I will do the TR up until the VR day and then wait until I get Randy's photos before recounting the big day itself!!
Day 1 - Travelling
We had stayed the night before our flight in a hotel at Manchester airport. Flying with Paul and I from Manchester were our two sons Henry and Alfie. my mum and Paul's mum and her partner Jim.
We had a comfortable stay and a nice meal at the hotel, and then Paul and I celebrated in our room with bubbly and chocolates. Surprisingly, we both slept really well and got up the next morning excited and ready to get started on our special trip!!!
We had booked a meet and greet parking service who were to pick up the cars from right outside the terminal. We hoped this would reduce all the stress usually associated with the whole arriving at the airport thing. We were wrong!!! The company were running behind and (eventually) collected our cars much later than we had hoped. Although we had checked in for our flight on line, and really we had plenty of time, I started to panic.
Eventually the cars were collected and we dropped the luggage and cleared security without further incident!!!
Unfortunately, the whole car parking issue meant that instead of the leisurely, sit down breakfast we had planned, there was only enough time for a hurried coffee and bacon sandwich before boarding!!! We won't be using that car parking company again!!!
The flight was uneventful. It is always a long flight, but seems never ending when you are so excited and wanting to just be there!!! We travelled on one of Virgin's new Airbuses and we were very impressed!!! The food and in-flight entertainment were some of the best I have experienced and the plane very comfortable.
So, eventually we arrived in the country where I just wanted to be!!
We cleared immigration (with the usual long line to wait in) and collected our luggage. It was at this point that DMIL started to complain and, bless her, I don't think she stopped complaining from that moment until we arrived back in the UK. Paul and I knew at this point that she was tired and over-awed (she had never visited the USA before) and so we tried to make allowances for the complaining. Later in the trip, however, this became more difficult to do!!!
Eventually, we were all set and made our way to catch the ME. It is always so lovely to get to the ME check point and be greeted by the first CMs of the trip!!! I felt I was actually nearly home!!
We boarded our bus quickly and we were on our way. It is always an exciting trip and before long we pulled up outside BLT. I was home at last!!!
That is DMIL on the left in the white, Henry in the purple and me peeking out from behind some random guy!!
I was beyond excitement at this point!!
My DD Emily and her boyfriend had already been in Florida for two days when we arrived and had been staying for a couple of nights on I-Drive. They had made their way over to BLT earlier in the day and had found that our rooms were ready and had checked us in. Paul and I were staying in a two bedroom villa with Emily and Craig (her boyfriend), our two sons and my mum. Paul's mum and Jim had their own studio (thankfully)!!
I loved our villa immediately!!!
Emily had stocked up the fridge with water, coke and beer and had collected these for us from reception (one of each for us both)
Emily and Craig had also decorated my and Paul's bedroom with balloons and mouse ears, and had left for us a canvas which she had hand drawn and which we used as a guest book. It now hangs in our hallway at home and has messages from all our guests on it!!
This little guy was waiting for us in the bathroom
I did some unpacking and assembled the welcome bags which I distributed to all my guests who were with us at BLT. Emily, Craig, Henry, Alfie and I then went over (in Craig's hire car) to Kidani Village to await the arrival of my friends, who were coming on a different flight and staying at Kidani. Luckily we didn't have to wait long, and we soon had them checked-in and settled. They loved their welcome bags but unfortunately, nobody took a photo of them!!!
After we arrived back at BLT, we all went for a quick dinner at the Contempo Cafe before completing the unpacking!!! Paul and I had a beer before falling into bed, tired but extremely happy!!!
We had arrived!!!!
In the background of this photo, you can see the canvas Emily made for us!!
Next up - Welcome dinner and a big surprise!!
and we both agree a WDW wedding will be perfect! However, like you, I am looking into Swan and Dolphin weddings to try an keep the costs down. Lots of research for me to do, so glad I found this site!
I am really missing the planning as I loved every second of it. I have a new project to plan (a big birthday bash for me and two friends), but thats a long way away in 2013 and won't be the same somehow............
. This is a shame as it looked lovely!! The flowers from the ceremony had been transferred to the tables at the restaurant and looked perfect. Instead, here is a photo of DH and I enjoying Citrico's
