Now Approaching... Sleepingbooty's Sept. PTR (We're BAAACK! 9/26)

[All7OfUs]

Ewwww that is disturbing I was planing on Hotdogs for supper I think I will change that to chicken lol!

Ohh, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. Gross. I knew there was a good reason I don't like hot dogs.

I swear it's true, Ladies. Now, make sure you have Casey's planned at least twice!!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Thats why hot dogs are so good for you. They give you stamina. That makes them the perfect park food.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

I swear it's true, Ladies. Now, make sure you have Casey's planned at least twice!!

Couldn't find a puking smilie (perhaps Glenn has one up his sleeve)

Thats why hot dogs are so good for you. They give you stamina. That makes them the perfect park food.

That reminds me of one of my favorite classic SNL skits: John Belushi running track, supposedly a world class athlete, then it cuts to him sitting at the breakfast table, smoking a cigarette while eating donuts. Little Chocolate Donuts - the breakfast of champions.

 

[All7OfUs]

Thats why hot dogs are so good for you. They give you stamina. That makes them the perfect park food.

They've parked themselves squarely on my thighs for years now.

 

[petals]

Cool! Where are you staying? Is it your first visit?

Oh, and to my PTR!

Thanks
Naw it's my fourth time going to Disney. Last twice we danced there with an Irish dance school from Ireland it was brilliant!
We're not staying on property. Staying on international Drive. I tihnk it's called International Palms Resort not to sure of that?!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

They've parked themselves squarely on my thighs for years now.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Thanks
Naw it's my fourth time going to Disney. Last twice we danced there with an Irish dance school from Ireland it was brilliant!
We're not staying on property. Staying on international Drive. I tihnk it's called International Palms Resort not to sure of that?!

Oh wow! That sounds like quite an experience! Do you still do Irish Dance?

International Drive is a good option - lots of very nice properties, and you really can be very close to the action.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Chapter 37. Transportation Fascination

Alright, that's a pretty dorky chapter title - I'm not so much fascinated with transportation as I am confounded by it. But hey, it rhymes. Ooh, that doesn't look right - is that how you spell rhyme?

I've been slacking on the trip planning. I'm having a grand old time planning trips for clients, but I've been ignoring my own plans. I really need to get on the ball now that we are...um, let me check my countdown timer.....57 days, 4 hours, 17 minutes away from our trip.

I haven't made the purchase of our Islands Of Adventure tickets yet, but I'll do so pretty soon. What I really need to do is nail down the transportation for that day. Here are what I think are the best options:

1. Rent a car for one day from National at the Disney Car Car Center. A compact car, without any discounts, would run us $35. Tack on all the various and sundry fees and taxes, and were up to 43.79. Add to that enough gas to fill back up after our short journey, we're probably up to 53. Then there's parking at Universal: $14. That brings our total for option one to $67.

Not too shabby, but you have to figure in convenience cost. They open at 6 am and close at 7:59 pm during the week. Unless one of us wanted to get up super early to request a shuttle in the morning, we'd have to get ourselves over to the Car Care Center sometime the evening before to pick the car up. That could easily take an hour and a half to two hours out of the day with all the back and forth. Then we'd have to do it again the next evening.

2. Call a cab. Taxis are plentiful. They're always parked outside the resorts and the parks, so the convenience factor is an A+. It'll cost us about $36 plus tip. Each way. So we're at about $82. I'm figuring about a $5 tip - is that cheap? I don't ride in taxis often, so maybe I'm off. Anyway, around that amount. You can estimate your taxi fares on Mear's website's taxi estimator

3. Mears Shuttle. For $18 per person, we can schedule a ride with Mears Shuttle. Comes out to $72, plus I'm sure we'd tip on that. You must call the night before to schedule your pickup. They pickup at CBR at 6:35, 7:35, 8:35, 9:35, and 10:35. Then when you want to be picked up, you must call 90 minutes in advance. They pick up every hour starting at 3:15.

4. Mears Van. For $102, we can have a "luxury van" pick us up and drop us off on our own schedule - we name the time. This would be a good option if my parents decide to join us, as it works out to a few bucks less than the paying for 6 on the shuttle.

5. "The Tour Company Who Must Not Be Named" I've not used them, but they come highly recommended by several of the agents at my agency. I spoke with them and they seem very easy to work with. Roundtrip to Universal from any Disney resort is $75. This is for up to four people in a town car. For up to ten people in a van the price is $90.

Originally, I thought I'd for sure go with option one - its the cheapest right? But then I started thinking about the hassle factor, and how much time it might cut out of our day. But what really sealed it for me was remembering our first trip in 2005. We drove down, and since we had our car with us, we attempted to drive to our dinner at Ohana. Let me just say, we did NOT enjoy our experience driving on Disney property! We actually ended up OFF property and were an hour late. Used the buses from there on out. So I just don't think the car rental will be worth the hassle and the driving stress, just for one day's use of a car. Not to save such a small amount of money.

Then I was thinking we'd just get a taxi. Makes it easy. No further thought or preplanning required. Until my parents mentioned they might want to join us. So, a shuttle, right?

Not so, it turns out that a van from "The Tour Company Who Must Not Be Named" is probably the best and cheapest if the six of us go. You can't beat $90 roundtrip for up to 10 people.

