Leaving in the morning

[Mummycat]

Well tomorrow is the big day-we fly to Florida after 4 (very) long years and will be celebrating my 40th birthday
We're staying a week at an amazing villa we've used before at Highland reserve then 2 weeks at old key west. The first week will be Disney free sad but doing other lovely things like a night at longboat key, seaworld, universal and meeting up with my cousin who emigrated 10 years ago and is living the dream
It's our first time staying on Disney property so we're very excited. I'm also really excited to wake up on my birthday knowing we'll be swimming with the dolphins at Discovery cove then dinner at The California Grill
The cases are packed and in the car and after the school run we'll be dropping the cats off at my mums and then doing twilight check in. We're only 40 mins from the airport so will be going home for the night.
Can't believe we're actually going. I have done list after list and feel quite organised but do have that feeling of forgetting something-not sure what though!
I don't think I'll be doing a live trip report but might check in whilst we're there and will do my highs and lows when I return.
Happy holidays to everyone else going soon

 

[queendisney]

have the most magical time

 

[bigskip]

See you there...

 

[MrRomance]

Have a fantastic time! I can't think of anywhere better to spend your 40th birthday than at Discovery Cove! I had my 40th last year and wish I could have spent it in the FL sunshine!!

If it wasn't for the fact that we're off to our happy place ourselves in 46 days I'd be SOOOO Jealous!

Have fun!!

 

[marcgiu]

Have a good one - I'm going for my 40th in Feb and am counting the hours!!!

 

[Shazzie B]

Have a great trip & Happy Birthday. Think you must take off just after we land (I assume Gatwick), I'll as we go past departures.

 

[ninamouse]

Have a magical time!!

 

[janeyb]

Here's to a wonderful trip and an amazing 40th birthday at Discovery Cove.

Beware, I too celebrated my 40th birthday in Florida last year, went as a family of 4 and returned as a family of five!!!!!!! (That was with a 7 yr old and 9 yr old also!) That little Disney baby is returning for her second trip to WDW for Christmas this year!

Have fun!

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Have a great holiday, well worth the wait

 

[Mummycat]

Here's to a wonderful trip and an amazing 40th birthday at Discovery Cove.

Beware, I too celebrated my 40th birthday in Florida last year, went as a family of 4 and returned as a family of five!!!!!!! (That was with a 7 yr old and 9 yr old also!) That little Disney baby is returning for her second trip to WDW for Christmas this year!

Have fun!

Ha ha ha that would be a lovely but massive surprise (although I don't think the husband would agree)!

 

[Mummycat]

Thanks all for your lovely wishes.
We've arrived at the villa and are unpacked and drinking tea.
A very smooth trip, slight flight delay of 1 hour but that wasn't a problem. The extra leg room seats with Virgin were a bargain and worth every penny. As usual the car we booked wasn't available but the car we got is amazing- chevi suburban. On line check in with Alamo made car collection a dream- sailed through. Apart from the odd poke and pinch the kids have behaved (them not us!).
Very good start to the holiday

 

[queendisney]

Thanks all for your lovely wishes.
We've arrived at the villa and are unpacked and drinking tea.
A very smooth trip, slight flight delay of 1 hour but that wasn't a problem. The extra leg room seats with Virgin were a bargain and worth every penny. As usual the car we booked wasn't available but the car we got is amazing- chevi suburban. On line check in with Alamo made car collection a dream- sailed through. Apart from the odd poke and pinch the kids have behaved (them not us!).
Very good start to the holiday

Have a fantastic time

 

[tinkerpea]

Have a wonderful trip and a magical birthday it sounds like your day will be perfect!!! Xx

 

[PJB71]

Glad to hear you've arrived safely

Hope you have a fantastic time

 

[Mummycat]

We've had a great first day at universal studios. The last time we went was 6 years ago and we very much felt it was a 'do it in half a day' park. However with the addition of a few new rides and the kids being a bit older we had great fun. Highlights today were Sam (age 7) looked close to tears on the mummy ride but the first word out of his mouth at the end was 'awesome'
After going on Hollywood rip ride rollercoaster we had a great laugh watching back the live video recorded during the ride-I had no idea they did this otherwise I may have tailored my language Luckily the kids don't know any rude words otherwise I'd have been very red faced as I could very clearly lip read back exactly what I had screamed!! I had ended up on the front seat thanks to parent swap so it was pretty full on.
Both kids now have a new t shirt which sums them up perfectly Kate's reads: 'that thing is my brother' and Sams reads. 'that thing is my sister'-say no more!
The broken toe has been sore today and the sensible walking sandals I brought to support the toe gave me a blister . Back to the flip flops tommorow!
Thanks for reading

 

[RBteachy83]

Have a fab time.Can't wait to hear more about your amazing trip.

 

[Mummycat]

Well our first relaxing (?!) week is flying past. The highlight has been an overnight stay at Longboat key resort and dinner at the Inn on the beach at Anna Marie Island- spectacular service with early check ins and late check outs, cocktails, seeing stingrays and dolphins, spectacular sunsets on the beach and fun in the seaits convinced us next time we come to head that way for longer.
We've also visited the town of Celebration and danced in the fountains and met the resident alligators in the town lake.
We've met up with my cousin and her young children who live near by and visited seaworld and Island of adventures.
Just back from our first shopping trip- shocked by the price increases and lack of bargains and the fact that I was the only person not speaking Spanish in Gap tonight
Phew that's the first week nearly over looking forward to the next 2

 

[janeyb]

Hi there

Sounds like you're having an amazing time and have done so much during your first week. I celebrated my 40th at Anna Maria Island and had a lovely time (booked a cruise as my treat but it arrived back the day before so decided on the beach for the actual day). This coming trip we are adding a few days in Sarasota which I'm looking forward to (staying at the Ritz which has its own beach club), sometimes it's lovely to escape the parks and re-charge at the beach isn't it?

I'm really looking forward to hearing about your day at Discovery Cove. I am still trying to decide if I should add it to our Christmas trip as a surprise for the girls but keep thinking about how cold it could be in December and trying to decide if I should save it until next August instead! What an amazing thing to do on your 40th, I hope you have lots of fun.

 

[Elise79]

Glad you enjoyed Longboat Key - it's just amazing there isn't it? We are planning a 2 night stay in the middle of our trip next summer.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

A great first week, thanks for posting the update