My first ever pre-trip report, single mum with two boisterous children. Am I mad?

[madmumof2]

Ok, so those of you who haven't seen my other post, I've had half my holiday money stolen! Someone got my card details and bought loads of stuff online with it! Luckily, the transactions were in Chinese yen so Fairfx know they were fraudulent transactions and are getting me my money back.

Unfortunately, they cannot get it back before my holiday! So I've been working hard to get enough spending money to go. I now have $1200 on my card, which isn't enough, but also have $150 cash so far and about £400-£500 coming to me when I'm out there. I love payday! lol

So hopefully all will be fine. I just hope no more big massive blips happen to me, I think I've had my fair share now please! lol

Anyway, on a good note, I've booked Spiderman, Shamu and re-booked 'Ohana again, I just had to! lol It's for our last night so the kids get to say bye to their favourite characters and I get to enjoy the resort too.

I've called the clearwater trip team to confirm pick up and drop up times. I'll have to get to the CBR in the morning and the coach is picking us up at 8:20. The lady on the phone said we should be back for half 6 but I'm not so sure. I hope so as I have to get to the GF for 8pm for our 1900 Park Fare ressie! I tried to get a later table but there's nothing at all available for this ADR for my entire holiday that would suit me!

I've sorted out my daily notes now for ADR/phone/taxi numbers etc that'll we'll need each day and a little plan brief on each one too.

I've got most of the stuff we need sorted, some of it already in the case, and just have a few little bits left to get now.

The school has allowed me to take Cameron out for half a day on the day we leave for the Sofitel so we're not rushing about and hopefully don't hit rush hour in London! Also so I can give the kids a massive lunch at about 2, since we probably won't get to London until about half 7, 8pm.

I've got all paperwork I need in my folder, and all tickets/vouchers/passports etc in my bumbag, which will stay firmly attached to me at all times! lol

I did order a calling card online the other day but haven't received an email so I'll have to check that out so I can ring the bf! lol

I've changed the T-Rex ressie to another day (thanks pegasus!) so we're not dining with Shamu and T-rex on the same day! lol It's for a much better time too.

So...my new completed itinerary is now;

Day 0 Thursday 8th Oct
Pick Cameron up from school after getting Alyssa and have a big lunch
Drive to Leicester
Lift from mum to the airport
Check in at the Sofitel at Gatwick airport
Have dinner
Early night, early start tomorrow

Day 1, Friday 9th Oct
Breakfast at airport
Flight at 10:20am
Lunch on plane
Arrive at 3:05pm
Get transfers to POP Century
Check out resort, grab a bite to eat

Day 2, Saturday 10th Oct
Breakfast at POP Century
Bus to Epcot
Collect passport and get stamps and each country
Dinner at Coral Reef-Epcot: 7:20pm

Day 3, Sunday 11th Oct
Taxi to Seaworld
Dine with Shamu 12:30pm - Bring voucher
Magic Kingdom for fireworks and rides in the dark

Day 4, Monday 12th Oct
Bus to Epcot at 7:15am
Breakfast at Akershus Princess breakfast-Epcot: 8:10am
Bus to Hollywood Studios

Day 5, Tuesday 13th Oct
Bus to Animal Kingdom
Breakfast at Donald's Safari breakfast-Animal Kingdom: 9am
Day at Animal Kingdom

Day 6, Wednesday 14th Oct
Quick breakfast at POP Century
Bus to CBR at 7:15am
Get picked up and taken to Clearwater at 8:20am
Board the Dolphin Encounter boat
See amazing views and dolphins racing you alongside the boat
Arrive back at the beach 75 minutes later
Have lunch (provided)
Spend the day relaxing, shopping, exploring Clearwater
Leave at 5:30pm. Getting back to Orlando at 6:30pm
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare-Grand Floridian: 8:00pm

Day 7, Thursday 15th Oct
Bus to Typhoon Lagoon
Bus back to POP for the rest of the day

Day 8, Friday 16th Oct
Bus to Magic Kingdom
Lunch in the park
Wishes fireworks

Day 9, Saturday 17th Oct
Bus to Downtown Disney for some shopping
Disney Quest
Dinner in Downtown Disney

Day 10, Sunday 18th Oct
Taxi to Islands of Adventure 7:30am
Breakfast with Spiderman-Confisco Grille: 9am

Day 11, Monday 19th Oct
Breakfast at POP Century
Spend the day at the resort, possibly Downtown Disney
Lunch at T-rex: 2:30pm
Evening at resort

Day 12, Tuesday 20th Oct
Taxi to Universal Studios
Lunch at Mel's drive in
Evening at resort

Day 13, Wednesday 21st Oct
Taxi to Denny's on I-Drive
Walk to Tiki Island golf
Walk to Ripleys
I-trolley to Wonderworks
Taxi to Kissimmee
Evening in Kissimmee
Taxi back to POP

Day 14, Thursday 22nd Oct
Breakfast at POP Century
Ring transfers to confirm pick up time for tomorrow
Tying up loose ends, finish any rides/attractions we’ve missed
Dinner at Mickey's Backyard BBQ-Fort Wilderness: 6:30pm

Day 15, Friday 23rd Oct
Quick breakfast at POP Century
Pack bags, leave luggage at reception
Bus to Magic Kingdom, the monorail to the Poly
'Breakfast' at 'Ohana's: 10:50am
Be in POP lobby by 3pm for tranfer
Flight at 6:30pm
Dinner at airport/on plane

Can't wait now!!!!!!!!!!!! 17 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[binkytell]

looking forward to hearing about your boat and dolphin
encounter, quite fancy doing that next year

 

[Hodkys]

Hubby and I we're sat on the couch watching the news thinking we should be getting to bed, but you know what it's like with kids - you want to stay up later than 30 mins after the kids go to bed. We were talking about our outstanding actions for our trip in just over 4 weeks and we thought about 'that young single mum with the credit card fraud problem'. So we searched the threads to find you and found this thread.

