Excuse me for a moment while I SCREAM!!! Budget & plans just crashed and burned!!!

[Cindy B]

In the courses I just finished taking, one night of math class covered six chapters!

One night of my literature, was over 100 pages of lit work, and papers due. Also on random single nights we had to present what we read in a format, and if you weren't there, you got a zero for that day..

I am a conscientious student.. and I can't miss at all. It was important enough to go back for me just two months ago! It is a huge adjustment!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I would think about trying to go after New Years. Your daughter may not have to start class till the second week of Jan. If you go, say on Jan 1st, you will not get to go to MVMCP but you will still see all the decorations with half of the crowds!! I do know how you were looking forward to this trip with your planing...... If you can't do that, then maybe just cut the trip to 7days & skip Universal & SeaWorld..... As far as the price for the rental car (during Thanksgiving time), you can always try Priceline for the car rental....BUT be sure of your dates, you will not be able to reshedule them!!! I hope it all works out for you....hang in there and tell your daughter I give her credit for going back!!!!!

 

[dgaston]

Then again there are folks who teach at night like me who try to accomodate the needs of non-traditional students. I usually assign readings and a journal and since I teach psychology, ask students to relate their travels to a specific aspect of the course I am teaching.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by dgaston
Then again there are folks who teach at night like me who try to accomodate the needs of non-traditional students. I usually assign readings and a journal and since I teach psychology, ask students to relate their travels to a specific aspect of the course I am teaching.

------------------------------------------------

Isn't that interesting? The one class she'll be taking in the fall (providing it doesn't turn out THAT one is full too!) is General Psychology! Too bad YOU weren't going to be her teacher.. LOL

Of course on the other hand, the gal that I used to sit next to in work just finished a General Psychology class and the teacher barely spoke to them the entire semester.. She would come in, assign them a whole bunch of reading - and then disapppear!!

Amazing the different styles that teachers have, isn't it?

------------

Still waiting for DD to call back, but I did manage to find one or two car rental rates that wouldn't absolutely choke a horse (starting on Nov. 27th or the 28th) that would work if we shorten up the trip..

Back to the searching!!

 

[tonilea]

We are flying in on the 28 and leaving on the 7th... I have a rental w/ National EA Intermediate for 209ish. BUT it is out of Tampa.... could you fly into TPA? Maybe the rental rates are better there?

 

[Jacksmom99]

Missing one night of class is not a big deal. I just finished grad school last January and found that most professors were very accomodating with the lives people had outside of the classroom. In fact, I took my grad school exams (a "take home" exam consisting of 7 comprehesive research essays) at WDW last November. I brought a few books and articles as well as my lap top and while my mom poured the wine, I typed away. I passed and graduated with honors. However, I wouldn't have missed that girl's weekend with my mom for anything. Family is important, and life is too short! Worst case senario, I would've had to take the exams in March and waited until May to graduate.

Good luck with your planning and have a great trip!

 

[C.Ann]

Still waiting to hear back from my DD - and still planning here..

I've worked out trips (including flights & rental car rates) for everything from 7 to 11 days - which includes travel time - so all I need is the go ahead from her as to what she wants to do and I can jump on the airline tickets 'cause those seats are going FAST!!

Five of the scenarios have us flying down either on Thanksgiving - or the day after - which wouldn't be as upsetting to her schedule as she'll already have Thurs., Friday, Sat., & Sunday off.. All the decent car rates for that time period are through National - on their own site..

The other scenarios have us flying down on various days the first week of Dec.. Can't believe what a BIG difference there is in the car rental rates!! BUT..... I'll take whatever will work for us..

'Course I still don't have a hotel - but that's no bigee.. Once everything else is in place I'll just scour these boards and the hotel sites till I find something suitable.. OR...if the trip ends up being a shorter one, we might just go back to the Tropical Palms Fun Resort because we really, REALLY liked it there!

Thanks for all the suggestions..

Now if she would just CALL !!!!!!!!

 

[DMRick]

I passed and graduated with honors.

Not everyone can play catch-up that way (especially if her class only meets once a week) and not everyone can plan on graduating later: (

It's really a decision that only CAnn's daughter can make. While we can help her find cheap car fare, airfare, rooms, etc, it's not a decision that we can make for her daughter. My daughter also graduated with honors..but it wasn't easy for her..each moment not working or with her son, had to be spent studying. Financially, she couldn't afford to not do good, and couldn't take any chances.

I do congratulate you however, and wish you great success. Sounds like you did good!!

Doris

 

[C.Ann]

It's amazing how the learning curve varies with different people, isn't it?

Take my son-in-law for example.. He was in his last year of college (getting a second degree) when he and my daughter got married.. Because they were getting married out of state and travel time was involved there was a conflict with his final exams.. Well - to make a long story short, he's SO gosh darn smart they ended up giving him exemptions from all but ONE of his finals.. (Sure wish I had his brains!!) Some people are just lucky like that - they learn quick and retain well..

