DVC folks that DRIVE...... we are here now...

[edk35]

WE LUV having our van here. This was the first time we have driven from MD since Nov. 2002 and WE ARE AMAZED HOW EASY IT IS TO FIND OUR WAY AROUND. We are at SSR now and LUV being so close to restaurants offsite too. The drive was NOT bad either. We drove it straight through with no problems.

For those of you that do dine offsite.... we just had lunch at a Mexican restaurant called El Patron that is very close to SSR/DTD. It was delicious and we used a 25 buck restaurant.com certificate we got for 2 bucks. We went to HS this morning for about 3 hours then headed back stopping here for lunch. It is across the street from Macaroni Grill and Chili's I believe. YUMMY!!!!

We have driven to HS twice and we went to Fantasia Mini Golf last night. We also went out to a Publix yesterday for some groceries. It was a nice store too. SO now we are thinking we will probably drive again next trip. I really thought we would be soooooooo lost and would never drive once we checked in..... but the signs are soooo easy to follow.

 

[wdrl]

We have driven to WDW for our last three trips and its nice having a car at WDW when you want it/need it. Even though we have a car we still frequently use Disney buses because a.) we like being dropped off close to the Park entrance (especially true when visiting MK); and b.) I'm too lazy to drive myself. Oh, and c.) I want to hear the latest Disney and DVC rumors from the bus drivers.

By the way, I just noticed on another thread that there is a model of Aulani at the DVC center at SSR. I don't know if its a model of the resort or a villa, or if its a life size model or a "dollhouse" model. If you swing by the DVC center, let us know what you see.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[dvcterry]

all though we drive down from CT, we stop and stay at HHI. Once in WDW the disney transport is a must-I tell the DH and three DS that you can't take a monorail at home and those Disney bus drivers are always happy & wishing me a magical day! What is better than that!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I hesitate to ask, but what is HS? I was kind of thinking "Hopeless Schedulers" intervention program, but it is probably too soon for intervention.

Hey, Denise, Hope your all's trip is totally magical.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I hesitate to ask, but what is HS? I was kind of thinking "Hopeless Schedulers" intervention program, but it is probably too soon for intervention.

Hey, Denise, Hope your all's trip is totally magical.

Hollywood Studios? maybe.

Hey, I'm glad you're having so much fun, Denise!

 

[edk35]

Yes MGM, DHS, HS whatever they are calling it these days. Hey Rob..... MR. Rob..... we are actually having plenty of down time my friend. I will say the first 3 days were busy busy....but we slowedddddddddddddd way down after that. When ds 11 said "Mom we have not really relaxed yet on this trip" I thought it was time to schedule a NON PARK DAY....so we did just that yesterday. It was a pool day/ mini golf at night kinda day. We usually go to a park until like 12 or 1 then head back to the resort to CHILL.

We stayed at SOG for 2 nights and we took their bus and the monorail from Poly. Then when we went back to MK on Wed. check in day here at SSR...... we took the MK bus. I don't think we will ever drive to MK while here...too much work to get from their parking to the MK.

However...it is soooooo nice to jump in our van for other stuff so far. We are going to AK tomorrow and EC Sunday.....so we shall see how that goes. My dd, ds and I are hitting MK tonight for the parade and fireworks...so we are taking the bus. Hubby and other ds are going to play mini golf again. They are driving.

I was very surprised at how easy it was to get around on property too. I have to say that we have been coming a long time to WDW and never ventured off site to eat but we kinda like it now.

I will venture over to see what is at the DVC center too.

 

[edk35]

Hollywood Studios? maybe.

Hey, I'm glad you're having so much fun, Denise!

Hi Bobbi!!! Yes we are having fun.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Hey Rob..... MR. Rob.....

Hmmm.... Not sure what to take from that.... Nonetheless... Keep posting, we're all enjoying living it through you.

 

[Alexander]

Absolutely cannot do WDW without a car. The freedom to move about at will is truly vacation for me. I can't stand to be at the mercy of the bus transportation. Too stressful!

 

[edk35]

Hmmm.... Not sure what to take from that.... Nonetheless... Keep posting, we're all enjoying living it through you.

You shouldn't take it anyway...it was a kind gesture my friend.

Off to AK this morning......


Last night dd 19 and ds 11 and I went back to MK to see the MSEP up close. We had seen it two other nights walking in Frontier Land..but didn't stop to really take it all in. The fireworks can be seen from all over the park, but TO ME...the only place to view them is in front of the castle....so we did just that. I do love Wishes but these WERE FANTASTIC..... JUST SPECTACULAR in my opinion. Some of them during the Pirate sequence reminded us of the ones they did during the Princess/Pirate party a few years back. Very good show.

