We are off!

[scoobydooby]

Currently sitting in our room at the Radisson Blu at Manchester airport. Flight is 11am but showing as delayed until 11.52am. Oh well never mind. We are going TODAY! Thanks for all the help waiting and planning. I will report back about Magic Bands and FP Plus and how they work and also SDMT. See you all in 10 days

 

[BudgieMama]

Have a safe flight and a great trip!

 

[Portugal1000]

Have a great trip. 52 minute delay not too bad and half the time they make it up and arrive on time.

 

[wayneg]

Have a great holiday.

 

[flortlebap]

So jealous!! We always start our trip at the radisson too

Have an amazing time!

 

[PJB71]

hope you have a fantastic time

 

[2Tiggies]

Have a great time!

 

[Julia Ann]

Have a fab time

 

[clareyfairymouse]

Have a magical time!!!
And AKL will be amazing, so beautiful!

 

[DLPDreams]

I know I have probably missed you but wanted to say 'I hope you have a good holiday' anyway!

Enjoy

 

[pampat]

I've missed you too, but have a wonderful time.

Pam

 

[disneyholic family]

have a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[scoobydooby]

It's 4am nearly and I'm wide awake!!! Our flight was not late in the end and we landed a bit early. Fifth family off the plane and got brought forward in the queue to use the mobile check in. They were asking for travellers who had visited the States (maybe Orlando can't remember now) in the last 12 months or less. That was us so we queue jumped about 100 people as another flight was in there before us! Suitcases were first off and we were waiting for ME 35 minutes after landing!!!! It got a bit crappy after that as we waited 30 mins to get on ME, then sat on it for 15 minutes before it moved then were the last of three stops. Finally arrived at AKL and it's a gorgeous as I remember. We unpacked, ate at the Mara, swam, showered, watched some giraffe eat their dinner and finally went to bed by 11pm. Still awake at stupid o'clock. Opening the MK at 6am today Going to hit the wall at some point imagine. Very sleep deprived now

 

[flortlebap]

Darn jet lag!!

That's interesting about people queue jumping if they've been to the states recently! Our next trip will be our third US visit in 12 months but on a new ESTA next time - wonder if we will be able to do that too?

 

[Azza1987]

Ah jet lag! Rubbish! At least you'll get a good head start on today though, lots of coffee I'm sure later might help! Xx

 

[Princess Leia]

Hope you have a great trip. After all your months of planning you are finally there. I know that first morning you are always awake so early. Enjoy your day!

 

[SilentK]

Enjoy MK, would love to see a 24hr opening

 

[clareyfairymouse]

Hope your still awake!

The webcams showing the 24hr coverage of MK are great, hope it's not too manic!

 

[PJB71]

Glad to hear you arrived safely

Enjoy your trip

 

[scoobydooby]

Well we arrived at MK at 5.40am and were met with a sea of humanity. The crowds dispersed quickly though and mainly went to two places. The Mine Train which unexpectedly did soft openings and Anna and Elsa. We stuck with our personalised Touring Plan and rode everything we wanted. Nothing was more than a five or ten minute wait. We did get a fourth FPP for BTM at 12.15pm and by this point lines had started to swell. We had pretty much finished with our plan by then though. We didn't really need any of the earlier ones we had booked. I asked the cast member if guests would be able to use to app to get FPP after their third one at some point and she said yes, once the glitches were ironed out of the system. Today was as hot as the Sahara with not a cloud in the sky. We lasted until 3.30pm but then lack of sleep caught us up and we had to head back to AKL for a nap. We have since used the pool at Jambo House and and the one at Kidani (which is pretty small so we didn't stay long). There is a nice splash play area for little kids though. The food court (The Mara) is much better than I imagined it would be so that's a great bonus. DD has bought an enormous Micky Mouse plush toy. No idea as yet how we're getting that bad boy home!!!!!

As an aside. Lots of people were dressed up for the 24 hour event at MK. I'm not sure grown women in various princess attire is a particularly good look really........ We also saw what must have been a 70 year old Tink. It seems fairies really do live forever