August 2017 - It's Going To Be A BIG One!

[miss_mouse]

Hello Hello!

Welcome to my rather late 'PRE TRIPPIE'.

I've been so preoccupied with getting our 2016 US Roadtrip trippie up, that was my main priority.
If you haven't seen that one it can be found here.
We started in NYC, drove to DC and then drove through Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky to Indiana to see my Dad.

We had all felt sad leading up to the trip as it wasn't Florida.
Louis didn't want to go at all.
We came home all agreeing that it was the most amazing experience and within a day of being in NYC Louis decided he wanted to live there

We loved the trip so much that we are planning another roadtrip next Summer and ending up in Florida. Best of both worlds!

But right now, it's all about Orlando

I can't believe we are just 6 sleeps away.
We've been counting down since we were in the 800's.

If you haven't read one of my trippie's before... Hi I'm lisa.
And I am married to Ade.



We have Hollie, who has just turned 18 and Louis who is 15.
We are so lucky that our kids have always been best of friends.
They get on so well.



This is our 5th family trip.



We have celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary this year.
We had a Florida wedding back in 2007.
Hollie was 7 and Louis 5.
We got married at the Bahama Bay Resort and have stayed there ever since. We love it there.



That's what started off this love affair with Florida.

In 2010 we were back again.



And we froze our butts off!
You don't expect to get frosty mornings in Florida... but it happens!

2012 was the best of all trips.



Everything was perfect.
We stayed for just over 2 weeks that time.
It was that trip that really got us hooked and our love affair with Disney really kicked in.

And then came 2014.



This trip was just under 3 weeks.
I really struggled with migraines though. Really bad.
We think Ade had sun stroke.
Our night at the Hard Rock Hotel was just awful due to us both being so sick.
Louis was gutted as it was the bit he was most looking forward to.
But he got pay back as a few days later he barfed up all over Magic Kingdom during MNSSHP right after the parade. So that night promptly came to an end.

We were supposed to do a big family trip with all of my family in 2016, but that never happened, so we decided to do a US Roadtrip instead and take the kids to see my Dad in Indiana too.



I'm so glad we took that trip!

So this 2017 trip!

Well, it’s turned out to be a big one.
It was planned as a 3 week trip and for the first time we were using our miles to buy flights. (but kind of turned in to a 4 week trip)

We ended up with 4 seats in Premium Economy for £2000 and a load of miles.
Plus we love the flexibility of booking with miles.
For us now it’s the only way forward.

But we ended up booking the flights a few days early. I called up to chat before we booked to see how it worked and the seats had just become available on that day, 4 days earlier than we had planned. We already had Disney accommodation booked 4 days later.
But we booked the flights there and then!
We’d saved £4000 for flights with it being August so with the money we saved, we booked to stay at Universal again. Thought we’d give it another go.

We had said we may not do Universal this time. Louis was so disappointed.
So as a surprise, not only did we book Universal, we booked the Jurassic Park Suite at the Royal Pacific.

The grown ups room is a lovely Polynesian style room and then you walk through to this….



Dinos have always been Louis’ thing and the Jurassic Park movies have always been a big family favourite.
You should have seen them when we told them. They were like 2 little kids. So excited!

So we are doing 4 nights there with Volcano Bay too.

Then we go on to Disney’s Beach Club.

This is Hollie’s part that she’s most excited about.
We booked during free dining and before all the prices went crazy.
It’s cost us £3’100 for 6 nights with 3 week park tickets, garden view room with free dining and a $200 gift card.
I thought that was pretty good.
I know that the prices have really increased now.
Our park tickets alone were just £350.
So that’s Disney sorted.

Hollie will be receiving her A Level results whilst we are there.
She has worked like crazy dedicating her life these past 2 years to study. To the point we’ve had to tell her to take breaks.
She’s predicted A* - A - A, but would be ok with A – A – B.
Fingers Crossed!

Ade also has a birthday whilst we are staying at Disney.
Then we go on to Bahama Bay for 16 nights.
We love this place. It feels strange not going there straight away.

So here are the plans

The Day Before – Premier Inn Gatwick
Travel Day – Virgin Premium Economy ( we booked the No1 Lounge through Ade’s bank account and also got express security passes included)
Alamo car hire – Tahoe or equivalent booked
Then on to Universal – Royal Pacific Resort ……fingers crossed for sunshine!

4 sleeps later….
Disney’s Beach Club

We have the following ADR’S booked.

- Beaches & Cream on the afternoon we arrive
- Disney’s Beach Club Cape May Seafood Buffet the first night.
- Magic Kingdom Crystal Palace the next morning – Pooh and Friends
- DHS – Hollywood and Vine that evening – Minnie’s Seasonal dine
- Animal Kingdom Tusker House for dinner – character dining
- Be Our Guest lunch
- Epcot – Garden Grill for dinner with Chip and Dale
- Cape May for breakfast for Ade’s birthday with ‘Ohana in the evening

Bahama Bay

We plan to have a slower pace whilst staying at Bahama Bay but we have booked the following

- Wild Florida with a sloth encounter
(we gave this to Hollie on her 18th although it's for the 4 of us and she said it was her best gift!)
- MNSSHP on the 29th August
- We are meeting friends at Typhoon Lagoon on the 30th
- An ADR for dinner at Fort Wilderness Trails End

And we also hope to….
- Hire a boat from the Grand Floridian
- Take a trip to Celebration
- Visit the Big Cats Rescue in Tampa
- A trip to Clearwater
- Orlando Eye with a visit to Shake Shack
- Meet up with friends
- Citrus Farm
- 4 Parks one Day
- Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival
- Lots of shopping
- Lots of eating

Sorry….did I say that Bahama Bay was supposed to be a slower pace? Whoopsie!
We do though have days with nothing planned.

So that’s the plan.
oh and I forgot to say... we are hoping to upgrade to annual passes ready for next Summer as the kids will be finishing school in May and one in June.

It’s ended up being door to door a 4 week all bar one day trip.
Really wasn’t planned, it just kind of happened.

And all that starts in 6 sleeps time.

Thank you for reading along. Not long to go now!

Lots and lots of love

[MinnieMrsA]

Looks like a fabulous trip - will wave if we see you! x

[twinkleshmoo]

Aw Lisa it's exciting so see all your plans written down 😃 This is going to be such a fabulous trip, I'm so happy for you all and can't wait to follow along xx

[Kat11]

Following 😀

Kat

[Vikkicat]

Looks like ti will be magical trip! might see you there

[lolalolo86]

Looking forward to this

[Flimsey]

Sounds fab

[Sunnydreams]

Wow, what a trip! We stayed in Beach Club in March, it's amazing and the smell in the lobby

[miss_mouse]

Originally Posted by MinnieMrsA

Looks like a fabulous trip - will wave if we see you! x

See more...

Yes, please do

Have a great time xx

[miss_mouse]

Originally Posted by twinkleshmoo

Aw Lisa it's exciting so see all your plans written down 😃 This is going to be such a fabulous trip, I'm so happy for you all and can't wait to follow along xx

See more...

Thank you lovely!
Just seen your countdown.
I need that one too