Our "Grand" Portofino" Trip of a Lifetime -August 2010 (TR Link added)

[Sweet Pea UK]

Yeah!!!!! It's ADR Day!!!!!

I will check in later with an update of what ADR's I get and what I've been up to the last few weeks.

Sorry I've not posted - its been kind of manic!!!

 

[klacey1]

Yay for ADR's-- make sure you update us when you book yours!!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Yay Yay Yay

After a little bit of confusion ... First I tried to do it online yesterday and it wouldn't let me despite the ADR calculator was telling me it was the day! And then today I tried to do it online but Virgin had given me the wrong confirmation number so I gave up with that and just called the old fashioned way!

I got a really great cast member who assisted me and got everything I wanted. Obviously could only book up to Day 10 so will ring again in a few days to book the rest. I don't think what I want on the last few days will be those that sell out.

So ... here is what I got ...

26th August - Crystal Palace - 7:05pm
27th August - Rose and Crown Dining Room - 6:55pm
28th August - Chef Mickeys - 7:30pm (Ambers Birthday)
29th August - 1900 Park Fare - 8:30am
29th August - Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose - 3:55pm
30th August - Kona Cafe - 6:55pm
31st August - Arkershus Storybook Breakfast - 8:10am
2nd September - Grand Floridian Tea - 3:20pm
2nd September - Ohana - 7:00pm
4th September - Prime Time Cafe - 12:45pm
4th September - Raglan Road - 7:30pm
5th September - Crystal Palace - 8:25am

So just have a few more to book and that is us done!

Makes it seem like it is really happening now!

It has been so long since I have updated I hope I haven't lost any readers.

We seem to have been so busy of late.

I asked Amber what she intended to spend her money when we were out there and she was pondering on whether she would buy any more plush toys. I said "why don't be get all yours down from your bedroom (they live in a hammock in her room) and see which ones you have! Here is the result!!!

We decided that she perhaps doesn't NEED anymore - we struggled to see if there are any she hasn't got??!

Amber also had her school disco a couple of weeks ago. We couldn't believe how grown up she is starting to look

I have been busy working - we had been given overtime at work so I worked the last 7 Saturdays. So weird being in the office when no courts are running - very peaceful! I jus kept thinking of Disney and it got me through the days.

Back to working weekends for Dad next weekend so looking forward to that.

We went to see Princess and the Frog and I loved it. Can't wait to see stuff for it at Disney.

We also went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakwal which was much better than I expected it to be.

Jonathan and I had a Dinner and Dance at his Lodge which was good fun.

We are taking Amber to see Les Miserables next weekend and can't wait for that. She loves Musicals.

I have been working really hard on my Digital Scrapbooking and following lots of tutorials.

Jonathan and I made a Digital cover for our planning binder together the other evening and it was really good fun.

So that is basically it for the time being. Just wanted you all to know I am even more excited!!! Less than 6 months to go

 

[Charlefours]

I am still here! Great ADRs--I hope you are able to get the rest of the ones you want. Are you going to post your trip binder cover? I would love to see it.

 

[klacey1]

You guys got terrific places/times! I love the zoo of Amber's stuffed friends-- love the dwarfs! Her sparkly tights for her disco are also very cool
Enjoy Les Mis-- I saw it on Broadway a couple of times, and on the West End when I was much, much younger. I wish I could remember seeing it in its place of origin! Great music + sets.

 

[disneybarbie]

Hi!
Congrats on 'ADR day' .. how exciting, it really does make the trip to WDW feel more 'real', doesn't it?!
All your choices look great!

DD has nearly as many Disney soft-toys as I do!!

Emma x

 

[choccieaddict]

I just discovered your thread and have to subscribe! We seem to have alot in common....we're both from the UK...I leave Orlando just as you arrive....I'm newly bitten by the digital scrapbooking bug (like you, I am surrounded by 'real' scrapbooking papers but that's it, I'm surrounded, I don't ever find time to do anything more with my stash than admire it and say "I will make time for that"!) Oh yes, and I'm learning Photoshop...or should I say 'still learning Photoshop' (I took the Open University's Digital Photography short course last spring so dipped my toes into it then and am still finding my way around it, fantastic package!). And lastly, I love to plan too, the planning is as exciting as the holiday The planning and dreaming gets me through the dull stuff

Looking forward to hearing more about your plans, your trip and of course your digital scrapbooking journey!

Tina

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Hi!
Congrats on 'ADR day' .. how exciting, it really does make the trip to WDW feel more 'real', doesn't it?!
All your choices look great!

