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

[PrincessInOz]

2 months!

 

[OziJo]

59 Days to Go!
58 Days to Go!
57 Days to Go!

I just wanted to check in and say...Counting down in the 50's

Been ashamed to update because, well, there aren't any updates!! I wanted to buy Universal Tickets last weekend but was so busy we just didn't get around to it.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Hi there..I'm here visiting from the Jan group! All caught up with your plans. Can't believe what an amazing vacation you guys are gonna have..jealous . Some day I would like to go to Hawaii...mostly to see Pearl Harbor, I grew up in a family of history buffs. I keep hearing bad stuff about Qantas lately..I hope they get their act together so it doesn't disrupt your trip. I feel sorry for everyone affected so far. Gonna keep reading along, and thanks for stopping by and saying hi on mine!

 

[OziJo]

56 Days to Go!

Hi ash-n-brensmom Thanks for checking in.

I'm looking forward to Hawaii as the relaxing part of our vacation but Pearl Harbor is definitely on the agenda. We were in Honolulu in 2009 but only had a couple of days there so didn't get to Pearl Harbor. This time we have 10 days so enough time to relax on the beach and make a few day trips.

The weather here in Sydney is hot (30 degrees C) and humid and we are having horrible thunder storms! It's not typical spring weather, more like late summer, but it's not unusual for this time of year. Yesterday I got caught in a storm near Sydney airport. I could see amazing lightning strikes over the airport. At the time I was crawling along with the traffic planes were still taking off. At one point I saw a plane bank just as a bolt of lightning lit up the whole sky. The image is burnt into my mind. It was beautiful and frightening at the same time.

10mins later they announced on the radio that planes had been delayed. That must have been one of the last planes to take off during the storm. It would have been freaky to be on it! They are predicting storms again this afternoon and I have to head out that way again. If I wasn't driving I would have camera poised to get a photo.

 

[OziJo]

55 Days to Go!

No lightning over the airport yesterday evening but the most beautiful sunset DD3 and I watched as a QANTAS flight took off against a backdrop of gray, pink and orange clouds. Gorgeous, serene and in complete contrast to the electrical violence of the evening before.

This time we wanted to be on that plane. DD3 told me we had 8 weeks exactly to go. So typical for her to have a countdown going on in her head. Like mother like daughter

 

[OziJo]

54 Days to Go!
53 Days to Go!
52 Days to Go!
51 Days to Go!

My days to go are go go going!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

You're nearly out of the 50's.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

54 Days to Go!
53 Days to Go!
52 Days to Go!
51 Days to Go!

My days to go are go go going!!!

YAY!!

 

[OziJo]

50 days to Go!
49 Days to Go!

Into the 40's! where did the 50's go?

Plans have been on hold for me as we are busy, busy with end of year concerts and Schools Spectacular. We have to make our final payment for our Disney World package by 23rd of November. So stay tuned for that

Off topic, we said goodbye to our Holden Commodore today. After someone ran up the back of it the insurance company decided it wasn't worth fixing and so will pay us the agreed value. We bought it new when we had DD2 so it is nearly 16 years old but DH had kept it in good condition. It was our 3rd car and DH was just using it to run around to his sport and the train station but with DD1 driving to work and uni and me running the other two all over the city we had come to rely on a 3rd car.

We will probably replace it eventually but will have to make do at least until after our trip.

Here's the only photo I could find of it on my computer. I'm sure I have some earlier photos. This was taken in 2010 on one of our annual trips down the coast. The other car is our Honda Civic that DD1 now drives. DD2 is in the green shirt the others are cousins and family friends. As DD2 said we will miss the "smell of the beach and Burrill Lake."

Here's DH with our newest car bought last Christmas. We will miss the old Commodore but it's time for new memories.

 

[PrincessInOz]

RIP Holden Commodore.

Long live the replacement!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

For the 40's !

 

[OziJo]

47 Days to Go

Walt Disney World Package Reservation Status
Paid in Full
​

Today I paid the final balance on our Package which includes 7 nights accommodation at Fort Wilderness Cabins, 6 day park hopper pass and Free Dining from the 8th Jan We also have a room only reservation from 4th Jan to use as a base for our 2 day Park-to-Park Universal pass which we also ordered and paid for today

So it's all happening. Still some things on the to do list but these were the last two items vital to the trip.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Paid in Full
​

My favourite 3 words when it comes to a Disney holiday!

 

[OziJo]

46 Days to Go!
45 Days to Go!
44 Days to Go!

I have been having a bit of fun the last couple of days. Following a tip from ash-n-brensmom's PTR I have been playing around with Touring Plans for the Parks. So far I have come up with a full day plan for MK and DS, a two day plan for Epcot, a relaxed up to early afternoon day at AK and a morning plan for MK on our Crystal Palace brunch day.

