HawthorneVillager.com

For the Caribbean you might want to look at Atlantis on Paradise Island. It has a lot of family water rides and entertainment. We went there recently and enjoyed it. It's not an 'all inclusive' resort though.

http://www.atlantis.com/ <-- Hotel rooms at Atlantis
http://www.atlantisfamilyfun.com/ <-- Apartments at Atlantis

For Disney, there are pros and cons on being on-resort versus off. We've gone several times and actually only once have I stayed on-resort. Most of the times we stayed at an apartment-like timeshare a 5 minute or less drive from the resort.

Biggest advice I could have for Disney is if your going during a busy time try to get to the theme park just when they open the doors and then leave during the lunch period. Or at least do all your rides during the morning, and leave the afternoons for leisurely sight-seeing/walking-around or shopping stuff. The place is usually fairly light in the mornings, and fills-up around lunch time.

http://www.fairytaledestinations.com/index.php

Zeeshan, check this site out if you're thinking DisneyWorld. You don't have to book with them (but I highly recommend it) but they have a lot of info on the place. We're going there late August and staying on the resort.

Zeeshan, we have stayed onsite at Disney ... a moderate priced resort - Port Orleans - and we loved it !!

If you are doing Disney for the 1st time, this is the way to get the 'whole' Disney experience. The staff are amazing, the rooms are great, the amenities top notch. These Disney people sure know how to do it right.

The one 'downfall' I found when we stayed there was that we spent MORE MONEY ON DISNEY!! Port Orleans has a boat that takes you right to Downtown Disney - where you can shop till you drop. I swear the amount of money we have spent on Disney - we should own part of them!! You can buy your park tickets right at the front desk of you Disney Hotel, there are free shuttle buses running everywhere, and if you make a purchase anywhere in Downtown Disney - they can send it right to your room so you don't have to lug all that stuff around with you while you continue to shop.

We have stayed onsite as well as off - and I would stay onsite again in a heartbeat. You may pay a bit more than staying at an off site hotel - but think about what kind of experience you want. We have been to Disney 5 times - the last trip in July '09 - and have been to all the parks - some twice, but not the water parks. We decided not to do the water park in July when we were there as there was a bit on the evening news one night about some pervert who was looking at the young girls there and he was arrested - so this kind of turned our stomachs. I totally love Disney - (I even have a Mickey Mouse tat on my ankle - yes I love Disney that much!!) - and I would go there again in a second .... but my 3 girls are getting to the ages (14,13,12) where it's not such an exciting trip anymore, they actually prefer Barbados now. But me ?? I'll never outgrow it !!

Jo

We went to the Viva Wyndham Maya in Mexico. The resort was really nice, food was good, and the nightly entertainment want just fun! We bought the whole package though Sun-wing. We got very competitive pricing though Sunwing as well.... Any other questions, PM me!

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Pain is Temporary Pride is forever

We've done Disney a few times with the kids. It is great and the kids have a blast. For the ages of your kids, I'd skip Epcot this time around. Loved Animal Kingdom. We've never stayed on-site so can't comment on that but I will say that after Disney we always need a vacation from our vacation.

Why not combine two of your ideas and do the Disney Cruise. We're doing that in November and can't wait.

Hey Zeeshan

Check out homeaway.com and look up a place to rent.
We've used it to stay in NYC, Scottsdale and Washington with great success.
Some of the homes available are very impressive.
In Scottsdale we stayed in a 5000 sqft home with pool, hot tub, big screen TV, pool table as well as many other features for 360 a night. The four of us golfers were very thrilled to lounge in the pool drinking a few beers after a tough but enjoyable day on the course. It was much nicer to have some of the comforts of home and the ability to cook your own meals ... which translates into big savings.

Anyways, have fun wherever you go!

I have been to Disney many, many times. If you have never been and want to do some research I STRONGLY recommend you pick up the book "the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World". It is a really thorough look at all aspects of taking a Disney trip.

Your choice will really depend on what you want out of a vacation. I know you have small kids - be prepared that regardless of when you go (during busy season or slow season) Disney is a LOT of walking. And at some point one or all of your kids is going to refuse to continue. A cruise is a fairly stress-free experience and if you go on one of the more "kid-friendly" lines, such as Carnival, you can take your kids to their "camp" facilities and go and relax with your wife while they are off having a blast. I have never personally gone to an all-inclusive resort so I can't give you an opinion on that.

