Vacation

Alright, so you all know I am heading down to Georgia at the end of the month to see Ryan graduate. Well, I am now flying down on the 27th of March (next Friday) and we will be heading down to the Coronado Springs Hotel (WDW Moderate Resort) to spend 2 days. Why? Military Discount. We wouldn't have been able to afford this without what they are calling the "Disney Salute to Military." Ryan will recieve a FREE 5 DAY PARK HOPPER PLUS (Visit the 4 disney parks plus Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, blah, blah, blah), and my ticket is $99 plus an extra $25 and tax to make it the 5 DAY PARK HOPPER. We are opting out of the PLUS option, since we have only Saturday and Sunday to spend at the 4 parks. And we proably won't see half of all of them!

Now the reason behind staying "on property: Since we only have the two days, it would be a hassle to bring in food or leave to eat a nice dinner. If we would have stayed "off property" the hotel would have run from $60 a night plus ($120), then pay for your parking at the parks $6 a day ($12), now put a snack/beverage in (2.50 - 5 each), then count in lunch and dinner $15 each for lunch, and upwards of $35 each for dinner ($120) and that is on the low side. Now, factor in that you have to drive there and wait for the shuttle, and leave when the park "closes." Add in a tank of gas ($30) All in all - roughly $357 - and that is a low ball figure.

Now "on property" costs a total of $447 (tax included) for two nights. Now, the Coronda Springs is a 4 star property, and normally runs during peak season about $205 for the standard view room. Which is the room we opted for. We added in the Disney Dining Package, for $40 a person for each night we are there. What does this cover? Each day we both get a snack (mickey ice cream bar, popcorn, soda, water, etc.), a counter service meal (the fast food joints of WDW), and a table service meal (even at Le Cellier Steakhouse or Coral Reef, which dinners start at $25). What is in the meals? A non-alcholic beverage, an entree, and a desert! Wow - that's alot of food! I have read that you can use your snack for a pretzel or something light for breakfast (or gee - grab granola bars to eat before you leave the hotel), and you can change your counter service dessert to a water. Not bad. We will see how it works for us. But we do plan on eating at the Coral Reef, where the Maui Maui is $26, and the prime rib is $31 - before you add soda ($2.50 each and dessert). So that night, we have ate more then $40 each in food. Another perk - well the regular's who stay off property have to leave when the park closes, WDW resort guests stay later. So on Saturday, MGM opens an hour early for us, and Disney stays open till 12 am!! Wow! Another perk - leave the truck at the Coronda Springs Hotel and take the Disney bus in to the park. Ahh, no driving!

Here is our hotel: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/coronado-springs-resort/

Can't wait!! I'll fill you in as it gets closer!!