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Brought to you by...
John and Donna Gross "The Full Mickey - At a Discount!" The Wall Street Journal
Renea writes: "Just returned from disneyworld on a 10 day trip which was extended to 12 days due to the storm last weekend up here in CT. I thought I would share some comments to put in your newsletter: We did not have our minivan yet so when we arrived at the Floridian, we took the LYNX bus to [your ticket agent's] place and purchased our hopper passes. He was wonderful! I ran out of the 14 day, 4 day hopper pass special so he gave me 2 regular passes at only $205. We lost one of the passes and called him. He was very kind and told us to go the a park and see if they could track the numbers on the passes. WE took the monorail over to Magic Kingdom and went to guest relations. They were able to give us another pass for free! I strongly recommend anyone who needs passes to take the bus for $1.25 each way and see [your ticket agent]. We also went to super walmart and purchased some goodies for the room. We took the bus there, got a transfer, got back on the bus and went to [your ticket agent's]. We then took the bus back to the Floridian." Using public transportation is a very inexpensive way to get around. See our book for details. |
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Jim writes: "I need to get 13 students from the All Star Movies to the TTC at 6:30 AM later next week. Buses used to start running to the Magic Kingdom at 6:00 AM. I called the Disney Information line and got the answer that they don't run that early but she didn't realize that they ever did. Any ideas on how I can find out before I get down there (when I will ask bus driver for sure) so I can make final plans? PS: Beth, [your travel agent], saved a friend of mine $50 per night at the Port Orleans French Quarter." Buses now run an hour before and after the parks close. Call 407/WDW-RIDE. Good news about Beth.
Karen writes: "I was the writer of the note sent to you last year regarding the driving skills of the wdw bus drivers. If you remember, we were very unhappy with the speed and general driving skills during our week's stay. Many guests were complaining around us, especially those standing with children. Some rides were downright scary! Well, I need to report that we just returned from a ten day stay and all I can say is someone got the memo!! The bus drivers drove completely different. Every ride was enjoyable. We felt safe. The drivers were very pleasant. Such a drastic change, I was amazed. Some even incorporated some humor. Since we are huge Disney fans (this was our tenth trip), I am very pleased that this issue has been taken care of. We had a great trip, February 27 to March 7 - fantastic weather. [Your travel agent] was very helpful and sweet to work with. Thank you for your very informative site!" Thank you, Karen, for the great feedback!
Beth, our travel agent, writes: http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html "John, this is an awesome site! I am frequently amazed at how many people show up at the airport 45 minutes before their flight time and are seemingly shocked to find lines at both the check-in desk and the security checkpoints. We all need to get used to thinking about the security points as being a place that can really hold you up now. That link above allows you to input some information about your flight and then see how long the typical wait time at security is for that day and time. There are two things that can SAVE you time on the check-in side of it, though. One is using the new self-service kiosks that most major airlines offer. You can feed in nearly any card with your name on a magnetic strip (credit card, frequent flyer card, etc.) so that they computer can locate your name, and then you select yours seats (if not already done), enter the number of bags you're checking, and you're done! Your boarding passes pop out of the kiosk and the counter person will tag your bags. You'll then probably be directed to another location nearby to hand the luggage over to the scanner people. The other option is to check in AT HOME! Yep, now many airlines will allow you to go on their website in advance (I did it the day before my last flight) and check in. You print out the boarding pass(es) right at home. Very cool. TIP: If your boarding pass has some sort of a **S** notation on it (and you don't see it on boarding passes for the rest of your family) then YOU have been randomly selected for a more thorough security screen. You'll be pulled out of the line after the initial scan and they'll use the wand on you to scan your whole body. They'll also go through every carry on you have (while you watch). This can take 10-15 minutes if they're a little backed up, or can go as quickly as 5 minutes. Just remember that it's not personal; everyone has an equal chance at getting selected. (They've even snagged my 6-year-old daughter!) Note that the boarding passes you print out at home will NOT randomly select people; however, it will refuse to let you do online check-in if you've been flagged by security in their routine reviews of passenger manifests."
