Clarks Hits 40 - Pre-Trippie

[Nettings]

Clarks – ME - Sue (still 39! Just!), DH – Gez, Eldest DS Jack, Youngest DS Ben

After long and careful consideration, I decided to ask the boys what they fancied doing for my 40th. I’d mentioned China to them, the Maldives, the Caribbean, etc but the resounding response I got from them was Florida!

Luckily for us, my cousin Anne, owns a beautiful Villa on Emerald Island and so I asked if I could book it for two weeks over Easter. I got straight on to my TA friend and secured some good priced Virgin seats (cos the boys wanted to go with Virgin!) and so the planning began.

I know a lot of planning is required when it comes to tickets, prices, etc so I’d been keeping my beady eyes on the tickets we wanted. I found a really good deal on US/IOA tickets but when I went to book it, it literally disappeared! I hunted high and low and eventually I came across a website called The Dibb!

Under one of the Forum’s Stickys (Thanks BevS97 ! ) was a link to tickets and best deals. Low and behold the deal I was looking for was still on their link. I promptly booked the tickets I needed, feeling very pleased with myself.

Over the next few days, weeks, I found myself back on this very informative, friendly website, The Dibb, and eventually I found myself signing up to it. Then the addiction began!

I’ve learnt so much from The Dibb and I still learn something new every day. I’ve been able to secure (so far!) two out of the three ADR’s we want for Easter time (though the booking system has been the bain of my life!) – ADR’s were something I’d never even heard of before The Dibb! (Thanks Leanne for all your help! ).

In September I became a Villa Owner (well, I advertise my cousin’s Villa, I don’t actually own it, unfortunately! ) and in January I became a Pass Holder (receiving a lovely goody bag for doing so).

Planning is still going well and I have to say I was lucky in many ways of being able to pay for some of things we’re doing when the Dollar was still at a reasonable rate. Unfortunately we were in Turkey when it hit the $2 to £1 mark and my hesitance meant I didn’t get the best possible rate, but it was still better than today!

So I’ve already booked – Discovery Cove for my birthday, US/IOA staying at HRH to get the FOLP’s and Cirque de Soleil. I’ve also so far booked ADR’s for lunch at Whispering Canyon and a Character Brekkie at Ohana’s. I’m hoping to book Cali Grill for my birthday. Also to be booked are tickets for Kennedy Space Centre (to do the bus trip we’d missed previously – though we’d been lucky enough to witness a launch in 2007!) and Boggy Creek, but we’ll put these on hold if necessary. Gez and I have a one day pass left from yesteryear, so we will buy a one day pass for DHS for each of the boys, as we feel that we don’t want to be hassled by the crowds at the other Disney parks this time (we’ve normally been in October so we’ve been spoilt! – and we’re hoping to go again 2010 in October).

Today – Have now secured our ADR for Cali Grill on my Bday! Have also succumbed to more ADR’s and booked T-Rex. Have now purchased our KSC tickets and have also spoilt ourselves with purchasing a private hire Boggy Creek tour! Down to SD today! Got to get the printer up and running as I NEED! my Dibb planner printing off!

Sue x

[Bigbad]

You planning queen you!

You do realise if we ever go back to Mickey Land you will get the job of planning our jaunt!

Have a fab fab fab time.

[voddygirl]

You have a great trip planned ...not long now

[joandwayne]

Wow - sounds like you are going to have a fab time. I celebrate my 40th next year and am starting to wonder what to do.

Have an absolutely amazing holiday - I am sure you will.

[Tinklfly]

Sue, I hope you have a great time and Happy Birthday when it comes.

Heather

[MusicMadMegs]

sounds like your all set. Hope you have an amazing 40th birthday

[travelmam]

Great pre-trippie Sue, hope you have a great time.

[Nettings]

Thank you one and all! Can't wait! Even to be 40! It'll mean its DC and Cali Grill day!

[Emma Y]

Sounds great, off to read some more

Emma

[cartoonp]

Great pretrip report