Trip Report 2 broke guys and the deluxe bday trip!

Yes, yes, I know we just got back. We went in the middle of December, then again for Christmas, then again in the middle of January, and now - our third month in a row…

When: Feb 2-4
Where: All-Star Music, and All-Star Music (you’ll see.)
Who:

Tony

And Brian

Wait, wait - that’s not right. Pretty close, but not right. Let’s try again.

Tony

And Brian

OK but those were reject “blooper” pics from our last TR. Here’s one where we’re overdressed:

That’ll do.

And…Mickey.

 

[Tiggerish]

Literally the only DVC room available that night is a 1BR at Saratoga Springs.

Well, there might be something even pricier, but I only looked for studios or 1BRs

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

If you don't want to pay the upcharge for the Geo-82 fireworks package just try for a later ADR. I had a 7:30pm ADR and was able to see the fireworks ok from the table I was at without the package upcharge. I didn't plan on trying to be there for the fireworks, it just worked out.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Literally the only DVC room available that night is a 1BR at Saratoga Springs.

Well, there might be something even pricier, but I only looked for studios or 1BRs

Yeah, the town is pretty booked up. Thank you for checking!

If you don't want to pay the upcharge for the Geo-82 fireworks package just try for a later ADR. I had a 7:30pm ADR and was able to see the fireworks ok from the table I was at without the package upcharge. I didn't plan on trying to be there for the fireworks, it just worked out.

Love it.

Looks like I can get our usual Delta hotel for under $100. Or Aloft for a smidge more (I like them better.)

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Looks like I can get our usual Delta hotel for under $100. Or Aloft for a smidge more (I like them better.)

I went with the Aloft for $25 more. Saturday night is booked.

Speaking of vacation creep, the place Brian works has been sold, and should close by December. This may or may not permit a bit more flexibility of scheduling on our trip - perhaps arrive a little earlier on Saturday or stay a little later on Wednesday. Oh, and B needs a new job!

My first booking for our trip is for Citricos for my actual birthday dinner on Sunday night. We’ll have free use of a water park during the day, and may visit the Poly after dinner.

If we arrive early on Saturday, we may visit Disney Springs or have dinner at Jiko.

As I went to book parks (MK early on Tuesday since they have a Halloween party that night) I realized I made a miscalculation…

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I realized I made a miscalculation…

We are blocked out of the theme parks on Monday for Labor Day. (Oops!)

This would not have changed my booking plans either way, but it does cause me to adjust our on site plans.

That leaves Monday wide open to enjoy our beautiful deluxe resort(!!) And maybe I’ll think of something else to do. But relaxing by the resort pool isn’t sounding bad at all!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Hmm…Monday(?)

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Hmm…Monday(?)

View attachment 877594

That's a pretty good deal. I haven't been to SeaWorld since maybe 1995. Part of me would like to see how it has changed but I can't usually talk myself out of paying for another ticket to something when I already have a WDW pass but if I had a day my WDW wasn't covered this might be a possibility. If you go please post some pictures, I'd like to see how it has changed.

 

[93boomer]

That's a pretty good deal. I haven't been to SeaWorld since maybe 1995. Part of me would like to see how it has changed but I can't usually talk myself out of paying for another ticket to something when I already have a WDW pass but if I had a day my WDW wasn't covered this might be a possibility. If you go please post some pictures, I'd like to see how it has changed.

X2!!! I bet it’s changed a lot!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

That's a pretty good deal. I haven't been to SeaWorld since maybe 1995. Part of me would like to see how it has changed but I can't usually talk myself out of paying for another ticket to something when I already have a WDW pass but if I had a day my WDW wasn't covered this might be a possibility. If you go please post some pictures, I'd like to see how it has changed.

X2!!! I bet it’s changed a lot!

I’m trying to pinpoint the last time we went. I believe we got an annual pass once or twice when they were around $75. I think it was pre-Kylie, and just before they stopped the Shamu shows.

They also have a version of Disney Dining Plan where you can eat all day for $30 per person (at certain restaurants. One entree & one side or dessert + non-alcoholic beverage - every 90 minutes. Hey, I’ll take all my bday pictures at the water park the day before lol.) I just don’t see us getting up super early and spending the whole day. Again - nice deluxe resort back at WDW!

I will have to solve this puzzle in the next 24 hours or so.

 

[dizfan917]

18 holes at Winter Summerland mini golf will kill an hour or so on Monday!

PLUS we love to just ride those Sassagoula River Cruise boats from Disney Springs to Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and the two Port Orleans resorts... I bet you could find cocktails at each of those stops... then hop on a bus from Riverside to Hollywood Studios and grab a Skyliner ride to the Riviera and have (yet another) drink at Topolino's!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

In queue for a longshot ADR at Beak & Barrel...opens at 7PM ET...the page says "do not refresh." AAAAAHHHH! Going to try on my phone at the same time, but it looks different.

UPDATE 7:03PM: not looking good. Message changed to this:

"Due to high demand, reservations for The Beak & Barrel may be limited or could be unavailable when it's your turn to enter the site."

I broke the rules and refreshed on my phone LOL. We'll see if that makes any difference.

 

[93boomer]

In queue for a longshot ADR at Beak & Barrel...opens at 7PM ET...the page says "do not refresh." AAAAAHHHH! Going to try on my phone at the same time, but it looks different.

