Which trip would you choose (traveling with a toddler+infant)

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Which trip would you choose (traveling with a toddler+infant)

By mrsjyw Jan 12, 2016

We are scrambling to book a last minute family vacation for early March. DS1 is three and is a great traveler, DS2 will be 7.5 months and is a laid back baby, but we haven't traveled with him yet.

option 1) Beach Vaca - Caribbean
St Thomas - 1 layover both ways (7-8 hours flight travel), a vrbo rental and/or suite room at a resort

option 2) Beach Vaca
Puerto Rico - 1 layover flight there (7 hours), nonstop on the way back (5 hours), a suite room at a resort

option 3) DISNEYDISNEYDISNEY!
Disney! easy 2 hour flights, $$$ rooms, but staying at a Disney resort (not a suite).

Option 1 and 2 would be cheaper by maybe 1K?

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poll: Which family vacation?
St Thomas : (31 votes)

30 %

Puerto Rico : (37 votes)

36 %

WDW : (28 votes)

27 %

Other : (6 votes)

6 %

102 votes

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46 comments

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BandDmommy
pomelo / 5660 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I'm biased since I lived in PR for 3.5 years but I would do WDW. I'm not a fan of the Virgin Islands. Again, because I lived on an island for 3.5 years.
sorrycharlie
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts

Jan 12, 2016

WDW. Way easier! Time/convenience are worth the money IMO!
Mrs D
grapefruit / 4545 posts

Jan 12, 2016

Have you checked out the animators resort at Disney?! They have reasonably priced suites!!!
lawbee11
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts

Jan 12, 2016

If you leave on a different day could you get a nonstop to Puerto Rico? That's what I want to vote, but I avoid layovers with small kids like the plague.
sapphire
nectarine / 2173 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I'd go to the beach since you have an infant who won't probably get that much out of Disney. Also sounds way more relaxing than Disney.
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I picked PR just b/c that's where I've looked intro traveling too and it seems very family friendly! And I think getting 1 non-stop flight is better than none!

Maybe it's just me but I feel like I'd need more time to really plan out a WDW trip.
MamaG
pomelo / 5298 posts

Jan 12, 2016

Is a different beach an option? One that you can get to directly, I'm thinking Florida panhandle?

We are looking at VRBO condo in Pensacola for this year with our two kids. We did it two years ago when it was just one. Great time!
mrsjyw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@lawbee11: yep flights out of our airport are with 1 stop unfortunately...

@sapphire: yeah i think beach sounds way more relaxing than disney

@snowjewelz: i think so too, but i also just want to bite the bullet and go for it instead of having to read and research endless about of info about WDW
mrsjyw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@MamaG: so we were thinking about just going to florida, but figured it might still be a bit "chilly" in early March. so not exactly beach weather for staying stateside.
KayKay
pear / 1961 posts

Jan 12, 2016

How long would you go for? The significantly longer travel to for 1 & 2 would deter me, especially if you weren't going to be there for too long.

I think WDW could have a good combo of relaxing (poolside at the hotel) with fun stuff to do for the kids, but could also be super-busy if you over-schedule.
mrsjyw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@KayKay: we have the entire week off, but would probably travel for 6 days/5 nights or 5 days/4 nights just so we have downtime at home to recoup!
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@mrsjyw: Haha yeah, that is a whole beast to attack! I was closely following a couple threads that were around recently. Plus if your younger can't even really enjoy it anyway, you can always plan another one in a few more years...
MamaG
pomelo / 5298 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@mrsjyw: Yah, sorry I missed you were looking at March. Maybe southern Florida. March is spring break time so anywhere is likely to be a bit on the pricey side of things. That's probably why you have time off

When we went to Pensacola, it was May and cooler than I prefer for the beach, but it was perfect for our toddler. She still spent a fair amount of her time under cover, but the water was chilly.
Smurfette
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I would not go to DW in March. Peak Spring break time. I love St Thomas!
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I said Disney for only ONE reason: we did a vrbo rental in Costa Rica for Thanksgiving this year with my 2.5 year old and it was WAY easier doing a beach vacay with a baby than a toddler!! She needed *constant* stimulation/activities/toys etc, none of which were present in some random rental property (not on a resort) in the Caribbean. We were all pretty miserable. Don't forget toddlers don't "relax".
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I would definitely prefer a beach vacation over Disney World. I like relaxing, not running around at amusement parks all day. Are there any tropical destinations that might be a little closer? The 5-8 hours would kind of kill me. Maybe to the Bahamas? I'd like to go stay at the Atlantis Resort sometime, it looks like a great kids vacation.
AprilFool
nectarine / 2591 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I just recently took my almost 3 year old to Hawaii and it was not a relaxing holiday at all. We had fun but it was hard to relax with a constantly moving kid. I would do Disney because there is so much to keep a toddler busy.
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@ShootingStar: Relaxing with a 3 year old??
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@JoJoGirl: Haha, you're right. Though my kid loves the beach, especially at low tide, and can play for hours.
Alivoo01
wonderful olive / 19353 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I voted against WDW since C can't enjoy it yet and you'll have to spend $$$ again to take him later on.
rattles
grapefruit / 4903 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I would do the beach and save the extra cash to put towards a trip to Disney when they're older and will remember it. The beach sounds better to me at this stage with naps and frequent feedings.
mrsjyw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@ShootingStar: We thought of the Bahamas too, but flights there are the longest from where we are! Also, passports. St Thomas and PR wouldn't require them! DS1 is a water baby and LOVES the ocean.... beach vacation would definitely be more relaxing for us than running around Disney!
Truth Bombs
grapefruit / 4321 posts

