Getting from there to here

Less than a year ago, I took my solo trips to Walt Disney World to a new level when I specifically went to attend Lou Mongello's WDW Radio 24-hour show/meet and Illuminations Dessert Party Event. I can trace so much of my Disney happiness to this point in the space time continuum. (yeah, that was scifi).

I have been a Disney Parks fan for decades now, yeah I'm that old (and I know someone who loves that fact). But there were was a friendship that was forged that weekend which was the "start of something new." In fact, he's a cabin mate of mine next week on the WDW Radio Disney Dream Cruise. Imagine this, I arrive at the Studios as soon as i get off the plane and tweet "anyone here?" That first night I get a reply from @disdug71 (Doug) that he was with others watching and streaming Fantasmic with Beci Mahnken and Matt Hochberg. Well, the rest is history.

As I mentioned, I am sailing on the Disney Dream with the group from WDW Radio next week. Doug, Kristen, and I are cabin mates for this high seas adventure. I just wanted to pause and reflect on the point in history that has made this and many other things magical this year.

6 days to go... I need to upgrade the Seasonal Pass

With less than a week to go until the August Crewunion WDW trip, I have realized something: I can't get into the parks with my Florida Resident Seasonal Pass. OK- I still hold a Florida Driver License for real reasons (actually, it has been like a magnet trying to bring me back permanently ever since I left), so I have taken advantage of the Florida Resident Seasonal Passport for the last few years.

The Florida Resident Seasonal Passport is a GREAT value in that it is all-year admission only blocked out during peak times (Summer, Christmas, Spring Break) and is only about $275. In other words, not included are dates when given a choice you would AVOID AT ALL COSTS (unless you have an Unofficial Guide and a Touringplans.com subscription in your arsenal).

Well, the Summer block out period doesn't end until August 20th, so I need to step it up and splurge. In addition, there is a Crew day in Typhoon Lagoon on Friday planned. So do I go to the Annual (and pay one day at a Water Park) or go for the Premium Annual (with Water Parks/Disney Quest included)?

Aside from the actual upgrade price, the difference in the two passes is approx. $120 (considering the prorated time remaining in the SP until my renewal date next June 2011). A one day Water Park ticket is $48 for FL residents. That means two trips to the Water Parks and a night a Disney Quest in the next year to justify it, right? Did I just convince myself?

OH, one more thing: As I have shared in the past, I am VERY seriously considering/planning a move back to Orlando. If I do it... I am planning to execute this plan within the next 4-6 months. An Annual Passport with parking included and no block out dates was going to be in my future no matter what. Having a Premium Annual Passport would allow me to hang with and meet up with friends I know today and will discover tomorrow. OK- I am now convinced. Thanks for talking it over with me. You are a great friend. :)

May Meet Means So Much More... a First Timer

A funny thing happened to me last weekend... I had an amazing time at Disney World. I know, shocker! BUT- it was a weekend enjoyed not as a solo, but as part of something greater. Many of us have been Tweeting, commenting, blogging and posting with each other for days, weeks, months, and even years. We share stories, thoughts, challenges, triumphs, and so many things Disney that bring us closer as a community. (OK, enough of the lists Steve and get to the point).

You know that smile you get when someone comments on something you said? Or, when you read a posting and think "exactly" and you become friends? Multiply that feeling to infinity and beyond and you will begin to know what it is like to be around Walt Disney World with these folks.

This is not a trip report of my weekend. I think of this as an expression of gratitude and appreciation for those I met along the way and the interactions we shared, both in person and virtually.

Besides the Tweets below, I know there are many more folks I met. If I didn't mention you by Twitter handle or by name... It's because I was so overwhelmed that I got lost in my Tweets and conversations. Well, that and I drove home on Sunday all day. Please, please, please feel free to comment to remind me so I am following/friending you. Heck, even if you weren't there I invite you to share your meet up thoughts. Have you done a meet before? Are you going to? Are you "unsure"? Again, my sincere thanks to my brothers and sisters in Disney for making this a Community of Tomorrow ;)

WDWStevieB


From my Twitter timeline's perspective:
Friday, May 21
My goals were to simply fly to Orlando and get to Studios on time to catch Fantasmic. It turned out to be a great first time meeting of new friends. Beci Mahnken and Matt Hochberg were streaming the Fantasmic 10:30 show and Doug Uhlig was right there with them. Through the magic of Twitter and their openness to meet someone new, I was honored to join them. Listening to Beci and Matt do a commentary of the show felt like this: I watch Glee on TV and love it, but I got to see it live and it was just as good if not better!

WDWStevieB
I have just touched down in Orlando and I hope I make some new Disney friends this weekend #confessfriday
7:40 PM May 21st via Osfoora from Southwest Orange, FL

disdug71
Waiting for Fantasmic with @studiocentral @Beci_mousefan @wdwstevieb :)
10:21 PM May 21st via Osfoora

WDWStevieB
Being w/ @studiocentral @Beci_mousefan for the Ustream of Fantasmic was like seeing Glee live on stage. The show is great. In person-Magic!
11:30 PM May 21st via Osfoora



Saturday, May 22
My plans were to take advantage of EMH at Studios (Toy Story Midway Mania, Coaster, and Tower), go to AK and hit Everest, then back to DHS to enjoy the WDW Radio/Lou Mongello 24-hour broadcast May Meet of the Month, participate in the Studios Central ABC Commissary meet up, and then head over to Epcot for the Illuminations Dessert party to end the day. Nice right? It was so much more. I gained great friends (special early awakening thanks to Doug for the ride along company and the use of the iPhone charger), and lost a backpack. A personal thank you to everyone who was part of the search party, including Lou Mongello himself for trying to find it. (yeah, still no word). A full day of meeting friends and making connections.

