arielrocks
always planning another trip to Disney!!!
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2008
- Messages
- 726
Aloha to you all and welcome to my second attempt at a Pre Trip Report!
Are you all sitting comfortably? If so I will begin.
My name is Caroline and I am an Orlandoholic. There, I said it.
(Rapturous applause)
I am 28 years old and have been feeding my addiction for the past 11 years.
It started with an innocent family trip to Orlando when I was 17 and I had no interest in going, I didnt know about the parks, the rides, the scale of everything. I was clueless. I went there and was very much under whelmed with what I saw. To be honest I was 17 and too cool for school. I had just started college, was leaving my boyfriend at home and I wanted to be anywhere but Disney Disney is for Kids! I suffered 2 weeks worth of parks, rides, shows, heat, crowds (we went in July) and came home stating NEVER wanna go there again. Ungrateful little cowbag eh? Anyway, against their better judgement, my parents booked and took me and my sister again when I was 18! This trip was better, but I still couldnt grasp what the attraction was. It was a nice holiday but thats about as excited as I could get over it all. My trip to Benidorm with my mates was MUCH more fun then 2 weeks in Orlando!!! I look back now and want to slap me round the face with a wet fish!!!
It all changed for me when I went on my first trip with my husband (boyfriend back then!). We were dating when I went on the second trip with my family. We had been seeing each other for 3 months when I left for the trip, he was green with envy and I couldnt see why. He told me how much he has always wanted to go and seemed really gutted he wasnt joining us. It got me to thinking why he was so excited for me to go? Whats the big deal? What is so appealing? Just why would you want to go so much?
So after I returned from the second family trip DH and I booked our first trip to the world (or Home as I now like to call it!). We booked a 2 week package with Jetsave, stayed in a 2 star DUMP; The Howard Johnson Plaza (since closed down possibly condemned)
. We didnt hire a car, as he was scared to drive out there and I wasnt old enough too, be booked flex tickets plus, and a 5 day hopper for Disney. We had transfers booked with Mears and that completed our travel package. We had 2 weeks of solid on-the-go-non-stop-fun. It was exhausting but amazing, and on this trip it finally clicked. Maybe I needed someone to share it with, but this trip was the start of my severe Orlando-holicism.
We came back and decided that we wanted to get married out there (see I really did change my opinion over night) and planned another trip out purely for research purposes of course. This time we stayed in an equally hideous hotel, The Travelodge on I-Drive. Then there was the trip for the wedding, followed by the trip to research buying a house out there, followed by the one to buy the house, followed by the many trips over painting/repairing the house, followed by the trips to sell the house etc etc.
In Sept 08 we took another trip, just the two of us and celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. As I was now bordering on an unhealthy obsession with Disney Resorts and had yet to stay onsite, Hubby agreed we should splash the cash and stay as guests of Disney for 2 weeks!!! We decided to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Boardwalk Villas, renting DVC points . Well, one stay on site and I was in LOVE, there was no getting me back to those other ****holes now!
We were lured to a DVC presentation and before we went I had a feeling we would soon be owners. Our guide had the easiest job EVER! We were sold as soon as we got our free cup of coffee all we wanted to know was the costs and finance options. Once that was sorted out we signed in the dotted line! Our 6th wedding anniversary present to each other was 160 points at Bay Lake Tower
Now dont judge me for the next part.
For some reason we decided NOT to tell family and friends about this DVC addition!
They still dont know - its our dirty little secret.
I am afraid that once they know they will all want to come away with us! And as we have done 9 family trips with the world and his wife joining us we wanted to keep DVC to ourselves! DH & I have agreed that DVC is EXCLUSIVLY for us. We will NOT be sharing it with anyone else. Selfish? Yes but this way we will always make time to have a trip alone, just the 2 of us without anyone else tagging along!!!
!!! Trouble was we didnt know when we could use them for the first time.
