September 29, 2007 - Magic

[Zane_Anthony]

The cruise was only 4 nights so I can only imagine how I will be after 7 nights. We are doing MNSSHP on Friday night. I can't wait but I am bummed the DVC or advanced purchase discounts aren't offered this night. I figured they would be since it is one of the earlier parties. O'well !

Ok...here is the start of my trip report...i am busy so it will be kinda short and spread out

Tuesday Night---I hate packing but I am leaving in the morning so I have to pack...It's about 9:00 and I have my list, I have double checked to make sure I have everything from my travel documents to my clothes ..I am finally ready to go to bed at 11:45 so I can get up for work at 4:45..yes 5 hours of sleep before my 7 hour drive

Wednesday--4:45 AM comes fast but I wake up with no trouble because I am so excited I ice down some drinks in the cooler, load the car, and take off for work, I make it there about 6:00...I get done what I need to and leave at 9:00 AM...I pick up my friend and we are on the road by 9:45 ! We are sooo excited. We are driving down to Galveston so we can hang out there and enjoy the evening to start off our wonderful vacation. We are almost as excited about spending the evening in Galveston then we are our cruise for the next day. We even found a restaurant there to eat at that has a webcam so our families can watch us. We stop about 1/2 way for lunch at my favorite place Jack In the Box we don't have them here so anytime I travel I stop at them when I can. FINALLY at 4:45 PM we pull into Hotel Galvez, it's beautiful and we are so excited. I go to check in and they ask for my license so I go to pull them out and they are not there Ohhhh Snap .. I know I had them I triple checked...I freak out, start shaking, and can't even think, my friend tries calming me down and says maybe they fell out in the car...we tear it upside down and NO license...now I am really going crazy, i can't get on the ship without my license ...i have ruined my wonderful relaxing trip The lady at the desk tells me not to worry, she uses the picture from my badge and checks me in...umm thanks lady but right now this hotel is the least of my worries i want on that ship, i go up to our room and collapse on the bed literally sick i am thinking of everywhere they could have fallen out ( gas station, jack in the box, ??? )

to be continued

 

[JDBlair]

You're leaving us with a cliffhanger!!! This is total torture!!! Did you find your license??? The agony of waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

We are doing MNSSHP on Friday night. I can't wait but I am bummed the DVC or advanced purchase discounts aren't offered this night. I figured they would be since it is one of the earlier parties. O'well !

Maybe we will see you there ZaneAnthony ! I was also a little bummed that no DVC discount was offered on that day.

Now ....on to your report.......you lost your license !? OMG....this is horrible.....don't leave us hanging.....you poor thing, must have been a wreck all night.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

Ok...So I am in the room and it's about 5:20 PM and I remember that I have an unexpired drivers license at home with an old address on it. So I call my mother and ask her to please drop everything and go look to see if she can find my old license with the Washington address that has not expired yet. About 10 minutes later she calls me back and said she found my license well actually she found 2 license somehow I had left both of them at home..I know I triple checked to make sure I had all of my documents so how did they end up still at home? All of a sudden the "what can brown do for you" commercial popped into my head. So I told my mom to call UPS to see if it was too late to have something overnighted to be here by noon the next day. She calls me right back and said if she gets it there by 6:00 ( about 20 minutes from then ) they will guarantee it here by 10:30 AM the next day. So I give her the hotels address and she said she will call me when she gets done. So I wait and wait and wait finally about 6:10 she calls and said it's on it's way and that I should have it by 10:30 AM...ok time to relax now right? I have no confidence in UPS so I am still a nervous wreck. To keep from getting off track I will just say that when I took my son on his 4th birthday for his first trip to WDW I spent about $60.00 having him a shirt made to wear on his birthday and guess what yep I forgot it too
(actually my dad found it outside in the dumpster) ...i know i know you would think that i would learn...anyhow the shirt somehow disappeared into UPS la la land so no cute birthday shirt...so i am a little more relaxed but still really worried because now if it gets lost it will be too late for me to drive the 7 hours back home to get it and make it to the ship on time

ok sorry but i have got to get ready for work...i will try to do more later, everyone have a good day !

