I know people are going to find this hard to believe but you can go to Orlando without doing the theme parks! We were there last year and while you can never have too much Disney your credit cards can! So as I knew we were going to Disneyland as well as the Disney cruise we decided to give the WDW parks a miss. It was going to be a relaxing week but Ill leave you to decide if it was.
Hi Im a 34 High School teacher in Scotland and mum, Doreen, is 69 and going through a second childhood.
Thursday 26th June
I had to go into school till 12. No real need for it as we do nothing but the boss makes us! So what we did was go for an interdepartmental book trip i.e. went for coffee and looked at a few books! Finally I could escape and I went home to do the last minute things. I had been waiting for news about a course and just before we left the email finally came so I had to fill in the forms as we were travelling to Edinburgh!
We stayed the night at the Quality hotel it is near the airport and has good parking rates remember we would be away for a month. We had a great meal and a bottle of wine finally I could relax.
Friday 27th June
We were up at 4.30am and after breakfast in the room we were at the airport by 5am. Arrived at Heathrow at 9am and after a quick tour we went to the Red Carpet room the travel agents apology for the ticket mix up. It was nice and relaxing and better than sitting in the normal lounge. Unfortunately we were split up on board I gave Mum the better bulkhead seat. Well was she not upgraded to business class! So while I was in cattle class she was living the high life, sipping champagne, eating fillet steak and being pampered to death!
The films werent even that great and although she had a choice of films she didnt watch one.
We arrived in Chicago at 4pm and faced the horrendous security lines. Now I am not complaining about the upgraded security we always felt security was so lax in US airports prior to 9/11 but what gets me is the lack of organisation. There were no signs saying where to queue or anything. Once getting through that we went to Chilis for a snack and beer. We finally arrived in Orlando at 10.35pm. A roundabout way to get there but by booking through United I got all the internal flights free.
We got to our timeshare at Westgate at 11.40pm to find we were in the new building. It is gorgeous. Mum had her own granny flat (the studio) with her own bathroom and mini kitchen. The washer/dryer was between that and the 1 bedroom. That was massive bigger than our house. Nobody else had been in it. There was a huge wide screen TV, leather furniture and two bathrooms. My bedroom was huge with a family size hot tub and double shower. We finally got to bed at 2am a long day.
Saturday 28th July
We went for breakfast at McDonalds but this was no normal McDonalds it had roses on the marble tables and made to order waffles. Then we went to Wal-Mart for essentials like milk, bread and beer! After a swim and walk around the grounds we went to the Contemporary for a meal at California Grill. We first did a monorail tour and some shopping. After a short wait we were escorted to the wine room, which was far less noisy. We went out to see the fireworks but it isnt quite the same without the music. We shared a roasted portabella mushroom flatbread with gorgonzola cheese. Then I had the black bean cakes and mum had the pork tenderloin.
Sunday 29th July
After breakfast on the porch we went swimming and then onto Bennigans for lunch. I had got a $25 dollar on the iBIDUSA auction site for less than $10 it was well worth it. I had the Finnegans fillet and Mum the grilled seafood platter. We then went shopping at the Florida Mall and got new dresses for the wedding. Now this wasnt a relatives or friends wedding but the new dinner theatre show Tony and Tinas wedding! This was another iBID voucher and hilarious. You were guests of the bride of groom, privy to the family squabbles, the drunken priest, dollar dance and everything. We had a buffet meal but no alcohol was included. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Monday 30th June
Today we went up to Sanfords St John River for a river cruise on the Rivership Romance. Again courtesy of iBID. This was a lovely remodelled paddleboat. You started off with sticky buns, cheese, fruit and shrimp and then there was a nature commentary before lunch. Well I had the prime rib, which was like half a cow, and delicious mum had chicken enclosed in pastry. There was also dessert. As well as the included beverages I had a yellow squall cocktail.
After a swim we went to the Premium Outlets and then had Popeyes for tea and relaxed in the Jacuzzi, which was finally working.
Tuesday 1st July
We went to Downtown Disney for shopping and had ice cream at Ghiradellis. Brought back smoothies and subs for lunch and then it was on to indoor skydiving. Mum was not happy and didnt want to do it and wouldnt get the video. Well after being suited up and the training she loved it! It is inside a wind tunnel and the instructor is in with you. You really get the feeling of being at high speed and high up.
Tonight we went to Flavors of India using another voucher it was nice but I felt it was expensive compared to places here. It was also the first time I have ever been asked if I wanted my Korma mild or spicy!
