Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I can stay in a 1 bedroom luxury suite at this place <a href="http://www.cheeca.com/" target="_blank">http://www.cheeca.com/</a> , and go snorkling/ bonefishing/ deep sea fishing everyday. For less than WL+park Tix. >> Maybe that's because the place caught fire on New Year's Eve and hasn't been open since.
Originally Posted By dshyates Yes, they did have a HUGE fire there on New Years Eve. They sustained over $10 million dollars worth of damge to their main building. And the resort is closed right now. It is hoped to reopen by the end of May. The damage was contained to the main building that contains the Lobby, Restaurants, and some rooms. But most of the place wasn't impacted.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip What exactly does one do at the beach? Why would anyone pay anything to do that? I've never quite figured that out.
Originally Posted By dshyates Well you can go out on a snorkeling excursion to see the tropical fish in the coral reef, a champagne sunset sail on a Clipper Ship, Deep Sea or Bonefishing, a real dolphin swim, ride a wave runner in actual waves, take a kayak Eco-tour into the Everglades. Not to mention swimming at the beach, lounging by the pool, and baking in the sun. And throw in the anywhere stuff like golf, Spa treatments, Themed lounges and gourmet restaurants.
Originally Posted By dshyates Right, but what I am saying is I can stay at Cheeca Lodge, and do ALL of those things for less than WL+Park Tix.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Well you can go out on a snorkeling excursion to see the tropical fish in the coral reef, a champagne sunset sail on a Clipper Ship, Deep Sea or Bonefishing, a real dolphin swim, ride a wave runner in actual waves, take a kayak Eco-tour into the Everglades. Not to mention swimming at the beach, lounging by the pool, and baking in the sun.>> Get back to me when you are 56 and tell me how much of that you are still doing, and if it still sounds better than a WDW vacation.
Originally Posted By dshyates I don't know, I'm 45, and going snow skiing this afternoon with my father who is 73.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Right, but what I am saying is I can stay at Cheeca Lodge, and do ALL of those things for less than WL+Park Tix. >> Sorry, but that is a load of BS. You mention golf as one of your activities. You can't play on a decent golf course with cart rental, plus the inherent costs of golf equipment (rented or owned) for less than a single day admission to any of the Disney parks. Same goes for activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, etc. None of them are cheap, and for the number of hours of enjoyment, certainly more costly on an hourly basis than a day at WDW.
Originally Posted By dshyates I have to buckle his boots and help him up when he falls. Oh, and its 9°.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I don't know, I'm 45, and going snow skiing this afternoon with my father who is 73.>> Good for him (truly... I mean that). but I don't snow-ski now and I certainly won't when I'm 73. When I'm 73 I just hope I have enough energy to walk from my table at the rail in France to the Wine by the Glass shop while I watch Illuminations.
Originally Posted By dshyates At Cheeca Lodge golf is FREE, Snorkling is a 2.5 hour excursion and is $45/Adult, $40 kids. And considering it is closer to Discovery Cove than MK. Seems reasonable. Champagne sunset sail is $45. So you could do a snorkling trip and a sunset sail for about the same as a one day ticket. Kayaks are free, Wave rumnners are $45/hr, $75/2 hr.
Originally Posted By dshyates We live a mile from the ski resort and have season passes. So other than to put on our boots, we probably won't even go in the Lodge. My dad likes to do it to stay active. The bad part is he is diabetic and can't feel his feet, so he can't tell if the boots are too tight. So I have to be careful and check them regularly. Cut of the circulation and frostbite will set in, and as we all know that is bad.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << At Cheeca Lodge golf is FREE >> Cart is free? Clubs are free? Balls, tees, shoes, and other itmes are free? I belong to a country club where golf is "free." I never escape there for much under $50 a round.
Originally Posted By dshyates Its a nine hole, and I don't use a cart. I use my dead grand dad's old Sam Sneads, but I did buy shoes about 15 years ago. Balls and tees I can handle.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Its a nine hole, and I don't use a cart. >> So, in other words, not a full-fledged golf course. I prefer to walk, but never seem to find a foursome that has the same preference -- which means I usually end up having to get a cart whether I want one or not. I guess if I enjoyed doing these things by myself, I could minimize costs. But what's the fun of playing golf without other people around? Golf isn't that much fun unless you've invested the time and energy to practice regularly and make yourself a decent player, either. So, like those DVC maintenance fees, you really can't just walk onto a golf course and have a good time without paying the "maintenance" fees on your game beforehand.
Originally Posted By dshyates The course I play here in Cool Ridge WV is a nine hole that doesn't even have carts. I'm not even sure they have a lawn mower. But since they don't have carts, obviously my regular 4some walks. I'm out there with my genuine antique clubs and beater golf shoes. SG you've been to WV, we do things a little differently here. And don't care. I do have a "Hammer" Driver. I used to cut the "Hammer" infomercials for Jack Hamm, Mr. Long ball himself. And he gave me a Hammer driver. But no, people don't go to Islamorada to golf. But it is something fun to do while there. I think a free nine hole course is a nice aminity for a hotel.
Originally Posted By JenniBarra Yikes, that was a long wait for DME, MPierce. I think a lot of what we're seeing is the fact that the occupancy is so dang low. We hardly had to wait for a bus, but there were three stops before we got to our hotel (AKL, last stop).
Originally Posted By MPierce It was a hugh line with limited CM's to take care of the guest. Our bus stopped at the GF, the Poly, WL then CR. Once we made it to the bus things went pretty smooth.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, sounds like your trip was similar to ours in Dec 06. It was a 30 min wait for the bus with 2 stops before our hotel. That was kind of ok (but two little ones that had been up for 22 hours before getting to the hotel was not great). Then we waited 8 hours for our luggage. Going back was excellent though. In future I think I might rent a car or get a limo transfer instead.
