~*~The OFFICIAL 2014 Dates Thread - Come Join Us!~*~

[hsmamainva]

Congrats on picking your resort! Make sure you give me the dates and other details so I can update the list.

As far as touring the resorts, absolutely YES! You can tour any resort, wander the grounds, eat in their restaurants ... the only thing you cannot do is swim in their pool. When you arrive at the gate, just tell the guard you're there to tour the resort. Depending upon where you want to go, please remember there may be a 3-hour time limit imposed, especially at any deluxe resort you might happen to want take a peek at (mostly due to limited parking availability there). If you want to valet park your car at any deluxe resort, however, there is no time limit for that.

HTH Glad to see your plans are coming together! Just wanted to remind you that connecting rooms are never guaranteed - they are a request. If you want them, make that your ONLY request when you make the reservation - that gives you a better chance of getting them.

Thank you!! This information is very helpful!

We don't have to have connecting rooms. I would have our youngest with us, and the older three in their own room. They don't have to be that close to us. They'd probably prefer it if we weren't! LOL

I'd like them to be in the same building / wing whatever, just to make gathering everyone together in the morning easier.

But will be certain to specify that when we make our reservations.

Will have to think about our dates. Considering 4-5 nights in St. Augustine & 4-5 nights in Disney...somewhere within the May 1st through 11th timeframe. But haven't decided how to split up the stay yet (beach first, then Disney or Disney first, then beach).

Hope to make resort decision after our May visit this year!

 

[angelmichelle]

I know what you mean! I've been looking into airfare for our May trip and it is a scary, scary thing. (Of course, I'm still waiting to find out if my husband gets those days off from work so we can actually GO, but that's another thread entirely. )

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous. It will cost me more to fly from Myrtle Beach to Orlando than my friend in New York. By $100+.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous. It will cost me more to fly from Myrtle Beach to Orlando than my friend in New York. By $100+.

Are there any alternate airports you could use? We have several other than the big Cincy/Northern KY airport - smaller ones - that sometimes cost less. They're a bit of a drive, though. Maybe that would be an option for you?

 

[angelmichelle]

Are there any alternate airports you could use? We have several other than the big Cincy/Northern KY airport - smaller ones - that sometimes cost less. They're a bit of a drive, though. Maybe that would be an option for you?

Charleston International is two hours away but costs more than Myrtle Beach. Charlotte/Atlanta are a half day's drive - so might as well fly there from MB then connect to one to Orlando. Convenience costs $$$, unfortunately. But, I'll keep looking!

 

[BearcatsFan]

FYI: I've added more links to Post #2 - Mousellaneous Information that may be helpful for planning your 2014 trip! Check it out!

What's New:

• A whole new section for Romantic Ideas, including romantic dining (under construction)
• Tibet Butler Nature Preserve
• Lake Eola Park
• Blue Springs State Park Boat Tours
• 2014 Marathon Weekend Dates (no official page yet)
• Where to find the DISBoards Mobile and Disney Mobile Magic Apps!
• Exotic Driving Experience at WDW Speedway
• Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando CityWalk

I hope you will find this new information useful to you. As always, if you can think of any fun activities I have missed that you think would be useful to others, please let me know and I'll add them to the master list!

 

[BDL]

We think we've decided to stay with AOA -- the pool and setting is just adorable! 2nd runner up is POR -- but only if we get another 25% off of room discount.

If we can get another one of those for next May, 2 standard rooms at POR is $50 less than 2 standard rooms at AOA for our 5-day Disney stay!

Question --- do they let you go in for a tour of the resorts? My hubby would like to visit both resorts and walk around them during our May trip this year. He figures that's the best way to see how large each resort is, how much parking is available, how far it is from each of the buildings to the food court, etc.

If you have a day planned at DTD, you won't need to park your car (from Boston, I hate that phrase) at the Port Orleans. DTD has a free water cab back and forth, on the river, to the 2 Port Orleans resorts. It is a nice little ride. You get to see the golf courses on the way. And, just to warn you, when you get to the Port Orleans properties, you're gonna love them.

 

[mamabear0222]

How far in advance did you all book your accommodation? I want to book now but I'm nervous with air not coming out until summer

 

[mamabear0222]

And my next question. Would you book this far in advance from a private owner?

 

[BearcatsFan]

How far in advance did you all book your accommodation? I want to book now but I'm nervous with air not coming out until summer

I booked our last trip for September in February. Since we're not going until November, I'll probably at least have my mind made up by this coming November where we're staying, but I do not think I will book that early.

And my next question. Would you book this far in advance from a private owner?

It would heavily depend upon what the cancellation policies were, just in case I changed my mind about anything. Make absolutely sure you know about all the policies, including any refunds you may/may not be entitled to, before you book anything.

