April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[scootch]

Scootch, I saw your post on the hotwire MCO Hyatt thread. I'm also looking for the same night, and checking hotwire every couple of days for it. We've never stayed there and it would be nice to get off the late flight and get a hotel room.

The Hyatt is WONDERFUL! My kids are forced to go to school the day we leave, they are missing 5 days for this trip, plus one in Nov for NYC trip, so i try to not take off too many more days. Last year, we arrived at 745pm and were in our room, getting a quick shower by 815pm. Took the first bus the next day to port. The room was very luxurious and it was cool walking around the airport in the morning before the bus. Got a great nights sleep. Last year I bought a certificate. It is about $140. Will do that this year is I can't get a good room with hotwire. I have never done Hotwire before, but am going to try it if I am fairly sure it is the Hyatt and a good price. I will keep you posted if I find a good deal.

I remember those little girl concert feelings. I was a HUGE Barry Manilow fan and felt like I had won a million bucks when we had lawn seats for him. We were so far from the stage, but I didn't care!

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

The Hyatt is WONDERFUL! My kids are forced to go to school the day we leave, they are missing 5 days for this trip, plus one in Nov for NYC trip, so i try to not take off too many more days. Last year, we arrived at 745pm and were in our room, getting a quick shower by 815pm. Took the first bus the next day to port. The room was very luxurious and it was cool walking around the airport in the morning before the bus. Got a great nights sleep. Last year I bought a certificate. It is about $140. Will do that this year is I can't get a good room with hotwire. I have never done Hotwire before, but am going to try it if I am fairly sure it is the Hyatt and a good price. I will keep you posted if I find a good deal.

I remember those little girl concert feelings. I was a HUGE Barry Manilow fan and felt like I had won a million bucks when we had lawn seats for him. We were so far from the stage, but I didn't care!

Hi Scootch,

Ditto on the Barry Manilow fan. Saw him from pretty decent seats. He was an icon during "our day".

I looking to book at room April 16th night arrival for early morning bus departure from MCO. How does that certifcate work? Do you automatically get a room at the value of the certificate?

What time did the first bus leave MCO for your last cruise? Trying to get to port early to meet everyone.

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

The Hyatt is WONDERFUL! My kids are forced to go to school the day we leave, they are missing 5 days for this trip, plus one in Nov for NYC trip, so i try to not take off too many more days. Last year, we arrived at 745pm and were in our room, getting a quick shower by 815pm. Took the first bus the next day to port. The room was very luxurious and it was cool walking around the airport in the morning before the bus. Got a great nights sleep. Last year I bought a certificate. It is about $140. Will do that this year is I can't get a good room with hotwire. I have never done Hotwire before, but am going to try it if I am fairly sure it is the Hyatt and a good price. I will keep you posted if I find a good deal.

I remember those little girl concert feelings. I was a HUGE Barry Manilow fan and felt like I had won a million bucks when we had lawn seats for him. We were so far from the stage, but I didn't care!

Hi Scootch,

Ditto on the Barry Manilow fan. Saw him from pretty decent seats. He was an icon during "our day".

I looking to book at room April 16th night arrival for early morning bus departure from MCO. How does that certifcate work? Do you automatically get a room at the value of the certificate?

What time did the first bus leave MCO for your last cruise? Trying to get to port early to meet everyone.

Hope your daughter decides to join the tween site. The more the merrier.

Donna

 

[svcutler]

Hi Scootch,

Ditto on the Barry Manilow fan. Saw him from pretty decent seats. He was an icon during "our day".

I looking to book at room April 16th night arrival for early morning bus departure from MCO. How does that certifcate work? Do you automatically get a room at the value of the certificate?

What time did the first bus leave MCO for your last cruise? Trying to get to port early to meet everyone.

Hope your daughter decides to join the tween site. The more the merrier.

Donna

Hi Donna! Bailey hasn't been on in the last few days because she went to camp and cheer so she's pretty busy. Tell Gabby that she'll be back in a few days please. I don't want her to think she's been abandoned by her new friend. THANKS!

