Pre- Trip Report 3/28-4/4 /Son's Last Spring Break trip as a High School Student

[oliver200137724]

Hi all, this is my first trip report. I have read so many good trip reports that i want to try to do one myself.
We are visiting US / IOA on March 28 - April 4th.

First, Here are the ones that are coming along on the trip:
JP - Jay, My hubby (45)
SP - (Me) Sharon(40)
MP - Son Matt( Graduating High school this May) (18)
EE -Eli, Friend of Matt's(18)
WW- Will, Friend of Matt's(18)
CH- Calvin,Close friend (like a brother) of the family.(32)

So if you are counting that is total of 6 that are going on this trip....
I know I know you thinking are they crazy bringing 3 18 Year olds on this trip? Well possibly. but hopefully alot of fun too..

As the time gets closer i will report all about where we are staying and all that pre stuff that goes with it.

Ok well thats all i can post for now( have to work tomorrow and it comes awfully early).. but could anyone tell me how to post pics once we come back? I haven't ever posted pic's on here before and need help.

 

[kathfish]

I, for one, am excited about your pre trip AND much anticipated trip report!
Expecially with your boys!

This is my first trip without my boy. My big one, anyway.... he's 19 1/2, been to FL, Disney mostly, every year since he was 4. Yes, I'm sorry, he's one of the ones that actually got "sick of it". "Why, oh why Mom, can't we go to Africa, or Israil, or Cancun.... why always Florida???" He just don't get it. But he will, I'm giving him the travel bug... .in fact, he's skipping this trip with my blessing and my bucks to do HIS thing at Bonnaroo, in TN, this summer. It's a start.

So, my trip this year, is totally US, 6 nights, with my (still loves me and trusts my vaca choices) 15 yr old girl, and 6 and 9 yr old (not enough trips to be "sick of it") boys.

We are staying first two nights at RPH and last leg, 4 nights at Hilton Universal. GREAT POOL, I hear. That's MY part of the vaca.

Our normal spring Fl trips have always been about Disney, and while I'm talking myself down every planning day, I KNOW this will be much more relaxing. Both because of the choice or parks and company. The kids I'm going with are cool with chillin.

So Oliver, while I can't help you with pic posting (though I do hope you figure it out) I will ask, read, beg, appreciate, your planning stuff! Tell me what your doing!

 

[ddmeka]

Have you previously stayed at Lexington Suites or is this your first time. If you have how big are the rooms and are they renovated.

 

[oliver200137724]

Have you previously stayed at Lexington Suites or is this your first time. If you have how big are the rooms and are they renovated.

Well i haven't stayed here but i have been watching the reviews at Tripadviser. And they are pretty good reviews. I got 1 room and it will sleep 6. two double bed's and a sofa bed. The room has two rooms(a bedroom and a living room).And from the reviews they say that the rooms are being renovated. when we are there the whole first floor is closed for renovations. only reason i know that is we asked for first floor and near the pool. but wont get it. The price for 7 nights is 540.00... woo hoo.. iam totally excited about the hotel being so near Universal.

 

[oliver200137724]

COLOR="DarkRed"]What is set in stone(or Hard sand):

Tickets: I got our tickets at Krogers for 89.99 for 7 days 2parks.
Hotel: 7 nights at Lexington Suites. We have stayed at Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista for the last 3 years. but, they don't know much on customer loyalty. This year they have renovated alot and with the renovations the prices have went up. And with the extra 2 people we just couldn't afford the extra cost.

Food: The plan is that we are going to buy the meal deal with the refillable mug for two of the days that we are at the parks. we might buy more but haven't decided. We have plans to do city walk one or two of the nights. And, one night the plan is to go to Downtown Disney(to get my disney fix for very little money) Also, the last day that we are there will be on Mardi Gra night and the beach boys will be there so of course we will do the concert that night.

And the rest i don't plan much we are a "oh that looks like fun lets do it if it don't cost" type of family.

Side note: Still need to find a sitter for our dog, Abby.[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/COLOR]

 

[oliver200137724]

Well Thanks to april i think i have figured out how to post pics. wooo hoo.
I took this picture on the first day of last's years trip as we are going to the hotel...

 

[oliver200137724]

Here are some pic's of some some of the traveling
First pic is of SP, MP, JP

next pic is of CH

Don't have any pic's of MP's friends....

Eleven Day's and counting.......

 

[Coach81]

Here I am.. looking forward to more!!!

 

[Mrs. D]

Exciting...wow tickets at Kroger...wonder if I can get that deal @ Kroger in NC?

 

[DecaturDad]

Exciting...wow tickets at Kroger...wonder if I can get that deal @ Kroger in NC?

