Just Planned a Trip - but man am I stupid!!!

[ClarabelleCow]

So we had a family meeting on Monday night, decided we wanted to use our Daytona 500 tickets this year. So the decision was made to stay at WDW using our points for 5 nights and head to Daytona on Sunday 2/18 for the race. Spent tuesday checking airfares etc, went back to the "board" and got the okay to book it!!

Called DVC yesterday was able to confirm instantly a 1 bedroom at SSR, and waitlist for VWL, BCV or BW, we enjoy SSR, but prefer either MK area or Epcot. Purchased tickets on Airtran for 320 each non-stop, which is great because its out of White Plains which is small easy airport, no stress of the NYC airports!!

Now the kicker!!! the only reason we were going to Florida during this time was because of the race!

While sitting at work today I get an email from Daytona International, it says: "All that is missing is you" limited tickets still available!

thinking to myself, this must be a mistake, I renewed my tickets, so for the heck of it I called, NOPE!!! never renewed the tickets! tried to get tickets, best available was 2nd row from bottom!!!

 

[Muushka]

Aww, I'm sorry. But on the positive side, you will get to smell the rubber really well from those seats .

All kidding aside, I wonder if there is anywhere else to order those tickets? Maybe one of the brokers has a better selection. Good luck.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

thanks - yeah, I found some brokers and have been calling all over, the minimum price I have been able to find is 250 a ticket for decent seats, comparable to the seats I didn't renew!!!! I may just get the low ones, it could be fun!!

 

[Slakk]

So we had a family meeting on Monday night, decided we wanted to use our Daytona 500 tickets this year. So the decision was made to stay at WDW using our points for 5 nights and head to Daytona on Sunday 2/18 for the race. Spent tuesday checking airfares etc, went back to the "board" and got the okay to book it!!

Called DVC yesterday was able to confirm instantly a 1 bedroom at SSR, and waitlist for VWL, BCV or BW, we enjoy SSR, but prefer either MK area or Epcot. Purchased tickets on Airtran for 320 each non-stop, which is great because its out of White Plains which is small easy airport, no stress of the NYC airports!!

Now the kicker!!! the only reason we were going to Florida during this time was because of the race!

While sitting at work today I get an email from Daytona International, it says: "All that is missing is you" limited tickets still available!

thinking to myself, this must be a mistake, I renewed my tickets, so for the heck of it I called, NOPE!!! never renewed the tickets! tried to get tickets, best available was 2nd row from bottom!!!

Dump the 500 and come up to Charlotte for the All Star Race Jet Blue is here now so you can get cheap tickets and Speed Street and the All Star 600 week is the coolest thing in the world. Now you have a great excuse!!!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Don't get me started, before child number 2! we had tickets to Dover, New Hampshire, Charlotte Motor Speedway (which was my favorite), thought they changaed the stupid name to Lowes motor Speedway!), Richmond, Pocono, Atlanta and both Daytona Races!!! DD was so easy, she just went everywhere with us, and for Charlotte we would leave her with my parents! cause we loved the nightime activities!!!

but DS came along finally - 8 years later, and was and is a handfull!!! So gone are our crazy race weekends, it stinks!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I just wanted to sympathize with you! We all have made some sort of booking vacation mistakes I hope you do get tickets and enjoy the vacation.

Bobbi

PS. We only had 2 children, but I always thought that 2 was a lot more to handle than 1. We felt like "pros" raising 1 and then #2 came along and oh my, we needed a whole new set of instructions, but they weren't there!!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I just wanted to sympathize with you! We all have made some sort of booking vacation mistakes I hope you do get tickets and enjoy the vacation.

Bobbi

PS. We only had 2 children, but I always thought that 2 was a lot more to handle than 1. We felt like "pros" raising 1 and then #2 came along and oh my, we needed a whole new set of instructions, but they weren't there!!

