The Moles' Hole....First EVER Disneyworld Trip, offsite, October 6th 2012

[nursechrissy32]

Priceline or Hotwire are really good deals. Make sure if you go for the "hidden" quote, where they don't tell you who you're renting with, that it's at least right there at the airport. That way you can go downstairs to the rental counter and then right across the street to your car. There are rental vendors that are off property. They usually have somewhat better rates, but with the added inconvenience of having to load onto a shuttle to get to the rental location.

As to rates, they vary wildly at Orlando. I've paid $300 for a week for a midsize, and I've paid $125 for the same thing. Just go to a site like Expedia and enter your dates to find out what cars are going for, and then go to Hotwire to try to better the deal.

Good luck!

Thank you!!! I will be working on this next week when I get paid again

[nursechrissy32]

Just thought I would share that there is only 112 days until we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sooooooooooooooooo soooooooooooooooo far yet so close!!!!!

[nursechrissy32]

Just thought I would share that there is only 112 days until we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sooooooooooooooooo soooooooooooooooo far yet so close!!!!!

91 more days!!!!! Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting closer! I started this Pre trip report quite some time ago, and as the excitement builds, so does the planning. I have not purchased anything else yet, next week on Friday I ll post an update with our car rental...I go back and forth over doing priceline or expedia for the rental car. Geico told DH that they offer deals...but when I looked online they only offer Enterprise which looks like it is not at the Orlando airport. So, Ill let you all know when I get to that point.

We have to still purchase the hotel for the second week in Orlando...and we have not decided what exactly we will do for that time. I want to do a Disney waterpark...love thoughts on this if you would. We saw Wet and Wild as well, thoughts on this one versus the Disney one would be appreciated.

We do want to do the space station and are considering other theme parks,however feel it my be theme park overkill, as the only park I want to see anyways is of course! Disneyworld!

Ill keep you all posted

[danyoung]

I've used Priceline before with pretty good success. I'm not wild about the blind nature of it, but at least they do tell you whether the chosen vendor is at the airport or not, which in Orlando is especially important. Good luck!

[RMartin]

We are going in September and one thing I have done rentalcar is go to Dollar site. Click on city specials. So far I have a mini van for 200.00 a week and my friend has a full size for 81 a week. It has gone down a couple times the past week. Also they don't require a credit card at all to hold it.

[nursechrissy32]

We are going in September and one thing I have done rentalcar is go to Dollar site. Click on city specials. So far I have a mini van for 200.00 a week and my friend has a full size for 81 a week. It has gone down a couple times the past week. Also they don't require a credit card at all to hold it.

Thank you!

[nursechrissy32]

I've used Priceline before with pretty good success. I'm not wild about the blind nature of it, but at least they do tell you whether the chosen vendor is at the airport or not, which in Orlando is especially important. Good luck!

Thank you Dan Ill let you know how it goes

[RMartin]

Just an update on Dollar, today it showed $574 for the week for a mini van. Couldn't believe it. Then clicked City Specials and got $173.16 for the week. Remember check daily.

[betsyrina]

Hi Chrissy,
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but another idea for saving money is to purchase (in bulk) Disney pins on ebay. You can often get them for about $1 per pin. Then you can trade them with cast members in the park. It's kind of fun to look at all the pins, and then you can choose the ones you really like to keep. Also, in the Magic Kingdom they have a game where you are helping the Sorcerer to fight the Disney villians. You can get a pack of 5 cards per person per day in the MK. You get the cards at the Fire Department. You can play just one of the key cards you received if you want, but it's fun (and free) to collect the cards. You can often find people to trade with, when you have duplicates. I wrote a description of the game in my trip report (from May). How many days did you get on your passes? It's easy to upgrade the number of days when you are there. I did, and for my son and I, it cost around $17 to get another day. This was great. We were debating about going to Universal to see Harry Potter, but we ended up deciding that we'd rather have another day in a Disney park and more spending money for other stuff. Another thing that I recommend is getting a piece of Mango Pie and Yak & Yeti in AK. That was the single best thing I ate during our whole trip. This was my second trip (15 years ago or so was the first), and my son's first trip. We had a really great time. We just went in with the attitude that we will do what seems fun at the time, and not worry to much about whether we get to do everything. That worked well for us, and we almost got to do everything. Those are just the things we will save for the next time... It seems like you're getting a lot of good advice! I can't wait to hear more!
- Betsy

[nursechrissy32]