The Kroger deal ran out near the end of January. Just so you don't spend too much time looking.

 

[oliver200137724]

The Kroger deal ran out near the end of January. Just so you don't spend too much time looking.

I was very lucky to get the tickets before they were taken off the shelfs....

 

[xApril]

I'm sure the next 11 days will fly by quickly! I can't wait to hear about your trip when you return.

Glad to see you figured out the pictures.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Looking forward to reading all about it!

Maria

 

[oliver200137724]

Thanks, yeah i know that the next 11 days will go by fast. I have already looked in the closet and started sorting the clothes that i will need.

More Pre trip plans:
So, we do have a decision to make about how many cars we are taking. Hubby and I, are concerned that the van will have alot of weight with luggage and people. so we are considering two cars. we have looked at flying but dates wouldnt line up with the aligant air value fly dates. and even if the dates would work we wanted to do things around orlando(go to city walk at night and downtown disney at night). so it just won't work. we looked in renting a larger van but with the deposit(thats extra money that we didnt budget for) and then the cost of gas and the actual rental fee it was going to cost tooo much. so, I think we have decided to just take two cars. And, let two drive in one vehicle with all the luggage and then the van have 4 people(very large) ride in it.


Budget for this trip:

HOTEL: 540.00( 7 nights and free deluxe cont. breakfast(HOT).)
GAS : 200.00(my part of the gas for one of the cars)
Food : 600.00(for 6 days for 3, 100.00 a day. we usually don't spend
that much)
Food : 225.00(for 2 days of meal deals for 5 of the 6 people)
Food : 104.00(for 10 refillable mugs with the meal deals. What we usually
do is buy half of the mugs one day and share among the
group and then buy the other half of the mugs the next day.)
Extra : 200.00( Souvenirs )

total : 1869.00

I guess you are wondering what about the 6th person. Well he won't need any help with money. He works and has been saving since January for this trip. So we don't have to worry about him. The other friend of MP's needs just a little help. Thats why we are buying his meal deal and refillable mug.

Also you might have a question about why are we only buying 2 meal deals for two days instead for the whole week. Well, we know for sure that there will be two days that all of us will be there together and it is easier for us to buy the meal deal so we don't have to make a decision where we eat and the cost. because the choices for where we eat will be limited to a few restaurants. It just works out better for us.

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

Fantastic! Another pre-trip/trip report to look forward to reading!!!

 

[Coach81]

Solid-looking plan! I think it's great that you are getting all that for under 2k!!!

 

[oliver200137724]

Thanks coach... my hubby says if there is money to be saved then give it to me and i will save you alot of money.... I want us to have a good time but im not one that will spend money that we don't need too... I am a bargin shopper...

And.... info on the openning dates for WWoHP... i just saw a video on facebook from US about they are anouncing the date on March 25 at midnight. So, I guess i will just have to read this forum to find out the date. but i am soooo hoping that since they are announcing this early that, that means that there might be an soft openning while im there.. keeping my fingers crossed...


Here is the link from the facebook video...

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=10150158751370570&ref=nf

 

[oliver200137724]

Pre Trip report with 6 days to get ready to leave.

OK, Well its Sunday and starting the list of things that we will need to pack. And, things that needs to get done before next Sunday. Schedule this week is I have to work on Monday(im a Substitute Teacher for a private school in knoxville). Tuesday and Wednesday i will get the suitcases out and start pre packing clothes that we wont be using. Also, on Wednesday will take the van and get the tires rotated and an oil change. Then Thursday(Announcment day) I have to work so hopefully i will be near a computer so i can catch it. I also have to work on Friday. So, Saturday will be last minute packing and taking the dog to CH's mom. That day will be crazy. I will try to report some on Saturday. But just don't know if i will have time.

Getting soooooo excited... I just love UO and IOA

 

[ddmeka]

Hey I can't wait to read about your trip. Were you going to post your itinerary?

 

[oliver200137724]

Well i hadn't really thought about it but i guess i should. But, just to let you know that this itineray is just a very rough draft of what we might do...


Ok, Here it goes.

Day 1: Travel Day, we are planning to leave Greeneville around 2:00am. Probably stop on the other side of Alanta for breakfast. Then hopefully get to hotel by 4:00pm.

Day 2: Park Day: US.
Day 3: Pool Day or Park Day at US. and in the evening City walk if not too tired.
Day 4: Park Day: IOA
Day 5: Pool Day / evening at US or IOA/ City Walk
Day 6: Pool Day and evening at Downtown Disney
Day 7:Park Day IOA/US. In the evening head to US for the Beach boy's concert.
Day 8: Travel Home day.

well this isn't set in stone but the plan is to do all the above before the trip is over.


4 days....