Hi from Orlando!

[Travel Mum]

Hi Everyone,

We just checked into Staybridge Suites International Drive today and we have free internet! We have just spent 9 nights at POR and the only internet I've had has been via a very slow connection via the T-mobile card in my phone so logging in here was in the "too hard" basket

We have had a great time so far and, up until last night, amazing and gorgeous weather The long journey here (Wellington- Auckland - L.A. - Orlando) was absolutely exhausting and I am so pleased we are overnighting in L.A. on the way back! We arrived at night on September 29 and all my Amazon, Disney and Garden Grocer packages were at the hotel - opening them all felt like Christmas! We then all went to sleep and did not wake up until about 1pm the next day Thank goodness I hadn't planned anything for that day and we eventually got on the boat to Downtown Disney about 2pm. We did Disney Quest and had a walk around plus dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express before going back to POR and trying to get to sleep to be on Orlando time - not easy after just having woken up a few hours before

Anyway, I won't go into all the rest of the detail now but we then spent the next 7 days doing AK, MK, EP, HS and Blizzard Beach. We were supposed to do Typhoon Lagoon today but the torrential rain changed those plans.

I loved POR and that was helped by the fact that we were put in building 18, a preferred location, even though I only paid for standard. The resort is so beautiful but I would not like to be in one of the further out buildings so I'd say pay for preferred if you stay there. Staying onsite was perfect for touring Disney and all being in the same room worked fine as we were hardly in the room except to sleep, but I must say I have a very happy family at the moment - we are in a 2-bedroom suite with 2 bathrooms and 3 T.V.'s - as I sit here and type, all 3 T.V.'s are on and being watched by various members of my family !!

By the way, I do LOVE WDW (and being on the Dining Plan) and, as I walked out of MK last night for the last time, I took a moment to turn back and take a quick look around. I made a quiet wish in my head to be able to some day come back and blew it a kiss. My DH thought I was looney but I'm sure you Disboarders understand

So that's all from me for now

 

[PrincessInOz]

Glad you enjoyed WDW and thanks for checking in.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Glad to hear you are having a Wonderful time. and no, it is perfectly normal to blow a kiss and wish for a quick return.

Enjoy the serenity of three TVs and two bedrooms. It helps with sanity.

 

[shushh]

So glad to hear from you and so very happy that you had a wonderful time at WDW. Here's to your wish coming true...Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

 

[Caroline NZ]

Great to hear from you Travel Mum. I am so pleased you are are having a great time. I hope the rest of your holiday goes just as well.

 

[kylieh]

Good to hear from you Travel Mum. Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday.

As a side note - I'm hoping the package of our washing power, water, etc arrived safely?

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselves and I love that you made that wish. As all on the Disboards know, wishes and dreams do come true!

 

[aussietravellers]

So glad you've had a fabulous trip. It's always so sad when a holiday comes to an end. Great to be getting home but sad that it's over too.

 

[jacs1234]

Sounds like such a great time. I hope you've taken lots of pics to share with us.

 

[Mum from oz]

So glad you had a wonderful time in the world! I do not think you are a nut, and totally understand your wish. Hope you get back very, very soon!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Glad your having a great time and fully understand the wish to go back to Disney Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[battymum]

Oh hi travelmum,

Glad you are having a great trip, i just have to let you know, we loved,loved,loved Freedom of the seas.

As first time cruisers i wasnt sure bout how we would go, and had even considered dropping it and making a road trip north, but we all loved it more thn we expected to, even dh was quick to grab a worldwide brochure, although i think we have been spoiled by being on such a big ship, those southern hemisphere ships may not live up.

Of all the legs of our trip, i think this is what we would like to do again.!

 

[Sugarglider]

How lovely for you - to have the trip go well and have everyone happy! YAY!
Love that feeling!

 

[Travel Mum]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and the second part of our trip is going well although nothing will compare to Disney for me. We hit the Premium Outlets I'Drive today and the travelcard got a bashing! However they were so busy with the Columbus Day sales and our feet feel like they have been walking around a theme park again!

Battymum, that is great to hear about Freedom. I know I will love it as I adore cruising but did wonder if I will find it too big. I am looking forward to it but with mixed feelings as I know it will represent the beginning of our last week of holiday!

As a side note - I'm hoping the package of our washing power, water, etc arrived safely?

Oh Kylie, we did not get it!! I figured that, with the stress you has gone through, it hadn't worked out for you to do it but I did still check with the resort to see if there was anything for me and they said no Thanks so much for trying though and I really appreciate it.

 

[Mum from oz]

I found the shopping days were almost as exhausting as park days too. With all the walking in those giant malls! Don't worry about bashing that travel card. It can take it!! When do you leave for your cruise?

 

[5ofus]

The journey over sounds brutal. Glad to hear you have been having such a great time

How many of your were in the room at POR? (I find it hard to keep track of who is who in here - sorry!)

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[battymum]

Travel Mum,
I havent forgotten you either - I know you are back soon!

Hope you had an amazing trip!!

Looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

[Travel Mum]

Hi Everyone,

We are back at home now and, after feeling like zombies yesterday afternoon when we arrived, we feel better today although will fade fast later I expect. Our QF flight from LAX was delayed until 12.30 am so that was a really long day and an awfully long wait at the airport. We got on the plane already feeling exhausted because, even though we'd had a night in L.A., we were probably still on Orlando time!

DH is back at work, DD13 went begrudgingly went off to high school and DD10 and DD6 are both at home but will be back to school tomorrow. DD6 has a ballet exam this afternoon! I work from home so I'm back at work too and therefore can't spend much time on here at the moment as I've got hundreds of emails to get through. However, promise to report back in detail later.

Oh and to 5ofUs, there were five of us in our POR Resort room.

Travelmum

 

[kyl]

So glad to read you had a great time travel mum....I remember when you first booked xx.

 

[Travel Mum]

Thanks so much Kyl and yes, that was a long time ago that I booked wasn't it?!! Not quite sure what I'm going to do now and I'll miss my WDW trip planning so much