Where are you going this year?

[familygoboston]

Have you ever traveled with or checked out Backroads? They do fabulous tripso

Yes! I salivate over their trips all the time! We are planning on using them when we start our Europe capitals tours ( after we've satisfied our wanderlust for the adventure trips!) Our plan is to do " the city" ( possibly with ABD) one week and then hit the countryside nearby on a Back Roads trip, but alas, that is also one of our 2+ week ideas and we have to wait till all the birdies are out of the nest
I know they are great trips because one of the things I do when I look at a guide book or itinerary, is look for one in a place I've been or go regularly. Then I see how they describe/tour the places I already know, and then I know if they plan/run good trips.

With BR, I ran into their trip leaders doing some advance work near my summer home in Maine. I was on my bike at one of my favorite places to pedal to- Nervous Nellies Jams and Jellies. It's a part sculpture garden, part tea house where they make and sell their own jams- really it defies description, but is wonderful! That BR s would include this spot on their itinerary proves to me that their trips are wonderfully planned to include unique local attractions!

Agghhh! How will I ever be able to do all I have planned So many places....not nearly enough vacation days

 

[dizneekrazee]

Sounds like a full year! Are you going to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour outside of London? It opened after I went to London, and I'm dying to see it.

Sayhello

What is this Harry Potter tour you speak of? My DS 9 & I love HP. I've been reading him the stories every night.

 

[sayhello]

What is this Harry Potter tour you speak of? My DS 9 & I love HP. I've been reading him the stories every night.

Warner Brothers have taken a lot of the sets, costumes, props, etc, used for the filming of the Harry Potter movies, and has built a "Studio Tour" (The Making of Harry Potter) at the studio where they did a lot of the filming. It's in Leavesden, about 20 miles outside of London. It just opened up in Spring of 2012. You have to buy timed tickets ahead of time.

I *really* want to see it!

Here's the website for it:

http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/

http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/en/tour/tour

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Yes! I salivate over their trips all the time! We are planning on using them when we start our Europe capitals tours ( after we've satisfied our wanderlust for the adventure trips!) Our plan is to do " the city" ( possibly with ABD) one week and then hit the countryside nearby on a Back Roads trip, but alas, that is also one of our 2+ week ideas and we have to wait till all the birdies are out of the nest
I know they are great trips because one of the things I do when I look at a guide book or itinerary, is look for one in a place I've been or go regularly. Then I see how they describe/tour the places I already know, and then I know if they plan/run good trips.

With BR, I ran into their trip leaders doing some advance work near my summer home in Maine. I was on my bike at one of my favorite places to pedal to- Nervous Nellies Jams and Jellies. It's a part sculpture garden, part tea house where they make and sell their own jams- really it defies description, but is wonderful! That BR s would include this spot on their itinerary proves to me that their trips are wonderfully planned to include unique local attractions!

Agghhh! How will I ever be able to do all I have planned So many places....not nearly enough vacation days

OMG, combining a Backroads tour with an ABD tour would be fantastic!!! Now I'm going to have that stuck in my head... And I really need to go to Maine...

Sayhello

 

[WeLoveABD]

We have 4 mini trips to WDW (January/February/May -SW Weekend/September) and then 1 week in October for Food and Wine. Basically, making the most out of the AP we got this year (haha).

We're also doing the ABD in Scotland in June and going to San Diego for Comic-Con in July.

We are looking at Scotland for 2014---we eagerly await your trip report! (As for ComicCon, its great if you can get in--the ticket distribution last year was very frustrating. Have you attended in the past?)

 

[familygoboston]

Warner Brothers have taken a lot of the sets, costumes, props, etc, used for the filming of the Harry Potter movies, and has built a "Studio Tour" (The Making of Harry Potter) at the studio where they did a lot of the filming. It's in Leavesden, about 20 miles outside of London. It just opened up in Spring of 2012. You have to buy timed tickets ahead of time.

I *really* want to see it!

Here's the website for it:

http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/

http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/en/tour/tour

Sayhello

My DD is dying to do this. DH goes to Britain a few times a year and this year he taking her. I'm saving these websites...she will LOVE this!! Thanks for sharing!
You do need to get to Maine...it is simply beautiful! Send me a PM, and I can give you some good ideas of places to go

 

[LovesTimone]

Well I have a busy year ahead,

We just returned from Jacksonville Fl, nice long weekend, celebrating New Year's Eve with our friends.

Heading to WDW last week of January for my Mom surprise 70th birthday trip.

Back to Fl the last week on Feb and first of march for DD wedding.

May - either a cruise or vegas for 10 year anniversary.

Early Sept - renting a beach house with Friends- no idea where we are going

Dec - DH and I are heading to WDW for some us time - Christmas at WDW

Most of out trips will be long weekends, and there will probably be some getaways with just DH and I, that are unplanned at this point.

 

[SleepingPrincess]

We are looking at Scotland for 2014---we eagerly await your trip report! (As for ComicCon, its great if you can get in--the ticket distribution last year was very frustrating. Have you attended in the past?)

