Thanks to your help, I survived Disney!
 

Just wanted to follow up and thank everyone who talked me off the ledge when I discovered, several months ago, that I was going to Disneyworld. I received a tremendous amount of good advice (stay on site, go to Animal Kingdom, do a Wishes Cruise, join Tour Guide Mike) and it all paid off. My family had a great trip, the memories of which I am sure will linger forever.

What's next? I have our summer, fall and winter trips pretty well thought out but I don't know what to do next spring. Perhaps it is the snow swirling outside my window (on APRIL 11TH!!) but I am already thinking of next year. Originally thought Hawaii but I think the flights are still too long for my very active boys. Any suggestions? It needs to be guaranteed warm (so no Florida) with a beach and a great pool for kids (slides ideal). I keep coming up with Atlantis but I just KNOW there has to be someplace else.

Thanks again for all your help.
Taitai

I don't know where you are located, but have you looked at Aruba? We went there a couple of years ago during Spring Break with our kids and loved it. If you live on the East Coast, there are many direct flights to Aruba.

taitai, most people who despise Disney and all it stands for and who rant about how awful DisneyWorld is have never been there.

But I don't get this:
"It needs to be guaranteed warm (so no Florida)" HUH? In April? Florida is a pretty big state, but I'm not sure where you'll go that guarantees weather to be warm much more than at least Southern Florida in April!

NeoPatrick

Thanks for your reply. We have been to Florida lots lately and have had a couple trips in which we have had unseasonably cool weather in both Miami and Naples. The Keys are great but we had a large Family Reunion in Key West last Christmas so I am looking for something else.

Also, our Spring Break is March.

I like the idea of Aruba but worry that the flight is too long from Minnesota. I will check it out, though.

Thanks for everyone's help.
Taitai

OK, you're right. I actually did wear a sweater here in Naples one night a few weeks ago (but I think that was still March) when it dipped into the upper 40's at night, and only got to about 70 during the day. That "cold front" lasted approximately a day and a half before it returned to the mid and upper 80's, where it's been almost consistently since January! If you're planning a two day trip, I suppose you could run into "cool" weather.

Are you familiar with Beaches? They have properties in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos.

www.Beaches.com

How about Mexico?

Fly into Cancun, rent a car and drive to Akumal. Great beach and snorkeling. Mayan ruins nearby. This website has a lot of information: http://www.locogringo.com/.

I agree..DON'T go to Atlantis!!!!

Glad you enjoyed WDW and agree with Neo 100% about people who whine about it (and thank you for supporting my stock portfolio, too).

The "slide for kids" kinda has me stumped since you aren't going to find ANYTHING as extensive as you did at WDW, even at Atlantis.

Good luck

Dukey

I wasn't talking about the water parks...heavens, I am not trying to replicate Typhoon Lagoon. All I meant was that our Disney Hotel had a curvy slide in the pool and my kids thought it was the BEST. So, I am looking for a pool that has more than a beautiful infinity edge and a swim up bar.

Thanks again for your help.

taitai

You couldn't go here on spring break, but if your kids like waterparks and slides, consider going to the Schlitterbahn sometime in the summer. You will not be able to do it all in a day. Big, nice, tons of water slides, etc.