disney’s private island Castaway Cay is fantastic and your daughter would love the beach and activities there. But that is only one day of the cruise itinerary. Also there is a small but non-negligble chance that currents or weather could prevent the ship from docking making you miss Castaway Cay. Given that your daughter wants a beach vacation, I would not suggest a Disney Cruise (or any cruise) for that.
I was about to post the same thing - although no third cruise for me. If your daughter likes water, cruises are a great way to look at it, but not be in it. The beach part is small and can be cancelled. The swimming pools tend to be small and overcrowded.
Disney itself, if you’ve never been, is a great eight year old vacation. No beachiness - but the pools at the hotels are great. Storm Along Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club is a wonderous pool .
If money isn’t an object, on another Disney front their Adventures by Disney trips are great. Though this might be a little short notice.
We’ve done the all inclusive in Mexico and the kids really liked it. There are a ton of them - pick one with both a good beach and a good pool.
My youngest loved that area when we took her there a few years ago. The boardwalk at Wildwood has a lot of arcade games if she tires of the beach. If it’s raining you can go whale watching or head to the nearby zoo, bird watch or climb inside a local lighthouse. Very fun place!
I don’t have to kick back. It’s just the beach I have zero affinity for! If she picks a beach, then I would want one that will have stuff for her to do. I grew up in the desert. I just can never get excited about getting in water filled with things that will eat you up!
We’ve been to Orlando twice (WDW) and she loved it. I had asked her if she was interested in doing that again. At first she said “NO! That is for babies!”… but then she discovered that Harry Potter world is nearby… and Disney is more than just Princesses.
Plus, a nine day stay is far cheaper than the 7 day cruise.
She has until this weekend to decide once and for all…
