~ The Man Report ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Imminent Shutdown ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[GeminiAngel]

I hope everything works out with you're Mom and the pooch. How old is she?
Uh...The dog not your Mom.

 

[Disneyolic]

Oh and David Cassidy-one word-AWESOME!!!! Did I already mention that? He was great!! He definitely noticed me-Buzz'll fill you in on that! We googled him and found out he's 57! He's held up remarkably well and he sang fantastic!! I'm so glad we did that!

And this is the part I totally look forward to! Oh yeah baby! Well, maybe your PI night too.

 

[beckanoah]

I was quoted above, on the great MDF trippie... I feel so special...

 

[born2bird]

Well, I am a long time lurker first time poster to the "Man Reports(s)". I am sorry to see that your vacation has ended but am looking forward to all of the sordid details of this trip.

I noticed the weather report this morning and Montana is already in the 30's . Man, that sucks! I hope you soaked up enough Florida sunshine to last you through the winter.

 

[UtahMama]

Hey guys! Welcome back HOME! I hate the first few days of doing laundry and wondering what I was thinking buying some Disney-doo-dad I don't need.

Glad you're back! You did a rockin' great job!

Wooo Hooo on dd's 2nd goal!

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

Utahmama, I thought I was the only one that got home, saw my souveniers and thought, "WTH was I thinking buying that???" We had to buy an extra suitcase this year just to pack all our crap home, but that's coming up...

born2bird-Yeah, the weather was chilly this weekend! But this week it's supposed to be in the high 70's. Now that's odd for Montana. Looking forward to it.

beckanoah-You ARE special!!

Disneyolic-Yep-that was the part of the trip I was looking forward to too!! It was great!!!

pittypat & carrieann-my day of freedom is over. It went too fast. But it was nice while it lasted. Oh well, tomorrow is another day!! Freedom!!! It's a beautiful thing!!

mrsksomeday-Thank you! That was sweet! I'll tell ya a secret-Buzz is a saint to be with me too! I'm a very odd duck at times... shhhh....

geminiangel- well, the dog is actually my grandma's dog. Grandma passed away last summer after a bout with pancreatic cancer. The dog and one cat moved in with my mom. My mom is really attached to the dog. No one knows for sure how old she is but we think around 14. She's a bull mastif and a really nice dog. The vet doesn't know what is wrong. My mom says she's perking up a bit. I saw her yesterday and she was shaking really badly but she was happy and wagging when she saw me. She was just laying around and not moving. They want to run some more tests. This could be bad.

 

[DancinDaisyDuck]

Welcome back Buzz and LtP! Can't wait to read more about your trip.

I definately missed you in EPCOT and Animal Kingdom on the 13th and 14th. It was waaaaay crowded but I hope you still had a great time!

 

[KathyRN137]

Your green light in ON; I hope that means we're getting an update tonight!!


Kathy

 

[blue_river]

We had a soccer game yesterday and even though Loud Girl's team lost, she scored her 2nd goal of the season! It was great!!

A big YAHOOTY for LA!!!

Moan Boy is running around the house "vacuuming." He has one of those play vacuums-a Hoover I think. It turns on and really does suck up dust and light things. He loves it and spends a lot of time cleaning our house. He will even ask us, "Scoot please," when he feels the need to clean under us.

Hmm...now if you could just get him to use the real one

I think I do need to venture out this afternoon though. My mom really wants me to come over. Her dog isn't doing well and she's feeling a little down so I'll probaby drop by.

Awww...it's hard when our animals get sick

Oh and David Cassidy-one word-AWESOME!!!! Did I already mention that? He was great!! He definitely noticed me-Buzz'll fill you in on that! We googled him and found out he's 57! He's held up remarkably well and he sang fantastic!! I'm so glad we did that!

Lin - this lady is looking for possible pictures...maybe you got one?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1615347

They're too far gone to burn. Try buring ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce... these shorts are completely covered in a layor of condiment armor that simply cannot be burned.

Blech. It's still morning here you know

I'm glad to see you're all settling back in nicely


I see you're taking it slower on the installments this time. Whew!

