Universal Adventures of Dreams AND Magic, and an expanding World!

[francis6306]

AKL is on my "must do" resort list! Corey would love to stay there! I think if we ever bougth DVC, we'd want that to be our home if possible.

 

[pinkxray]

We did stay in a savannah view studio. The savannah view is amazing, it is awesome to wake up and see giraffe and zebra right outside your room. However it is really not necessary, especially when you won't be in your room very much. There are plenty of viewing areas and overlooks. The only think I hated was the long, I mean LONG walks from the lobby to our room. AKL is much larger than it looks and if you are towards the end of the hall, it is a long walk especially after a long day.

 

[jenseib]

AKL is on my "must do" resort list! Corey would love to stay there! I think if we ever bougth DVC, we'd want that to be our home if possible.

I am happy to give it a try and give you my review.

We did stay in a savannah view studio. The savannah view is amazing, it is awesome to wake up and see giraffe and zebra right outside your room. However it is really not necessary, especially when you won't be in your room very much. There are plenty of viewing areas and overlooks. The only think I hated was the long, I mean LONG walks from the lobby to our room. AKL is much larger than it looks and if you are towards the end of the hall, it is a long walk especially after a long day.

I have heard that. We most likely won't be in the room too much and it's only 1 night. The thing wil lbe in the morning when I wake up early and I'll let Claire sleep in, but we'll be fine. I'll just get online and waste time that way. LOL.

 

[jenseib]

So what would you do?
I am looking at rentals for our trip to the port and back. It looks like it is actually cheaper for us to get a car for the whole stay and pay to keep it at the hotel (not much at all there) than to go one way and drop it off and then pick it back up for the remainder of the trip.
So once we have it squared away on whether the rest of the family is going to stay longer or not, we'll look at getting those reserved.

I then looked at renting a car for my first nights stay. I can get a compact car for about $40 for the day and a half I would be there. I'm not sure if I should do this or just rely in ME. With ME, we have the luxury of them taking our bags to the resort. But then on the downside is scheduling a ride back. I'm not sure how that works with not actually having a flight. The nice thing about a car would be that we can wait till the last minute then drive to the airport and return the car and wait at the Hertz location for the family and then get the bigger vehicle we need. I won't have to lug bags all over heck and back while waiting. But then again, it's $40 extra dollars verses a couple of bucks to rent one of those little carts to carry the bags....Anyone know the current price on those, and can you use dollar bills or credit card? It's been a long time since I got one, and I think back then it only took change.

I'll have to do some more thinking on that, and give ME a call about what to do and how that works.

I would love your opinions though.

 

[Caretames1]

I've never rented a car before, but if ME could do it that would be nice.

DO you have different luggage for ship and WDW and if so, are you going to have to bring them all on board?

 

[Kathy Jetson]

Jen everytime I look at your ptr you have added something new! Yeah for AKL We like to resort hop to one new resort each year to check it out last year it was AKL we really liked it there. I've seen pictures of a big water play area there but we never saw it when we went.

As far as the car goes. I think I would do which ever one gave me more time at the resort. As long as it didn't cost to much!

 

[jenseib]

I've never rented a car before, but if ME could do it that would be nice.

DO you have different luggage for ship and WDW and if so, are you going to have to bring them all on board?

I think I might go with ME and save the $40.
I am going to bring 3-4 suitcases and they are going with me everywhere most likely. Though I could keep 1 in the van (If we keep it all week) if I pack right.

Jen everytime I look at your ptr you have added something new! Yeah for AKL We like to resort hop to one new resort each year to check it out last year it was AKL we really liked it there. I've seen pictures of a big water play area there but we never saw it when we went.

As far as the car goes. I think I would do which ever one gave me more time at the resort. As long as it didn't cost to much!

I like to keep you hopping.

 

[jenseib]

MNSSHP party tickets are bought for Nov. 2nd!!!

MVMCP tickets are bought for Nov. 12th!

Wooohoooo!
At least some of my plans are coming together.

 

[rndmr2]

MNSSHP party tickets are bought for Nov. 2nd!!!

