Jersey Girl Heading West Updated 7/26 Final Day and Final Thoughts

[puggymom]

I just finished Walt Disney: The Triumph of AMerican Imagineering by Neil Gabler. If you want it, let me know I will mail it to you!

OOH, I may take you up on that!

I'm here!! I'm here!! But I'm off to Disneyland, so I'll be back later to read!

Yeah T is here!

 

[puggymom]

So planning for a WDW vacation is second nature for me. DLR planning, well, you are now talking a whole new ballgame. As noted in my original post, I have been 2 times prior, once in 76 and I wasn’t exactly part of the planning process, though in hind sight it may have been a good idea if I had been. In 2005 I decided in early July that I was going in August. So I came to the DL boards and took a crash course in DLR trip planning. For someone that loves to plan trips, that wasn’t what I considered trip planning, though I did love the trip.

This time around I was going to do it right…

Now I started watching the flights last fall and they weren’t budging, after months of seeing no change I booked my flight late December since at least I could 5x the rewards using Disney Visa if I booked prior to 12/31. A month or so later the price dropped, 2 months later they dropped again. Just can’t win, but it is always a great feeling knowing you have those tix, makes the trip real. Now on Saturday there is only one flight to Orange County and it is at 5:30 pm. Well I didn’t want to waste an entire day, so I figure I could leave on Friday. The plan became I am leaving work early on 5/15 and catching the 5:30 flight to Orange County/John Wayne. Flying home I have a late afternoon flight on Thursday the 21st.


For those that have been along my WDW trips, you may recall a little something called ADR roulette, well this time it’s Hotel roulette…

Since I was arriving so late I needed a hotel for the first night as I didn’t want to use weekend DVC points for so few hours. I also needed a rental car. At first I thought about the Marriot near the airport as I can get cheap Marriot rooms because of work.

Then I thought maybe I would go back to the Candy Cane Inn, that’s where I stayed in 2005, with no complaints.

All this time I figure I would just rent the car at the airport Friday night, return Thursday.

Well then I discovered that National has an office right on Katella, around the corner from Candy Cane. I could rent the car starting Saturday and return on Wednesday at a substantial savings. I could use the airport shuttle and still save a nice chunk of change. And this way I am not driving on strange roads 10 pm Pacific time, when I will have been up since 5 am Eastern time. (I flew into Long Beach last time)

So I cancel the Candy Cane reservation and the previous car rental reservation.

Oh wait!

Why did I cancel Candy Cane? Because then I discovered Alpine Inn is right next door to National on Katella and about half the price of Candy Cane (trip advisor had good reviews).

Hold your chips, we are not done yet.

There is a Marriot nearby at the convention center and for $49 I can have a room at the Marriot.


And we have a


WINNER!!!

Not bad since all I want is a clean bed and clean/hot shower in the morning within reasonable walking distance of the National office on Katella. I need a room for less than 12 hours.

So then I canceled the reservation at Alpine Inn.

You all still with me? Hopefully I didn’t lose you and you didn’t lose all your money at Hotel roulette.

To sum up, I am staying Friday night at the Marriot near the convention center and renting a car starting Saturday.

Next up – let’s get the itinerary started and why I need a car

 

[jcc0621]

You all still with me? Hopefully I didn’t lose you and you didn’t lose all your money at Hotel roulette.

To sum up, I am staying Friday night at the Marriot near the convention center and renting a car starting Saturday.

Next up – let’s get the itinerary started and why I need a car

Smart betters didn't even take a bite at this one LY Mo

 

[kykatt2]

​

Thanks for a "Coda" on this PTR... I thought I was going to have to resort to a Cliff Notes version of Jersey Girl goes West.. or something like that..
Course.. I Could wait for the Movie.

Who's playing you Mo.. Maybe Jessica Simpson??What... she's blonde...
O.K How about Ashley Judd... Yeah.. I like that better.We'll just bleach her Auburn Colored hair.​

​

 

[DizNee Luver]

wow, that's a lot of activity in a pretty short time...lol Now are you sure you're done with the Friday night plans???!!!

Loving this pre TR!!!!

Can't wait to see what's next!!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Excuse ME! I am not going to let my friend take a shuttle on a Friday night.

Cancel that shuttle - I will pick you up from the airport on Friday night. 'Nuff said.

 

[jcc0621]

Excuse ME! I am not going to let my friend take a shuttle on a Friday night.