Exactly, my daugther has been on more vacations and quick trips than I can count, but add number 2, and forget it!! totally different!! we tried to do stuff, but it wasn't worth it, we still do alot, but not the crazy stuff!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I have never been to a Nascar race... so I guess any seats would seem great to me. When I was young my dad took me to boat races. You can't really see much of the boats once they are racing, but I remember the tours through the pits and the staging areas. I think it is more the experience of being there than it is the location of seating. Hope you are a 24, 48 or (excuse me) 11 car lover. Actually, I just love Nascar and love the race more than the winner. Get those 2nd row tickets and have a great time.

 

[Muushka]

Dump the 500 and come up to Charlotte for the All Star Race Jet Blue is here now so you can get cheap tickets and Speed Street and the All Star 600 week is the coolest thing in the world. Now you have a great excuse!!!

I agree, that All Star race is one fun race. I like it because it is interesting and SHORT! I would have to collect a paycheck to go to the Coca Cola 600!

Anywhoo, what is this Jet Blue? How do you order the tickets? Thanks!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

PROBLEM SOLVED!! though not perfect, but was able to purchase 2 day tickets, Busch and Nascar, in the super stretch row 27, at least we will be there, and there is a jumbo tron right in front of us! Wont tell DH price of tickets, but if I can cell the busch tickets, that will help!!!

 

[Muushka]

I think I would trade a fairly high row for a seat in front of the Jumbo tron. Good deal!

Some day we will make it to Daytons, but for now it's "Lowes".

 

[bub]

Clarabelle -
We sat in the sixth row at Atlanta for our first ever race. My brother got the tickets, and yes, we were stupid not to realize that closer is not better for NASCAR! The race was quite thrilling from that spot - someone wrecked right in front of us, and I remember still the car coming towards us - it felt like slow motion. Luckily there were no injuries except to the car. After the race, my husband and I had to fly back to Phila. Of course, we almost missed our plane because we had no idea about the hours of gridlock following a Nascar event. Also, we were covered in little black bits of rubber - interesting souvenirs, but there was no time to shower before the flight home.

The higher seats and jumbotron sound good to me! Enjoy the race!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

We haven't been back to Atlanta in probably 7 years, and the traffic was a nightmare then!!! We always has front stretch seats, getting in and out was okay, then when they switched the track around, we were still able to get front stretch, just not center (Im a race snob!!) and getting out of there was a nightmare, we were in cornfields, back woods dirt roads, it was almost funny, except fo the fact we had to get to the airport for a 9:00pm flight back to hartford!!! But yes, baseball and hockey, go low! Nascar - higher the better!!

 

[cme]

We have been to Daytona a number of times and always request the lower seats....just because we love the smell of the rubber, and the feel of the cars going past us!!! Makes us feel like part of the race. I know the majority of people say that higher is better, but now our only preference is front stretch at the start/finish line. Go JR!!!

 

[Slakk]

I agree, that All Star race is one fun race. I like it because it is interesting and SHORT! I would have to collect a paycheck to go to the Coca Cola 600!

Anywhoo, what is this Jet Blue? How do you order the tickets? Thanks!

Jet Blue is a low cost airline that goes to NY. I live about 10 minutes from the speedway and I have turned down free 600 tickets - I am a big baby!!!

 

[kangaroodle]

Just FYI.....Plan A LOT of time to get to Daytona from WDW on race day. We went a few years ago and it took us 5 hours to get there! (Normally about a 1 hour trip!) We almost missed the start of the race! I would leave about 6am and just tailgate! Have fun! It can still be pretty cool in those stands in Febvruary. Plan to bring a sweatshirt!

 

[simzac]

Interesting thread, we gave up going to NASCAR races so we could go to WDW instead. Do we miss it, maybe a little, that is until our plane lands at MCO each January.

 

[Muushka]

Jet Blue is a low cost airline that goes to NY. I live about 10 minutes from the speedway and I have turned down free 600 tickets - I am a big baby!!!

Silly me. I guess it was wishfull thinking that Lowes dumped TicketMaster (who I REFUSE to order tickets from).