Need deals for THIS weekend!

[dizneefamily5]

Not for WDW - unfortunately! The kids have a 4 day weekend and since we are all healthy - for once - we would like to take them out of town for a couple of nights. Where can I look to find last minute deals? We are in Cincinnati, so we were thinkking Gatlinburg,TN, Columbus,OH, or somewhere within driving distance! HELP! I'm a little overwhelmed at the thought of being this spontaneous - haven't been spontaneous in about 10 years

 

[MollyBelle]

Have you ever been to COSI in Columbus? (this may be old hat to you, and boring, but we're from Lexington and it's a little further) ...my kids ADORED this place...wanted to stay for TWO FULL DAYS!

...just a thought.

Have a great time -- I love "mini-trips" -- so do my kids -- a hotel pool is even cool with them!

MHT

 

[disneymom3]

Have you looked on Hotel Kingdom? Don't know if they have those areas but it's worth a shot.

Have fun. I LOVE spontaneous trips.!

 

[dizneefamily5]

Actually, yes - WE LOVE COSI!!! They were just at my dd's school today, in fact. COSI on wheels - AWESOME! I'd like to go up and spend one day at COSI and one at Easton Town Center but not sure where to begin on looking for hotel deals.............I'll keep looking..............................THANKS!!!!

 

[taximomfor4]

what about Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky? There is also another one similar in Erie Pa,on the Ohio border called, I believe, Splash Lagoon.

I have never been to either one, but my cousin (12) has been to both and raved about them.

Beth

 

[jkmmah]

Ever been to the Amish area in Ohio? I can't recall the counties, but one of the town's included in the area is Berlin, OH. Very quaint, lots of shopping, great home cooking food, cheese/dairy factories (Heini's is a great one) and bakeries that offer tons of free samples, a step back in time.

 

[madge]

Not for WDW - unfortunately! The kids have a 4 day weekend and since we are all healthy - for once - we would like to take them out of town for a couple of nights. Where can I look to find last minute deals? We are in Cincinnati, so we were thinkking Gatlinburg,TN, Columbus,OH, or somewhere within driving distance! HELP! I'm a little overwhelmed at the thought of being this spontaneous - haven't been spontaneous in about 10 years

Indianapolis? they have a GREAT children's museum!

Have fun!

 

[4fordisney]

Yep, the Children's Museum in Indianappolis is awesome! I loved it and I'm 38 years old! But don't stay at the Holiday Inn Express. They told us it was close to the museum...NOT...and the beds were AWFUL. They could have used some of the money they charged for their over-priced hotel for some decent matresses.

 

[dizneefamily5]

The kids are loving the Children's Museum idea in Indy so anyone with any experience there, please advise! We have no idea where to stay so I'll continue my internet quest for a decent hotel - Wish me luck and THANKS!!!!!!

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Went to the Children's Museum for the first time & my kids really enjoyed it. Spent 5 hours there & still didn't have time to do it all, so if you go get up & drive over early or go over for the night & plan on spending the next day there before driving home.

Stayed at the Sheraton attached to The Fashion Mall. About 25 minutes from the museum. Various shops, some not in Cincy (but at Easton) like Restoration Hardware & Eddie Bauer Home among others. Also has a Cheesecake Factory (guess we do have that now though). Hotel also has an indoor pool, but we didn't get a chance to use it. I checked their website for best rates (AAA & internet offers). Got a deal that included 2 adult breakfast buffets & a late checkout (4 pm).

 

[hambirg]

Try Priceline for your hotel. First check out this sight http://p070.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding . It gives you tips on bidding and also which hotels to expect. I've also used Hotwire for hotel bargains, but again, go to this sight first http://www.betterbidding.com/ . It will help you decipher which hotels are showing up on Hotwire for you. I've always gotten great deals this way. The weekend of the 26th we're staying at a Marriott in Seattle that I got on Priceline for $35 ($47.25 with tax and fees). Just do your homework and have a great time

 

[swilshire]

I wouldn't recommend Gatlinburg for this weekend. Just watched the weather and it's to be cold Friday and Saturday, then start raining for the next several days. There are indoor things to keep you busy (the aquarium is a winter favorite) but you'd be better off visiting at a nicer time of year.

Sheila

 

[jennifer293]

I am from TN and so this may just be my one-sided opinion but I really do not like Gatlinburg..I have been several times not by choice and other than the tourist trap shops .the aquarium,and Dollywood there is really nothing to do there. Now if you are the woodsy mountain cabin type then this may be the place for you but I would personally go somewhere else..

 

[readyformagic]

I would go to castaway bay at cedar point it is supposed to be the largest indoor waterpark in ohio. There is also coupons for money off on the cedar point website.

 

[imsayin]

I heard that there was a new hotel with a water park in Indianapolis. Sorry, that is all I know (no name, etc.).

 

[madge]

I heard that there was a new hotel with a water park in Indianapolis. Sorry, that is all I know (no name, etc.).

Holiday Inn Select North

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hpd/indno

 

[patriciah2]

My daughter (age 17) went to Splash lagoon in Erie for an all night party last year and she loved it - she can be hard to please, so I think that's probably a fun place, but is a little far from Cinncinnati. WE/ve been to Columbus - loved COSI and the zoo. There's also some caverns nearby - don't know if they are open in the winter. Haven't been to them. My daughter went to something like a botanical garden and loved it, but she is 23. I bought her fiancee the Entertainment book for Columbus and there were lots of deals in it - don't know if you know someone with it.

 

[believe]

We went to Indy right after Christmas. We stayed at a Best Western, the hotel was awesome. I looked at the Holiday Inn with the slides, but it appeared to cost extra for that and I really didn't want to spend the $. If you do the museum start at the top and work your way down. We found the fun hands-on stuff to be at the top and wished we had started there since by the time we got there we were tired and ready to leave. We stayed from opening till about 4pm and still didn't see it all.

We are big TN fans, go 2 times a year (was 4 times a year). We typically stay in Townsend and spend most of our time in the Smokies going to waterfalls and enjoying the views. We do go into Gatlinburg one night and usually Pigeon Forge one night, usually to Putt-Putt.

 

[dizneefamily5]

Well, here it is Friday 8:15, and still no decision. It seems like EVERYTHING is booked. We have put our names on several waiting lists in both Gatlinburg and Indy and we should know today. The Caribbean Cove indoor waterpark in Indy was our 1st choice, looks awesome. I am going to go check out the Sheraton and Best Western mentioned here. I did read on the Children's MUseum web site that Monday is free . But, I don't know if that means crowds will be out of control!! THank you all for your help with this - I guess spontaneity is just not within me anymore.

 

[swilshire]

Spontaneity and holidays just don't work well together. I did much the same thing in waiting quite late to decide what we wanted to do for the Easter week. Once we decided, availabilty was nill. Finally found five nights in DC and two in Williamsburg, but I paid more than I really wanted to.

Did you try Priceline for rooms? Sometimes last minute you can get even better than normal rates. I had bid and been rejected several times for a Macon trip during the Cherry Blossom Festival a few years ago. I threw in one last bid just a few days prior to our arrival date and suddenly it was accepted. We wound up in the hotel where all the balloon pilots were staying, so I'm sure they released some unneeded rooms at the last minute.

Good luck in your planning. My kids were off today and Monday too, but I think household chores and income taxes will be the order of the days.

Sheila