MVMCP tickets are bought for Nov. 12th!

Wooohoooo!
At least some of my plans are coming together.

Cool! That's awsome you will be able to do both parties on the same trip.

 

[jenseib]

Cool! That's awsome you will be able to do both parties on the same trip.

I'm a happy camper!

 

[Beth D]

We've used the smart cartes in the airports quite a bunch this past trip. They cost about $4 or 5, and most take bills or CC's. I just make sure to bring a bunch of small bills $1 and $5 for stuff like that.

We found it was much easier to pay for the carts than listen to Grumpy Grandpa gripe all the time about how far stuff was and how slow he had to go while dragging suitcases. They hold about 4 or 5 big ones, so then all we had was our small carryons to pull behind.

I highly recommend them!

Also, feel free to PM me with any questions about Columbus! It was nice to get back mid day (we landed around 5 after our cruise), as the 2 hour drive home it was still light out.

 

[jenseib]

We've used the smart cartes in the airports quite a bunch this past trip. They cost about $4 or 5, and most take bills or CC's. I just make sure to bring a bunch of small bills $1 and $5 for stuff like that.

We found it was much easier to pay for the carts than listen to Grumpy Grandpa gripe all the time about how far stuff was and how slow he had to go while dragging suitcases. They hold about 4 or 5 big ones, so then all we had was our small carryons to pull behind.

I highly recommend them!

Also, feel free to PM me with any questions about Columbus! It was nice to get back mid day (we landed around 5 after our cruise), as the 2 hour drive home it was still light out.

Thanks for that info.I am thinking I may stick with ME and save some money. I did some investigating and it sounds like I can call and just arrange a pick up time.

With a flight at 7:20 AM will I need to arrive a full 2 hours early? Thats a Friday morning.
I'm a little nervous flying a new airport and airline. And no other adults to help me.

 

[Caretames1]

MNSSHP party tickets are bought for Nov. 2nd!!!

MVMCP tickets are bought for Nov. 12th!

Wooohoooo!
At least some of my plans are coming together.

Here's one of banana's I was looking for earlier today!


I love it when plans come together!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I didn't realize that you were doing the Christmas party also! How exciting is that on top of doing a cruise!

This is going to be one real exciting trip!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

MNSSHP party tickets are bought for Nov. 2nd!!!

MVMCP tickets are bought for Nov. 12th!

Wooohoooo!
At least some of my plans are coming together.

So excited for you!!!! This is going to be an amazing trip Jen!

 

[Woth2982]

Yay for getting your party tickets! You are gonna love being there for both "seasons". I am a big fan of MNNSHP over MVMCP, yet I have done the xmas party 3 times! Go figure! Im trying to convince my friend to do the cruise and Halloween party with me in September/October 2013.....I think I have a problem lol.

 

[Beth D]

With a flight at 7:20 AM will I need to arrive a full 2 hours early? Thats a Friday morning.
I'm a little nervous flying a new airport and airline. And no other adults to help me.

Our flight departed at 6:40 AM, also on a Friday. We scheduled our hotel shuttle for 4:30, the earliest they depart. We actually left a few minutes after that. There was about a 10 minute drive to the airport, and then we got there. The SW check in counter was right there when you walked in, just about as close as in Toledo, so you don't have far to haul your luggage. It's actually down a little ramp.

We waited about 2 minutes in line before a terminal opened up. With SW you want to check in online the day before as SOON as your 24 hour window opens up so you get a better boarding group. At the luggage counter you need to check in your bags, print your luggage tags, and the counter agent will check them in.

Going through security was very short and quick. They have a few more agents than Toledo, but not as long as MCO! You actually end up right at the SW gates. We had about 25 steps from security to our gate. Once there we had PLENTY of time to get Starbucks, pastries, and other breakfast goodies, as well as a bathroom break. (No, this one's not as nice as Toledo's!)

It did seem to me that there were quite a few flights departing so early, some even earlier than ours, so i would plan for 2 hours, but don't sweat it if you can't.

