I know it's probably waaaaaay too early to be writing a pre-trippy, but now that Christmas is over and we're into the New Year, I am really looking forward to our holiday in December! I know it's a long way off, but talking about it gets me in the holiday mood and cheers me up no end when having to live in this horrible, cold miserable country, and as I have nothing better to do this evening, I thought I would make a start.
I think I will start by telling you a bit about me and my family who are coming with me;
Me
I think I will start by telling you a bit about me and my family who are coming with me;
Me
I'm 29. I grew up with Disney from a young age and had all the Disney videos when I was little. My all time favourites are Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. I work from home as a Registered Childminder and I also make cards and memory boxes in my spare time which is something I really enjoy doing. I have been to Orlando once before in 2009 (see older posts in my blog archive for details), but not to Disney so I am really looking forward to this trip!
Paul, 34.
He has been to Orlando three times now, but he has never been to Disney. I don’t think he has a favourite Disney film as such, but he watches Playhouse Disney every day with the children we look after. He says he really feels at home in Florida, like he lived there in a past life! It is our ambition in life to own a villa over there someday. He LOVES rollercoaster’s. His favourite rides are the Hulk and Revenge of the Mummy which he rode both by himself last time we went as Oliver and I wussed out! Bless him!
My children;
Oliver will be 11 when we go and Amelia will be 20 months.
Oliver LOVED it in Florida last time we went in 2009 and has many Disney DVD’s. He’s not a fan of rollercoaster’s but he says he’s going to try a few this year! He is most looking forward to Aquatica this time as we spent the best part of a day just going around and around on the rapids last time! We had such fun!
Amelia loves Playhouse Disney and will happily sit and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny which is great when we need to cook the dinner or do a bit of housework! This will be her first holiday and first trip to the mouse! I am looking forward to taking her to see Playhouse Disney Live where she will be able to see all her favourite characters in the flesh!
My Mum and Dad.
Mum will be 53 when we go and Dad will be 57.
My Mum's never been to Florida before but I’m sure she will get caught up in the Disney magic and might even try a few rollercoasters! She’s keeping her fingers crossed for some sun!
My Dad has never been to Florida either and is looking forward to it. I bought him a Florida guide book and a map for Christmas and he has been looking at it, getting excited. He was amazed by how many lakes there are over there when looking at the map. He’s up for a bit of rollercoaster action!
If you're a follower of my blog, you'll know that the first time I went to Orlando was in June/July 2009 when Paul, Oliver and I went there on our Honeymoon. As soon as I stepped out of the airport I couldn’t get over how hot it was and had never experienced heat like it before, previously only visiting countries in Europe. We thought it was going to be the trip of a life time and never thought we would be able to afford to go again for at least another 5 years or so. But I got the bug and just HAD to go back again! In 2009 we didn’t go to any of the Disney parks. My parents had a timeshare and got us a room in the Vacation Village at Parkway, so we stayed there for the 14 nights and visited the other parks with our Flex ticket Plus tickets. We had a fantastic time but Oliver refused to go on any of the rides and Paul and I missed out on quite a bit. It was such a shame and kind of ruined our honeymoon.
Two weeks after we got back I fell pregnant and gave birth to Amelia (on my birthday!) in April last year. We were looking around for holiday destinations a few months ago and my Paul really fancied Egypt, but I kept saying no, as it would be far too hot for a baby, and when we priced it up, it wasn't that much cheaper than Florida. So we started to look around to see how much it would be for the four of us to go to Orlando and also to take my Parents with us as their Christmas present; at least that way we would be able to go on some rides as we could take it in turns waiting with the children and we wouldn’t have to pay much for Amelia as she’ll be under 2. We found a good deal with Virgin and worked out that if Paul took on a few extra shifts at work, we could afford to do it… So we took the plunge!
We provisionally booked through Virgin Holidays in our local Tesco store and the lady was so helpful. She knew everything there was to know about the villas over there. We were going to book a standard villa but it worked out only £50 dearer for a Superior one and so I booked a three bedroom villa at Calabay Parc which looks lovely. I have done a lot of research on The Dibb and everybody who has been has given good reviews on it. We also booked a 7 seater car, Platinum insurance, and Magic Me tickets for all of us. I couldn’t afford to pay the deposit there and then but said we would be back in 2 weeks to pay it which she said was fine, but to be aware that the prices were due to increase in the next couple of weeks as all the cheaper tickets sell first.
My Mum's never been to Florida before but I’m sure she will get caught up in the Disney magic and might even try a few rollercoasters! She’s keeping her fingers crossed for some sun!
My Dad has never been to Florida either and is looking forward to it. I bought him a Florida guide book and a map for Christmas and he has been looking at it, getting excited. He was amazed by how many lakes there are over there when looking at the map. He’s up for a bit of rollercoaster action!
If you're a follower of my blog, you'll know that the first time I went to Orlando was in June/July 2009 when Paul, Oliver and I went there on our Honeymoon. As soon as I stepped out of the airport I couldn’t get over how hot it was and had never experienced heat like it before, previously only visiting countries in Europe. We thought it was going to be the trip of a life time and never thought we would be able to afford to go again for at least another 5 years or so. But I got the bug and just HAD to go back again! In 2009 we didn’t go to any of the Disney parks. My parents had a timeshare and got us a room in the Vacation Village at Parkway, so we stayed there for the 14 nights and visited the other parks with our Flex ticket Plus tickets. We had a fantastic time but Oliver refused to go on any of the rides and Paul and I missed out on quite a bit. It was such a shame and kind of ruined our honeymoon.