 

[outahere]

Just fyi on the DCL buses from MCO to the port for everyone who is asking...... the first one leaves the airport around 9:00 - 9:30 and as soon as they fill another one it leaves, and so on through the day until around 2:00. I don't recall when the last one leaves for the port, but probably no later than 3:00 or so.

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

Thank you for the great info. The first bus out of MCO is my "Dream" goal.

Sandy, Gabby, says "no worries".

Donna

 

[castlegazer]

Delta out of Logan is awesome! We absolutely love the Delta Terminal for the play space for kids! We really like flying them also. Other than the bag fees.

And its what we had to resort to last April vacation and we were lucky... yes LUCKY to get $335 round trip tickets with them! Ridiculous prices!!

But this year we are flying with Family Ties certificates ($149 round trip) out of Worcester to Sanford on Direct Air. It's going to rip the kids out of school longer, but seriously, I just can not care with those prices!

 

[castlegazer]

Oh and the MCO Hyatt is, no lie, our favorite hotel in Orlando! Its is beyond awesome to be able to walk off the plane and go to bed!!! Its also beyond awesome to get there the night before a flight and wake up and have them bring your bags right into the terminal and onto the carousels.

The rooms are great! The shopping and dining is right there. Plus the prices uses are reasonable, with or without priceline. I usually just use hotels.com

 

[scootch]

Hi Scootch,

Ditto on the Barry Manilow fan. Saw him from pretty decent seats. He was an icon during "our day".

I looking to book at room April 16th night arrival for early morning bus departure from MCO. How does that certifcate work? Do you automatically get a room at the value of the certificate?

What time did the first bus leave MCO for your last cruise? Trying to get to port early to meet everyone.

Hope your daughter decides to join the tween site. The more the merrier.

Donna

Here is the link to the certificate https://www.certificates.hyatt.com/products/CertsStay.aspx You get the choice level. What I did was call and book the room first to be sure they had certificate rooms, then I purchased the certificate online. So I actually booked it without certificate in hand(well before I even bought it, lol) You can check in with the bus there at the hotel lobby, but I didnt' realize this, and just went to Disney's Magical express counter before we hit breakfast. We got the first bus, but they all run pretty quickly I believe. It left about 930am.

Since you are a fellow "Fanilow" I will tell you my 40th birthday story. It was suppose to be his last tour... one night live/one last time was the name. Well, for $1,000 you got a front row seat to the show, VIP reception after the show and got to go one by one back and sip champange with Mr. Manilow and talk for a few minutes. Included pictures, a free item of merchandise, free parking, ect..... so since it just happen to be my 40th birthday I splurged!! and did it. I planned out even what I was going to say and when I walked in, he says, "Well Amy, how long have I been waiting to meet you???" It was just too funny.

 

[Deb T.]

Since you are a fellow "Fanilow" I will tell you my 40th birthday story. It was suppose to be his last tour... one night live/one last time was the name. Well, for $1,000 you got a front row seat to the show, VIP reception after the show and got to go one by one back and sip champange with Mr. Manilow and talk for a few minutes. Included pictures, a free item of merchandise, free parking, ect..... so since it just happen to be my 40th birthday I splurged!! and did it. I planned out even what I was going to say and when I walked in, he says, "Well Amy, how long have I been waiting to meet you???" It was just too funny.

WOW!
That is awesome!!! What an opportunity! We're "Fanilows", too! I always thought he was a really nice guy, and you just confirmed it!

 

[guarn3md]

We are driving. It will be the first time - since I was a kid - driving to Floriday. My parents will leave from NJ and then pick us up here in MD and we will all drive together. We have reservations at the County Inn & Suites already for 4/16. We will leave the car there and take the shuttle. I have no idea how long the drive is...my Dad said we will leave early Friday then stop part way.
After the cruise we are going to WDW for two or three days - haven't decided how long. All depends on if DH wants us home for Easter Sunday or not...he isn't going on this trip. DS wants to go to Harry Potter World so I will probably take him the Thursday we return from the cruise. I hate leaving Disney property once we are there and I have no interest in going to Universal. The plan is for us to go over there just for HP - then get back under the Disney bubbble! We are also planning another WDW for Thanksgiving 2011 but DH doesn't want to do HP then so he has given me the task of doing it after the cruise.
Debbie

 

[scootch]

For the Fanilows...

southwest opened up today thru March and there is only a late flight(like 825pm!!) .... gee, I might have to drive over to MK for the day.