So pleased to hear that you appear to be on track with the planning. We're like you with the planning - Hubby's pride and joy is the colour co-ordinated plan he draws up using Excel - his job involves working with numbers and so he's in his comfort zone).

Pics of your kiddies are lovely. Just realised that we'll need to update our signature as our little girl Niamh has just turned one. Roll on with the planning. And when we wake up tomorrow it will be one less day to go!!!!!

 

[madmumof2]

Awww thanks for thinking of me. Been extra nice and tried a bit of a guilt trip on a nice man at Fairfx (not nice I know but I'm desperate!) and he says he'll look into it more personally and try to speed things up but don't get your hopes up.

Anyway, another snag today with a big bill in the post (debt) that I could do without. Not really sure how I'm supposed to pay it and I really don't want to take any more from my fairfx card! Up until this month all this debt stuff was under control, I must have been slacking or something this month. :S

I've got us all snorkels now, swim wear, (sarongs for me of course, a must with thunder thighs! lol)some extra batteries and a few clothes.

I must get another SD card or two, and maybe a few disposable ones for the kids to take pictures with. I have such a bad feeling I'm forgetting something and I know I won't remember until it's too late! lol

 

[Jets fan]

Just read the whole post from start to finish. Think you are right to lay a guilt trip on Fairfx as they know that the money on your card was for a holiday.

Hope you all have a brilliant time.

Tina

 

[madmumof2]

Right, almost ready now! I've got our cases packed and ready to go!

We had a big scare last week with chicken pox!! But everything is ok now (at least today, fingers crossed nothings comes of it before friday).

I've measured and weighed our cases and we're well under the limit. Starting to regret paying £105 for 5kg extra each, but we may just need that on the way back lol.

We'll be leaving here about 3pm tomorrow to go to my Mum's, and she's taking us to the Sofitel. Then I'll be treating her to some grub and a drink, and we'll be going to bed. Up at about 6am (yawn!) so we've got time to wash, get ready, last minute check etc and get to the airport for 7am so we can be one of the first to check in, hopefully getting a window seat.

The kids are excited now. They'll be going to pre-school and school tomorrow morning, so I can sort out the last few things and spend some alone time with Ben lol. Going to miss him like mad. Then picking them up at 12pm, getting a massive lunch down their necks, since we probably won't get to the hotel till 8pm.

I'm excited and nervous. I've never been and adult abroad, always the child (or teen lol) so this is a first for me, and I've also got to make sure I don't lose the kids somewhere on the way. lmao!

I think I'll be able to relax when we're at POP and have spoken to Ben for a bit lol.

We've got a long car journey tomorrow, even longer plane journey, then the pretty long transfer to the hotel to get through before I can chill. Not to mention trying to get the kids to sleep in the hotel when they're excited lol.

I'm going shopping tomorrow morning to get a few last bits, disposable cameras, batteries, magazines and little toys for the plane, snacks for the car, baby wipes etc.

I'm in total stress head mode at the minute, always thinking I've forgotten something really important, or I'll forget my folder or something!

Can't wait now!!! In 24 hours time, I'll be getting ready to leave for the airport. In 48 hours time I'll be on the plane! Woop!!!!!!!

 

[natalielongstaff]

Have a great trip, hope we manage to bump into each other at some point

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Have a fantastic trip Gem!

 

[Kirsteen]

Just read your whole thread - have a fabulous time honey - you deserve it and can't wait to read all about it when you get back

 

[jjk]

have a wonderful time Hun x

 

[jamjar84]

Hope you have a fabulous time, I'm sure it will be fantastic.

 

[poppie123]

Have a fantastic time

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Hope you all have a great time
The kiddies will have the time of their lives,you too

 

[whenyouwish....]

I can't believe how quickly your holiday has come around it just seems like yesterday you were saying how you had over a year to wait, and now here you are on the day to leave

Sounds like your all organised and set to go - i'm so excited for you.

Have a FANTASTIC time, enjoy every minute and I can't wait to hear all about it when you're home.

 

[wicket2005]

Have a lovely time Gems.

 

[madmumof2]

Thanks everyone! Thank you to everyone on this forum, you've all made this holiday happen. I've packed all the cases and they're in the car. Picked the kids up from school and we're about to have a very big lunch (won't be at the Sofitel till about 8pm) then we'll be leaving here about 3pm to go to my mum's, then onto the airport!!

We'll be up bright and early tomorrow morning and will be in Florida tomorrow!!!!

Not quite as excited as I could be, but I'm well aware that there are still a lot of things that can go wrong, so until I'm sat in our room at POP I won't relax fully. As soon as I'm there I can relax and enjoy our holiday!!

I'll have internet access throughout my holiday so may be posting live from Orlando, but no promises as I have no idea how much free time I'll have to do that lol. I plan to edit my photopass pics as we go along so I don't have to have a massive job when we get home, so that's probably what I'll be doing when the kids are asleep lol.

See you all soon!!!

 

[natalielongstaff]

Have fun

 

[jamjar84]

I was thinking about you earlier, and how excited you and the kiddies must be.

Again, have a great time, can't wait to hear about it when you get back.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Have a fantastic time!