No zombies here, 13 years of trip reports!!!

[AirGoofy]

It is our last day here at OKW. I have enjoyed this 1 BR and patio. It has been a great way to start each morning with the view of the water, palm trees, and peaceful quiet with the occasional sounds from nature and the Disney motor coaches. We were able to ride some new rides, enjoyed the new FL expansion, and dined at new restaurants.

I am sad to leave but I know it will be less than 6 months until we return. We will be going back to a studio, but it will be our first time at the BCV. The April plan:

Sun - Resort - Cape May Breakfast @ 8:45 AM; Boardwalk Pizza
Mon - Resort - Beaches N Cream @ 5:50 PM
Tues - DHS - Mama Melrose @ 1:40 PM Fantasmic Package
Wed - WHW; ESPN late lunch
Thurs - Resort - Captain's Grille at 5:30 PM
Fri - Resort - EoS/ Apple

The continued plan is to walk over to the Boardwalk evening and snack accordingly.

 

[AirGoofy]

The truck is all packed and heading to DTD for another round of Earl of Sandwich.



A lizard jumped on the truck and hitchhiked from Turtle Creek up to the Hospitality House.



Maybe it was the one dd cut the tail off of, or maybe it's the animals teaming up for revenge. We'll be on the lookout for a venomous duck.

 

[AirGoofy]

One last character picture at DTD.



EoS lunch. The Hawaiian chicken sandwich is still the best.



Two more apples to end a great trip.



Next post from KY.

 

[declansdad]

The truck is all packed and heading to DTD for another round of Earl of Sandwich.



A lizard jumped on the truck and hitchhiked from Turtle Creek up to the Hospitality House.

Are you ensured with Geico? Maybe it was the insurance protection lizard.



Safe travels.

 

[lisaviolet]

It is our last day here at OKW.

.

I am sad to leave but I know it will be less than 6 months until we return.

Well let's change that to a !!!!

Lucky you. Happy that you've loved the OKW balcony.

And you're going to love BCV. I was going to say well it might not be all that warm for SAB but who cares - they're children! They'll be in and so would I! And it's such a great resort just to hang out - and you seem to do that well.

 

[AirGoofy]

Are you ensured with Geico? Maybe it was the insurance protection lizard.

Safe travels.

Could be. Better than a farm landing on the truck.

:
And you're going to love BCV. I was going to say well it might not be all that warm for SAB but who cares - they're children! They'll be in and so would I! And it's such a great resort just to hang out - and you seem to do that well.

And, I'll be in the water as I'm just a big kid as well.

 

[AirGoofy]

We made it home safely from the most magical place in the world. We made great time (12.5 hours) and had almost no traffic. It seems that the 1:30 PM departure time worked well as we missed most of the Atlanta traffic and still made it home by 1:00 AM. (There is a time zone change in there for those who think I have run out of fingers to count on. )

Today will be spent unpacking and laundry, but we'll have to take time out to celebrate DW's 29th birthday. Happy Birthday honey.

Mods, please keep this thread open and I will add the 2014 Trip Reports.

 

[AirGoofy]

So, a final cost analysis and TiW vs DDP comparision.

We were there 6 nights. Thus, the DDP would cost $1103.58. If we averaged a $15 tip per meal * 6 = $90 then the final amount would be $1193.58.

We spent $1362.28 on meals, snacks, and alcohol at WDW this last trip, which includes the $100 cost of the TiW card. We had 7 TS meals. The discount total from the TiW card (20% per meal) was $164.35.

So, the initial obvious comparison is that the DDP at (rounding) $1200 is better than $1375, so I spent $175 more with the TiW card.

But, on a closer analysis, we had 7 TS meals, which means I would have had to purchase another TS meal OOP. Let's go with the cheapest of TS for a family of four, say $75 including tip, and that comparision would now be $1275 vs $1375, so a $100 savings using the DDP.

Then, the final analysis is that our trip includes meals at CRT and Fulton's Crab House, which would have been two TS credits each. And, we ate at Shula's which is not covered by the DDP. And, we shared appetizers and/or desserts, depending on the meal. And, I had at least one beer at every meal and DW and some alcohol drinks as well. And, we had the Character apples not covered by the DDP.

In conclusion, we spent $100 more to eat and drink where and how we wanted. As much as a Disney vacation costs, $100 is relatively minor. Plus, we will have another two trips with the TiW card which may mathmatically work out better for us.

 

[declansdad]

Interesting comparison. If we ever have DVC I will have to remember this.

 

[AirGoofy]

Interesting comparison. If we ever have DVC I will have to remember this.