The MSEP is cool too...... love the dragon and flag at the end.

Rob 3 more days and we will be at VERO!!!! I will surely UPDATE YOU my friend.

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi Denise!!

I told you driving to WDW would be a good thing!!

 

[PMDR59]

We drive all the time from NY Can't imagine having to take a bus to get around. Did it once last August, the car was in the lot, my DS's wanted to go back to the SSR pool since it was STEAMING in the MK by 11 am. I didnt want to take the car in case DH needed to get his mom back to her room quickly. We waited FOREVER for an SSR bus as we watched soo many busses for other resorts come and go.

We love being able to go OP to eat as well. I get alot of Gift cards from an incentive program at my job, so our meals usually dont cost much. We have never done the dining plan becasue to pay adult prices for DS 11 is CRAZY. He eats less than most toddlers I know. And the few ADR we have done, the food was ok, nothing to rave about, and IMO waaaaayyyyy overpriced.

We usually drive as far a possible on the day we leave, and stop over somewhere in SC or GA for the night. Coming home we leave at around 6am and drive straight through. Usually getting home around Midnight.

 

[DebbieB]

Absolutely cannot do WDW without a car. The freedom to move about at will is truly vacation for me. I can't stand to be at the mercy of the bus transportation. Too stressful!

Totally agree!

 

[edk35]

Absolutely cannot do WDW without a car. The freedom to move about at will is truly vacation for me. I can't stand to be at the mercy of the bus transportation. Too stressful!

I truly LOVE having our van here. I think we will always drive for our longer trips from now on. We have enjoyed eating outside of the world too. I love DVC.

 

[edk35]

We drive all the time from NY Can't imagine having to take a bus to get around. Did it once last August, the car was in the lot, my DS's wanted to go back to the SSR pool since it was STEAMING in the MK by 11 am. I didnt want to take the car in case DH needed to get his mom back to her room quickly. We waited FOREVER for an SSR bus as we watched soo many busses for other resorts come and go.

We love being able to go OP to eat as well. I get alot of Gift cards from an incentive program at my job, so our meals usually dont cost much. We have never done the dining plan becasue to pay adult prices for DS 11 is CRAZY. He eats less than most toddlers I know. And the few ADR we have done, the food was ok, nothing to rave about, and IMO waaaaayyyyy overpriced.

We usually drive as far a possible on the day we leave, and stop over somewhere in SC or GA for the night. Coming home we leave at around 6am and drive straight through. Usually getting home around Midnight.

We have taken the buses from here to MK twice now....the first time we got right on here at Grandstand at SSR. Last night we waited about 15 min. probably. Both times we WERE LUCKY in that when we left MK the bus was right there waiting and we got a seat too. HOWEVER that is the only park I think I will continue to use the bus for. The others are so easy to get in and out of with our van. I also agree about the food. Yesterday and today we stayed in the parks until around 12:00 and then went out in town and had two VERY good meals. The more DVC trips we take..the more we enjoy dining less in the parks.

 

[Tiger926]

I truly LOVE having our van here. I think we will always drive for our longer trips from now on. We have enjoyed eating outside of the world too. I love DVC.

Glad you are having a great trip! We love having our own van too - hubby can get around WDW with his eyes closed.

Hope you continue to have a great trip and say hi to the sea turtles at Vero for us!

Tiger

 

[lilosurf11]

We have driven to WDW on most of our trips and I have to say I really enjoy it. It's nice to check out the scenery and drive through the cities. I LOVE driving through Atlanta during late afternoon/ evening (it loves so beautiful when the buildings are lit up!)

I love having a car on property. That way, we can drive to sunday mass, the grocery store, or wherever.

 

[bookwormde]

We have always had a car even when we have flown, but there is something less stressful about having your own car (especially parking it right in from of your room at OKW). We live about 1 hour above you and with the airfares will be back to driving next time, I am actually looking forward to it (I do most of the driving), my wife not so much.

bookwormde

 

[joandegennaro]

DD 12 just asked the other day if we would every fly down from Ontario again. Here I was thinking she wanted to know if the plan was to fly more than drive. When I explained the cost of flying and that we may again do it on occassion she said "Good! I'd rather drive down each time than fly!" I was a little surprised. After 4 trips in 5 years last March was the first time we drove and the kids actually enjoyed the time in the van. Go figure.

 

[edk35]

Glad you are having a great trip! We love having our own van too - hubby can get around WDW with his eyes closed.

Hope you continue to have a great trip and say hi to the sea turtles at Vero for us!

Tiger

Hey I sent you a pm a couple of days ago..asking about Vero and how you guys liked it. I knew you would be there before us.