Across the Atlantic and up Main Street USA - Our July 2012 adventure!

[ScotsMinnie]

hello! I just found your TR!! We are going to be at Disney over the 4th of July too! I love all your ADRs! We have many of the same, and for all the same reasons you suggest! My DS9 is going to be 10 in June, right before our trip. What grade is your DD in? She just turned 10, right? Our son had a pen pal from Noroway, we met the family on a cruise last spring break, Italy/Greece over Easter. I gave her our email address, and she emailed him! They email every so often, it is kind of neat to have a friend from a different place! Maybe we could do the same with your older daughter, if you want, like a pen pal? Either way, I completely agree with you about the restaurant choices! We have almost the same! We are staying at WLV, for that week, July 1 - 8. I have to say I love your Edinburgh!! We go every other year or so for the Fringe!

Your air fare is incredible, I don't doubt the expense it must be! It is hard to think about summer clothes already, but you are right, you have to start planning or you don't get the best selection!!

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your planning in the next few months!!!

I have spoken to my eldest DD and she is really keen to be a pen pal. Let me know how you want to get started!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Oh I have really neglected my PTR! This weekend we have only 9 weeks to go!!!!

Since I last updated we have made a few changes and added some extras in too.

My Dad really wanted to go to Kennedy Space Center but noone else was too bothered so he found out about a coach tour that he could go on by himself. He is more than happy to do that. So we have booked him a great tour which includes transport.

The day that he is off to NASA my Mum and I are going to take the girls to the MK to do the Family Magic Tour. I have really fancied this for a while so we have booked us in as a surprise for them. DH is very excited to have a morning in the villa by himself relaxing. We will be meeting him for a late lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe later in the day. So looking forward to seeing the girls enjoying the tour.


I have also been doing a serious amount of shopping. We don't get the greatest of summers and with two growing girls they did need a lot of new summer clothes. DD10 is growing at a scary rate - she is really tall and gets no wear at all out of any of her clothes. DD5 (nearly 6) on the other hand still fits into age 3-4 shorts. I still need to get some things for me too so a little more shopping still to be done.

I have also order some patches from Etsy to sew onto white tshirts. I have ordered 7 altogether and they have been shipped so I cant wait to see them. DD10 and DD5 have both chosen some characters they like and they have each ordered a little girl dressed as Minnie. DD10 says she will wear it on the first MK day to match her little sister but after that she will not wear it on the same day. Apparently wearing matching tops with your sister is not cool!

DD5 is super excited about seeing Duffy and I had seen pictures of a Duffy wristlet purse which I looked at on ebay to buy her at Christmas time. The price of them and postage to the UK was ridiculous so I didn't get one. However, someone at DHs work was going and offered to get one for us. So I now have that (its bigger than i thought - but so cute) and we are going to give it to her for her birthday from Duffy. For Christmas Tinkerbell sent her a Tinkerbell doll with a note explaining that Mickey told her she was visiting and that she couldn't wait to see her. So we thought Duffy might do the same. I love that she is at the age where she does not question things like that and just goes along with the magic!

DD10 is also really excited about meeting her school friend on the 4th July. It will be great to hang out with them that day. I am sure the girls will have a ball.

I shall post some pics of my patches when they come. I have the tshirts ready to sew them onto so hopefully they will be done soon. So much still to do - and thankfully time is passing very quickly!

 

[Happydog]

Hi there! I just have to say I have been super neglectful of my PTR too! AND I am still interested in having our kids email if you are! I just have to get through a few things here at our house, then once I am clear of the chaos, I will be able to devote more attention to my excitement over our vacation!! Happy planning and fun shopping!

 

[Trinity524]

Joining in! The girls are beautiful! I love that your parents will be joining you!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Hi there! I just have to say I have been super neglectful of my PTR too! AND I am still interested in having our kids email if you are! I just have to get through a few things here at our house, then once I am clear of the chaos, I will be able to devote more attention to my excitement over our vacation!! Happy planning and fun shopping!

Would still be lovely to have them email. I will DM you my email address. Would love to join your PTR but can't see the link in your siggy.

