Portobello Restaurant Was Great!

I went to Portobello Restaurant last night at the Marketplace near Downtown Disney, and the food was really good! I had a personal pizza and some complimentary bread (which came with olive oil and a roasted garlic bulb), along with a cremesicle alcoholic beverage, and some bread pudding and coffee. It was good, but there was an Italian family next to my table, with 3 little girls, and the little girls were playing and talking and shouting really loud in Italian, and the parents laughed and thought that it was charming. I tried to remember that Disney is for kids, and that I was here for fun, too.

I tried to arrange Disney's Magical Express for my party that's flying in tonight, and who technically would board the bus on check-in date (Sept 8), but since we aren't supposed to check in until 4PM, they won't let my sister and her boyfriend ride on the Magical Express. That means that I have to drive to the Airport and pick them up! Alas!

I think I'll go to the movies at Downtown Disney shortly- they have a lot of movies that I want to see!

Going Tonight To Portobello Restaurant at Marketplace at Walt Disney World

I have a reservation at the Portobello Restaurant at the Marketplace. It's for 9:30PM so I better get going soon! Also managed to get a reservation for Wednesday at California Grill and for Friday at the Chefs de France! Tried for Le Cellier Steakhouse, but it is sold out for 1 week...

Rent A Car In Advance and Save!

If you are planning to rent a car on your trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, it makes sense to do it in advance! Go to priceline.com, or another travel website, or you might try the car rental agencies online, like alamo.com or enterprise.com.

I always book from Alamo at the Orlando Airport. It's so convenient to book from Alamo, and the cars are a few steps away when you walk outside the terminal. Study that map of where you are going before you start driving, so you know where you're going! I've been here enough to know that when I get out of the airport to drive on the 528 West (a toll road), and that'll get you to where you need to go- to the I-4 West if you're going to Disney, or (in my case) to the John Young Parkway south!

Renting a car in advance can give you some good prices, and you'll know what you are spending before you leave home, pretty much. Some credit cards have protection from damage to the car, so check with your card carrier to find out about those benefits. American Express offers a service (for $20 per rental) where if I rent a car, I'm covered from bumper to bumper, and they become the primary insurance (instead of your regular car insurance carrier) in the case of damage to your vehicle. I also have my own liability insurance, in case I hurt someone or something with the vehicle. Of course, the car rental companies all offer insurance options (which can be pricey) when you rent a vehicle.

So, if you must rent a car during your trip to Walt Disney World, save some money by renting in advance.

Flying Southwest Airlines? Bring a jacket, or your own blanket!

Flying Southwest Airlines? Bring a jacket, or your own blanket! If you are planning to sleep on the plane, it can be cold on there, and the airline no longer gives out blankets (due to swine flu!) I bought a blanket (kind of like a snugee) from Brookstone for $35 plus tax, but save your money by just bringing a jacket or blanket onto the plane!) The same goes for U.S. Air, I heard.

I'm At Oak Plantation in Kissimmee, FL

I'm here at the Oak Plantation Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, where I own a timeshare week. Last night when I checked in, I discovered something quite disturbing- they had rented my unit to someone else! I couldn't believe it, but there was nothing that I could do. They gave me a new room (a 1-bedroom, which is what I owned, except that mine is supposed to be a bit better). After a comfortable night's sleep, I wok up late and went to speak to the Resort Manager. I spoke to a supervisor and explained my dilemma- I had wanted to use MY ROOM, which I never had before. They responded by upgrading me to a 2-bedroom, which is in a better location. Hey, that works, because my sister and her boyfriend are arriving late tomorrow night.

I moved everything from that first unit to my new unit, and everything seems cool. I'm now sitting at their internet cafe, typing this. It's a nice room, this internet cafe. It has free soda, but what's missing is coffee.

Got My Boarding Pass

Hey, I'm in Group B. That's OK, because I really waited late to do the online check-in. Lucky I'm not in the "C" Group. Now, I gotta find my car rental info and print that and put it in my bag...

A Few Hours From Departure...

Going to check in online with Southwest Airlines now...

Flying Southwest Airlines? Check The Current Fares and Save to Orlando!

About 2 hours ago, I curiously checked the adult fares from Los Angeles to Orlando, FL for this coming Sunday (when I was scheduled to leave at 8:30AM). My Mom thought that she might want to join my sister and me on the trip to Walt Disney World, so I looked into it (she ultimately decided not to go). I found a fare to Orlando for $159 one-way, and $129 on September 14th for the return trip. That was a lot cheaper- $74 cheaper- than what I had paid, so I went into the Southwest Airlines online system and changed my flights. I'm still on the same plane for the return flight, although I lowered my fare, and I'm leaving LAX about 40 minutes sooner than I was originally planning to, but now I have $74 that I can use on a future Southwest Airlines flight (before June). I can handle that, I think. Maybe a trip to Walt Disney World in January? We'll see!

Pack Early For Your WDW Trip

I'm remembering that it's so beneficial to pack early for your Walt Disney World trip. Normally I'm awake the whole night before travelling, just packing all night long (and consequently exhausted when I get to the airport). But now that I'm packing early, I'm finding out key things, like that my stylish swim trunks will not fit me anymore, so I have to find the ones I took to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and use those.

I'm charging the iPod right now (I don't listen to it that much, but on an airplane, it's so nice to have something of your own choosing to listen to!) I've packed my prescription medicine, and I'm charging the cameras. I don't really have to, but I could even iron the pants that I'll use over there. For my video camera, I might even buy some extra memory cards before I leave (although I wish I'd thought to buy those off Amazon.com a week ago- much cheaper than trying to waltz into Best Buy). But then again, Best Buy is probably much cheaper than buying them from Disney!

I still have to look into some nice WDW restaurants! That can be done online now...

America Sings

I ain't gon' study war no more..

Packing For My Trip to Walt Disney World! Yeah!

I am packing now for my trip to Walt Disney World, and listening to my favorite Disney Theme Park music on iTunes. I wish that Disney still had those machines in their theme parks that allow you to make CD's from their collection of attractions music. Right now, I'm listening to "Sooner or Later" from Splash Mountain (really from "Song of the South", a movie that Disney should really release on video!) I hope that I don't forget to pack anything- but I will have a rental car, and Wal-Mart is within walking distance of the Resort where I'm staying, the Oak Plantation Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, where I own a Timeshare and own the week at the unit where I'm staying. This will be the first time that I've stayed there during this week. This will also be the first time that my sister Julie will visit Walt Disney World. Oh, boy, what should I show her? I'm flying there on Sunday. My sister will fly in on Tuesday. On Wednesday night, we'll check into Disney's Wilderness Lodge for 2 nights. On Sunday, my sister and her boyfriend will fly home, and I'll check into Disney's Bay Lake Towers for 2 nights, before returning home.

I booked a car for my entire stay, through Priceline.com, and I got a good deal- I booked it a month ago.

I am considering buying the Annual Passport that works at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It's $700. If I buy it, I think it would be a better idea to buy it here in California, because here, the $700 includes tax. At Walt Disney World, they will charge $700 plus tax. No discounts on this for Disney Vacation Club Members, either... Aw, shucks!

OK...let me pack...I'll update as I go along!