We are making progress with travel arrangements!

[wifey]

I managed to get DS's new passport on Tuesday and his old one came back Wednesday so I've updated our API data as of Wednesday too and this morning we did our ESTA applications and we all got approval straight away ( printed off all applications and approvals). So now I'm going to pay off another part of the balance next week The weeks are just flying by (no pun intended) Still trying to decide where to eat in WDW though so much choice so few meals.....

 

[UKDEB]

Sounds as though it's all starting to come together.

 

[wifey]

We've been trying to convince a friend he needs to get his ESTA application done but he didn't believe us at first, now after we've been insisting he must do it he's finally accepting he needs to get it done before he goes to Orlando in Easter Which will be hopefully after the green VWF run out. His travel agent never told him or the rest of his family about the change and there will be about 10 of them going So now he has all of the info we'll check with him in another couple of weeks to see if he's got everyone sorted out with their applications too, we've reminded him to print off all of the approvals as they get authorised and put them somewhere safe so he can make amendments for future trips. We've put ours with our travel document

 

[wifey]

After a few worrying weeks of not hearing anything from DS's school I went down and asked the receptionist if they had decided whether we could have an authorised absence for our holiday. She checked the huge file and said yes it's been approved So another step closer to going on holiday, the flight seats are pre-selected (I'm not saying booked because they are a request and not guaranteed) for both journeys and a bit more of the balance is paid off.
After reading lots of reviews were are fairly sure of where we want to dine, I don't expect the menus to stay the same lots of them will probably include seasonal dishes. DH likes the look of the new T-Rex place but if we went it would be OOP as it's not on the DDP (basic). Looking forward to seeing the new design a t-shirt shop it's a wonderful idea I can never find one I like in the usual shops.
I'm hoping that we can get MNSSHP tickets for one night so I'm going to ring up about it on 1st May. We've never been to one and it looks like great fun.
Been looking at Disney Florist too at the special celebration gift baskets it would be nice to have some flowers in our room celebrating our anniversary, still got to choose one there's so much choice.

 

[Snowy-girls]

Great news,your getting lot's sorted .x.

 

[wifey]

I'm in the process of sorting out a cattery for our "mad mog" Bill since he came back from the last one very thin and miserable and out of condition He meowed for three straight days he was so upset when we got him home, it took another three for him to calm down purring all the while. I think he missed us The one I'm going to see next week is only for cats and owned and run by a qualified veterinary nurse and pet health counsellor

Just got to wait for the summer time tables for the train to Manchester Airport IF it still has a service...the rail companies cancelled lots of them over the winter I mean really they expect everyone to have a car in the winter or what? This airport is always busy. Anyway once the new time table is available I can sort out booking the tickets for the journey down (either direct or with a slight detour) and we'll be booking in to Bewleys for an overnight stay and hopefully a delicious breakfast next morning. It beats a long day driving down in DBILs car at an ungodly hour of the morning. I plan on doing the Online Check-in the day we leave home to travel down. This way we should be able to walk in without too much hassle and get to the gate after a quick browse in the shops for some magazines and sweets. Still got some clothes to buy and a few essentials to throw in a case about a week before we go.

Our friend had one of his relatives do their ESTAs eventually but they couldn't get all of their group sat together on the plane, he's not happy as it means his fiancee and him are going to be split up on the plane. She's never been on a long journey like this before so he's worrying. I said they may be able to help when they check in at the airport.

 

[wicket2005]

If your friend is flying with Virgin they release some more seats 24 hours before the flight. Both in July 08 and 07 we couldn't get seats all together so waited till we were at the airport, then we did (we arrived as soon as check in opened).

Glad your arrangements are coming on, I have done everything I can now other than pack.

The Manchester Airport train runs from Middlesbrough over the winter as far as I know as my son sometimes catches it to go down to York direct.

Your poor cat, I hope Bill likes his holiday better this year.

Who are you flying with and where are you staying?

 

[The Fetherstons]

Great news about the school authorisation , Im still waiting for Adams 4 days authorisation I have to have a meeting with the head

We have made an ADR for T Rex as it looks amazing.

We are driving down to manchester and staying in a Travel Lodge what I picked up for only £9

MNSSHP is excelllent well worth going to,but as we are going earlier this year there is only 1 on our last night so not sure if we will get to it.

Your plans are looking really good.

I havent done my API, do you know when it needs done as I wasnt aware of this , our ESTAS are sorted and approved tho

Happy planning

 

[wicket2005]

APIs need to be done a few days before you travel. With Virgin you can fill the info in online but when we have travelled with other airlines we have done it at the airport but that was a few year's ago. Check with your travel agent/airline.

 

[wifey]

Great news about the school authorisation , Im still waiting for Adams 4 days authorisation I have to have a meeting with the head

We have made an ADR for T Rex as it looks amazing.

We are driving down to manchester and staying in a Travel Lodge what I picked up for only £9

MNSSHP is excelllent well worth going to,but as we are going earlier this year there is only 1 on our last night so not sure if we will get to it.