I also need to sort out my house - its not the tidiest but I have so much on at the moment and a big job interview coming up. Feels like too much going on in my little head at the moment. Still room for Disney excitement though!!!!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Joining in! The girls are beautiful! I love that your parents will be joining you!

Thank you - glad you joined in!

 

[Alysa]

Love your report! And how exciting, your trip is so soon! Your Dad will love NASA - we scheduled a half day there and wish we had done a whole day instead, it was so fascinating! Looking forward to seeing the esty patches!
PS - Good luck with the big interview!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Love your report! And how exciting, your trip is so soon! Your Dad will love NASA - we scheduled a half day there and wish we had done a whole day instead, it was so fascinating! Looking forward to seeing the esty patches!
PS - Good luck with the big interview!

Thanks for joining in! He is really looking forward to NASA. Maybe next time we will take the girls. Still waiting (im)patiently for my patches! Can't wait to see them.


Tonight made a visit to the Disney Store for Rapunzel goodies for DD5's 6th birthday. She wants a Rapunzel dress to wear at the BBB but they didnt have her size so had to come home and order it online! Still it was good having a wee look and managed to pick up a few things for the trip too.

 

[gallmcduck]

Shopping is so much fun when you have a vacation planned I have been well neglecting my ptr need to get back on track! DM and DF flew out to orlando this morning so we are feeling very holidayish so printed out the weeks navigators from recent eastern fantasy cruise to read and plan

DD1 was 6 last week and was also requesting rapunzel items must be a P1 thing! Hope the job interview went well

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Shopping is so much fun when you have a vacation planned I have been well neglecting my ptr need to get back on track! DM and DF flew out to orlando this morning so we are feeling very holidayish so printed out the weeks navigators from recent eastern fantasy cruise to read and plan

DD1 was 6 last week and was also requesting rapunzel items must be a P1 thing! Hope the job interview went well

Rapunzel must be the "in" princess of the moment! DD5 is obsessed with her! I ordered her the dress and tiara and the little plush Pascale. She wants to wear the dress to the BBB and its the only thing she asked for for her birthday so was essential that i found it!

Time is passing so fast now. We have almost paid for everything and I have actually started to pack a case!!! We have bought so much new stuff that its easier to just put it in a suitcase.
I also bought some pins from ebay so the girls now have a big stash to trade when we get there. I am in full list mode and will start really getting sorted after the interview that is coming up. At least I know that regardless of what happens with that I have an fabulous holiday to look forward to!

 

[jmskinner]

The family tour sounds like a lot of fun and your Dad will love Kennedy. Jacob and I went our last weekend in Florida and had a great time. Warn him that it will be really sunny and hot, not a lot of trees.

Can't wait to read about your trip!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Exciting news!!! The big job interview? I got it! I will be a permanent full time primary teacher as of August. So excited, surprised and relieved!!!!

Sooooooooo I can now start to get stuck into my planning. Just got the tickets to pay, our ESTAS to do and travel insurance to confirm.

Going to make a little light green mickey head too to put on my bag just in case! Would love to meet a fellow diser out there!

Almost done with my tshirts. Patches look great and got some ribbon to go with them so the girls are super happy with them. Will post pics soon!

 

[jmskinner]

Congratulations!!!! How exciting!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Sooooooo much has happened recently that I haven't even looked at this PTR!

As I mentioned in my last post I got the big job I went for and am still on Cloud 9! After a year on supply I finally have a permanent post. Even better I ahve been places in the lovely little school near me where I have been covering an illness for the last few months. I love it there!

Today we had a really exciting day as the Olympic torch for the London 2012 Olympics came right past the school. It is being carried by athletes and local community heroes and all of the children dressed in red, white and blue and we waved our flags and cheered like crazy!

Here we are waiting and the torch eventually coming past.

Back to my trip though! We now have our flight info and tags etc and our park tickets have arrived!

We have got tickets for my Dad, DH and DD11 for Universal.

We have got our 14 day Disney tickets, just about to order 1 annual pass and that will be all! It makes sense for us to get 1 annual pass as the savings on parking make up for the extra cost by far.

