My first ever pre-trippie for WDW

[joolz1910]

Well, here it is at long last! My first WDW pre-trip report. I thought I would start writing it when I got to 9 months to go, as this is a time-frame I can get my head around

The Cast:
Me - Juliette, 41 year old mother of 3, part-time teacher and Disney fanatic.
DH - Kev, 42 likes Disney but doesn't love Disney iykwim.
DD - Olivia, 12
DD - Jessica, 8 (nearly)
DD - Emilia, 4

My 3 Princesses at DLP, The Disneyland Hotel 2009:

How it all started...

I wanted to take each of my children to Disneyland when they were 4 or 5 years of age. We went to DLP in 2005 and then again in 2009. When were were ready to leave, my eldest started crying, saying she didn't want to go home. I promised her then that I would take her to Disney again and started making plans for the next visit when Emilia would be 5 - 2012.

I started saving and plotting and researching...and decided that we would go to WDW instead of DLP!

The 'Trip' so far...

Booked:
29th Oct - 12th Nov
Flights with Virgin from Manchester
OKW, I bed villa
14 day Ultimates
Free DDP
Total Price £5750

Still to organise:
ADR's (Cinder's Mum booking these)
MNSSHP (booked for Friday 2nd November £303)
MVMCP (booked for Friday 9th November $303)
BBB (Booked 'middle' package for two youngest on 7th Nov at 9.50am at MK £68)
Touring Plans (subscribed cost £6)
Photopass (Now done £62, then cancelled, refund processed and now prepaid for photopass and photobook $149.99 )
Haunted Carriage Ride
New suitcases (friend has said I can borrow hers)
Manchester Hotel, possibly Premier Inn (Booked 2 rooms at the Premier in Ft for £64)
ESTA's (done on 13th Aug, $14 per person)
Passports for Olivia and Jessica (posted on 20/07/12, cost £98)
Insurance (Nationwide cover £120)
Garden Grocer order (no longer doing this)
Get Nationwide credit card for 0% commission/charges (done)
Book Magical Express
Car Hire (£200)

We have been saving £2 coins since the Summer of 2009, so hopefully that will take care of 'spends'. (COUNTED AND VERIFIED ON 27/05, TOTAL £1280)

I really can't wait to go, it will be the trip of a lifetime for us. I have to also say a big THANK YOU to the Dis members who have answered all of my silly questions - you know who you are.

And the best of it?

The kids have NO IDEA we are going.

Anyway, that's it for now. I will update as I get things sorted.
Thank you for reading. xxx

Juliette

Just a quick update:
The total cost was just under £7500
This included: flights, accommodation, free ddp, tickets, MNSSHP, MVMCP, BBB, Premier Inn, insurance, car hire, photopass and photobook, ESTA's, passports, all tips, spending money.

 

[DISWolves]

Hi Jools,
Looking forward to your updates.
A tip I was glad to remember.....take plenty of notes and photos.
With all good intentions, so much happens that you cannot remember it all for when you get home. I am still only 2/3rds of the way thro' my report from August.
Writing these trip reports relates to painting the forth bridge

 

[joolz1910]

Hi Jools,
Looking forward to your updates.
A tip I was glad to remember.....take plenty of notes and photos.
With all good intentions, so much happens that you cannot remember it all for when you get home. I am still only 2/3rds of the way thro' my report from August.
Writing these trip reports relates to painting the forth bridge

Funny you should say that as I'm on the look-out for some Disney notebooks! I also intend to get a folder and start printing stuff so I can plan in detail. I can't cope with spreadsheets, I'm more of a pen and paper gal

 

[amacspad]

Hi juliette, we go the day after you staying at Saratoga, where r u booking the haunted carriage ride for and how!!!!

Debs xxxxx

 

[joolz1910]

Hi juliette, we go the day after you staying at Saratoga, where r u booking the haunted carriage ride for and how!!!!

Debs xxxxx

Hi! The Haunted Carriage ride:
Experience the chilling sights and sounds of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, as narrated by your driver during this 25-minute nighttime carriage ride through the woods of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Offered September 30 to October 31, 2011 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. nightly, based on availability.

I don't think it will be available to book until around the beginning of May. I think it was about £35.

 

[amacspad]

That sounds fab, we get there on the 30th and hoping to do MNSSHP so not sure if we will be able to do both as don't want to use the park tickets on the first night so we can use them on the last day (does that make sense lol)! Wish we had more time for Halloween but looking forward to the Xmas side of it too! Fab surprise for ur girls, when will u tell them??

