Are we REALLY going alone?? PTR

[Sweet Pea UK]

Well … I have started numerous pre-trip reports before but not all of them I saw through to the end. I have started numerous trip reports before and only completely finished one. That was our 20 night stay at Portofino Bay and the Grand Floridian back in 2010 and was going to be our “trip of a lifetime”. We were then fortunate enough to go again in 2011 (twice for me), 2012 and 2013. All have been with different people, family or friends but something was always “not quite right”. We went with the in-laws – they annoyed us – we went with friends – their kids annoyed us – we had our brother in law thrust upon us as we had a “spare room”. The only people to come up to our required level of acceptance was my parents. However, with our DD being older we needed to ensure this trip was in the summer holidays and it is just way to hot for them to consider coming. This year WE ARE GOING ALONE!!!!! And … I am determined to finish both the PTR and the TR itself. I would love you to read along and share our journey.


Lets start by saying who WE are …



Me – Sara (39) Livelong Disney devotee. Went for my first time in 1980 to Anaheim when I was 5 closely followed in 1982 to Orlando and then another 17 trips as this one will be my 20th!


DH – Jonathan (40). Pretends to wish we went snowboarding for our holidays but actually really enjoys the whole Disney bubble. He even looks things up himself now and makes suggestions. We have been 7 times together already and he likes the fact he can go off and play golf knowing that Amber and I are quite happy amusing ourselves.


DD- Amber (13). First went when she was 4 and this will be her 7th time. She loves anything Disney and extremely fast and scary rides! She is a really lovely little girl – I know I am biased but she has very caring and giving qualities.

So how did this trip come about? Having gone in 2010, 2011 and 2012 we were going to have a break for a while but then our best friends who we went with in 2012 decided they were going to get married in Orlando in 2013. We initially said we couldn’t go but once they got into the planning of it all I said there was no way I couldn’t be there! The 2013 trip was born! My Mum and Dad said they would like to come but only for the first 11 days – we would stay on an extra 9 days. We had 4 nights with them in Clearwater and then booked a 2-bed Villa at Saratoga Springs for 2 weeks. They would only occupy the other room for 1 week – we would have all that space for our last few days! That wasn’t to be! Jonathans Mum found our and asked if we would let him stay in the room for the week so he could take our nephew as he had promised him and this would be the only chance he would have to do it! So not true – he has a really good job and could more than afford to pay for a holiday! We felt pressured into in and said yes!!! We should really have downsized to 2x1beds with Mum and Dad as it ended up costing us over £1000 to have the 2 bed the week longer and we didn’t get any benefit at all from it!


Because of this – and a couple of other issues, I felt a bit despondent and cheated about the whole thing. Jonathan said while we were there – why don’t we come back in 2015 – on our own!!! Not have to fit in with anybody else and what they want to do – just us!!! So here we are ....

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Around about Christmas 2013 I started to price up based on 2014 prices. We knew we wanted to go back in August and I was pretty sure I would have enough airmiles for a reward seat in premium economy. We hoped that if the price was right on premium economy we could all fly that for the same price we usually spent on 3x economy flights as one would only cost the taxes. We decided that if the free dining offer came out we would go for 3 weeks at Saratoga Springs. As Amber was getting older we would try for a 1-bed villa as it offers a bit more space and privacy for a teenager!

It was then an anxious few months wait to see if the offer came out! It did at the end of April so we priced it up and it was more or less what I was expecting. We booked for 21st August to 11th September. This would include 21 day tickets and free dining!

Now we had to wait for September and the flights to be released. Would they be an acceptable price?? It turned out that I could get a reward seat with my miles in premium economy but I wasn’t happy with the price for the other 2 that I had to pay for. Also I would need to bring the holiday forward by a couple of days to 19th August. I decided to buy just the one return flight and pay for it with my virgin airmiles and risk the price coming down on Jonathans and mine. We decided to put the reward seat in Ambers name so that we could both earn airmiles on our flights when we booked them. I called Disney and they allowed me to bring the holiday forward for a very small amount of money.