No need to rush

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

~ The Man Report ~ ~ Mickey Toilet Paper & Legionnaires Disease~



Do you stay off-site at WDW? Why?

There’s really no good reason to. Yes, WDW hotels are more expensive. So What? Postpone your trip and save more money!

The experience just isn’t the same off-site. Whenever someone tells me they had a lousy time in WDW, the first thing I ask is “where did you stay?”

Inevitably, the answer is always, “off-site”.

Sometimes, the answer is even worse: “With Relatives”!

Now, all that being said, I am the off-site expert. Doesn’t make sense does it?

Here’s the reason. I purchased 250 points from DVC in 2003 because I didn’t want to pay $650 per night for a Disney 2-bedroom “Home Away From Home”. Yes, that’s the rack rate!

I knew I wanted the vacations to be special and I also knew I wanted to have lots of room. What I didn’t know was that one week per year in wasn’t going to be enough.

So, the very first year we used our DVC points we ended up coming down early and staying at an off-site condo with 2-bedrooms that was very close to Walt Disney World. It was called Camsun Properties and I don’t recommend it.

Unless of course you’re a drug dealer, then Camsun is right up your alley.

Usually, we stay three to five nights off-site before moving to our DVC resort for the last 7.

I’ve now been to SIX different off-site condos and every one of them are “crappola” next to WDW.

From the Legionnaires diseased pool at Caribe Royal to the 1940’s hair dryer at the Vistana. The only one we’ve liked off-site so far is the Wyndham Palms but it didn’t even have internet or a decent pool!

The shack we stayed in this year is no different.

First thing I noticed upon entering our Non-Disney suite was the complete lack of anything “Mickey”. No Mickey soap. No Mickey shampoo. No Mickey toilet paper.

And finally, no Mickey wake up calls!

Here’s a rule to live by. If there’s a novelty machine in your hotel bathroom, check out and find a new place.

It took a lot of years for me to figure that one out.

My children watch those Mickey Info-channels nonstop when we’re in the room. After a week or so, they’ve got them memorized! The off-site hotels don’t have these.

There’s no “roar” of the Disney busses outside.

There’s more of those disgusting two-headed bugs off-site (I have no idea why this is. Apparently, bugs don’t visit WDW like us humans).

The buildings look a little worn and the landscaping is not quite up to “Disney-Like” quality.

I’ve said it before so I’ll say it again: It just don’t feel the same!

So, why do I do it?

Well, why not? I can still drive to the “World” and I can still eat at the “World” and I can even swim at the “World” (proven during my last trippie ). I just can’t SLEEP in the “World”.

You know what? I want that Mickey wake up call. I want to rub my butt with that Mickey toilet paper. I can’t use the rolled sandpaper they have at the non-Disney hotels. I have a sensitive posterior.

That’s it. I’ve made up my mind. Next year, I’m staying on-site for two weeks. I don’t care what it costs me. The kids don’t really need college anyway, right?

However, for those that are interested, I’ll pass along a little Cypress Point info.

Here are the pix if you missed them earlier à Cypress Pix

The resort is located about mile north of the Crossroads shopping area in Lake Buena Vista. The pool area is “almost” Disney quality and the rooms are close in quality also. Close, but not “as good”.

For $171 per night, the Cypress has a lot to offer.

A full kitchen, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, internet for $12 per week, close proximity to grocery shopping (Winn Dixie 3 minute drive) and very nice pool with slides for the children.

If a lot more room is something you think you might like, then give the Cypress a chance.

Here are some drive times from Parking spot to Parking spot:

Cypress to Epcot – 9 minutes.
Cypress to MGM – 14 minutes.
Cypress to MK – 12 minutes.
Cypress to AK – 14 minutes.
Cypress to DTD – 7 minutes.

You definitely need a car when staying off-site. Also remember that unless you’re an annual passholder, and you stay off-site, you’ll have to pay parking at the parks which I think runs around $12 per day. Pretty steep!

If anyone has more questions about Cypress, just give me a shout.


