Hoping for some opinions, please

[reginaastralis]

I hope this is the correct forum, if not, sorry. I am looking for some seriously honest opinions, from complete strangers, lol. Thanks in advance!

Here's the story. My birthday is in March, and I will be 25. I was thinking about booking a stay at Disney to celebrate. My daughter and I have never done a vacation before together, always with my family. It will be for around $1500 (I think I can do it cheaper, and this way includes our hotel, tickets, food and getting a $200 giftcard when we check in.) I have the money for this, but I am planning on buying my parents house from them next year and the money could be used for home improvements and/or furniture.

I can't help to think that $1500 is a LOT of money. However, two months ago my friend was killed suddenly in a car accident (she was hit by a wrong way drunk driver) She was one day shy of turning 25, and the accident put her daughter (4) in very serious condition. I can't help but think as a way to help myself get over the complete shock and hurt I feel for my friend and her little girl, that this is a good thing. Jenny and I were both single mom's, and she was on the way to a birthday celebration with her daughter when she was killed. My heart is telling me to go and plan this vacation and get away from town for my birthday, and my brain is telling me to spend the money on other things. With Jenny's death, I learned that everyday with my daughter could be my last ... and I don't want to wait to have fun with her.

So, what would you do?

[Shoshana]

I say follow your heart.

I took my dd to Disney two years ago -- it was the first time I'd been as an adult and the first time I paid for a "real" vacation. I don't regret one penny of that trip. It was awesome.

[hmcart]

I would say if you have the money then go for it! Time spent with your daughter is precious. Just remember that even if you choose not to go to disney you can still find less expensive things to do with your daughter that will be just as special for her!

[kittykatstrong]

I think you should go on the trip. Its not "wasted" money. I think it will be a great experence.

[reginaastralis]

Thanks for your honest replies.

I have to be honest, we live about an hour from Disney. But we've never stayed the week, away from family, just the two of us. No work, school any of that stuff. I think that's what's pulling me.

Depending on the way I go, I think it'll be a week worth of tickets, and we'll probably only go to the parks four of those days. Leaving three left over (plus one of mine for my birthday). That leaves three other days we can hop back over (and maybe a solo day that I can go somewhere ... by MYSELF, what a concept!).

The more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards it. We'd be a short drive from my grandma, who doesn't get to see her great-granddaughter enough ... and Disney is like my happy place.

Ack, I just have to figure out which way I want to go ... ie, which is the cheapest. LOL.

[Nana2two]

I say go for it.

[mikandmari]

Disney memories are priceless! I'm not a big traveler, and couldn't afford to take my kids many places when they were growing up. But I saved some & borrowed some for the Disney trip. It was worth every cent! We live in Delaware, and went in the middle of winter, so the warm weather was also a real novelty for my kids. They were swimming while everyone at home was in a snowstorm!

You won't regret it, especially since you haven't traveled without your family. It will be an adventure just for the two of you!

[jdr250]

Go for it, we went almost 3 years ago, and my kids still talk about it. It really is the happiest place on earth. If you're going to stay on site look into the meal plan. We bought the meal plan and it was great knowing that we had our meals already paid for, made budgeting for souvenirs and stuff so much easier. We also stayed at one of the "lower" end disney resorts it was still really nice and alot cheaper. We also didn't purchase the hopper passes just the regular park passes, we just planned a park a day and stuck with it, that was also alot cheaper. Plus there is so much to see at each park, that it took all day to see everything. I think the only park that we went through quickly enough to have gone to another park was MGM, but we just used the rest of that day as a day of rest for us tired adults and a pool party for the kids.
Go for it, frugality without enjoyment is just a waste. IMHO

[rainbowgc]

If you are buying a house you will have many years to fix it up, go on the trip!

[LynnLC]

One word- GO!

[zakity]

If this is something you really want to do, then do it.

I saw on a commercial that you get into Disney free on your birthday. You might want to choose that day as a Disney day and save a little money.