Feb School Vacation Trip from Boston to So CA - Disneyland and ?
 

A week into our children's December vacation and I am rethinking our decision to stay home for February break! We have planned what looks to be a wonderful trip to Europe for April so we originally thought we would save our money and stay home in February. Now that the holidays are over, kids cranky and weather turned cold in Boston, I am wondering if I could put together a budget trip for the four of us for some or all of the week of February 14 - school vacation. I would like to keep the entire trip under $3000 and we would like to stay for 6 nights give or take.

My four year old really wants to go to Disney. I dread the thought - hate crowds, amusement parks and spending loads of money on the foregoing. Disneyworld over February break seems like a terrible idea given that much of the East Coast has the same vacation so we would paying a lot for plane tickets and the park will be very crowded. I did think, however, that we could spend the week in California and spend a couple of days in Disney and then do something else. On a quick search I found flights for $400/each or $1600 total.

Does 2 full days seem like enough for Disneyland? 3? They don't watch the TV shows and have only seen a few movies. Actually, my eldest (8) is not really interested in Disney at all but I am sure would enjoy a couple of days. On the other hand, my younger daughter (4) LOVES Frozen and princesses. This is really for her. Neither are keen on scary rides but I think would enjoy the old fashioned rides like Small World. Is Disney World so much "better" than Disney Land that it makes more sense to go there? I have the sense that would not be true for my family (kids not interested in Universal Studios, don't like Harry Potter, I am sure they would like Epcot).

Is it much more convenient to stay in the park versus outside of it for a short period? I assume lodging is much cheaper elsewhere. I am researching prices for hotels - any suggestions welcome.

Where would you recommend we spend the second half of the trip?

One idea is Palm Springs (being from New England, seeing the desert would be a real novelty). Not sure if Palm Springs would be too much driving from Disney. How many days would you recommend there in order to get out and see the desert a bit, go for a hike, relax? It seems like there is a lot of reasonably priced (under $200/night) places to stay there.

The other alternative would be to stay in LA itself. I think the kids would enjoy Santa Monica, the Getty and just generally being outdoors in February.

thanks for your help in advance.

Disney for 2 days for a family of four will cost over $700, so that will leave you with about $700 for expenses for 6 days (including hotels, meals and car).

I love Palm Springs, but don't think it's great for kids in winter - really a golf destination in winter. I'd choose San Diego instead.

I'd disagree about Palm Springs. It can be very affordable in the winter, and a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park - around an hour from PS - is a fantastic outing for kids. Easy walks or fine for car touring, very cool cactus "gardens," and you can stop for a date milkshake at Shields on the way back. You could also ride the aerial tram if interested.

http://gardyloo.us/20110205_55a.JPG
http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo...ional-park.htm
https://www.shieldsdategarden.com/default.aspx
http://www.pstramway.com/

As for Disneyland, 2 days is perfect, and I'd shop carefully for accommodations, they're available in a very wide range of prices. Most are served by an area shuttle bus that operates all day, so you don't need to park at the Park.

Here is the ticket pricing, frankly I don't think you can do it for that budget, you already have air pricing, standard motel for $150 plus (some serve a continental or expanded continental breakfast) then meals even if you do not buy a single souvenir.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/tickets/
Also do not forget room tax is 17% in Anaheim on top of rates.

I know this is totally outside what you were thinking - but what about 4 days or so in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Air is about $450 on JetBlue (and flight is a lot shorter than to CA) - but I think you could do better than that is you played with the dates a little. There are plenty of hotels at around $225/night - and some for less if you also did some research. There are lots of free beaches plus some legitimate history and sightseeing rather than fake Mouse. If you eat at local, non-tourist places food is incredibly cheap.

No passports needed. Same money as we use. Cell phones work without paying extra.

Plus it is winter, our rainy season. No guarantee it won't be raining.

Those are great ages for LEGOLAND...so I would recommend heading south for a couple of nights for that and maybe the San Diego Zoo. I also think 2 days is enough of Disneyland for kids that young.

Good luck regarding the weather, from what we're hearing you're gonna need it.

