Starting where we left off - Florida the sequel! - Dec '14 Pre Trip

[LaurenYorkshir]

Update One
Update Two- 459 Days to go!
Update Three- Update on the parents..
Update Four - Flights frenzy
Update Five - Spreadsheets
and buys!
Update Six- Just a little one
Update
Seven-Ouzo and ADR's
Update Eight- Candlelight & Chipmunks
Update nine - Ponchos & Plaster Cast
Update Ten - Short & Sweet
Hello and welcome to what will be my second pre trip report . I know my holiday is SUCH a long time away but I really could not wait a minute longer to write this. If you have read my previous trip report you will already know that I have a habit of waffling a lot , using northern speak ( my tea is my dinner and my dinner is my lunch ) so as long as that is all ok we shall begin

So who is going ?






Me ; Lauren 26 , will be 28 when we travel ARRGGHH where is time going? Chief planner , stress head , Disney dreaming Team Leader for a travel company. Yes I am a dreaded TA but I now specialise in all things ski and have more of a managerial role than sales these days. I am also studying part time for a History degree in the hope of one day being a researcher or exhibit curator .This will be my second trip to the magic. I have always loved Disney but this love went to a whole other level during the planning for our first trip. Tangled has to be my favourite film and I will be attempting to grow my hair in homage to my favourite Princess. I also have a soft spot for the classics like Dumbo and Pinocchio . As great as my love is for Disney I also have big love for Universal and my favourite ride in the whole of Florida ( if not the world) is Hulk . I also happen to be a bit of a geek and love my comics so Islands of Adventure allow me to express that inner geek and get away with it
I am currently on a diet plan and have lost 2 stone since these pictures , I still have around another 3 to go so will update in the near future.



Him ; Patrick also 26 and will be 28 when we travel. Patrick is 4 weeks younger than me but likes to make out I am some kind of cougar to make himself feel better about getting older. Patrick is a lucky boy and this will be his 5th trip to Florida . I am very lucky that Patrick loves Florida as much as me, he really gets involved in the planning and does not mind me talking about where we will eat tea in 500 and something days and tells me at least once a week that he cannot wait for a dole whip ... he is a keeper ! Patrick works for the local council as a senior housing benefits officer and is studying part time for a maths and economics degree. Favourite Disney films are Toy Story and the Lion King his favourite character is Gaston and he has a soft spot for the villains. Like me he equally ( if not a little more) loves Universal and declared on our first trip that the moving walk way into City Walk is his 'Happy Place ' He is a big NFL fan is very excited that we will get 3 weekends worth of games whilst we are out there , these will be enjoyed with a few pitchers of Millers in either Millers Ale House or ESPN


Our first trip was like many was our 'Once In a Lifetime Holiday' . It became clear very early on that this would not be the case and talk would often lead to 'when we come back' so a return was more than on the cards but when? We did talk on the last few days about Easter 2015 but both knew we could not wait that long and then we thought about 2013 but had to forget about that as Patrick is best man at our friends wedding in May 2014 . The wedding is in Greece and we have the hen and stag weekends which are ;Hens Portugal in September '13 and the Stags Benidorm Fiesta in November '13 so that ruled that out. Thought then turned to 2014 , we had such an amazing time during our two weeks in December with the Christmas decorations , MVMCP , no queues and more than decent weather ..it was easy DECEMBER 2014 !


This will be our last trip before we start thinking like grown ups , home improvements and babies so plan on going out with a bang !

Once we had decided when we were going we started to think about where to stay and how long for. I did enjoy having Disney at the end of our first trip but that journey to the Airport on the Magical Express was so sad there is no way I want to watch that video on the return again , so we decided we would have a Disney stay at the beginning of the holiday and start where we left off ( hence the name ). We had also loved our split stay and enjoyed being on I drive with the amazing choice of places to eat and had found the I trolley so easy to use for our shopping days . With this in mind we decided to go back to the Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando. We loved the location of this hotel so much and the fact that many of our favourite eateries were less than a 10 minute walk swung it !
We also decided we would like to go for longer than two weeks but due to my work I would not be able to do three weeks so the plan is :
30th Nov 6 nights Disney then 10 nights at the Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando .
After our first trip we started saving Club Card points so plan on flying with Virgin from Manchester , we wont be able to book these until 11 months before but as we are travelling in low season I am crossing my fingers we should get a bargain !

So what do we have booked?