 

[alenushka]

We are driving. It will be the first time - since I was a kid - driving to Floriday. My parents will leave from NJ and then pick us up here in MD and we will all drive together. We have reservations at the County Inn & Suites already for 4/16. We will leave the car there and take the shuttle. I have no idea how long the drive is...my Dad said we will leave early Friday then stop part way.
After the cruise we are going to WDW for two or three days - haven't decided how long. All depends on if DH wants us home for Easter Sunday or not...he isn't going on this trip. DS wants to go to Harry Potter World so I will probably take him the Thursday we return from the cruise. I hate leaving Disney property once we are there and I have no interest in going to Universal. The plan is for us to go over there just for HP - then get back under the Disney bubbble! We are also planning another WDW for Thanksgiving 2011 but DH doesn't want to do HP then so he has given me the task of doing it after the cruise.
Debbie

Hi Debbie,
Check out this link:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/V-I95.htm

We print it out and take it with us (always nice to know when the next rest area would be on your way ).
If there is no traffic jam VA is around 3 hrs long, SC and NC are 2.5-3 hrs long, GA 1.5-2 hrs long, FL 3.5-4 hours long. I hope it helps.
VA is famous for lots of cops and HUGE ticket summons (over $1,000 ) - do NOT rush in VA.
Yelena

 

[jilljill]

Hi Debbie,
Check out this link:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/V-I95.htm

We print it out and take it with us (always nice to know when the next rest area would be on your way ).
If there is no traffic jam VA is around 3 hrs long, SC and NC are 2.5-3 hrs long, GA 1.5-2 hrs long, FL 3.5-4 hours long. I hope it helps.
VA is famous for lots of cops and HUGE ticket summons (over $1,000 ) - do NOT rush in VA.
Yelena

Definately DON'T speed in VA - DH and a good friend got tickets within 2 miles of each other and in different counties. Our ticket (and lawyer) cost much more than his did.
GA is also becoming another speed trap. Although, last week we saw more police running radar in NC and SC than the other states. In fact, one policeman in NC just stood and laughed at us as we passed him along I-95. He was standing outside his car running radar and when he saw us in the Mini speeding along he just laughed and shook his head.

Mileage for each state:
Delaware - around 16 miles
Maryland - 110 miles
Virginia - 178 miles
North Carolina - 168 (that's a guess, but it's close to that)
South Carolina - 198
Georgia - 110 (trying to recall, it's close to that)

I can double check the mileage as we go north on Sunday if you would like.

 

[goofy4tink]

Delta out of Logan is awesome! We absolutely love the Delta Terminal for the play space for kids! We really like flying them also. Other than the bag fees.

And its what we had to resort to last April vacation and we were lucky... yes LUCKY to get $335 round trip tickets with them! Ridiculous prices!!

But this year we are flying with Family Ties certificates ($149 round trip) out of Worcester to Sanford on Direct Air. It's going to rip the kids out of school longer, but seriously, I just can not care with those prices!

We booked with Direct Air as well...when they had a half price sale....all three of us flying down on April 14, home on Easter Sunday, for $650. Not too shabby. And parking is cheaper at Worcester! Of course, it's a longer drive from Sanford.
Just got home from 2 weeks in WDW..brutal heat/humidity. It will be nice to be there in April...except for the crowds that weekend. We are staying at US/IoA on April 14, and heading to Cocoa Beach on the night of the 15th...a little beach time before the cruise. Then, the day we get off the ship, we head to BWV for two nights, and then Sat morning head to Tampa to spend the day and evening with my ds and his wife, then drive back to Sanford Sunday morning.

This is shaping up to be a DIS filled ship..how wonderful, with so many from Mass to boot. I will have my dd, 16, get on that teen thread. She hasn't been home all summer between a month at camp and two weeks at WDW, then back to camp last weekend and off to the lake tonight until Sunday, then marching band/color guard camp next week. But I know she wants to touch base with other teen cruisers!!!