Fortunately my DD's job involves an enormous amount of psychology (she's been working in a group home for troubled teenage girls for almost 10 years now and has worked her way up from a "child tech" to the supervisor of an entire unit which houses anywhere from 15 to 30 girls 365-days a year), so the subject will not be entirely foreign to her.. She's responsible for working up treatment programs for the girls, dealing with the various social workers, appearing in court with the girls when necessary, counseling the parents and siblings, devising and implementing substance abuse programs, dealing with sexual abuse allegations, etc.. I think she knows her own limitations though (she's taken college classes before) and I'm sure she'll make the right decision once she knows exactly what the class is going to be all about.. I just wish someone would tell her - or ME - if she's even going to get in this fall!!! This waiting is driving me right up a wall!!

Guess I'll just keep plugging along here until I know something for sure - one way or the other..

Only probably with that is.............................I'm not real good at "waiting"..LOL

 

[Mermaid02]

Oh C.Ann I hope this all works out for you guys! As a Non-traditional student who just graduated in June with a 4.0 (thanks for letting me brag a bit! ) I say YEA for your dd for going to school..... but also YEA for you for working your vacation plans around her new schedule. I think you have worked harder than anyone I know to make this come true for the 3 of you and I know you will have a wonderful time- whether you're there for 7 or 11 days!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Is there a reason to stay off site and rent a car? I am staying at the Movies Nov.14 for $69. If you could get that price and do the trip that is only Disney then you would not need the car at all. Or start the trip on-site and then move off site and get a car for the last few days at SeaWorld etc. You may save money that way. I hope it works out for you, what a nice Christmas gift!

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Sounds like you've done a really good job of "making lemonade" with this one... I have no doubt that your grit and determination will find you a way to do it.

I must say, though, that I've also wondered about your staying offsite... the poster above has a great point.

Whatever you do, I look forward to learning how this all turns out.

 

[off2disney]

C.Ann

I know what you are going through and how frustrating it is. I just found out (after booking airline tichets, paying off our accommodations, my daughter and grandson buying their tickets) that I might not be able to take vacation as scheduled. My board of directors decided to change our closing policy at the Club and staying open instead of closing. Whe I told my commodore about my plans, he just shrugged and said "We'll have to talk about this. " This was as he was leaving on his vacation fishing trip!

Yeah, right! Talk about non-refundable tickets, etc.!

Hope everything works out for you.

 

[C.Ann]

Okay - "if" there's room for her in the class (and at this point that seems to be a pretty big "if") the class will meet one night a week on Mondays..

That's not too hard to work around - and I just found some really great codes for Alamo that are even working for the dates around Thanksgiving!!

We won't be able to go for as long as we had planned (which my DD was a little disappointed about because she was really looking forward to doing IOA and Sea World) - BUT - I told her that I'm just going to go ahead and finalize the plans and whatever amount of days we end up with...well...that's what we end up with!!

I've got everything written down (all the available flights,etc.) and I'll be meeting her up to the lake tomorrow.. I'm going to have her go through and number them in order of preference and then I'm going to go ahead and book the flights for whatever is there..

Keep your fingers crossed!! I think we may have saved this trip afterall!!!!!

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Disneycrazymom
Is there a reason to stay off site and rent a car? I am staying at the Movies Nov.14 for $69. If you could get that price and do the trip that is only Disney then you would not need the car at all. Or start the trip on-site and then move off site and get a car for the last few days at SeaWorld etc. You may save money that way. I hope it works out for you, what a nice Christmas gift!

She doen'st even need a rental car for Seaworld if she goes onsite. She can take a Lynx Bus from the TTC to Seaworld. It cost about $1.50 each way. I've heard of others doing it as well.

 

[C.Ann]

Ooops!! Here I am rattling on and on and I didn't even answer those who suggested we stay on-site..

There's several reasons why we haven't considered it.. One is the cost - even with the savings on the rental car.. There's no way we could survive in a little All Stars room (without someone getting killed - LOL) and I don't think the more costly rooms are worth the money they charge for them..

We also don't like to be at the mercy of public transportation and the schedules that go with them.. With the parks closing early during December I'm sure there will be evenings when we want to head out to the Outlets, go exploring, etc.. If I were going alone it would be a different story, but I just can't see us going back to the hotel and sitting around during the evening hours..

These latest codes I've found for Alamo are AWESOME so I don't think the car rental is an issue anymore..

Thanks for the suggestions though!

 

[DMRick]

These latest codes I've found for Alamo are AWESOME so I don't think the car rental is an issue anymore..

Well, what the heck are the new codes you found? We may switch our Emerald Aisle car to Alamo LOL! Or are they awesome becasue you are only renting for 7 days now?

 

[jcemom]

Yes, I'm sure we could all use some AWESOME codes!! LOL

 

[Connieh]

Hi,

Have you tried Hotwire? I put in dates for 11/30 to 12/7 and it came up with 19.95 a day for economy and 20.95 for next larger vehicle.

Priceline also might work for you.
Good luck

Connie

 

[C.Ann]

I'm up to the lake now..and it's around 2:30 in the morning.. Should be sleeping, by I'm feeling kind of "hyper".. Too many "Disney" thoughts I think - LOL..

Am I allowed to post the car codes here? If so, I'll be happy to post the best one I found by accident..

Keep in mind that I'm renting a compact though - didn't even look at anything larger than that, so I don't know how good those prices are.. Wouldn't hurt to check it out though - if someone tells me it's okay to post them..

Just give me "the word.."