All Booked.. whoop whoop!

[katiec]

After much to-ing and fro-ing, shall we do a Disney Cruise (thanks for all those who replied to my questions), on/off site/ DxDDP DDP/I drive (you get the picture) etc..

DH has finally made a decision and we are finally all booked.....

Lake Buena Vista Palace with Virgin in Sept 2011.

It goes something like this... I have spent 3/4 weeks looking at ALL the options/all the companies (but had not considered LVB!!) (DH all the time suggesting other places around the world and not really being that interested) then on Friday at 5pm DH says "what about this one??" and at 6pm we were up at the Virgin Store (They were shut so went agan Sat AM)

Having estimated all the flight prices and looked at the cost for the hotel for this september(it worked out at £1300 for 2 weeks) I dont think we could have done it for much cheaper DIY. Got 10% off all park tickets incl Disc Cove so quite happy with the finished price!!

We will probably upgrade our flights to Prem Econ today... in the brochure is states that if you book a 4 or5v you get guaranteed seats in the bubble.... (I know the plane may change etc... but that could happen anytime)


After last years disaster of a flight and hotel we decided to treat ourselves... lets hope the hotel is as good as the reviews say it is!!!

I really wanted to do the cruise, but DH said he didnt want to spend the next 16 months thinking about being sea sick (thank you again to all those who helped with my queries/questions... DH is aware he has let you all down)

Just need to sort out our new ticker and get started on a plan

 

[wayneg]

Happy Planning!!!!

 

[Natasha&Matt]

yay Happy Planning hehe

 

[Disneytinker]

Happy Planning

 

[disneyholic family]

is the Lake Buena Vista Palace the hotel that's in Downtown Disney?

if so, i'll be staying there this June, so i'll let you know how it is...
i didn't choose it - that's where my conference is being held...
but when i looked it up, the reviews did look good...

 

[JACKIE153]

Well done. Sounds fantastic.

 

[Tink2312]

Great news!

Are you talking about the one directly opposite DTD and SSR? Buena Vista Palace resort and spa? If so I stayed there in 2007 and it was fantastic! Very plush hotel, lovely staff and great location. We stayed in a DTD view room and had free breakfasts in with our package which were excellent - the made to order omlettes were superb! The only thing I would say is that the food in the resort was very pricey (breakfasts were about $25 and dinners were a lot more - although the Outback restaurant (no link to the chain of Outback restaurants) was gorgeous). Very quick to pop over to DTD for meals at WPE or Earl of Sandwich though.

Happy planning!

 

[luke]

is the Lake Buena Vista Palace the hotel that's in Downtown Disney?

if so, i'll be staying there this June, so i'll let you know how it is...
i didn't choose it - that's where my conference is being held...
but when i looked it up, the reviews did look good...

Think so. One of our bridesmaids stayed there and said it was great. Walking distance to DTD, nice rooms, nice public areas.
We actually looked at it for this year but the SSR deal worked out better

 

[wayneg]

It gets very good reviews usually . http://travsup.tripadvisor.co.uk/Ho...views-Buena_Vista_Palace-Orlando_Florida.html

Katie, your quote at £1,300 was that just for room or incl flights? This Sept its £60/night(after cashback) on Alpharooms total for 14 night £844,
£1300 seems too high for room but not high enough incl flights.

 

[taylor91]

Hope you have fun planning it now, least you have it all booked
It's a good feeling wooo

 

[katiec]

Great news!

Are you talking about the one directly opposite DTD and SSR? Buena Vista Palace resort and spa? YES - its a 5 minute walk to DTD If so I stayed there in 2007 and it was fantastic! Very plush hotel, lovely staff and great location. We stayed in a DTD view room and had free breakfasts in with our package which were excellent - the made to order omlettes were superb! The only thing I would say is that the food in the resort was very pricey (breakfasts were about $25 and dinners were a lot more - although the Outback restaurant (no link to the chain of Outback restaurants) was gorgeous). I agree - this is one of the reasons we didnt go for the SSR deal at the moment - DH loved eating at the Ale House and didnt really want to be tied down to Disney restuarants - we tried an Outback in NYC and loved it Very quick to pop over to DTD for meals at WPE or Earl of Sandwich though.

Happy planning!

It gets very good reviews usually . http://travsup.tripadvisor.co.uk/Ho...views-Buena_Vista_Palace-Orlando_Florida.html

Katie, your quote at £1,300 was that just for room or incl flights? This Sept its £60/night(after cashback) on Alpharooms total for 14 night £844,
£1300 seems too high for room but not high enough incl flights.

No the quote was just for the hotel - I did a brief costing via their own website (for this sept) and then converted at 1.5 - came up around £1300 - i figured flights would be around £400-£450 direct each. I must admit I didnt do too much research via other sites - the alpha rooms quote is very good. We paid just about £2000 for flight and hotel - i know there are probably better deals (as you've just proved) but depsite being a very competant adult - and booked lots of other trips DIY - for some reason I just cant bring myself to do it for Florida
I think the other thing for us is Virgin only charge for 2 per room - most other companies charge an underoccupancy supp for just 2 so i feel for us that VIrgin is fairly competative.

We had origianlly looked at Homewood Suites and a couple of places near SeaWorld (Renaissance and Fairfield Inn) but despite the great reviews we were put off by the pool at the Homewood suites - we were at Ramada Lakefront last year and the pool had no sun after midday - and i HATED the hotel too! It seemed to me that the Homewood suites pool was the same and i just didnt get the "Oh My G*d" this looks fantastic" feeling looking at the Fairfield Inn.

I wasnt necessarily after a 5* but wanted something a bit more than the basic motel type place.

Hope you have fun planning it now, least you have it all booked
It's a good feeling wooo

Yes - a great feeling
And the best thing is that DH (Who needs a month of sundays to make his mind up about anything - compared to my "I need to to it now" attitude!!) agreed we could upgrade to PE today - a bit pricey at £600 each return, but all going well we SHOULD be guaranteed the bubble... (brochure says if you have a 4/5V hotel then they have a certain amount of guaranteeed bubble seats and this morning we were the only 2 booked on the flight!!! Athough 1st seemed sold out)

So i feel i am gonna have to agree to hand over my wages straight to Virgin for the next 18 months

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Sounds great! Lovely to be booked.

 

[les2425]

hi sound like good news to me.
what dates are you heading out to florida as we are leaving on the 15th sept 2011 from manchester.
just wondering of we are on the same flight.

Les & Bev

 

[katiec]

hi sound like good news to me.
what dates are you heading out to florida as we are leaving on the 15th sept 2011 from manchester.
just wondering of we are on the same flight.

Les & Bev

We leave on 15th too..... from Gatwick

This morning we were the only ones booked in PE and checking again tonight it appears that there are NO PE seats left tonight!!

Have you got any definate plans yet?

 

[jockey]

Sounds brill, happy planning

 

[les2425]

mickeys not so scary halloween party, and the penguin enconter at sea world.

not to sure on the rest yet and it will be bevs very first visit to the world, so it will be interesting.

Les & Bev

 

[katiec]

mickeys not so scary halloween party, and the penguin enconter at sea world.

not to sure on the rest yet and it will be bevs very first visit to the world, so it will be interesting.

Les & Bev

I think Penguin Encounter will be on my list (might try and surprise DH with it).

I'm sure it won't be her last!!!

 

[Disney_Sarah]

woooohoooo
Happy planning hun
x