Wednesday 2nd July
Gaylord Palms was the destination today what a gorgeous hotel! Lots of lovely public areas to walk around. Our rep, Luis had asked us to meet him at Westgate Vacation Villas to catch up it was lovely to see him again but I am glad I dont own there and dont ask my mums opinion of it! We did drive up to the new Ritz Carlton resort (the day after its opening) but after witnessing a road rage incident decided not to park and go in. It looked lovely though.
We got some panini sandwiches from McDonalds and relaxed. Went to Pineapple grill for a meal we were the only ones there but I had a $25 restaurant.com voucher to use. It was very nice.
Thursday 3rd July
Today we went to Mall of Millennia the wonderful new mall off I4. It has upscale shops but also Macys and the cheesecake factory. However we enjoyed the coffee at Panera bread so much that we went back for lunch to there why is it we eat so much on vacation but rarely have dessert!
I had got a $10 gift card for Macys courtesy of a website several years ago but had never used it and was convinced it had expired. So as the 4th of July sales had started I got this lovely pair of capris for 99cents! After swimming just before a thunderstorm we went to the Plaza Venezia near the timeshare and had some Chinese take out in the little boxes!
Friday 4th July Independence day!
Today we checked out and went to Cocoa Beach. I had got a free night at the Oceanside Inn when I booked our cruise. We arrived at 11.30am and got into our room. It was basic but clean and they all have ocean balconies. We went to Ron Jons and bought a t-shirt and then on to Wendys.
After returning the car (this way I only had to pay for a weeks rental and the taxi fare to the Port was less than the extra days rental) we used the hotels wooden walkway to the beach. It is very clean but of course being the 4th very busy. Went for a drink at the Tiki bar at the end of the pier, of course we had to pay to get on the pier! Then we went to Perkins for a meal, I think I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich but I do remember the wonderful apple caramel pie we took back to the room. We had a wonderful view of the fireworks from our balcony I did venture out to the shore for a while but with people letting off fireworks anywhere I found it quite scary. Watching if from the balcony with a cold beer was far better. Also watched the Macys fireworks on TV.
Sat 5th July
The day of the cruise had finally arrived. I had been speaking to so many people on the DISBoards for so long and now we were finally going to meet.
Link to week on cruise http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=414044
Link to week at Disneyland
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=414604
Hi Im a 34 High School teacher in Scotland and mum, Doreen, is 69 and going through a second childhood.
Thursday 26th June
I had to go into school till 12. No real need for it as we do nothing but the boss makes us! So what we did was go for an interdepartmental book trip i.e. went for coffee and looked at a few books! Finally I could escape and I went home to do the last minute things. I had been waiting for news about a course and just before we left the email finally came so I had to fill in the forms as we were travelling to Edinburgh!
We stayed the night at the Quality hotel it is near the airport and has good parking rates remember we would be away for a month. We had a great meal and a bottle of wine finally I could relax.
Friday 27th June
We were up at 4.30am and after breakfast in the room we were at the airport by 5am. Arrived at Heathrow at 9am and after a quick tour we went to the Red Carpet room the travel agents apology for the ticket mix up. It was nice and relaxing and better than sitting in the normal lounge. Unfortunately we were split up on board I gave Mum the better bulkhead seat. Well was she not upgraded to business class! So while I was in cattle class she was living the high life, sipping champagne, eating fillet steak and being pampered to death!
The films werent even that great and although she had a choice of films she didnt watch one.
We arrived in Chicago at 4pm and faced the horrendous security lines. Now I am not complaining about the upgraded security we always felt security was so lax in US airports prior to 9/11 but what gets me is the lack of organisation. There were no signs saying where to queue or anything. Once getting through that we went to Chilis for a snack and beer. We finally arrived in Orlando at 10.35pm. A roundabout way to get there but by booking through United I got all the internal flights free.
We got to our timeshare at Westgate at 11.40pm to find we were in the new building. It is gorgeous. Mum had her own granny flat (the studio) with her own bathroom and mini kitchen. The washer/dryer was between that and the 1 bedroom. That was massive bigger than our house. Nobody else had been in it. There was a huge wide screen TV, leather furniture and two bathrooms. My bedroom was huge with a family size hot tub and double shower. We finally got to bed at 2am a long day.