Next Up: On a dare, I drink the Small World river water.


Side Note: Does the DIS seem slower to anyone else since the sig changes??

 

[beckanoah]

First I hope! LOL... and yes, the DIS does seem slower lately!

 

[blue_river]

Buzz - although I'm still considered a rookie, I totally agree with you. Even if you can't afford a two-bedroom suite, I'd much rather stay at a Value than any hotel outside of WDW.

The DIS is always SLOW for me

 

[UtahMama]

Hmmm, I've only stayed off site for our very first WDW trip at the Holiday Inn in Kissimmee 9 years ago. Other than the kids eat free feature it was just ok. Not even as good as any value resort, but we were convinced we were saving BIG money.

We didn't. Between the rental car and gas and non-free dining, we spent lots.

That Cypress is very TEAL, but spacious. But I still feel best confined to the resort property and Disney transportation. But I hear your logic.

I just love your chapter titles! Way to draw us in, Buzz!

Now, what's this about having to purchase a new suitcase to drag all your disney goodies home? Didn't you take an empty one for that purpose?

 

[ILMICKEY]

Absolutely, 100% agree with you!!

We have also stayed at some doozeys. Never again. 2 years ago I bought some points on Ebay for a studio at Old Key West. LOVED it! Heck the use of the microwave, free parking and less gas saved us a ton. Plus, we were at Disney.

This year I found the rental on the dis and got us a studio at the Boardwalk. Walking distance to my beloved Epcot! Who could possibly ask for more??

I am sick of stinky, dirty, nasty, teeny non disney sites! Never again will I stay offsite.

 

[Disneyolic]

You summed it up quite well in how it feels to NOT stay onsite in a Disney resort. We have only stayed off-site twice but those times were for 1-nighters - that being no value resort available and we really were not willing to spend a lot of money for a side trip from our "other" vacation. So, both times we stayed at the Radisson Resort. It was nice. The beds actually were great and the room very clean. The kids liked the pool. But it just felt wrong to me. I missed the feeling you get just staying on property. It's like a "light and airy" feeling crossing over onto the property. You all know the feeling.


And now ... I can't wait to hear about that dare ...

 

[whogirl'smom]

I'm with you on the offsite stays! Although, we've only been twice (once off/once onsite), I'll take my little value room at Pop Century. It was hands down the cleanest hotel we've been at, outside of the Peabody in Memphis (and who's going to stay at the Orlando one and go to Disney?). My DH still pines for the free breakfast at Embassy Suites, but he did admit that he didn't go hungry on the DDP. HA, see? I found our friends a townhouse 3B/3BA for $70/night that they raved about, but Disney has me hooked on being onsite now. Guess they know what they're doing, huh?

 

[bunny]

Buzz, I am a long time lurker to your report but haven't never commented until now. I didn't think I could live up to the witty banter from your regulars but I do have a comment to the following quote:

That’s it. I’ve made up my mind. Next year, I’m staying on-site for two weeks. I don’t care what it costs me. The kids don’t really need college anyway, right?

If you stayed at OKW the entire time (paying cash for the weekend nights) you would need 240 points. The 2008 cash price is $630 per night but you can probably get a 25% discount for those nights. So the total for both weekend nights would be $1063.15 including tax. If you paid $171 a night at Cypress Pointe plus paid for parking you paid $915 (maybe more if you didn't include tax in that $171). Also if you stay on site the whole time you really don't need a rental car. That way you don't need to worry about drinking and driving. You can get groceries and alcohol delivered.

BTW, I have never had a problem getting a cash discount on the weekends in October. And if you book it through MS, you won't have to change rooms.

So maybe your kids can go to college after all.

 

[KathyRN137]

I have a sensitive posterior.

Ohhh.... so that's your sensitive side!!

I agree with you about on site/DVC. We would love to add on more points in the future... can't beat the comfort of staying in a "villa" on property!

Kathy

 

[jordanyosh]

Have not stayed offsite since 1992 for the very reasons you stated.

Although you state them so much more colorfully.

 

[melk]

Sounds to me like you need to add on more DVC points!