 

[outahere]

And its what we had to resort to last April vacation and we were lucky... yes LUCKY to get $335 round trip tickets with them! Ridiculous prices!!

I wish I could get tickets for $335!

Funny sidenote - I was going through some old papers in my desk yesterday and found paper ticket stubs (remember those?) from a trip we took to WDW in December, 2000. Total roundtrip price was $229 each, on Delta. I'd love to get that price again!

 

[pershing]

OK, fill the newbie in please what is an MCO Hyatt thread? I'm assuming it's a thread pertaining to the hyatt near the airport in Orlando, but why is there a thread on it?

The thread was talking about how to identify which hotel on Hotwire was MCO Hyatt.

The reader's digest version is that it's believed that when there is a four star hotel listed in the MCO Orlando Airport, it could either be the Hyatt or the Renaissance. If you list 2 adults and 2 children the theory is that the Renaissance is excluded as they only guarantee 2 person rooms. Also the Hyatt has a trip advisor rating on the second page of 4.5 and not 4.0 like the Renaissance.

Hope that helps someone gain the Hyatt. I'll be trying it to, but I've always been a Priceline person and the Marriot and the rest are really fine if Hotwire doesn't come thru.

On another note, I did a comparison using the new SW rates that came out for February vacation. I thought it would be comparable to April vacation and the lowest I'm seeing is $144 each way if you fly in on off days. The regular days are high-in the 200 each way. I'm flying in on a Wed and out on a Mon. 144 is high to me when I've done 121 ROUND TRIP with Southwest. Guess those days are gone for good!

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

Hey Amy,

Thank you for sharing your photos. You look like you were having a great night and an unforgetable birthday.

I saw him a "long" time ago. I'll be 43 this month. When I saw him I was between 16 - 18.

He does put on a great show.

Have you enticed your eldest yet to join the tween site??

Donna

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

The thread was talking about how to identify which hotel on Hotwire was MCO Hyatt.

The reader's digest version is that it's believed that when there is a four star hotel listed in the MCO Orlando Airport, it could either be the Hyatt or the Renaissance. If you list 2 adults and 2 children the theory is that the Renaissance is excluded as they only guarantee 2 person rooms. Also the Hyatt has a trip advisor rating on the second page of 4.5 and not 4.0 like the Renaissance.

Hope that helps someone gain the Hyatt. I'll be trying it to, but I've always been a Priceline person and the Marriot and the rest are really fine if Hotwire doesn't come thru.

On another note, I did a comparison using the new SW rates that came out for February vacation. I thought it would be comparable to April vacation and the lowest I'm seeing is $144 each way if you fly in on off days. The regular days are high-in the 200 each way. I'm flying in on a Wed and out on a Mon. 144 is high to me when I've done 121 ROUND TRIP with Southwest. Guess those days are gone for good!

That is too funny, Sue . I did the same thing with Southwest. Just to give myself a ballpark pricing. We always fly Southwest out of PVD.
It has just gotten greater to use Southwest, especially since WDW added them to their hotel pre-checkin / preboarding list. I loved not having to check luggage on the return home when DH and I stayed at SSR Studio in April this year.

Donna

 

[rdevine10]

Hi everyone,

Its been a long time since I have posted here (or on DIS!). Just catching up on this thread! And, boy am I excited! I havent slipped up yet and this cruise is STILL a surprise to the kids!

I have seen there are many people from the North East on this cruise. Add us to the list! We are from CT as well (Northern Fairfield County).

And, Im pretty sure we are driving again as well! We typically go to FL for Spring Break, and every year its the insane airfare prices! I refuse to pay them- as we are flying the end of Sept for $700 for 4 people. But, the drive down isnt horrible... and we do it straight as well! The only good thing is my Mom lives near Daytona and we will visit with her 1st... cruise, then likely do Seaworld for a few days after Easter (planning on 2 weeks in FL).

Cant wait..... and we are hoping we can keep this cruise a surprise till the day of!!!!!! I dont know how I will ever be able to contain myself