We already had a trip booked and paid for in May 2009, so Sept 09 we though we could squeeze in a quick trip over to test the waters of being DVC members!
SEPT 2009 CANCELLED DUE TO ECONOMIC CLIMATE (or lack of savings on our part!)
So when can we next go and use our DVC Membership for the first time lets see cant do early 2010 due to work commitments ..summer sucks .OCTOBER 2010!!! PERFECT!!!
Now, for the cast (this bit wont take long)
Me 
Ariel Rocks, AKA Caz. Chose user name because I love Ariel (And Prince Eric), 28ish, loves trip planning; love the DIS, and ALL things Disney
DH 
Nottingham on the boards, AKA John. He chose his user name as he is an avid Nottingham Forest supporter, 39, Loves Disney too but leaves all booking, planning, organising etc to me!
Sister -
Jen not on the boards loves Disney but never stayed onsite. She will LOVE IT! She is 31 and still has a Mickey Mouse on her bed (Glad she doesnt read the boards now!)
The 3 of us get on like a house on fire, I am lucky in that sense! I love my sister and hubby so much that it would have been awful if they didnt get on well!
Anywhoo
When?
Saturday 9th October 2010
Where?
Split stay this trip ..
1 Night Gatwick Hilton
5 Nights Bay Lake Tower 1 Bed Lake View
2 Nights Miami (TBC)
2 Nights Gulf Coast (TBC)
5 Nights Beach Club Villas
Flights ..
Virgin (not really a fan but they were cheapest plus we booked before baggage allowance changed)
Things to do
Mickeys not so scary Halloween party
Food and Wine Festival
Driving Tour of Miami, Everglades and back up the Gulf coast
Segway Tour of Celebration
Places to eat
Le Cellier Love it here
Trails End and here
Beaches & Cream and here
Chef De France and here
Teppan Edo first visit
Narcoosees First visit
T-Rex first visit I know its not supposed to be good but looks fun!
Everything Pop Food court (dont ask me why I just wanna try it!)
anyway will update again in a few days as it will be ADR time!!!
Are you all sitting comfortably? If so I will begin.
My name is Caroline and I am an Orlandoholic. There, I said it.
(Rapturous applause)
I am 28 years old and have been feeding my addiction for the past 11 years.
It started with an innocent family trip to Orlando when I was 17 and I had no interest in going, I didnt know about the parks, the rides, the scale of everything. I was clueless. I went there and was very much under whelmed with what I saw. To be honest I was 17 and too cool for school. I had just started college, was leaving my boyfriend at home and I wanted to be anywhere but Disney Disney is for Kids! I suffered 2 weeks worth of parks, rides, shows, heat, crowds (we went in July) and came home stating NEVER wanna go there again. Ungrateful little cowbag eh? Anyway, against their better judgement, my parents booked and took me and my sister again when I was 18! This trip was better, but I still couldnt grasp what the attraction was. It was a nice holiday but thats about as excited as I could get over it all. My trip to Benidorm with my mates was MUCH more fun then 2 weeks in Orlando!!! I look back now and want to slap me round the face with a wet fish!!!
It all changed for me when I went on my first trip with my husband (boyfriend back then!). We were dating when I went on the second trip with my family. We had been seeing each other for 3 months when I left for the trip, he was green with envy and I couldnt see why. He told me how much he has always wanted to go and seemed really gutted he wasnt joining us. It got me to thinking why he was so excited for me to go? Whats the big deal? What is so appealing? Just why would you want to go so much?