Saturday 28th July
We went for breakfast at McDonalds but this was no normal McDonalds it had roses on the marble tables and made to order waffles. Then we went to Wal-Mart for essentials like milk, bread and beer! After a swim and walk around the grounds we went to the Contemporary for a meal at California Grill. We first did a monorail tour and some shopping. After a short wait we were escorted to the wine room, which was far less noisy. We went out to see the fireworks but it isnt quite the same without the music. We shared a roasted portabella mushroom flatbread with gorgonzola cheese. Then I had the black bean cakes and mum had the pork tenderloin.
Sunday 29th July
After breakfast on the porch we went swimming and then onto Bennigans for lunch. I had got a $25 dollar on the iBIDUSA auction site for less than $10 it was well worth it. I had the Finnegans fillet and Mum the grilled seafood platter. We then went shopping at the Florida Mall and got new dresses for the wedding. Now this wasnt a relatives or friends wedding but the new dinner theatre show Tony and Tinas wedding! This was another iBID voucher and hilarious. You were guests of the bride of groom, privy to the family squabbles, the drunken priest, dollar dance and everything. We had a buffet meal but no alcohol was included. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Monday 30th June
Today we went up to Sanfords St John River for a river cruise on the Rivership Romance. Again courtesy of iBID. This was a lovely remodelled paddleboat. You started off with sticky buns, cheese, fruit and shrimp and then there was a nature commentary before lunch. Well I had the prime rib, which was like half a cow, and delicious mum had chicken enclosed in pastry. There was also dessert. As well as the included beverages I had a yellow squall cocktail.
After a swim we went to the Premium Outlets and then had Popeyes for tea and relaxed in the Jacuzzi, which was finally working.
Tuesday 1st July
We went to Downtown Disney for shopping and had ice cream at Ghiradellis. Brought back smoothies and subs for lunch and then it was on to indoor skydiving. Mum was not happy and didnt want to do it and wouldnt get the video. Well after being suited up and the training she loved it! It is inside a wind tunnel and the instructor is in with you. You really get the feeling of being at high speed and high up.
Tonight we went to Flavors of India using another voucher it was nice but I felt it was expensive compared to places here. It was also the first time I have ever been asked if I wanted my Korma mild or spicy!
Wednesday 2nd July
Gaylord Palms was the destination today what a gorgeous hotel! Lots of lovely public areas to walk around. Our rep, Luis had asked us to meet him at Westgate Vacation Villas to catch up it was lovely to see him again but I am glad I dont own there and dont ask my mums opinion of it! We did drive up to the new Ritz Carlton resort (the day after its opening) but after witnessing a road rage incident decided not to park and go in. It looked lovely though.
We got some panini sandwiches from McDonalds and relaxed. Went to Pineapple grill for a meal we were the only ones there but I had a $25 restaurant.com voucher to use. It was very nice.
Thursday 3rd July
Today we went to Mall of Millennia the wonderful new mall off I4. It has upscale shops but also Macys and the cheesecake factory. However we enjoyed the coffee at Panera bread so much that we went back for lunch to there why is it we eat so much on vacation but rarely have dessert!
I had got a $10 gift card for Macys courtesy of a website several years ago but had never used it and was convinced it had expired. So as the 4th of July sales had started I got this lovely pair of capris for 99cents! After swimming just before a thunderstorm we went to the Plaza Venezia near the timeshare and had some Chinese take out in the little boxes!
Friday 4th July Independence day!
Today we checked out and went to Cocoa Beach. I had got a free night at the Oceanside Inn when I booked our cruise. We arrived at 11.30am and got into our room. It was basic but clean and they all have ocean balconies. We went to Ron Jons and bought a t-shirt and then on to Wendys.
After returning the car (this way I only had to pay for a weeks rental and the taxi fare to the Port was less than the extra days rental) we used the hotels wooden walkway to the beach. It is very clean but of course being the 4th very busy. Went for a drink at the Tiki bar at the end of the pier, of course we had to pay to get on the pier! Then we went to Perkins for a meal, I think I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich but I do remember the wonderful apple caramel pie we took back to the room. We had a wonderful view of the fireworks from our balcony I did venture out to the shore for a while but with people letting off fireworks anywhere I found it quite scary. Watching if from the balcony with a cold beer was far better. Also watched the Macys fireworks on TV.
Sat 5th July
The day of the cruise had finally arrived. I had been speaking to so many people on the DISBoards for so long and now we were finally going to meet.
Link to week on cruise http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=414044
Link to week at Disneyland
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=414604
