18 take on the World for Birthday surprises, some first times and a lot of fun!!

[DizzyErin]

All I can say is good luck getting to sleep for the next couple nights lol!!! That's good that you will all be sitting together... I definetly would have fought that one as well. Can't wait to read your Tr and incase I don't get to tell you before you leave have a great trip!!!

So exciting! It seems like about 2 weeks ago you decided to do this trip, and now you're almost leaving!!!! If I don't catch you - have a wonderful time, and don't forget your tickets!

Thankyou both .. we cannot wait and can barely concentrate on anything believe me

Hiya,

only thing I would do is photocopy EVERYTHING!! Passports /driving licenses/ travel docs etc and make sure someone else in the party carries the photocopy. you never ever know - my dad had a road accident in France once -lost passports etc in the faffing about, but he had a photocopy and got a new passport SOOO much more easily.

Also if you have a copy of any Disney tickets, they will replace them if they get lost/put in the washing machine/eaten by alligators as you lean over the pit at gatorland...../whatever....

Looks like the clubhouse has an internet cafe too - so you could email yourself any details - if you know what I mean? Sorry - I am SUCH a worry wart....

Have LOADS of fun Erin - I remember being at this stage last time - and my tummy is doing flip-flops just THINKING about it. Can't WAIT to read about your adventures!

Tessa

Thanks Tessa .. you made me chuckle i guess am more of a CF than a WW hahahaha but all fab ideas thankyou.
Ooh yes on the tummy flipping, i have woken up at 4 every night this week thinking of exciting things we will do or things to pack hahaha

Hi Erin,

Wow, the time sure went by fast!! You will be on that plane before you know it. It is 7 days and counting here for us and there is endless chatter around our house about the trip. I hope you guys have a great time and maybe I will see you there!

Have a safe trip and Have Fun!!!
Lisa

We will thanks Lisa, you too, keep an eye out for the loud British group in Ohanas

Don't forget Chloe.....

I have your number and I will text you!!! It looks like we should be able to meet up on Feb 13th? That was the day you were going to be at MK or Epcot, right?

Hhaha no i guess i better take the b'day girl right??!!
Yayayay 13th sounds great .. yes we're Epcotting then heading to MK afterwards as apparently it is open late
See you in a couple of weeks hahaha that sounds funny!!

I am sooooo exited for you! Do take lots of photos.
have a great time!

Oh yes many many pics

Ok so the horror of a bathing suit hit me yesterday never a pleasant time .. bought one and well i have NEVER EVER looked so awful in anything in my entire life!!
Thankfully my mum stepped in and saved the day today with one yayyaya (no pics of that will appear) hahahaha

The slipper has been ordered
The kids meals for the flight have been ordered
Last few things are being packed tonight
2 days of school left, the chart looks really fab now!
Cameras, ds, ipods all charging .. Chloe's getting a new camera for her b'day which she has nooo idea about
Gotta wrap pressies
And print off order form for cake and money off coupons for the malls hahah yep budget all the way me!!
Cat is off to his holiday on friday, so we will have tears from Chloe on friday morning before school and then a fight to find the little so and so when he hides after seeing the basket come out!!

 

[soontobewed07]

Haha Erin our cats do that too. I now take it out a few days before so they get use to it being around. Then I tip it so the basket is vertical and drop them in. I know it sounds mean but it's not. I can't get them in any other way...

Yes I agree with Kara Chloe is a priority make sure you have her.

unplug everything

The number one thing I forget is a hair brush I have no clue why I just do it's so silly. So I bought one just to keep in my travel case.


As for parking I am pretty sure you can park there all day no worries. Valet or not.

Have a blast and take a ton of pictures. I cannot wait to see the birthday girl. She has grown up so much since we all first "met"

 

[DizzyErin]

Haha Erin our cats do that too. I now take it out a few days before so they get use to it being around. Then I tip it so the basket is vertical and drop them in. I know it sounds mean but it's not. I can't get them in any other way...

