Disney or NY? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

01/14/2016 03:10:59 PM · #1

So - I'm thinking of knocking off a bucket list item with a fairly spur-of-the moment trip. Looking at either Disney World/Universal or New York City.

I will likely be alone. (Might be able to talk mom into joining me at Disney.)
Trip would be in early March. (So admittedly not a lot of planning time for Disney.)
Trip would be about 4 nights.

Anybody have a recommendation between the two or a suggestion for how I should decide?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

01/14/2016 03:18:49 PM · #2

Are you more interested in spending the time in a fantasy world or a real one?

How important is it to spend time with your mom?

tate

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

01/14/2016 03:29:14 PM · #3

photography: + to NY
warm weather: + to FL

RyanW

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

01/14/2016 03:29:28 PM · #4

have done both as a tourist.
If you want world-class cuisine and unique shows, you could go to either place.
If you want to be in a place where people are not who they seem to be, you could also go to either place.
If you like seeing people in crazy clothing getups...you guessed it - either place!!

All joking aside, as GeneralE said, how important is time with your mom?
If you want to be able to do both at some point and she could only do 1, do the one with her first and the other one later if she is up for the trip.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

01/14/2016 03:44:01 PM · #5

I would love time with my mom. She seemed reluctant because it was so last minute - her comment was that Disney requires months of planning. (Yes I'll reserve a couple of fast passes, but mainly I would want to bask in the fantasy of it all without caring about doing any in particular.) Sadly it sounds like terrorist fears are keeping mom from re-visiting NY which she loved and always said she would go back to anytime.

But I like the comments - time with mom if I can get it would be ideal.

If I'm alone I suspect I could have a good time at Disney, but from previous travel experiences alone I would probably be in heaven visiting NY. (Photography in NY a plus, but the draw of escaping into a total fantasy world also enticing.)

Message edited by author 2016-01-14 15:44:47.

RyanW

Nikon D7000

01/14/2016 03:56:24 PM · #6

Originally posted by Jules1x:

if you want to fast-plan Disney, google "DISNEY MOMS" - they break it down quite well.
here

FromDaRock

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

01/14/2016 09:02:47 PM · #7

Originally posted by Jules1x:

A month and a half is NOT last minute, and you don't need months to plan a Disney vacation. 8-)

You said you are going for 4 days in March. It's pretty simple. Don't go during March Break, and don't go on the weekend. If you go when kids are still in school, it isn't going to be that busy (relatively speaking of course). The only thing that comes to mind for planning well in advance is character dining.

Message edited by author 2016-01-14 21:05:12.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

01/14/2016 09:33:13 PM · #8

Originally posted by FromDaRock:

Originally posted by Jules1x:
I would love time with my mom. She seemed reluctant because it was so last minute - her comment was that Disney requires months of planning. (Yes I'll reserve a couple of fast passes, but mainly I would want to bask in the fantasy of it all without caring about doing any in particular.) Sadly it sounds like terrorist fears are keeping mom from re-visiting NY which she loved and always said she would go back to anytime.

But I like the comments - time with mom if I can get it would be ideal.

If I'm alone I suspect I could have a good time at Disney, but from previous travel experiences alone I would probably be in heaven visiting NY. (Photography in NY a plus, but the draw of escaping into a total fantasy world also enticing.)

A month and a half is NOT last minute, and you don't need months to plan a Disney vacation. 8-)

You said you are going for 4 days in March. It's pretty simple. Don't go during March Break, and don't go on the weekend. If you go when kids are still in school, it isn't going to be that busy (relatively speaking of course). The only thing that comes to mind for planning well in advance is character dining.

That was my thought. And mom was in Disney in November with grandkids so did character dining galore then. I can live without that. I would want to see Cirque and Blue Man Group. I want to ride Soar and see Hollywoood Studios. I want to walk through Harry Potter World. I could leave next week and be content with whatever worked out. Maybe mom is more trying to tell me she really doesn't want to travel with me. Guess that is a different issue. Just realized it was winter in NY - first week in March. That might sway the direction of travel.

FromDaRock

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

01/14/2016 10:32:29 PM · #9

Originally posted by Jules1x:

Originally posted by FromDaRock:

Originally posted by Jules1x:
I would love time with my mom. She seemed reluctant because it was so last minute - her comment was that Disney requires months of planning. (Yes I'll reserve a couple of fast passes, but mainly I would want to bask in the fantasy of it all without caring about doing any in particular.) Sadly it sounds like terrorist fears are keeping mom from re-visiting NY which she loved and always said she would go back to anytime.

But I like the comments - time with mom if I can get it would be ideal.

If I'm alone I suspect I could have a good time at Disney, but from previous travel experiences alone I would probably be in heaven visiting NY. (Photography in NY a plus, but the draw of escaping into a total fantasy world also enticing.)