15 ways to save at the gas pump:
(Source: Orlando Sentinel)
WDW guests used to rely on Disney to open their cars for free when they locked their keys inside. Disney has eliminated that perk. Disney says that they felt most motorists had AAA or some other roadside assistance they could rely on. Disney will continue to start dead batteries free of charge. (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Leah writes: "Could you tell me if there is anywhere I could find a map of the Disney World transportation system. I was told by a Disney world hotel operator that I could get one when I arrive but that they aren't available otherwise." For buses, click here.
Stephanie writes about bringing the toy guns from WDW home on the plane: "Maybe you should remind people to make sure to put the TOY guns in their checked luggage at the airport. We had one from Frontiertown in MK in our carry on and it caused a lot of trouble so we had to send it back separately."
Two new services are now being offered at Orlando International Airport: Laptop Lane Ltd. is an area where travelers can access the Internet, printers, telephones and fax machines. Laptop Lane Ltd. also sells computer accessories and keeps a technician on duty to help visitors. The airport has also created a web site where customers can access flight arrival and departure schedules in real time. The information is updated every 10 minutes. Call 407/825-2055 or click here.
A subscriber writes: "What can I take on the plane with me?" Beth writes: This is the "official" TSA list of what is and is not allowed on planes (updated last week), both for carry-on and checked baggage. It's a great resource! Click here.
Kalyn writes: "My sister and I plan on seeing the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at 7:15 on a Wed. night. Should we plan on taking a taxi back to ASMu at this time of night? I would hate to be traveling on buses for a couple of hours just to get back to our hotel for the night!" Your show time of the Hoop-dee-doo ends before 9 PM. Disney buses are still running, so you should be able to get a bus directly to All Stars.
Amy writes: "The good news is that I stayed at the Grosvenor and got the great rate you clued me in on. They upgraded my view, without charging me more, because I asked, as you suggested. They had housekeeping bring us free toothpaste when we told the girl at the front desk that we had forgot to pack some. The room was perfect, the view was like a virtual postcard, and the staff treated us like family. I highly recommend the Grosvner. The bad news is that we took the city bus... We spent nearly 3 hours in route from the airport. We got right onto the bus as soon as we got to the airport. We were pleased at how clean it was, and the scenery was better than I expected, it didn't go through any bad parts of town. I was excited that it went so smoothly, until 2 1/2 hrs later when we were still on the bus. I also found out that Mears monopolizes the shuttle service to Disney... Although a taxi is $70 roundtrip, they have vans that will take up to 7 people at no additional charge, whereas Mears charges $28 per person roundtrip, so if you have 3 people or more, the taxi is cheaper. The only trick is that the taxi is not allowed to pull up and solicit customers, because Mears is monopolizing the airport. You have to call the local taxi the day before, tell them your flight number and arrival time, and they will meet you at baggage claim with a sign, much like a limo service would. I have really enjoyed your web site. I read it monthly and now everyone at work comes to me for advice before they go to Disney. I have become a Disney scholar." That's a very long time to be on a bus! Glad the Grosvenor turned out well. Mears basically has a monopoly there and you're right - most people don't know that there are cheaper means of transportation. Glad you enjoy the site and that we were able to be a part of your vacation. Dan writes: "I have two tips for you: First - when going to Walt Disney World instead of using Mears Transportation we have been using Florida Town Car. We have 4 adults in our party and the cost is only $85.00 or $95.00 with a grocery stop. We buy our snacks off property and save that way, besides what we save taking the Florida Town car. What we like the best is they pick you up at the airport and return you there with no extra stops and you save a lot of time and frustration. Second, is use the E-Tickets. It's fantastic. You enter the park after it closes and have the main rides to yourself with no lines. Also the disney characters are all around the castle for great photo opportunities. i believe the cost is only $12.00 but I am not sure." E-tickets are US$12 for adults and US$8 for children.