If you want to ask me any specific Disney questions, feel free to PM me. I have gone there pretty much at least once a year every year since I was about 9 or 10.

We have done Disney and prefer to stay onsite. We have stayed at the Polynesian and love it. The atmosphere is wonderful and it's great since it's on the monorail!!
We have also done Atlantis and also love this place. It is expensive but well worth it as there is so much to do!! You can do it cheaper by staying at the Comfort Suites across the street and they allow only these guests to use their full waterpark and such.
If you have any questions about either place please feel free to ask!!
I love planning our Disney trips and have been to Atlantis 3 or 4 times some prior to kids and twice with children.

I asked the same question you did a few months ago. One of the suggestions was to check out Maya Riviera, Mexico @ Lindo....wave pool and lazy river....with Sunwing...two kids 10 & 5

I checked out all the reviews and booked....it was Awesome; we went the week before Christmas and the whole trip cost $5200 all inclusive...

the beaches, food, service and weather (aside from 1 afternoon of rain) were all great...well worth the extra money compared to people I talked to who go to South USA

my wife just ran a half marathon this weekend in Orlando, Florida....great time, even with the hail pelting her in the head...

hope you have fun....

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.

Check out beaches resorts. It's Sandals family version. I haven't been to a Beaches, but I've been to Sandals, and it was amazing. I have also heard really good things.

www.beaches.com

We're leaving for Orlando very soon, so we've weighed all the pros and cons for us for staying on-site at Disney, or off-site.
We chose off site and are staying in a 2 bedroom, 2 balcony, full equip kitchen condo for less than the cost of the Disney resorts for what you get, plus, you're not forced to eat out and spend more money each day.
Last year we bought some groceries on the first day so breakfast and some dinners were covered.

I bought the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010,
Beyond Disney: Unofficial Guide, and Fodor's Walt Disney World with Kids 2010.
You're welcome to borrow them as I'm sure I won't need them in a month or so. There are some really invaluable tips.

I LOVE DISNEY!

It really is a magical place, everyone is always smiling, they are way to nice. (I really would like to get my hands on their happy drug)

It is the perfect place to unwind and let your guard down. I can't remember how many time I forgot my camera in plain sight in our stroller, and it was always there when we returned.... phef. It does cost a little more to stay on site, but the service (happiness in the air) the convenience and extra hours are totally worth it. At the end of your vacation you spent a lot of money, but somehow your so happy about it LOL... I LOVE IT.
If I had more money I would only travel through Disney, they know how to make your vacation great!
Did you know they are expanding their travel options all over the world. If only I was rich!
Disney in Australia...

Check it out
http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/dest ... andingPage

If you do disney check packages first before you read what i'm about to post. Sometimes it is better and you can get more incentives however, there is a site I go to a lot for booking hotels, it's a bit confusing but take a look and see. I've saved up to 50% on some hotels when i've gone overseas and in the usa.

Priceline.com - name your price, is the feature I use, you name the star level from resorts to 1* your choice, and bid in the areas and what you'd pay for the hotel.

I regularly check out biddingfortravel.com or betterbidding.com to see what others have won to gauge an idea what I could get.

Prices are in US dollars keep in mind, which isn't too bad given our dollar is good.

Another site similar is hotwire.com but I've found they cost 15-20% more than priceline.

If that doesn't suit you, travelocity.ca has a guarantee if you find a lower rate on any site for hotel and air (like expedia.ca, aircanada.ca, etc) you can get the difference back, plus $50 voucher to use on your next trip and that's up to the day of check-in.

Best of luck!

My family is looking at doing disney combined with their cruise.
5 adults and 3 kids. Looking for next november. Still sorting out the details though.

Matt

I totally agree with marathonman. We stayed at the Iberostar Lindo in the Mayan last year with our children and it was FANTASTIC. The resort is so clean, food is great, and entertainment for the children (including the lazy river and wave pool) is excellent. We are planning on a return trip this year. Very family oriented resort.

Best of luck choosing!