A month and a half is NOT last minute, and you don't need months to plan a Disney vacation. 8-)

You said you are going for 4 days in March. It's pretty simple. Don't go during March Break, and don't go on the weekend. If you go when kids are still in school, it isn't going to be that busy (relatively speaking of course). The only thing that comes to mind for planning well in advance is character dining.

That was my thought. And mom was in Disney in November with grandkids so did character dining galore then. I can live without that. I would want to see Cirque and Blue Man Group. I want to ride Soar and see Hollywoood Studios. I want to walk through Harry Potter World. I could leave next week and be content with whatever worked out. Maybe mom is more trying to tell me she really doesn't want to travel with me. Guess that is a different issue. Just realized it was winter in NY - first week in March. That might sway the direction of travel.

From a financial standpoint, it is much more expensive to go to both parks (Disney and Universal) for 4 days than either one on its own. You will almost be paying full price for tickets every day at both locations. Both will offer significant discounts the longer you stay at each park. That being said, Universal is much smaller and if you get express passes, you can do both of their parks in two days. If the extra money doesn't matter to you, than have at 'er. BTW, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is fantastic...and don't forget that you need a park hopper pass to ride Hogwarts Express (which is also awesome).

If you and your mom go to Universal, I would recommend staying at one of their hotels, as it will include the Unlimited Express Pass, which is worth quite a bit of money (The bargain hotel doesn't offer this deal). They are also within walking distance to the parks (7-8 minutes if you walk slow), so you don't need any transportation.

Message edited by author 2016-01-14 22:33:20.

GrillTowel

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR

01/14/2016 11:37:31 PM · #10

Disney with Mom.

Techo

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

01/15/2016 12:09:57 AM · #11

Originally posted by Jules1x:

...Sadly it sounds like terrorist fears are keeping mom from re-visiting NY which she loved and always said she would go back to anytime.
...

If that's all that's stopping her and you're sure you both would prefer NYC. Ask her if she'd visit Paris ;) If so, tell her more than couple NYers I know are suspending travel there because of terrorist fears. March will(should) not be terribly cold, maybe 40/50s.

GrillTowel

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR

01/15/2016 12:19:26 AM · #12

Ugh...While the threat is real, your mom has a much better chance of being killed in a monorail accident than being killed by a true "terrorist". Now just being hurt or killed by an "every day" type of criminal violence is a different story.

Originally posted by Techo:

Originally posted by Jules1x:
...Sadly it sounds like terrorist fears are keeping mom from re-visiting NY which she loved and always said she would go back to anytime.
...

If that's all that's stopping her and you're sure you both would prefer NYC. Ask her if she'd visit Paris ;) If so, tell her more than couple NYers I know are suspending travel there because of terrorist fears. March will(should) not be terribly cold, maybe 40/50s.

01/15/2016 09:43:51 AM · #13

[quote=GrillTowel] Ugh...While the threat is real, your mom has a much better chance of being killed in a monorail accident than being killed by a true "terrorist". Now just being hurt or killed by an "every day" type of criminal violence is a different story.

Agreed. But at 66 I figure she has earned the right for me to respect her wishes. (And I've also wondered if there isn't something else going on and maybe she doesn't want to travel at all? Or at all with me?? She knows I hate flying and maybe she is morally opposed to the little pill I take to help me handle that irrational fear.)

Life is so interesting. We'll see. Hope to decide in the next week. (Leaning towards Disney - might save New York for late November when I could see the xmas lights)

:)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/15/2016 09:46:36 AM · #14

Originally posted by Techo:

Paris and London are both a no go. (I tried them for a fall trip I tried to plan.) I'll be doing those alone one day - or maybe with a husband or sister...

blindjustice

Canon EOS-60D

01/15/2016 01:57:08 PM · #15

Foods better in NYC. So are the art museums.

I guess it depends on your "headspace."

NYC is frenetic and challenges you to find and manage your experience. We were at Disneyworld in July, and I had been to Disneyland in CA. 15 years ago.
Frankly, although it was relaxing, I would never have gone without children. But if you do go, get to the German Hall in Epcot.

RyanW

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

01/15/2016 02:30:30 PM · #16

Originally posted by blindjustice:

We did our Honeymoon in Disney (Florida) - it was an incredible experience, and we did Universal before we had kids - also incredibly fun.
I challenge you to go without the kids, unless you are physically or mentally incapable of doing any of the attractions, you will enjoy yourself greatly! (even if you are incapable, there is still a lot to do there in and out of the parks - such as their house show of Cirque du Soleil in downtown Disney).

dtremain

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

01/15/2016 05:16:37 PM · #17

IMO, NYC takes more planning than Disney, unless you already know what you are doing. NYC weather would be hit or miss in March - much prettier in late April - mid-May.

FromDaRock

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

01/15/2016 06:13:49 PM · #18

Originally posted by blindjustice:

The grapefruit beer at the German Pavilion is awesome. Great on a hot day.

Ja-9

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

01/16/2016 08:51:47 AM · #19

Well if you decide Disney...you'd better look me up!!!