Jackie & Jonathan Do Harry Potter & Disney Dining Pre Trip Report

[mark&sue]

We loved RPR when we went in July we are going back in April, same with Saratoga Springs although we are staying in the treehouse villas.

Hope you have a great time


susan

 

[jackieleanne]

Glad to hear you loved both RPR and SSR I can't wait to try both of them. We had a look around SSR in December one evening and I have to say I just started to fall in love with the place it was very very nice and had such a relaxing feel to it.

Great news is this week is that I no longer have to hold my breath my leave got allowed and the holiday can go ahead for the full 18 days as intended. Oh I just want it to get here already.

At the moment Im very much in love with Harry Potter and having missed out of going to Universal in December Im probably as much excited about doing this as I am Disney + even though we are going to be doing Universal the first 3 days/nights we are now definitely going to have a car and heading over to Harry Potter land a lot.

 

[jackieleanne]

Ok so quite a few new things have happened since I last updated you all.

The holiday is now paid off as of yesterday.

Hire Car booked. Used Expedia which came up the best option with the cashback from Quidco. I think it's through Alamo but I will have to check.

Now just need to try and save up some more spending money we have $700 at the moment so just working out budgeting for what will cost us so that we know how much we can have for spends.

Its my birthday when I'm out there so I am going to ask my mum if she will pay for one of the tours for my presents.

Will update again with our final plans soon. I think I have so far done 9 adrs going to have a look again later on if there is any more that I want to try or want to do again but we may just book those again when we are there.

 

[mandymouse]

Have you made any ADR's for this trip Jackie ? Not long now

 

[jackieleanne]

I have been so busy recently and haven't been able to come on.

Yes I've made lots of ADR's Mandy made them as soon as I was able. Although I still have a few left and when I went on to enquire was quite shocked to find I could still get reservations for places like California Grill if I wanted to.

Not long at all to go. We fly out in 18 days. Getting very excited.

Here are some plans that I have in so far. Can't wait to stay in Royal Pacific and make use of the early access to Potter and also the front of the line access for all rides except Forbidden Journey and Rip Ride Rocket. That is going to be so handy.

Plus they added a few longer hours on to the calendar for the week we are staying which is great as ill get to see Hogsmeade at Dusk.

Day 1 - Travel.
Flight is on 23rd August at 11am on Virgin Atlantic from Manchester using Premium Economy on the new Airbus. Very excited as never flown in Premium before and looking forward to trying the new entertainment system.
Should arrive in Orlando at around 3pm and hoping that immigration, picking up the suitcases and the car will go swimmingly. It will be great to leave the plane first!

I'm hoping that we will make it to Royal Pacific just after 4pm in time to do a quick check in and change and then head over to Islands of Adventure for our first taste of Potter. From what I hear and from what I have seen on my park line apps (I check it everyday) the lines for Forbidden Journey get quieter later on. It's open until 9pm after we are done we will probably go to out in the car to find a Golden Corral or grab something to eat in the parks/City Walk depends how hungry we are.


I will post day 2 later unfortunately I have to leave for work now. On a more positive note though only 12 working days left.

 

[jjk]

your plans sound great, we should be arriving in Olando about the same time as we fly out on the 23rd just from Gatwick.

 

[mandymouse]

Jackie, you're going to love Premium Economy, enjoy the Mimosa's on the way out Your first day plans sound great, I look forward to reading some more

 

[jackieleanne]

your plans sound great, we should be arriving in Olando about the same time as we fly out on the 23rd just from Gatwick.

Thanks Rachel will see you out there.

Jackie, you're going to love Premium Economy, enjoy the Mimosa's on the way out Your first day plans sound great, I look forward to reading some more

Thanks Mandy I can't wait to try PE although I'm thinking ill never want to go back after this.

 

[jackieleanne]

Day 2 - 24th August

Islands of Adventure Hours: 9am - 8pm
Universal Orlando - 9am - 7pm

Plan is to do the early opening for WWOHP getting there for around 7:30 or earlier depending on if we can sleep in so long or not. (I probably wont)
Will be doing all the rides in there and Ollivanders unless we get to do that the evening before.
Plan is to look around the shops and spend a few hours enjoying ourselves here before grabbing an early lunch(11ish) at The Three Broomsticks.

Then plan on using the FOL passes for the rest of the park before heading back to the pool for a swim for a few hours.

Will likely head back to Universal in the afternoon to then do a few hours here. Should get most things done with our FOL passes.

Once we are done at UO we will probably head over to Islands until close and hopefully find a shortish queue for FJ.

Not sure on plans for evening meal yet will likely be City Walk or out on I Drive before a few drinks at City Walk.

Day 3 - 25th August

IOA Hours - 9am - 9pm
UO Hours - 9am - 7pm

Again heading to Potter for early opening so probably get to IOA for 7:30am.

Will probably just be doing FJ and Dragon Challenge on this morning before using FOL for the other IOA rides and heading off to UO.

Plan on spending the rest of the morning in UO before back to the hotel for a swim if the weather holds out.

In the evening probably back to IOA. In particular Potter I'm a huge fan if you couldn't already tell.

Day 4 - August 26th

IOA hours -9 - 9pm
IO - 9-7
MK - 9 until 10 with Evening Magic Hours until 1 im hoping.
ADR Crystal Palace 6:10pm
Electrical Light Parade 9pm
Wishes 10pm

Our final day to use the early hour for Potter as we check out of Royal Pacific today.
Plan is that we would have kept one case for the first few days so only have the one case to repack the night before. We will then head out for Islands for 7:30 and do FJ and possibly Dragon Challenge before using FOL for our other fave rides probably not the water rides today though due to check out.