Hi Chrissy,
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but another idea for saving money is to purchase (in bulk) Disney pins on ebay. You can often get them for about $1 per pin. Then you can trade them with cast members in the park. It's kind of fun to look at all the pins, and then you can choose the ones you really like to keep. Also, in the Magic Kingdom they have a game where you are helping the Sorcerer to fight the Disney villians. You can get a pack of 5 cards per person per day in the MK. You get the cards at the Fire Department. You can play just one of the key cards you received if you want, but it's fun (and free) to collect the cards. You can often find people to trade with, when you have duplicates. I wrote a description of the game in my trip report (from May). How many days did you get on your passes? It's easy to upgrade the number of days when you are there. I did, and for my son and I, it cost around $17 to get another day. This was great. We were debating about going to Universal to see Harry Potter, but we ended up deciding that we'd rather have another day in a Disney park and more spending money for other stuff. Another thing that I recommend is getting a piece of Mango Pie and Yak & Yeti in AK. That was the single best thing I ate during our whole trip. This was my second trip (15 years ago or so was the first), and my son's first trip. We had a really great time. We just went in with the attitude that we will do what seems fun at the time, and not worry to much about whether we get to do everything. That worked well for us, and we almost got to do everything. Those are just the things we will save for the next time... It seems like you're getting a lot of good advice! I can't wait to hear more!
- Betsy

Hi Betsy thank you so much for your help . I do go back and forth on days at other parks....I feel that DWorld will be enough, we are really debating on the water parks.....

[IpswichUK]

91 more days!!!!! Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting closer! I started this Pre trip report quite some time ago, and as the excitement builds, so does the planning. I have not purchased anything else yet, next week on Friday I ll post an update with our car rental...I go back and forth over doing priceline or expedia for the rental car. Geico told DH that they offer deals...but when I looked online they only offer Enterprise which looks like it is not at the Orlando airport. So, Ill let you all know when I get to that point.

We have to still purchase the hotel for the second week in Orlando...and we have not decided what exactly we will do for that time. I want to do a Disney waterpark...love thoughts on this if you would. We saw Wet and Wild as well, thoughts on this one versus the Disney one would be appreciated.

We do want to do the space station and are considering other theme parks,however feel it my be theme park overkill, as the only park I want to see anyways is of course! Disneyworld!

Ill keep you all posted

Hi Chrissy, this is my first post, so sorry about the spelling.

Reference the waterparks. We were told that the Disney Waterparks(Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard beach) were much better than Wet & Wild.

Typhoon Lagoon has a large Wave pool which is great fun, but can be quite scarey for smaller children.

Blizzard Beach has a large pool which is much better equipped for younger children.

Both parks have several flumes, which are great fun. They both have a "river" which runs round the outside of the parks. You sit and float round these rivers on inflatable rings. Very relaxing (when you are not getting splashed by excitable children)

We also allocate "water park" days during our two week vacations, and usually alternate between the two. we use them as "rest" days.

We go again in August. (not long now).

I hope this helps.

Regards

Adrian

[nursechrissy32]

Hi Chrissy, this is my first post, so sorry about the spelling.

Reference the waterparks. We were told that the Disney Waterparks(Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard beach) were much better than Wet & Wild.

Typhoon Lagoon has a large Wave pool which is great fun, but can be quite scarey for smaller children.

Blizzard Beach has a large pool which is much better equipped for younger children.

Both parks have several flumes, which are great fun. They both have a "river" which runs round the outside of the parks. You sit and float round these rivers on inflatable rings. Very relaxing (when you are not getting splashed by excitable children)

We also allocate "water park" days during our two week vacations, and usually alternate between the two. we use them as "rest" days.

We go again in August. (not long now).

I hope this helps.

Regards

Adrian

Hi Adrian, thank you for the help and sooooooo excited that your first post on MP was to me!! I am a major Disneyland addict, so going to the world is new to us....My husband has back problems so I know that we would spend our time floating around in the river anyways ...look forward to seeing you on the boards

[IpswichUK]

Hi Adrian, thank you for the help and sooooooo excited that your first post on MP was to me!! I am a major Disneyland addict, so going to the world is new to us....My husband has back problems so I know that we would spend our time floating around in the river anyways ...look forward to seeing you on the boards

Hi Chrissy. Really enjoyed reading your "pre-trip" reports. Every post you sound more and more excited.

Really looking forward to your actual trip report.(though it will be a little bit sad because our trip will be over).

Adrian

[nursechrissy32]

Hi Chrissy. Really enjoyed reading your "pre-trip" reports. Every post you sound more and more excited.

Really looking forward to your actual trip report.(though it will be a little bit sad because our trip will be over).

Adrian

Well, I look forward to reading yours too

[IpswichUK]

Well, I look forward to reading yours too

I do love reading other peoples trip reports, so I should really have a go myself.