 

[JDBlair]

I bought ours a while back (couldn't take the obsessing anymore) and now Jet Blue's came out (well, a couple of weeks back) so they're good (we're going on Continental, got Jet Blue prices which have since rose so I'm happy with the price we paid). Did you check Hotwire for the hotel? I checked a few days ago and it was $46 for the night before (3*).




ANY exploration? So there was no gambling or shows? Guess that means now you have to plan ANOTHER trip back! Have a good time at your other wedding. And welcome back!!

I'm a little miffed with Hotwire right now! I booked our hotel room in Vegas through them and our hotel was 3* per their site. Yeah, I gave it a 1. I would have given it less had there been an option for 0! I was probably going to use Priceline for the hotel. My only "need" is a free shuttle from the airport when we land!!

No exploration. No gambling. I didn't gamble 1 single penny. No time when you're in the wedding. We'll go back next April for our 5 year wedding anniversary since we were married there ourselves.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

I'm a little miffed with Hotwire right now! I booked our hotel room in Vegas through them and our hotel was 3* per their site. Yeah, I gave it a 1. I would have given it less had there been an option for 0! I was probably going to use Priceline for the hotel. My only "need" is a free shuttle from the airport when we land!!

No exploration. No gambling. I didn't gamble 1 single penny. No time when you're in the wedding. We'll go back next April for our 5 year wedding anniversary since we were married there ourselves.

Yes, I have used Hotwire twice and I have been very unhappy with their star ratings. Their website shows LaQuinta as a 2* however both times I have purchased a 3* and ended up with an older run down LQ in a bad part of town! I will probably never use them again. I have always had good luck with priceline although it seems like you have to bid a lot higher than you used to.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I just won a bid on Hotwire for a 3.5 star and got the Rennaisance at the Orlando airport. I only needed one night in July. A few people had coached me and instructed to only bid on 3* or higher in the Orlando area. I am happy with my purchase of $59 (plus tax) for the Rennaisance. But the experiences you both mentioned make me think twice about using them in the future.

 

[crainbow]

I just won a bid on Hotwire for a 3.5 star and got the Rennaisance at the Orlando airport. I only needed one night in July. A few people had coached me and instructed to only bid on 3* or higher in the Orlando area. I am happy with my purchase of $59 (plus tax) for the Rennaisance. But the experiences you both mentioned make me think twice about using them in the future.

The Rennaisance Orlando Airport is under renovation. No bar, no place to eat, the rooms are not too bad. I stayed there last month on a business trip. I would not give it that many stars.

Chuck

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks for the head's up Chuck. I researched and it said the rennovation would be done by June. We check in on July 27. Also, it's only for sleep. We land at 9:30 pm and by the time we get there it'll probably be 11:30 pm or so. Rennaisance has a free shuttle to and from the airport which was a priority for us. I really wanted the Hyatt, but that didn't come through.
But I agree, from what you mentioned, it doesn't sound like it should have a 3.5* rating.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Good morning cruisers

Zane
I am loving your trip report. Can't wait for the next installment. Tell me Dale Jarret raced the truck through the night to get your DL to the hotel in time

For everybody who mentioned the pic I posted. TY I'm surprised that it came out so well, it looks really good. Even I look ok.

For those of you doing Priceline and HOtwire for hotels and such. Good luck. I tried Priceline once and got so frustrated with the bidding process I will NEVER try it again. I now happily pay the best price I can find online and consider it a success.


NOW,

I NEED NEED NEED a favor from yall.

I just got offered tickets to the Fall race at Dover(NASCAR) from a fellow DISSER who saw me post in 1 of the NASCAR threads going around the community board. The race is the Sunday b4 our cruise.

I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT GO. I MUST WORK THAT WEEKEND!!!

That's what my head tells me. The rest of me says, "Hey, its been 3 years since you've been to Dover your parents live 4 hours away on the way to the track. Dover's only another hour. YOu don't need to buy anything except the tickets. You've done that b4. And you know nobody's taken the day off at the store yet. Easy "

I'm going to scream all weekend to say no to these tickets. So I need yall to PM me or post here to remind me why am I saying no to thise wonderful person willing to drop these tickets in my lap.

