Our Magical WDW Adventure ~ 23 Days of Fun, Food, Cocktails... London Trip 2/8

[ariel2007]

The One Where The Magic Really Begins...
...Way Before We Even Get To WDW​

To Make A Holiday Practically Perfect You Need To Have A Perfect Plan
Fun, Fun, Fun ~ Meets ~ A Little Help From Friends Can Go A Long Way

SUBJECT OF THE DAY ~ FIVE:​

So I thought it was time for another 'Subject of the Day' as your opinions are really helping in my quest for another Perfect Adventure. This one is directly related to the subject of additional recreation, and something we have been meaning to do on our last few WDW holidays, but never got round to. Here is 'Subject of the Day', number 5...

.... BEACHES



​

Like I have said before we like to try and do and see as much as we can on holiday. And we have thought about and looked into visiting a Florida beach on our last few trips but have never had the time. We both love the seaside, and both love seeing and exploring new places, so this time we are determined we are going to spend the day visiting a beach or two. So here is what I would like to know:

What beach/beaches would you most recommend?

How far is it from Orlando?

What is there to do or see there in addition to lazing on the beach?

What restaurants or cafes would you recommend there?

Is there any noteworthy shops there?​

 

[ariel2007]

Wow, everything looks wonderful! You will be busy busy busy~! LOL, don't forget about your breaks...lol. I remember you had some of those scheduled in there.

Breaks are my favorite time of the trip lol

Really though, sounds great! This is going to be a terrific trip!

Thanks.

Don't worry I won't forget about our breaks. I love to spend a bit of time relaxing by or in the pool, relaxing on a boat... maybe even a spa

I'm glad you enjoyed HDD so much. I was a bit hesident at first...lol, doesn't seem like such a 'honeymoon' dinner. It seems like just the thing for Steve and me though. We are eating at plenty of places with wonderful food. We want the show ! lol I've heard so many wonderful thing about it! HDD is our treat

I think its the perfect Honeymoon thing to do . I mean its not really romantic but its such great fun, and thats what honeymoons are all about .

 

[troobabiee7]

Caladesi Island was ranked the top beach in the country by Dr. Beach this year and it's a gorgeous place. It's around 2 hours from Disney (maybe a little less) and only a few people are allowed on the island at a time so it's a very quiet, natural place. The only thing is that you can only stay for a certain amount of time, and there's not much else besides the beach.

The Clearwater beaches are also gorgeous. White sand, blue water, lots to do, etc. They're right past Tampa so a little over an hour away. The east coast beaches are also nice, but not our favorites. Daytona's cool since you can drive on the sand but it's a little less tropical and more... redneck than the other beaches Cape Canaveral is also pretty, but I'd stick with the gulf coast beaches.

 

[ariel2007]

Melissa ~ Thanks for all the ideas, they were great

Now is the gulf coast the beaches on the Tampa side... Clearwater etc? I have heard there is another beach next to Clearwater too, might be Anna Maria Island or that might be somewhere else. I don't know I'm getting confused, there are so many.

Daytona sounds cool too, and of course its something you think of when you think of Florida... but don't know if its the best beach to relax . There are just too many to choose from.

 

[CoP Luv]

These are a little farther away, but Marco Island is a great beach...roughly about a 3hr. drive from Disney so it might be too far for the day. DH's family has a condo in Naples which is a little closer and there are beaches there as well as a nice town with a Tommy Bahama (YUM!!!). Both are on the West coast of FL.

 

[ariel2007]

These are a little farther away, but Marco Island is a great beach...roughly about a 3hr. drive from Disney so it might be too far for the day. DH's family has a condo in Naples which is a little closer and there are beaches there as well as a nice town with a Tommy Bahama (YUM!!!). Both are on the West coast of FL.

I have heard of Marco Island before but don't really know much about it. I think it may be a little too far but I will look it up on the web and see what we both think .

I have done a boat tour in Naple's before and loved it, it was so beautiful and the beaches we saw were gorgeous. I will look into that as well.

