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6 Jun 18, 11:58 PM |
#1
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booked again yippee
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Aug 18 Pretrippie – No chaps in uniform this time please Mercedes!
Disney steps None yet! 0 miles
306 days since we last flew to Florida and I have just finished the trip report! You can find it HERE – it will explain the title of this one and give you a giggle. But this is about our 2018 holiday, two weeks pure Disney. Quick introductions there’s me on the left , Mum and DPF: Disney Planning Freak – people are scared to mention Disney in case I whip out a folder and an excel workbook and go on and on for several hours – and I can! But I like helping people Steve, DH, Grumpy but loveable cyclist. Enjoys an ice cream sandwich or two. Puts up with my Disney addiction and quietly enjoys it himself. Morgan DD1, self declared Geek, loves Disney, Harry Potter, and complex mathematical problems! Currently sitting GCSE’s. Millie DD2, rollercoaster junkie. Came back from Disney last year and asked for Merlin Annual pass for her birthday – Alton Towers is visited almost weekly , in the last 7 months (bear in mind Alton Towers has been closed for most of them!) she has ridden Smiler 86 times. There is an app called coaster count which Millie and Steve are using to capture what they ride. Disney rides are obviously much better and they will try to beat their 13 Expedition Everest rides this year I’m sure. So if you have read my last trip report you’ll know we had the holiday of a lifetime last year – it was absolutely amazing and the best three weeks ever we have spent together as a family. So with a week of being home Steve and I had decided we would go back this year. I just needed to find flights at sub £500 each. Many checks on BAs website and eventually on 14th September 2017 we booked with British Airways to fly into Tampa from Gatwick with a car for £2300. We are doing very late in the summer holidays so we can be there for MNSSHP and Food and Wine hopefully. Disney next and we decided on POFQ this time, we had liked it when we visited MinnieMrsA and her husband last year and Steve and Morgan had worked out that the buses were much quieter to there from the parks late at night. 2 weeks all Disney no Universal this time – we will make up for that next visit. Now the wait and trying to keep it quiet. I am so rubbish at the secret bit. We made it as far as 8th October – a huge 3 weeks and 3 days! In the end Steve relented and we decided to put up a big clue and see if they spotted it. As I was still writing my trip report -that took a while! We had some flipchart paper on the wall in the lounge with our outline schedule over three weeks and the list of the key things we had ticked off like flights, hotels, tickets etc. We found some equally as bashed paper and replaced it with this years plan using exactly the same colours and format. And sat and waited. Morgan came downstairs to chat to us and as she was talking to me her eyes kept wandering to the wall, after what seemed an age she stopped talking looked at it and said “What is this?” within seconds she had shouted Millie down and hugs were dished out all round. Then normal moody teenagers resumed So since then what have we done Millie had her braces off – a beautiful smile Added up what it really costs last year – gulp. It’s not on the same scale this year for sure. Book parking at Gatwick – check Book hotel at Gatwick so we can leave the house clean and travel the day before - like Peter Kays mum Did a bit more trip report Bought replacement shelving and storage boxes from Ikea- they were a god send last year Asked for big suitcase for Xmas from parents – no messing this year. 4 large suitcases Bought 2018 Unofficial Guides Extended subscription to Touring Plans – who am I kidding I’d done that before we had even gone in 2017 Got a dog ! Booked dog in at boarders as house sitters only do cats Booked house sitters Booked seats on the plane Did a bit more trip report Took a cheeky week in Fuerteventura to beat the February blues – used the break to read the Unofficial Guide whilst the kids swam. Booked ADR's from poolside= I learnt last year that Millie will be OOP for some of the restaurants – in fact she will probably just have a side of fries in some places and then chicken nuggets as we come out from a QS so we can do more this time. Bought ponchos from Ebay Helped colleague book a 2 week holiday for her and family to POR- must convince her to do a trip report Booked tickets for MNSSHP – ouch! Created two planning spreadsheets one for us and one for them lol Booked Cabana for Blizzard Beach Plaza Desserts Party on 22nd August. Yummy More trip report done Asked BA how much to upgrade seats – good news: first class is only £20 more than premium economy equivalent each but we’ve booked cattle class and the upgrade to premium economy is £1200 each - suck it up folks So we ended up with: Travel Day Land at Tampa Drive to POFQ via Walmart and then Sassagoula Float works before bed Day 1 Hitting Hollywood Studios in the day to see Toy Story Land and Star Wars rides and Mama Melrose for a late lunch followed by the Evening at Epcot which is open until 11pm if we can make it! Day 2 Animal Kingdom with late lunch at Yak & Yeti then Magic Kingdom for the evening including the Plaza desert party - MK is open until 11pm – again if we can make it! Day 3 Rest day as we do it - Blizzard Beach , a no brainer here and a cabana has been booked again. We loved it last year. Tea, as us northerners say, in