To wonder why Florida is seen as the ultimate family holiday?

[Worriedkat]

A family we know are spending £10k on a summer holiday to Disney, and that's not even in a Disney hotel. Several other friends cite Florida/Disney as the ultimate family holiday of a lifetime, it seems to be the holiday to aspire to, giving your children wonderful memories.

I can't visualise it myself. All I can see is heat, humidity, long queues, toddler tantrums, exhaustion from the plane and time difference. It doesn't sound magical! What is it that makes the experience worth £10k? Or Aibu to think that maybe it's not all it's cracked up to be?

You're kidding?? They've scrapped Jaws? That was our favourite. It was hilarious.

We go to Walt Disney World in Florida every year and have done so for the last 12 years ( we do go other places too but one of our annual holidays is always WDW). We haven't found anywhere lose that is as good value for money or that offers the level of service, cleanliness and entertainment.
It's not all roller coasters and queues!
We go in October or over Christmas and we always stay in a Disney hotel - they are some of the best hotels we have ever stayed in ( google The Beach Club, The Polynesian, Animal Kingdom Lodge - fantastic hotels).
I don't do queues but if you use a bit of common sense you don't have to queue - hit the parks at the right time ad use fast passes or the single rider line. That being said I'm not a coaster fan but there is so much more to Disney and to Orlando; Cirque du Soleil, live music shows ( we saw The Killers at Hard Rock Live last year) amazing restaurants (Victoria and Albert, Le Cellier, California Grill), water sports, sporting events and within the parks there are some amazing theatre style shows, fantastic nightlife etc.
No it's not cheap but honestly from a value for money perspective you really do get more for your £££.
It's not for everyone but then I would never to the Majorca, Costa del Sol holidays that so many people love - cant imagine anything worse.

Been to Florida done Disney etc loved it would definitely go again if I could. But yes there are other places to see in the world and yes it was hot and tiring. But for us as a family we had a blast. I think it's puma side is it's got weather, shopping, theme parks, wildlife, gators etc, beaches food. So there is something for everyone. But as a single parent now it's all but a distant dream!!

Different strokes.

We have done slightly cheaper packages to Majorca, the Algarve etc. i'd much rather save up and go to Florida! I like America, in all its weirdness.

Surprised no one's mentioned the Florida Keys. We did Miami and Keys Largo/West, visiting the Everglades en route. We plan to go back to Florida with DS. Couple of days at Disney then a week on a brach with golf/spa.

I haven't got a problem with Florida at all, I'm quite keen to go but Disney to me is just nit something I want to throw hundreds or thousands of £££ at. We love the US, had a great trip to California a few years ago and are planning a New York / Boston / New England trip with the children in a Couple of years and I would hate to forgo that for Mickey Mouse. Personally, contrary to what another poster said, Majorca is one of my favourite places ever stunning scenery, amazing weather, beaches to die for, fabulous food, great shopping, a magnificent capital city, loads of history.....just avoid the English abroad resorts.

I do not like heat or sunbathing. The heat in Florida is doable because ofthe humidity its not like the dry heat.

It depends what your kids are into. We are big Harry Potter fans so Universal was a must for us, and yes the themes film rides cannot be compared to Alton Towers.

Everywhere is clean with very good service.

Disney now has 'Star Wars' too, its not just about the rides anyway it is about the shows and parades, dressing up andhaving fun.

I felt more comfortable walking around disney in my nice but practical clothes as people did not seem so hung up on wearing the must have colours/styles. But then this just maybe my hang up.

The one in Hong Kong is really only suitable for the under 10s. It's really small. Disney Tokyo is better, particularly Disney sea.
Went to the one I florist with my parents in 1981 and dh a great time, but we also went to the space centre, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and visited friends in Alabama. It was a great family holiday and 33 years ago I had never been anywhere like it.
Also went pre kids, but again as part of a fly drive holiday.

We would pay in the region of £5-6k all in for four of us. Flying indirect saves £££.

YY we went Whale watching off Boston Precious, I am glad I have that box ticked as I am not sure I will see them again.

I also loved visiting Alcatraz, and would quite like to take the boys there one day.

Florida and Disney are definitely not seen as the ultimate family holiday within my social circle. Dh's brother and family are going this year and I honestly think these are the only people I know who are interested. People would say I am a snob for this attitude, as are my friends. So be it.

Personally I'd rather do the route 66 :D

Yay Mumsnet Road trip Litha.