disdug71
Thanks for being my ride buddy! RT @WDWStevieB: Thanks for the EMH fun @disdug71 - see ya this afternoon!
10:12 AM May 22nd via Osfoora

JL_Davis
@heavensent30 @WDWStevieB i'm on my way to see ya'll!
1:33 PM May 22nd via UberTwitter in reply to heavensent30

lady_aurora
@wdwstevieb hey! You are on the box! I see you!!
3:42 PM May 22nd via txt

jjzmgailey
Just saw @marcmantoo & @WDWStevieB too! Very fun @LouMongello!!! :) Lovin this live from HS thing!!
3:44 PM May 22nd via TweetDeck

WDWStevieB
RT don't forget to score big! @Bixie23: The ever-awesome @WDWStevieB gave me & DD fastpasses for Toy Story Mania!!!!! Thank you SO MUCH!
3:51 PM May 22nd via Osfoora

bigdsp
@WDWStevieB Lous said a kid turned it in to studio catering company lost and found

marcmantoo
@WDWStevieB Steve a little kid found it and brought it to lost and found before we could apprehend it.
4:30 PM May 22nd via TweetDeck

WDWStevieB
I want to thank @loumongello and everyone in and out of the "box" for helping with the elusive bag. Going to keep moving forward ;-)
5:50 PM May 22nd via Osfoora

jeff_chaney
Ditto RT @bigdsp: @wdwstevieb I hear you talking to Beci right now!
8:49 PM May 22nd via TweetDeck






Sunday May 23
The great $10 drive home (see previous blog post for details). Plan was to pick up the car, shop at Character Premiere, and hit the road. Well, I popped into the Beach Club Resort to see how the 24 hour folks were holding up. It was here I had more "OMG- It's you in real life moments" with NDM#1 JL, and Disney Mom @wifeandmomuniv Andi (thanks for the photo shoot to you and to Jorge). I saw Marc again and met the gentleman who dropped everything to go to the D23 Event last year, following seeing Lou's live coverage.

Last Minute May Trip? Consider the Fly In/Drive Out Option!

SO- Here it is, late Spring, and some of us want a last-chance Disney fix before the Summer rush. Maybe you are considering a weekend visit for Star Wars Weekends at the Studios. OH WAIT- You may be tempted to join in the May 22-23 Meet Up with Lou Mongello as he goes live for the 24 hour show to benefit the Make a Wish Foundation (free plug for Lou, because he's the man!)

Thinking you may have a challenge affording the airfare there and back? Well- I am going to share a secret with you. If you live within, say a day's drive of Florida, here is how I do my Spring and Fall trips: Ready? The Fly in/Drive out or Drive in/Fly out. Let me tell ya how that works...

Many of the rental car companies move vehicles TO Florida during the Wintertime to meet the demand of their reservations. Then, in the Spring, these cars need to be moved back to the cities where they came from (or simply, outside of Florida). They use amazingly cheap rates (and we, the renters) to do this. For example, National Car Rental is currently offering a rate of $10-12/day (depending on size) to pick up at many FL airport locations and drop at airports outside of Florida now through the end of May. BONUS- You can pick up the car at the WDW-Dolphin hotel as well! If you have a family, imagine the savings of money and time by only driving one way! Again- just my secret to share with everyone.

Another thought: I shop at Character Premiere and Character Warehouse on EVERY trip. If you don't know what these are, they are the Disney owned/operated outlet stores where "odd-lot" merchandise from the parks is sold to the public at rock-bottom prices. I love loading up the rental car and driving back with my Spring stash. I avoid the excess bag fees this way. (I wish cheap was sexy).

Always check with each of the rental car company's specials page (or ask you favorite travel agent) to research the dates/cities/rates that apply, as they change each season. In fact, below I have assembled the listing (as of April 30th) to assist you with your transportation planning.

Let me know what you think of the idea? I am frugal, I love Disney, I love being frugal for Disney :)

WDWStevieB


FL One-Way Car Discounts:

National: https://www.nationalcar.com/ (see specials to go section)
$10 - $12 per day (priced by car size)
Pick Up: Participating FL Airports including MCO and the WDW-Dolphin Location (not Sanford)
Drop Off: "Participating Locations outside FL" This is a bit vague on the site, so check your local airport.
through 5/31

Alamo: https://www.alamo.com/ (see Alamo rental car specials section)
$10 - $12 per day (priced by car size)
Pick Up: Participating FL Airports including MCO and the WDW-Dolphin Location (not Sanford)
Drop Off: "Participating Locations outside FL" This is a bit vague on the site, so check your local airport.
through 5/31

Budget: http://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/deals/weekday/oneway_savings_daily10.html?&ICID=homepage_right&IID=onewayflorida_2010
$9.95 - $29.95 per day (priced by car size)
Pick up: MCO (or other FL airports, not Sanford)
Drop Off: (Check for specific city/airports): Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
through 6/25 (if available)


Avis: http://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=one-way-florida-US_en-012036&ICID=dl_floneway_0110
$9.95 - $26.95 per day (priced by car size)
Pick up: MCO (or other FL airports, not Sanford)
Drop Off (Check for specific city/airports): Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
through 6/25 (if available)