Debs xxx

 

[loobzuk]

looking forward to hearing more about your plams - especially the surprise bit. Do you have any idea when you are going to tell them? We did a surprise trip for our children in 2009; it started out that we would tell them nearer the time but as it drew closer we thought it would be fun to see how long it would be before they realised. We made it to Gatwick and they still didn't have a clue! I hope the next 9 months fly by for you!

 

[disneyholic family]

sounds like fun - and a pretrip report is a great way to help the time pass quicker!!

 

[Twinkly-Tink]

Hi Joolz

Our dates are inbetween yours!! We fly out 23rd and back 7th - OKW too!! So will keep a look out for you all

Can't wait to see your updates......might keep me on track with my planning

Lynn

 

[kitcat1]

Very exciting.....when are you going to tell the children? We go Nov 5-19th although no children with us as ours are all grown up!

Cath

 

[princess_ariel_85]

How exciting!

Can't wait to hear about your childrens reactions when they realised where they are going!

looking forward to your next update x

 

[Cyrano]

Looking forward to further updates on your PTR

 

[orangetiggs]

Looking forward to the updates, we fly 1-15 nov staying okw! See you there!

 

[UKDEB]

We'll also be there at the same time as you, Juliette (1st - 18th November). Sounds as though a Meet could be on the cards.

I'm going to pop this thread over to the Trip Reports board.

 

[joolz1910]

I think a Dis meet is a must. I would love to say meet people that I have been chatting with over the last few years.

As for telling the kids...I am very tempted to wait until we get to the airport. I have kept it a secret this far, so I know I could keep going! The girls know that we will go 'one day' and we often talk about the day we will eventually go. I can't wait to see their faces!

 

[crabbie1]

Oohh i love pre trippies. This sounds great juliette. We are also doin a suprise event. Although the girls know we are goin away for their birthdays iv told them it will b a beach holiday. The little one has never been and will be 5 when we are there and is princess mad where as my Dd has been every year since she was 3 and will be 10 just before we go. Dnt quite know how we are going to tell them yet. Problem is DB ex will know and will tell the little one as shes so horrid. Actually We dnt hv to tell her either do we we can tell her when we pick niamh upAnyway looking forward to ur updates

 

[joolz1910]

Oohh i love pre trippies. This sounds great juliette. We are also doin a suprise event. Although the girls know we are goin away for their birthdays iv told them it will b a beach holiday. The little one has never been and will be 5 when we are there and is princess mad where as my Dd has been every year since she was 3 and will be 10 just before we go. Dnt quite know how we are going to tell them yet. Problem is DB ex will know and will tell the little one as shes so horrid. Actually We dnt hv to tell her either do we we can tell her when we pick niamh upAnyway looking forward to ur updates

Definitely don't tell DB ex if you think she will ruin the surprise!
I am worried that someone will blab in front of my kids. I have sworn everyone to secrecy but I'm pretty sure my eldest will suspect something and start snooping lol.

 

[joolz1910]

Oohh i love pre trippies. This sounds great juliette. We are also doin a suprise event. Although the girls know we are goin away for their birthdays iv told them it will b a beach holiday. The little one has never been and will be 5 when we are there and is princess mad where as my Dd has been every year since she was 3 and will be 10 just before we go. Dnt quite know how we are going to tell them yet. Problem is DB ex will know and will tell the little one as shes so horrid. Actually We dnt hv to tell her either do we we can tell her when we pick niamh upAnyway looking forward to ur updates

Definitely don't tell DB ex if you think she will ruin the surprise!
I am worried that someone will blab in front of my kids. I have sworn everyone to secrecy but I'm pretty sure my eldest will suspect something and start snooping lol.

 

[beautifullily]

ooh you are very good keeping it a secret. I would have liked to (organising first WDW trip with DH and my 2 girls 9 & 7) but I'm rubbish at keeping things to myself! At least I can get some input from them as to what character ADRs they want to do.

Thanks for posting your to do list- have added a couple to mine

 

[crabbie1]

ooh you are very good keeping it a secret. I would have liked to (organising first WDW trip with DH and my 2 girls 9 & 7) but I'm rubbish at keeping things to myself! At least I can get some input from them as to what character ADRs they want to do.

Thanks for posting your to do list- have added a couple to mine

To be honest if it was our first trip I dont think I would be able to keep it quiet either.You want to shout it from the roof tops . Try and take your girls over to fort wilderness if they like ponies/animals.There is also a campfire where chip and dale meet sing along and stories are told.I think there is marshmallow roasting as well.Its on my to do list for this year.You could also grad something to eat at trails end.Think it is in the evening.