My First Pre-Trip Report

[raph_b]

Okay - this is my pre-trip report for my holiday to Orlando - not just Universal, but seeing as I spend most of my time posting on the Universal boards I hope its okay to post this here -

My first ever pre- trip report!- in fact first ever report of any kind!

Okay, here goes,

The Cast

Me - Craig - age 28

DGF - Emilie - age 28

Okay, here's the background to the trip - I've been to WDW twice, once when I was about 10 with my family. We stayed on I Drive somewhere for 3 weeks and did all the Disney Parks, Universal, Sea World. It was the best holiday of my life!! I also went to MGM for 1 day and Island of Adventure for one day about 6 years ago. I've also been to DLP about 5 times and love it over there too!!

Em has never been to Orlando, but I did convince her to come to DLP once, and whilst she came under protest, we had a wicked day there. She kind of thinks that Orlando is only a place to visit when you have children....... I know, I know, she's crazy, what can I say?!?

So in order to convince her otherwise, as I know as soon as she gets there she'll love it, I've planned a surprise trip for us out to Orlando. We leave England on 17th September and are staying in Orlando for 2 weeks. It's all paid for, as is car hire, insurance, all WDW Tickets, Flex Tickets & HHN Tickets Who wouldn't enjoy a free 2 week holiday eh?!

So I booked this trip back in December, and I'm so proud of myself that I've managed not to say anything yet! I thought she'd know all about it by Christmas!! I've spoken to her boss and she has the time off work all sorted (but doesn't know it yet!)

Okay, so I'm really excited about this so far - but it gets better - it's Em's birthday on September 28th so we'll be out there to celebrate that - bizarrely its my birthday too, we were born on the exact same day of the same year - I'm 4 hours older - anyways, for 'our' birthday I've made an ADR at the Blue Zoo, as she absolutely loves Seafood

So I'm hoping that it should be a holiday to remember - Well there's still more - I'm planning on proposing to Em whilst we're out there So far I'm thinking I'd like to do it over dinner at the California Grill but if anyone has any suggestions PLEASE help me out.......

Okay, so after months and months of planning, phone calls, updating spread sheets (I still cannot believe I've made a spread sheet for holiday, I'm the guy who will usually start packing my case for holiday the night before we go!) here's where I am at the mo:

Wednesday 17th September

We arrive in Sanford at about 5pm US time. I'm thinking we'll just drive to the hotel, unpack, go out and grab some food from somewhere nearby. Maybe wander down to DTD for a few beers

Thursday 18th September

Epcot for the day. Managed to bag a reservation for dinner at Le Cellier (I should mention that Em and I are both foodies and you'll soon notice that one of the main focuses of this trip is to eat as much delicious food as possible!)

Friday 19th September

Islands of Adventure day - I can't wait to go back to this park so I have to do it as early in the trip as possible!

Saturday 20th September

Sea World - and dinner at the Coq Au Vin in the evening. Supposed to be an amazing restaurant as Em is half French so I'm she she'll love it. My plan here is to throw her off any scent she may have of a proposal. We've been together 4 years now, and all of her friends are starting to get engaged so I'm sure once she realizes I've organised this holiday that at the back of her mind she'll be thinking proposal - so I've organised a few really nice dinners for the first few nights we're there, with no intention of proposing, as I think that she'll expect me to do it straight away once we're over there. Sneaky eh?!

Sunday 21st September

We've got a breakfast at Boma for 8.30, the we'll spend the day at AK (I've always wanted to come here, Lion King is my favourite film of all time!) and then we've got a reservation at Narcooccess at 7, so we can catch wishes at 8.

Monday 22nd September

The Big Day!! Blizzard beach in the morning for a chilled out day of slides and sun bathing, then Cali Grill is booked for 7.30, which is where I'm planning to pop the question. Hopefully after the previous dinners she'll now be thinking "surely if he was going to he'd have done it by now", well that's the plan anyway!

Tuesday 23rd September

Okay, the rest of the trip kind of hinges on the fact she will say yes!! If its a no then the game plan is out the window - and I'll probably drown my sorrows with lots of alcohol - although if she says yes then we'll probably celebrate with jut as much alcohol anyway!!

