Willpower? Nah... not here mate, try next door! Booked for June! (long post warning!)

[Mike Jones]

From our Xmas Trip Report:

NEXT TRIP?
Ah, that’s a tricky one. Of course we’ll be back, but when?…hmm. We really need to spend some time (and ££s) on our house – we’ve neglected it shamefully for a few years now, since our first Florida experience, and we have to decide whether to move on to a bigger place this year or extend and upgrade the current one. I’m determined not to make any big holiday plans until this has been dealt with.

....er, well, ..I'm ashamed to admit (no I'm not, I'm delighted to announce! ) that I'm going back in June.... for 5 days without the family!

Yep, and, so far, I'm still married!

I have an (admittedly feeble) excuse - It's my 40th in June and I wanted to do something special. I considered walking 40 miles across the Lake District, or climbing Kilimanjaro for charity, but what I really wanted to do was spend my birthday at Epcot. I asked Val- (Cinders Mum on the DIBB) for some quotes for a 'mini-break' of 4 or 5 days to WDW, which she kindly provided, and then I informed Heather about my cunning plan.... she didn't want to go!??!! .. she reckons the jetlag will spoil it for her for such a short break! (In truth, she does stay pretty zonked for
the first week in Florida and for several days at the end of a two weeker)
..sooo... in a spirit of compromise, I ask Val for 2 -3 day quotes for DLP instead, and for a Florence city break, which I know she'll like, as we have talked about going to Florence many times.

Wrong! DLP is adjudged to be unsuitable for several reasons, including the lack of discipline in the lines, smoking tolerated everywhere (H is asthmatic), blah, blah, blah! Ok, so what about Florence? Er, no. Why? 3 days isn't long enough (we were keeping the time short as mum/dad would be needed to look after the brats, sorry, children, during what is essentially term-time), so we are now on a 'promise' to do a good week there, alone, in a year or two.

Well, what's left? Simple.. I'll go on my own! ..well, not strictly speaking 'alone', as my mate Scott is coming along for ballast, but for goodness sake, don't tell his kids, cos they've never been! (He's going to tell them we're off to Scotland walking or something!) To be honest, although I'll probably regret it, I am inclined to tell my two where I'm going, to avoid it coming out in the future.

Anyway, we're flying with Virgin from Manchester on Saturday 12th at 1025, should be landing at MCO at 1435 (first time here, btw) and have 4 nights at Best Western LBV near DTD, (handy for PI!) before transferring on the last day to Royal Pacific Resort at Universal for 1 night to get FOTL privileges at US and IOA! We've hired a basic 2 door car and I need to get 3 -4 days worth of Disney hoppers and a 2 day Universal ticket sorted. We fly back on Thursday 17th at 1800 so we should be able to squeeze in a water park or an extra half day at Universal (shame to waste that FOTL, eh? )

I've got to try and see how much two active adult males, unencumbered by women ("ooh, look, shops!") or kids ("I need a wee!") can cram into a few days, using all the tips and experience from our 8 and a half weeks of previous trips! Pluses: we won't need to shower (only joking, I meant "every day" ) we can stay up late without having the day's fun terminated by whingy offspring, I only need to pay for what I want to eat/drink etc, Scott will do 1/2 the driving...and I'm sure more will become apparent! Negatives: er, give me a minute... um, er...

Right, that's it. I'm doing Disney for me birthday! ..and I don't care what people think of my inter-marital or parenting skills! (I'll make it up to them later!)

Mike

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

Have a great time.

I went to New York with my friend for my 40th - DH didn't want to go - too far for 3 nights - not at all I had a great time.

Helen

 

[simonuk]

i have to say mike what a bad parent u r (not) if i had kids i would b going to florida (sorry scotland) every year without them

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Have a fantastic time!!
LOL!! (I need a wee) I agree we tend to find outselves running around with a 4year old demanding the toilet there and then! Ah!

Happy Hols!

 

[Sue F UK]

DH and I went minus kids for 5 days a couple of years ago and we had a BLAST!! We could drink alcohol and everything!!!!!! We also did Discovery Cove which was pretty amazing - do you think your marriage could survive you doing that on your own Mike?!? I doubt it.

Seriously though, the first chance we had to feel guilty and miss our DD was in the airport on the way back !!

 

[KayleeUK]

Sounds great

 

[keswick1uk]

You'll miss 'em

 

[Miffy2003]

Epcot without the kids? Sounds like Heaven!

Karen

 

[keasden]

What a cracking idea. I will be 40 next year, might have to print your post out and leave it lying around for the wife to find

Just a thought, seeing as you won't have the kids, why not give Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom a miss as IMHO once you have been a couple of times and experienced the magic they are strictly for the kids thereafter (Flame-proof suit now being donned), whereas Epcot/World showcase and MGM studos have more of an adult feel to them.

This would give you more time to cram other things into your 5 days, such as Discovery Cove. You'll never get another chance to do it so cheaply by going on your own, I would love to do DC but feel the cost is just too prohibitive for a family of 4.

 

[Minniespal]

Sounds great Mike ~ Though I think you and your mate could be doing with a travelling companion.

 

[Mike Jones]

...Minniespal, LOL! ..have had a few suggestions like that from people at work and on other boards!

keasden - you have some valid points there.... I reckon that we will just do an early morning at MK followed by another dose of Epcot on one day, and then split a day between (am) MGM and (pm) AK, as there are things at all parks I wouldn't want to miss. Most of our Disneyy time will be at Epcot though! Thought about DC but not sure I could admit to that at home later! Might do Cirque again though... would only cost me one ticket this time (paid for 6 last!)