Sun, Shopping, Sand, Surf, Sweat & Shamu: A Splashin Summertime Sabbatical at SVR!

[sympatico]

Guest Relations had my parking pass re-issued and the old pass cancelled (the new one I was emailed has a totally new number on it). In the end, there was way too much doubt as to whether or not the advance purchase pass would be valid, so they re-issued to be on the safe side. This one they said they KNEW would work, and like you, we wanted to avoid any headaches on a planned park day.

Fingers crossed it goes smoothly for both of us!

Which parks is the parking pass good for ? We added Busch Gardens to our Discovery Cove tickets and was wondering if that's included too.

 

[esmom]

Hi Michelle, Guest Relations had my parking pass re-issued and the old pass cancelled (the new one I was emailed has a totally new number on it). In the end, there was way too much doubt as to whether or not the advance purchase pass would be valid, so they re-issued to be on the safe side. This one they said they KNEW would work, and like you, we wanted to avoid any headaches on a planned park day. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly for both of us!

Thanks so much. I still have a couple weeks before I leave. I'll probably worry myself enough to call DC back and keep checking.
Enjoy your trip! So close!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I have so much to catch up on in here Gina! We just got back from the cottage (I don't even want to talk about the holiday traffic and oh my god did you see what happened to the Burlington Skyway?). It was an awesome fun filled weekend. Now it's back to trip planning.
I only got as far as you listing out your costs but I want to play too! First off, I think you've done an amazing job on your totals. Yes it seems high, but it's also TWO weeks and all kinds of adventures for four people! I also think it's great for you to cost it all out. I love seeing what other people get their trips for, and I don't think there is nearly enough offsite info out there. It helps people plan and see what they can get for their money.
My totals aren't nearly as good I don't think but staying offsite is going to save us a bundle.
So..
Air for 4 with Southwest.. about $1300
Disney ticket upgrade .. $600(we have two day tickets that we are upgrading to 6 or 7 day tickets)
Dog Boarding .. $300
Park and Fly hotel … $120
Two nights at Hard Rock Hotel.. $580
3 day Universal Tickets… $700
Rental Car for 9 nights $ 250
Sheraton Vistana Resort 7 nights $620

So the grand total for known vacation expenses for 10 nights/10 days is $4470

However, we haven't included food/gas/spending. Those are unknown at this point but we are going to do a big grocery shop for the Vistana stay and have budgeted $140 per day for meals . So that could be counter service at a park one day, or a table service offsite etc. The Universal days I've budgeted a bit more. So grand total for food, gas and spending money estimate is about $2000. That brings the grand total for 10 nights/ 10 days to $6470.

Some of these costs are variable (could save a lot more on food if necessary, and I hope to get the rental car lower). Not too bad I guess. Any amount over $5000 stings though. We'd save quite a bit if we didn't do the three days at Universal but that's what the kids want as their big Christmas gift so we decided to go for it.

Anyway.. now I am off to read the rest of the pages I missed!

I don't think your preliminary numbers are bad at all. It works out to $161.75 per person, per day so far (which is great for a trip that combines multiple park families....and spending money, which I haven't added to my list of expenses at all but will likely be an additional $500 with outlet mall and souvenir purchases. Sweetie will have her own spending cash, and Jake will take $1000 USD of his own....yep, all on clothes ).

I am betting that your food budget will come in well under what you expect to pay, particularly if you use coupons and offers that are available. I just signed up for Friendly's BFF Club which will save us 25% off our entire purchase . Its rare that we eat a meal in Orlando that we don't have a % off, dollar-off or BOGO coupon to apply to the final price.

The Burlington Skyway is STILL closed?!?!? Holy cow, that has to be tying up summer traffic something fierce. Then I heard you guys got some wild weather and flash flooding yesterday too, right? (the footage they showed on the news this morning was awful!!!). I am glad ya'll made it home safe and sound!!!!

Which parks is the parking pass good for ? We added Busch Gardens to our Discovery Cove tickets and was wondering if that's included too.

The $30 pass is valid for 14 days of parking at Seaworld and Aquatica. The $40 "Ultimate" pass is valid for 14 days of parking at Seaworld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens .

Thanks so much. I still have a couple weeks before I leave. I'll probably worry myself enough to call DC back and keep checking.
Enjoy your trip! So close!

Be prepared.....every single time I called I got a different answer. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. Even different answers via email!! I was glad when they finally re-issued the darn thing!!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Happy Tuesday everyone . Following yesterday's holiday, its been a busy day at the office so far. Down to 8 work days left after today....yippee!

