Well, here goes! Still in the middle of packing, but everything else is sorted! Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all your advice, definitely helped to ensuring a well-planned holiday!
Cast:
Me - Michelle 36, Dis addict!
DH - 39, thinks I spend too much time on the Dis
DS1 - 8, cowboy fan
DS2 - 5, pirate fan
I first floated the idea of a trip to WDW in Florida in January 2006, and started doing lots of research whilst also planning for our first trip to Disneyland Paris. DH was not terribly keen as he felt we would be duplicating what we would do at DLP. Anyway, we had a great time at DLP and DH agreed we could book for Florida!
So in June 06 I booked with VirginHolidays, 2 weeks at Bahama Bay with Luxury car (DH's request!), taking boys out of school for 7 days before Feb. Half Term. We did consider Animal Kingdom Lodge, but felt that we would prefer the extra space of our own apartment, and also the freedom to eat 'at home' or at offsite restaurants. We didn't want to deal with the heat of summer, as both boys do not like very hot weather and I knew we would not get as much done, also DS2 gets excema which is irritated by the heat.
So onto the planning! We wanted to concentrate on the Disney parks, so decided to give Universal a miss (this time!!), but we did want to see Seaworld and especially the Kennedy Space Centre. I bought Brit's Guide and the Unofficial Guide to help work out our itinerary. I made ADRs at the beginning of December, and bought Disney tickets from Theme Park tickets Direct at the beginning of January. Everyone kept telling us that Discovery Cove was a real highlight, but we decided against it cos DS2 is not yet 6, so would be unable to do the dolphin swim, so we thought that would be unfair.
Maybe another time!!!
The Plan!
Wed 31 Jan drive down to Gatwick, stay at Hilton
Thu 1 Feb VS027 11.15am from Gatwick, find apartment on arrival, meal, supermarket if still awake!
Fri 2 Feb AK ,dinner off-site
Sat 3 Feb MK, Crystal Palace breakfast at 8.05am, dinner at O'hana at the Poly
Sun 4 Feb explore resort, shopping, Downtown Disney
Mon 5 Feb Seaworld
Tue 6 Feb MK, dinner at LTT, watch Spectro and Wishes!
Wed 7 Feb Blizzard Beach weather permitting , crazy golf OR shopping; dinner at Boma, AKL
Thu 8 Feb EPCOT dinner at Le Cellier
Fri 9 Feb revisit AK OR Seaworld am, dinner at Wolfgang Pucks prior to Cirque du Soleil at 6pm
Sat 10 Feb airboat ride am, EPCOT pm, dinner at Marrakesh, stay for Illuminations
Sun 11 Feb revisit Blizzard Beach or shopping, Dinner at Hollwood Brown Derby, MGM followed by Fantasmic!
Mon 12 Feb MGM
Tue 13 Feb Kennedy Space Center
Wed 14 Feb revisit favourite park, dinner at Blue Zoo 7pm
Thu 15 Feb pack, breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian 10am, resort-hopping by monorail or a few rides in MK/ Epcot, go to airport for flight home.
We will need to adjust plans depending on the weather of course. Planning to buy jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sandals and trainers while out there, and a friend wants some perfume, which gives me a great excuse to go in all the 'girly' shops!! Hoping for low crowds and lots of Disney magic!!!
Cast:
Me - Michelle 36, Dis addict!
DH - 39, thinks I spend too much time on the Dis
DS1 - 8, cowboy fan
DS2 - 5, pirate fan
I first floated the idea of a trip to WDW in Florida in January 2006, and started doing lots of research whilst also planning for our first trip to Disneyland Paris. DH was not terribly keen as he felt we would be duplicating what we would do at DLP. Anyway, we had a great time at DLP and DH agreed we could book for Florida!
So in June 06 I booked with VirginHolidays, 2 weeks at Bahama Bay with Luxury car (DH's request!), taking boys out of school for 7 days before Feb. Half Term. We did consider Animal Kingdom Lodge, but felt that we would prefer the extra space of our own apartment, and also the freedom to eat 'at home' or at offsite restaurants. We didn't want to deal with the heat of summer, as both boys do not like very hot weather and I knew we would not get as much done, also DS2 gets excema which is irritated by the heat.
So onto the planning! We wanted to concentrate on the Disney parks, so decided to give Universal a miss (this time!!), but we did want to see Seaworld and especially the Kennedy Space Centre. I bought Brit's Guide and the Unofficial Guide to help work out our itinerary. I made ADRs at the beginning of December, and bought Disney tickets from Theme Park tickets Direct at the beginning of January. Everyone kept telling us that Discovery Cove was a real highlight, but we decided against it cos DS2 is not yet 6, so would be unable to do the dolphin swim, so we thought that would be unfair.
Maybe another time!!!The Plan!
Wed 31 Jan drive down to Gatwick, stay at Hilton
Thu 1 Feb VS027 11.15am from Gatwick, find apartment on arrival, meal, supermarket if still awake!
Fri 2 Feb AK ,dinner off-site
Sat 3 Feb MK, Crystal Palace breakfast at 8.05am, dinner at O'hana at the Poly
Sun 4 Feb explore resort, shopping, Downtown Disney
Mon 5 Feb Seaworld
Tue 6 Feb MK, dinner at LTT, watch Spectro and Wishes!
Wed 7 Feb Blizzard Beach weather permitting , crazy golf OR shopping; dinner at Boma, AKL
Thu 8 Feb EPCOT dinner at Le Cellier
Fri 9 Feb revisit AK OR Seaworld am, dinner at Wolfgang Pucks prior to Cirque du Soleil at 6pm
Sat 10 Feb airboat ride am, EPCOT pm, dinner at Marrakesh, stay for Illuminations
Sun 11 Feb revisit Blizzard Beach or shopping, Dinner at Hollwood Brown Derby, MGM followed by Fantasmic!
Mon 12 Feb MGM
Tue 13 Feb Kennedy Space Center
Wed 14 Feb revisit favourite park, dinner at Blue Zoo 7pm
Thu 15 Feb pack, breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian 10am, resort-hopping by monorail or a few rides in MK/ Epcot, go to airport for flight home.
We will need to adjust plans depending on the weather of course. Planning to buy jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sandals and trainers while out there, and a friend wants some perfume, which gives me a great excuse to go in all the 'girly' shops!! Hoping for low crowds and lots of Disney magic!!!