Jan 12, 2016

Flying 7-8 hours with two kids sounds like my personal hell. I would go to FL to limit fly time but not necessarily Disney.
Mrs D
grapefruit / 4545 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@mrsjyw: If you do consider the two locations with layovers you may consider looking at flights out of Flint...its way less stressful than DTW and no further from where we live...

direct flights are tough from there - but thats why I said if you are doing a layover anyways it may be easier!
catlady
grapefruit / 4988 posts

Jan 12, 2016

We just booked a Disney vacation for April so I voted for that! We wouldn't be able to relax at the beach with my toddler at all. She is just go go go all the time so Disney seemed like a better choice. We can always hang out at the pool if we get sick of the parks.
BKCaribBaby
pear / 1672 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I like to stay in apartments or houses since traveling with LO. Also I'm not a Disney person, so I guess I would lean towards St. Thomas or PR. Also I agree re: beach being easy with small kids.
HLK208
pineapple / 12234 posts

Jan 12, 2016

St Thomas!! I think there's plenty of time to go to Disney when the boys are older and can remember it/go on a lot of rides. Warm sand and clear water gets my vote!
MoonMoon
pomegranate / 3393 posts

Jan 12, 2016

Not a Disney fan, and I'd pick PR over the Virgin islands, based on personal experience/preference.
edelweiss
grapefruit / 4923 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@HLK208: ditto (although i was torn between the two beach options and chose PR because of the direct flight on the way back)
bloved
persimmon / 1114 posts

Jan 12, 2016

The flight times were my deciding factor, so I voted wdw!

Eta: Although to be fair, we went to st Thomas this summer and there were a ton of young kids and families there so I think that would be a nice option too.
Mrs. Champagne
coconut / 8483 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I said other. Wdw is too busy. And the other flights are too long! Anything shorter that's more beachy? My son loves he beach too.
HabesBabe
grapefruit / 4400 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@Mrs. Champagne: My thoughts exactly! I voted other, but I don't have anything in mind. The first two's travel logistics make me nervous and WDW is too much money.
mrsjyw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@Mrs. Champagne: now we're thinking Disney cruise! Easy flights to Florida and all inclusive w food... Although we're kind of stuck on the ship if anything goes wrong
hilsy85
squash / 13764 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I have no desire to do disney so I say PR!
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Jan 12, 2016

Disney cruise sounds like great option!
petunia354
pomegranate / 3863 posts

Jan 12, 2016

@mrsjyw: If you have any Disney cruise related q's, let me know! We went right before DS turned 2...
Rainbow Sprinkles
eggplant / 11287 posts

Jan 12, 2016

I would do a beach vacay, probably Puerto Rico since the flight time is shorter on the way back, and wait and do Disney until the baby was older. If you're gonna do Disney, I think you should do it when both kids are able to enjoy it (and recognize the characters, etc.). It would be so magical for them!

DH and I went to the Playa Del Carmen in June and the whole time we were there we were talking about how perfect of a vacation it would be for kids. They could just dig in the sand, paddle in the water, relax, and eat as much as they want (whenever they want). I personally wouldn't want to do all the rushing around/waiting in lines that comes with Disney with a baby under 1.
ksnow
apricot / 371 posts

Jan 12, 2016

Wanted to weigh in since we just
Took a trip to Disney w our 3 year old! She had sooo much fun and it was an awesome
Time to take her. Also we went w other family so needed a suite and we stayed at Wyndham bonnet creek (on Disney property still!) and I would totally recommend it.
We got a 3 bedroom for $88/night!! Now you don't get the extra magic hours (but we could not have used them anyway...hard enough to get to open or close time). We saved money having kitchen and breakfast in room.
We usually packed camelbaks and ample snacks and had either lunch or dinner at home too. Also you don't get the Disney shuttles but we didn't mind so much, parking was $17/day even if you left and we could come/go easily as we needed (I know some resorts have monorail access which would be sweet but those are only at the priciest places.) I didn't find a car much harder than buses
Which I've used in past. The Wyndham did have a shuttle bus option to for like $8/person/day.
ksnow
apricot / 371 posts

Jan 12, 2016

Oh and the Wyndham has like 4 pools, splash pad, lazy river, putt putt, play grounds, ping pong, pool tables, etc etc

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