Just the two of us- WDW May 09 countdown on! **UPDATE Trying to change plans AGAIN!**

[kgle]

Ahhh!! OMG! You all know I have been planning on visiting the family near Tampa. Well I had been planning on going to Clearwater Beach since that is the beach we always went to when I was a kid. I just found out they have a freakin pirate cruise!!! I am so doing that!

http://www.captainmemo.com/

And the clearwater marine aquarium

http://www.cmaquarium.org

 

[kgle]

Ok guys so please don't kill me...but I am contemplating ANOTHER change.

It looks like there is SO much to do in clearwater and its only about 45-50 min from my family. I am thinking of doing 7 days at Disney, 8th-15th, and then booking a room close to the beach in clearwater for another 3-4 days. If I did another 4 days and left on the 19th out of Tampa I would be paying the exact same amount I would to be at Disney for ten days. Its like a dollar cheaper to do it this way.


So here is the idea (AND I would save by flying out of Tampa).

Disney May 8th-15th.
Checkout the 15th early AM
Drive to Clearwater
Rent condo for 15th-19th
Depart 19th.

I am thinking that we now would have plenty of time and not have to worry about driving 1 1/2- 2 hours back to disney world to stay there. We could see family often and they wouldn't have to drive all the way out there.

Bear with me. I should ALSO be able to save on the rental car too! To be continued...

 

[bertegirl]

We have been to Florida twice and loved Clearwater. Jenny loves the beach so much. She could play in the sand for days on end. I think you still have plenty of time at WDW with us!!! Let us know what you decide.

 

[bertegirl]

What do you think about doing tshirts for our May meet at AKL? We could just do a design and then each family could iron it on themselves. That way we don't have to pay for shipping!!! Let me know. I will check around to see if anyone can make one! Let me know your ideas.

 

[kgle]

Oh I know. I adore Clearwater and there is SO much to do.

I think another plan is staying near Land O Lakes and driving to the beach from there. Its much closer than Orlando and the hotels look cheaper than the ones along Clearwater Beach. Its like almost $600 to stay in a hotel along the beach for 3 nights! No way.


I think this is my concern. Its between 1 1/2 hours and 2 hours to drive from Disney to Land O' Lakes or Clearwater. So that means making that trip 2 times a day for 3 days. I will do it if I have to and I know Rylan will do well, but do I truly want to drive over 4 hours a day??

 

[BridetobeDisney]

Clearwater would be so much fun!! I would definitely do that! It will also make it easier on you. I say go for it. I wish we had an extra few days to go to Daytona. We will probably take a weekend during the summer and go to Destin or something.

 

[kgle]

Clearwater would be so much fun!! I would definitely do that! It will also make it easier on you. I say go for it. I wish we had an extra few days to go to Daytona. We will probably take a weekend during the summer and go to Destin or something.

I am so excited! It looks like we will probably stay in Tampa which is about 20 minutes from my family and around 30-45 min from Clearwater. Hotels are much cheaper there. I found a nice Holiday Inn Express for a studio suite for around the same that I am paying for Disney! I am going to look around a little more but I will probably do it!

One question- can I still use DME for the return trip to MCO? If I change my ressies at pop to end on the 15th....but still come back to return the rental car on the 18th, I can still use DME right?

 

[BridetobeDisney]

I have no clue! LOL I've never used DME before. Maybe Wendy or Amber know.

 

[wlwilliams9]

Yay about Clearwater! Last time I was there was for spring break my senior year in high school! Woo Hoo, that was a fun time!! I'm pretty sure you can use DME to get back to MCO. The DME is not directly linked to your reservation so if you change your ressie, your DME will stay the same. You can also change your DME pick up when you get to your resort. I guess, what I've been babbling about is, YES, you can still use DME!!!

 

[bertegirl]

Sorry we have never been. We are actually looking into a town car for the ride home. That way we don't have to leave for the airport so early. Hey do you want anything from Garden Grocer. We are having our order delivered on May 9 when we arrive at the Pop. Thought you could just add onto ours instead of paying for delivery. You could pay me for your items when we get there. Unless you have a rental car the whole time.

 

[bertegirl]

Here we go:

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

You will have to check about DME with Disney. Your DME is tied to your resort as that is how they determine where and when to pick you up. If you are not a guest on the day that you are catching it I'm not sure if it would work.

 

[wlwilliams9]

I can't wait to see your new park plans! Are you changing some ADRs now too?

