Pre-trip report – Sept 25- Oct 9 2009 – Oh No not Walmart again!

[Kathy29]

We have been to Florida on many occasions since 1991 but I have never done a trip report before so hope it turns out ok.

Cast:
Kathy – Main organiser
Henry – DH – goes with the flow – usually main driver but Mark driving the 'bus' this year
Chris – DS – will be ** while away
Vicky – DDIL – loves the Disney experience and the shopping
Amber – DGD – 3 – great traveler and a pink and princess girl

Mark } - Chris and Vicky’s friends – easy going, happy to go with the flow
Caren} Mark offered to drive the van this year so Henry is off the hook
Lauren – 4 another princess girl but Belle is her favourite
Olivia – 1 – so laid back its unreal

Andrew- the one who always says ‘oh no not walmart again’
Lesley – loves Florida especially with us! Must be mad
Sam – Lesley’s daughter has been with us once before
Ellis – Sam’s son 3 – loves Mickey and Winnie

Background:
We started planning this trip earlier this year, it was supposed to be 2010 trip but then the Virgin sale appeared and the prices were too good to resist, well sounded good to me anyway. Initially Chris and Vicky and their friends Caren and Mark were going with Henry and me, along with the children. They decided that they would like a couple more days so they travel on Wednesday 23rd and we travel on Friday 25th. Then Andrew was made redundant from his job and decided ‘what the heck life is too short we’ll go to Florida with the gang’, it will be our third trip together, although a first for Caren and Mark and their girls and for Ellis. We originally had a villa booked on Sunset Lakes but with the growth in group size decided to increase the size and are now going to Windsor Hills. We have stayed here before so know that the site is good for the kids and the layout of the villa suits us.

Then I started looking at all the forums, as you do, and discovered the Disney Dining offer, we always like to do something different on our trips and we hadn’t ever stayed on Disney property before so thought that might be a treat for us all. I got quotes and we all got together and decided on 3 nights at Port Orleans in the middle of the holiday, so we are going there on 30th Sept until the 3rd Oct. It is Chris’s birthday on 27th Sept and Marks on 2nd Oct so this treat fits in well.

Everyone started to get excited as the plans came together. We were anxiously waiting for the dates for the ADRs and Michelle from 'dreams unlimited' has been great in helping us. So we finally decided on Breakfast at Crystal Palace, Lunch for the girls and the adults who can’t resist (Gran and Grandad especially) with the Princesses at Akerhaus. As Ellis isn’t really into Princesses they decided on lunch with Mickey at Garden Grill on the same day. Only dinner for Mark’s birthday to sort out and they have opted for Wolfgang Puck on the Friday evening.

Mark and Andrew have been doing their research and are looking forward to Port Orleans and Andrew is also keen to have a day golfing while the girls force themselves to go shopping.

I am also planning a surprise trip to the coast, weather permitting, hope to go for an overnight stay for Chris’s birthday and do Busch Gardens whilst over there.

We have park tickets in with the POR package and Chris has organised the others for Universal and Sea World. Amber had a great time getting soaked in Universal last year so will see if she is the same this time. She also loved the Dr Seuss area in Islands of Adventure and has been telling Lauren all about it.

Vicky has been sorting out the itinerary making sure we get ‘rest’ days, although in my case it usually involves some type of shopping expedition. Do you know that each Walmart is different so you have to go and have a look don’t you? Might be missing something.

At the same time I am busy researching for a trip with my sisters, Mary Anne and Val and our friend Lorraine, as we are planning a trip in February to celebrate Val’s big birthday, not saying which although half century comes into it, we have been saving for a couple of years and until we started talking dates and booking Val suddenly realised we were actually going for her ‘birthday before the big one’ as we had the year wrong. Still rather than wait another year we are going to have a pre-birthday bash. We are going to stay a couple of days in Orlando then do a cruise, think the 5 day Carnival one from Tampa and then a week relaxing, shopping and doing a couple of parks, sounds like heaven. Not taking the men so there isn’t anyone saying ‘not shopping again are you’ just a bit worried about the driving but will be practicing whilst away this year. Also going to look at which hotels are where for our stay, we think we might be better on International Drive so we can go out for a meal etc and not have to drive back, didn’t even mention having a drink.

My daughter and son-in-law are also hoping for a Disney trip next year depending on work situations so that is a future plan for May/June time. We have been to Disneyland Paris with them and their three children Amy (9) and Luke and Adam (twins 6) but it isn’t the same in the cold and rain – but it helps prepare them for the best.

So we are all booked – the gang go from Manchester on 23rd – Virgin 1030 flight, so watch out anyone on their flight. Henry and I travel from Darlington to Manchester by train on the Thursday night staying over at the Crowne Plaza, another first for us and expect that the drinks will be cold in the fridge and the barbecue on when we arrive.

Really on countdown now just 3 and a half more days at work.

[jockey]

Your plans sound great, have a wonderful time

[Pegasus928]

Wow - not long now and everything sounds great.

Enjoy your holiday

[binkytell]

looking forward to hearing how your trip goes.

we are taking the in-laws next year for first time, and it
worries me a little

have a magical trip

[florida sun]

Have a brilliant time