So, we just canceled our October WDW trip.....

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

We just dumped our free room at the Hilton. I am not even upset about it either. We talked about it today and while we both love WDW, we just couldn't see going again this year. Even with the free room, we were still looking at dumping $4000 with the gas, food, dog boarding, tickets, and stuff for the 9 night trip. We are blessed in that we could afford to go, but there has been something just not right about it. I don't know what it is exactly, but we decided to go somewhere closer to home.

Potential alternate destinations under consideration.....
Pigeon Forge, TN
Charleston, SC
Savannah, GA
Myrtle Beach, SC
St. Simons Island

Anything else to consider outside of Atlanta? We are going to take the dogs with us and be renting a house or cabin. The trip can take place pretty much any time from October to December, so we are flexible on seasonal entertainment options.

 

[zeitzeuge]

Sorry you had to cancel your WDW trip. Like us, we could have afforded to go to DLR next month like we were thinking, but to play things safe in this economy, it just didn't feel like the right thing to do, putting us further in debt.

Sucks.....wish this silly economy would hurry up and correct itself.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Our decision had nothing to do with the economy. Thankfully, we both have jobs in industries that are fairly recession proof. (knock wood) We are still planning on going somewhere and doing something later this year, but it's just not going to be Disney. Having slept on the idea, I am thinking that renting a house on the beach in Charleston might be our best bet. We just need to find the right one for us and the dogs. We spend so much of our time together in go-go mode with lots of have to do's, so having a quiet vacation without all of that would be really nice.

 

[Jeff90]

So sorry that you had a change of plans....but if you are planning to visit Pigeon Forge, there will plenty to do there. Jon and I always go and spend a week in the cabins there. We're about 90 mins driving time from there and we love renting a cabin there to get away. We live in the NC mountains, but consider the TN mountains another get away destination.

If you want a really cool cabin, try these websites...

www.starrcrestresort.com We stayed in these back in September and love it. The "resort" does have a pool area and each cabin has there own hot tub on the outside deck, very nice!

or

www.sugarmaplecabins.com We stayed there also, they have tons of cabins to choose from.

All of these that I have mention are the high end cabins and are wonderful! Check it out and we have stayed there over the past 6 years so hit me up if you got any questions.....btw, they have some pet freindly cabins. We take our girls with us when we go and the pet fee is not all that bad....

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Thanks Jeff! I may well be hitting you up for some more info. I am going to be doing more research into alternate destinations over the next couple of weeks so that we can make some decisions.

We both have done Pigeon Forge in the past. The last time that I was there was in the late 80's when Dollywood was still very new. Corey last went up there in the early 90's, so I am sure that a lot of stuff is different now.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

You know? Changing it up sometimes is a good thing! Wherever you decide to go, have a great time!

 

[OKCmom]

ooooh Savannah, GA! Have you been before? We went two years ago and it was WONDERFUL! If you do go you absolutely MUST eat at Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons restaurant, the food is to die for!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

We did a quick weekend stop over there a couple of years ago. Yes, we ate at The Lady & Sons too. There was even a ghost tour on a trolley that we took in. We could certainly veg out there for a week. Heck, Bona Venture Cemetery could give Corey stuff to keep her happy doing for a week.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

You know, the thing is, you really want to go to WDW in August. That's why October just felt wrong.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Yes, I would love to actually have a chance to meet with you in person, but you have some odd affinity for travel to FL in the middle of the freakin' hottest part of the year. I would only want to visit WDW in August if it meant that I got a chance to spend some real life time with my internet friend.

Add to the August heat factor the crowd factor and Corey is a no show for that trip too. Corey HATES crowds. Did I mention that she HATES crowds? Yeah, um, no August trips for us.

I have already committed to an April solo trip. Corey has the time blocked off to be home, so there is no money to worry about spending on dog boarding. Now, do you want to discuss a vacation coordination in 2010 or 2011?

 

[OrlandoMike]

If its any help, I am not going to my happy place this May....










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Just not in the cards, hoping for a October trip to catch the Halloween Events!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Lindy, in 2010 we are probably going in June. Maybe June 4-16 or something like that. So we'll most likely be there for Gay Days and Star Wars weekends. As DS gets older it's going to get more difficult to plan around his schedule. We won't be at WDW for my 40th b-day because I want to get 2 trips on the APs we buy this year, so we'll go a little earlier next year.

 

[Tony-NJ]

Do Charleston!!! we went last March for the first time. We ussed DVC though and stayed at the swankiest hoted ever - Carleston Place.. There were many great places to stay right in town. You can tie that in with some time at a beach too. We spent 4 full days in Charleston and that was plenty. The wole town was very gay friendly and since we're not from the south - loved the hospitality - most really were genuilly nice.

By the way - the Charleston Place IS pet friendly!! We had no clue until we got there. We probably would have taken Barney.

http://www.charlestonplace.com/web/ocha/ocha_a2a_home.jsp

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Has anyone heard of Great Wolf Lodge? They have locations around the country with a new location opening soon in NC. http://www.greatwolf.com/concord/waterpark We couldn't take the dogs with us, but I am a sucker for any sort of water based entertainment.

 

[Jeff90]

Thanks Jeff! I may well be hitting you up for some more info. I am going to be doing more research into alternate destinations over the next couple of weeks so that we can make some decisions.

We both have done Pigeon Forge in the past. The last time that I was there was in the late 80's when Dollywood was still very new. Corey last went up there in the early 90's, so I am sure that a lot of stuff is different now.

No prob! I know you will plan a fabulous new getaway.....

Now Dollywood has grown so much! Jon and I love it. We were there last September and they had their Blue Grass and BBQ Festival.....so much food, we really didn't stop and listen to the bands or singers, we ate and rode rides the whole day....the park is so much bigger now, plus Dolly has her own waterpark too.....plus our cabin was 1/2 mile to Dollywood....located on those back roads away from the main "strip."

But you know, Im all for the Lady and Sons in Savannah!!!!!.... You could do the Disney's HHI Resort, we loved that area too. It was about 40 mins driving to Savannah from HHI.

Good luck to ya....

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

If its any help, I am not going to my happy place this May....

Just not in the cards, hoping for a October trip to catch the Halloween Events!

Sorry Mike! I know how much you love Cedar Point. I will think nauseous, dizzy, heart dropping thoughts for you in hopes that you can get your rollercoaster fix later this year.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

HUGS fer my Buds not going to their happy places as much as they'd like.

 

[NikkiPants]

I've never been to any of those places, but I'm sure that you'll have a great time!
Don't get me wrong, I looove Disney vacations, but sometimes it's a great change of pace to have no/very few obligations.
Wherever you guys go you'll have a good time