We've decided we're going to forego arranging transportation (taxi or town car) from SVR to DC. Steve genuinely feels it will be a waste of resources when we're not big drinkers, and I concur (though I was totally willing to put forth the $$'s for him if he wanted the flexibility to partake without limiting himself).

That said...he does think we should spend our arrival night home at the park and fly in Syracuse. We don't land until after 10 pm and he's not keen about driving home so late. I'm not sure I want to make the trek on the holiday Monday....a late drive might be preferable to the holiday commute and the associated hassles/delays at the border. We'll have to talk more about that tonight over dinner.

Patches had a positive check-up at the vet today. She's gained 6 ounces since her last visit and they were happy with how she looked. She's had her back claws all clipped (she's clawless on the front) so she will have comfy feet while we're away.

All of our online orders have been confirmed as being shipped, so they are on their way to SYR (with the exception of the Entertainment Book, which will be sent here to my office).

Now....if someone could help me regain my concentration! I am starting to get a nasty case of vacation brain.

 

[Lynne G]

hehe! I have to put together documents from a pile of over 32,000 by the time I leave. If you'd like to help, I'm sure it would keep your concentration.

Good news for Ms. Patches. You're just plumping her up so she won't be so mad when you leave.

Nice to hear the items have been shipped, and I'm sure the books will arrive soon. I think my books took about a week.

By this time 2 Tuesdays from now, I will be enjoying the Portofino pool.

So, have a terrific Tuesday!

 

[ZehnJahren]

11 days!

I can understand why he might want to stay the night before heading home. Plus, what if you're delayed at all? What about a really early time leaving in the morning, like 4 a.m.? Would that get you past the difficult parts early enough to miss traffic?

If you're not big drinkers, you are definitely making the wise decision not to arrange transportation from/to DC. It's just added expense for no reason. We are definitely cabbing to DTD, even though we're not big drinkers either, because we don't want to park or deal with construction ourselves. Hopefully it's not an expensive trip; it's already built into the budget for the day. I wonder if there's an actual taxi stand at DTD or if we need to walk to one of the resorts to catch a cab back. I'm sure that can't be right.

Glad Patches is feeling good and looking good!

Anyway, 11 days is so very soon. Try to concentrate!

 

[bankr63]

Actually, I was up in the Peterborough area for the weekend, so I don't think Colonel By Day was appropriate either.

It *has* been good sleeping weather, hasn't it? (the irony here is that I was up for HOURS in the night last night....not sure why, but I was wide awake from 12:30 to 3 am ... thank goodness I didn't have to be up at the crack of dawn for work this morning).

I think I was awake at the same time, but I know WHY I was awake. Cottage country is a noisy place on a long weekend. We were up at DMIL's for her birthday celebration and had brought our camper for extra bed space. Now we made our own share of noise but were settled down by 10:00 every night. But on Sunday night another cottage a few doors down had a live band. Outdoors. Played until 3:00 AM. Did I mention A+ and I were sleeping outdoors?

Worst. sleep. ever.

Luckily things finally quieted down around 4:00.

Then the next door neighbor started up his log splitter at 8:00.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Actually, I was up in the Peterborough area for the weekend, so I don't think Colonel By Day was appropriate either.



I think I was awake at the same time, but I know WHY I was awake. Cottage country is a noisy place on a long weekend. We were up at DMIL's for her birthday celebration and had brought our camper for extra bed space. Now we made our own share of noise but were settled down by 10:00 every night. But on Sunday night another cottage a few doors down had a live band. Outdoors. Played until 3:00 AM. Did I mention A+ and I were sleeping outdoors?

Worst. sleep. ever.

Luckily things finally quieted down around 4:00.

Then the next door neighbor started up his log splitter at 8:00.

I can soooooo relate. We have pitched a tent many times up at a friends place in Muskoka. The lovely folks across the bay are now too elderly to use the cottage so the grandkids have taken over. The grandkids are fall down drunk on most weekends. They play music loud enough to wake the dead and have bonfires that are about 5 ft tall. Then they fire up the jetskis. This all gets started after 9pm. Many nights we have been kept awake until 2-3am.

The last time we endured the all night party our friends got out their chainsaw right after breakfast and cut up some fire wood. The idiots across the bay called the cops on us. When the cop showed up it was my friends brother.

So I guess cottage parties and tree cutting equipment go hand in hand in all parts of Ontario.

 

[dancin Disney style]

BTW, the Burlington Skyway could potentially be closed for a month.