Like many I was eagerly counting down the days until the 25th of April when the 2014 DDP would be released and in our minds we had SSR as the thought of a balcony and studio really appealed to me and after reading all of the amazing reports on this place it had to be a consideration. So round came the 25th and there was no sign of SSR or OKW for my dates so I called Disney who told me that the deluxe villas would be released the following Monday and that I should book something now then at least I have the DDP and $200 . I felt really pressured and to be honest should have said no and had a think about it but before I knew it we had booked CBR .. not a resort we had looked at. It does look lovely and I know there are many on here that do love it but the more I looked at it the more I realised it was just not for us. I sent an email to Disney as I felt I had been pressured into booking and wanted to be assured that I could change my booking once SSR is available. In the meantime we looked at POFQ . Patrick really likes the theme of the resort and the ease of the boat to DTD , I also know the resort gets great feedback both from my time selling it in the shops and also from many people on here . We took that decision that if we could not get SSR we would happily stay at POFQ with the upgrade to the Dining Plan. I was soon contacted by a lovely lady in Guest Services who agreed that I had been pressured into the booking and that the deluxe villa resorts were still awaiting sign off from DVC for our dates. It has been left that we are booked into POFQ and as soon as SSR is released she will call me back , if we choose to go head we can swap and keep our free DDP and $200 … I am happy with this and to be honest Patrick would be more than happy if we stay with POFQ .


We have also booked our Universal combo ticket . We booked with ATD and got ; Universal 2 park ticket , Sea World , Busch and Aquatica for £214, I am happy with this price as we could pay a £10pp deposit and the balance is not due until 4 weeks before we go.



Still to do …

I am hoping I will be able to book the Rosen in around July time , prices for the same dates this year with travel republic are around £330 for both of us for the 10 nights which is a total bargain!

I will be checking the flights from the 11 month mark . I have budgeted £550pp and for our dates this year they have been as low as £390pp and highest £500pp so will book when I see a price I am happy with .

This trip we will be taking in a stay at Universal for one night . We don't mind too much which hotel we stay at but if we could get HRH for under £170 then that would be amazing !


It is now tradition for us that whenever we go from Manchester we stay at the Radisson so this will be booked along with the taxi to take us .

And I believe that for now is it ! I commend you if you have got this far without a nanna nap ( told you I could waffle)
I hope you will join me along the way as I plan our once in a lifetime holiday #2 !

[Col&Ali]

Fabulous pre-trippie! Is there anything left to plan? Lol

Well done on the weight loss Laura! Are you still off sick? How's the knee?

Ali
x

[LaurenYorkshir]

Originally Posted by Col&Ali

Fabulous pre-trippie! Is there anything left to plan? Lol

Well done on the weight loss Laura! Are you still off sick? How's the knee?

Ali
x

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Haha thank you Always things to plan , although I am trying my best to leave more planning for when the flights are confirmed . I am back at work tomorrow ( working all BH booo) and had the stitches out last night so I am getting there . Did you have a GA too recently? . Thank you again for reading and for the lovely comment, always good to know someone has enjoyed it and not just me rambling along

[Col&Ali]

Originally Posted by LaurenYorkshir

Haha thank you Always things to plan , although I am trying my best to leave more planning for when the flights are confirmed . I am back at work tomorrow ( working all BH booo) and had the stitches out last night so I am getting there . Did you have a GA too recently? . Thank you again for reading and for the lovely comment, always good to know someone has enjoyed it and not just me rambling along

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I'm glad to hear the knee is feeling better

Are you psychic? I have indeed had a GA this week but not told anybody on The Dibb about it?!? Lol. Currently sitting on the sofa with my blanky and my Poppy dog recouperating! Might just get round to writing a wee pre-trippie myself at some stage ... if I'm brave enough!

[LaurenYorkshir]

Originally Posted by Col&Ali

I'm glad to hear the knee is feeling better

Are you psychic? I have indeed had a GA this week but not told anybody on The Dibb about it?!? Lol. Currently sitting on the sofa with my blanky and my Poppy dog recouperating! Might just get round to writing a wee pre-trippie myself at some stage ... if I'm brave enough!

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I think you might have said good luck on my Operation thread I am glad you are resting up well ! I would recommend writing one to anyone . It helps me get all my planning thoughts out without boring everyone at work etc and also really nice to look back over once the holiday finally comes around .

[Col&Ali]

Originally Posted by LaurenYorkshir

I think you might have said good luck on my Operation thread I am glad you are resting up well ! I would recommend writing one to anyone . It helps me get all my planning thoughts out without boring everyone at work etc and also really nice to look back over once the holiday finally comes around .

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Ah yes, you are right!

Well I've been signed off for 2 weeks so I might just try and put something together - the old braincells are dying away fast and it's getting harder to remember things so writing them down in one place might help

[LaurenYorkshir]

Originally Posted by Col&Ali

Ah yes, you are right!

Well I've been signed off for 2 weeks so I might just try and put something together - the old braincells are dying away fast and it's getting harder to remember things so writing them down in one place might help

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I will look forward to reading it then I was signed off for two weeks and having that time to relax and recover has made the world of difference to my recouperation time so make sure you take it easy .

[abiknox]

Great start! Glad to see you will be returning to the Rosen! I'm hoping to get a good rate there again for our next trip so we can give it another go!

[LaurenYorkshir]

Originally Posted by abiknox

Great start! Glad to see you will be returning to the Rosen! I'm hoping to get a good rate there again for our next trip so we can give it another go!

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Thank you glad your going to give it another go , the location is just fab as you know . I always see some great rates with travel republic so fingers crossed for you!

[littlejem1]

Really pleased you have started another Pre-trip. Your dates are close to mine Well about 8 weeks apart