Epcot at La Hacienda San Angel and some fast passes squeezed in for the evening. Day 4 For once I have set the morning for Pool time – it’s unlikely that will stay the plan – it’ll be a quick visit to somewhere I’m sure. In three weeks last year we never once made the pool at POR! Then late lunch at 2pm at Jungle Skipper Canteen and the rest of the day/night in Magic Kingdom for MNSHHP with Cosmic Rays QS for tea. Day 5 Epcot with a late lunch at Teppan Edo for Morgan and Via Napoli for Millie and an argument about which of Steve and I go to which I’m sure. Then Disney Springs in the evening for Chef Art Smiths Day 6 Animal Kingdom again (the Expedition Everest count will be high by then I’m sure) and Whispering Canyon in the evening – I do hope they haven’t dumbed down the antics too much. Day 7 Hollywood Studios with Bongos Cuban Café in DS for tea and a look around the shops whilst listening to three types of music at the same time! Day 8 Magic Kingdom and then swapping to Animal Kingdom ( for more EE) and an early tea at Rainforest Café Day 9 Epcot followed by early tea at the wonderful Citricos and then a quick monorail jump round to Magic Kingdom which is open until 11. Day 10 Animal Kingdom and then off to Epcot – Food and Wine – now I had to make a change to the plan here – we were due to go to the Food & Wine the day before until I mentioned who was singing at the Eat to the Beat tonight- Tiffany – Steve is of that age to remember her very well so we’re off on day 12 instead so tonight will be dinner ( a northerner being posh) at Sanaa, looking forward to the bread basket Day 11 Early morning hours at Magic Kingdom with a 10am BOG breakfast booked. Then off to Disney Springs if I can get a booking for House of Blues – I gave up last year and then managed to get one much closer to the time. If not I’ve booked an early table at Splitsville and we’ll book bowling or it’s a sneaky visit to the Food & Wine Day 12 Hollywood Studios and Prime Time café followed by Epcot for Food and Wine and the delights of Tiffany! Day 13 Shopping day unless we have filled the cases already and saving the best till last Yachtsman for dinner at 8pm followed by a walk around the Boardwalk Day 14 Morning visit to Magic Kingdom to ride Splash mountain one more time and one last Cinnamon bun and Le Fou’s brew and then we are on our way back to Tampa. Dependant on the ride count of Expedition Everest then the EMH at Animal Kingdom may come into play somehow too. We will eat lots of Mickey Pretzels Give stupid names for our Starbucks Watch fireworks from the People Mover Remember those who aren't able to come back this year with us Remember photographs of previous visits and hopefully not have to speak to Mercedes this year Then back to Tampa and home, until the next time! So there’s the plan – I’ll keep updating as we go. I can't wait - looking forward to seeing the chipmunks at Epcot again Update: Day 60 yipeee, fast pass day - usual panic by logging on too early but the time soon came round and not showing what our favourite rides are honest Expedition Everest x 4 (Millie will set a new personal best this year) FOP x 3 Splash Mountain x 3 Star Tours x3 TOT x3 Slinky Dog x 2 Spaceship Earth x 2 Mission Space x 2 Tomorrowland Speedway x 2 Haunted Mansion x 2 BTM x2 and lots of singles - very happy to have Slinky dog and FOP Now for Touring plans to do its magic - and be reoptimised, and reoptimised, and reoptimised over the next few weeks - eight to be precise Eight weeks on Sunday - eeek! I'll be getting the case and the clothes rack out this weekend to start putting some clothes on - again I want to avoid the last minute "but I have no shorts mum/wifey" by giving them chance to find that out sooner rather than later. Millie needs crocs, need to work out which footwear im taking, and the diet is under way (again ) Low carb for another 8 weeks, 9lb down so far and tons to go. I cut my sponge in half last week and put the fairy liquid on it to take with us and one half to give to my colleague as she goes 2 days before us. Every small thing is a step closer! The GCSEs are over , prom has happened ( and no of course she didn't wear the dress lol) so countdown in full swing Update July 2018 well it seems to be going much faster this time! Clothes shopping and new sketchers for almost everyone so they can be worn in before we go, 8 lots of compeed bought and some moleskin. MNSSHP outfits almost completed and the Touring plans are in full force - I expect I'll have them completed in the next 2 weeks. New pen for trip reports notes is getting a lot of use Diet going well, 2 stone lighter that at the beginning of the year and still time to lose some more. Just need the dollar rate to go up a bit please Index is HERE
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Disneyland Paris Sept 2005 Hotel Santa Fe, 2006 Disneyland Hotel Castle Club, Feb 2019 Sequoia Lodge Golden Forest Club WDW Florida Feb 2011 All Stars Resort, Aug 2017 Port Orleans Riverside & HRH, Aug 2018 Port Orleans French Quarter, Aug 2019 Wilderness Lodge HRH & Contemporary, Feb 2020 Grand Floridian, Aug 2021 Disney Dream, Dec 21 Beach Club & Wilderness Lodge, Feb 22 Port Orleans Riverside, July 22 Port Orleans French Quarter, Feb 23 Staybright Suites Offsite (never again ) Edited at 08:59 PM. |
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7 Jun 18, 01:39 AM |
#2
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Imagineer
Join Date: Jul 08
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Love your pre-trippie and all the family excitement. Looking forward to the report.
