September/October 2013 check in

[WAMUMOF4]

We have done both and DH says he prefers to go straight back to work he says it makes it easier to get back into routine where as for me and the kids it takes us a lot longer as we all end up in bed by 6pm for the first week home.

 

[alicia1506]

well for the 2013 trip, we get 21 days from start to finish, and that has to allow for carlo's brother to travel interstate to get back to work, so i figure 17 days in country, 2 days lost for the idl & arriving home + 1 day for him to travel back home and then it's back to work the next day...

for our 2014 trip, i think i will try and make the most of it and have us leave on a friday and get back on a friday, then return to work on the monday

 

[australiankaren]

well for the 2013 trip, we get 21 days from start to finish, and that has to allow for carlo's brother to travel interstate to get back to work, so i figure 17 days in country, 2 days lost for the idl & arriving home + 1 day for him to travel back home and then it's back to work the next day...

for our 2014 trip, i think i will try and make the most of it and have us leave on a friday and get back on a friday, then return to work on the monday

yep...i will try to leave on a friday night if possible, after work or at least after lunch, then thats one less AL i have to use......

prpoblem is all the good flights leave about 1 pm, so thats not going to work this time the QF we are getting in feb dep 3 pm, but there is now a schedule change for sept and it leaves at 1pm????that would have been perfect for us....

 

[aussie shaz]

I usually take an extra week off AFTER the holiday. Hubby always takes a week off BEFORE the holiday! I hate the thought of going back to work, so push it back as far as I can. Hubby needs the week prior to relax and get into holiday mode. I'd be chomping at the bit to leave!! If I was planning a long holiday though (ie 4 weeks), I'd use it all for away time, and maybe get back a day before I had to start again. Our holidays are usually up to about 3 weeks, so I can afford the extra time.

 

[Minniemum]

Alicia - I normally go back to work within a day or two of arrival. I used to factor in 3 - 4 days; but it is 3 or 4 days extra holiday time that I could be spending somewhere else. I know which one I'd rather do.

Like PIO we prefer to use them for our trip not at home.

thats us as well.....my DH buys an extra 2 weeks AL a year....so every day is precious, and when you are paying as much as we all do to get there, i want max bang for my buck!

ok, so i'm a tad dopey when i go back to work, but hey.....and in feb i'm hopping off my flight monday at 8 am then catching a train to work....shower, change and be at my desk by around 11 ish...napping by 11.02

Good luck with that! I've done it twice and was delirious by 6pm but I don't sleep on planes. Would I do it again? Absolutely!

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

I allowed 2 days after our trip to get back into the usual routine. I was still wanting to jump in bed a 3 in the afternoon though! I definitely couldn't jump straight back to work, though I wish I could so I wouldn't have to take 2 extra days annual leave D:

 

[battymum]

Everyone is different I suppose, but my family was horribly jet lagged when we got over there and struggled to get out of bed each day. On return was fantastic, we were up at 5:00am ready to go! We got back on Wednesday at 11:00am - emptied the suitcases into the washing machines, I was in bed by 2:30 and slept until 4:30am! DH went to work that day and I went on Friday - would definitely always maximise my away time!!

 

[Jade+3]

We also prefer our holiday time away, than at home. Last year we arrived home Saturday morning, then back to work/school on Monday. That worked really well.

Flying out, I prefer to leave on Friday or Saturday. Unfortunately we have weekend commitments so will not be able to leave here until Monday. I feel like I am losing a few days away.

 

[L-Harper]

Welcome to this thread L-Harper.....



(You DO know that you're on the Australia/New Zealand board? But hey......no one notices that 7000 miles on the Dis).

No, I actually didn't know. Well, I will be ducking out of this thread then. Sadly, I am not from your part of the world.

 

[battymum]

Oh we talk to anybody over here! As long as you appreciate sarcasm!

 

[australiankaren]

Oh we talk to anybody over here! As long as you appreciate sarcasm!

oh nice...scare her off will you........ and we dont get visitors too often already....we really need to work on our greetings...

 

[PrincessInOz]

No, I actually didn't know. Well, I will be ducking out of this thread then. Sadly, I am not from your part of the world.

Why? We're all still heading to WDW in October!

Feel free to hang out with us (but as the others have pointed out.....you may need to appreciate sarcasm. It's like snarky only more sarcastic.)

 

[5ofus]

I'm finding it hard to get in full on planning mode. I really want to book my flights!

I'm a little weird about this trip too - the boys will be 2,4 and 6. I'll have a six year old and no baby!!! Why do they grow up so fast?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I'm finding it hard to get in full on planning mode. I really want to book my flights!

I'm a little weird about this trip too - the boys will be 2,4 and 6. I'll have a six year old and no baby!!! Why do they grow up so fast?

I know what you mean. I went to see my day old nephew yesterday in the hospital and I couldn't believe that it was over 5 years ago that my son was that tiny. Where does time go? Not that I'm complaining too much. I don't think I could ever go through that whole baby stage again - I like my sleep too much

As for the flights, I also struggle with planning mode until they're booked. Partly because of the way they secure dates, but mainly because they make my holiday feel more real. They aren't easy to cancel or change like most hotels, cruises etc, so once there locked in - that's it, I'm definitely going.

The more I lock in, the more detailed my planning is becoming. Now that all my flights (bar one domestic) and all my accommodation is sorted, I'm now at the sorting out transfers and looking at menus stage.

If anyone has any must-eat places for WDW (table service and counter service) please let me know. I can't start making ADR's until 1st April, but I'm trying to get a rough idea now where we want to book so I can price out menus and check that we are definitely best to eat off plan.

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

I'm finding it hard to get in full on planning mode. I really want to book my flights!

I'm a little weird about this trip too - the boys will be 2,4 and 6. I'll have a six year old and no baby!!! Why do they grow up so fast?

I know what you mean!!! I want February to roll around so we can book, Book, BOOK! it definately makes everything feel more final! Then all we will have to worry about is getting tickets, waiting for MNSSHP and HHN dates to be released and then book tickets to those and reserve our dining. Planning is so much more fun once it comes around to playing with the final itinerary!

 

[australiankaren]

i needed to book SOMETHING...so booked my car hire...got a great price and dont have to pay till we get there....hopefully when feb rolls around the airfare will be dirt cheap and we can all be put out of our misery.....

 

[battymum]

I'm finding it hard to get in full on planning mode. I really want to book my flights!

I'm a little weird about this trip too - the boys will be 2,4 and 6. I'll have a six year old and no baby!!! Why do they grow up so fast?

There is still time!! (just...)

 

[5ofus]

There is still time!! (just...)

Dear God no! After the week we've just had (and are still having) the thought of four kids...

Hey Karen, who'd you book your car through? I think we're going to try and get one-way cars, although I'm still contemplating keeping the car in Vegas - thoughts?

 

[Caroline NZ]

We have booked our car ( for the full 29 days) through National ( luxury full size car, with pick up and drop off at LAX).

 

[australiankaren]

and thru www.mousesavers.com I use their codes (code W810011)...saves me about 40-50% list price..

we do 2 lots of hires:
DTD to cape canaveral (6 days)$272 incl taxes
shuttle to boat
cape canaveral to MCO (5 days)$198 incl taxes
shuttle from boat

this code is valid for 2013....in florida only I think

the other car hires were about $100- $150 more even using discount codes