For 3 weeks I nervously checked the price – it didn’t really fluctuate! It got to the end of October and I said to Jonathan that I just daren't wait any longer in case Amber ended up being the only one of us on the flight!! So one Friday night I transferred the savings into my current account and on the Saturday morning I went to book the flights. I logged on to Virgin Atlantic website and .... couldn't believe it! The Upper Class seats were the same price as premium economy - give or take £30!! I said this to Jonathan and he said it must be a mistake. He told me to ring them up! I said "I'm not ringing up - if I book them for this price - surely they will need to honour it??" I did it - I booked them! Now another dilemma - Us in Upper Class - Amber in Premium. I rang Virgin - explained what had just happened - half expecting them to say there had been a blip on the computer system but the person said "I know - great price isn't it!". I was able to upgrade Ambers ticket on the way out but not on the way back. Jonathan said he would happily sit in Premium on the way back on his own. We couldn't believe it - we've never flown Premium let along Upper before!! It gave us another dilemma though - what would we wear to travel in

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Crumbs over 2 months since I started this - I have to confess I then lost where it was and only just worked out how to find it again! Oops! At least it means we are 2 months closer to when we go.

Lots has happened in that time! I turned 40!!!!!! Scary!! I had a really great weekend with lots of celebrating a lovely party with family and friends and .... a Mulberry handbag!! At least now I might look like I can afford to be in first class!

A few pictures from the celebrations!!


Jonathan and I at my party.


Cake made by one of my team at work.


My bag - as a cake!!!


With my very expensive Mulberry purchase!


My present!!

I think I may also have finalised some of our plans (I think!!)

So ... last start by looking at what we are going to do.

Tuesday 18th August
Jonathan has to go to work but I don't Amber is on school holidays so we think we are going to spend the day by finishing off packing, maybe some lunch? Take the cats to the cattery and say our goodbyes to my Mum and Dad. As much as we can't wait to go alone - it will be very odd not having them there with us at all. When Jonathan gets home we have a taxi coming to pick us up and take us the 120 mile trip to the airport. We much prefer being taken to the airport as opposed to driving our own car as Jonathan is diabetic I worry on the return trip when we fly through the night that it will effect his sugar levels.

When we get to the airport we are able to do Twilight check in which will mean we can give all our luggage, get our boarding passes and in the morning just go straight through passport control. That night we are staying in the Premier Inn at Gatwick's North Terminal but will eat somewhere in the airport. Amber plans to wash her hair that night!! She leads an exciting life!

Wednesday 19th August
Can't imagine how we will be feeling this morning! We are not going to have breakfast but head straight over to the airport and head to .... VIRGIN'S FIRST CLASS LOUNGE!! We will be able to have some lunch/brunch in there/ I expect we will leave Jonathan in there while me and Amber head to the duty free. I plan on taking some Pimms (very English spirit) with us as I can see myself sitting on the balcony at Saratoga Springs drinking one (or two!)

Our flight leaves at 1pm. I don't see me making much use of the lie flat bed as I don't want to miss anything from my first (and probably only!) experience of flying Upper Class!

We are due to land about 5pm. We will pick up our hire car - we have booked a Chevy Tahoe - then its off to S/Springs!!

I have requested a room in the Springs on a higher up floor. That's only because when I was there with my Mum and Dad in 2011 we had a ground floor villa and a lizard came in! Now I know that could happen higher up but I am thinking its less likely!

Once we are in and have our bags in we are going to head to Walmart for some supplies. Jonathan and Amber love BBQ flavour Lays so they are top of the list. I am also going to get the sun cream, shampoo, conditioner etc so we don't have to carry it all over from the UK.

After that - a quick service meal in Artists Palette and then try to stay awake as long as possible. Never easy!!

Next up - how we intend to spend the first few days ...

 

[MrsSaraG]

Your plans sound wonderful so far! And that is so cool about your flight! Enjoy! Can't wait to read the rest of your plans!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Your plans sound wonderful so far! And that is so cool about your flight! Enjoy! Can't wait to read the rest of your plans!

Hi Sara I Look forward to sharing my plans with you xx

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

So I have a day off from work today. It is my 11 year wedding anniversary but DH is at work so I have baked some red velvet cakes as we are away for the weekend and I thought I could take them with us and shortly I will be leaving to pick up the mini bus with my FIL ready for our road trip. We are having a few days at Thorpe Park (Theme Park near London) and that is sure to make us even more excited for our Disney Trip! Tonight we are going to walk the dog along the Seafront - I am thinking those Americans reading along call this the Boardwalk?? We live right by the sea so are very fortunate to be able to do this.

Right ... Back to our plans!