They board you in groups A, parties with kids under 5, B, and then C. Those who paid more for priority are in group A. They are also numbered within the letters. We got high up in group B on the way down (with a full flight) and were able to all sit together (group of 5). On the way back we had lower in group B (my brother checked us in, since we were at Castaway Cay when our 24 hour time came up). We had to split up, there were no empty rows so that me, DH and DS could all sit together. The best we found was some 2 seats with another in front or behind of us.

 

[Kathy Jetson]

See its a new day and you've added something else! I didn't realize you were doing both parties. This really sounds like a dream trip! (no pun intended)

 

[jenseib]

Here's one of banana's I was looking for earlier today!


I love it when plans come together!

I know have the A-Team song going through my head.

I didn't realize that you were doing the Christmas party also! How exciting is that on top of doing a cruise!

This is going to be one real exciting trip!!

Yes. I always planned to do a Christmas party, the Halloween one was an add on for me....but I haven't gotten that far in my planning updates on here to have actually shared that plan with everyone. It's gonna be so fund o try so many things this time around.

Yay for getting your party tickets! You are gonna love being there for both "seasons". I am a big fan of MNNSHP over MVMCP, yet I have done the xmas party 3 times! Go figure! Im trying to convince my friend to do the cruise and Halloween party with me in September/October 2013.....I think I have a problem lol.

OOOOH! I think you should go for the Nov. 4th cruise! You could do what I am doing and go down the 2nd, do the party, then cruise and come back for the race..... I of course won't be racing...because I can't run.

Our flight departed at 6:40 AM, also on a Friday. We scheduled our hotel shuttle for 4:30, the earliest they depart. We actually left a few minutes after that. There was about a 10 minute drive to the airport, and then we got there. The SW check in counter was right there when you walked in, just about as close as in Toledo, so you don't have far to haul your luggage. It's actually down a little ramp.

We waited about 2 minutes in line before a terminal opened up. With SW you want to check in online the day before as SOON as your 24 hour window opens up so you get a better boarding group. At the luggage counter you need to check in your bags, print your luggage tags, and the counter agent will check them in.

Going through security was very short and quick. They have a few more agents than Toledo, but not as long as MCO! You actually end up right at the SW gates. We had about 25 steps from security to our gate. Once there we had PLENTY of time to get Starbucks, pastries, and other breakfast goodies, as well as a bathroom break. (No, this one's not as nice as Toledo's!)

It did seem to me that there were quite a few flights departing so early, some even earlier than ours, so i would plan for 2 hours, but don't sweat it if you can't.

They board you in groups A, parties with kids under 5, B, and then C. Those who paid more for priority are in group A. They are also numbered within the letters. We got high up in group B on the way down (with a full flight) and were able to all sit together (group of 5). On the way back we had lower in group B (my brother checked us in, since we were at Castaway Cay when our 24 hour time came up). We had to split up, there were no empty rows so that me, DH and DS could all sit together. The best we found was some 2 seats with another in front or behind of us.

I'm not sure how far my sister is from the airport. I am thinking of trying to get there around 5:30 for the 7:20 flight. I have time to work it out yet.
I paid for the early bird check in. I want to try and get on as early as I can. I don't want to chance that Claire and I be separated at all. I'll get that for the flight back too.
I know we'll both be tired, but excited. I hope Claire dozes off on the plan, but with the excitement, I bet she doesn't.

See its a new day and you've added something else! I didn't realize you were doing both parties. This really sounds like a dream trip! (no pun intended)

LOL! That was always my plan...to go to MVMCP, but I guess I hadn't mentioned it much here because I am still on the cruise planning part and haven't advanced far enough to "reveal" that.

 

[Woth2982]

OOOOH! I think you should go for the Nov. 4th cruise! You could do what I am doing and go down the 2nd, do the party, then cruise and come back for the race..... I of course won't be racing...because I can't run.

Hahaha I would love to, but I am not sure I can get the time off work sadly unless I quit my job.....which is always a possibility lol. Wonder if I can work on that, quitting my job then starting a new one JUUUUUSST when I get back lol.