Which would you choose...New York or Orlando (with kids)?

[chickatee]

After years of doing camping holidays in Europe we are ready for a change next year and I think I have narrowed it down to either of the above, but I can't make a final decision, mainly because I would really love to go to both .

Our kids are not little anymore (they will be 17, 11 and 6) and will most likely be happy with either choice. A trip to New York (I have never been but DH has been twice) would be shorter - probably around 5 or 6 days - and a bit cheaper I think. Orlando would be for 2 weeks and would require some fairly major saving up as we would probably only go once so we would want to do everything!

I won't get back to this thread until tomorrow but I would love to hear any thoughts from people who have been to either or both places with children.

chickatee, with regards to the Yellow cabs,they will take 4 people, you may find one or 2 that will take 5 but officially and legally they carry 4. However there are plenty of 6-7 seaters to choose from.

When getting a cab from the airport either pre book or go directly to rank as you will be approached by touts....
From JFK to Midtown Manhattan is a flat rate of $45. HTH

I'd definately say Orlando.

I've been to both and think with the age range of your family you'd enjoy that experience much more.

we went to Florida 2yrs ago when DD was 8 with my parents and DDs god parents. None of us are particularly theme park fans but to be honest the whole place is an experience rather than just a day out at a theme park. I did a load of research before we went and had an itinery (sp?) which meant it was really rather a relaxed break as we had an idea of what we were doing when, right down to the order we were doing the rides. Went in June/July and can honestly say we didn't stand in a queue for lomger than 15mins, perfect for a whingy 8yr old. I don't think I'd be allowed to say what website I used on here but google tour guide and disney

I think NYC would still be enjoyable but having done it without DD (she was 3yrs and I went on a girlie 30th birthday long weekend with my 2 best mates) I'm saving it till she's sweet 16.

Yes that's most helpful twinkletoescare, thank you.

Thanks scotlass. The idea of going on a holiday that would need such a detailed itinerary scares the life out of me! What if something went awry and we had to DEVIATE from the plan, I would be beside myself with the stress of it!! (I am a bit uptight about these kind of things ). It still sounds like the better option overall though I think.

HaHa - if you only knew me in rl I can be the most disorganised / scatty person.

We did deviate from our plan as I was too knackered to go to universal islands of adventures and every one else insisted I couldn't stay home alone

I know an itinerary sounds really anal but it was really good fun planning it honest. My addiction to the forums on that website has now moved onto one on here

twinketoscare - I was just responding to this "have always said that NY is no place to go with young dc's..." I just wondered why you felt that, as obviously I had felt it was a good place with young children. Just curious really.

chickatee - we didn't stay right in NY as we went for a week. We decided to stay in a beach house on Broad Channel Island. We were about 45 minutes way by train; a very easy ride BTW. A couple of times we stayed later in NYC for dinner. We enjoyed a meal out in Greenwich Village for example. Rest of time we went back early evening to the house, and chilled in the house, or sat outside ont he veranda overlooking the most amazing views of the Manhattan skyline

We never bother with an itinerary for Disney/Universla TBH. We just go to a park every day and wandered around. But we do do parks every day, and have loads of tickets so we don't feel pressurised to go to certain plaes at certain times IYSWIM.

i'd second what hula says about NY, it was a fab place to take young children, although busy i never once felt stressed by it or that we'd loose the children, mine are the 6 and nearly 4 year old hula mentioned above!

The beach house we had was near enough for the commute to be ok on a daily basis but far enough out that it was quiet, as hula said a week was not long enough, my girls desperately want to go back and our plan if we do is to stay out of the city but have one night in a hotel in the city to take them to a show.

i have put a picure of the view of the skyline on my profile - take a look - was amazing!

We had no problems finding places to eat with the children, even in Greenwich Village on a friday night at 8pm with the whole office crowds in, they happily gave us a table for 7, sorted food for the children almost immediately so we could look at the menu in peace.

fab fab fab fab fab!

although have only done disney paris so can't compare one with the other.

on the budget front - NY can be as cheap or expensive as you want really, the metro pass (buses and tubes) was only $20 for the whole week, get on and off as many times as you want, all of our children were free, its under a certain height.

I live in NYC and have a 5 and 3 year old. There is SO MUCH for a 6 year old to enjoy. Twinkle you are just wrong, sorry. You probably won't all want to do the same things all the time though, but the 17 year old will maybe want to do his/her own thing some of the time.

Re. evenings, kids in NY do tend to be up later than in the UK. No one will mind having a 6 year old in even quite nice restaurants at 8pm, for example. But in a 5-6 day trip you are probably not going to get over jetlag so it might be difficult to do things like that. There are lots of babysitting services if you feel comfortable using them.

Most NY taxis can't fit 5 passengers, there are a few around that can but they're not that easy to find, you would easily get one from, say, the airport though. The subway is excellent.