I think in the long run my family will appreciate having an outline to follow and I really enjoy creating plans. I've used touringplans.com plans with some changes to suit our needs. I've read up on attractions I knew nothing about and have been able to decide what we would enjoy and what would be a waste of time.

It's also consolidated in my mind that we won't need much more than half a day at Animal Kingdom so that day we can take it easy and be home in time to change and freshen up for our Artists Point ADR at 6.15. At the same time I always knew we would need 2 days to do Epcot while a day and a half for MK and DS appears to be enough. So I will be changing my plan so that our second MK day will just be in the morning then we will head over to HS for the afternoon, leaving our final park day for Epcot. We probably won't stay until the end as we have to be up early the next morning to catch our 9.20am flight.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

46 Days to Go!
45 Days to Go!
44 Days to Go!

I have been having a bit of fun the last couple of days. Following a tip from ash-n-brensmom's PTR I have been playing around with Touring Plans for the Parks. So far I have come up with a full day plan for MK and DS, a two day plan for Epcot, a relaxed up to early afternoon day at AK and a morning plan for MK on our Crystal Palace brunch day.

I think in the long run my family will appreciate having an outline to follow and I really enjoy creating plans. I've used touringplans.com plans with some changes to suit our needs. I've read up on attractions I knew nothing about and have been able to decide what we would enjoy and what would be a waste of time.

It's also consolidated in my mind that we won't need much more than half a day at Animal Kingdom so that day we can take it easy and be home in time to change and freshen up for our Artists Point ADR at 6.15. At the same time I always knew we would need 2 days to do Epcot while a day and a half for MK and DS appears to be enough. So I will be changing my plan so that our second MK day will just be in the morning then we will head over to HS for the afternoon, leaving our final park day for Epcot. We probably won't stay until the end as we have to be up early the next morning to catch our 9.20am flight.

Wow! You HAVE been busy! Good for you...it feels good to have a plan of sorts doesn't it? It may all go to pot once you get there and start touring, but at least you've been able to learn more about what you will actually want to do. It's fun playing around on that site, isn't it?

 

[PrincessInOz]

 

[OziJo]

43 Days to Go!

DD3 tells me there is 6 weeks to go

My TP has booked DME and she said she will request Cabin Loop 2100 for me. That loop is the closest Cabin loop to the main action and it's near the laundry. Not that I want to be doing laundry but it will probably be necessary at some point. There's also an amenities block close by so that may come in handy as a second bathroom in the mornings.

Off topic: Schools Spectacular is on this weekend. 3000 public school students participating in a song and dance extravaganza watched by an audience of 10000 at each of the 4 performances at the Sydney Entertainment Centre! DD2 &3 have been rehearsing hard and we are all looking forward to a spectacular Spectacular

It's a big weekend for the girls and for me. I go in on Friday around lunchtime. Do some shopping at Paddys Market and Market City then meet the girls after their first performance at about 5pm. I take them to dinner in China Town then they head back for performance no 2. As DH and I are seeing the Sat show I then meet him (he works in the city) for dinner and a few drinks. We pick the girls up at end of show around 11pm and head home. Takes about 30mins at that time of night.

They have to be back for show 3 at 12midday. I am seeing that show with mum, DD1 and a friend who also has a daughter in the show. We will have lunch in China Town, see the show,meet the girls, get them some dinner have some dinner ourselves, me and my friend are back to see the show again with our spouses. Home by midnight. Sleep in Sunday. Phew...

 

[PrincessInOz]

Enjoy your weekend. I'm still recovering from my big weekend last weekend!

Just remember...the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

43 Days to Go!

DD3 tells me there is 6 weeks to go

My TP has booked DME and she said she will request Cabin Loop 2100 for me. That loop is the closest Cabin loop to the main action and it's near the laundry. Not that I want to be doing laundry but it will probably be necessary at some point. There's also an amenities block close by so that may come in handy as a second bathroom in the mornings.

Off topic: Schools Spectacular is on this weekend. 3000 public school students participating in a song and dance extravaganza watched by an audience of 10000 at each of the 4 performances at the Sydney Entertainment Centre! DD2 &3 have been rehearsing hard and we are all looking forward to a spectacular Spectacular

It's a big weekend for the girls and for me. I go in on Friday around lunchtime. Do some shopping at Paddys Market and Market City then meet the girls after their first performance at about 5pm. I take them to dinner in China Town then they head back for performance no 2. As DH and I are seeing the Sat show I then meet him (he works in the city) for dinner and a few drinks. We pick the girls up at end of show around 11pm and head home. Takes about 30mins at that time of night.

They have to be back for show 3 at 12midday. I am seeing that show with mum, DD1 and a friend who also has a daughter in the show. We will have lunch in China Town, see the show,meet the girls, get them some dinner have some dinner ourselves, me and my friend are back to see the show again with our spouses. Home by midnight. Sleep in Sunday. Phew...

Sounds like a busy, but fun, weekend!! Enjoy!!

 

[OziJo]

42