Trip--October, 2010-the big 4-0!! - Updated 4/5 - Baby Boy is Born! - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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To really do MNSSHP right you'd really need to be there at the beginning. We even got there two and half hours before the party began and still left with so much not done.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KimandMark
70. 3 comes from 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run.
No MNSSHP anyother night, that's why I'm considering it. I forgot to even ask what my costume should be!!
I'm thinking we'll have only carry on bags (my bike/race gear is staying behind with my team, the sponsor moves it for us) and a rental, so we can be out fairly quickly...but the hour is probably realistic.
More opinions please!! (and did I see Cruefest on your countdown??? I'm embarrassed to admit how much time I've spent figuring out what I would say if I ever actually met Vince!!)
wow that sounds exhausting!
see no matter how you look at it, its at least an hour out of the airport, even when we get rentals. there could be lines, etc..
slow people ugh
yes I have met Vince many times and am friends with his oldest son Neil
heres 2 pics
me, Vince and my bff Peggy he came up to US at the borgata! yes we died lol
and here is Neil, vinces son
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Mr. J and I had many conversation this week about Universal and the Rockit Coaster and Harry Potter and how un-freakin'-believable the ticket prices are for one day at US/IOA. Some how this morphed into staying one more night. And then it morphed into staying one more renting DVC points. And maybe trying to get BLT...or AKL. Or whatever. Hey, and that means another restaurant...
I can spend money like its my job.
Also, my first race of the season and ground work for nationals is in 8 days. Freak outs have begun.
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Where was I? Oh yes, going insane with anticipation for this weekend’s race. You think Disney anticipation will make you sick, try pouring hours and hours every week for months into something and knowing that while your heart and lungs and legs might be totally prepared Mother Nature can be a total bi-atch. She’s doing it now. I’ve seen forecasts for heavy thunderstorms that switch to high 80s and humid. Both are bad racing conditions. I keep trying to remember what I can control and that’ s my own technique and level of effort—if I remain within my ability and remember to focus on my form and my nutrition it will all be okay. This is not nationals, this is just the first step on the way, a test of my foundation. If the foundation is strong, I can start building the house. And I after the run I had yesterday I’m pretty convinced I can beat the ass off the running part of this course. Bring it, Texas, bring it.
Okay, now that I’ve taunted Texas lets talk some Disney. After last week’s post about MNSSHP I started to think about adding another day, to perhaps accommodate the party. And of course, the part where a three night vacation isn’t really a vacation at all. Mr. J and I bounced some ideas around and thought that we should try to get a studio at BLT, and then change our V&A reservation to the last night so we could monorail to dinner (rather than drive or take a cab…). I sent some PMs to the rental board threads on another site and an email to one of my regular points rental people and after a couple of days finally heard back. Mr. D was more than willing to throw me 13 points for BLT but BLT wasn’t available. Okay, what about AKL—we could move for the last night and change our Jiko ressie…Nope. Nada for a studio. But wonder of wonders, BWV has one. That works out great, since we are already in BWV at a studio. I’m thinking we just got lucky, the elusive studios at BWV during FWF go fast and I can’t believe there was one left for the night we wanted. So it turns out we won’t even have to move!
So now this changes some dinner plans for us, mostly that I’m not going to kill myself that first night trying to get somewhere since now I have another night to eat a signature restaurant. I’ve currently got V&A for my birthday, Cali Grill for what appears to be a fireworks night at MK, and Jiko (although I need to call and change the dates for Jiko now…and maybe CG…maybe I want to go to the park that night instead…I do love me some Wishes…).
Time for your input: The first night, as you know, we arrive from separate destinations at MCO at 8:30PM, with a rental car, carry on bags and a studio at BWV. What would you do for dinner that night? Bear in mind I’ll be starving to death as the long course nationals race is that morning (remember, 70.3 miles, hurry to shower and go to the airport, probably eat airport food and hobble to the plan). I’m thinking Flying Fish (of hat wearing/gi fame—I should wear my trisuit and see if they let me in, its got screen printing on it, but its all company logos for bike shops and nutrition supplements, seems that fits the dress code, I mean, if a gi fits the dress code, anything does). But we’ve never been to Kouzina and while I’m not impressed with the reviews, I’m more than willing to try something new. Of course there will be drinks, so beverage quality can be a factor in your decision. An alternative would be to stop at grocery store and pick up something to eat and just sit in our room. The next day is probably a water park day and V&A, so we’ll be able to sleep in a bit.
What say you?
And I thought I’d give you a little background on renting points, in case anyone is interested in trying this angle. I’ve never had bad luck with this and have done it many many times. I’ve got three or four people I typically work with, finding all of them on another board. The basics are pretty much the same for each of them, but I will say I like one of my rental providers better than the rest, Mr. D is super nice and helpful! Usually DVCers will rent some points to you for $9-$11 per point, with 50% due at booking and 50% due 30 days out. I’ve paid that way, I’ve paid it all at once. You get a reservation sheet from them first, with a number and use paypal or a check and boom, its done. The down side is that you are pretty much tied to that reservation then. Changing or canceling isn’t going to go smoothly or make anyone happy. So know what you want and know that you can go and know that you will probably lose your money if some tragedy befalls your family and you have to cancel your trip at the last minute. Those are the down sides, oh, and you don’t get the free dining kind of deals either, but I considering you have to buy a package to get the free dining, I still think I make out okay.
The up side is that you get a fancy pants room for a great price! A studio at BWV Sunday-Thursday nights will end up running you about $100-$130 a night and you’ll have a kitchenette (I love that I can bring my leftovers from restaurants home and eat them for lunch the next day—heating them in the microwave, having actual silverware and glassware to use). I’ve stayed in a one bedroom as well, and it is a fair amount more, but you get a full kitchen and washer/dryer. I have very seriously considered joining DVC and almost did last year until I got an unexpected tax bill that ate my deposit. We are still considering it, but the points rental prices haven’t really changed and Mr. J and I take vacations to other destinations too, so I’m not sure I want to commit yet. I have thought about the idea that my family can benefit (imagine giving a room at Disney as a Christmas gift!!) but I can’t pull the trigger. Its not really a money saver, its a way to get a big girl room on a regular basis for a reasonable price. I’m pretty sure we would end up spending way more money on Disney if we bought, simply because we would have an excuse-the room is paid for, lets just go for a long weekend…
Until next week—I’ll report on the race and what tickets I plan to buy (there’s a whole convoluted logic I’ve got working involving Amex cards, rewards, future trips, palm readers, stars aligning, and magic beans).
I almost forgot, if you're interested (and why wouldn't you be, I'm clearly fascinating!!) you can track the race results on sunday at www.ironmanlonestar.com, I'm race number 1444, starting at 8:15 central time.
I'd be tempted to go for Kouzzina. We enjoyed the food there and at least you can wear what you like without feeling out of place. There's nothing worse than walking in somewhere and everyone's dressed up and we have noticed that people do seem to dress up for the Flying Fish more than some of the other signature restaurants. It would also be cheaper...
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I have more Vince Pics I would need to dig them up!
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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