Well, you don't just have to have DVC. The TiW card is $25 cheaper for members. I think the room discount vs full price w/ DP is something to consider. Do you all get any special discount like folks from England?

 

[declansdad]

Well, you don't just have to have DVC. The TiW card is $25 cheaper for members. I think the room discount vs full price w/ DP is something to consider. Do you all get any special discount like folks from England?

I didn't realize that, thought it was just a DVC thing. And know we get very few discounts like the Brits.

 

[AirGoofy]

I didn't realize that, thought it was just a DVC thing. And know we get very few discounts like the Brits.

I think it is $125 for non DVC, non AP, non Fl residents. If you get a 30% or 40% off room code, then it may be worth it. DVC is kinda like discounted pre-paid hotel rooms.

We did DDP several times before we were DVC. It initially included gratuity as well, which was a better deal. As we continued, it just didn't seem like as good of a deal. Plus, my 11 year old is charged Disney adult plan price but doesn't eat that much.

 

[that's nice]

Great pics Norm. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

I'm pretty sure you need an AP, be a DVC member, or be a Florida resident to get a TIW card. I've had the card 2 times and it pays for itself the first trip and the second trip is money in the bank. If you are staying at a deluxe taking a 30% off then getting the card will work out much better than using the DDP. Even at values you can use the TIW card at the food courts since there is no TS restaurants.

 

[AirGoofy]

Great pics Norm. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

I'm pretty sure you need an AP, be a DVC member, or be a Florida resident to get a TIW card. I've had the card 2 times and it pays for itself the first trip and the second trip is money in the bank. If you are staying at a deluxe taking a 30% off then getting the card will work out much better than using the DDP. Even at values you can use the TIW card at the food courts since there is no TS restaurants.

Thanks for following me and info on TiW. I'm looking forward to the next trips I can get out of it.

 

[AirGoofy]

 

[AirGoofy]

Time to get the Live! Trip report ready again.

We are leaving Saturday for BCV, and changed some of the plans.

Sun - Resort - Cape May Breakfast @ 8:45 AM; Boardwalk Pizza
Mon - Resort - Beaches N Cream @ 5:50 PM
Tues - Epcot - Akershus @ 8:20 AM & Via Napoli @ 4:30 PM
Wed - WHW; ESPN late lunch
Thurs - Resort - Cape May @ 6:35 PM
Fri - Resort - EoS/ Apple

This will be our first trip with the MB and FP+. I selected Soarin, Living with the Land, and Turtle Talk with Crush starting around noon. I'm hoping that permits me the time to get Test Track and Mission Space in the morning, Figment and the other rides near the land and seas before the FP, and then be done to walk over for dinner at Via Napoli. After that, it is time to drink some Spiced Rum Dole Whips and enjoy the World Showcase. I'll include my thoughts on FP+ as well.

 

[declansdad]

Have fun stormin' the Castle!

 

[AirGoofy]

Good news - we made it to Disney World.

Bad news - I dropped and busted my phone.

So, there won't be many live pictures on this report, and I will have to add them later. But, I was able to upload one before the incident.



Both dds at the Okahumpka Florida Turnpike stop.

 

[AirGoofy]

We made it to the BCV around 7:00 AM. 12 hour car ride, including the time change. We drove DW's new Camry and only stopped twice for gas driving down, and once was only at 1/4 tank. We killed it in gas money.

It is a beautiful morning on the beach. I like the background in this picture as well.



Trying to walk and get out those all night driving legs. She sits down.



Animatronic venomous duck?



Home Resort at Boardwalk.



I do get up early enough to see the sunrise most mornings, but it is not quite as beautiful as it goes across the beach.

 

[AirGoofy]

After check in, we had a 8:45 reservation at Cape May. We enjoyed the quiet of the resort morning and doing some people watching. It is our first time at the Beach Club, and I'm not sure the other tourists know how to respond to Kentuckians. There was a mom with 3 boys, I'm guessing 15, 10, & 5, all wearing golf shirts with the collars turned up. She was not smiling as the four of us walked past her this morning. Maybe they were from Wisconsin.

So, we got into Cape May about 30 minutes early. As usual, the breakfast was great. There was a new mushroom and spinach frittata which was excellent. They need to work on the biscuits and gravy though. Here are some pictures.

With Minnie.



With Goofy.



With Donald.



After a great breakfast, we went to change clothes for a morning swim. That is when I dropped and busted my phone. So, I'm not sure how many more pictures I will get from it. I have my camera, but will have to wait until I get home to upload them to the computer before I can post them.