UPDATE 7:03PM: not looking good. Message changed to this:

"Due to high demand, reservations for The Beak & Barrel may be limited or could be unavailable when it's your turn to enter the site."

I broke the rules and refreshed on my phone LOL. We'll see if that makes any difference.

Good luck!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Good luck!

No good. I did get in, but the earliest available was September 7th. I could have gotten any day from then until the end of October. Thought about booking another trip, but it makes no sense. I'll be in tax hell from the time I get back from this birthday trip until they're due, October 15th. Boooooooring. Didn't book. Maybe we'll get lucky with a walk up! Or an ADR may open up.

Did not buy Sea World tix, but the sale is still going on, even though it was supposed to have ended on 8/17. Still an option.

Also invited Brian's brother & sister in-law (they live in Melbourne) to visit us on Monday. That could be fun. They're not sure yet.

I really think I want to fully explore our resort. It's an opportunity I don't get often (to stay in a deluxe, never stayed there before.) Apparently you can see the Electrical Water Pageant and/or the fireworks from Geyser Point (open air bar/restaurant on the water, and there's another bar. Why not spend some time there? LOL. I think this will be fun.

And there's a gym! I can sort of keep my routine going. Gotta take a bday pic at the water park! Paraphrasing RuPaul: "I betta werk!"

 

[luvinthemajik]

In queue for a longshot ADR at Beak & Barrel...opens at 7PM ET...the page says "do not refresh." AAAAAHHHH! Going to try on my phone at the same time, but it looks different.

UPDATE 7:03PM: not looking good. Message changed to this:

"Due to high demand, reservations for The Beak & Barrel may be limited or could be unavailable when it's your turn to enter the site."

I broke the rules and refreshed on my phone LOL. We'll see if that makes any difference.

It's not breaking the rules, just testing a hypothesis

 

[93boomer]

No good. I did get in, but the earliest available was September 7th. I could have gotten any day from then until the end of October. Thought about booking another trip, but it makes no sense. I'll be in tax hell from the time I get back from this birthday trip until they're due, October 15th. Boooooooring. Didn't book. Maybe we'll get lucky with a walk up! Or an ADR may open up.

Did not buy Sea World tix, but the sale is still going on, even though it was supposed to have ended on 8/17. Still an option.

Also invited Brian's brother & sister in-law (they live in Melbourne) to visit us on Monday. That could be fun. They're not sure yet.

I really think I want to fully explore our resort. It's an opportunity I don't get often (to stay in a deluxe, never stayed there before.) Apparently you can see the Electrical Water Pageant and/or the fireworks from Geyser Point (open air bar/restaurant on the water, and there's another bar. Why not spend some time there? LOL. I think this will be fun.

And there's a gym! I can sort of keep my routine going. Gotta take a bday pic at the water park! Paraphrasing RuPaul: "I betta werk!"

Oh goodness I just saw they were completely booked until October!
You can try later on after the newness wears off. I thought about getting one for us in September since we are celebrating 45 years, but I'm glad I didn't try tonight.
Haha I've cut out sugar so I've already lost a few pounds. Walking helps too.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Oh goodness I just saw they were completely booked until October!
You can try later on after the newness wears off. I thought about getting one for us in September since we are celebrating 45 years, but I'm glad I didn't try tonight.
Haha I've cut out sugar so I've already lost a few pounds. Walking helps too.

Sounds like you're doing great! I typically don't do processed sugar at all. There are exceptions (banana bread! And Disney trips. And holidays/my birthday LOL. You need balance in life!)

Walking 20-ish minutes at least once a day, sometimes twice. The belly has gone down considerably.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Vacation creep alert.

Staying Wednesday night! It’ll be offsite, but we’ll still have the extra night hours at MK that night after checking out of a Deluxe that morning. (Makes up for being blocked out Monday!) and it makes my birthday last longer lol.

Stay tuned for almost certainly doing something Thursday morning.

Saturday: offsite. Slight chance of DS.
Sunday: WL + Water park
Monday: WL
Tuesday: WL + MK + ?
Wednesday: offsite + ? + MK
Thursday: ? (B has to work around 2pm.) maybe a resort or park breakfast.

Hardly anything booked. Woo hoo! Flying by the seat of our pants. But “I can fly, I can fly, I can fly…”

 

[Tiggerish]

Flying by the seat of our pants.

Really, it's the only way to go.

I know I helped build a business that way, and you probably did as well (except without the help). Why not vacation the same?

 

[93boomer]

Vacation creep alert.

Staying Wednesday night! It’ll be offsite, but we’ll still have the extra night hours at MK that night after checking out of a Deluxe that morning. (Makes up for being blocked out Monday!) and it makes my birthday last longer lol.

Stay tuned for almost certainly doing something Thursday morning.

Saturday: offsite. Slight chance of DS.
Sunday: WL + Water park
Monday: WL
Tuesday: WL + MK + ?
Wednesday: offsite + ? + MK
Thursday: ? (B has to work around 2pm.) maybe a resort or park breakfast.

Hardly anything booked. Woo hoo! Flying by the seat of our pants. But “I can fly, I can fly, I can fly…”

Woo hoo!!

 

[RememberWhen]

Love vacation creep!