Did I mention these seat are right at the entrance to Pit Road. Right where i sat last time and it was the most exciting race I'd ever been to at Dover. Anywhere else on the track would be WAY easier to turn down.

Just you know, mention excursions, souvenirs. Castaway Cay. Anyting you think might help me just mention.

Sorry for the long post. I'm now going to fix breakfast, and go scream some more.

 

[ibela]

Gee you guys, thanks for making me nervous!! No seriously, I researched the 3* hotel from hotwire and it seems fine/positive feedback on these boards (did a search). It's the Wingate Inn at the Orlando Airport, web site looks nice too. http://www.wingateorlandoairport.com/

I may be hesitant going forward though . . . But this one seems OK?

 

[JayS]

NOW,

I NEED NEED NEED a favor from yall.

I just got offered tickets to the Fall race at Dover(NASCAR) from a fellow DISSER who saw me post in 1 of the NASCAR threads going around the community board. The race is the Sunday b4 our cruise.

I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT GO. I MUST WORK THAT WEEKEND!!!

That's what my head tells me. The rest of me says, "Hey, its been 3 years since you've been to Dover your parents live 4 hours away on the way to the track. Dover's only another hour. YOu don't need to buy anything except the tickets. You've done that b4. And you know nobody's taken the day off at the store yet. Easy "

I'm going to scream all weekend to say no to these tickets. So I need yall to PM me or post here to remind me why am I saying no to thise wonderful person willing to drop these tickets in my lap.

Did I mention these seat are right at the entrance to Pit Road. Right where i sat last time and it was the most exciting race I'd ever been to at Dover. Anywhere else on the track would be WAY easier to turn down.

Just you know, mention excursions, souvenirs. Castaway Cay. Anyting you think might help me just mention.

Sorry for the long post. I'm now going to fix breakfast, and go scream some more.

I'm not a big race fan so I don't really know about those tickets. But it sounded like you just needed an excuse to go. Go see your parents and have a good time!



I'm not helping here am I?



I'll be quiet now.



Bye.

















Ok, I'm done.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Ibela,
Looks like it got 80% positive reviews on tripadvisor. I think it looks like a "go" : http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?s...e+hotel+orlando+airport&submit.x=9&submit.y=6

 

[JDBlair]

We got them!!! Booked our flight today!!! I think DH is having a heart attack because we're flying out of PHX at 6 am but...who's going to sleep the night before we leave any way?? I certainly am not!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

How long is the flight from Phoenix JDBlair ? I've done those early flights---they're killer !

Octoberbride....don't know what to tell u. I'm not much of a racing fan either so I vote to work and use the extra money for fun on the ship ! Do you have to work because it's required by your employer or because your budget demands it ? I wasn't sure on that. It really is a generous offer though. Much luck with that decision !

Zane....I am still on pins and needles about your driver license problem ! Did UPS arrive on time ?

 

[JDBlair]

How long is the flight from Phoenix JDBlair ? I've done those early flights---they're killer !

Our flight leaves PHX at 6 am and arrives MCO 4:26 pm EST. So, for us, that will be 7.5 hours of travel time. We have a 2.5 hour layover in Atlanta. We could have had a 1 hour layover in Atlanta but 1) I don't know if 1 hour is enough to get from one gate to another and 2) I think DD will need time to burn off energy and rushing from one gate to another and then trapping her in another plane could be the opposite of fun!

Now I have to decide on the following. Any suggestions is GREATLY appreciated:
Do we stay at a hotel near MCO the day we get in? (We're flying in Friday)
Do we stay at a hotel near the port? I was looking at Radisson??
Do we rent a car or take a limo to the port?

The long and short of it is: We either bang out all our traveling and running to get to the ship on Friday and take a leisurely start on Saturday. OR! We break up the insanity of getting to the ship between Friday and Saturday.

So many decisions and we're getting close so it's not like we can put this off for much longer!!!

 

[Zane_Anthony]

Octoberbride-- Not sure what to tell you about the race. Why do you say you have to work?

