May 2, 2014 - A WONDERous trip through the Locks WBPC

[Muushka]

I live in San Diego so I could help with this, what are you interested? Within walking distance of the cruiseship terminal there's the Star of India, which is a ship, connected with the Maritime Museum of History, there's also the Midway Museum (Aircraft Carrier) and about half a mile down the road there's a big mall called Horton Plaza if you're interested in shopping. There's also SeaPort village but I find that to kind of be a tourist trap, but good for killing time at, it's the typical tourist shops, kite store, jewelry shop, non descript seafood restaurants and the like. If you have access to transportation and have other questions about the area feel free to ask

I thank you also. I pasted it into my PC info file.

 

[PirateBob]

I live in San Diego so I could help with this, what are you interested? Within walking distance of the cruiseship terminal there's the Star of India, which is a ship, connected with the Maritime Museum of History, there's also the Midway Museum (Aircraft Carrier) and about half a mile down the road there's a big mall called Horton Plaza if you're interested in shopping. There's also SeaPort village but I find that to kind of be a tourist trap, but good for killing time at, it's the typical tourist shops, kite store, jewelry shop, non descript seafood restaurants and the like. If you have access to transportation and have other questions about the area feel free to ask

Bano and I will be staying the night at La Quinta at Old Town, and taking the trolley to see as much as we can. Being from Central Florida and retired Disney, we are not interest in Sea World, and the Zoo would take up to much time. If there is anything we need to see let us know.

 

[MommyTo5]

OGT rate has dropped!!! It's now $3,157.28 for 2 adults... $480 less than last week!

 

[GromMom]

Just booked my airfare, whoopee! It seems like this is getting to be a REAL trip :-D

Anyway I thought I'd include links for those folks who are interested in the areas I talked about:
Aircraft Carrier/Midway Museum
http://www.midway.org/

Horton Plaza (Typical American Mall for those who like to shop, it's outdoor and organized kind of strangely, I always joked that the building looks like it is designed by escher)
http://www.westfield.com/hortonplaza/

Star of India and the Maritime Museum (tour boats that are no longer in service)
http://www.sdmaritime.org/star-of-india/

Apparently you can also go out sailing on one of these boats (I have not done this but it looks pretty cool)
http://www.sdmaritime.org/sailing-adventures/

Seaport Village:
http://www.seaportvillage.com/
(this isn't my cup of tea but it's the typical tourist shops and restaurants etc).

Further out I love Balboa Park, but you will need transportation to get there:
http://www.balboapark.org/

I love to take guests up to see the Lighthouse and the fantastic views from Cabrillo National Park but you will need transportation:
http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm

You will probably also be close enough to take a ferry to Coronado Island
http://www.flagshipsd.com/coronado-ferry

If on coronado recommend visiting The Del coronado Hotel or the "Hotel Del"
http://www.hoteldel.com/

I also recommend eating at il fornaio if you take the ferry, it's steps away from the ferry and has a great view
http://www.ilfornaio.com/

Next door is Peohes which I've heard great things about but have not been there either
http://www.peohes.com/

Let me know if you have questions about other stuff that is further away. There's of course as Pirate Bob has mentioned, Sea World, the Zoo, even legoland (about 45 min away) but I can give you some tips about eating in those areas or transportation. I have a friend who just started a private car service and can give you a referral if you need a private car to take you on a tour.

Hope this helps, I can't wait to go cruising

Also I tend to get coupons for places like the Midway museum and Sea World and Belmont park (beach and rollercoaster area). If you're interested send me a PM and I will try to save them for you, maybe I can go to the meetup and hand them out. I only get about one coupon a month per place so I can't guarantee I'll have something but just let me know and I'll try to pass on some savings

 

[GromMom]

OGT rate has dropped!!! It's now $3,157.28 for 2 adults... $480 less than last week!

Wow I really need to learn how to take advantage of these types of deals for the future! We are paying a lot more than that, is OGT just a guarantee of a window? We're in a large porthole room on the 6th floor.

 

[Muushka]

Thank you so much for that list, GromMom.

 

[MommyTo5]

Wow I really need to learn how to take advantage of these types of deals for the future! We are paying a lot more than that, is OGT just a guarantee of a window? We're in a large porthole room on the 6th floor.

Yes, it's a guarantee of an oceanview/outside room. This is our 7th Disney cruise, and our 3rd time booking OGT. We've been assigned really great rooms in the past and, honestly, we don't care were we stay... any stateroom on the ship is a great room to us! We've always tried to get the best deal possible, so we afford to cruise often!

 

[GromMom]

Yes, it's a guarantee of an oceanview/outside room. This is our 7th Disney cruise, and our 3rd time booking OGT. We've been assigned really great rooms in the past and, honestly, we don't care were we stay... any stateroom on the ship is a great room to us! We've always tried to get the best deal possible, so we afford to cruise often!

