Dont forget to pack the Hot Tuna's.... we're going to Florida PTR!!

[jjk]

With only 16 days to go, thought I would share our Pre Trippie with you all.

This year will be bit different for us as we will be exploring a bit more of Florida being inspired by various dissers trip reports and our teenager being more receptive to the idea So we are Heading for 16 nights in the Sunshine State 11 of which will be at Disney staying at Saratoga Springs as AKL was out of our Budget this year however we stayed here before and loved the resort so looking forward to going back we have a Studio and free Dining.

[/URL][/IMG]
this is Kieran the last time we stayed here in 2009 he's changed a bit since then



We have most things we need including these

as the title says these water shoes have been the bane of my life for about 3 months due to Kieran being extremely fussy and the retail outlet I purchased them from being very annoying !! However, I have been advised they will come in very Handy in the Florida Keys as lots of the small beaches are very rocky, bloomin hope so, and I must remember to pack them



The cast

[/URL][/IMG]

Peter, loves all things tropical, food and partial to wearing silly hats !!

[/URL][/IMG]

Kieran, 17, typical Student, loves sleeping, eating and Flying; oh and being comfortable, also partial to silly hats

[/URL][/IMG]

Me, Rachel - Planner etc, organizes things the other two would forget, like passports, not keen on hats, but ears will do

So here is a quick run down, although we have all our ADRs booked, we are going to go with the flow a bit more this year as we tend to change our minds a lot !

Day Before we fly
Drop Kieran at work for 9am quick dash home last min checks, passports, packing etc. Pick Kieran up 1pm, head to Fratton Park for our home game with Morcombe( ) ,then dinner with our 2 eldest and give them strict instructions on what will happen if our house is not in one piece by the time we get home. However lots of realatives will be popping in to help out on a daily basis .



(Honest Mum and Dad we wont have any parties )

Sadly, they are at an age where nights out are more exciting than coming to Florida with Ma and Pa, although they still expect Ghiradellis choccie brought home after lots of tearful farewells and more instuctions on how to work the cooker etc, time to head to the Crown Plaza at Heathrow. where we will not sleep much as all will be too excited.

Day 1 - Sunday 18th August 2013
Flight from Heathrow Airport on virgin at 11:35am Arrive Miami International
we are hoping to Avoid the 3hr Rental car queue this year!
Check In to Holiday Inn, Miami Ocean Front and walk along board walk and dip our toes in the Ocean and first night tradition; Bread sticks, marinara sauce and Pizza. crash into bed


Day 2 Day 2 - Monday 19th August 2013
Breakfast at all you can eat buffet, located at Holiday Inn (we have all been looking forward to this after months of My fitness pal )
Morning - at the Beach, then drive to Orlando trying not to stop at every rest room on the way unlike last year
Check In to Disneys Saratoga springs
Dinner at Chef Mickeys. looking forward to some napkin waving


Day 3 Day 3 - Tuesday 20th August 2013
Morning - Saratoga springs, swimming etc
Dinner at Ohanas we will be using Disney transport to get here and after a few Lapu Lapu's Kieran is in charge of getting us back to our hotel room

Day 4 - Wednesday 21st August 2013
Morning - Typhoon Lagoon my favourite water park
Dinner at Mama Melrose watch Fantasmic


5 Day 5 - Thursday 22nd August 2013
Lunch at The Plaza ....Chocolate brownie sundae mmmm
watch Wishes


Day 6 - Friday 23rd August 2013
All Day - Animal Kingdom, Kieran loves this park and says we never do it properly aiming to put this right today
Dinner at Tusker House this is a first for us cant wait to try somewhere new.