DD has nearly as many Disney soft-toys as I do!!

Emma x

Thanks Emma.

I am pleased with the choices - and pleased they are done!! I was really panicking that I wouldn't get anything but as it was I got all I wanted!

You will have to post a picture of all your soft toys - that was just Amber's Disney ones - she has twice as many Dogs - she is dog crazy!!

Sara xx

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

I just discovered your thread and have to subscribe! We seem to have alot in common....we're both from the UK...I leave Orlando just as you arrive....I'm newly bitten by the digital scrapbooking bug (like you, I am surrounded by 'real' scrapbooking papers but that's it, I'm surrounded, I don't ever find time to do anything more with my stash than admire it and say "I will make time for that"!) Oh yes, and I'm learning Photoshop...or should I say 'still learning Photoshop' (I took the Open University's Digital Photography short course last spring so dipped my toes into it then and am still finding my way around it, fantastic package!). And lastly, I love to plan too, the planning is as exciting as the holiday The planning and dreaming gets me through the dull stuff

Looking forward to hearing more about your plans, your trip and of course your digital scrapbooking journey!

Tina

Hi Tina

Wow - we do have a lot in common!! And of course you are a Choccie addict and I make chocolates - how weird!!!

I will try and post some pictures tonight of a scrapbook page I have done.

Have you done much by way of Digital Scrapbooking?

Love Sara x

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

I am still here! Great ADRs--I hope you are able to get the rest of the ones you want. Are you going to post your trip binder cover? I would love to see it.

I will post a picture of my binder cover tonight when I get home. Bored at work at the moment!!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

You guys got terrific places/times! I love the zoo of Amber's stuffed friends-- love the dwarfs! Her sparkly tights for her disco are also very cool
Enjoy Les Mis-- I saw it on Broadway a couple of times, and on the West End when I was much, much younger. I wish I could remember seeing it in its place of origin! Great music + sets.

Hi Kylie

We got Amber the dwarfs when we went without her in 2003 (she was too small to go!) She was really into snow white then so we bought her the dress and the dwarves. It was so hard to get all 7 - apparently they hold some back sometimes so that people have to go into different shops to find them. Our mission of the holiday was to find a Doc and we got him on the second to last day!!

I am so excited about Les Mis. It will be my 7th time of seeing it! I have only seen it before on the West End but on Saturday it is on in our nearest City - Norwich - which is about 20 miles from us. They have a restaurant there where you have your starter and main course, then go in to see the first half and then in the interval your desserts and drinks are waiting for you at your table, it is a really neat idea. We are going to do that. I just really hope that Amber gets the storyline. I have tried explaining it to her and will do so again on the way there. I think as long as she understands the the Mayor is Jean Valjean we will be OK.

I am getting goosebumps thinking about the music!!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Can't believe it has been over a month since I updated! Sorry! It has been a rather busy and hectic month with hardly any exciting Disney Planning News!

I also noticed that I have barely taken a photo over the last month or so, so this is going to be a boring update!

I managed to finish booking all my ADR's. I did the rest online and got everything I wanted (which reminds me I still need to book Chef Mickey's breakfast for me and Amber for the last full day).

I think the extra ones I got where:

1900 Park Fare Dinner
Crystal Palace Breakfast
Corel Reef Dinner

Will have to check when I get home. Am at my parents house at the moment as Amber is ill and I have to take her to the Doctors. She has had abdominal pain for a few days, was really sick Wednesday night (in a restaurant we were in!) and very sick again last night. Somebody has suggested it may be an appendicitus so I am keeping my fingers crossed it is just a bug!

Over the last month I have been working non-stop for my parents - sipping chocolates! It was particularly hard because I gave up chocolate for lent so all the new different ones I experimented with i had to get somebody else to try!! I then decided to give it up until my birthday - 1st May and then if I can do that, until the holiday - for weigh loss reasons only!!

We have also been to the pictures a couple of times - we saw Alice in Wonderland which we really enjoyed and then Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang which again I enjoyed and also DH and I saw Shutter Island which was very good.

I am counting down to the weeks until the full balance is due - scary!!! And then I think it is only about 18 weeks on Saturday until we go!! Arghhhhh!!!! The holiday diet has started!

I feel like I really need to pull my finger our with my organisation! I am hoping that when Amber goes back to school next week things will get back to normal. We have been eating out a lot as she is on holidays and then by the time you get home the last think you feel like is getting the laptop out! Hopefully all that will change over the next week.