We did SDCC last year (for the first time) and had loads of fun. But yeah, the ticket distribution was horrible - we got them in the second wave that time after we complained regarding the link failure. We managed to get our tickets already for this year through the presale they had in August for returning guests - so we're now just waiting for the hotel lottery to start!

 

[sayhello]

My DD is dying to do this. DH goes to Britain a few times a year and this year he taking her. I'm saving these websites...she will LOVE this!! Thanks for sharing!
You do need to get to Maine...it is simply beautiful! Send me a PM, and I can give you some good ideas of places to go

Your DD is very lucky! I've been talking with some friends about possibly going to London next Fall. If I do, this is *definitely* on my itinerary!

And I should have said "back to Maine". I was there a kabillion years ago (OK, 30-ish years ago) for a friend's wedding in the Portland area, and we did some touring to Kennebunkport & areas around there. It was totally beautiful, and I keep meaning to go back. Maybe I could merge it with a return trip to Nova Scotia.

Sayhello

 

[dizneekrazee]

Depending how money is, I might book myself & DS9 a trip to London this winter. Just the 2 of us.

 

[SingingMom]

Heading to WDW and our favorite Dolphin on Tuesday! It's been two years since our five years in a row! We were having withdrawals! LOLOLOL. Still deciding on a ABD location for this summer!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[paddles]

Sounds like a full year! Are you going to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour outside of London? It opened after I went to London, and I'm dying to see it.

Sayhello[/QUOTE]


Yes - we'd like to do the Warner Brothers Harry Potter tour, so I'll need to book those tix once we figure out our exact itinerary in England.

 

[paddles]

Oh - and I'd also LOVE to do a Downton Abbey tour while in England, but my hubby isn't into it and so he wouldn't be keen on going.

BTW - I'm soooo excited for season 3 of Downton Abbey tonight!! Me + Cousin Matthew

 

[calypso726]

We just got back from a Disney Cruise. The Wonder is sailing out of Miami for the first time and that is only 40 minutes from home.

In February we will be staying at AKV for a couple of days and then sailing on the Fantasy with about 20 other cruise buddies we met here on the DISboards a couple of years ago

In March we have a weekend trip planned to Universal and Islands of Adventure.

August will be our first ABD trip We are going to Scotland!!! Can't wait! Can't wait!

WDW in September to enjoy the water parks since we took advantage of the discount DVC members were offered for the premium annual pass.

WDW in October for Food & Wine and MNSSHP.

We will probbaly wind up back in WDW again in November for more Food & Wine.

December - Headed to WDW for the annual contests DH and I have with each other during holiday season there. We will go to see the Osbourne Family Festival of Lights in DHS. Each year we go and race to see which one of us will find where the Halloween cat is hidden that year first. We also visit the gingerbread house in the GF, the gingerbread display at BW and the gingerbread carousel in BC to see which of us will find all of the hidden Mickeys first.

If any Florida resident rates come out while the Magic is in Miami then that would be a good enough excuse to take a cruise

 

[dizneekrazee]

Canceled our Oct cruise and booked Aulani for April instead!! I looked at flight prices yesterday, liked em, and booked. $323 r/t. Cannot wait for my kids to get home this evening so I can tell them

 

[Daisyduck49]

Just booked the seven day Mediterranean Cruise for June 2014 & adding Adventures by Disney with it! So excited!!!

 

[Daisyduck49]

2013 going to AK for spring break in March, Western Caribbean Cruise May on the Fantasy Boardwalk for the 4th of July, Vero Beach in August, Wilderness Lodge for Thanksgiving & Wilderness Lode for New Years Eve!!!

 

[sayhello]

Just booked the seven day Mediterranean Cruise for June 2014 & adding Adventures by Disney with it! So excited!!!

Congrats! You will love the ABD add-on!

Sayhello

 

[beachbunny]

So a couple of months ago, I reported that I was going to South Africa and Botswana this year. I booked US to South Africa and back as soon as those airline tickets came out because I wanted to use my miles. I did that. Now I don't know why I waited to book SA to Bots, but I did. I didn't book until today. At six months out, I got the last two seats from SA to Bots - but I had to upgrade to business - and pay way too much for it. So not happy. But that's my fault. Lesson learned...

 

[familygoboston]

So a couple of months ago, I reported that I was going to South Africa and Botswana this year. I booked US to South Africa and back as soon as those airline tickets came out because I wanted to use my miles. I did that. Now I don't know why I waited to book SA to Bots, but I did. I didn't book until today. At six months out, I got the last two seats from SA to Bots - but I had to upgrade to business - and pay way too much for it. So not happy. But that's my fault. Lesson learned...

That's a bummer, but Botswana is soooo worth it! We worked with an excellent TA , who is an Africa specialist. They told us that flights and camps book up a year + in advance, so it's crucial to try to get everything done by 9 mos out at the latest. Hope you've got everything else set up now and can enjoy an amazing trip!