Hi and welcome to our Pre-Trip Report!
We have an Instagram and YouTube channel if you'd like to follow along with our adventures:
YouTube: HughesFamilyAdventures
Instagram: Hughesfamilyadventures18
I'll start off with a little about us for those who don't know.
We first went to our happy place as a family back in October 2018, it was the kid's first trip to Florida. I'd been previously in 2003 with my parents and Mr Grump had been in 1993 with his parents. Mr Grump was adamant it was a once in a lifetime trip, once we've been, we've done it, no need to return
haha yeah right who was he kidding! We did 14 nights at Port Orleans Riverside with the DDP.
The trip report can be found
HERE
Before we even left for October 2018 I found an amazing deal with Virgin Holidays for May 2019, 9 nights at Rosen Inn with flights and transfers for just over £300pp. For that price I just couldn't not book it ... I then had to tell Mr Grump what I'd done
Luckily he was over the moon as it was such a bargain price. So we returned in May 2019.
This was more of a budget trip, we planned to just do Universal (we'd upgraded to annual passes for free in November 2018) we then got tickets for Discovery Cove in the Black Friday sales which included, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and SeaWorld too. I found a great deal with 20% off Disney tickets so I booked us one day tickets as a surprise as I just couldn't bear not doing Disney
I then booked us one night at CBR. I revealed it to everyone the night we were going to stay at CBR. We had a fab trip and we really enjoyed spending time off site and trying so many different eateries.
The trip report for can be found
HERE
When we returned we said we were going to wait until 2021 to return, but after a few months deals got the better of us and we booked up with Virgin again but this time for 19 nights with the free QSDP at Port Orleans Riverside in a Garden View room in May 2020.
Due to Covid-19 this was cancelled on the 5th May 2021. We tried to rearrange for September but there was no availability so we cancelled.
We already had a trip planned for 28th December 2020 - 9th January 2021. We had 2 nights at Tampa and 10 nights in a Dibb villa. We planned to just do Universal, Seaworld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens. Due to the cancellation we decided to extend this trip. 24th December staying 9 nights in a Dibb villa at Emerald Island Resort, then 14 nights at Port Orleans Riverside in a preferred room. In November 2020 this was cancelled again.
We then rearranged to 10 nights at Disney and 10 nights in a Dibb villa for 30th May 2021, this was again cancelled, so here we are with the most up to date Pre-Trip report for February/March 2022 ... hopefully
The Cast
So on our trip we have, yours truly, Kelly (33) my husband Chris (35), DD Caitlin (15) DS1 Thomas (12) DS2 Noah (8)
This is the ages at time of travel .
This trip will be slightly different to our previous ones as we get to experience a villa for the first time!
A bit about us:
Myself - (Nervous Wreck) - So I'm the booker, organiser and
planner and general all round stress head. I love planning and hate surprises so this is the best of both worlds for me!
There's not much to say about myself anymore, I finished my Management degree in August 2020 and graduated with a First Class Honours Degree
I currently work part time for the local council. I really enjoy cross stitching, crocheting and socialising.
Excited for: Just the whole experience again, it's been way too long!
Chris - (Mr Grump) - He is the laid back one, he goes with the flow and as any hubby should, does as he's told
He is no good with organisation and planning so he's happy to leave everything up to me ... let's just hope he doesn't put all the blame on me this time or he may not make it home
(see the first trip report)! We nick name him Mr Grump as he's always moaning and whinging
!
He is a computer engineer and enjoys films, days out walking and photography.
Excited for: The villa, he's wanted to do a villa since our first trip!
Caitlin - (Drama Llama) - Total and utter teenager, nick named the drama llama in our house (DL for short!) the world revolves around her and unless anything is to benefit her, she isn't interested
She enjoys going out with her friends, K-Pop and shopping ... she LOVES shopping. She's hoping to be able to save up lots of money for a good shopping spree when we go again ... but money burns a hole in her pocket so we shall see
Excited for: Pool and waterparks
Thomas - (Cheeky) - He's exactly like his dad, he's so laid back he's almost horizontal. He can have his moments but he is a classic middle child, sometimes we forget he's even there, he's nick named the cheeky monkey as he's too smart for his own good and has a cheeky streak in him!