I have been reading everything on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and so excited about that!

Anyway, I will leave it there for now - hope I still have a few of you reading and update with some photos over the next few days.

Sara x

 

[marsa1969]

I'm subing to your PTR. Your got me hooked at 19 days in Orlando!! I'm still on page one though. Okay, I'm done now. You are a super planner & money saver!! I wish I was that disciplined to be able to save and not eat chocolate!

 

[klacey1]

Hi! Wow, just noticed you updated-- what a cool idea for the theater! I wish we had dinner theaters like that here.
We loved the Coral Reef for dinner-- so yummy! Good luck resisting the chocolate! DBF gave up pork for Lent and it was soooo difficult for him-- never realized how many things he loves that have pork (bacon, etc).

 

[irishdancer86]

Hi Joining in! enjoyed your introduction, understand how you feel about travelling with non-disney fans last year, we had a bit of a bad experience in 2008 (uncle kept insisting he was getting a free rental car with his holiday and just wouldn't listen to my OCD plan loving mum)

We are staying at universal too but only for one night, and unfortunately our budget can't stretch to staying onsite this year!

Bet your so excited about the GF, will be so nice with just the 3 of you enjoying each others Co...and the girls' days sound fun too!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Goodness me!! Another month has gone by!!! Don't know where the time goes. It has been a really busy few weeks and I have lots to report.

Just after my last update. My Mum and me took Amber to London to see Mamma Mia and stay the night. We had a really great time.

We had lunch in Mo's Diner in Harrods

We then had a wander round the West End and then went for Cupcakes in the Hummingbird Bakery - they were amazing!

Mum and Amber in the Theatre waiting for Mamma Mia.

After dinner in an Italian and staying the night in the Park Lane Hotel we woke up and had breakfast.

Had a walk to Hyde Park.

A coffee in Covent Garden.

We then came home after a lovely couple of days.

I also had my Birthday - 35!!! I had a lovely day.

I got thoroughly spoiled - lots of money for Disney, some clothes and in the evening my Mum and Dad did a BBQ for several of my friends.

Jonathan and Amber made my favourite Red Velvet Cupcakes for my cake!!

 

[disneybarbie]

looks like you had a lovely time in London & at your bday!

I love that cupcake stand btw!

And.. not long now until your trip!!

Emma x

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Then ...the most important update!! We've booked to go next year! A relaly good deal came out to stay at Saratoga Springs so we asked the in-laws if they wanted to come (and they did!) so we've booked. We weeks next August/September! It is the first time ever I have had 2 trips to Disney Booked! I know we are crazy suggesting to the in-laws after the last disastrous trip but we figured we have all moved on. Our nephew won't be coming so maybe that will make a difference.

Where was I ...

Oh, we also celebrated my Mums birthday with a lovely meal out at a local restaurant.

Jonathan and I at home before we left.

So other things are I have managed to lose about 7lb! And I've joined a gym which surprisingly I am loving (never thought I would hear myself say that!) I have still been working a lot.

I made cupcakes for the girls at work (can you tell I have a kind of cupcake affair going on!!)

Amber and I made a paperchain countdown on Friday night - took ages as it was our 100 day mark. We were really pleased with the end result!

And Amber tearing off the first one! Only 99 more to go!!

So that is basically it for now!

Hope everyone will still read along.

Will promise more regular updates from now on.

Sara x

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

looks like you had a lovely time in London & at your bday!

I love that cupcake stand btw!

And.. not long now until your trip!!

Emma x

Thanks Emma. I can't believe it is coming round so quickly. How did your parents and sister get on when they were away??

I love the cupcake stand - it was a present from my Mum at Christmas! The only thing that is strange about it is it holds 13 cakes?! I use it as an excuse to make 2 batches

Sara x

 

[disneybarbie]

My parents and sister had a great time in WDW last week.. I was sooo jealous for the three days they were there & I was still here in chilly England!
Verity flew back on Saturday night so I picked her up from Heathrow yesterday afternoon.. she got me a Yeti plush toy (from Expedition Everest shop in AK) as a thank you for doing the airport runs.. I've always wanted one - it's adorable!

Yay for 2011 trip! ... sure it'll be a better trip with your inlaws this time - you'll be able to plan things differently & it's a few years on now

What did you make the chain out of? it's lovely!
A few years ago I made one out of coloured paper clips... it was 260+ days to go though so the chain was way too long - I had it draped all around my room at uni - I think 100 days is much better!

x