So watch this space... Maybe!

[SigalTchelet]

Hi Chrissy-
I am a neighbor (Sacramento) and have enjoyed getting exited with you about your trip. I am a DLR regular but have been to WDW once in November 1994. I can't tell you about Blizzzard Beach, but I went to Typhoon Lagoon and spent much of the time in the Lazy river and loved it. I seem to remember also getting to swim with sharks (baby?). Someone who has been there more recently can probably advise you on that. But it was a fun time spent cooling off. My cousinm her almost 3 year old daughter (at the time) took a bus from our resort (Caribbean Beach Resort) to Sea World and had a great time. Unless you go to the one down in San Diego, it might be worth going to. I am not a HP fan (:O), so Universal does not interest me. Besides, aren't they opening HP at our Universal next year? I'd stick with Disney or maybe try Sea World. Definitely do the waterparks, if they are part of your tickets! Have a blast!http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld...utmk=209568530

[nursechrissy32]

Hi Chrissy-
I am a neighbor (Sacramento) and have enjoyed getting exited with you about your trip. I am a DLR regular but have been to WDW once in November 1994. I can't tell you about Blizzzard Beach, but I went to Typhoon Lagoon and spent much of the time in the Lazy river and loved it. I seem to remember also getting to swim with sharks (baby?). Someone who has been there more recently can probably advise you on that. But it was a fun time spent cooling off. My cousinm her almost 3 year old daughter (at the time) took a bus from our resort (Caribbean Beach Resort) to Sea World and had a great time. Unless you go to the one down in San Diego, it might be worth going to. I am not a HP fan (:O), so Universal does not interest me. Besides, aren't they opening HP at our Universal next year? I'd stick with Disney or maybe try Sea World. Definitely do the waterparks, if they are part of your tickets! Have a blast!http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld...utmk=209568530

Thank you so much for your thoughts!! I get paid this week and will update everyone as to what we pay for next

[nursechrissy32]

Well hello my fellow MP'ers...FIRST of all TOTALLY missed the site when it was down for those few days...it was TORTURE!!!!!!! So glad it was not for long!!!

So where is my planning? Well...we currently have 67 days until we leave for Florida!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just spent 7 ADDICTED hours on touringplans.com and maximized our time on rides and minimized our time in lines! I had to sort of stop the OCD (ISH).....that I wanted to do...you can plan bathroom breaks, and lunches etc....but I know my family and I know that I would end up being more upset than anything if I did that...because they would gang up on me and win .

So what I did....I used their crowd forcasters to help me figure out what park to go to on what day. And than I put in my advance dining reservations (I only made 2...the food and wine festival will be at Epcot when we are there...plenty of grab and go options...and cheaper). I than went to mapquest and mapped out the directions from the condo to the different places. I scheduled one break day in between (TOTALLY NOT FOR ME haha....its a mercy day to the family...little do they know I am secretly going to get tickets for the waterpark on this day...haha!!!). I also chose to go with one of the days that touringplans said to not go to due to a little more busy...because Magic Kingdom stays open later and also has the fireworks and the parades. Our issue with MK is that the halloween party will be going on during that time, causing the park to close at 7 pm most of the days.

We chose not to do the haloween party...we have done it 3 times here in California, and I know it would be more fancy there...but, it is around 60 dollars each...and my kids are ages 13 and 19...so they do not enjoy it as much as (ME!!!) littler kids...however I would have gone if they would have agreed to it.....so we will spend that extra money that would have gone to the halloween party to head to the water park or another Florida activity.

So here is my current plans:
Day one flying in....and staying the night at the priceline room right next to the airport, getting rental car.
Day two after arriving in florida....heading to the condo, going grocery shopping, swimming at the pools...getting caught up on my homework (YUCK RIGHT? ! I am in grad school...and can not take a break from school...so the week prior to the trip I am going to do all of my assignments for the two weeks...but will still have to get on my discussion boards...uhhhh not looking forward to this at all.....)

Day one at park....Hollywood studios with lunch at the 50's prime time cafe.
Day two: Magic Kingdom ALL DAY (9-7)
Day three: Animal Kingdom w parade at 3:45 (9-5)
Day four: HINT HINT NO PARK DAY TODAY...advance reservations....way later than I have EVER ate in my life!!! 8:40 pm at the Ohana.
Day five: Epcot...food and wine festival (PLEASE give your thoughts on the special events and if it is worth it to pay and do them) Epcot 9a-9p with Illuminations!
Davy 6: Magic Kingdom all day 9a-9p. Fireworks, parades, and my favorite California electrical parade!! (Soooo excited to see it in Florida!!!) This day I did not do a full ride plan...let everyone pick where they want to go and do on this day....we wanted two days in MK because we are HUGE Disneyland lovers....I am soooo looking forward to seeing how things are different.
Day 7. FREE PARK day...pick a park discussion to be night before and let all the family members help pick what they missed....this will be a full hopping day...and our LAST day boo hoo, just thinking of it, I get teary eyed!!!!!
Day 8...checking out and heading to our next Florida destination, which we have not decided on yet...for sure Daytona, have to pay my dues to the Nascar lovers who will be in Christine's Disney Army the week prior!!