Earn FREE Flyer Miles: The Gold Delta SkyMiles card gives you up to two SkyMiles for every dollar you spend on groceries, gas, stamps, travel, etc. Get 10,000 free SkyMiles the first time you use the Card. Winning strategy: use it whenever you can, pay the bill when it comes due, and accumulate those flyer miles. That's like getting the sky miles for free! For more details, click here.
Disney is now testing the Magic on Demand bus system. Similar to the way Disney calls in more buses when the parks close, the new system is supposed to call in buses for the guests as they leave their hotel. (Source: screamscape.com)
AAA Alert We booked the Auto Train for one of our vacations at WDW. We checked Amtrak's site to determine prices before we went to AAA to book the train in person. If you reserve your seats on the Internet, Amtrak mails your tickets or you can pick them up at the station. AAA gives you your tickets right away. We thought we would get a good deal and have our tickets in hand if we went in person. We were shocked to find out that AAA wanted $100 more than the price we were quoted at Amtrak's site! The agent called Amtrak personally to verify the price. She was not happy to learn that Amtrak was charging $100 less if the customer booked online. Needless to say, we went home and booked the train tickets online and saved ourselves $100! And that was for one-way tickets. We would have saved even more on round-trip tickets! Amtrak will mail our tickets at no additional charge and gave us our AAA discount online! Make sure you know what things cost before you see your travel agent. Our customers know what to expect since we put prices in our book. That's why they get the best deals!
Cheap Transportation
The Greyhound Bus Company has been known to offer a companion discount
where you pay for one ticket and another passenger rides for free! See
greyhound.com or call
800/231-2222.
Discount AirFare Seniors get a break from the airlines! Many airlines allow seniors to travel at a reduced "senior" rate. Moreover, they can travel with a companion (has to be under 62) who also gets the "senior" rate. So, let the grandparents take the grandchildren with them to WDW and they will all save money! These "senior" fares are generally hidden, but your travel agent knows how to find them. Recently, round-trip flights to several cities in Florida went for $158!
Several airlines offer a "student" rate to full time
college students. Be sure to ask for the discount. Like Disney, the airlines
will never volunteer the lowest rate!
Cheap Transportation to Busch Gardens Busch Gardens is now offering visitors to central Florida round-trip transportation to its park. Each of the five luxury coaches that make up The Shuttle Express will accommodate 47 passengers in air-conditioned comfort and include video entertainment. Five routes will shuttle customers from 40 different locations at a cost of only $10 per person! The Shuttle Express picks up passengers at Mercado Shopping Village, Kissimmee Old Town Shopping Village, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Lake Buena Vista Factory Outlet Mall; at 40 hotels in Central Florida; and at Flex Ticket transportation routes. Shuttles make morning pick-ups at 8 AM and 10:15 AM and return to locations in Orlando at 5, 6, and 8 PM. The service is free to those who buy the 5-Park Orlando Flex Ticket which grants unlimited admission to Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Wet 'n Wild. Reservations are recommended. Reservations are required for groups of six or larger. For information, reservations, and schedules, call 800/511-2450.
Driving to Walt Disney World John writes: "My family is thinking about driving to DisneyWorld ... from Philadelphia. MapQuest indicated that the trip would be about 17 hours plus. Do you know of any links to webpages or newsgroups that have suggestions/recommendations for driving down from the Northeast (e.g., places to lay over on the way down, things to see, etc.)?" We have driven down many times from Maryland. It takes 16-18 hours. Should take you longer. One time in an ice storm in Richmond it took 24 hours! That was scary sliding across the bridges! Make sure you stop at South of the Border. It's on the North Carolina/South Carolina border. It easy to spot. It has a towering sombrero and they advertise on billboards the last half of NC. If you want to stay over night, stay in Sanford, SC. That only leaves you eight hours of driving the next day.