Today I'm thinking we'll wake up late, check out Universal for the afternoon and take it nice any easy. No dinner plans yet buy I really want to try Roys, and this could be a good night for it.

Wednesday 24th September

Driving over to Busch Gardens today, then we have an ADR for Jiko in the evening

Thursday 25th September

MGM day. maybe hang out by the pool in the morning and head over to MGM in the afternoon so we can stay until Fantasmic.

Friday 26th September

I'm looking forward to this so much!!! Aquatica in the day, then over to Universal for the opening night of Halloween Horror Nights! I've got us Stay and Scream Passes and Express Passes for this. I'm a massive fan of horror films and I cannot explain how excited I am about this night. Em isn't the biggest horror fan in the world, but I'm thinking that by this point I should have earned enough Brownie points to get away with a night of horror

Saturday 27th September

Magic Kingdom Day

Sunday 28th September

Our Birthday! (It always sounds so weird saying that!). I'm thinking IOA & Universal in the daytime for a few goes on our favourite rides, then we're off to Blue Zoo for our Birthday dinner as I've heard such good things about the sea food there. Can't think of a better birthday than that! - well maybe if HHN was on......

Monday 29th September

Probably be waking up late and feeling a little bit rough Plan is to take it easy today, then in the afternoon wander over to Epcot to eat and drink our way around the world for the evening!

Tuesday 30th September

Last full day Haven't got anything planned, I'm thinking we can go to Em's favourite park again, then in the evening I've got California Grill booked up again, as I *HOPE* this will be Em's favourite restaurant, plus it'll be nice to end the holiday in the spot where *hopefully* she said yes. Like I said, a lot of this trip hinges upon the answer I get on the 22nd!!!

Wednesday 1 October

We don't leave until 6.30 US time but I've made no plans so we can do anything we want!

And that's about it!

And thanks to so many of you who have helped and guided me towards creating the perfect holiday, the friendliness and knowledge of the people on these boards is incredible!

If anyone has any feedback I'd love to here it

Thanks guys!!!

 

[orlandonyc]

I like your plan very much, but keep an open mind to be flexible and have fun. sometimes i over-plan and lose sight of the relaxation and fun I went there for. Except for your HHN plan, that is going to rock.

 

[Hedy]

Ooh, a proposal trip-how sweet!

 

[macraven]

since you asked for our opinions, this is mine:



propose to her on the opening night at HHN.
she'll then want to return to that place many times.
she's a girl, girls love to return to the memorable place where the proposal took place.

and do it after you go thru the first house.
it will really catch her off guard.
and, she will be so thrilled and ecstatic over the proposal, she'll handle the fright of the houses superly....

it will be 2 days before both of your birthdays. she'll never see it coming if you plan the big day and propose before the bd..


maybe you could coordinate the proposal in one of the houses with the TM's involved in the plan.

how kewl...

and congratulations...

 

[orlandonyc]

Please get a pic of that moment. it could be the redhead first proposal

 

[raph_b]

since you asked for our opinions, this is mine:



propose to her on the opening night at HHN.
she'll then want to return to that place many times.
she's a girl, girls love to return to the memorable place where the proposal took place.

and do it after you go thru the first house.
it will really catch her off guard.
and, she will be so thrilled and ecstatic over the proposal, she'll handle the fright of the houses superly....

it will be 2 days before both of your birthdays. she'll never see it coming if you plan the big day and propose before the bd..


maybe you could coordinate the proposal in one of the houses with the TM's involved in the plan.

how kewl...

and congratulations...

I hadn't thought of this - but I'd be so scared going through the first house!!

Perhaps it could be done in the S & S area?! Now there's an idea.....

 

[macraven]

I hadn't thought of this - but I'd be so scared going through the first house!!

Perhaps it could be done in the S & S area?! Now there's an idea.....

yes S & S holding area would be great!!
you'll be able to see the reaction on her face since it will still be light out.


and you can talk to the TMs working that area to help you make this a moment she will never forget!