May the Fourth (trippie) Be With You…… Pre-Trippie 3

[00swan]

Time for some final updates - we've been through our DD dance and we're now just under 74 days - getting close to the magical 10 week mark.

Our final bits are sorted:

Internal Flights – JFK to MCO – booked. Didn't think they'd ever open up May flights. Booked for £88 each, including extra leg room/quick boarding - with JetBlue. Have read so many great reports on here about JetBlue, am pleased we've managed to get our flights with them. Some others may have looked similar prices at first, but then when we realised that they didn't include baggage as standard, JetBlue soon won.

Our flights are at 2:59pm, due to arrive at MCO at 5.59pm. Will be interesting to get to Orlando pretty fresh, compared to the usual. I wonder what a difference it will make? We've often found that we're so tired by the time we arrive, from lack of sleep (due to excitement) the night before, yet alone the time difference & having been up for so many hours - will be nice for our first night in Orlando to be a real one.

We've decided against booking transport to get us from the airport in Orlando, we're going to get a taxi from MCO to our hotel (same as what we plan to do at JFK). Priced up on Mears, approx $41, so I guess $50 including tip for the Orlando journey.

ESTA – all done - crazy really, you know there's no reason why they should say No, but until they're done and the approval comes up, it's a nervous time. Shame it now costs $14 per person, but it's not a surprise that they decided to start charging.

Passport Renewal - my passport was due to run out in Sept this year, so decided to renew now, so that I had plenty of time left on my passport - I know the 6 months left as a minimum is often debated on here - I just believe that it's better to be safe, than sorry.

We haven't changed our itinerary around much - have just been adding some things into our New York plans, thanks to the recent trippies we've been reading on here.

We're sticking to our guns about leaving out Seaworld and Busch Gardens this time. We love both the parks, but we've got enough to fill our time with.

Money-wise - we've spent £3,600 so far, with only our airport shuttles (UK & USA) still to be paid out of our budget of £4,000, so we're happy with this.

Our original idea of taking around a £1,000 ($1,5000) each still stands, so our holiday budget overall is £6,000 between us. When you consider this is for 3 weeks and covers both NY and Orlando, I'm really happy. It's a special holiday for us, to celebrate our 40th birthdays, so I don't feel the need to justify the spending.

There's very little left for us to do now. I'm hosting a Photopass share, so will need to gather up some funds from those taking part a little nearer the time - apart from that, I guess it's just itinerary tweaking.

We need to firm up our New York plans and book tickets to visit the Trade Center memorial. We've had some great advice on here - we just need to make sure we're not overdoing it all.

We don't stick to a tight itinerary in Orlando, we just ensure that all the days we want to do are listed, so that we can ensure we're covering everything. We double check which EMH days to avoid, but generally end up swapping things around as we need to, dependant on tiredness, weather, etc.

We don't book any ADR's since we tend to leave the parks before our evening meals. We find it's nice to get back to the hotel, wash off the day's suncream, etc and then go out somewhere. It gives us a chance to take a little time out and rest too.

So, time to just watch the countdown disappear...

Happy Holidays everybody,
Hayley.

[juless77]

Woo hoo we did this last september and was wonderful arriving in Orlando not jet lagged jet blue as well great airline couldnt fault it apart from the snacks they bring round was a packet of crisps from a large box and because I was sat near the window they threw em over was so funny Are you staying at the usual (think you stay where we do) Hampton inn pointe orlando have a briil time cant wait for the full trippie

[highland lass]

happy birthday when it arrives
will enjoy the trippie

[pudge]

Sounds a fab trip...

[00swan]

Originally Posted by juless77

Woo hoo we did this last september and was wonderful arriving in Orlando not jet lagged jet blue as well great airline couldnt fault it apart from the snacks they bring round was a packet of crisps from a large box and because I was sat near the window they threw em over was so funny Are you staying at the usual (think you stay where we do) Hampton inn pointe orlando have a briil time cant wait for the full trippie

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Hi Jules, yep back to the Hampton again - we just can't fault it.

Pleased you enjoyed a two-centre holiday too - how funny that they just chucked your crisps at you - I've heard it said that it's a "no frills" airline, but really... !

PS - thought you were doing it again from your countdown, then I realised that it's counting up, not down. Thinking of booking again?

[00swan]

Originally Posted by highland lass

happy birthday when it arrives
will enjoy the trippie

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Thank you very much Kim ! No fear, I will be doing a trippie - love the way that your memories can be shared and it's scary how quickly you can forget the details otherwise

Originally Posted by pudge

Sounds a fab trip...

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Thanks Paula - fingers crossed it will be

[Guest]

Its good you changed your passport. I had 8 months left so thats all I got on the ESTA.

[00swan]

Originally Posted by Mortimer

Its good you changed your passport. I had 8 months left so thats all I got on the ESTA.

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Ooh, that's interesting, hadn't considered that the ESTA would be short. Bet you didn't get a discount on the $14...

[Guest]

cant wait to read this one We did NY/Florida last August and are doing it again in December, spending Christmas and New Years in Florida

[juless77]

Originally Posted by 00swan

Hi Jules, yep back to the Hampton again - we just can't fault it.

Pleased you enjoyed a two-centre holiday too - how funny that they just chucked your crisps at you - I've heard it said that it's a "no frills" airline, but really... !

PS - thought you were doing it again from your countdown, then I realised that it's counting up, not down. Thinking of booking again?

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Yes hopefully in June but leaving till last minute to9 see if we can bag a bargain if not it will be cyprus lol x