Your plans are looking really good.

I havent done my API, do you know when it needs done as I wasnt aware of this , our ESTAS are sorted and approved tho

Happy planning

Hope you managed to speak to Adam's Head Teacher about holiday authorisation Boys soon grow up don't they, but I bet he's looking forward to spending some time away with you.
I did our API as soon as I could and updated DS's when his new passport arrived No problems changing the details either thank goodness. Good to know about the MNSSHP nights It's looking good so far we got an invoice this morning stating we will be celebrating our 16th Wedding Anniversary on it Awesome I'm going to take a few things to decorate the room window with, mind it will be tasteful not OTT and cards of course
I'm still wondering if it will be a great idea to have a cake delivered somewhere to help us celebrate but I'm still undecided at the moment DH isn't a big cake lover (he prefers savouries) so something modest is, I think, more appropriate.
OMG you are brave to drive down to Manchester from Newcastle it was bad enough for us to travel by car from Darlington I'd rather take the train again No more long drives at 3am for us we always seemed to hit a big patch of fog and roadworks too that went on for miles. British transportation hey they can't even organise a motorway repair properly. Early morning travel makes us really irritable when we finally get to Orlando , that's why we go down the day before the flight now and stop overnight. We find this works better for us combined with the Jet Ease tablets it's way less tiring.
Glad you've got your ESTAs sorted out too, I've kept copies of ours in case we do go again after this trip at least I'll be able to modify them (hopefully).
Enjoy your holiday when it's time and give us all a great TR when you get home.

 

[Snowy-girls]

Oh poor Bill,i hope he's ok this time.
I worry over my 3 cat's,Sam,Smudge+Max.They don't go away they stay in the house(they are indoor cats),and my Mum will be coming over 2 times a day to feed them+sit with them etc...
Sam is the one i always worry about-he misses me so much+does go off of his food,and i have to 'speak' to him on the phone when we do go away .
Smudge+Max could'nt care less as long as they are fed+watered.x.

 

[wifey]

If your friend is flying with Virgin they release some more seats 24 hours before the flight. Both in July 08 and 07 we couldn't get seats all together so waited till we were at the airport, then we did (we arrived as soon as check in opened).

Glad your arrangements are coming on, I have done everything I can now other than pack.

The Manchester Airport train runs from Middlesbrough over the winter as far as I know as my son sometimes catches it to go down to York direct.

Your poor cat, I hope Bill likes his holiday better this year.

Who are you flying with and where are you staying?

We'll be flying with Virgin Atlantic (booked via WDW Travel Co.)and staying at POFQ we've never stayed at a moderate hotel before and it looks fantastic. Just the sort of place to enjoy a special occasion but not as loud as the values, don't get me wrong we love the values too it's just we got this hotel and park tickets and dining for less than the cost of a value package. Go figure, we think we were meant to have this, it's been a rough year and there's been down sizing and re-evaluations and all that at work.

I've looked around the website for the cattery it looks ideal it should suit Bill perfectly. Nice fields surrounding the buildings which are very modern and very well maintained there's good accommodation inside for him as well as covered access to outside too.

We noticed last year that trains were starting at Middlesbrough going to Manchester Airport. I had to go to Middlesbrough on a health review and saw the train on the platform on my way back home.It went via Northallerton not Darlington when I saw it but it could be very handy for folks living near there too.

 

[wifey]

Oh poor Bill,i hope he's ok this time.
I worry over my 3 cat's,Sam,Smudge+Max.They don't go away they stay in the house(they are indoor cats),and my Mum will be coming over 2 times a day to feed them+sit with them etc...
Sam is the one i always worry about-he misses me so much+does go off of his food,and i have to 'speak' to him on the phone when we do go away .
Smudge+Max could'nt care less as long as they are fed+watered.x.

You are so lucky having someone to cat sit for you, we're not that lucky.
I know what you mean though both the cats we've had have been indoor the old one Greebo (RIP) used to go to a lovely cattery at Piercebridge but they closed down in 2002 They used to spoil him rotten, he'd have baths titbits, long play sessions with his carers who he adored and he always came back happy and content but told me off for leaving him behind the whole way home He was a bug fluffy softy of a ginger and white puss semi-long haired but he could have the worst mood swings. It didn't become apparent why he'd be like that until we discovered his ill-health by which time it was too late his kidneys were ruined beyond help so we had to do the kindest thing. Hard when we had watched him grow from a tiny 8 week old fluff ball of a kitten full of mischief and very loving too.
Bill we think was never socialised properly any affection is shown on his terms only. He enjoys a cuddle now and again but it took 2 years of him being with us to for him be comfortable with it. He's not really a lapcat he doesn't get what the fuss is all about he'd rather sit on my bust, DH's chest is no substitute Bill will talk to me on the phone too and waits some nights for me to come home from work sitting on the back of the sofa nearest to the door..usualy when he wants attention or food.. that's cats for you.