We will than have three days for Daytona beach....my daughter wants to go to see Winter the dolphin which is about 4 hours away...so we are not sure about that yet. We will than fly home.....to California, that is IF I do not magically get hired to be the new Disneyworld Registered Nurse ambassador!! You never know right? ***dreamy

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh gosh I am sooooooooooooo excited and can not wait to tell you all more as it comes along!!!

PS...I have not bought anything yet...our change jar is being cashed in tonight...Ill let you all know how much we saved up over the last 4 months tonight!!!!

That's all folks! (for now!)

[danyoung]

I have just spent 7 ADDICTED hours on touringplans.com and maximized our time on rides and minimized our time in lines!

I'm not sure if this will help or drive you crazy. There's a site called EasyWDW.com, and a guy named Josh who is something of a compulsive WDW park visitor. He's done extensive research on park crowd levels and attraction wait times. Lots of people now swear by his predictions even over touringplans. From what I've seen over the past few months, he's pretty spot on, and he provides great explanations for his numbers. You might wanna give him a try and see how close he is to what you've already planned.

[nursechrissy32]

I'm not sure if this will help or drive you crazy. There's a site called EasyWDW.com, and a guy named Josh who is something of a compulsive WDW park visitor. He's done extensive research on park crowd levels and attraction wait times. Lots of people now swear by his predictions even over touringplans. From what I've seen over the past few months, he's pretty spot on, and he provides great explanations for his numbers. You might wanna give him a try and see how close he is to what you've already planned.

Thank you Dan!! I will check it out for sure!!!

[nursechrissy32]

Change jar...should have rolled the money ourselves .....cost us $20.00 to use the change machine at Raleys!.....drum roll....change jar=$244.00 put onto pre paid Visa cards (also robbed, cost us 5 dollars each)...but a good way to save anyway

This week when I get paid, our plan is to purchase our rental car and possibly our priceline room for the last 3 days in Daytona beach/Florida area. My excitement has turned to full on addiction! haha! I looked at my first post I did on this thread...and to see that we have already waited over 200 days....crazy how fast time flies, and I want it now to slllllllllowwww down, because I do not want it to be over!! silly how that works isnt it?

Ill keep y'all in the know!

[candles71]

I guess Golden 1 has a coin star machine in their branches and don't charge you if you put it into your account. I have heard this from multiple people. We rolled a full coin jar yesterday, there is still about a quarter of the second jar that hasn't been rolled. There was $190, and then my girls both raided their own coin stashes and added them to the pile, so its up to $197.50. (I'll take the odd roll for squished pennies. ) I was telling a friend yesterday and she brought up Golden 1. I told her but I like rolling coins. The kids all get into it also. We are weird that way.
Check your fees for when you use those cards also. A lot of them don't apply in California because of the way our laws are written, but since you are using them in Florida, they might apply.

[nursechrissy32]

So...tell me what you all think...I got a mid size rental car for 13 days for $324.00 that is with all the fees (WOWZERS the fees getcha....). I went through Dollar Rental actual site...and got the City special. I found this information on mousesavers.com. Funny, because she said to try to look without any of the promo codes, I did that, and was able to see this rate...and when I looked using the codes it was like 60-80 dollars more.

Do you guys think I can do better? I looked at priceline where you could bid...and they had some that were a bit cheaper...but I was nervous that they dont tell you where you can get the car....

[nursechrissy32]

Do any of you know what the toll issue is? The rental car company said that some roads do not have a stop and pay toll.......so if you do not have this pass thing, they charge you $25.00 plus the fee to cross a road that does not have the stop and pay option...

This sounds really wierd to me...so everyone in Florida has this pre paid toll thing? hmmmmmmmm sounds fishy to me!!

[codewoman]

Hmmm, we have toll roads and there's ALWAYS a stop and pay option. When you had to stop and pay. Now they'll bill you from your license plate. And it's reasonable. You get a twenty five cent discount if you have the toll pay thingie.

We drove in 2010 and all the roads were stop and pay (if you wanted). But some were coin only. Perhaps that's what they're saying. No dollar bills.