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Natsynoo's 30th: Return To The West - September 2016
Hello all
I'm back with another pretrippie, and this time, it's to celebrate a very special occasion...I'm turning 30! :blush: I'm not quite sure how I feel about this milestone birthday, I don't quite feel grown up enough yet to have a 3 at the beginning of my age, but I guess this is the price I pay for wishing away years of my life to the next holiday, huh?! Anyway, what can ease the pain better than ticking off some more bucket list items, and the big one this time is Hawaii. It's always been up there but it certainly ain't a cheap trip to that beautiful cluster of islands out in the mid-Pacific so what better time to do it?! We have been discussing what to do for our 2016 holiday for a while and debated whether the big Florida trip which we abandoned this year should just be moved, but we decided we wanted to see more of this small world instead, especially as we are spending 6 days in WDW this October anyway. Our discussion then turned to cruising, and nothing has been announced to date that is so special that we can't resist, so that left us with the rest of the USA, and I presented three trips - East (New York, Boston, Washington), South (Dallas, Tennessee, New Orleans) or West (Disneyland, Hawaii, Vegas, San Diego), and, well, the West won this time! Anyway, before I go any further, it's probably time to introduce ourselves. We're Natalie & Matt. http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...EEFF234D29.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...35AF8465A1.jpg I'm the Birthday girl, long-time Dibber, and Disney & Travel Fanatic, truly living by the mantra that I work to pay for our next adventure! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...2/IMG_6479.jpg And here's Matt, my lovely hubby, and better half of 10 years next year! Another reason to celebrate! ;) He's more than happy to accompany on my adventures, and has come to love my Disney Side...although is a bigger fan of the Avengers than the Mouse, but I'm happy with that, if it means he's willing to tag along! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...00000015EF.jpg We got engaged in WDW in 2009 during an amazing trip which we really couldn't afford but paid for on a credit card and carry absolutely no regrets about at all! We then saved hard for 3 years to go back and tie the knot in our happy place! :) http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...0000001684.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...0000001646.jpg We are now lucky enough to go on one long haul adventure and a couple of short breaks too, and I normally write a trippie if anyone wants to read (shameless plug ;))! Here we are in DLP for my birthday just 6 weeks ago! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...2/IMG_6463.jpg Anyway, back to our big adventure in the planning, and here is the current plan: On Saturday 10th September (avoiding Labor Day weekend), it's looking like we'll jet off to... http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...CE79B8EC98.jpg (hoping we can bag some cheap Norwegian flights...and that they will start to fly on a Saturday ;)) ...LAX where we'll spend 3 nights at the beautiful Grand Californian hotel, and spend two days in Disneyland and California Adventure. http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...77740DDE49.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...E8C9624887.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...0000000C60.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...0000000D1A.jpg I just NEED to see the Castle dressed in diamonds so fingers crossed the celebrations are still on! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...041BD927FD.jpg We'll then head back to LAX from where we will fly over to Honolulu, Oahu, to spend 4 nights at Aulani (if we can score DVC points, fingers crossed) and explore the likes of Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation, Diamond Head, Waikiki and Honolulu. Ooh, and a Luau of course! It's just got to be done! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...3CB4664371.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...5BD834B6C5.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...5189BB6DDE.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...6D58F82CC3.jpg I've already got my idea on key wardrobe additions in readiness for the trip! ;) http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...9C62D665A4.jpg Next, we'll fly back towards the west coast and spend 4 nights in Las Vegas. We just adored it here when we visited in 2013 and are excited to go back! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...0000000D42.jpg I'm hoping to score a deal on the Mirage as we had a perfect stay here last time and think it's a perfectly located hotel on the Strip. http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...E1EA125C88.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...0000000CC1.jpg Plans include Penn & Teller at the Rio, the Neon Boneyard, and the Scoot City Tour of Red Rock Canyon (fingers crossed for a Groupon!) as we had the bestest time doing the Strip tour on our last visit! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...5DF14EECBD.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...4EB212CD04.jpg http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...0000000CB6.jpg Our final stop will be 2 nights in San Diego, where we'll do the Old Trolley Tour, and visit San Diego Zoo and La Jolla. http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...C5FC67555D.jpg Matt just loves pandas, so he can't wait! http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...385D6BC538.jpg I know we really need more time in San Diego but I don't really want to cut anything else down so whatever we don't manage to do this time, we'll come back for, as I want to return to San Francisco and Hollywood some day anyway! So that's it for now, our plans are all very up in the air at the moment with nothing confirmed, but it's all looking very hopefully and we will be aiming to book our flights once we're home from WDW in October! After all, the best cure for the holiday blues is to book another one, isn't it?! Thanks for reading! :wavey: |
Wow! I'm so excited for you. Sounds like an amazing trip. I shall be keeping a close eye on this thread as this is one of my dream trips too.
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I still can't quite believe it's happening! Can't wait! Don't worry, plenty more to come over the next 16 months! :) |
What a fabulous way to turn 30! Very excited for you and looking forward to reading more :-) xx
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We're very excited to get booking! :grin: |
Sounds fabulous :) I have to admit that I am still teetering between the west coast trip I have currently in my head (SF/Yosemite/Monterey/San Diego/Vegas/LA/Anaheim) or instead doing (SF/Hawaii/San Diego/LA/Anaheim) would love to go to Hawaii, but also really love the idea of the road trip. I guess as you say it's an excuse to go back :D
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We have avoided road trips so far as we don't like the idea of being in a car for so long but get that others really enjoy it but who knows for the future! :) I've dreamed of and loved all things Hawaii since I was a kid. I love leis, Lilo & Stitch, Hawaiian shirts/print and when Aulani popped up, well, it's just meant to be! Can't actually believe we've put some dates to it now though! :spin: |
Hi I do enjoy your trip reports and pre trippies and can relate to
" I'm not quite sure how I feel about this milestone birthday, I don't quite feel grown up enough yet to have a 3 at the beginning of my age, but I guess this is the price I pay for wishing away years of my life to the next holiday, huh?! " as I don't feel grown up to have a 5 at the beginning of my age lol :d: sounds like a fantastic trip and will follow this and your 2015 pre trippie with interest :wavey: |
Wow sounds like it's going to be an amazing trip!
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Squeezing in a cheeky NYC visit is looking increasingly likely too which I'm suuuuuper excited for! See you around! :wavey: Quote:
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