Thanks for the ideas

 

[troobabiee7]

Melissa ~ Thanks for all the ideas, they were great

Now is the gulf coast the beaches on the Tampa side... Clearwater etc? I have heard there is another beach next to Clearwater too, might be Anna Maria Island or that might be somewhere else. I don't know I'm getting confused, there are so many.

Daytona sounds cool too, and of course its something you think of when you think of Florida... but don't know if its the best beach to relax . There are just too many to choose from.

The Gulf Coast is technically a little farther up, but I mean the beaches near Tampa and Clearwater. Those beaches are really pretty! Crowded and commercial, but pretty. Daytona's not the best beach for relaxing, it's more of a party spot, even during the day. We're trying to decide on a beach for next summer too!

 

[ariel2007]

Well you will have to let me know which one you choose. It was Anna Maria I meant, its quite near to Clearwater and looks really pretty. It has a few beaches and Bradenton looks nice. But I'm still not totally sure as there are so many, and St Augustine, Daytona, Cocoa Beach sound interesting too.

 

[lmillercrew]

WOW! I'm finally caught up!! I would recommend the Gulf side beaches too. I don't care for the Atlantic side, and have heard that the Gulf coast is beautiful.

 

[disneydusted]

Hey Ariel! I'm here with our Florida beach info.... we've been to Captiva Island and Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast (very beautiful!) but I think that they would be too far from Disney unless you stayed for a few days.
I saw you over on Jaycns's TR... isn't she amazing with all of her plans and ideas??

 

[ariel2007]

WOW! I'm finally caught up!! I would recommend the Gulf side beaches too. I don't care for the Atlantic side, and have heard that the Gulf coast is beautiful.

Well were on the Atlantic over here, and the majority of the year it is freezing. But then I suppose that just echoes our weather anyway . I think we will probably go for the Gulf coast then, I want somewhere beautiful.

Hey Ariel! I'm here with our Florida beach info.... we've been to Captiva Island and Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast (very beautiful!) but I think that they would be too far from Disney unless you stayed for a few days.
I saw you over on Jaycns's TR... isn't she amazing with all of her plans and ideas??

I think Captiva and Sanibel mey be a little far but definitely plan to visit them one day, maybe spend a week there after some time in Disney in the future .

Yes her trips are great. Her boys are pretty lucky, they have some great trips and surprises. It so nice when you have younger children and you can surprise them, we always do it with Sophie and it just makes the most perfect memories

 

[ariel2007]

Christmas... Part 1​

Well today Nick and I went Christmas shopping. It was a pretty uneventful day, and unfortunately I only managed to get a small part of Sophie's and a few other little bits and bobs. So it wasn't a very successful trip as far as presents were concerned. But on the other hand we did have fun. We had a lovely lunch in Wagamama's, a tasty Christmas coffee from Starbucks (I love the red cups), and managed to visit not one, but two Disney Stores. Unfortunately even Disney didn't offer much in the way of presents (Sophie is growing up so fast now ), but I did manage to get some Christmas cards, a few decorations, some socks for Nick's stocking and some for my friends too.

Our Christmas cards

Our 2008 snowglobe, we got one last year too

For the tree

We got these from DLP but don't think I showed them yet

Socks for Nick's stocking

Socks for my friends

A little something for Sophie

After being out pretty much most of the day and driving around half the South-East in search of gifts, we are now getting into the real Christmas spirit and are snuggled up on the sofa watching 'The Holiday' with a glass of wine and some chocolates.

 

[troobabiee7]

I LOVe "The Holiday!" I watched it last year and ran out to buy the DVD. It's such a cute movie. I'm glad you guys had a good day shopping. Presents on not, you picked up some fun stuff! What has Sophie asked for for the holidays?

 

[ariel2007]

I LOVe "The Holiday!" I watched it last year and ran out to buy the DVD. It's such a cute movie. I'm glad you guys had a good day shopping. Presents on not, you picked up some fun stuff! What has Sophie asked for for the holidays?

I love it too, its such a cute film. And their houses are amazing, both of them. I would love to have Cameron Diaz's to live in and then Kate Winslet's house for the holidays as its perfect for a nice, snowy christmas.