 

[bertegirl]

Did everyone else get the invitation to join D23 today? Its $74.99 a person for membership and there are no family memberships. I am not really sure what it is?

 

[kgle]

You will have to check about DME with Disney. Your DME is tied to your resort as that is how they determine where and when to pick you up. If you are not a guest on the day that you are catching it I'm not sure if it would work.

I checked on the transportation board and I can't use it. Oh well I talked to Enterprise and I can do a one way rental and return at MCO for only $50 more. I am still coming out ahead in the end!

I can't wait to see your new park plans! Are you changing some ADRs now too?

Ahh yes! I have to cancel and rebook some. I will have to go over it tonight when I get home from class! I have the hotels narrowed down to two in Tampa. One is a little further away but less money so I will probably do that. Its only like 25-30 min from my aunt's house

Did everyone else get the invitation to join D23 today? Its $74.99 a person for membership and there are no family memberships. I am not really sure what it is?

Nope...but I signed up for it a while ago so I don't know why I didn't get it. Apparently its a magazine that comes out quarterly. I don't know many details about it.

 

[kgle]

Lame


A one-year D23 Charter Membership* includes:

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* Membership Card and Certificate: Your membership card and personalized, suitable-for-framing charter member certificate feature many of Disney's most beloved characters drawn by Disney Master Artist David Pacheco.
* Surprise Collectible Gift: A collectible just for D23 members. You'll receive a gift you'll cherish from the new Walt Disney Archives Collection.
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* D23 Expo: It's the ultimate Disney fan experience, taking place in Anaheim, California from September 10-13, 2009. This can't-miss event will feature guest speakers, celebrity appearances, breathtaking exhibitions, sneak peeks, film screenings, one-of-a-kind merchandise, and so much more! Admission will be discounted for D23 members.
* Subscription to bi-weekly D23 FanFare e-newsletter with breaking news and special offers. (You may opt out of receiving FanFare after your first e-newsletter arrives.)

Plus, stay connected to D23 every day at Disney.com/D23, featuring up-to-the-minute Disney news, feature stories, event info, merchandise and more.

 

[troobabiee7]

Your new plans sound great!

I hadn't heard of D23 until now. So they want you to pay $75 for 4 issues of a magazine, a membership card and the ability to purchase "exclusive" merchandise?!! Are they crazy?!!!

 

[kgle]

Okay! After searching forever for a decent hotel I found one! I am going to make reservations at Hyatt Place Busch Gardens in Tampa.

I can get a King suite, which has a King bed and a queen pullout sleeper sofa and it has a fridge, coffeemaker, microwave, etc. Its only 12 miles from my aunt's house and I am paying $5 less than I was originally doing at Disney.

http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/place/

Its not really a true suite, because its not completely separated but if you check out the site you can see how the rooms are divided. I wanted some separation so Rylan can fall asleep as normal and he can have the sofa bed since its closer to the ground. It has AWESOME amenities! It has a touch screen ordering device to order food and you can swipe your room key to have it billed to your room folio. Its 24 hours

Here is the description:

One king Hyatt Grand Bed and one queen sofa bed. Contemporary decor. Desk. Complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access. 42-inch, flat-panel, high-definition TV with satellite channels and connectivity for laptop, MP3 player, or DVD player. Two telephones (one cordless) with voice mail. AM/FM radio/alarm clock. Complimentary newspaper. Video check-out. Refrigerator and coffeemaker. Wet bar. Bathroom with granite countertops, hair dryer, and Portico bath amenities. Iron/ironing board. Nonsmoking.


Should be pretty nice! So I am going to call Disney tomorrow and change my ressies, pay off the balance, and make the ressies at the Hyatt and I will be good to go!

I also saved $16 on my flight by changing it since prices went down!

Now I just have to rearrange ADRs.

 

[kgle]

AHHHH My unemployment was FINALLY approved!!!

They already deposited the extra $25 for two weeks onto my card (my UI and child support go on the same debit card) so I should be seeing around $900 for the back UI soon! Woohoo!

 

[kgle]

Ok! I am all set!

May 8th-15th at Disney and 15th-18th in Tampa! Woohoo! Took some finagling because it wasn't letting me shorten my trip but its all set

However...I am debating about the DDP now...to add it on its $280 for the week and I keep thinking that I surely will spend more than $40 a day on food! I am not going to do the fridge anymore so I won't be keeping anything cold in the room at Disney. Time to go back through and check everything, especially since I want to add another ADR.