New year, new trip....this time....road trip to Disney!

[Kennywife]

So hubby and I cooked up this bright idea: what if we drove to Disney this time? So much of the money I get goes toward the flights and since we have a good car, why not drive? It would not only save us money, but then we wouldn't have to wait on Disney transportation. Also, we could bypass garden grocer and bring our own groceries for the week.

The trip is not set in stone with the dates and can always be changed. It depends on when Wally World inventory will be. So far though it looks like we will be leaving May 20 or 21. We will stay for a couple of days at an off property hotel, most likely Clarion Inn LBV or maybe a Downtown Disney hotel. :good vibes


We will go explore Orlando as well as visit Downtown Disney.
Then, on May 24-27, I have us booked tentatively at Cars Suite at AOA! Kenny just loved the theming of this part of the resort, so I decided to book it for him.
I have decided not to do a room only this time no matter how much it saves us. I would rather enjoy dining out on our vacation and having it all pre paid.

 

[wiigirl]

I agree...I love the feeling on vacation when most is pre-paid.

 

[MariDisney]

That sounds like a fun plan!! Is this a work-related trip too? (you're lucky...I'd love that job!!) Does your employer cover the whole cost? I'm completely jealous if that's how it works. Have you written up your pieces from the most recent trip? I'd really love to read them.

 

[Kennywife]

Nothing to be jealous of, they are not completely funded unfortunately. I do get some nice payouts afterwards.

This one is really mostly for our 7th anniversary. The most that should be work related is anything about New Fantasyland.

I write a lot of ghostwriting for independent companies and research for travel sites. I contribute photography and blog on my own as well. Sometimes I do more research than writing which I prefer. Not that I don't enjoy writing, but I have been writing in college and freelance since 1998, so sometimes a break from it is good. This last time, I did more photography and research.

Little bit of this, little bit of that. lol

 

[JDX4]

So hubby and I cooked up this bright idea: what if we drove to Disney this time? So much of the money I get goes toward the flights and since we have a good car, why not drive? It would not only save us money, but then we wouldn't have to wait on Disney transportation. Also, we could bypass garden grocer and bring our own groceries for the week.

The trip is not set in stone with the dates and can always be changed. It depends on when Wally World inventory will be. So far though it looks like we will be leaving May 20 or 21. We will stay for a couple of days at an off property hotel, most likely Clarion Inn LBV or maybe a Downtown Disney hotel. :good vibes


We will go explore Orlando as well as visit Downtown Disney.
Then, on May 24-27, I have us booked tentatively at Cars Suite at AOA! Kenny just loved the theming of this part of the resort, so I decided to book it for him.
I have decided not to do a room only this time no matter how much it saves us. I would rather enjoy dining out on our vacation and having it all pre paid.

Sounds like a fun trip. You may want to rethink driving as a way to save money. Use the AAA website to calculate gas prices round trip. If you are driving more than 1000 miles each way, gas will cost between $300 and $400 most likely, depending on your type of car. Then add in a hotel stay each way, tolls, and food and you are getting close to $600. You can probably get 2 round trip plane tickets for close to that price. I find driving can save us money when there are more than 2 of us, but since it's just you and Kenny you might not save that much. Although I do get your point about being able to bring groceries with you instead of Garden Grocer, but if you are doing the dining plan you really won't need much food.

Either way, enjoy your planning and your trip.

 

[declansdad]

Who do you write for? I think it would be interesting to read some of those articles.

 

[Kennywife]

http://www.helium.com/items/2161102-a-review-of-california-grill-at-wdw

http://voices.yahoo.com/crystal-palace-vs-akershus-royal-banquet-hallwhos-10886471.html?cat=8

http://www.travels.com/travel-tips/plan-a-trip/cheap-tickets-universal-studios-hollywood/

 

[declansdad]

http://www.helium.com/items/2161102-a-review-of-california-grill-at-wdw

http://voices.yahoo.com/crystal-palace-vs-akershus-royal-banquet-hallwhos-10886471.html?cat=8

http://www.travels.com/travel-tips/plan-a-trip/cheap-tickets-universal-studios-hollywood/

You are paid for those articles?

 

[Kennywife]

Yes and I get royalties as well.

 

[declansdad]

Yes and I get royalties as well.

deleted

 

[happybelle]

Yes and I get royalties as well.

Good for you! How do you get started in something like that?

 

[Kennywife]

Update:

We are going June 12-18. We are staying off property a few days at a very cute hotel. Then, we are headed to POR for the remainder of the trip.

POR is where we stayed on our honeymoon. It has special meaning to us and although AKL would have been lovely, hubby tends to gravitate to the familiar. He always wants to go back to places and things that reminds him of things that remind him of special times, like Crystal Palace which was our first character meal. He likes Raglan Road too since we ate there on my honeymoon.

Here are our ressies:

6/13--Rose & Crown 7:50 p.m.
6/14--Crystal Palace 9:40 a.m.
Narcoossee's 6:05 p.m.
6/15--Yachtsman Steakhouse 6:15 p.m.
6/16--Chef Mickey's 10:30 a.m.
6/17--Boma 9:30 a.m.
Be Our Guest 8:30 p.m.

These are all subject to change and can be added to. We will have the DDP plan and gift cards.

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

Update:

We are going June 12-18. We are staying off property a few days at a very cute hotel. Then, we are headed to POR for the remainder of the trip.

POR is where we stayed on our honeymoon. It has special meaning to us and although AKL would have been lovely, hubby tends to gravitate to the familiar. He always wants to go back to places and things that reminds him of things that remind him of special times, like Crystal Palace which was our first character meal. He likes Raglan Road too since we ate there on my honeymoon.

Here are our ressies:

6/13--Rose & Crown 7:50 p.m.
6/14--Crystal Palace 9:40 a.m.
Narcoossee's 6:05 p.m.
6/15--Yachtsman Steakhouse 6:15 p.m.
6/16--Chef Mickey's 10:30 a.m.
6/17--Boma 9:30 a.m.
Be Our Guest 8:30 p.m.

These are all subject to change and can be added to. We will have the DDP plan and gift cards.

Sounds great!!

 

[MariDisney]

Update:

We are going June 12-18. We are staying off property a few days at a very cute hotel. Then, we are headed to POR for the remainder of the trip.

POR is where we stayed on our honeymoon. It has special meaning to us and although AKL would have been lovely, hubby tends to gravitate to the familiar. He always wants to go back to places and things that reminds him of things that remind him of special times, like Crystal Palace which was our first character meal. He likes Raglan Road too since we ate there on my honeymoon.

Here are our ressies:

6/13--Rose & Crown 7:50 p.m.
6/14--Crystal Palace 9:40 a.m.
Narcoossee's 6:05 p.m.
6/15--Yachtsman Steakhouse 6:15 p.m.
6/16--Chef Mickey's 10:30 a.m.
6/17--Boma 9:30 a.m.
Be Our Guest 8:30 p.m.

These are all subject to change and can be added to. We will have the DDP plan and gift cards.

We've never stayed off property. Where did you book?

You're hitting some of our favorites! Crystal Palace is a first morning tradition for us. We love Narcoossee's. We celebrated out 5th anniversary there and were so pleasantly surprised to have personalized menus. Boma is also a favorite for breakfast for us. Looks like you might be at Rose and Crown right around Illuminations time. That's a great place to watch from! You mention Raglan Road. Are you going to hit there this trip? I don't see that you have an ADR for there. My DH really likes the beer flights there.