 

[pigletto]

I can soooooo relate. We have pitched a tent many times up at a friends place in Muskoka. The lovely folks across the bay are now too elderly to use the cottage so the grandkids have taken over. The grandkids are fall down drunk on most weekends. They play music loud enough to wake the dead and have bonfires that are about 5 ft tall. Then they fire up the jetskis. This all gets started after 9pm. Many nights we have been kept awake until 2-3am.

The last time we endured the all night party our friends got out their chainsaw right after breakfast and cut up some fire wood. The idiots across the bay called the cops on us. When the cop showed up it was my friends brother.

So I guess cottage parties and tree cutting equipment go hand in hand in all parts of Ontario.

You know we drive through Muskoka on our way home and it looks lovely but that would drive me insane. Cottage time is for peace and quiet. I couldn't handle that!!!
We're an hour past Sudbury, on an island. The only people on the island thankfully. The island across from ours is owned by my Uncle and our cousins. So if you want people to shut up.. well you are pretty comfortable telling them to shut up.

 

[sympatico]

Thanks, Gina for the info about the parking pass. Will be worth the $40. I'm thinking.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

By this time 2 Tuesdays from now, I will be enjoying the Portofino pool.

With a tropical, colourful beverage in hand too, I hope!

I can understand why he might want to stay the night before heading home. Plus, what if you're delayed at all? What about a really early time leaving in the morning, like 4 a.m.? Would that get you past the difficult parts early enough to miss traffic?

Those are our concerns as well. I may go ahead and book something just so we have the option to stay if we want to (giving us the option to cancel up to 6 pm that day).

lol, your idea to get going early is a good one, but I'm doubtful I'd get anyone's fanny (mine included) up and out the door quite that soon!! We tend to be a bit draggy by the end of the vacation, lazy sluggards that we are .

Actually, I was up in the Peterborough area for the weekend, so I don't think Colonel By Day was appropriate either.

Well, if you were in Peterborough, then I should have wished you a happy Peter Robinson Day.

(seriously....who knew all these little communities had their own unique identity for the Civic Holiday? I didn't before now)

I think I was awake at the same time, but I know WHY I was awake. Cottage country is a noisy place on a long weekend. We were up at DMIL's for her birthday celebration and had brought our camper for extra bed space. Now we made our own share of noise but were settled down by 10:00 every night. But on Sunday night another cottage a few doors down had a live band. Outdoors. Played until 3:00 AM. Did I mention A+ and I were sleeping outdoors?

Worst. sleep. ever.

Luckily things finally quieted down around 4:00.

Then the next door neighbor started up his log splitter at 8:00.

I can soooooo relate. We have pitched a tent many times up at a friends place in Muskoka. The lovely folks across the bay are now too elderly to use the cottage so the grandkids have taken over. The grandkids are fall down drunk on most weekends. They play music loud enough to wake the dead and have bonfires that are about 5 ft tall. Then they fire up the jetskis. This all gets started after 9pm. Many nights we have been kept awake until 2-3am.

The last time we endured the all night party our friends got out their chainsaw right after breakfast and cut up some fire wood. The idiots across the bay called the cops on us. When the cop showed up it was my friends brother.

So I guess cottage parties and tree cutting equipment go hand in hand in all parts of Ontario.

You know we drive through Muskoka on our way home and it looks lovely but that would drive me insane. Cottage time is for peace and quiet. I couldn't handle that!!!
We're an hour past Sudbury, on an island. The only people on the island thankfully. The island across from ours is owned by my Uncle and our cousins. So if you want people to shut up.. well you are pretty comfortable telling them to shut up.

I've never been much of a camper, but these posts aren't selling me on the concept .

I think I'll stick with "roughing it" at Great Wolf Lodge .

Thanks, Gina for the info about the parking pass. Will be worth the $40. I'm thinking.

You're welcome .

Parking at the gate is $17 at SW, $13 at AQ, and $17 at BG. So if you park at each venue even only once, the $40 pass saves you $7.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Gina, there is nothing more relaxing that sitting out on the dock watching the loons in the water with a cool breeze and the sun warming your face. I could sit for hours staring at the lake....and do every time we are there. There is just something very special about northern Ontario.


