Great report. Thanks.
Helps me look forward to our April trip to Universal.
Hopefully our dollar will be better by then...
Thanks for another great trip report! BTW when we stayed at the Vistana Resort a few years ago, some of the staff warned us about the gas station right across from resort. They have been known to jack up the gas prices to hit tourists and for not posting the correct price. Will look into the prepaid option next time. Thanks again.
Really enjoyed your report again and look forward to your December one.
DH has got off the plane in shorts to snow outside before, caused a raised eyebrow or two.
You are good to add everything up. I like a bargain and feel like we get good value on our trips but I fear DH would say never again if he saw it all as a list.
Funny how your excahange is the other way. We knock 1/3 off so $300 is approx £200. Generally we find things a bit cheaper in US than England, not the same as the days when is was $2=£1. Eating out definitely is cheaper, we are the same as you all this food for only $30 or something.
I enjoyed your TR! I love the Tim Horton's cups with the hockey players on them! And I didn't know they served hash browns now. Though, the rare occasion I get to one I always get donuts Very few places in the Seattle area to get donuts aside from the grocery store, I wish they would come down here.
And so Gina's TR catches back up to real time. Of course you're what, 3-weeks away from catching that next plane south? Hardly even time to start a PTR! (And don't take that as a request - I know how much needs to be accomplished with the holidays AND vacation approaching!)
One suggestion regarding extraneous minions. We have a good size duffle bag that folds into it's own compact pouch that always accompanies us down. Probably big enough for 2 or 3 unexpected tag alongs - Bob and Dave MacMinion indeed. It has transported all sorts of unexpected goodies back from the US and Mexico for us, and takes almost no space on the way down. Ours is from Lands End, but I have seen very similar ones at Eddie Bauer too. It is always great to have an extra piece of luggage along just in case.
Have fun getting ready for your next adventure. I'll bet Christmas will be special for all 3 of you this year!
BTW - we are now leaning towards another drive down for March break this year. With the lousy dollar, we are having a hard time finding anyone to take our week off our hands. I don't want to deposit it with RCI; I've already got 200 ETP's on deposit there - enough for another 10+ good vacations! So we may end up using it ourselves after all.
Awesome report!
Soooo, when does the PTR start?
A great trip report Gina, thank you for sharing I hope you all have a great Christmas trip and enjoy all the brilliant Christmas decorations and events.
I like your cost break down, I daren't do mine from our July trip, it was for 3 weeks and the flights alone are quite spectacular
Aw, lots of big feelings on leaving. I'm glad you got a little good-seat karma and a smooth flight.
I admire that you itemize and add everything up like that. I do add it up but I only make five categories (flights, food/shopping, hotel, park tickets and rental car/airport parking).
And hey'll you'll be back so soon and then you'll be really glad to get a break from the winter. I'm so wishing we had a trip planned but it's not to be this school year anyway with trying to (still) sell our house and move.
Looking forward to your next report! Put a link here when you start it so I can find it easily!
Thanks for sharing your trip with us! I loved it and even went back and read your older trip reports. Steak n Shake and Congo River golf are officially on the list for our next trip.
Photobook was neat to see.
I enjoyed the chocolate museum too. Loved the savor suggestion. I got the groupon deal with a cup of coffee and mug. The mug was really nice and is a fun reminder. It was packed in a box ready to take home. The coffee was good too.
Just think, in less than a month, we will be on our way again.
Gina do you flynthe 18th or 19th? JetBlue from Buffalo? We are flying the 18th Buf to MCO and home the 26th. But I believe your 19th to 27th? We are early the 18th late the 26th.I can hardly believe it. It has roared up so fast . Your family must be growing very excited, too!! I know the fact that we're now only 18 days out is causing a lot of chatter among my fellows!!
That's some list you've kept. I can't remember some of the places we've been and some of the restaurants have closed down, especially that Italian one in Kissimmee where the waiters came and sang some opera to you at your table. That was embarrassing!
Thank you for your incredible report! Have you finished packing yet for your Christmas escape? Some people love it (I do) and some people just don't. At all.
What an incredible list of attractions and restaurants. I didn't see Sonnys BBQ pit on there. Its a chain but the ribs are incredible. Some locations can be a bit rough around the edges (like so much else, depends on the neighbourhood) but I've been to the one in Vero Beach and one in Titusville and enjoyed. Pretty sure they have some locations in Orlando.
Have a great vacation & Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!
Loved, loved, loved your trip report from beginning to end.
We just returned from our first stay at SVR yesterday and had a great time. The only thing we'd do differently is to politely INSIST on a top floor location because the group above us were like a herd of elephants the entire week.
Definitely try and get to Celebration, we've done the now snowing a few times and enjoyed it.
If you are looking for bbq we tried 4 rivers and loved it at winter park, was about 20 mins drive north of Universal.
You need to take the boys to Teak too.
Gina, I have been stalking your reports for a long time and want to finally come out and say thank you for sharing! I always enjoy reading your reports and have gained so much knowledge... I especially like your restaurant reviews! Thanks again for another great trip report, looking forward to reading the next one!
Hi Gina
I know I have not checked in much but have read your report from start to finish. It was awesome as usual. Looking forward to the PTR. I am sure you are looking forward to another vacation and most of all having Jake along.
Gina do you flynthe 18th or 19th? JetBlue from Buffalo? We are flying the 18th Buf to MCO and home the 26th. But I believe your 19th to 27th? We are early the 18th late the 26th.
We will be flying home together and probably having a sleepover at the Days??I think dining is one to-try list that we'll never be caught up on. There are always new places opening to keep the list forever g-r-o-w-i-n-g !
lol, I'm not sure the opera singers would have been our cup of tea, either. That would have caused us to lose our appetite all on its own .
Thank you samsteele!
Never heard of Sonnys BBQ pit, but my guys are meatatarians so we'll definitely keep our eyes open for it. They've never met barbecue that they didn't like, lol!!
I haven't even given a thought to packing yet....we usually don't break out the suitcases until the weekend before we leave. We've become pretty well versed at packing for our Orlando trips, so we can usually whip things together in an evening. Most of my recent efforts have been focused on shopping and wrapping for Christmas....I have to have everything done before we leave, and time feels very short when viewed from that perspective!! Christmas cards are on my to-do list today .
Yup, that's us too . Top floor or bust. So far, we've never had that request not honoured.....hopefully we never will.
I am so glad you enjoyed your stay there!! We love SVR!
Ah yes, Teak!! Those massive burgers!! Ya never know, thanks to your reminder it might just make it on the itinerary for this Christmas trip! (if not, April is a possibility too)
Is there lots of parking at Celebration? That's the only thing we're worried about.
Thank you tdollar! Thanks for reading along!
Aw, thanks tristyp . I am not ashamed to admit that I'm all giddy excited to have the three of us together in Orlando for the holidays. That's a gift all in itself.
Yes ma'am, we are flying from Buffalo. We fly to Orlando on Saturday the 19th (8:35 am departure from Bufflao) and we fly home on the 26th (8:05 pm departure from Orlando). We have the exit row (12) on each flight. Am I sensing a Dismeet??? Are you guys doing the SeaWorld parks on your trip?