I can NOT believe we are doing this!

[Greg K.]

A few days ago, when I told my wife that Tapestry of Dreams was folding on March 1, she was crushed. She'd been dying to video tape it, and now it looked like she'd never get to do it -- unless, she said, we did something really madcap and popped down to Orlando for a few days....

Gulp.

We weighed our options. Valentine's Day was out -- there were no special rates available, and US AIRWAYS had that weekend blacked out for frequent flyers.

But what about the weekend after? Feb 22?

She made a few quick calls.

With an AP rate at the All Star Resort...and using frequent flyer miles...and a Hertz discount on a car rental...five days and four nights will cost us only about 500 bucks! Not counting food and other goodies, of course.

Somebody pinch me.

[ Unfortunately, because of my job, I can only stay the weekend. My wife is planning to stay a couple more days after me. ]

Still, what a deal. I can't believe we're doing this. We've never tried a last minute, spur-of-the-moment, grab-a-bag-and-go trip before. We've always meticulously planned every day, months in advance, and always stayed down there for at least a week.

Any advice?

I still can't believe we're doing this...

 

[adisneynut]

It was only for 2 days in the park over MLK weekend but it was a blast. We surprised out 10 year daughter with the trip and didn't tell her where we were heading until we hit I-4.

She said that even though it was the shortest trip we had it was the best.

Sometimes I think the unplanned trip are the best. I hope you have fun.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Sounds like our trip for the end of the Millenium Celebration December 2000. We knew it was ending, so we booked just for that.

Good for you Greg! That is so great! The airfare is key in your case. We payed a LOT for airfare for the same week. There just weren't any specials and the fares were rising daily!

I am sure you will have a great time!

Ted

 

[Colexi's Mom]

Sounds great!! Wish I could be so lucky, we have to wait until May, and it's hard to take a spur of the moment trip with 2 little ones (although I'll have to try that because we are getting APs, need to get our money's worth. Have a great time. I'm sure you'll have a blast!!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Lucky you -- have a great time!!!

 

[Pig Pen]

...I was just looking at bus tours to the Boston Flower Show in a couple weeks that cost that much!!!!

I wanna go with you!!!!

 

[kilee]

some of the best trips I've ever taken have been last minute. DH and I both have a lot of flexibility with work. We have been known many times to wake up in the morning and decide it's time to travel. Most of the time we leave within a day or two, we have taken several trips in the last few years that we left the same night we decided to go. (and yes we do have one child).
There is no waiting involved. That is one huge plus. No going through the countdown that seems to take forever.
You'll have a blast!!!!!!!!!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says.............................Take me with you. I don't take up much space and I don't eat much! I know how to yodel! lol.
Have a great time, and make sure you get a great video of ToD, we'll be asking for copies!!!

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by Greg K.
Any advice?

Yeah - HAVE A GREAT TIME!

 

[dixiegirl]

Since you are a seasoned WDW visitor just go and have a fabulous time!!! We are all jealous.

 

[bscs]

Sometimes too much time planning just gives you more time to worry. Have a great and Magical time!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I did not know Tapestry of Dreams was closing. Will it perform on 3-1-03, or is 2-28-03 the last day. We actually arrive on 3-1-03. I am sorry to hear this. That parade has always been moving to me.

 

[ivanova]

Never saw ToD and won't be arriving in WDW until March 9th. Oh well.

Our trip is a bit "last minute" as well (but not nearly as last minute as yours LOL). I've only got 6 weeks to plan (versus 18 months).

Advice?
- HAVE A BLAST!!
- HIT YOUR FAVORITES!!
- ENJOY!!
- RELAX!!

 

[Jen D]

Greg, I just did the same thing. Two weeks from today I am leaving on a trip with my daughter I just booked last Saturday.

We're not doing it quite as cheaply as you-- we don't have APs, so have to buy tickets and also pay a higher rate for rooms--- but it has all been thrown together. We never do anything like this!

Ever since booking I have been veering between pure elation and that awful pit-in-the-stomach dread you get when you know you are doing something that is really financially irresponsible. (Well, I get that dread, maybe that is exclusive to me)

 

[Horizons16]

well hey

make me a copy

 

[Greg K.]

I wavered and waffled on this. But now that the die is cast, I'm actually looking forward to it.

We've even planned a character dinner for Saturday night -- the Cinderella buffet at the GF! Since the weather should be nice, and not hot, we're hoping to spend Saturday pm at the Animal Kingdom. Maybe take the safari. I'm itching to try the Primeval Whirl.

We have a BIG FAT SUMMER TRIP planned for July -- two weeks on our DVC membership -- so we're saving all the really big doings for then. But this will definitely give us a DIZ FIX !!

 

[Kallison]

We did that for my 40th birthday, it was the best trip we've ever done. We stayed for 4 days and sprinted through the parks. It was a blast, have fun.

 

[susy]

Have fun! I will really miss TOD!!!!!!!!!

We took a spur of the moment trip in Oct. The AC in our building broke down on a Fri afternoon and was not to be fixed until the monday (we're in south FL).

My DH got home from work at 5 and gave me half an hour to plan and pack or we weren't going!

I got ASSp for $99-eek!

Threw some stuff together and we were off. My poor sn hdn't eaten anything since lunch and we stopped to eat at 8pm

 

[allyn]

my wife and i took a "last minute" trip to walt disney world just last month over martin luther king birthday weekend. we had been discussing it off and on but hadn't come to any decisions.

it was thursday night before the weekend and we still hadn't planned anything so we just decided to go for it. we planned the whole trip just 24 hours in advance!

we booked with frequent flyer miles, stayed at the radisson resort parkway, found a discount on a hertz rental car.

we left on the redeye friday night arriving in florida on saturday morning. spent saturday in animal kingdom, dinner at jiko, evening at adventurers club. sunday at islands of adventure, dinner at flying fish, evening at adventurers club. monday shopping and driving around on the way back to the airport.

we don't usually do crazy things like this but we really packed a lot of "fun" into a very short weekend and we are very glad we did it.

 

[denisem]

I'm especially guilty of "over-planning", but one of my BEST vacations was a cruise booked on Wednesday and taken 3 days later.

Spontaneity is good for the soul sometimes

Have a great trip, and I envy you seeing the last of ToD - we'll be just missing it on the 4th

Denise < --- expects ALOT of "sponaneity" on her 3/4/03 trip with 9 kids! LOL