the Legend
Master of Attractions and TourGuide Hopeful!
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2001
- Messages
- 347
Cast
DS Rob (as in Disney Son) Thats me. 36 years old Systems Analyst going on 10. 2nd time to WDW and major financier of this trip.
DM Lydia (as in Darling Mother and wanna be Disney Mother) - A very young 60. A trip of many firsts. First time flying. First time outside New Zealand. First time to the US. First time to WDW.
DN Nadine and Adair (as in Darling Nieces and wanna be Disney Princesses) - 7yo identical Twin Girls. Part-time Tomboys and Thrillseekers on the outside but every part true Princesses on the inside.
Testing my Travel Agent continues...
When we were here last, I was leaving my holiday details with my Travel Agent. They were:
The Accomodation, Rental Car and Tickets
All-Star Sports: Our Agent managed to secure the rack rate at the All-Star Sports ($149/night). However, he had a problem fulfilling our bedding requirements. Disney had informed him that they do not do rollaway bedding and our unique combination (Me, Mum and the Twins) meant we could not sleep in the Two Doubles in a Standard room. In fact, Disney had said the All-Star could not accomodate us without going to two rooms or moving us to another resort. Knowing that the All-Star was the cheapest of the onsite resorts, there was no way we could afford anything else. That left the decision to go to two rooms or move offsite? Well, remember my vow from Part 1, I was standing by it. I authorised the booking of a second adjacent room (which might I add also worked out but more on that later).
While making the booking the kind people at Disney mentioned that the rack rates changed on the 27th August from $149/night to the Value Season rate of $109/night. For two rooms over 10 nights, the savings were significant. This prompted me to re-arrange our dates. Had the Agent get on the phone to United, who were very helpful and moved our vacation back one week. We were now leaving August 27 and coming home on Sep 11. The Flights and All-Star Sport was booked.
Hard Rock Hotel: Imagine my dismay when my Agent could not find any literature on the HRH even though they provided tickets to Universal Orlando. We made the booking over the Net, one room with a rollaway for 5 nights for $189/night.
Rental Car: No problems here in fact we got a free upgrade as well as a discounted rate as part of the United package so everything was fine on this front.
Tickets: This question always pops up on most TRs but my mind was pretty much set from the outset. Based on last years trip to WDW, a 7-day Park hopper Plus would cover our 10 days easily. The Plus options to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon would fill the non-Park days and guaranteed we had all 10 days at WDW covered. As for the Universal leg, I opted for the 5-Park Orlando Flexticket. With the Car, Busch Gardens Tampa was now an option; One I was willing to take. This ticket ensured that Universal, Islands, Seaworld, Wet'n'Wild and now Busch Gardens were on our itenary.
By the end of May, everything was booked or confirmed. Deposits were made and the only thing left to do was to sit back and wait until August. So to summarise, we had:
Read in the next installment of 'The Kiwis have landed (The Pre-Trip pt.3)'
DS Rob (as in Disney Son) Thats me. 36 years old Systems Analyst going on 10. 2nd time to WDW and major financier of this trip.
DM Lydia (as in Darling Mother and wanna be Disney Mother) - A very young 60. A trip of many firsts. First time flying. First time outside New Zealand. First time to the US. First time to WDW.
DN Nadine and Adair (as in Darling Nieces and wanna be Disney Princesses) - 7yo identical Twin Girls. Part-time Tomboys and Thrillseekers on the outside but every part true Princesses on the inside.
Testing my Travel Agent continues...
When we were here last, I was leaving my holiday details with my Travel Agent. They were:
- United Package to Orlando via LA departing New Zealand August 20 and returning September 4.
- 10 nights for four at the All-Star Sports.
- 5 nights for four at the Hard Rock Hotel.
- Alamo rental car for duration of the trip.
- Tickets for WDW and Universal.
The Accomodation, Rental Car and Tickets
All-Star Sports: Our Agent managed to secure the rack rate at the All-Star Sports ($149/night). However, he had a problem fulfilling our bedding requirements. Disney had informed him that they do not do rollaway bedding and our unique combination (Me, Mum and the Twins) meant we could not sleep in the Two Doubles in a Standard room. In fact, Disney had said the All-Star could not accomodate us without going to two rooms or moving us to another resort. Knowing that the All-Star was the cheapest of the onsite resorts, there was no way we could afford anything else. That left the decision to go to two rooms or move offsite? Well, remember my vow from Part 1, I was standing by it. I authorised the booking of a second adjacent room (which might I add also worked out but more on that later).
While making the booking the kind people at Disney mentioned that the rack rates changed on the 27th August from $149/night to the Value Season rate of $109/night. For two rooms over 10 nights, the savings were significant. This prompted me to re-arrange our dates. Had the Agent get on the phone to United, who were very helpful and moved our vacation back one week. We were now leaving August 27 and coming home on Sep 11. The Flights and All-Star Sport was booked.
Hard Rock Hotel: Imagine my dismay when my Agent could not find any literature on the HRH even though they provided tickets to Universal Orlando. We made the booking over the Net, one room with a rollaway for 5 nights for $189/night.
Rental Car: No problems here in fact we got a free upgrade as well as a discounted rate as part of the United package so everything was fine on this front.
Tickets: This question always pops up on most TRs but my mind was pretty much set from the outset. Based on last years trip to WDW, a 7-day Park hopper Plus would cover our 10 days easily. The Plus options to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon would fill the non-Park days and guaranteed we had all 10 days at WDW covered. As for the Universal leg, I opted for the 5-Park Orlando Flexticket. With the Car, Busch Gardens Tampa was now an option; One I was willing to take. This ticket ensured that Universal, Islands, Seaworld, Wet'n'Wild and now Busch Gardens were on our itenary.
By the end of May, everything was booked or confirmed. Deposits were made and the only thing left to do was to sit back and wait until August. So to summarise, we had:
- United Package to Orlando via LA departing New Zealand August 27 and returning September 11.
- 2 Rooms for 10 nights at the All-Star Sports for $109/room/night.
- 1 Room for 5 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel for $189/night.
- Upgarded and discounted Alamo rental car for duration of the trip.
- 7-day Park Hopper PlusT ickets for WDW and Orlando Flextickets for Universal, Islands, Seaworld, Wet'n'Wild and Busch Gardens Tampa.
Read in the next installment of 'The Kiwis have landed (The Pre-Trip pt.3)'
Can't wait to read what happened in June!
