The not long to go now (pre) trip report, arriving 28th April 2012

[JoyB-UK]

Decided to do a report as a record for us so even if no one else is interested I can look back on it. I have opened a photo bucket account to add lots of trip photos but I don't know how to use it yet. Been lurking on these boards for many years but only signed when we joined a DCL meets group.

The cast :- me, Joy, 35. Open university student and general works dogsbody.
Collector of all things vinylmation and capable of planning a holiday
with military precision.

Dave, 46, senior manager, grumpy, Muppets obsessive, would
never admit to loving Disney but goes where he is told.

Maya, turning 13 this week, vegetarian, sports mad, sad that her 2
favourites BTMR and TT are down when we arrive.

This is our 5th trip to Florida ( we try to go every 2 years) but we have also visited California in 2011, Paris in 2010 and Hong Kong in 2009. We have our 3rd DCL cruise booked for 2013, so you can kind of say we love Disney.

 

[JoyB-UK]

The plan so far:-

Saturday 28th April
Flights booked from Manchester with Aer Lingus 8:00, connecting flight 12:30.
This will be our first time flying with these, heard lots of mixed reviews but the price was right (or should I say not as bad as elsewhere).

2 weeks car hire booked through Dollar. We have used lots of different companies in Florida including these before and not found there to be much difference so again this was chosen on best price at the time. We are down for a Dodge Avenger whatever one of those is.

Disney's Coronado Springs resort for 3 nights. Never been, photos look nice though and the pool is important for Maya. We have only stayed on site once before, at Pop Century, and we where impressed with the value facilities. CSR was booked as an after thought, we had intended to stay at the Marriott village or a Marriott vacation club for the first 3 nights as we aren't doing the parks until Tuesday but again we found a good deal so decided to try it.

Tuesday 1st May, we move to Old Key West and start using our dining plan and ultimate tickets booked as a package through the Disney website.

Tuesday 8th May, travel to the gulf coast for 4 nights at the Treasure Bay hotel and Marina in Treasure Island.

Saturday 12th - fly home in the evening.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Testing if I can get the photo upload thing to work.

Maya and Spanish Goofy.

 

[queendisney]

good start and looking forward to your TR..
Your weeks until you go are in single figures now..how exicting

 

[Ciorsdah]

Sounds like a great family holiday you've got booked, cant wait to read more of your plans and see the holiday snaps when you get back!!

 

[JoyB-UK]

good start and looking forward to your TR..
Your weeks until you go are in single figures now..how exicting

Sounds like a great family holiday you've got booked, cant wait to read more of your plans and see the holiday snaps when you get back!!

Thanks guys, I'm going to try and get lots of photos, especially of the food if I remember before we get stuck in. First time on the dining plan so we have lots of new things to try.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Sunday - we plan on visiting the Pie Festival, so that's lunch sorted. For dinner we are off to Sweet Tomatoes. This is an old favourite of ours and a must do for every visit.

Monday - The Cheesecake Factory- first visit to the Orlando one but we fell in love with the one in Anaheim.

Tuesday - Mama Melrose - 6:10pm ADR

Wednesday - Kona Cafe - 5:45pm

Thursday - Boma - 7:30pm

Friday - Crystal Palace - 5:35pm

Saturday - Rainforest Cafe AK - 7:00pm

Sunday - Tusker House - 5:00pm

Monday - T-Rex - 1:30pm

Tuesday to Saturday - who knows? Anybody have any recommendations for Gulf Coast restaurants?

I think that our selection isn't particularly stunning but with a vegetarian in the house it has limited us a bit and the buffets are necessary.

 

[wilma-bride]

Your plans sound great and you are planning on visiting some of our favourite restaurants - Cheesecake Factory, Kona and T-Rex are all fab!

 

[irongirlof12]

The pool at CS is lovely, your plans sound fab and your DD is so beautiful, hope to see plenty more photos

 

[JoyB-UK]

Saturday 28th April
Very early start as we are not staying at an airport hotel, should only take 90 minutes without traffic but want to be out for 3.30 am.
Not going to be good for anything but the swimming pool when we arrive at CSR.

Sunday
I will be awake after only a couple of hours sleep. It takes about 5 days for me to settle and sleep right. Morning by the pool then off to walmart for some goodies. In the afternoon the excitements starts with the Great American Pie Festival in Celebration. Then it's on to the Premium outlets, then Sweet Tomatoes for dinner ( tea ).