Thursday 20th August
Our first full day!
As we always wake so early with the jetlag DH is going to go and have an early round of golf and Amber and I are going to go to Magic Kingdom for EMH. DH will meet us in there later. I expect we will do a few rides and mooch around - I am hoping for a FP for 7DMT (fingers crossed).
After grabbing some lunch which, seeing as it is all of our favourite place in MK expect to be Pecos Bills, we will head back to SSR for some pool time.
That night we have an ADR at Paradiso 37. This will be our first time eating here so we are looking forward to it. I expect a walk round DTD will precede/follow. A possible early night as our body clock will still be on GMT

Friday 21st August
I am hoping to get DH booked onto the surf lesson at TL today - I need to phone and book it next week. If I am lucky enough to get this (and I hope Amber and I will be able to watch) we will need to be there at 6:30am. This finishes as 9am and we will then spend some time there - again this will be at least until lunchtime.

We have no fixed plans for the afternoon - possible resort time or shopping . Our ADR for this night is at Ohana. It is 7:50pm so I am hoping we can then stay and watch Wishes from the Poly beach that night as it is on at 10pm. Will be fighting the tiredness by now! Those first few evenings are a killer!!!

Just had the call from FIL to go and pick up the mini bus so will write some more later ....

 

[CarolynK]

Sounds like a great trip, especially the "alone" part!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Hi CarolynK - we are most excited about the alone part!!!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Yikes!! Can't believe it is over 3 weeks since I checked in!! Where is the time going!

Where was I .... I remember - we were off to Thorpe Park for the weekend. We had a great time! Really nice and got us in the Theme Park mood and ... as there were 10 of us who went - made us appreciate all the more that it will be just the 3 of us on our holiday! It is the little things like stopping to eat and pleasing everybody and which ride to do next etc

Since my last update I have also passed by Fastpass+ booking date so those are all done! Also - I have paid off the balance - such a nice feeling - makes it feel like you are definitely going!!

So to update on those first couple of days - I did get 7DMT fastpass for a good time - also I went for BTM and Splash Mountain. I also booked DH onto the Surfing on Friday 21st August - we need to be at TL for 5:30am!!!!

On we go with the plans ...

Saturday 22nd August
We have no plans as such for this day - sleeping in I expect after the early start the day before - it will be a nice quiet pool day I should imagine - perhaps either eating lunch by the pool or a wander to Disney Springs (that's going to take some getting used to!!) We have a test track fastpass for 6:30pm and a Teppen Edo reservation for 7:30pm -I expect we will watch Illuminations that evening.

Sunday 23rd August
We plan to drive across to Daytona Beach - we have never been there before and looking forward to it. Late lunch will be at Bubba Gumps. We plan to walk along the pier, swim in the Ocean and visit some quintessential "seaside" shops. On our way back we are going to head to Citywalk, play some Mini Golf and get a hotdog in the new HotDog Hall of Fame - if anybody has been there and has some recommendations I would appreciate it.

Monday 24th August
After a relaxing-ish couple of days we are back on it today. DH will play golf early and DD and I will make a late morning entry into Hollywood Studios - one thing about booking the fastpasses is I will actually miss that early morning dash to Toy Story Mania to pick one up!! DH will meet us in there about lunchtime - by that time I am sure we will already have been to Starring Rolls for a Red Velvet cupcake!! Other plans will be Rock n Roller coaster and ToT - this is usually a ride I avoid - just don't like it but I have promised that I will try and do it this year At 4:30 we have a reservation at Mama Melrose as part of the Fantasmic Dinner Package. It gives us priority seating for the first showing but I would rather do the second showing so that we can see the Frozen fireworks at 9pm so will need to see if that is possible. If so - will be a late one as will see the show at 10pm!

Right - best get on - more updates to follow ...

 

[CarolynK]

...DD and I will make a late morning entry into Hollywood Studios - one thing about booking the fastpasses is I will actually miss that early morning dash to Toy Story Mania to pick one up!!

Funny thing is, until FP+ we had NEVER done Toy Story - we're not early risers, especially on vacation, and every time we'd try for FPs they were, of course, already gone.

 

[cinderkelly]

Hi Sara!
I stumbled upon your PTR because my DH and I are also going solo on our next trip and can't wait! Who says mom and Dad can't go alone?? I'm going to go back and read through your plans but wanted to say hello! I'm so jealous of all you guys from the UK that get such long holidays! Looking forward to reading more.

Edited to add.. Guess I should have paid better attention! Glad you'll have your DD with you to have fun!
Kelly