NEED HELP for Nov. trip

[Colorado Belle]

Alrighty then:
I decided at the last mo to go to WDW after THanksgiving.
NO room at the inn, BWV, OKW....nothing.
So I found lodging starting Nov 27
BUT
my plane gets in at 11:50 PM on Nov 26.

I was and still may find a priceline cheapie at the airport and then start my rental for a week on the 27.
BUT I am flying out of Tampa and I'd rather not have to return the car to the MCO first. (I'm hoping a Tampa friend will give me a lift on Sunday Dec 4 and then I'll fly out of Tampa on Dec 5.

I also found I could get a cheaper weekly rate if I rented from WDW car care center...and then I could just drop the car off Sunday

BUT then how do I get from the airport to WDW to pick up the car?

I tried to see if I could get an AP rate, but I only have a certificate not a voucher...and even tho the nice lady at WDW is sending it fed express (I would have just rathered she email me the voucher number so I could check the rates today...but it was really nice of her.

If I found a cheap rate at the park for Sat night I could get ME to my room and then pick up the car on the 27 and check in to the offsite condo.

In the old days you used to be able to return cars anywhere in Florida. But the online site won't allow me to reserve that way.

And I have a headache from thinning too much IYKWIM

Any advice?

Thanks in advance

[jaysue]

Are you arriving in Tampa?

thanks
jaysue

[Colorado Belle]

Hi JaySue,
I'm flying into MCO and out of Tampa on Dec 5 (I will stay the 4th with friends there)

[jaysue]

I think your idea of staying onsite for the one night, using ME to get to WDW from MCO and then over to the car rental centre makes the most sense. In fact you might be willing to pay a higher rate at WDW due to the savings on the transport to WDW from MCO plus the peace of mind of starting off your trip on the right foot.

I would stay at a Value for the one night as you described and consider the total cost (even if you cannot get AP rate) of getting from MCO to WDW and the hotel since the ME would be included as free transport

Cheers
jaysue

[jnrrt]

CB, if you call, you should be able to check rates and book at and AP rate even without the AP, right?

Oh hang on, is this different under the new rules? When does that happen? Two months ago, I just got the AP rate by calling, and you didn't have to have anything - just had to have an AP when you got there. I can't remember when they changed to the "best rate" program though. I wish they'd wuit changing things - I get them, and then they change.

Either way, I agree with Jaysue. I think you'd save the difference in price by getting ME for free.

[Colorado Belle]

Hey ladies...
thank you for your grace and wisdom! (I like the way that sounds :goodvibes )

It's gotten a little more complicated.
1. Due to Sky Auction's delays, the 2 bdroom unit is gone at Summer Bay and it looks like the best layout would be a 1 bedroom at Vacation Villas at Parkway.

2. A gal from over on the DIS offered an OKW studio for the11/ 27-11/2.

I can rent the off-site from 11/26-12/3 or 11/27-12/04 or 12/02--12/09

Me...I'm there from 11/26-12/04.

So no matter how I do it, I'm moving once or twice or three times!

I have until Auust 31 to use the certificates which are good all over the world, but with all the condos in Orlando, it seems that is the best 'deal' re size. I think I can transfer them before I register them...which I guess means someone else could use them. I already have BWV in May. These are RCI getawayweeks through Sky Auction ( i don't have to pay to be in RCI nor the maintenance fees)

I guess I could hope I get bumped from the 11/26 flight, go stay in OKW and then use the week for the 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th , driving over to Tampa on the 5th..........which gets me the best 'value'.

I hate having to make up my own mind!

[jnrrt]

Sorry, CB, you've lost me.

When are you going to be where? And you're trying to use what certificate? What are our choices?

That's probably the most articulate post I've had in a while.

[Colorado Belle]

Lucy I got some splaining to do:

I fly out of Denver to MCO night of 11/26
I fly out of Tampa to Denver eve of 12/05 (but things to do in Tampa that day...so must leave WDW by at least morning of Dec 05

Up for 'rent' by DVC members:
OKW studio 11/27-12/02 5 nights 8 points a night
BWV PV studio same 5 nights 12 points a night

I have a certificate to stay in any number/kind of RCI timeshares for a week
and could check in:
11/26
11/27
12/02 (and only use it 2 or 3 nights)

No matter what I do, it will involve moving.
I think both 'rentals' by DVC owners want money, not a transfer of points.
Haven't heard back from the BWV guy yet.

So far I am going solo, but have invited friends from Tampa to come over.

I love staying on site, but I'm worried that I won't be able to use the certificates before their expiration Aug, 06.

No AP rates available within 30 days and POP is $111
So at least 11/26 is staying at airport hotel and then I could ME in the morning if I rent either OKW or BWV

I guess I have to wait and hear from BWV...but he will probably want too much. The OKW is at $10 per points so not so bad, but the certificates are the least expensive by far....its just that there isn't as much left as 3 days ago.

[Colorado Belle]

OK...
I finally decided to save the bucks.
I'm getting a large two bedroom Vacation Village at the Parkway starting Nov 26...even tho I arrive after midnight, they said they'd keep the lights on for me.

Then, on the 2nd, i can either try to extend there OR the Pops is $77 and a 'mystery' hotel in downtown dis is $59.

Can't beat that arrangement...I only have to move once , if that.

Settled...now back to your regularly scheduled program!

[WDWSTAR]

glad you have it all figured out, now to Enjoy your trip :goodvibes

[jnrrt]

Sorry I didn't help you at all, but with those options, I hereby approve of your choice! You can't beat free, especially if you're possibly moving on-site later, and moving once is a good thing.

[Colorado Belle]

Thanks Jnrtt,
Actually, you did help...ONce I wrote everything down, the answer was pretty clear.
Then today I tried to get a rental car and National about drove me crazy: I actually got angry at some gal on the phone (when my rate went from 165 to over 300 just cause I was changing the pick up time.....po'd me so much that I got ressies at Dollar and Alamo for less. Will cancel all but one when it gets closer...

[jnrrt]

Okay, that's nuts! Why would the pick-up change it so much? Did it add a day?

I will say Thrifty is always cheap, but they were really annoying last time we tried them. Good luck! I'm glad you got the trip to work out.

[jaysue]

My experience has been that National/Alamo tend to have higher rates than the competition especially on shorter notice rentals

Glad to hear things are starting to fall into place

cheers
jaysue
(not a lady :hammer: )