I want to surprise my college freshman with a sort break while she's home for Christmas. She has been dying to go to Atlantis, but we have a 5 year old as well. I'm thinking Disney might be a smarter choice but I wish it would be warmer. Has anyone been to Atlantis with a teenager and young child?

Disney is PACKED during Christmas week. In fact most resorts are filled to capacity. Both places a large resort areas. December might not be warm enough to go in the ocean at Atlantis either.

Disney will indeed be a mess during that time of year. It will also be high season for Atlantis, but, if you're going in January, Atlantis will be warmer.

I'm actually planning on traveling after New Years. I know Disney won't be packed once the grade school and high school kids go back to school. Just concerned that there won't be much for the 5 year old to do at Atlantis. If it's not warm, the pool won't be so important.

There is a lot to do in Atlantis, but not of the same variety of activity as Disney. There is a fabulous lazy river, many pools, a ceramics studio where lots of children congregate, a full-size movie theater, etc. I wouldn't think your five-year-old would be bored in Atlantis, but she would probably rather go to Disney world for the rides. You have two very widespread ages whose needs and interests are hard to reconcile. Good Luck!

January (post school breaks) at Disney is the best!! The weather is cool, the lines are short, the hotels are the lowest prices, and it is great.

We have been to Disney a lot and that was my favorite trip. The heat really makes you tired and crabby. The weather really made us all happy and relaxed. Swimming is debatable - it can be in the 50s or 80s that time of year - you never know.

Read the Atlantis reviews. That will probably end that.

Thanks everyone.

samejia,

I have not been to Disneyworld since the mid 1970's - I live in Southern California so we visit DisneyLAND frequently.

I did go to Atlantis last summer - I think that there will be plenty to do at Atlantis for you 5 year old. I would check weather.com or another site to see what the average temp is though. We have been to the Bahamas twice in the last few years - once in March and it was down right "chilly" - not comfortable to sit by the pool.

There is SO much to do though at Atlantis. We stayed at the "cove" and it was lovely - but not really child driven as the rest of the resort is.

I do suggest as someone else did to read the reviews on it. There are many people that note it is very costly, poor service et.

I had a good experience but in the end it turned a little sour as they charged us over 3,000.00 that should have been on someone elses bill and it was impossible to get them to respond - we tried for a few weeks over and over - and finally had to dispute it with Amex.