Cast: CDisney, DH, Nathan (4) David (6)
Nov. 23-25 Hard Rock Hotel
Nov. 25-Dec. 1 Holiday Inn Family Suites
Nov. 25 - Universal Studios
With my husband and I on bucket patrol, we didnt get much sleep. I have no idea how, but David managed to sleep while tossing his cookies. He awoke refreshed with no sign of the stomach bug he had banished.
We decided to skip a big breakfast and I picked up donuts, coffee and milk. Then, we spent the morning splashing around in the pool at the Hard Rock Hotel. Nathan was excited to be able to touch bottom and David tested his tummy with repeated trips down the slide. His tummy passed the test.
Refreshed, we packed, loaded our stuff in the car and checked out of the Hard Rock. We then walked to Universal Studios, where we spent a pretty lazy day. We used our front of the line access at Men In Black, but otherwise it was unnecessary. We walked on to ET and got decent seats at the Wild West Stunt Show and Beetlejuice. We let the kids play for quite a while in the play areas where the Barney show and the Hanna Barbara ride exit. Nathan decided to skip Jaws, Kongfrontation, and Earthquake, so it gave him and me time to indulge in some ice cream and visit the shops.
We left Universal in the early afternoon and checked in at Holiday Inn Family Suites for the second phase of our vacation. The boys were really looking forward to this hotel with its kid-friendly pool, free putt-putt and their own room. They were a little disappointed that I had booked a queen kidsuite, which had two twin beds instead of the bunk beds they had seen in the brochure. But, I felt safer with their Tigger-like tendencies.
With the Next Night Free promotion, I got a great deal and paid only $67 per night. Like several people on the DIS boards, my reservations were not in order. Before I left for the trip, I called to confirm my reservations and was booked for $134 per night with no promotion. The reservation agent had booked it incorrectly. I was transferred to Guest Relations, who called the hotel manager and secured the promotional price for me. When I checked-in, there was still some lingering questions because their were duplicate reservations in the system for me, but it all worked out. Everyone I dealt with was courteous and responsive.
My husband took the boys exploring, while I made a quick trip to Goodings to pick up a few groceries. I was expecting to pay a little bit more due to its proximity to Disney, but was shocked at how high the prices actually were. Deli ham was $10 a pound and Hi-C was $3.99 (compared to the respective $4.99 and $1.99 prices Im used to paying at Wal-Mart). Its the first time in history that I actually stuck to my shopping list, and we ate every last slice of that ham.
After a quick dinner of ham sandwiches, we were all ready to call it a night. When I slipped under the covers, it was then that I wanted to go back to the Hard Rock to get the sheets (and the bed.) Our Holiday Inn Family Suite had more room and the convenience of a microwave and refrigerator, but I missed the ambiance of the Hard Rock, especially its luxurious bedding.
Part IV: The True Meaning of Christmas
Nov. 23-25 Hard Rock Hotel
Nov. 25-Dec. 1 Holiday Inn Family Suites
Nov. 25 - Universal Studios
With my husband and I on bucket patrol, we didnt get much sleep. I have no idea how, but David managed to sleep while tossing his cookies. He awoke refreshed with no sign of the stomach bug he had banished.
We decided to skip a big breakfast and I picked up donuts, coffee and milk. Then, we spent the morning splashing around in the pool at the Hard Rock Hotel. Nathan was excited to be able to touch bottom and David tested his tummy with repeated trips down the slide. His tummy passed the test.
Refreshed, we packed, loaded our stuff in the car and checked out of the Hard Rock. We then walked to Universal Studios, where we spent a pretty lazy day. We used our front of the line access at Men In Black, but otherwise it was unnecessary. We walked on to ET and got decent seats at the Wild West Stunt Show and Beetlejuice. We let the kids play for quite a while in the play areas where the Barney show and the Hanna Barbara ride exit. Nathan decided to skip Jaws, Kongfrontation, and Earthquake, so it gave him and me time to indulge in some ice cream and visit the shops.
We left Universal in the early afternoon and checked in at Holiday Inn Family Suites for the second phase of our vacation. The boys were really looking forward to this hotel with its kid-friendly pool, free putt-putt and their own room. They were a little disappointed that I had booked a queen kidsuite, which had two twin beds instead of the bunk beds they had seen in the brochure. But, I felt safer with their Tigger-like tendencies.
With the Next Night Free promotion, I got a great deal and paid only $67 per night. Like several people on the DIS boards, my reservations were not in order. Before I left for the trip, I called to confirm my reservations and was booked for $134 per night with no promotion. The reservation agent had booked it incorrectly. I was transferred to Guest Relations, who called the hotel manager and secured the promotional price for me. When I checked-in, there was still some lingering questions because their were duplicate reservations in the system for me, but it all worked out. Everyone I dealt with was courteous and responsive.
My husband took the boys exploring, while I made a quick trip to Goodings to pick up a few groceries. I was expecting to pay a little bit more due to its proximity to Disney, but was shocked at how high the prices actually were. Deli ham was $10 a pound and Hi-C was $3.99 (compared to the respective $4.99 and $1.99 prices Im used to paying at Wal-Mart). Its the first time in history that I actually stuck to my shopping list, and we ate every last slice of that ham.
After a quick dinner of ham sandwiches, we were all ready to call it a night. When I slipped under the covers, it was then that I wanted to go back to the Hard Rock to get the sheets (and the bed.) Our Holiday Inn Family Suite had more room and the convenience of a microwave and refrigerator, but I missed the ambiance of the Hard Rock, especially its luxurious bedding.
Part IV: The True Meaning of Christmas
