'Looks like its Orlando again' *UPDATED!!!!!* PTR

[Jordanblackpool]

Rewind back to August 2011.....

The sun is out, there is an ice cold Tropical lager in my hand, not much is happening as I lie in the Tenerife sunshine. The only thing I have to think about is where I am going to have my evening meal that night. Its a hard life.

As I doze in and out of sleep on my sun lounger, my phone goes off. From 'Mum'. Expecting the usual 'how is the trip going' text, I had a pleasent suprise when the text messege read 'Jordan, were looking at booking Florida for August 2012'.

Why the scared face? Well at the time, I was unemployed (Having been made redundant from my job at Lucozade), living in Tenerife on my redundancy pay and really struggling to get by. I was due to move back to Blackpool in October, but a trip to Florida was just something I couldnt afford.

I arrived back in the UK on a cold Wednesday in October with this trip to Florida really on my mind. How on earth was I going to be able to afford it. At least it wasnt booked!!!

As I walked through the front door of my parents house I was greated with a hug and 'Weve booked Florida, we fly on August 11th!' A time that should have been great excitement was overran with fear of me being unable to afford it.

Over the next few months, I had interviews for roles with Coca Cola, Mars & other smaller companies but nothing came. I expressed my concerns with my mum that I just couldnt afford this holiday! Why would I book a holiday when I have disposable money? Sure I have savings but I didnt wanna touch that.

Fast forward to a January afternoon when I had an interview with Barclaycard, a job that I felt I had no chance of getting. The position was too high and the money was alot more than Id been on before, but I still went to the interview...it didnt go too well. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to today

I am now 2 months into my new job with Barclaycard, with good money coming in and all my fears I had in them months are now completely out the window. I will actually be able to afford a churo over there!!!!

So abit about the trip



The reason for the trip to Florida is for my Mum & Dads wedding anniversary, being the good son I should know which one it is, its either 25th or 30th. I think the latter!

Me and my brother went to Orlando in 2010, but my parents havent been since 2009 so they both wanted to go. It will be there 9th time out there, its a place they absolutely love! My mum loves the Disney side of Orlando, where as my Dads likes to head off and do random things that are abit off the beaten track.



But its not just the four of us going, oh no, there is another six people coming with us...and possibly more. Im the youngest on the trip being 25 and I think the oldest will be early 60s, all but two of us are Orlando veterans, the other two have never been and really dont know what to expect!

Where are we staying??



We decided to stay at the Beuna Vista Palace, just off Downtown Disney. I think this was more me and my brothers call. We usually stay on Disney, but last time I stayed at Port Orleons we didnt really use the benefits of a Disney hotel and ended up paying out more than we paid for a nicer hotel this time.

My Nan & Grandad stayed here in 2009, and it was really nice. We've also paid a bit more for a tower room!

When do we go & who are we flying with?

We fly out on Saturday 11th August (so a while yet), and we fly with Monarch. The first time we went out there in 1993 we flew with Monarch, btu that was the last time I have used them, so I really have no idea what to expect. I have heard both good and bad reports about them. Too be honest, so long as they get me there and back I really dont care about what the airlines are like. At the end of the day, I always think your only on them for 9 hours!

So what else have we got planned?

We are quite different to alot of people who go to Orlando, we dont really ever go with a plan. Alot of what we do is planned the day/night before, its usually a case of 'If we get up early tommorow and go to...' (Im sure many of you are looking at the screen now and pulling your hair out!)

Id say me and my brother have more interest in going to Universal Studios/IOA than Disney, but most of the party will be wanting to spend most of there time in the Disney parks.

Going in August is going to be something new to us. I am expecting it to be really busy and really hot, but apart from that I dont know what were going to get!

There isnt too much else to say at this point, were still about four months until we go so are just in the stages of saving intensely, looking at old videos/dvds of past trips and discussing what we will be doing!

Any questions or comments, fire away!!!

[Clare D]

Great start. Congratulations on the job. Which one are you in the picture? Hopefully you're not wearing the Notts Forest top otherwise I won't be able to read anymore
We travel on the 12 August so may see you there.

[Jordanblackpool]

Im the other one in the picture with the hat on!! And fortunately I dont like Forest!

Ahhh youve picked a great time to go, look out for us causing kaos!!

[jen_uk]

Where was the photo taken with all the Coca Cola stuff? Sounds like a great trip

[stephensmum]

Congrats on the job, hope it's going well. Looking forward to your trippie, we go on the 9th so will look out for your gang.

[Jordanblackpool]

Originally Posted by jen_uk

Where was the photo taken with all the Coca Cola stuff? Sounds like a great trip

That was in Coca Cola world in Las Vegas!! Think there is something simular in Epcot

[loobzuk]

congratulations on your job, so happy that everything fell into place for you. I look forward to hearing about your trip, especially the 'no planning' bit!

[dixonsontour]

Congrats on the new job

I enjoyed your vegas trip report with your brother - look forward to your trip report this time.

If it'syour parents 30th wedding anniversary - it's their pearl anniversary - maybe you could pay for them to pick a pearl in Japan at Epcot (or seaworld) - would be a good souvenier.

[princess_ariel_85]

Originally Posted by Clare D

Great start. Congratulations on the job. Which one are you in the picture? Hopefully you're not wearing the Notts Forest top otherwise I won't be able to read anymore
We travel on the 12 August so may see you there.

Originally Posted by Jordanblackpool

Im the other one in the picture with the hat on!! And fortunately I dont like Forest!

Ahhh youve picked a great time to go, look out for us causing kaos!!

ha ha Amen to that!

Great start to your PTR, congrats on the new job! xx

[Chilly]

Well Done on the new job!

[Jordanblackpool]

Originally Posted by dixonsontour

Congrats on the new job

I enjoyed your vegas trip report with your brother - look forward to your trip report this time.

If it'syour parents 30th wedding anniversary - it's their pearl anniversary - maybe you could pay for them to pick a pearl in Japan at Epcot (or seaworld) - would be a good souvenier.

That is a good idea, were looking at doing something for them but were just unsure what, but that sounds like something they would like!

[wilma-bride]

Sounds like a great trip planned - or not planned, depending how you look at it

We also fly on the 11th but are flying into Miami and don't get to Orlando until the 20th. I'm hoping you won't have done too much damage before we get there

[Jordanblackpool]

Originally Posted by wilma-bride

Sounds like a great trip planned - or not planned, depending how you look at it

We also fly on the 11th but are flying into Miami and don't get to Orlando until the 20th. I'm hoping you won't have done too much damage before we get there

Ahhh 9 Days in Miami will be brilliant! Quite jealous of that.

We will try not to cause too much distruction, I can not promise anything tho!

[VailaTigger]

Congratulations on the job!!

Sounds like an awesome trip, looking forward to hearing more, and reading your trip report when you're back!

[disney_princess_85]

Congrats on the new job! Looking forward to reading your TR, I've enjoyed all your previous ones.