So after I returned from the second family trip DH and I booked our first trip to the world (or Home as I now like to call it!). We booked a 2 week package with Jetsave, stayed in a 2 star DUMP; The Howard Johnson Plaza (since closed down possibly condemned)
. We didnt hire a car, as he was scared to drive out there and I wasnt old enough too, be booked flex tickets plus, and a 5 day hopper for Disney. We had transfers booked with Mears and that completed our travel package. We had 2 weeks of solid on-the-go-non-stop-fun. It was exhausting but amazing, and on this trip it finally clicked. Maybe I needed someone to share it with, but this trip was the start of my severe Orlando-holicism. We came back and decided that we wanted to get married out there (see I really did change my opinion over night) and planned another trip out purely for research purposes of course. This time we stayed in an equally hideous hotel, The Travelodge on I-Drive. Then there was the trip for the wedding, followed by the trip to research buying a house out there, followed by the one to buy the house, followed by the many trips over painting/repairing the house, followed by the trips to sell the house etc etc.
In Sept 08 we took another trip, just the two of us and celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. As I was now bordering on an unhealthy obsession with Disney Resorts and had yet to stay onsite, Hubby agreed we should splash the cash and stay as guests of Disney for 2 weeks!!! We decided to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Boardwalk Villas, renting DVC points . Well, one stay on site and I was in LOVE, there was no getting me back to those other ****holes now!
We were lured to a DVC presentation and before we went I had a feeling we would soon be owners. Our guide had the easiest job EVER! We were sold as soon as we got our free cup of coffee all we wanted to know was the costs and finance options. Once that was sorted out we signed in the dotted line! Our 6th wedding anniversary present to each other was 160 points at Bay Lake Tower
Now dont judge me for the next part.
For some reason we decided NOT to tell family and friends about this DVC addition!
They still dont know - its our dirty little secret.
I am afraid that once they know they will all want to come away with us! And as we have done 9 family trips with the world and his wife joining us we wanted to keep DVC to ourselves! DH & I have agreed that DVC is EXCLUSIVLY for us. We will NOT be sharing it with anyone else. Selfish? Yes but this way we will always make time to have a trip alone, just the 2 of us without anyone else tagging along!!!
!!! Trouble was we didnt know when we could use them for the first time.
We already had a trip booked and paid for in May 2009, so Sept 09 we though we could squeeze in a quick trip over to test the waters of being DVC members!
SEPT 2009 CANCELLED DUE TO ECONOMIC CLIMATE (or lack of savings on our part!)
So when can we next go and use our DVC Membership for the first time lets see cant do early 2010 due to work commitments ..summer sucks .OCTOBER 2010!!! PERFECT!!!
Now, for the cast (this bit wont take long)
Me
Ariel Rocks, AKA Caz. Chose user name because I love Ariel (And Prince Eric), 28ish, loves trip planning; love the DIS, and ALL things DisneyDH
Nottingham on the boards, AKA John. He chose his user name as he is an avid Nottingham Forest supporter, 39, Loves Disney too but leaves all booking, planning, organising etc to me! Sister -
Jen not on the boards loves Disney but never stayed onsite. She will LOVE IT! She is 31 and still has a Mickey Mouse on her bed (Glad she doesnt read the boards now!)The 3 of us get on like a house on fire, I am lucky in that sense! I love my sister and hubby so much that it would have been awful if they didnt get on well!
Anywhoo
When?
Saturday 9th October 2010
Where?
Split stay this trip ..
1 Night Gatwick Hilton
5 Nights Bay Lake Tower 1 Bed Lake View
2 Nights Miami (TBC)
2 Nights Gulf Coast (TBC)
5 Nights Beach Club Villas
Flights ..
Virgin (not really a fan but they were cheapest plus we booked before baggage allowance changed)
Things to do
Mickeys not so scary Halloween party
Food and Wine Festival
Driving Tour of Miami, Everglades and back up the Gulf coast
Segway Tour of Celebration
Places to eat
Le Cellier Love it here
Trails End and here
Beaches & Cream and here
Chef De France and here
Teppan Edo first visit
Narcoosees First visit
T-Rex first visit I know its not supposed to be good but looks fun!
Everything Pop Food court (dont ask me why I just wanna try it!)
anyway will update again in a few days as it will be ADR time!!!
It'll be here before you know it 