We're going end of June for 10 days, luckily we can drive only 14hrs I checked the disney hotels thinking it might be nice and was horrified at the cost, $500 a night at the animal kingdom one. We're staying off site in a complex of apartments with an awesome pool for $149 a night (2 bed, 2 bath, kitchen and laundry). I took DS1 last year with some friends and he loved it! We had a great time. This morning I asked him where did he want to go on holiday (apart from Brazil and hawaii!) and he immediately said lego land, he is so happy we are going back there. We had planned to do a road trip through Sth west USA, but couldn't summon up the enthusiasm and it would have cost 2x what this trip to Orlando will cost. It is a fun place to go, he didn't whine in the lines, I took a stroller for when he was tired and will do again this year, and he loved all the rides. This year we'll add a day at the beach and an Everglades trip which we are all looking forward too. I estimate about 3500 quid for 10 days for a family of 4.

My parents took my family (minus me cos I stupidly booked a holiday to France to stay in a sodding caravan with ex-boyf) to Florida as a last "family" holiday when my sister was 21, (I was 19) and my brother was 16 - they had an amazing time, my mum cried at the parade and they had a fantastic time.

Me and my now DH went to Orlando for my 29th birthday and it was great fun, riding the coasters and shopping like maniacs. Having said all that, we only live an hours flight from florida and if you're only visiting the parks and I-Drive it can be a bit tacksville, but there is a lot more to Florida than theme parks that would be worth a 10k holiday. The keys are great as is Miami for a good time, and shopping in Tampa is amazing. I definitely wouldnt spend 10k on a holiday there though.

We spent 10k going to Disney Orlando but that was 2 weeks with our own villa, hire car, tickets, and 3.5k spending money 2 adults 2 teenagers and 8 yr old.

I didn't think it was bad for the money.

I had done Paris and didn't particularly want to do Orlando but it was my OH dream of taking his daughter so we went.

I would so do it again.

I really hate this new thing of saying "I've done Paris" or "We did Florida" or whatever. You've visited those places haven't you? What does "done" in this context even mean?

We once went for a day to Disneyland Paris and that was more than enough! There is no way on earth I'd voluntarily spend any longer in a theme park. Each to their own though!

We have been twice and I have to admit that I really do love it.

We spent 4 days in the Keys on our last trip and that was beautiful.

I hope to go again in about 5 years time.

YY Mintyy. I hate that too. It sounds like people are ticking things off a list without thinking about the experience

Florida

Macchu Pichu
New York

But then, it's just modern ways of speaking, that old fogies like me get irritated about which reminds me, that is the correct way to use get in a sentence, it should not be uttered when ordering at Costa.

Oh, I am sorry for the 'box ticking' thing. Seeing the whales was something I really wanted to do and don't think I will do again. I am not sure about 'not thinking about the experience' though.

There's a fair few places that are not on my list at all.

What does it matter? If we all wanted to do the same thing or all had the same interests it would be boring (plus there would be too many queues!)

I'm also surprised about how much holiday people sometimes claim to get for a quoted price. For example, from this thread:

We have been to FLA several times and done fabulous two and three centre stays (Miami-Orlando-Anna Maria-St Petes-Clearwater etc) for 3/4weeks for a family for half of that. Ie £5k for three to four weeks in America, for a family?????

And:

Give me a villa in France or Spain for a couple of weeks and I am happy, as is my pocket when I have spent less that £2k. Less than £2k for 2 weeks, presumably for a family, as it is a villa, which always sleeps a minimum of 4-6, in the school holidays? I assume that this is travel and SC accomodation only, and doesn't include food or activities?

So if I want an apartment as its just me and DP and we are probably next going to go in September this year, where would I look to get this as cheap as possible, while still being nice? Say about £500-700 for flights and SC accomodation for two weeks in somewhere like Mallorca, Menorca, Cyprus, other Greek Islands, Canary Islands, or anywhere else in Europe that you can suggest.

Not a Magaluf/Playa de Las Americas type resort, somewhere a bit quieter and more traditional please, and finally I've been to Puerto Pollensa and didn't really like it that much.

Wouldn't go to Disney if you paid me but each to their own.
We have older Dcs and last year spent a fabulous week in Poland. My third visit to Poland and all excellent. Serious value for money, eating out is pennies, architecture, history, parks, great pubs...all cheap as chips. Recommend it.