Thanks, I'll have to keep this in mind for next time!

 

[GromMom]

Thank you so much for that list, GromMom.

Anytime! I love San Diego and hope you have a great time here!

 

[bobbiwoz]

The private van in Puerto Vallarta is not listed any more as I went to book my shore excursions. It is only in that link as far as I can see. We have not heard anything, except we know our request went through. DH called Disney.

Bobbi

 

[ImDMous]

We live in San Diego too, although we're in North County so about half an hour from downtown. We're close to the Safari Park and we go wine tasting in Temecula all the time if anyone wants a few farther away things to do.

We also have a ton of great breweries around us if beer is anyone's thing.

When we went on the Pixar cruise last year, San Diego was one of our ports so we did the Midway since we'd never done it. It was way more interesting than I thought and it took us all day, very cool.

 

[granmaz]

On our last PC cruise there was a great verandah guarantee rate that came out. We had paid in full and had great onboard credit waiting for us but it was worth us cancelling, losing our deposit and the onboard credit and then rebooking. We still ended up with about $3,000 refunded for the same kind of room as we had booked. So, work it out as to whether it is worth cancelling and rebooking.

 

[M4travels]

And the good thing with the reduced OGT, they are refunding the difference for those who booked it last week. Quite pleased about that as that will cover our wine packages!

Michael

 

[bobbiwoz]

Bobbi, Bano and would like to join you.

I would also like to do that.

Amy

Hi! Please check your PM's & get back to me!

Bobbi

 

[MommyTo5]

And the good thing with the reduced OGT, they are refunding the difference for those who booked it last week. Quite pleased about that as that will cover our wine packages!

Michael

Yes!!! $480 for us (2 adults)!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good for you all who got the bargain!

I'm pleased that the Puerto Vallarta van has been booked and settled. Except for Key West, where we will go off on our own, we are set! We have been to Key West many times, and thought the Truman Summer White House compound was very interesting to visit. Zachary Taylor state Park has some picnic benches with views. There is a small beach, never swam, just visited.

Right now, we are in FL, WDW precisely, checking out areas we hope to retire in. Next week, we board a RCCL ship for some fun and warmth. Orlando has not been nearly as warm as we hoped, but it is a beautiful sunny day today, 65 right now.

Off to see turtle talk with crush! I like these FP+ s!

Bobbi

PS. We are having dinner with a fellow Disboarder Meriweather!

 

[MommyTo5]

Good for you all who got the bargain!

I'm pleased that the Puerto Vallarta van has been booked and settled. Except for Key West, where we will go off on our own, we are set! We have been to Key West many times, and thought the Truman Summer White House compound was very interesting to visit. Zachary Taylor state Park has some picnic benches with views. There is a small beach, never swam, just visited.

Right now, we are in FL, WDW precisely, checking out areas we hope to retire in. Next week, we board a RCCL ship for some fun and warmth. Orlando has not been nearly as warm as we hoped, but it is a beautiful sunny day today, 65 right now.

Off to see turtle talk with crush! I like these FP+ s!

Bobbi

PS. We are having dinner with a fellow Disboarder Meriweather!

So glad you're having a great time, Bobbi!!!

We're also planning to move to FL. We've been talking about it for awhile and finally decided that life is too short, so we're not going to wait any longer... we're hoping to make this move this summer! We're mainly looking at Orlando/Celebration/Windermere, but we're also considering the coastal communities near Port Canaveral in Brevard County - Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor Beach, Indialantic & Melbourne Beach.

Enjoy the rest of your trip and next week's cruise!

 

[PirateBob]

Good for you all who got the bargain!

I'm pleased that the Puerto Vallarta van has been booked and settled. Except for Key West, where we will go off on our own, we are set! We have been to Key West many times, and thought the Truman Summer White House compound was very interesting to visit. Zachary Taylor state Park has some picnic benches with views. There is a small beach, never swam, just visited.

Right now, we are in FL, WDW precisely, checking out areas we hope to retire in. Next week, we board a RCCL ship for some fun and warmth. Orlando has not been nearly as warm as we hoped, but it is a beautiful sunny day today, 65 right now.

Off to see turtle talk with crush! I like these FP+ s!

Bobbi

PS. We are having dinner with a fellow Disboarder Meriweather!

Bano and I live in Solivita, about 30 miles south of WDW a 55+ community and love it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Bano and I live in Solivita, about 30 miles south of WDW a 55+ community and love it.

That is on our list to visit later this week!

 

[MommyTo5]

FYI - Unless you've booked your cruise during the past couple days, you should be getting a small refund from DCL! I noticed last night that taxes/port fees for our cruise have dropped! They were $228.64 per person (as of my revised booking on 1/16), and are now $215.80 - a difference of $12.84 per person! DCL should process these refunds automatically as they have in the past... we shouldn't need to call.