Have a blast and take a ton of pictures. I cannot wait to see the birthday girl. She has grown up so much since we all first "met"

Ok i took your advice and the cat basket is out hahahah so we shall see how hard it is in the morning
Many pics will be taken for sure, i cannot believe she is gonna be 11 in a few days


Ok so
Pressies are wrapped
Cake form printed off and ready
Coupons printed off and ready
All that's left to do is finish off toiletries and Cj's important items .. Blankie and panda .. yep she's still my lil girl after all

We're leaving tomorrow after school, heading to the airport hotel and flying 11.40 on saturday morning to arrive at 4.30 ish Fl time

So see you all when i'm back and am sure i'll have stories to tell

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Oh, it is TOMORROW were you are! Have a fantabulous time!

Lisa! You are almost leaving, too! Are you packed yet?

 

[lshaw6]

Oh, it is TOMORROW were you are! Have a fantabulous time!

Lisa! You are almost leaving, too! Are you packed yet?

Hi Tammie,
Oh Yes!! Packed and ready to go!! Hubby says we are leaving a day earlier than planned so 4 more sleeps and we are on our way. The kids are really excited. My parents decided 2 weeks ago to go with us, so there will be 11 family members total on this trip. I am praying for a relaxing, enjoyable vacation for all of us.....lol. How are things in your neck of the woods?

Woo Hoo, Erin!! You are almost there!!

Lisa....4 days and counting!

 

[DizzyErin]

Hey all i am back .. now to figure out how to make this a TR not just a Pre TR hhahahahha or is it already done ... oh man who knows .. i am toooo tired for this!!

 

[lshaw6]

Hey all i am back .. now to figure out how to make this a TR not just a Pre TR hhahahahha or is it already done ... oh man who knows .. i am toooo tired for this!!

Ahh! Now the fun begins....lol. Hope you get some well needed rest so you can come back and write. I have been in suspense waiting to hear the details of your trip!

Lisa

 

[DizzyErin]

Ahh! Now the fun begins....lol. Hope you get some well needed rest so you can come back and write. I have been in suspense waiting to hear the details of your trip!

Lisa

Thanks Lisa
I've been uploading pics today and trying to sort out all photopass pics to get the cd ordered .. then i will be back to carry on and fill everyone in on how exactly 18 people move around the world and live in one house together

 

[lshaw6]

Thanks Lisa
I've been uploading pics today and trying to sort out all photopass pics to get the cd ordered .. then i will be back to carry on and fill everyone in on how exactly 18 people move around the world and live in one house together

Sounds like a plan. We will all be here patiently waiting for the story to begin.......lol.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya Erin -

Welcome back - yep we are here waiting.... no pressure...

Tessa

 

[tinkerbells mum]

welcome back, really looking forward to hearing all about it. we're off next April with 8 if us staying in a villa so looking forward to seeing pictures of where you stayed and hearing how 18 scared1 of you all got on

Tinkerbells mum xx

 

[DizzyErin]

Hi all
Thanks for patiently waiting .. jetlag is a pain!! Thakfully Cj and i have done ok .. back to school tomorrow so thank goodness she's slept!


Ok so here we goooooo

We drove down to the airport hotel on the friday night in the hopes of avoiding horrid weather and traffic the following morning, which was a good move as when we woke on the saturday it was snowing
So off to the airport to wait for the flight, all was on time so it was looking good .. quick breakie and then we boarded.
The only thing i was worried about was my cousin who is deathly afraid of flying, she has to have prescription meds from docs to even get near a plane!!

Let's just say the flight was awful, the flight to me was great , reasonably smooth etc etc however my cousin lost the plot, meds didn't work, she was crying and being sick it was just horrid .. then about 5 hours into the flight my poor little neice (M4) starts being sick, poor little love it was coming out of both ends for the rest of the journey
Anyway after the least enjoyable flight i think i have ever been on we arrived in 1 piece (of sorts) picked up the car which went nice and smoothly and drove to the villa ...
It was loooovely but can you believe i can't find a pic of it on my camera ????? There must be one somewhere hahaha
Anyway in the meantime here's one off the website

So all to bed after a quick stop at the nearest shop
Until tomorrow .. Unpacking, shopping and Downtown Disney

 

[tttessa]

Hiya Erin - house looks great!!! Was it in Emerald Island resort?? Was it great there or anything to really watch out for - sorry..... will wait patiently for next instalment....