Two weeks after we got back I fell pregnant and gave birth to Amelia (on my birthday!) in April last year. We were looking around for holiday destinations a few months ago and my Paul really fancied Egypt, but I kept saying no, as it would be far too hot for a baby, and when we priced it up, it wasn't that much cheaper than Florida. So we started to look around to see how much it would be for the four of us to go to Orlando and also to take my Parents with us as their Christmas present; at least that way we would be able to go on some rides as we could take it in turns waiting with the children and we wouldn’t have to pay much for Amelia as she’ll be under 2. We found a good deal with Virgin and worked out that if Paul took on a few extra shifts at work, we could afford to do it… So we took the plunge!
We provisionally booked through Virgin Holidays in our local Tesco store and the lady was so helpful. She knew everything there was to know about the villas over there. We were going to book a standard villa but it worked out only £50 dearer for a Superior one and so I booked a three bedroom villa at Calabay Parc which looks lovely. I have done a lot of research on The Dibb and everybody who has been has given good reviews on it. We also booked a 7 seater car, Platinum insurance, and Magic Me tickets for all of us. I couldn’t afford to pay the deposit there and then but said we would be back in 2 weeks to pay it which she said was fine, but to be aware that the prices were due to increase in the next couple of weeks as all the cheaper tickets sell first.
We went home and a week later Virgin called us at home saying that as it was month end her boss said she could give us free V Room lounge passes if we booked that day! I told her we couldn’t pay until the following weekend and she said it was fine; she would put it on the system that we had paid by cheque so she could still hold the price for us “while the cheque clears”. I was so excited when I put the phone down. I had just booked another Florida trip of a lifetime!!
We paid the deposit the following week and ever since I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it!
So we are going on 2nd– 16th December 2011 flying from Gatwick. Upgraded the car later to an 8 seater through Alamo so we’ll have more room for luggage, platinum insurance, car seat for Amelia and a booster for Oliver, Magic Me tickets for 5 and the V Room lounge! Now all we’ve got to do is pay the balance!
We weren’t going to tell my Mum and Dad until Christmas day. I had planned a big Mickey Mouse Helium balloon wearing a Santa hat to float out of a box with their “ticket” attached to some ribbon at the bottom, but I couldn’t contain myself! I’m useless with secrets! I got my lap top out one evening when I was at their house and showed them the villa and they were really surprised, but a little worried about how we could afford it. But I explained to them that we can afford it and they have come round to the idea and are really excited too!
So now I have a year of planning! I have already started getting a few bits together; Mothercare had a sale on a few months ago so I bought a stroller for Amelia which we can use over there. The Mamas and Papas Sola she has now is too big and bulky and I don’t want it getting battered on the plane. I have also bought her a Minnie Mouse swimming cosie!
So now just the following to do…
We paid the deposit the following week and ever since I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it!
So we are going on 2nd– 16th December 2011 flying from Gatwick. Upgraded the car later to an 8 seater through Alamo so we’ll have more room for luggage, platinum insurance, car seat for Amelia and a booster for Oliver, Magic Me tickets for 5 and the V Room lounge! Now all we’ve got to do is pay the balance!
We weren’t going to tell my Mum and Dad until Christmas day. I had planned a big Mickey Mouse Helium balloon wearing a Santa hat to float out of a box with their “ticket” attached to some ribbon at the bottom, but I couldn’t contain myself! I’m useless with secrets! I got my lap top out one evening when I was at their house and showed them the villa and they were really surprised, but a little worried about how we could afford it. But I explained to them that we can afford it and they have come round to the idea and are really excited too!
So now I have a year of planning! I have already started getting a few bits together; Mothercare had a sale on a few months ago so I bought a stroller for Amelia which we can use over there. The Mamas and Papas Sola she has now is too big and bulky and I don’t want it getting battered on the plane. I have also bought her a Minnie Mouse swimming cosie!
So now just the following to do…
- Estas
- Passports (Paul, Oliver and Amelia will all need a new one!)
- Pool Heating
- Check child seats will be in car when we collect it
- Hire a Sat Nav from eBay
- Airport parking and hotel the night before flight
- Holiday Insurance
- Someone to look after our pets (we have a dog, a cat, fish and four chickens!!)
- Spending money
- Cirque du Soleil tickets (I really wanna go)
- Consider changing our Magic Me tickets to Thrill Me tickets….
The only difference is with Thrill me you get Busch Gardens instead of Aquatica. I really want to go to Aquatica but have been researching the weather that time of the year and it sounds like it will just be too cold for a water park. If we do get a good day we can always pay on the gate. We missed a lot of Busch Gardens last time as it was so hot we were shattered by 3pm and went home. I know my mum will love it there. We’re all big animal lovers so it will suit us more I think.
Well I think I better leave it there before I bore everyone! I will update when there is anything new to add.
Only 332 days to go! We’ll be able to pick our seats in a few weeks! So exciting! WE’RE GOING BACK!!
Well I think I better leave it there before I bore everyone! I will update when there is anything new to add.
Only 332 days to go! We’ll be able to pick our seats in a few weeks! So exciting! WE’RE GOING BACK!!
You have over a year of planning so Im' sure you'll find out, but I just wanted to let you know that Disney offers the Rider-Swap for parents. Your hubby and son can wait in line with a special pass (letting the CM know that you'd like to do the swap) and once they get off he sits with your daughter while you (and luckily your son also gets to ride with you again) use your pass to skip the line (so one of you only has to wait once) to ride! If you have any questions on it, just let me know. I know your parents will be with you, but it's nice to know...
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