Certainly, a lot has changed since 2003. Magical Wishes gave way to Magic Your Way. Amex White Glove Treatment gave way to the Disney Visa. Mickey is Soarin' over Everest with a Mars Lander. But there is one constant throughout the years, and that is baseball. Oh, and AAA as well. With all respect to the Intercot sponsor, AAA helps me build the vacation package I want the way I want it. So the last week of January, I gave them a call.

There was very little time and much to do. The trip is planned for March 17-25 for 9 days, 8 nights, 5 home games and 4 theme parks. I have an 8 day, 8 night Magic Your Way w/Dining Option package at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort (my favorite) with the Park Hopper and Water Parks and More options. I have tickets to the 5 home games (3 from eBay, 2 from Ticketmaster), and I have a plan.

Do you want to hear it?

We start our vacation with a dilemma. Not the best way to start a vacation, but you go with the options you have, not the options you want. I have decided not to fly from Atlanta to Orlando. The air fare would be cheaper for a Mission to Mars, so I quickly ruled out needing a Magical Express. Instead, I am pulling out my secret weapon: The hybrid FuskieMobile^tm.

My Prius will be celebrating it's first birthday next week, and what a better way to celebrate than going to Disney World? I can make 462 mile drive (from my driveway to the front entrance to the resort) in about 8 hours at 50mpg driving an even 70mph and taking a couple breaks. The round trip should cost me about $50.

I will leave Atlanta about 6pm, drive until midnight and stop at a motel before continuing on in the morning to arrive at the resort at 11am. The motel will cost about $50, but the total price tag will still be less than the $350 cost of a flight and it won't leave me as exhausted as would leaving about 2am and then driving all morning.

So the bags are packed, the Advanced Dining Reservations confirmed, the tours all set, the FuskieMobile^tm gassed up and ready to go.  The only thing left is to invite you to (virtually) join me on my 11th Annual Spring Training Trek 2007!