Tessa

 

[DizzyErin]

Hiya Erin - house looks great!!! Was it in Emerald Island resort?? Was it great there or anything to really watch out for - sorry..... will wait patiently for next instalment....

Tessa

Hhahaha
Yes it was Emerald Island Resort and yes house was looovely
To be honest Tessa we didn't really spend anytime on the estate .. we drove through, security great, guards there 24/7 and that was pretty much it animals were a nightmare, bin went over pretty much every night even when it was wedged against the car, determined little critters!!

 

[burly]

This sounds like fun! That's A LOT of people!

 

[lshaw6]

Hi Erin,

Glad to see the story has begun! Hope you got the pic I emailed you. I have never flown in my life and worry that if I ever do decide to, I will become ill myself. I have heard of people getting air sick and that scares me...even more than the thought of flying itself! How long was your flight to Florida? It must have seemed like forever with all that going on. No doubt you guys were all glad when you landed!

Oh man, that stinks about the animals getting into your trash every night. What a pain to have to clean up every morning. The house looks nice, good to have a nice, comfy place to come back to every night. Oooh I do love to shop in Orlando and at Downtown Disney! Can't wait to see the next installment.

Lisa

 

[DizzyErin]

This sounds like fun! That's A LOT of people!

It was a lot of fun and yes it was a LOT of people

Hi Erin,
Glad to see the story has begun! Hope you got the pic I emailed you. I have never flown in my life and worry that if I ever do decide to, I will become ill myself. I have heard of people getting air sick and that scares me...even more than the thought of flying itself! How long was your flight to Florida? It must have seemed like forever with all that going on. No doubt you guys were all glad when you landed!
Lisa

Unfortunately (as you will soon find out) it wasn't air sick it was indeed a bug!! The flight there was 10 loooooong hours and coming home was only 7 1/2 due to the winds yayyaya!! I love flying and always have, thankfully so does Cj .. but it was a hellish journey .. my aunt is also afraid of flying so has meds too, so i had the baby for most of journey, i don't think i sat for long at all hahahha
I did get the pic thankyou so much, it's a great one!

 

[DizzyErin]

Everyone was up ridiculously early this morning, obviously due to time difference and long day, noone slept well.
So after breakie and unpacking us ladies decided to head to Walmart, older kiddos came too, lots of food bought, autograph books bought then we headed back to the house, the others had been playing in the games room all this time so they were good but hungry, we decided to go to Planet Hollywood that night for dinner and then to Create a T for Cj's b'day shirt.

Planet Hollywod was my mums idea, she had a not so nice meal there a couple of months back in London so wanted a good one, she got one
Got the shirt and headed home, later than planned and everyone was suffering, all fell into bed forgetting to check the weather forecast for tomorrow oops

Coming up Day 3 .. Universal Studios, well for some!!

Ooh forgot to say we ordered the cake at Publix .. wait till you see it, it was AMAZING!!

 

[tttessa]

Hiya Erin

We loved Planet Hollywood too - London, DLR Paris, Florida - never had a bad meal yet...

Love Universal Studios too - so - waiting very unpatiently - gotta keep the updates coming or we WILL pester you you know!!

Tessa

 

[DizzyErin]

Hiya Erin

We loved Planet Hollywood too - London, DLR Paris, Florida - never had a bad meal yet...

Love Universal Studios too - so - waiting very unpatiently - gotta keep the updates coming or we WILL pester you you know!!

Tessa

They've moved the London one now and just not impressed with it .. shame as i hadn't had a bad meal in any of those either, just a good job my mother was satisfied this time hahahah

I looove Universal too .. unfortunately the next day did not go so well for me!
Thankfully we got to go back and have proper time there