Sorry twinketoscare, had only read up to the end of page 1 when I posted - I didn't mean it to seem like everyone is getting at you!

alarkaspree -

*alarkaspree - I shall see you next Friday then! Dp and I are heading there for our honeymoon

Oh actually - you might be able to help - we have a few restuarants that we have picked out.. but were wondering if they were ok?

alarkaspree No im not wrong how can you say what my opinion is?
This is MY opinion and regadless so what anybody else may think abot NY with small children my opinion is my opinion and certainly not wrong

twinkletoescrae - I don't think anyone was out to get at ou. I just queried something as was interested as to why you felt NY was not the place to go with young children (something you said in your first post). It certainly wasn't a slight at your opinion. I was just curious as to why, as my thoughts were quite different. Would have been interested as tot he reasons for such a difference in thought, that is all.

alarkaspree did apologise to you beforehand.

Thanks to everyone for all the opnions and info so far. Well, I am no closer to a decision but Katz and Hulababy, I am at the photo from the verandah of your beach house, and what a good idea to stay outside the city and commute in.

I have been looking at some flights and I see that we could fly to and from Orlando via Newark. I don't even know if this would be financially viable for us, but I wonder what anyone thinks of the idea of an extended stopover in Newark on the way out, making it a 2 centre holiday I suppose. We would have to shave off a few days from the time spent in Orlando and probably skip the Disney parks completely to save on costs by just buying the Orlando Flexticket. Is it too ambitious? Too much hassle?

I'd say if you don't see yourself coming back to the US again for a good while, that could be a great idea. You could see a lot of the main sights of NYC in 2 or 3 days. I don't know anything about Orlando or how much time you need there to make it worthwhile, but it's definitely worth considering.

Have a fantastic honeymoon Geordieminx!

chickatee - this is the house we stayed in

beach house

its on the end of the A train route which takes you into the finance district in 45 mins and takes an 1 hour colombus circle (bottom corner of central park). What we tended to do was head to the furthest point each day and then head nearer home through the day.

We booked our flights with Virgin and got a really good deal, £265 for children and £280 for adults i think. We shared the house with Hulababy and family, which saved us money.

I have just done our photobook of the holiday and so want to go back!

we also found the jetlag helped us to get more done! because we woke up early we could get to down town manhattan for around 9.30 each day, and we ready to head home either just before dinner at around 5pm or just after. Whilst the metro was busy at rush hours times, in the morning we were some of the first on and coming home people were really kind and offered the children seats, they generally slept on the way back and then had dinner and bed. My littlest, almost 4, was probably the worst effected by the jetlag but we coped.

chickatee - DH's colleaues have their own place in orlando and regulaRLY FLY TO ny FIRST, STAY THERE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN FINISH THEIR HOLIDAY IN oRLANDO.

(ooops - sorry for caps)

Take them to Eurodisney instead AND go to New York. Your children will love it. Take your 6 year old to Bronx Zoo (much nicer than Central Park zoo) and they'll all love visiting the Air craft carrier Intrepid (and the nuclear submarine alongside and a real BA Concorde)! Up the Empire State ( or Top of the Rock(erfeller) is just as fab a view and shorter queues). There's a wonderful SuperHero shop in Brooklyn founded by writer Dave Eggers(where you can buy capes, secret identity clothes and "powerful" glowing substances) We did a week with a 7 and 9 year old in July this year and they had a wonderful time. New York is like a theme park with the iconic yellow cabs and streetscape; but it's REAL! I was taken to both Orlando and NYC myself as an 8 year old back in 1976 and NYC remains my most wonderful and lifechanging memory. Your kids will thank you one day.

I have to admit we were staying with friends. If your 6 year old is night owl then go out and have a great meal or just catch a movie months ahead of it hitting the UK . Or do a deal with your teens and ask them to baby sit one night each to give you and your beloved a couple of nights out.
Maybe your older two could go out a couple of evenings together. Manhattan's pretty safe now and the streets downtown and midtown are fun to walk around. I personally very much a morning person and manage to enjoy NY despite wanting to be in bed by 1030pm. And you might find the jet lag and all that pounding the streets by foot all day will mean you'll all want to turn in earlier than you might think. Your teens could get the taste for coming back with their own money when they're a little older and really sampling the nightlife.
Time OUT magazine in NY is really good on child/teenfriendly things to do.
As for taxis.. We definitely got 5 in, as long as the driver doesn't mind one person sitting up front next to him, which technically they don't have to do. Just hail and ask. They're roomy cabs.
Hope it goes well, if you decide to go.

I think I will investigate the 2-centre idea a bit more. It could be the solution (to my acute indecision), as long as it doesn't turn out to be ridiculously expensive.

Katz, that house looks fab. I hadn't thought of staying outside the city at all but it seems like such an obviously good idea. It would be such a shame to be stuck in a room in the centre of NYC every evening with a small jetlagged child who needs an early night even under normal circumstances.

Thanks msspock, I have heard good things about the Bronx zoo too and my youngest DS would absolutely LOVE the superhero shop. I don't think I would let the 2 oldest out on their own though. DS2 is only 11 and DS1 is away on his own planet most of the time.

And yes of course, congratulations geordieminx, hope you have a brilliant honeymoon.

Hulababy....Huh????
I dont believe anyone was out to get me??? did i mention otherwise?

The Natural History Museum was a great full day out for all of us. We spent so long in there, lol!