Two words of caution:

1. We took one Disney cruise, and the food was okay. Not great, but fine for family dining. But there were many, many seasick adults and children. I would hate to spend that kind of money and have a miserable toddler. I'd definitely wait until older.
2. Not all kid-programs are what they are cracked up to be. There was a huge thread on the Caribbean board a while ago regarding a child abuse scandal at some resort. Just don't put your full trust anywhere, and again, I'd wait for the children to be older and able to communicate any discomforts.

I "third" the San Diego destination. If that's too far, Disney World is always fun for families. You can always scale back, and do low-key for the little ones (a couple half day visits to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom), spending relaxing time by the pool.

You could do a Southern CA vacation. A couple of nights at Disneyland and then down to San Diego and do the Zoo and Sea World.

Fantasyland is great for the toddlers. I'm sure your 3 yr old already knows Mickey & Minnie! I've seen every age at DL from newborns to eldery people in wheelchairs and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

The beaches in SD would be a nice way for you to relax after your theme parks. But this is from someone who starting traveling when the kids were only 6 weeks old! We took our 6 mo. old firstborn son on a trip to Hawaii to visit grandparents.

As the years went on and all the kids started coming along, we once traveled the Oregon Coast on a 14 hr. ride with three under five, two in diapers and a nursing infant! This will be a piece of cake. Have a great time and enjoy your little ones, they grow up too fast! ***kim***

Wow y'all are awesome! I love Fodorites b/c everyone has such great ideas! LeslieC funny, but DH is a family physician- but you are right about getting sick. We don't always have medicine available, (or the same meds) in a foreign country. The other thing is a passport, I think it takes at least 6 weeks to get one. We are still researching, DH will love idea of San Diego or S. Calif. Y'all have been so great to ease my fears...I think that no matter where we go, if we respect their limitations and needs, they will be happy to be with us! Keep the suggestions coming...thanks so much!

Dreamer2,

I am so glad someone else mentioned the kids program thing. I know most people may think I am paranoid, but the idea of a total stranger being in charge of my kids (without me present)is very frightening to me. I'm sure 99% of the people who work in the kids programs love kids and would never do anything wrong or hurtful. However, it is that 1% that i feel iffy about. Our regular nanny cannot accompany us, and unfortunately, right now there is no one else who can either. So it'll just be the 4 of us- which is OK. The other thing I thought of that I had done before was to hire a hotel sitter as a
"mommy's helper" while I am present to feel her out and see how she does with the kids, and then decide whether or not to leave her alone with them. I hope I did not offend anyone by saying all this but my kids ARE too small to even be able to fully explain something unpleasant to me when they are at home. My son now only says about 10 words. If something went wrong it is unlikely they would be able to tell me. I think when they are older, say 5 or 6 it won't be so much of an issue. Besides, any inconvenience is worh it- they are awesome kids! Thanks for the advice-I appreciate it.

I think Disney may have a message board where you could chat with other mommies with small children. Maybe someone out there knows the link! Good luck and let us know what you decide on. We're planning on a DL vacation for October when the crowds are down, ourselves. TTFN!! (That's ta-ta-for-now in Tigger talk!) ***kim***

We had a wonderful time in Chicago with our boys when they were that age. Great childrens museums, the zoo,architectural river cruise, great public transportation, food and shopping for Mom and Dad! Not a resort, but lots to do and see. My 3 year old loved the museums.

I do think my kids would love museums, especially ones like the Smithsonian in DC, Air and space, and natural history. We had discussed several months back going to DC and then going for a few days to The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. I nixed the idea b/c I thought too much driving time, carseats, strollers, etc... sounds like home. DH still wants to consider that, maybe we should. Thanks!

See now, San Diego has the museum option as well. Balboa Park is a beautiful, stroller-friendly area with an archaeological museum, natural history museum, railroad museum, car museum, space museum, and probably others that I can't recall. Fountains, fish ponds, a carousel, and street performers make it a fun and festive atmosphere. You can also walk over a pedestrian bridge to a rose garden (probably won't be in bloom, though) and a big cactus garden.

You might want to post this over at the Carribbean Board. 2 years ago we went skiing at Telluride and stayed at the Wyndham Resort there. They have a great kids program. October should be beautiful!

Well, I would suggest you do a farm or family bed and breakfast. In particular, go to the Wildflower Inn in Vermont - it will be gorgeous in the fall - and you'll be able to relax while enjoying the kids.

I have four - ranging from 1-11. My advice is to stay in one place that allows families to be together. Check out Earthshine Mountain Lodge in North Carolina.

I live near Lancaster PA and we make an annual trip to Rocky Acres Farm Bed and Breakfast. There are many others in the area - kids get to milk cows, play with kitties, ride a pony etc. There are others in New England also (inn at East Hill Farm).

Now, if you're planning to drop them off at a kids program, you could go anywhere you want to!!

Have fun whjerver you choose!

Lisa

I haven't read even ONE reply so here is mine. Go to the beach and enjoy them building sand castles, in the waves, a pool if it is included. What memories do you want more than that.

The voice of reason: Gretchen!

Those babies don't care about expensive rooms, cruises, or anything else except love and fun. (Richard cannot believe I am stating that!) Prices in beach-towns, especially not too far south should be very reasonable, more so mid-week. Often the nicest places can be found 50-100 miles from home, where you could always return to pick up small items you forgot, such as a favorite toy, diaper pins, and the like.

Paradise Point is a great place to stay in San Diego with small kids. It has a great pool area complete with a sandy beach for small kids to play. The rooms are individual suites, almost like cottages including a cozy front porch. Sea World and the zoo are both lots of fun for small children. Legoland in Carlsbad, about a 35-45 minute drive, is perfect for small kids too. I highly recommend San Diego! FYI, my 5 year old daughter still is frightened by some rides at Disneyland. Many rides for small kids contain ghosts, goblins, pirates and trap doors that can be scary for small children.

You sound as if you've got yourselves really worked up worrying about this. I lived overseas in Manila & Johannesburg when my kids were born. My son was 6 weeks old when I took him to Hong Kong, and not even walking when we went to Bangkok. I've changed diapers in more airports than I can remember.

I flew back to the u.s. from Johannesburg alone with my 5 year old and 3 year old (a 27 hour, door to door trip). They were fine and I was fine as long as I slept or rested when they did. Then there was the part -- as I was checking in for my next flight in the U.S. at Kennedy -- that I'd forgotten our car seat at South African Airways. Back on the shuttle bus we went ...

Here's what I learned: Take the vacation you want. You're the grownups and kids that age only know two conditions: with parents or without parents. Disney is way too much for small kids. I took mine there when they were 10 and 8 and told them, enjoy it now because we're never going back.

Keep it simple. We got in trouble when we tried to do too much. My daughter was just getting toilet trained when we went to England for two weeks and there was one time where our timing was off and she got pushed in her stroller through Chelsea sans underpants.

Pace yourselves and try to nap when the kids nap. Try to stick to a meal & bedtime schedule as much as you can.

You can't plan for everything, but that's what makes travel fun. That said, wherever you go, make sure babysitting is available.

maggy

At 3 and 18 months, your kids will neither remember or enjoy this trip... pick a place for you and your husband and the kids will adapt to anything you throw at them... you will have 15 years to do the "family thing"... save your money for the Disney stuff until your youngest is at least 6.... I speak from experience... my kids had very little recall of vacations to disney at that age...