 

[mamabear0222]

Thanks I'm 100% on where I want to stay. If you can believe it I used to be a travel agent but never booked private..

My rule of thumb is research the heck out of something ...decide...then book...quit looking lol

 

[BearcatsFan]

Thanks I'm 100% on where I want to stay. If you can believe it I used to be a travel agent but never booked private..

My rule of thumb is research the heck out of something ...decide...then book...quit looking lol

I wish I could follow that rule of thumb! I've looked into about 7 different places for our upcoming May trip ... researched the heck out of all of them ... I'm still undecided. They all have their good and bad points. And now my husband is talking about doing a few days at the beach, so that means researching more hotels ...

Don't feel bad. I've never booked private either - scares the crap out of me to tell you the truth! I'm always worried will the person be reputable, will I lose my money/deposit, will the place be in the shape I expect it to be, on and on and on and on. (Don't mean to scare you, honestly!)

 

[mamabear0222]

Lol I'm not scared I'm pretty ok the owner at Windsor hills will be ok. Other dis folk have stayed there.... I just want a place to lay my head for 2 weeks

 

[BearcatsFan]

Lol I'm not scared I'm pretty ok the owner at Windsor hills will be ok. Other dis folk have stayed there.... I just want a place to lay my head for 2 weeks

That's exactly what my husband says - it's just a bed for our heads. But I can never look at it that way - I'm always like what restaurants are nearby? Is it a high-crime area? How convenient is it to other stuff I want to do? Is this place worth $8.72 over the other place?

Seriously, though, sometimes being a research hound isn't all good.

 

[mamabear0222]

Lol no its not. BUT I know a good deal when I see it at a nice place with good reviews.... i don't envy you I drive myself crazy over thinking

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[BearcatsFan]

Lol no its not. BUT I know a good deal when I see it at a nice place with good reviews.... i don't envy you I drive myself crazy over thinking

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

Oh yes, I meant that as a reference towards myself as being a research hound, not you! Hope no offense was taken as none was meant.

 

[mamabear0222]

Oh no none taken...I knew what you meant and I'm the same lol I feel your pain!!!

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[BearcatsFan]

Oh no none taken...I knew what you meant and I'm the same lol I feel your pain!!!

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

Okay WHEW!

 

[BearcatsFan]

So I have a question tonight for you all ...

What, if anything, besides WDW do you plan on doing during your trip? There's so much in central Florida and the surrounding area, not to mention the beaches.

We're probably looking at 2-3 days at WDW, at least one beach day, and the remainder of the time we'll spend taking in some of the activities in and around central Florida. My husband wants to get back to Daytona Beach to do the track tour (I'm not even sure they're still doing it) and possibly do another ride-along there at the RPDE. I myself would like to do some mini-golf, I definitely want to see the ICE! display at Gaylord Palms, along with some other stuff I haven't yet determined.

How about you?

 

[sandym718]

I agree! Never understood those comments. It's not about what they'll remember, it's about how much they'll enjoy it at the time. And it's never more magical then when they're little.

So I have a question tonight for you all ...

What, if anything, besides WDW do you plan on doing during your trip? There's so much in central Florida and the surrounding area, not to mention the beaches.

We're probably looking at 2-3 days at WDW, at least one beach day, and the remainder of the time we'll spend taking in some of the activities in and around central Florida. My husband wants to get back to Daytona Beach to do the track tour (I'm not even sure they're still doing it) and possibly do another ride-along there at the RPDE. I myself would like to do some mini-golf, I definitely want to see the ICE! display at Gaylord Palms, along with some other stuff I haven't yet determined.

How about you?

We will just immerse ourselves in Disney for the week. I like being removed from the real world. Not even green road signs, lol, only purple!

 

[auprincess]

Lol I'm not scared I'm pretty ok the owner at Windsor hills will be ok. Other dis folk have stayed there.... I just want a place to lay my head for 2 weeks

Do you mind pm'ing who you are using at Windsor Hills...

So I have a question tonight for you all ...

What, if anything, besides WDW do you plan on doing during your trip? There's so much in central Florida and the surrounding area, not to mention the beaches.

We're probably looking at 2-3 days at WDW, at least one beach day, and the remainder of the time we'll spend taking in some of the activities in and around central Florida. My husband wants to get back to Daytona Beach to do the track tour (I'm not even sure they're still doing it) and possibly do another ride-along there at the RPDE. I myself would like to do some mini-golf, I definitely want to see the ICE! display at Gaylord Palms, along with some other stuff I haven't yet determined.

How about you?

Things can always change, but right now I'm thinking we will do 5/6 days at WDW; a day at SeaWorld; not sure if we will hit up a water park or not; DH and my oldest DD (who will be 9 at the time of our trip) will probably do a day at Universal. The littles and I (3 and 5) will either have a pool day or an extra day at MK!