He's really into computer games and space, he loves reading ... to the point we have way too many books as he reads them in a night
he also likes writing stories.
Excited for: - The roller coasters, he's a total thrill seeker like mum and dad this one ... he just needs to grow a foot or so more (He's the smallest in his class by about a foot
)
Noah - - Noah's the baby ... need I say anymore? He gets away with way more than he should but his little face just melts your heart.
He's a loving, funny clever little boy. He was diagnosed with Autism in April 2018 and it's been a huge learning curve for us all. We're learning how to assist his needs as best we can as well as seeing how amazing he is in learning how to deal with the difficulties he faces. He's very bright and clever, he loves Minecraft and Lego.
Excited for: The rollercoasters and pool
The Plan
Friday 18th February 2022
Due to train times I've decided to take the kids out of school at 2.30pm. We're going to pick up a McDonalds before we pick them up for an early dinner. Taxi is booked for 3.15pm and train at 4.05pm to Kings Cross. We will be taking snacks for the kids on the tube/train as we won't be arriving at hte PI until around 8.30pm and it's a long time for them to go without food.
Then on to Heathrow where we will stay at the Premier Inn Terminal 2/3. I'm aware we'll be flying from Terminal 5 but we already had this booked, we could cancel but it's more expensive to book the Terminal 5 one. The bus to both hotels takes a similar amount of time and costs the same so it doesn't make much difference for us. It's probably going to be late when we get to the hotel around 8/9pm so it'll be settle down for the evening.
Saturday 19th February 2022
Breakfast will be at the hotel around 8.15am. Check in opens at 9.00am. We will be using the special assistance queue for check in and security so hopefully not too much waiting for Noah. Probably grab the kids some magazines and sandwiches in the terminal, our flight is at 12.05pm with British Airways. It will be our first time flying BA!
Land in Orlando at 4.55pm where we'll pick up our car hire from Avis (Large).
We will drive to Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista and get checked in for our 4 night stay.
The hotel has an Applebees on site so we'll probably grab some food there. If the weathers ok I think Chris might take the kids to the pool whilst I unpack and wait for our order from When You Wish Gifts. We will have a carseat, some groceries and possibly some B&BW stuff if I place an order at Christmas to be dropped off.
Sunday 20th February 2022
Grab some breakfast, unsure where yet, depends what time we're up.
Monday 21st February 2022
Tuesday 22nd February 2022
Thomas Birthday!
Magic Kingdom
Wednesday 23rd February 2022
Check out of Holiday Inn LBV and go to Epcot for the morning/afternoon. Check in to the villa at 4pm. Go do a WalMart shop and grab some dinner. Kid's will probably want to go in the pool when we're back.
Thursday 24th February 2022
Friday 25th February 2022
Saturday 26th February 2022
Sunday 27th February 2022
Chris Birthday!
Check in at Loews Royal Pacific, head to Islands of Adventure.
Monday 28th February 2022
Check out of Loews Royal Pacific, head to Universal Studios. Premium outlets after.
Tuesday 1st March 2022
Wednesday 2nd March 2022
Thursday 3rd March 2022
Discovery Cove!
Friday 4th March 2022
Saturday 5th March 2022
Sunday 6th March 2022
Monday 7th March 2022
My Birthday!
Breakfast out, pooL morning, Magic Kingdom after lunch, heading to Hollywood Studios on the evening for Fantasmic (if it's finally restarted!)
Tuesday 8th March 2022
Wednesday 9th March 2022
Thursday 10th March 2022
Friday 11th March 2022
Saturday 12th March 2022
Check out of the villa, last minute shopping and maybe WonderWorks on I-Drive before getting an early dinner and heading to the airport for 3.15pm.
Flight from Orlando - Heathrow at 6.15pm.
Sunday 13th March 2022
Arrive in Heathrow at 8.10am. Train from Heathrow to St Pancreas then Kings Cross to home. Hopefully home before 3pm.
So that's our plans for February/March 2022 ... it'll be almost 3 years since our last trip, fingers crossed this is fourth time lucky
x