We’re Coming all the way from the Land Down Under! Jan 2012 PTR

[OziJo]

2 Sleeps

With two sleeps to go I'm feeling pretty relaxed. I have almost finished packing my bag and the girls have thrown stuff into theirs ready to be sorted, some items discarded and folded neatly. DH will do his bag last minute as usual.

I'm going shopping this morning for some last minute items then I'm going to spend the rest of the day cleaning the house.

Yesterday we ordered from Garden Grocer. I had tossed up about this but was convinced that it would be a good idea to have some nutritious food on arrival and when we woke up in the morning. So I ordered lots of fruit and salad stuff, lots of water, breakfast items for 10 days and a few not so healthy things like hot dogs and Pringles.

We also booked a car from Alamo to be picked up around midday the day after we arrive.

Nearly there...

 

[miss.potatohead]

YAY so close! Hope the last few days before you leave are stress free and you have an amazing trip!

 

[OziJo]

1 Sleep

I'm cool, calm and collected

I have already said this on the Aussie board but I will say it again. Thanks to all on the DIS boards who have followed along or answered my queries on other threads and offered advice. There so much to a WDW trip that I would never have known about if I hadn't followed the friendly advice and encouragement of the many DIS board members.

This PTR been a very rewarding means of documenting the development of our trip and has also been a major help in organising my thoughts. I have often looked over it to remind my self of this or that detail and having it all there has been a great comfort.

 

[Colleen27]

Have a great trip!!

 

[Caroline NZ]

I hope you have an awesome trip.I can't wait to hear all the details.
Have fun

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

YAY!!!!



Happy and SAFE travels.....can't wait to compare notes when we are back!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Jo - Sorry if I missed your departure. Been on a mini-break and only just back.

Have a safe trip and I look forward to your TR when you return.

 

[OziJo]

Today

See you all when we get back

 

[PrincessInOz]

Safe travels!

 

[aussietravellers]

Today

See you all when we get back

Bye OziJo

Have an amazing trip. I think I have missed you, you are probably on the plane right at this very minute, reclined in your seat (not that they recline that far ) watching a movie, so full of excitement.

Look forward to reading your TR when you get home

 

[Belle599]

Hope you are having a wonderful time and can't wait to hear about it when you're back!!!

 

[Mum from oz]

Hi Jo, hope you and your family are having a wonderful time. Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[OziJo]

We are just waiting for DME to take us away from Disney Have had a great time. Fantastic weather, wonderful people, amazing attractions. Looking forward to writing a TR when I get home but for now it's onto Hawaii

Bye bye Disney! Aloha Honolulu!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Excellent! Glad to hear that you've had a great time so far. Lookign forward to the TR!

Safe travels in Hawaii.

 

[aussietravellers]

Glad to hear you had a fabulous time at Disney. Have an amazing time in Hawaii. Looking forward to reading your TR

 

[Mum from oz]

So happy to hear you had a great time. Enjoy Hawaii! Can't wait for you to start a trip report!

 

[Colleen27]

Have a great time in Hawaii!

 

[OziJo]

We are back and we had a fabulous trip!! I have been organising my photos this morning and I can't wait to start a TR. Disney World and Hawaii are both sooo beautiful. Here is a teaser of some of the highlights.

All my plans went very smoothly. Planes were all on time. DME was a breeze and the Disney bus service worked wonderfully for us from Fort Wilderness. FW itself was beautiful and the Cabins were extremely comfortable and homey. I have some gorgeous photos so stay tuned for my TR.

Free Dining was awesome Too much food of course but we had a great time eating out and found some great counter service places. Artist's Point and La Hacienda were trip highlights as was the Crystal Palace breakfast. Love you Winnie & Friends

The Hoop Dee Doo Review was a hoot. We all loved it

WWoHP was amazingJust beautiful and magical. As was Magic Kingdom my personal favourite all round park though I had favourite attractions in all the Parks.

The kids favourites were IoA/Universal and DHS. They enjoyed all the others but these were the two that best suited teenagers. If I would change anything about our trip it would be to add an extra day at Universal/IOA though though not at the expense of a day in Disney. 6 days in the Disney parks was just right for us.

We also visited Kennedy Space Centre and shopped at the Premium Outlets closest to WDW. In between we fitted a couple of visits to Walmart. That place is huge

In Hawaii our apartment was right on Waikiki Beach. We had the most wonderful views from the 15th floor. Beach to the left of us mountains and City to the right. In the middle was a view across Fort de Russey Park to Hilton Hawaiian Village. We had front row seats from our Lanai for the Friday fireworks.

We also visited Pearl Harbor taking a tour of the Battleship Missouri and the Arizona Memorial. Very moving.

We hired a car and drove to the North Shore and around to Kualoa ranch were they have filmed scenes from many movies and TV shows such as Pearl Harbour and LOST. So exciting to see Hurley's "golf course" ad the Darma Initiative "bunker". This was another trip highlight.

We shopped at Ala Moana and there were some great bargains in Sears and Macy's. In the end we brought back 3 extra bags of our shopping including, shoes, formal dresses, leather Jackets, t-shirts, hats, sunglasses, shorts, pants, shirts and all the Disney and Potter souvenirs we couldn't resist

The girls were happy to come home to their friends and the comfort of their own beds. DH is happy home watching cricket highlights and I am happy at my computer putting together a TR and making slideshows and movies so we can relive the fun. We had a wonderful family holiday creating many magical memories. That's such a Disney thing to say.

 

[Belle599]

Sounds like an amazing trip for your family!

Thanks for the quick update and I am looking forward to reading your TR and seeing your photos!!

 

[Travel Mum]

Oh OziJo, Welcome home and it all sounds amazing!! I can't wait to read your trip report and I wonder if you will hit the post Disney holiday blues like I did? Cause, if so, doing my trip report was very therapeutic for that