*OFFICIAL* July 2010 Thread! It’s Hot. It’s Crowded. AND WE LOVE IT!

[tinkerbell60]

OHhhhh i'm stoned - i forgot our dates LOL

I booked out hotels for the drive down as soon as the dates were available!

I always book in advance. I make sure to get a rate that has a last-minute cancellation policy. For the ones I booked, we can cancel up until either 4PM or 6PM the day we are supposed to check in, depending on the hotel.

I'm also a hotel snob. Well, I'm not that picky...I mean I don't have to stay at the Ritz-Carlton! But, I prefer to book either Hiltons or Marriotts. On I-95, it's usually either Fairfield Inn by marriott or Hampton Inn by Hilton. Both include breakfast which helps because I wouldn't even know where to eat breakfast besides I-HOP! I won't stay at Days Inn, Super 8, Red Roof Inn or Motel 6. I don't criticize others for staying at those motels, this is an issue I have and I admit it!

The drive to Lumberton, NC is 9 hours and 45 minutes from our house, without stopping. Last time, DH and I woke up at 4:30 AM. We quickly got ready. We had put all the luggage downstairs in the living room the night before, so it was ready to be put into the car. DH went to the bagel store (the beauty of living in Brooklyn=24-hr. bagel stores!!), I got the kids ready and gave them a quick snack (cereal bars). We made sure everything was packed into the car, then we left by 6AM. Stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way to the highway, and got some coffee for the car ride. We stopped at around 9AM (Baltimore, MD) to eat our bagels for breakfast, and for a bathroom break. We stopped again around 12:30 in Virginia for lunch at Wendy's, put gas in the car and take a bathroom break. Then we drive straight to Lumberton, NC without stopping! By the time we were all checked in and inside the room, it was 5:30. DH went to the local BBQ place down the road to get us some take-out while I stayed in the room and played with the kids. The following day we drove to Savannah which was only 3 and a half hours away so we made it straight through and we had lunch when we got there. We wanted to spend an afternoon there so that's why we drove so far the first day of the trip. It was beautiflul there! Then we drove down to Boca to visit some relatives (it was about 7 hours from Savannah to Boca).

This time, we plan to do the same thing on the day we leave. However, this time we are driving to St. Augustine, FL the second day (about 6 hours drive from Lumberton, NC). We will stop for lunch in Savannah on the way. Then we drive to Boca, but it will only be 4 hours from St. Augustine to Boca. So each day we drive a little less! It takes 3 hours from the hotel in Boca (Embassy Suites) to WDW!!

I am a hotel snob too - I prefer "nicer"hotels too. We tend to do Holiday Inn Expresses. We had a lot of luck there last summer. We also look for a place with free hot breakfasts too. When we stop in Walterboro, NC we like the Holiday Inn Express - it is fairly new and very nice. However, in March they were booked. We ended up at a Quality Inn which was a dump but had a great breakfast. It was so late at night 10:00pmish and we just could not be picky. We do not get an early start because DH does not like paying an extra night for the dog at the kennel. So we drop her at 9am and then get on the road. Last summer we made it 12 hours to Walterboro. We usually do not stop until between 7-9pm.

Have you been to St. Augustine before? We stopped there last summer, I was really disappointed. I had been there as a kid and it has deteriorated (IMHO). We did not even stay over night, we went further down the coast to Palm Bay.




Ok - Kurby and NewCrew42 - I think I have your resort stays correct on page 115.

 

[NewCrew42]

Oh awesome!!! Was it reeeally booked or is that just what you told DH?! I've never stayed at POFQ but we really like POR and I've heard great things about FQ.

It was booked. There was availability the morning I was going to book, and several days before. And then BAM! Nothing, nada, nilch. No room in the inn!

All the values were booked for our dates. CSR, CR (well except for a Hospitality Suite that would have cost $10,000 for our dates!) Looks like it will be busy!

I am excited for FQ. Just youtubed Elliott Dyson who performs @ Scat Cat and Bob the Piano player at RS. I think we will check them out while we are there.

But hey, we are at WDW! It's gonna be great!

 

[NewCrew42]

I am a hotel snob too - I prefer "nicer"hotels too. We tend to do Holiday Inn Expresses. We had a lot of luck there last summer. We also look for a place with free hot breakfasts too. When we stop in Walterboro, NC we like the Holiday Inn Express - it is fairly new and very nice. However, in March they were booked. We ended up at a Quality Inn which was a dump but had a great breakfast. It was so late at night 10:00pmish and we just could not be picky. We do not get an early start because DH does not like paying an extra night for the dog at the kennel. So we drop her at 9am and then get on the road. Last summer we made it 12 hours to Walterboro. We usually do not stop until between 7-9pm.