Having the tickets makes it so much more real. Still got loads to do though before we go. I need some bits and pieces to wear and lots to organise for us being away. The dog is being left at my Mums house with my cousin's daughter who is going to stay there with them. Need to make sure she has had a bath and is on her best behaviour!

We have now booked our transport to Manchester for our flight. DH and my Dad are going to drive down in one car with most of the luggage. Mum, the girls and I are booked on the train. We will all meet at our airport hotel. The trip down is not so bad but on the way home we get back t the airport at about 8am (3am florida time) and it is a 4 hour drive home. DH can get a wee sleep on the plane and says he will be fine to drive. I can never sleep and know I will not feel good enough to drive back home. The train will be the better option for me. Looking forward to a relaxing trip.

The only issue is that DH has got tickets for a concert in Manchester that night. He loved this band in the 90s and they have reformed and are only doing a few venues. He was over the moon when he realised they were playing Manchester the night that we were there. I am just hoping he doesnt make a lot of noise coming into the room at midnight and wake the girls up. He may not make it to Florida of he does!!!


The other good news is that another family we know well have just booked to go to WDW same time as us so we will be planning to meet up with them towards the end of our trip and the beginning of theirs. It will be so nice to meet up with them.

We also have been thinking about our first day and have changed our plans slightly. Last trip DH and my Dad went to the east coast to do some fishing. They have decided they really want to do that again. They are going to head off first thing and do the 4 hour fishing trip. Mum, the girls and I are going to go to Downtown Disney to hit some shops. DD6's eyes are going to pop out of her head when sees World of Disney so we may be in there for a loooooooong time! We will get an icecream sundae and activate our annual pass. We will then meet the guys there after they drop the little hire car at one of the Downtown Disney hotels and go back to the villa for some pool time and a little disco nap for the girls. (Disco nap is a little sleep in preparation for a night out!). We will still be really jet lagged so this will be essential if we are going to enjoy our dinner at OHanas. Really looking forward to it!

 

[jmskinner]

Love the pics of the Olympic Torch. Did you take the girls out of school for it? One of my other friends from there in Scotland did.

for having the tickets! That does make it feel all real.

That's that your husband will get to see the band. I can't imagine driving 4 hours after two weeks at WDW and that long flight.

Sounds like the first day will be really nice.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Love the pics of the Olympic Torch. Did you take the girls out of school for it? One of my other friends from there in Scotland did.

for having the tickets! That does make it feel all real.

That's that your husband will get to see the band. I can't imagine driving 4 hours after two weeks at WDW and that long flight.

Sounds like the first day will be really nice.

I was really lucky at my school as the torch went right past the front of the school. The girls school is quite a bit from the route. They took the two oldest classes to see it and it was a 4 mile walk for them. It would have been too much for the younger ones so you could pick them up and take them yourself if you wanted to. I work so thats not easy but we were lucky enough to hold the torch when it toured with the bank my brother works for so I just left her in school. She told me she had already held it so was happy to stay with her friends at school.

It was a good day but even the little ones at our school got bored waiting and were thoroughly underwhelmed!!!!! The older ones enjoyed it though! (and us oldies!)

 

[Happydog]

How neat that you were able to see the torch! That is pretty amazing and what a unique opportunity! Alas, I didn't get my act together about the pen pal thing, but the trip is a surprise. So maybe, if you are at wilderness, if you still have that plan, we can meet up for a hello!

You must be excited about the trip getting close! I know I am!!

 

[gallmcduck]

Hey You will have arrived in WDW by now

I did not get to pop in last week to join your send off - have a magicial trip

Big congrats on your appointment, permanent positions are like golddust these day

Look forward to reading about your trip.

We too had a great view of the olympic torch it travelled through the village the children enjoyed the experience.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Hi all! Thought I would drop by to say we have now been here for a few days and are having a fabulous time. The journey here was long but easy and we are slowly getting used to the heat. Can't wait to tell you all about it!

 

[gallmcduck]

Sounds wonderful, we are still having rain! Enjoy every minute : )