We're Packed! Day 1 - Travelling from Heathrow to JFK.

[Scrap_Vamp]

After what has been an incredibly stressful and hectic academic year, we are finally ready to go.

I finished all the packing this morning and the case, with our giant roller holdall inside, came in at 21kg Very proud of myself for that, as it is between the two of us

We head up to Heathrow tomorrow (Wednesday) for an overnight stay, then fly from Terminal 5 at 4pm on Thursday into JFK. Although we booked with AA, first flight is a codeshare so flying with BA. I'm really looking forward to it, as not flown with them before.

So, then we have 6 nights at Morgans Hotel, Madison Avenue, and then get the Silver Meteor (love that name!) from Penn Station to Orlando. When we get there, drive down to Disney (stopping at Cheesecake Factory on the way) for 7 nights at OKW, and the UK Dis meet

I have our NYC itinerary all planned out, which I can share later if anyone is interested. Not doing free dining this year so have no ADRs at Disney - going to try and save money by eating off site and in the Studio! Also haven't planned any of the Disney days - going to do that this afternoon

Now all I have to do is wait, lol. At least I have rehearsal tonight to keep me occupied, and we're leaving after lunch tomorrow so we can use the gym/lounge around watching DVDs at the hotel

 

[disneyholic family]

congrats on packing with a day to spare!!!!

the trip sounds fabulous!!!!

new york, the train, orlando....all of it!!

are you seeing any shows while in new york?

be prepared for really really really intense heat in new york - the buildings/sidewalk radiate heat, so it makes it even worse than if you're in the country.....drink drink drink, just like in orlando..

i love the umbrella ices to cool me on a hot day...

also central park is a good escape from the heat of the city....

i envy you the ride down on the train - should be an interesting change...

one day i'll have the time to do a coast to coast to coast to coast train trip....right after i do the coast to coast to coast to coast road trip i've been dreaming of

anyway, have a magical wonderful holiday!!!!!

 

[jen_uk]

Fab trip!! Have a good journey and see you at the Dis meet

 

[wayneg]

Sounds fantastic, we only had 3 nights in NYC, nowhere near long enough. Highlight for me was the original Winnie the Pooh toys in the childrens Library if you get chance to see them, amazing piece of history.

Very impressed with 21kg, we usually stick to under 40kg for 3 of us but not sure this trip with all the cruise FE gifts.

Enjoy your trip and we will see you and Carl at the DISmeet.

 

[evnted]

Sounds like a great trip. I'm constantly in both New York and Disney and I can easily say this will be a fantastic trip for you guys. Have the best time!

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Sounds like you have a fantastic trip planned! Hope you enjoy every minute of it!

 

[crabbie1]

Have a fantastic trip Jen.Lookin forward to a mini trippie

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks everyone for the hints and tips and good wishes

Beth - we are seeing How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Catch Me If You Can - The Musical, Zarkana (Cirque du Soleil at Radio City) and Book of Mormon. We got the cheapest tickets to most of the shows so we could see as many as possible, lol.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Wayne - I know where you mean as we went there on our first trip in 2003. If we have time I will show Carl as well

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

I've just discovered that having only one week at Disney throws up the problem of exactly when to go to Jellyrolls, lol!

 

[disneyholic family]

Thanks everyone for the hints and tips and good wishes

Beth - we are seeing How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Catch Me If You Can - The Musical, Zarkana (Cirque du Soleil at Radio City) and Book of Mormon. We got the cheapest tickets to most of the shows so we could see as many as possible, lol.

oh right - i asked you that before - i remember the list.
Sounds great!! we would have liked to see zarkana, but it's dark on monday night...maybe we'll go to phantom again...that's one of the few that's not dark on monday (as well as rent and avenue q)

 

[irongirlof12]

your plans sound amazing i love the packing bit

 

[skelfbsfb]

Have a great time.

 

[loobzuk]

wishing you a safe journey and a happy holiday - sounds like a great adventure travelling from NY to Orlando! Would love to do something like that.

 

[Tony Toon]

Have a fantastic time - New York sounds amazing We head home tomorrow so we'll wave half way across the Atlantic.

Mrs TT

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks everyone!

Mrs TT - I will try to remember to wave back

We are now ensconced at the Comfort Hotel Heathrow. The public areas are all really nice, and the room is clean and comfortable, although the shower temperature is extremely temperamental - got a bit scalded at one point Also the hairdryer was very hot, and had one of those buttons you have to hold down while you're using it.

The gym was a bit disappointing - some of the equipment wasn't fully working and the exercise bike and step machined seemed to be set on tough and tougher

We prepaid for dinner and got 3 courses for £19.99 (although we booked through Quidco and with the cashback it is the equivalent of 2 meals for that price ) I have to say the food was really good. We both had goats cheese tartlets for starter, then I had slow roasted pork belly and Carl had a piri piri chicken burger for mains. Desert was New York cheesecake for me, and chocolate fudge cake for Carl. We finished with coffees from the onsite Costa, attached to the bar. Carl's meal total added up to the £20 but mine was slightly more, so I made a saving by paying in advance

Another impressive feature was the opportunity to 'upgrade' for £10 by selectign 2 things from a variety of options including: full English breakfast, 24 hours Wifi access, a Hoppa bus ticket, drink and nibbles at the bar for one, or a free night's car parking. We chose internet access (worth £7.50) and the breakfast (worth nearly £10 by itself). We didn't do another upgrade as I will only have the Continental brekkie tomorrow.

All in all the hotel is reasonable, but wouldn't have paid quite as much for it as we did if we had known about the issues before - we paid £80-ish, but we only booked about 2 weeks ago.

We are now using the free internet access to watch 4OD as there is nothing on TV, lol.

Check out is at 11am and we will be getting the bus to Heathrow at 11.40. To put my mind at rest I called BA this morning and found out we definitely ARE on the flight (Christmas's issues playing on our mind!) and was able to do the API over the phone. I was worried due to it being a codeshare again, although we had never had problems with codeshare before our Christmas non-trip!

Will try to pop in tomorrow morning if I have time, probably while sat in the lobby waiting for the bus

 

[ben1993]

Sounds like such a fun trip, have a wonderful time! :

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks Ben

We have had breakfast now, which was fine as far as buffet brekkies go, and now have packed up the case again. Just lounging in the room til about 10.50 when we'll go to check out and lounge in the lobby until our bus comes. Can't wait to be finally checked in!

I'm really looking forward to seeing Terminal 5 - it's almost like an attraction in itself

 

[wayneg]

Hope you have good flight, see you soon.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks Wayne