Monday
I have booked the Close up Tour at kennedy for 10 am. Third visit for us but first chance to look in the Vehicle Assembly Building. I am actually really excited about this. Kennedy is really Dave's thing but I'm hoping there is going to be a shuttle in there getting renovated.
When we've done here we are off to the Cheesecake Factory at the Mall at Millenia. Then obviously there will be more shopping just waiting to be purchased.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Tuesday
Today we move to OKW. Not sure yet if we will hang around the pool until our room is ready or go to the parks. We are going to DHS for the evening and have a reservation at mama Melrose.

Wednesday
Full day at Magic Kingdom, with a visit to Kona Cafe at tea time, then back for the evening. We have always visited MK on a Wednesday and have never had trouble with crowds.

Thursday
Epcot in the morning, Blizzard Beach in the afternoon and Boma in the evening. Starting to feel tired already at the prospect of fitting everything in

 

[loobzuk]

how exciting to me planning your final itinerary and to be able to say "we're going next month" (this is from someone who gets hyper at being able to say we're going next year!)

Your ADR's sound good. We tried Sweet Tomatoes for the first time last year and enjoyed it. The children weren't so keen but managed to eat well enough!

KSC is my DH's favourite trip and not really my thing at all although I secretly enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. Hopefully there will be a shuttle for you to see.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Thank you. Even though it is next month it still feels like forever, 7 weeks today. I booked last April so I have been planning for ages, I think that everything is done part from buying the photo CD. Can't decide whether or not it is for us. We always buy one or two of the proper photos but I don't know if we will get our money's worth. I suppose I should buy it then get a refund if we don't have many photos taken

 

[Linda67]

Your plans sound great
As far as the photopass CD is concerned I would say go for it
Last October was the first time we didn't pre-purchase as we were only going for a week, I ended up getting 4 or 5 pictures taken at MNSSHP and buying them all
Just buying 5 photos cost as much as the photo CD so it's not difficult to get your money's worth
If you get home and look at your photos and don't like them you can still cancel

 

[JoyB-UK]

Finally getting a chance to put the rest of our plans on, been so busy with work and uni lately.

Friday
Another day at Magic Kingdom. We have Crystal Palace booked for tea and depending how tired we are and how busy it is we may leave after this. Need to make sure we get some pool time in, but also pay a visit to Disney Quest at some point. We love all the old arcade games best, and the rafting thing which I can't remember the name of.

Saturday
If we are awake early it's DHS in the morning for EMH but if we can't make rope drop we will do a waterpark then go in the afternoon. Rainforest cafe food later on.

Sunday
Animal kingdom and hopefully our first go on Expedition Everest. Tusker house for tea. Never tried it before but with Maya being a veggie (a picky one that's not keen on veg) we need to do a few buffets.

Monday
This will be our last proper park day. Water park in the moring, T Rex lunch then Epcot til closing time. Looking forward to trying the Grey Goose slushie.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Tuesday
Time to leave OKW and head for the Gulf coast. May try and fit a waterpark in in the morning then leave after lunch. First stop is the Dali museum in St petersburg. We have been to the old one but not since it moved to the new building. Then on to Treasure Island and the start of some relaxation.

Wednesday
A do nothing beach day.

Thursday
Clearwater aquarium and might try to book some kind of Dolphin tour, then more beach and swimming pool.

Friday
No idea, just see what comes up.

Saturday
Home time. Just time to fit another couple of hours in at Typhoon Lagoon before we say goodbye for another 2 years.

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[PudseyChancer]

Decided to do a report as a record for us so even if no one else is interested I can look back on it

Doing a trip report means that you will have a great memento to look back on, I occasionally read back on mine, especially when the saving is hard going!

 

[JoyB-UK]

Just 4 weeks to go. Really starting to get excited now and stuff has started going into the suitcases. I have only one assignment left to do on my degree course and Maya has just been selected for the Yorkshire girls u13 cricket squad. Good times.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Just found out that there is a rocket launch scheduled for when we are on our Close Up tour at Kennedy. Fingers crossed that it doesn't get delayed. I am anxious to see if being on a tour at that time will get us any closer than usual.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Only 9 days til we check into our first hotel CSR so its time for the SDD