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We're back from DisneyWorld!

June 6th, 2008 at 05:11 am

long story, but our Miami to Orlando flight got cancelled (and that was THE flight for us...the only one that had space! add to that 100+ revenue passengers from that flight added to the other ones = RENTAL CAR!)...I ended up having to rent the car in Miami and driving to Orlando!!!...and they DIDN't have compacts, or economy, or mid-sized cars...I had to take a full-sized one!!! ...add to that the fact that dropping the car at a different location is more expensive, plus the gas to drive that monster from Miami to Orlando...well, between the car rental and the extra purchases, we spent ~$200 more than we had budgeted (fortunately, I did have a little extra I could use for just such a thing!...after all, don't they say when you travel you should pack your bags and take your money, then take out half of what you packed and add 30% more $$$??)
I got lost, too! (have I ever told you I have a "broken" compass?? I get disoriented VERY easily!...here, it's a joke...but, believe me, it was NOT funny!!!)...it took me 2 additional hours to find our hotel!!! ...
well, that was day 1.
But on day 2....we went to Animal Kingdom and loved it!!! - we didn't do many rides, but we DID see a lot of animals ...AND...as part of the Year of a Million Dreams, we got chosen to be on the Mickey Mouse float in the parade!!!!
We had to buy some clothes because our bag DID travel to Orlando without us, and Miami said our bag was in Orlando, but Orlando hadn't acknowledged receipt of the bag...and, NO, when you travel stand by you don't have the right to be reimbursed for purchase of clothes or toiletries if your flight gets cancelled (you do have a right to compensation if the airline loses your bag, though!)
On day 3 we went to Epcot and they gave us free "ears"! (I had already bought Ale's, but she kept insisting that I buy myself ones, so we could both have ears...and I kept saying "No").
We also went to get our bag from the airport...and I got lost again! both on the way TO the airport and back!
Day 4 we went to Magic Kingdom. Left early (10pm) because Ale didn't want to stay for the fireworks (the noise scared her!)...
Day 5...got up at 4am to go to the airport and drop off the car/get on the 6:15 flight! Got to Miami, checked in and went to the Miami SEaquarium and to the beach (but did not stay because Ale stepped on a rock at the beach and freaked out! - she didn't want to go near the water again and I didn't want to fry in the sun!)...went back to the hotel for some pool time and to change. Went out to hunt for a Barbie Girls MP3 player she wanted (with her own money)...had to go to 3 different places, to finally find 1 left at Toys R Us!...

Every day, when we came back to the hotel, we added up what we had spent to make sure we were more or less on track...
And every day Ale got to write down what SHE had spent out of her $75...so it was a good exercise for both of us!

Came back home to find 4 pieces of translation waiting for me...all due next Monday, so I gotta get to work early tomorrow.

Gotta go! that's my report for today!!!

13 Responses to “We're back from DisneyWorld!”

  1. aevans1206 Says:
    1212749406

    Glad you're back and glad you had fun!

  2. Ima saver Says:
    1212756432

    Other than getting lost (I would have too) I hope you had a great time.

  3. managinglife Says:
    1212762471

    It sounds like you had an adventure! Glad you're back!

  4. mom-sense Says:
    1212765875


    We just got back from Disneyworld last Friday late - but we drove 2500 miles to and from so that tacked on four days. My kids loved Magical Kindgom - we did Epcot and Animal Kingdom too. My kids did really well with their budgeting and use of Disney gift cards too. They all want to return in 2010. Glad you had a great time!

  5. miclason Says:
    1212766676

    LOL! Ale wants to go back in 2010, too! We should plan a lunch or something!

    Oh, I forgot to say everything went on my debit card...except the car and hotel, which required credit cards, but I had already made a payment for the hotel amount and a payment for the (original) car amount into the card, so just the difference from the original car estimate and the actual car cost is on the credit card (and I will make that payment next Friday!) woo-hoo!!

  6. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1212776028

    Welcome back! Sounds like you and Ale had quite the adventure. Smile Btw - I like the idea of "broken compass". I'll have to use that the next time I get lost (which is often when going somewhere new.) I've always used the term "directionally challenged." Smile

  7. scfr Says:
    1212784619

    You got to ride on the float? How cool is that!?! Sorry about the side adventures, but glad you had a great time overall and are back home safely.

  8. NJDebbie Says:
    1212789310

    Aside for the getting lost mishaps I'm glad you had a good time. I'm wondering...maybe a GPS on your rental next time. It's been a while since I rented a car and I'm not even sure if rental companies offered them with the rentals. If you return in 2010 maybe they'll be available. I'm happy that you are back safe.

  9. miclason Says:
    1212792103

    LOL! Ale actually suggested I get one...I didn't because they were like $10/day or something...but, believe me, next time - if there is a next time- I'm including it in the budget!!!

  10. Thrifty Ray Says:
    1212814876

    Glad to hear that things went well for the most part. I am sure this is a trip will be a long time memory for both of you!! I have never been to DisneyWorld...sounds like a lot of fun though!

  11. Carolina Bound Says:
    1212835262

    Sounds like a great mix of good and bad -- the good is what will last in your memories, though!

  12. miclason Says:
    1212987955

    ok, total "damage" from the car, gas and clothes was: $244...but, it comes out to $199, because we were under by $45 in the meals and lodging...oh, well... gotta get to work to make up for it, I guess!

  13. miclason Says:
    1213028021

    we had originally budgeted $1,300 for a 5 day trip with 3 days at the park. We ended doing a 7 day trip with 4 days at the park. The most expensive thing was the car...If I had known it was going to be THAT expensive, I'd probably have stayed on-site at one of the cheaper sites and used the shuttles instead of renting...but, then, I'd still have had to drive from Miami to Orlando!! (I do have the pictures in my computer now, but have been too busy translating to post them)

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