Sophie hasn't really asked for much, apart from a top. So I got her the top today along with a nice pair of skinny jeans and a sparkly belt, and the DVD (I have brought her so many clothes recently she has enough for the next few years if she doesn't grow ). I am going to order a load of stuff off Amazon as everyone seems to want DVD's, CD's etc... and plan to order her HSM3 album, Miley Cyrus Album, Wall-E, maybe the Camp Rock album and Wild at Heart series 3... then I'm not sure. I am giving her my sony camera as she really wants a camera and I don't use it anymore, so that will save me a few hundred dollars and its a really good camera for her. But I'm stuck on her main present. She really, really wants an Ipod Touch, she just loves playing with mine and Nicks. But they are about £150 ($280-300) and I don't think she would use it enough/look after it weel enough to warrent spending that. So I thought about getting her one of the smaller colored ones which are about £50 less, and I think may be better for her as they are smaller and cooler looking. But then Nick has recently got an I-phone so doesn't use his Touch, so I could give her that... so many options I don't know what to do

 

[troobabiee7]

I love it too, its such a cute film. And their houses are amazing, both of them. I would love to have Cameron Diaz's to live in and then Kate Winslet's house for the holidays as its perfect for a nice, snowy christmas.

Sophie hasn't really asked for much, apart from a top. So I got her the top today along with a nice pair of skinny jeans and a sparkly belt, and the DVD (I have brought her so many clothes recently she has enough for the next few years if she doesn't grow ). I am going to order a load of stuff off Amazon as everyone seems to want DVD's, CD's etc... and plan to order her HSM3 album, Miley Cyrus Album, Wall-E, maybe the Camp Rock album and Wild at Heart series 3... then I'm not sure. I am giving her my sony camera as she really wants a camera and I don't use it anymore, so that will save me a few hundred dollars and its a really good camera for her. But I'm stuck on her main present. She really, really wants an Ipod Touch, she just loves playing with mine and Nicks. But they are about £150 ($280-300) and I don't think she would use it enough/look after it weel enough to warrent spending that. So I thought about getting her one of the smaller colored ones which are about £50 less, and I think may be better for her as they are smaller and cooler looking. But then Nick has recently got an I-phone so doesn't use his Touch, so I could give her that... so many options I don't know what to do

Sounds like you've got some good stuff! I'm sure you'll figure it all out with the Ipod. I have a Microsoft Zune and LOVE it! It's a good $100 cheaper than the same sized Ipod, you should check out.

I was just thinking about it, and I know the internet's been around for a long time now but isn't it crazy how you're in the UK and I'm in NY, and we have daily conversations?! It's really cool when you think about it!

 

[ariel2007]

Sounds like you've got some good stuff! I'm sure you'll figure it all out with the Ipod. I have a Microsoft Zune and LOVE it! It's a good $100 cheaper than the same sized Ipod, you should check out.

I was just thinking about it, and I know the internet's been around for a long time now but isn't it crazy how you're in the UK and I'm in NY, and we have daily conversations?! It's really cool when you think about it!

Yes definitely. Up until I joined Disboards in 2007 I had never really spoken to anyway from America. I mean I had been there a few times but I had never spoken to anyone properly so all I knew about American life was what I had seen on TV. And that is nothing like real American life... well actually it is in some ways Its so great as I am so fascinated with American life, and always have been. To to be able to read about real people, and their real lives is just so cool. And so much more interesting than boring old English life

 

[disneydusted]

Hey there! You are not going to believe what came in my mail yesterday!! Are you ready?? Chocolate covered pretzels! I thought of you and your aversion to pretzels and I think this is the way to go for you! They are from Hershey and so good... So now you need to try these and see if you like them.

Have you tried the PBJ sandwich yet? I am holding out hope that some day you will try it and love it! haha

Do you guys have your tree up yet? We cut ours down this past weekend and now have it all decorated and ready for presents. What sort of traditions do you have at your house for the holidays?