On a more southern note. I couldn't take this pre-trip report any longer. I'm going too !!!!!!! I got the steal of the century on Ebay just an hour ago. I scored a 2br rental at the Marriott Grand Vista for....wait for it....wait for it.....$200 for the week of August 29th. My stomach was in knots watching the auction countdown. I just completed booking the flights.....and I'll start packing in a minute (not really). So this will be the first time in about 10 years that the hubb's and I have been away without the girls for more than a weekend. I'm worried already. The 15yo just asked me how she was going to get to school. My answer.....god gave you feet for a reason.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Gina, there is nothing more relaxing that sitting out on the dock watching the loons in the water with a cool breeze and the sun warming your face. I could sit for hours staring at the lake....and do every time we are there. There is just something very special about northern Ontario.

On a more southern note. I couldn't take this pre-trip report any longer. I'm going too !!!!!!! I got the steal of the century on Ebay just an hour ago. I scored a 2br rental at the Marriott Grand Vista for....wait for it....wait for it.....$200 for the week of August 29th. My stomach was in knots watching the auction countdown. I just completed booking the flights.....and I'll start packing in a minute (not really). So this will be the first time in about 10 years that the hubb's and I have been away without the girls for more than a weekend. I'm worried already. The 15yo just asked me how she was going to get to school. My answer.....god gave you feet for a reason.

OMG!! Congrats, girl!!! Let the planning (and the packing) begin!

What a STEAL on accommodations . You couldn't have done any better if you tried. So, which parks will you be visiting? What are the plans? Details, we need DETAILS!

As for the northern life....I must admit, it can be very awesome. We had a trailer for a couple of seasons at a small, rustic "resort" on Lake Madawaska. We eventually sold it when ball hockey, summer hockey, inline hockey and power skating overtook our summers (sending us to and fro across Ontario and even into the US for tournaments), but not before we made some wonderful family memories.

The thing I miss most? The big ol' bonfires, a selection of long sticks carefully selected from the forest, and big sticky marshmallows. Thankfully, none of our camping neighbours featured live bands in the wee hours of the night or rogue chainsaws at the crack of dawn!!!

 

[pigletto]

Gina, there is nothing more relaxing that sitting out on the dock watching the loons in the water with a cool breeze and the sun warming your face. I could sit for hours staring at the lake....and do every time we are there. There is just something very special about northern Ontario.


On a more southern note. I couldn't take this pre-trip report any longer. I'm going too !!!!!!! I got the steal of the century on Ebay just an hour ago. I scored a 2br rental at the Marriott Grand Vista for....wait for it....wait for it.....$200 for the week of August 29th. My stomach was in knots watching the auction countdown. I just completed booking the flights.....and I'll start packing in a minute (not really). So this will be the first time in about 10 years that the hubb's and I have been away without the girls for more than a weekend. I'm worried already. The 15yo just asked me how she was going to get to school. My answer.....god gave you feet for a reason.

There just isn't anything that compares to the cottage for us. My parents just bought it last year, but it already has such a special place in our hearts. My whole being just gets lighter and happier when we are driving up and the landscape changes to forest and lakes and Canadian Shield. We have so much fun in Florida, but we completely unwind in Northern Ontario!

Now on to your last minute super steal trip… WOW!!!!!

What a steal!! I'm so excited for you. I can't wait until our youngest is old enough that dh and I can steal away for a bit. How exciting!!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

At home with a migraine this morning . It hit me first thing, as soon as I was up (spinny head, nausea, light and noise sensitivity...the whole gamut). I took a good loading dose of meds and opted to take the day off to (hopefully) rid myself of it sooner than later.

Just wanted to post an update to the countdown:



Now.....back to bed............

 

[dancin Disney style]

Well not really much in the way of details just yet. I woke up this morning thinking that since it's starting off on the cheap note prehaps my mission should be to make this the cheapest trip ever. Lets' see where we're at right now....MGV $200, flight $424, car $112 for a grand total of $736.

I might look at a day at Seaworld....haven't been in 20+ years. We have WDW tickets with waterpark but since I'm taking DD there in March I think I'll save it for that trip....unless DH wants to go. I asked him last night if he wants to play golf and he said probably not. So it might just be a hang out at the pool kind of a week.

I hardly slept last night.....I think I'm excited

 

[dancin Disney style]

Oh Gina ...you posted while I was typing. Migraines really bite. I've had them since I was 12. I had a good one on Sunday....I'm really sensitive to low pressure but really they come on any time.

Feel better .....just think about

 

[pigletto]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that Gina. I have no experience with migraines myself but my friend did when we were teenagers and they were just awful for her. I hope the meds you took got ahead of the worst of it.

 

[ZehnJahren]

So sorry to hear about the migraine - I get them, but only about once a year; I used to have them about once every two weeks, so I don't know what changed! I feel for you very much.

On the other hand, for 10 days!!