Saturday 24th August 2013
Dinner at Coral Reef

Day 8 - Sunday 25th August 2013
SeaWorld to be confirmed ??
Dinner at Sci Fi
watch Fantasmic


Day 9 - Monday 26th August 2013
Morning - Blizzard Beach
Dinner at Be Our Guest I am so excited to eat here as Beauty and the Beast is my Favourite Disney Movie

Day 10 - Tuesday 27th August 2013
Morning - Shopping to stock up at the Ugg store for the great British winter
Dinner at Paridiso taste of America

Day 11 - Wednesday 28th August 2013
Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern


Day 12 - Thursday 29th August 2013
Morning - Mini Golf at winter summerland
Dinner at Chef De France
watch Illuminations

Day 13 - Friday 30th August 2013
Morning washing and packing for our Florida road trip sad to leave WDW but looking forward to a mini adventure,
drive to key largo

Day 14 - Saturday 31st August 2013
Morning drive to marathon stopping to explore possibly bird centre and or feed the tarpon, Peter wants to see an Iguana
check in to Holiday Inn Marathon

Day 15 - Sunday 1st September 2013
morning drive to key west visit Fort zachery and beach explore looking forward to seeing the sun set
Check In to Sheraton suites key west

Day 16 - Monday 2nd September 2013 - Labor Day
explore more Keys on drive back to Miami we didnt realise it was labour day when we booked this trip so hoping our drive back to Miami wont be too bad
Check In to holiday inn Miami beach


Day 17 - Tuesday 3rd September 2013
Day at the Beach at Miami Beach
leave for home on the 9pm flight arrive back Heathrow 10.30 following morning

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]


Well, our dollars are all loaded all hotels are booked just got to dig the suitcases out and start packing thanks for reading. We are just counting down the days

 

[mandymouse]

You must be soooooo excited Rach Your plans sound fab, have a great time and I look forward to reading all about your adventures when you get back

Have fun

 

[irongirlof12]

Wow not long now, you must be soooo excited your plans sound great, can't want to read all about it.

 

[Latte Lover]

Fab plans Rachel. Looking forward to your report. Have a great time.

 

[jjk]

You must be soooooo excited Rach Your plans sound fab, have a great time and I look forward to reading all about your adventures when you get back

Have fun

Wow not long now, you must be soooo excited your plans sound great, can't want to read all about it.

Fab plans Rachel. Looking forward to your report. Have a great time.

Thanks everybody, very excited exactly 2 weeks today till we fly

 

[Chilly]

Have a great time

 

[Linda67]

Your plans sound great - can't wait to hear all about it

 

[jjk]

quite excited as its our SDD today and our Seaworld and Aquatica tickets arrived this morning its a few years since Ive visited Seaworld and we have never visited Aquatica so looking forward to having a look around. I have started packing this evening and the deep clean has begun...



its been a while

 

[Sarah28]

Love your plans Rachel! we head out just before you so not long to go, hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[jjk]

Your plans sound great - can't wait to hear all about it

thanks

Love your plans Rachel! we head out just before you so not long to go, hope you have a wonderful time!

thanks, hope you have a fab trip

 

[RDP]

Great plans and 16 nights! Fab!

 

[Claire Bear]

I'm looking forward to SeaWorld too, not sure if we'll have time for Aquatica or not but its included with our DC tickets so it would be good if we could go see what it's like.
Look forward to reading more of your plans

 

[wilma-bride]

Sounds like a fab trip Rach

Just noticed your two tickers - 6 days and 6 lbs to go, will you lose a lb a day and make your target

Hope you have a great time, I am looking forward to hearing what you think of the Keys.

 

[jjk]

Have a great time

thanks

I'm looking forward to SeaWorld too, not sure if we'll have time for Aquatica or not but its included with our DC tickets so it would be good if we could go see what it's like.
Look forward to reading more of your plans

I am intersted to see what Aquatica is like but Typhoon lagoon is my favourite hope you get time to visit

Great plans and 16 nights! Fab!

I am counting down the days, thanks for reading

Sounds like a fab trip Rach

Just noticed your two tickers - 6 days and 6 lbs to go, will you lose a lb a day and make your target

Hope you have a great time, I am looking forward to hearing what you think of the Keys.

ha ha Joh, the nearer we get my willpower is vanishing at an alarming rate, will more likely be a 6lb gain before Ive even set foot on the plane
I cant wait to see the keys although my slight phobia of Bridges should make navigating the 42 in the keys interesting