Have you been to St. Augustine before? We stopped there last summer, I was really disappointed. I had been there as a kid and it has deteriorated (IMHO). We did not even stay over night, we went further down the coast to Palm Bay.




Ok - Kurby and NewCrew42 - I think I have your resort stays correct on page 115.

Thank you!

And don't cha just love the little cinnamon rolls @ Holiday Inn Express? Yummm.......

 

[tinkerbell60]

Thank you!

And don't cha just love the little cinnamon rolls @ Holiday Inn Express? Yummm.......

Those are awesome! We like the little omelettes they have sometimes too!

 

[PopArtGal]

Here we are! And this is about how we will look! Probably even the same clothes!

Oh but my DS is taller now. He is growing so fast right now.

What are your dates again?

 

[PopArtGal]

Did anyone start receiving Disney mail?

I can't wait!!

 

[Zuzu03]

It was booked. There was availability the morning I was going to book, and several days before. And then BAM! Nothing, nada, nilch. No room in the inn!

All the values were booked for our dates. CSR, CR (well except for a Hospitality Suite that would have cost $10,000 for our dates!) Looks like it will be busy!

I am excited for FQ. Just youtubed Elliott Dyson who performs @ Scat Cat and Bob the Piano player at RS. I think we will check them out while we are there.

But hey, we are at WDW! It's gonna be great!

You'll love FQ! It's one of our fave resorts. When we took DD the first time (she was only 3!) we stayed there and it was so lovely. Since then we've been back several times. It's nice and quiet, the food court is pretty good (try the beignets for breakfast!) and the theming is really fun!

 

[Kurby]

Did anyone start receiving Disney mail?

I can't wait!!

we haven't yet - but we've got a final $400 to pay next week.

i hope we get it soon because we're gone July 3rd and won't be back until after disney so whatever we're getting i hope we get it soon.



anyone know when i have to call to change a 10 day base ticked to a 6 day park hopper? can i do it when we check in or should i do it now?

 

[bangzoom6877]

OHhhhh i'm stoned - i forgot our dates LOL




I am a hotel snob too - I prefer "nicer"hotels too. We tend to do Holiday Inn Expresses. We had a lot of luck there last summer. We also look for a place with free hot breakfasts too. When we stop in Walterboro, NC we like the Holiday Inn Express - it is fairly new and very nice. However, in March they were booked. We ended up at a Quality Inn which was a dump but had a great breakfast. It was so late at night 10:00pmish and we just could not be picky. We do not get an early start because DH does not like paying an extra night for the dog at the kennel. So we drop her at 9am and then get on the road. Last summer we made it 12 hours to Walterboro. We usually do not stop until between 7-9pm.

Have you been to St. Augustine before? We stopped there last summer, I was really disappointed. I had been there as a kid and it has deteriorated (IMHO). We did not even stay over night, we went further down the coast to Palm Bay.




Ok - Kurby and NewCrew42 - I think I have your resort stays correct on page 115.

OK, now I'm a little worried about St. Augustine...how bad is it there? Is it a dump? We are booked at a Hampton Inn there but I can change it to Palm Bay if need be. How much further down is Palm Bay? I am going to check it out.

Also, good to know Holiday Inn Express is good! Holiday Inn is another hotel name I have always trusted. Also trust Sheraton and Radisson!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I looked up Palm Bay, FL. It's only 2 hours north of Boca Raton, which is where we are going after St. Augustine (and before Disney). Did you mean to say Palm Coast? That one is closer to St. Augustine. I will check it out if it's better than St. Augustine.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I booked out hotels for the drive down as soon as the dates were available!

The drive to Lumberton, NC is 9 hours and 45 minutes from our house, without stopping. Then we drive straight to Lumberton, NC without stopping! By the time we were all checked in and inside the room, it was 5:30. DH went to the local BBQ place down the road to get us some take-out while I stayed in the room and played with the kids. The following day we drove to Savannah which was only 3 and a half hours away so we made it straight through and we had lunch when we got there.

DO you know which hotel in Lumberton that you liked? I have a thread for hotels along the East Coast of 95--I want to add this.

When we stop in Walterboro, NC we like the Holiday Inn Express - it is fairly new and very nice. We ended up at a Quality Inn which was a dump but had a great breakfast.

Wendy, I want to add your hotels to my list. Can you tell me why the QI was bad - was it dirty?

