8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 9

[atakaratemom]

Evening Everyone............Its way cold here..single digits !!! Brrrrr..

Mark

It is 7 degrees, but the wind is just crazy. It's the kinda cold that as soon as you walk into it, your nostrils stick together

10 degrees

-4 degrees windchill

At one point last year when we were getting ready for our DCL - WDW trip around this time last year there was a 100 degree difference between our house and WDW.

Right now it is 25* going down to about 16* overnight.

16 degrees

going down to 12

9* -4 with wind chill going down to 7

I'm watching AI and wondering if there is something else I can do for the next 40 minutes.

It's currently a balmy 17.

I swear, I will never ever complain about the "cold" in California again!!

 

[magiroux]

We live 70 miles from DL... and I would strongly encourage you to rent a car! Drive OUTSIDE of the traffic commuting hours and it's a breeze. This enables you to choose any hotel in the region... and if you choose a hotel that's close to the park then you'll be able to use their shuttle to the park. And the car will allow you to roam anywhere within 100 miles of your hotel over a 90 minutes drive each way. That's not a huge problem outside of traffic. Venture forth after 9AM and come back after 7PM.

Now for which hotel... there are several ideas emerging here as mentioned by others. I would make a reservation with one of the ones already mentioned... I saw the Howard Johnsons for $79 mentioned somewhere near this posting - and that seems OK. However, when we stay overnite in the area we use HOTWIRE to book a south Disney property or 10 miles away at South Coast plaza. We can typically get a 3 or 3.5 star property for approximately the same $80 plus or minus $10. It will vary with the booking load. One specific example of what Hotwire delivers is out of the area but represents our next stay currently reserved. We have a 2 nite stay set for May in San Francisco.... and for anyone familiar with the city... we're at Union Square and bagged the Westin St Francis which normally sells for $389-589 a nite ... and we got it for just over $100 a nite! I think we paid $104+ 14 in fees... but I'd have to confirm that. The hotel is a classic top 1% property for rank and location!


If you book a hotel now - then at least you have something held. However, the tactic is next year at this time of year you start checking hotwire for their rates. You can't check now for 2008 - but you can see the aug 2007 rates. And we look at SOUTH COAST area hotels because it's a breezy 10 minute drive by freeway we almost always get better hotels for LESS in that area. Plus this is right next to what was once the worlds largest indoor shopping mall - South Coast plaza - which always puts a smile on my spouses' face.

So the current deals for a thursday friday nite in the 3rd week of August shows two very favorable options: For $69 you can get a 3.5 star hotel in South Coast ... which is called "Distinctive" and usually a Hilton or Crown Plaza. Also, this particular deal is cited as being 52% off the regular price of $145. The 2nd favorable option to us would be the SOUTH DISNEY listing of a 3 star "Midscale" Raddison or Doubletree. This is priced at $79 and represents a suggested 30% savings versus $109. You have to add the "fees" of about $10-14 to these rates - but this does include the local taxes and so on. The only thing remaining once you check in is typically a resort fee at the nicer properties... which includes parking and the shuttle to Disneyland (if near DL) or the John Wayne Airport if south coast.

So book something now... check hotwire next February and take your choice. Hotwire cannot be easily cancelled once you book. And - of course, you'll not know which hotel in the area you'll get - but the options in a given area and star level are pretty limited. In practice, 98% of the time we have saved exactly what Hotwire posts as the savings percentage versus what was available at the time of booking. My Westin St Francis stay was listed as a 4 star saving 75%... and the Westin is a high 4 star saving us $300 a nite... or $600 for the 2 nites there! The savings in this case pays for all our fuel, dining and light shopping expenses, and then some!

Again, thanks for all the info. BTW, I love Hotwire. I have had very good luck with them in the past

 

[FINCANTIERI]

The lead singer frightened me!

One night we went in to get a seat for the NEXT performer so we were in one of the comfy boothes in the back....The group "hi couple in the back!".....we just started laughing!

Chrissie

You must have seen us, we were the drunk group near the dance floor. Jack

 

[disneypilots]

You're a real sport, you are

Mary Ann.............You do know that the website is down.............sooo nobody's name is on it........ At least I think its still down............

Doesn't really matter............ If I win.............I'll take us on the West Bound.........and just stay until the East Bound ship leaves...........

That way we can mess things up all Summer Long !!!


Mark

 

[mkygrl]

I don't think that he/she knows

Could apply makeup well!

Chrissie

 

[magiroux]

I swear, I will never ever complain about the "cold" in California again!!

.....and, it's not the cold that gets to ya - It's the humidity

 

[mkygrl]

You must have seen us, we were the drunk group near the dance floor. Jack

Someone in your group wearing the beer hat?


Chrissie

 

[FINCANTIERI]

OH! THAT drunk guy who almost fell off a balcony. I've heard that story!

I've heard the story so many times that I almost feel like I was there.

 

[buckifan]

You must have seen us, we were the drunk group near the dance floor. Jack

I'll bet you're a happy drunk.....

 

[disneypilots]

I swear, I will never ever complain about the "cold" in California again!!

LOL........... I Don't blame ya one bit..........Human Nature to want everything to our liking's

Mark

 

[magiroux]

Mary Ann.............You do know that the website is down.............sooo nobody's name is on it........ At least I think its still down............

Doesn't really matter............ If I win.............I'll take us on the West Bound.........and just stay until the East Bound ship leaves...........

That way we can mess things up all Summer Long !!!


Mark

Yep, knew that...and yes, I figured it's STILL down given JR's generous offer

 

[disneypilots]

.....and, it's not the cold that gets to ya - It's the humidity

Had to think about that one for a minute...........sneaky...........very sneaky

Mark

 

[buckifan]

Could apply makeup well!

Chrissie

Well, I hear Pete can too!

BTW Pete.....I'm still waiting on that picture. Isn't your fluffin' attic clean yet?!

 

[Diznyfan68]

I'll bet you're a happy drunk.....

I'm a happy drunk

 

[Enna]

Enna........hope your feeling better............Its Snowing here like crazy......... Can somebody make Winter stop............ I'm over it...........WAY over IT !!!

Mark

Better. Thanks for asking. I don't think the snow has started here...yet.


How are you and FGM and the kids doing? Any news on your DD's hip situation?

 

[yargrnhoj]

My tulips are going to freeze!

I'd never heard them called that before.

 

[magiroux]

Just dropping in to say hello and check in a good bye have other commitments.

Hello Andrew...

How are your wife and DD feeling???

 

[darthrugby]

Well, I hear Pete can too!

BTW Pete.....I'm still waiting on that picture. Isn't your fluffin' attic clean yet?!

Almost, I have to clean out the closet, where I think the picture is.

 

[yargrnhoj]

Okay now I know you're playing because my name was on the website at the link Lisa sent out!

Brack is a participant of this thread for a long time and is just trying to get a room. Fine, leave him out but I won't. *pllbbtt* But don't you leave me out because I was on the website when we had one... You can't see ANY names at that website- because it's not up anymore, right? So you're just teasing...

Sorry, I went to the website this morning and your name is not on it. I said I would only pay for those people whose names were currently on the website at that moment.

 

[disneypilots]

I'm a happy drunk

Friends of Lisa G. will take on a new meaning..........

I don't remember if I am.............Maybe I should practice more

Mark