Back to the hotel for check out at 11 and then I plan to hit Wall Mart and grab some lunch before heading over to SSR for check in.

Probably spend a few hours relaxing by the pool then as will be having a late evening.

Our first ADR for the stay is at Crystal Palace for 6:10 and then we will have the rest of the time to enjoy our favourite disney park.

 

[jackieleanne]

Day 5: August 27th

Disney Hollywood Studios 8am (Early Magic Hours) -
Epcot 9am - 9pm
ADR - Rose and Crown 5:30

Plan is to do most of DHS in the morning and then go back to SSR for a swim in the afternoon.

Then go to Epcot at about 4:30 ready for our ADR and then have a wander round and watch Illuminations.

Day 6: August 28th

Typhoon Lagoon - 10am - 6pm
Magic Kingdom - 9am until 9pm plus EMH until 12am.
ADR Liberty Tree Tavern 6:45
Wishes 9pm

Have a lazy day at Typhoon Lagoon until about 4pm. Head back to SSR for a quick change and then on to MK for the rest of the evening. Until midnight when it will then be my Birthday

Day 7: August 29th My Birthday
Animal Kingdom 8am(Morning EMH) - 5
DHS - 9 - 9 plus EMH Evening
Fantasmic 8:30pm
ADR Planet Hollywood 5:30pm

Plan is to hit AK for EMH morning at 8am probably heading straight over to the Safari so worth it last time we did it early at Christmas not only did we get the Lion up but he was roaring!

Likely to stay at AK for most of day and then head back to SSR for a quick change before we head out for the night to DHS for evening EMH.

Day 8 - August 30th
Epcot 8(early morning) - 9pm
ADR - Garden Grill 6pm

Plan is to do EMH for Epcot get what we want to do in and then head back to SSR for a swim/lazy afternoon. Heading back to Epcot for our ADR in the evening. Probably an early night tonight.

Day 9 - August 31st

Universal Orlando day 9am - 8pm(IOA 8pm UO 7pm)
TREX - 9pm

Universal Orlando today hoping the crowds wont be bad plan is to do IOA in morning and then head over to Universal Orlando for one or two rides before back to SSR/Downtown Disney.

Day 10 - September 1st
Magic Kingdom - 8am - 10pm
ADR Raglan Road 10:15pm (may change this).
Afternoon Swim

Day 11 - September 2nd
Blizzard Beach 10am - 6pm
Epcot 9 - 9 plus EMH until 12pm
ADR - Coral Reef 6:05

Day 12 - September 3rd
Typhoon Lagoon 10am - 6pm
Animal Kingdom 9am - 5pm
ADR Tusker House 4:30pm

Probably do Typhoon Lagoon for a few hours then over to AK for a few hours or may do a full day at AK.

 

[mandymouse]

Lucky you ! You're into single digits now

 

[jackieleanne]

I know can't wait.

 

[jackieleanne]

Day 13: September 4th
Universal Orlando Day today we will be here during the day and then over to MK for the evening as its EMH until 12am.

We have an ADR for Tony's Town Square at 6:30.

Day 14: September 5th
Kennedy Space Centre day

No ADR booked but likely we will go to some where like Beeches and Cream or ESPN.

Day 15: September 6th
Free Park Day no plans for today so will decide on the day what we want to do.

ADR is for Boma at 7:15

Day 16: September 7th
Typhoon Lagoon Day today so a nice lie in.
ADR is for Trails End at 6:45pm

Day 17: September 8th
Blizzard Beach today so again another relaxing day

ADR is for Chefs De France at 6:30pm so will probably do Epcot in the evening.

Day 18: September 9th

Full Final Day (

Magic Kingdom day with Epcot in the evening for EMH.

ADR: Rose & Crown 7pm

Day 19: September 10th

Downtown Disney Check in should hopefully be done quick as Premium Economy.

Flight is only at 8:30 so will probably plan to get to the airport for 6:30.

Will then pick a park to do either Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios.

Arrive back in Manchester on the 11th September at 9:30



Well thats my plans sorted. Done most of things now bags litterally sorted just waiting for bf to bring his cases over after work tomorrow and we will distribute everything over the two. Online check in for Disney is done and as we are premium economy will probably not bother with Online Check in.

Just need to do our Additional Details now on Virgin. My planner is all sorted with tickets/directions/vouchures etc. Shopping all done so now all we need to do is finish work tomorrow and get things sorted.

I did have a little dillema in that my fairfx pin has blocked tonight! But had this problem before when trying to use cash machines and I know that if I ring tomorrow then they will unblock and give me the new number on the phone so fingers crossed it will be sorted quickly.

So excited planning to watch lots of Harry Potter tomorrow evening once everything is done. Plus it's unlikely I will sleep.

Three of my tshirts that I have for my stay at Universal. I'm a bit of a Harry Potter Geek.

 

[mandymouse]

Three of my tshirts that I have for my stay at Universal. I'm a bit of a Harry Potter Geek.

Are you ? I didn't know that Love the t-shirts and your plans look fab too. I hope you have a fantastic holiday Jackie

 

[jackieleanne]

Haha yes really Mandy!

I'm so excited can't wait bring on Tuesday.

Shame I have to work tomorrow but hopefully it will go quickly.

 

[jackieleanne]

Thought I'd do a quick post before I leave for the airport while I'm up early.

Flight is on time and in fact due to take off 10minutes early at 10:50 arriving 15mins ahead of schedual at 3:10 in the afternoon yay! Hoping I can get a few hours in at Harry Potter Land this evening!

 

[tinks_1989]

Didnt get to wish you a happy holiday and safe flight before you left but im sure your having a good time not jealous at all lol! xxx