Here is a link to my thread - I have to rename it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2465424

 

[tinkerbell60]

OK, now I'm a little worried about St. Augustine...how bad is it there? Is it a dump? We are booked at a Hampton Inn there but I can change it to Palm Bay if need be. How much further down is Palm Bay? I am going to check it out.

Also, good to know Holiday Inn Express is good! Holiday Inn is another hotel name I have always trusted. Also trust Sheraton and Radisson!

I looked up Palm Bay, FL. It's only 2 hours north of Boca Raton, which is where we are going after St. Augustine (and before Disney). Did you mean to say Palm Coast? That one is closer to St. Augustine. I will check it out if it's better than St. Augustine.

You are right - it is Palm Coast - it was a very nice HI express - not a lot of restaurants close by but we went down the road just a little way and ate at the Flagler airport - it was not a fancy place, but very good - it was called Hijackers.

The hotels in St. Augustine that are close to the historic district are a little old and look run down. If you are staying at one right off I95 - those look fine. The historic area, is a tourist trap - all the tourist attractions cost at least $5-6 per person. We had to pay $6.00 to park in the historic area. I am not sure if you are planning on sight seeing - there are some neat things, but be prepared.

DO you know which hotel in Lumberton that you liked? I have a thread for hotels along the East Coast of 95--I want to add this.



Wendy, I want to add your hotels to my list. Can you tell me why the QI was bad - was it dirty?

Here is a link to my thread - I have to rename it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2465424

The Quality Inn was old and dated, a little run down. It was clean, but looked old, so it was kind of hard to tell that it was clean, if you know what I mean. The breakfast was very good though. Walterboro has a ton of hotels. Another area that looks really nice is Pooler, Georgia. It is just across the GA border heading south from SC. The places in between those two are a little iffy. What I do is go onto the Yahoo Travel, Travelocity etc and read reviews. I have been able to narrow down our designated "possible stopping places" that way.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Has anyone tried the updated Dining Reservation System - you can now put in which meal or a specific time you are looking for and it will show you everything that is available. I can see where this would be VERY helpful for anyone who has internet access on their phone and wants to do last minute ADRs. It is also nice it you are not sure where you want to eat.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Has anyone tried the updated Dining Reservation System - you can now put in which meal or a specific time you are looking for and it will show you everything that is available. I can see where this would be VERY helpful for anyone who has internet access on their phone and wants to do last minute ADRs. It is also nice it you are not sure where you want to eat.

Oooooh, I have not seen that! Hmm...I kind of want to go look and play around but 'm afraid I'll be tempted to completely rearrange my ADRs!

 

[tinkerbell60]

Oooooh, I have not seen that! Hmm...I kind of want to go look and play around but 'm afraid I'll be tempted to completely rearrange my ADRs!

I know what you mean, although I am still thinking of switching Chef Mickeys - I am not hearing many good reviews lately. I had a LOT of fun playing with it - just pick a day you won't be in Disney, then you won't be tempted to change anything!!!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I know what you mean, although I am still thinking of switching Chef Mickeys - I am not hearing many good reviews lately. I had a LOT of fun playing with it - just pick a day you won't be in Disney, then you won't be tempted to change anything!!!

I played with it to see if I could get Le Cellier. We ate there and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't anything special. All the hype that surrounds it, though, I keep thinking we should really try it again. Ridiculous really.

 

[tinkerbell60]

I played with it to see if I could get Le Cellier. We ate there and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't anything special. All the hype that surrounds it, though, I keep thinking we should really try it again. Ridiculous really.

We usually do Le Cellier for lunch, it is a little more cost effective. I LOVE the cheddar cheese soup and the chocolate mousse there - but we do not do it every trip. The menu has changed a little recently, but I don't know if it is updated on All Ears. IMHO, there are not really any "phenomenal" restaurants at the parks.

 

[PopArtGal]

Another change to ADRs. And last lol

July 23 we are not going at Tony's. We decided to try a new one. Making my dad happy. hehe

We are going to Le Cellier at 1:40pm

 

[PopArtGal]

Has anyone tried the updated Dining Reservation System - you can now put in which meal or a specific time you are looking for and it will show you everything that is available. I can see where this would be VERY helpful for anyone who has internet access on their phone and wants to do last minute ADRs. It is also nice it you are not sure where you want to eat.

Yup. Never played more with my ressies lol

 

[PopArtGal]

I know what you mean, although I am still thinking of switching Chef Mickeys - I am not hearing many good reviews lately. I had a LOT of fun playing with it - just pick a day you won't be in Disney, then you won't be tempted to change anything!!!

Don't switch Chef Mickey's hehe I like that place