Cancel that shuttle - I will pick you up from the airport on Friday night. 'Nuff said.

And that is why the FOckers are the best

 

[KatGarcia]

And that is why the FOckers are the best

 

[DizNee Luver]

And that is why the FOckers are the best

Just curious but what are FOckers???

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Hi PuggyMom! We have a pug too! He's going to be 6 in April and his name is Auggie!!! Yay for Pugs!!!

Can't wait for your TR!

 

[PrincessV]

Okay, I have to confess... "Marriott" just plain sounds a lot safer than "Candy Cane Inn."

Where are you staying at DLR? Or wait - is that one for the Blackjack part of the TR?!

 

[boysmom5150]

T2, how are you?

Um, yes I am sort of packed, now that doesn't surprise you.

I was just thinking of you and P yesterday. I tried the Greek place that is above Fresh City and Baumgart's. If P hasn't tried that, he should the food was excellant.

I will tell P to check it out, he likes greek food and maybe he could bring me home a greek salad to "test". I dont like greek food but LOVE the greek salad.

WHEN IS YOUR SURGERY SCHEDULED??If you need anything let me know.

Now I started watching the flights last fall and they weren’t budging, after months of seeing no change I booked my flight late December since at least I could 5x the rewards using Disney Visa if I booked prior to 12/31. A month or so later the price dropped, 2 months later they dropped again. Just can’t win,

I hate when that happens

Then I thought maybe I would go back to the Candy Cane Inn, that’s where I stayed in 2005, with no complaints.

I know NOTHING of this hotel BUT it sounds like a place that might be rented by the hour

You all still with me? Hopefully I didn’t lose you and you didn’t lose all your money at Hotel roulette.

somehow Im still with ya.

Next up – let’s get the itinerary started and why I need a car

 

[puggymom]

Excuse ME! I am not going to let my friend take a shuttle on a Friday night.

Cancel that shuttle - I will pick you up from the airport on Friday night. 'Nuff said.

I just replied to your email...

And that is why the FOckers are the best

Yes, I agree

Just curious but what are FOckers???

A wonderful group of Dis'ser, we have a thread on the community board, you couldn't ask for a nicer, more generous group. I think we will all agree how much better are lives are for meeting each other.

Hi PuggyMom! We have a pug too! He's going to be 6 in April and his name is Auggie!!! Yay for Pugs!!!

Can't wait for your TR!

Please post a pic. My 2 are Namath and Rocky and my mom's is Cooper.

Namath's b-day is 4/30 and he will be 6 too!

Okay, I have to confess... "Marriott" just plain sounds a lot safer than "Candy Cane Inn."

Where are you staying at DLR? Or wait - is that one for the Blackjack part of the TR?!

Candy Cane is actually a very nice, very clean, family owned place with in walking distance of DL entrance. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone.

I will tell P to check it out, he likes greek food and maybe he could bring me home a greek salad to "test". I dont like greek food but LOVE the greek salad.

P should definately try it out. I had teh house salad Saturday and it was good.

WHEN IS YOUR SURGERY SCHEDULED??If you need anything let me know.

So sweet, it's Friday and Murph is coming for the weekend

Thank God for drugs

 

[ncsjodi]

Hey Mo! I'm here too! We really enjoyed our very short DLR trip in January. I wish we could have stayed a bit longer though...

but meeting T was the highlight of our trip!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Please post a pic. My 2 are Namath and Rocky and my mom's is Cooper.

Namath's b-day is 4/30 and he will be 6 too!

I will as soon as I get home (I'm at work). I just took some pics of him last night with my new camera!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I just replied to your email...

Hey Mo! I'm here too! We really enjoyed our very short DLR trip in January. I wish we could have stayed a bit longer though...

but meeting T was the highlight of our trip!

Awww... you're so sweet! I did enjoy meeting you and E. I hope we can get our families together one of these days, I know Maddie would love to meet your DD's!

 

[DisneyJo]

Wow that sure was a lot of changes and you haven't even got to DL yet

So did you turn T down???

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Time for Pug pictures! Post your doggies too!

This is Auggie.

And this is Auggie with our other dog, Belle. She just turned 3.

 

[boysmom5150]

just wanted you to know Im thinking about you today. Hope all is well.

 

[lazydoxy66]

That was some fancy, fuzzy, Fockering with the hotel and car.