Panama City Florida Versus Disney in Orlando?

Updated on April 29, 2008
A.S. asks from Cleveland, OH
7 answers

hi Mommies!
ok so now my husband is saying to look into disney in Orlando. Grace will be 21 months in May and I dont know that she will get much out of it and I would think it would cost a lot more! I am pretty set on Panama City as I have done al ot of research.. Any opinions on Panama City verus Disney with Grace's age in consideration? I guess I want to take her there when I KNOW she will remember it!
Thanks

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A.,

Everything depends on what you want to spend and if you want to be on the gulf or not. I have a friend that has several very nice condos down there but they are usually booked by now. I'll check if you're interested. They are not on the water but older, nicer communities directly across the road on the Beach Rd.

Believe it or not there is still a lot of construction going on since Katrina. I would avoid the Thomas Drive area this time of year unless you are a partier...I didn't think so :) There are some nice places over there, but the kids and all the clubs are too. That might help you narrow your search.

Good luck and have fun!

M.

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J.R.

answers from Atlanta on

My family went back in September and we stayed at the Calypso Resort. We took my in-laws, sister in law, 17 year old daughter, and 2 year old, and of course my husband and I. We stayed in a 3 bedroom condo with a laundry room and kitchen. All the rooms are ocean front. The kitchen was stocked with dishes and cookware. Go to Waterstoneresorts.com to see all of the condos they offer. Right across the street was a shopping area under construction to with an almost finished Super Target! We really enjoyed ourselves too!!

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C.H.

answers from Atlanta on

I've taken my child to Disneyland when she was 2 years old. You are right. She doesn't remember it. I remember it quite well being that she decided to potty train the day we got there and was very determined. Bit of advice on that one - know where all of the bathrooms are. :)
I just moved up here from Panama City. College crowd is in full swing this time of year along the Front Beach Road/Thomas Drive. Yes, that is right - along the beach. And, partying can be a bit too wild. But, there are places along there that you can spend at a hotel and walk along the beach, build sandcastles, and pick up shells. She would also like the Pirate cruise. It is geared towards the little ones. They always go out to search for the dolphins too. The Edgewater has suites that have kitchens in them. Or, you may wish to go towards Carillon which is on the west side of PCB. All of the activity is on the east side of PCB. If you want a quiet place just to relax and go to the beach, consider Mexico Beach or Seaside, Florida. Seaside was the town that the movie "The Truman Show" was filmed. It still has beautiful beaches and rests in between PCB and Destin.
Whatever you choose, have a great vacation.

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S.G.

answers from Savannah on

We just stayed at a campground off site and had the 3 day park hopper for Disney in Orlando!! I've got a 7yr old daughter and my son is almost 2yrs old. My daugheter enjoyed it for the most part but I know my son won't remember meeting Mickey Mouse or anything else for that matter. But he had fun non the less. This was our first trip there also so we weren't sure what to expect. We did a lot of walking so take a stroller that will be comfy for your little one to be sitting in and possibly napping in. Also, all of the rides/attractions your DD will be able to be part of will require you to leave the stroller parked somewhere and you'll have to stand in line with a toddler. Now you know your child best but I know when my son was getting tired he went into melt down mode very quickly because he wanted to run around and not stay by mommy/daddy or hold our hands, etc which makes a 15 min wait feel like 2hrs!! And if it is just going to be you and your hubby, you'll need to find out which rides do the baby swap so you both go through the line together with the child but only one of you rides at a time. It is also starting to pick up at the parks with kids going on spring break too. Some good info webs sites are www.allearsnet.com and there is also a mom's blog on disney's website too. Just put mom in the search and you'll find it.

Good luck! And happy vacation planning!!

~S.

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K.T.

answers from Spartanburg on

Hi A.,
I know I'm a little late, but I just joined MamaSource not to long ago. We took our sone to Orlando right around the time he turned one. We had a great time. We stayed in a timeshare condo that worked out well for us. Although he won't remember it, he really enjoyed seeing the animals and the shows at Sea World and Animal Kingdom. He looks at the pictures now and names all of the animals. I can't speak for Panama City, the last time we were there, we were a carefree, childless couple. But we have takend him to several beaches and the setting would probably be more relaxing for all of you. If at all possible, a condo makes life much easier. But if you need any assistance in planning your trip to either Orlando or Panama City, I will be more athn happy to help you! tuckertravels.jurni.net

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C.G.

answers from Macon on

Hi A.! We have a condo for rent at Panama City Beach, Fla. that is right on the beach, at the beginning of the "Miracle Mile"!! (where all the action is!) It is not available in May, but it is available the week of June 16. Contact me if you can change your date and are interested! We also have a place at Ft. Walton Beach, Fla that is just a few miles from Panama City. It is available for rent the Memorial Day week, which is the last week in May. Let me know if either of these fit what you are looking for.

C.

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C.D.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

Hi A., congrats on your upcoming vacation, sounds like fun. I can't recommend a specific resort in Panama City, but we are in the hotel business, so I'll give you a few pointers when looking.
First of all, tourism is still a little slow here in the southeast, so don't be afraid to haggle with the resort on the price. Second, be careful about using second party rental agencies. I can't tell you how many people's vacations I've seen ruined because they couldn't get the services they needed (ie: towels, linens, maintenance, etc.) It's almost always a better idea to book the room directly with the resort unless the secondary rental company has an on site office (and they rarely do.)
And "beware the timeshare." You may receive a phone call inviting you to come to a free lunch or offering you "$100.00 for and hour of your time." Don't do it. Time share sales people are trained in high pressure sales, and they want to get at you while you have your guard down (ie: relaxed and more agreeable).
Travelocity.com is not always an accurate guide when selecting a resort. I booked a place in Ontario because it got rave reviews, while the nearby casino hotel got bad ones. Once we arrived, I wished that we had stayed at the casino hotel as it was far superior.
Also, sites like Expedia.com charge hotels 30% of the room rate for bookings. Most hotels will give you a better rate if you call them directly.
As a general rule, the more despriptive the website is, the better the hotel is. Avoid places that don't post a lot of pictures. The better the product, the more the seller is going to want to show it off. At the very least, they should include recent photos of the amenities and the guestrooms.
Hope some of this has been helpful. Good luck to you all, and I hope you have a great time!

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