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August 2006 RPR & Rosen Plaza; August 2008 RPR & Regal Sun; August 2009 RPR & Buena Vista Palace; July/August 2010 RPR & SSR; July/August 2011 & 2012 Loews Miami Beach, RPR & SSR; 2013 SSR & RPR: 2014 Rosen Plaza, SSR & RPR; 2015 Renaissance, RPR & SSR;2016 Cabana Bay, SSR & RPR; 2018 CB, Portofino, SSR 2019 St Petes, Renaissance & SSR |
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7 Jun 18, 07:15 AM |
#3
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Imagineer
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Loving this report ,you seem like a right laugh we’re there the same time as you i’ve Not read your previous trippies so no idea what or who Mercedes is . When i’ve Got time i’ll Read your past report .who am I kidding i’ll Read It in a minute
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Marriott 93, MIC lakefront 94,Holiday inn 96,Rosen plaza 98,Quality inn plaza 02,BVP 06,BVP 07 ,Royal plaza 08,villa 09,villa +RPR 11,villa 12,Contemporary 13,BVP 14 ,POR xmas 15,Beach club 16,Beach Club 18 ,Contemporary 22, Sheraton LBV 23,+ DLP 03,17 |
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8 Jun 18, 01:00 PM |
#4
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Apprentice Imagineer
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Loved your last report looking forward to this years.
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8 Jun 18, 01:04 PM |
#5
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Thread Starter
booked again yippee
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Mercedes - well when you have a cup of tea sit and read day day 9 from the last trip report - shortcut HERE. it'll make you giggle.
Wave if you see us - I'm hoping iti'll be a little quieter in those last few weeks of August
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Disneyland Paris Sept 2005 Hotel Santa Fe, 2006 Disneyland Hotel Castle Club, Feb 2019 Sequoia Lodge Golden Forest Club WDW Florida Feb 2011 All Stars Resort, Aug 2017 Port Orleans Riverside & HRH, Aug 2018 Port Orleans French Quarter, Aug 2019 Wilderness Lodge HRH & Contemporary, Feb 2020 Grand Floridian, Aug 2021 Disney Dream, Dec 21 Beach Club & Wilderness Lodge, Feb 22 Port Orleans Riverside, July 22 Port Orleans French Quarter, Feb 23 Staybright Suites Offsite (never again ) |
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8 Jun 18, 06:55 PM |
#6
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Imagineer
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Ahhh glad we showed you the delights of POFQ now! Gutted we won't be there this year too 😔 but it will be an amazing holiday!
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8 Jun 18, 10:28 PM |
#7
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Imagineer
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Love your pre-trippie. What date are you flying out?
I must admit i haven't read your 2017 trip report yet but i will rectify that soon. Love the sound of your plans. I am very drawn to the French Quarter and would love to do a split on site stay here one year. I love the quintessential look of the resort and i am dying to try those beignets! Happy planning
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4 Jul 18, 05:26 PM |
#8
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Very Serious Dibber
Join Date: Feb 14
Location: Sheffield
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Mercedes!
Really looking forward to reading this years report!
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DLP - 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 WDW - 2018, 2023 |
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4 Jul 18, 05:34 PM |
#9
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Imagineer
Join Date: Jul 10
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Cool trippie, we may have to pop over to FQ from Riverside and see what all the fuss is about!
Nearly time!
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2012 Fairfield Inn IDrive 2013 Highland Reserve 2014 Old Key West 2015 Old Key West / Fantasy World 2016 New York / Cypress Pointe 2016 Cane Island 2017 Old Key West 2018 Port Orleans Riverside 2019 Keys / Cruise / Rosen Inn IDrive 2022 Port Orleans Riverside 2023 Idrive / Cruise 2023 Universal Dockside |
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5 Jul 18, 07:12 PM |
#10
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VIP Dibber
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Oh fab! I loved your trip report from this summer. I hope you get another big pot of cheese balls!
Have an absolutely fab time. I can't wait to read all about it.
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Abby New pre trip report - Summer 2024 Link to all my completed trip reports 2017: NYC and Orlando. Salzburg. Boston. 2018: Orlando. Berlin. 2019: DLP. Orlando. Washington DC. 2020: DLP. 2021: Jamaica. Rome. 2022: Orlando. 2023: Orlando. Niagara and Toronto. |
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