Parking
A visitor writes: Those with Disney passes and staying off property may park at the Transportation and Ticket Center located near the Magic Kingdom. You can access all of WDW from there via monorail and bus. You will only have to pay one parking fee of $6 per vehicle. Those with the Universal Flex Ticket pay $6 per vehicle once at the first park they visit.
Dan writes: "I could be wrong but I seem to remember being offsite and park hopping with my car and just showing my first paid parking [voucher] and not having to pay a second time. I have six children and with a large group it is sometimes easier to use the car to park hop." You are right. The parking voucher is good all day at any park.
Taxis and Drive Time Mark from Holland writes: "I'm going to Orlando in October this year. And I wanna know how much the taxi charges are from int. drive to for example Disneyworld or universal Studios. Is there a charge per mile?"
Taxis charge US$1.50 per mile. Universal is on Kirkman
Road (exit 30 on I-4), around the 5900 block of International Drive. SeaWorld
is 5 miles from Universal. WDW is 10 miles from Universal. Taxis charge US$1.50 per mile. Use the yellow cabs. Avoid the independent taxis. Ask a Disney employee to show you where to catch an official taxi.
Public Transportation Sharon writes: "I have really enjoyed reading the affordable disney information. I was wondering whether you can advise if there is affordable local transportation to Sea World and Universal Studios; we will be staying [at] the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort for our stay and I am hoping to save money wherever possible so that we may buy more souvenirs." Make sure you get to the store we recommend in our book for your souvenirs. We can't tell you how many good deals we have found there. Mears Motor Shuttles provides transportation to the theme parks. Call 407/423-5566. You can also take a taxi. (We list several hotels in our book that offer transportation to the parks for free or for a fee.) In regard to public transportation, LYNX buses serve Osceola, Orange, and Seminole counties from 5 AM to midnight/7 days a week. Routes include tourist attractions. Costs less than $1. Look for the LYNX Paw Sign to catch the bus. Call 407/841-8240 for more information. The I-RIDE TROLLEY SERVICE makes over 50 stops on International Drive from 7 AM to midnight/7days a week. The buses run every 15 minutes. Costs 75 cents. Seniors pay 25 cents. Drivers will not turn away passengers who have no money. You can buy a one-day unlimited pass for $2 ($3 for a three-day pass and $5 for a five-day pass) at most of the hotels along International Drive. Look for the I-Ride Trolley signs. Call 407/354-5656 for more information.
The MERCADO SHUTTLE provides free transportation 10 AM to 10 PM from the The Mercado shopping/dining/entertainment complex on International Drive to 15 hotels in the area. Call 407/345-9337 for more information.
Olga writes: "We are ... looking to spend a day at Universal Studios and wanted to know if there is a way we can rent a car from the WDW (we are flying and transportation to the resort was provided in our passes ...) resorts to go to Universal."
Visit one of the rental agencies at the resorts on Hotel Plaza Blvd by Downtown
Disney Marketplace.
Binnie writes: "I love your "Affordable Disney" newsletter and plan on purchasing your book before my June trip as well. I was quite interested in your piece about the AAA shuttle that is running from WDW to Universal studios. I have already purchased my 2-day passes for Universal Studios. Do you know if I would still be able to reserve this shuttle without tickets, and how much it would cost?"
Glad you like the newsletter! Contact your local AAA office or call 800/222-6424
for more information.
Antonette writes: "If you have any information for us about hiring a camper for 4 persons ... we would really appreciate it."
For camper rentals, click
here.
Carrie writes: "I was wondering where the auto train starts to go to Orlando."
The auto train leaves Lorton, Virginia (outside Washington, D.C.) at 4:30
PM. "The Auto Train you mentioned sounds very interesting. Please give more info... where does it go? Texas? How do I get more info?" I found what I wanted at their web site. I even checked their rates against AAA and found that AAA had given me the wrong price! You can also call 1-800-USARAIL.
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