I'm thinking I will go with "The Tour Company Who Must Not Be Named" regardless, so that I don't have to deal with haggling with a taxi driver. For around the same price (and its guaranteed - no surpises) we get transported in a Towncar - the only difference is we have to call and schedule it. But, it can be any time we want, unlike a shuttle. Also unlike a shuttle, it won't be a problem to have them drop us off at the Grand Floridian for our 6pm ressie at 1900 Park Fare.

So I think I have it figured out - only question is what to tip. What do you all tip taxi drivers or shuttle drivers?

* Oh! When I preview the post, I see the name of the transportation company in option 5 has been bleeped out. I guess they must be a competitor of whatever shuttle company sponsors the Dis. Sorry about that! I guess we'll call it "the tour company that must not be named"!

Click here for Chapter 38. Shoes & Bags!

 

[glennbo123]

Couldn't find a puking smilie (perhaps Glenn has one up his sleeve)

Well i just happen to have one right here...

If that one's too graphic, we can go with this one...

That reminds me of one of my favorite classic SNL skits: John Belushi running track, supposedly a world class athlete, then it cuts to him sitting at the breakfast table, smoking a cigarette while eating donuts. Little Chocolate Donuts - the breakfast of champions.

That is a classic skit...love that one! That, and Colon Blow cereal.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hmm, we usually tip our cab drivers 10-15% but it sort of depends. I know, I'm not much help at all............

 

[Harlie]

Chapter 37. Transportation Fascination

[
5. "The Tour Company Who Must Not Be Named" I've not used them, but they come highly recommended by several of the agents at my agency. I spoke with them and they seem very easy to work with. Roundtrip to Universal from any Disney resort is $75. This is for up to four people in a town car. For up to ten people in a van the price is $90.

[/I]

Ohhh could you please message me the name and contact info of this company this sounds like our best option to US/IOA too!


Thank you Thank you Thank you!!

 

[jenbear123]

Wow you really coverd your basis on transportation options! I would go with the "Tour Company Who Must Not Be Named" (I'd be curious to know the actual name... maybe tell me on FB?) or go with the Mears Shuttle. Car rentals could end up being way more hassle than they're worth. Just the liability and gas alone is not worth it. I say if you can get someone else to do the driving, especially in a place you aren't familiar with, that's the way to go.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Well i just happen to have one right here...

If that one's too graphic, we can go with this one...

That is a classic skit...love that one! That, and Colon Blow cereal.

I knew I could count on you Glenn!

Love the Colon Blow Cereal commercial! Whenever I buy Scott high-fiber cereal that's what he calls it!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Hmm, we usually tip our cab drivers 10-15% but it sort of depends. I know, I'm not much help at all............

That's kinda what I was thinking.... of course it depends on the service

 

[petals]

Oh wow! That sounds like quite an experience! Do you still do Irish Dance?

International Drive is a good option - lots of very nice properties, and you really can be very close to the action.

Yeah dancing in Disney was amazing. We did Paris twice and then Florida twice as well! Was brilliant. In Florida they make a proper fuss of you and even call you Honorary Cast Member for a Day! First time we got Magic Music Day t-shirts and an exclusive pin and our teacher got directors Mickey Ears. Second time we got a different Magic Music day t-shirt and our teach got another set of Mickey Ears and a cool Mickey Mouse Statue!
Not dancing as much now as I'm working and out of college and that but I go occasionally to dancing.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Ohhh could you please message me the name and contact info of this company this sounds like our best option to US/IOA too!


Thank you Thank you Thank you!!

Wow you really coverd your basis on transportation options! I would go with the "Tour Company Who Must Not Be Named" (I'd be curious to know the actual name... maybe tell me on FB?) or go with the Mears Shuttle. Car rentals could end up being way more hassle than they're worth. Just the liability and gas alone is not worth it. I say if you can get someone else to do the driving, especially in a place you aren't familiar with, that's the way to go.

I don't think I can even mention the name via PM, I guess there must be certain companies you cannot mention on the DIS. Jen, I'll FB you. I totally agree with letting someone else do the driving! I guess I'd forgotten about that in my quest for the cheapest option!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Yeah dancing in Disney was amazing. We did Paris twice and then Florida twice as well! Was brilliant. In Florida they make a proper fuss of you and even call you Honorary Cast Member for a Day! First time we got Magic Music Day t-shirts and an exclusive pin and our teacher got directors Mickey Ears. Second time we got a different Magic Music day t-shirt and our teach got another set of Mickey Ears and a cool Mickey Mouse Statue!
Not dancing as much now as I'm working and out of college and that but I go occasionally to dancing.

Wow, what an amazing experience! You should do a 'retro' trip report about it!

 

[All7OfUs]

I'm thinking $9 a person isn't so bad!



Raisin bran- gotta love it!

 

[klacey1]

I think "the company that shall not be named" is your best bet.
I have trouble figuring out tipping, too. I'd say for $75 fare, I'd tip 10 bucks.

 

[petals]

Wow, what an amazing experience! You should do a 'retro' trip report about it!

I have my flashback/pre trip report going on at the mo.. it's linked in my sig.. Won't put up the dance pics though *** none of them are mine... borrowed from others they're on my facebook if ya wanna see though! All the dance stuff my mam got was on video!