 

[ariel2007]

I am definitely planning on trying the chocolate covered ones from DTD as they look so good. And if I don't like them then I will still have another 19 snack credits to use anyway. Your Hershey ones do sound good .

I may try the PBJ one day, but I'm not sure if it will be in the near future .

No we don't have our tree up yet unfortunately . When I lived at home with my Mum we would get our tree on the second Sunday before christmas, it was always a tradition for us. We used to get it from this place called the Ice House which just opened at Christmas to sell trees and it was always so exciting and festive. So because we used to leave it quite late to get our tree Nick and I just kind of do the same. And now because we have the little cats it is probably best we don't have it up too long . We are planning on getting it next Monday, but I am not looking forward to it... it always takes us FOREVER to find our tree, its got to be perfect else I cant buy it and since we leave it late sometimes they don't have the best selection left. And although I love to decorate the tree I hate doing the lights and tinsel, I can never get it too look right. I guess its because my Mum used to do that bit and then we used to just do the decorations, I wish she would come and do it now for me.

As for traditions we don't have any leading up to Christmas. We always used to go to loads of concerts when I was younger, I was in the school choir so we did concerts, and then Sophie did, and my Mum plays hand bells and they always used to do big concerts including at big catherdrals which was always so beautiful and festive. But now most of our traditions happen on Christmas itself. On Christmas eve we always have a little party and Sophie and I watch Christmas films. And then we leave stuff out for Santa (its so nice still having a little sister that believes). Christmas is always the same for us, we have a big family celebration at my Aunt's. And then Boxing Day (something we celebrate over here), my Mum does a whole other Christmas so we can share it with my Step-brother... its so cool getting to do it all over again .

How about you?

 

[CoP Luv]

We went Christmas shopping last weekend and got a few things out of the way! Now I have to wrap everything. We put our tree up last Sunday and I love having the lights on here. We have an artificial tree though and DH LOVES to put the lights on...Not really sure why...since most of the trees you can buy come pre-lit...but he says that it is part of Christmas to string the lights on the tree.

Anyway, sounds like you have a lot of ideas for Sophie's Christmas presents this year. She is one lucky girl!

As for traditions, we are going to a Christmas concert of Handel's Messiah. I used to go there quite often when I was younger with my whole family, but the church has stopped putting on the concert until this year. So we will be back!!! I really am excited. It is a week from this Saturday and we (DH and myself) will spend the morning/afternoon shopping on Michigan Ave. in Chicago (where we live) and maybe seeing an afternoon movie down there. We will then have our special Christmas dinner at Joe's Stone Crab which is probably my favorite restaurant in the WORLD! Then we will be off to the concert...which by the way is in a giant, beautiful church...where we got married actually.

OK so I am totally rambling on and on about Christmas, but I love it! We are hosting two parties this year as well...might as well go all out, right? On Saturday, my mom, aunt, friends and hopefully some cousins will be over to bake some holiday cookies all afternoon! I love to bake!!! And am planning on trying some new recipes this year...

Since DH and I are going to be in Ohio with his family for Christmas, we are having about 1/2 of my immediate family over (about 20 people) to celebrate with us the weekend before. I have never hosted anything like this before and am quite excited about it.

 

[ariel2007]

CoP Luv ~ That sounds like a lovely concert, I'm glad you get to go back again. I love big, beautiful churches around Christmas, they make everything seem so much more real and festive. And it sounds like you have a great day planned, I bet you will have a lovely time. Joe's Stone Crab sounds good, and going to see Christmas movies is always great. We planned to watch one when we were out shopping yesterday but time got away from us and we were so tired. We ended up watching The Holiday at homt instead which was really nice, although I still plan to go and watch 4 Christmas's.

Your parties sound like a lot of fun. I wish we did things like have people over to bake cookies but if I invited people around to do that they would think I am crazy or something. And Good luck for your Christmas party with your family, I'm sure it will go great .

I would love to visit Chicago one day. They visited there on The Girls Next Door and it looked so pretty, and they loved it. I bet its pretty cold there now though, have you had any snow there yet?