JD Blair---We have about an 1 hr 5 min layover in ATL..I sure hope it's enough! We fly out of DFW around 6:00 AM and get to MCO around noon on Friday. We are staying at SSR and going to MNSSHP. Then Saturday I have surprised my DS and Dsis with a limo to the port. I am still undecided on our trip back from the port. We place to stay at BCV and spend the day at EPCOT so I want to get there ASAP. Which would be best DCL transportation or the limo? With DCL do I have to mess with my luggage at all or do I just leave it outside my room the last night and it magically arrives in my room at BCV? When I finish my trip report you will see my concern with luggage.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

Ok...So now it's about 6:45 Wednesday night and we decide we have to relax now and have some fun. I am still worried but I am trying not to think about it. We head to "The Spot" where we had been planning to eat and call everyone to see us on the web cam. So we get there and it's definitely hopping. It's happy hour I have lost my appetite by now so I just order a pina colada and some mozzarella sticks $5.62 WOW you can't beat that. So we sit out on the patio right under the webcam and my friend calls her kids but I am just not in the mood to call anyone. We finish eating and decide to go for a stroll along the sea wall. That was nice even though the water was brown! We then decide to go to a couple of shops to look for something to bring back for our kids. It's about 8:00 now and we decide to go back to the hotel to take some pictures (it was beautiful) and just hang out there. We walk around about 20 minutes and decide to call it a night. 4:45 AM was a looonng time ago.

Ok...I am going to try to upload some pics to share with you all so I will be back in a few!

 

[MiaSRN62]

JDBlair says : Now I have to decide on the following. Any suggestions is GREATLY appreciated:
Do we stay at a hotel near MCO the day we get in? (We're flying in Friday)
Do we stay at a hotel near the port? I was looking at Radisson??
Do we rent a car or take a limo to the port?

We're staying at a disney hotel the night before and also doing MNSSHP on 9/28. We have rented a car to take us from MCO to disney and then we'll drop it off the next day near the cruise terminal. We chose Budget because it is closest and offers a shuttle back to the ship after you drop it off. Got a great rate of $50 for the rental from 9/28 to 9/29 and then again we'll pick up a car upon disembarkation 10/6 to 10/7. It was $50 with all taxes included each way using the BCD rental code : W810011

We have stayed at the Radisson before---had a 1 bedroom suite and it was terrific. This was in 2002 and got that suite for an internet special of $99 for early November. The shuttle was very reliable--we did make an appt at the front desk as I recall. I believe we chose an 11 am shuttle time and got to port in maybe 15 minutes.

Zane Anthony asks :With DCL do I have to mess with my luggage at all or do I just leave it outside my room the last night and it magically arrives in my room at BCV?

Hi Zane,
I believe if you use the disney cruise bus, your luggage will arrive at the BCV without having to touch it from the night before. But if you use a limo, then you'll have to retrieve it in the terminal with everyone else. I've never used the disney bus, so I'm not 100% but I do believe I read this.
Can't wait to see your pics

 

[Deweysgirl]

ZA - thanks for the trip report, I'm enjoying it and getting a laugh, I just feel bad, I hope the whole DL thing works out in the end. My DH and I have a friend that works for "Brown" and their inside joke is "UooPS, we lost it again!" (Sung to the Britney Spears tune!)

October -Glad to see your pic is up, it's always better late than never. Hope to see more of everyone else's too! Now, about the race, not a big race fan either but know the thrill of going. Because you can squeeze a visit in with the folks too, I say go for it! If it's not a problem at work and within your budget, why not?!?! Even if you have to make a small sacrfice to get there, or work a little OT, you only live once, right!!

JD-We got the CI&S for about 99.00 a night. My actual confirmation is at work but my memory tells me it's right around that. It includes breakfast too. Ron Jon's and Radisson don't. If I were you, I would head on over to the port area after your arrival. That way when you wake up, you're there! Also the evening before you can relax knowing you're there and the kids can burn off some energy in the pool after being on the plane all day. CI&S offers a shuttle for $3.00 pp to port. You could get transportation to the hotel from MCO and then just take the shuttle over to port in morning. I'm not sure what would be cheaper, taxi, limo or rental car from MCO. Check mousesavers or allearsnet dot com, they sometimes show specials for rental cars, limo's, etc. Good Luck and never fear, it all works out in the end!