Taking Mum to the Magic- A Pre-Trip Report

[BudgieMama]

Really, I should be writing up our TR for this year's trip, but I need to edit all my PhotoPass photos (all 700+ of them), so I thought I'd start my next PTR instead!

Who?
The dream team this time is me, Clare, making my third trip to WDW, and my lovely Mum, Anne, who will making her very first trip to WDW. It's just the two of us- my DH will be visiting Canada with my MIL instead.

When?
Currently booked for 15th August to 29th August 2017, though we'll see how the flights work out!

Where?
Back to Coronado Springs Resort! We booked this trip BEFORE DH and I made our trip this year, so I was rather nervous about not liking the resort, but we loved it, so I'm glad to say I'll be back there next year! Yay!

What else?
We'll have 14 day ultimate tickets with free Memory Maker, and are on the free Quick Service Dining Plan (the QSDP worked VERY well for us this year. Probably won't book an ADRs except Breakfast and Lunch at Be Our Guest. Just doing WDW, as Mum doesn't drive and I don't want to! Plenty to do between the parks and the resorts to keep us busy!

I'm slightly nervous about being in charge on this trip (my mum doesn't often travel abroad as she's quite anxious, so I'm hoping that it will all be nice and smooth so that I can look confident and not make her more anxious!)

Anyway, that's the basics! Welcome to my PTR!

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Another PTR to follow! Looking forward to reading about the plans you will make for your mum's first visit!

 

[bex7583]

Yey ,sounds like a plan already.

 

[scoobydooby2016]

Fun! I took my very little travelled very anxious Mum to DLP last year. She struggled with the Tube on the pre leg in London and was befuddled s by the breakfast buffet at the DL Hotel but we both survived ha ha!!!!

 

[LanaBear-ox]

Woo! You've started your PTR!

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Following!

(all 700+ of them)

700+....WOW!

 

[BudgieMama]

Flights booked! I'd told Mum to budget £1000 for her flight, but BA are coming in at £1100 each, without seat reservations which we need.

Turns out our dates fit to fly Norwegian! They have dreamliners on the route, and with extra luggage (paid for), extra legroom seat reservations (free!!) and credit card fees, the flights came in under £750 each. Very happy with that. Saving over £700 each (when you take into account booking seats) is no small sum to either of us and can be better spent on fun at Disney!!

 

[LanaBear-ox]

£1100 each? You may as well fly to Australia! Great saving on Norwegian. Where are you flying from? Our flights aren't out till November

 

[BudgieMama]

£1100 each? You may as well fly to Australia! Great saving on Norwegian. Where are you flying from? Our flights aren't out till November

Flying from Gatwick, which is much better for me! Easier transport for us too, because our nearest station is a direct line to Gatwick.

 

[BudgieMama]

Mum's ESTA is approved. Yay. She's never been to the USA before so we wanted to get her ESTA sorted as soon as we booked the flights. All cleared straight away. Phew!

 

[Tash87]

Mum's ESTA is approved. Yay. She's never been to the USA before so we wanted to get her ESTA sorted as soon as we booked the flights. All cleared straight away. Phew!

That's always a panic in our household even though we've been before!

 

[Jon84]

Look forward to hearing about all your plans Clare

 

[BudgieMama]

Just got a very exciting email from Disney!

They contacted me a couple of weeks ago with a special offer: recommend a friend who books a WDW trip and they get an extra $100 giftcard, plus I could choose between a £50 Disney Store giftcard or $100 spending money... well, that's an easy choice! Just had it confirmed that it's all gone through (a friend from a CSR group I'm in on Facebook was due to book imminently and took me up on the offer!) Hooray for extra spending money!

 

[stephensmum]

Great stuff.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Hey Clare! I remembered you are due to travel soon....! Have you got all your ADRs & FPs ready?

 

[LanaBear-ox]

That has come around so quickly!

 

[BudgieMama]

4 days to go. Mum arrives on Sunday. FP all sorted. ADRs all sorted. Can't believe it's nearly here.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

4 days to go. Mum arrives on Sunday. FP all sorted. ADRs all sorted. Can't believe it's nearly here.

2 days now....!! eek!

 

[micksn]

Hope you have a great time. I just watched Tim Trackers video on the refurbishments - looks very exciting! Hope you get a nice new room!