Thanks for the replies. Gail, thanks for your ideas. We are not big Puerto Rico fans but had looked elsewhere in the Caribbean and found it too pricey. That is the big East Coast destination for February break so rates are quite high.

Thanks to the others for the reality check on pricing as well. We have increased our budget to cover Disney.

Clarkgriswold (love the name!), Legoland is a great idea. My girls love Legos but i think it will have to be Disney or Legoland as my husband and I want to do some stuff we want for the second half of the trip.

I booked direct flights from Boston to LAX plus a car for $1800. We will spend two days in Disney probably the last two days as we get in late the first night and don't want to be overtired there with only two days.

Deciding what to do the first half of the trip. We are still both very interested in Joshua Tree/Palm Springs. Considering camping there - we are camping novices but just got equipment for Christmas and think it would be a great experience for the kids (and quite a contrast to Disney!). Not sure we are ready for the "big time" as our only camping to date has been within a short drive of civilization. Also may be too much trouble to bring our gear but thinking about it. Your thoughts on that welcome.

Assuming we do stay in a hotel, however, what area is most convenient for Joshua Tree and other sightseeing in area? Gardyloo - thanks for the suggestions. I am looking at the websites.

<i>Assuming we do stay in a hotel, however, what area is most convenient for Joshua Tree and other sightseeing in area?</i>

It depends on your tastes. The Coachella Valley is fairly built up and the communities along Hwy 111 are surprisingly diverse. I like Palm Springs itself the best; there are numerous very retro motels that are great for families (also a lot designed as adults-only, so be sure to check) with kitchenettes and pools, most of them very affordable. In the other towns, which range from mainly working-class Hispanic to very golfy retired-gated type places, there's also a range of accomodations, but the sort of rat-pack, ring-a-ding style of PS is very cool.

Joshua Tree NP is an easy day trip; there's also the PS aerial tramway, and while I haven't been there I hear the Living Desert - http://www.livingdesert.org/- in Palm Desert is terrific for kids (and their parents too.)

There's also a giant outlet mall just off I-10 at Cabazon, a few miles before Palm Springs, and several Indian casinos including a big one right in PS itself. (Much of PS is built on Indian lands - the Agua Caliente Indians are the biggest landowners in the city.) PS is also great for mid-century antiquing and shopping, plenty of great food (including Sherman's Deli - a personal fave.)

Thanks Gardy loo. We would probably try to steer clear of the developed areas as we are trying for the real desert experience (although I do like my comfort so having second thoughts about camping now that I see only two sites have running water). Will check out Palm Springs and the Living Desert looks perfect.

<i>...(although I do like my comfort so having second thoughts about camping now that I see only two sites have running water)</i>

It can get quite cold at night in the desert in the winter; freezing temperatures aren't unknown.

Unfortunately for your desired trip, everything from Palm Springs to Indio is highly developed.

Joshua Tree was a great day trip -- good hikes, and very unusual flora.

Keep in mind it's very very cold at the top of the tram (which is why I've only done it once in my life - I prefer the warm temperatures of sea level in Palm Springs!).

I agree with the Sherman's Deli recommendation.

Thanks for the further feedback. SF7307 - when you say that Joshua Tree was a good day trip, from where? Is it doable from LA?

LA is a BIG place - from the west side/LAX/Santa Monica Joshua Tree would be a 3+ hour drive each way. From the east side - an hour less.

It would be a day trip from Palm Springs.

Meant to add- you need one full day for Disneyland, and one full day for California Adventure (where all the Frozen stuff is). So that really means 3 nights.

Your budget really doesn't allow staying ON property, unless you can get a special at the Paradise Pier hotel. But the DL hotel and Grand Californian are very pricey.

But there are many totally serviceable motels just across Harbor Blvd from the parks.

I was just pricing the last weekend in January at " Good Neighbor" hotels across from Disneyland and MANY are sold out already... which is unusual! I would imagine that for holiday weeks in February that rooms are getting tight. www.mousesavers.com has good information about some of the desired hotels near Disneyland that are not on property. Bottom line, if you think that you do want to go to Disneyland, I'd look for and reserve rooms NOW before doing anything else.

Take a look at this crowd predictor for your dates:
http://www.isitpacked.com/disneyland...ctor-calendar/