PreTrip - The five-year plan – May 2017. UPDATE 01/05/17. 18 days to go :)

[CreakingStool]

Pre Trip Updates Index

The Plan So Far
Disney Booking
Update and To Do List
Catch Up and New Bookings
Plans and ADR List
ADR Bookings and Other Important Stuff
12 Weeks to go, BIG update
Daily Plans
Aahhhh 37 days to go!
18 days to go - ears, autograph books and update!
2 Days to go - Packing and last minute stuff!

Where did it all begin...

I joined The Dibb in 2011 when my children were 5 and 2. I really wanted to take the family to Florida at some time in the future, I knew that this was a few years away and joined really for a bit of a nosy but I was soon hooked and I’ve become a regular visitor over the years. To think that my first thread back in the day was panic over confusing terminology and everything I thought I’d never understand - I’m now fully capable of having a lengthy conversation in 3 letter acronyms after becoming familiar with all the Disney jargon! I've listened to the entire Dibbcast back catalogue and the voices of Geoff, James, Mel, Rob and Grant are as familiar as family! In fact back all those years ago I think Geoff kindly sent me a copy of a Florida marketing video on DVD to show the kids

Fast forward to September 2014 and I jumped up to a 4 day week at work, dreams of Florida were coming closer but what did I do first – I booked a cheeky Feb 2015 weekend to DLP and it was amazing - Link to Trippie Index. Once this was out of the way though I began to save – 2016 would be the year I booked – almost 5 years from my initial jaunt into the world of The Dibb. At least after all these years reading threads I knew when the flights went on sale and, more importantly, when the free dining would be announced!

So who are we?

Me – Jules - currently 39, 40 later this year and I love to plan holidays which is probably one of the reasons a Florida trip appeals so much. I wouldn’t say I was a Disney fanatic when I was younger but I do remember the rare occurrence of a school friend visiting the mysterious world of the Mouse and thinking it sounded like quite good fun. Some Disney faves are Wall-E, Inside Out and the Toy Story films and I do love a bit of Harry Potter. I’ve been to America once before with DH (boyfriend at the time) in 2002 when we had an amazing and very budget trip to San Francisco, Hawaii and Las Vegas on the back of some overdue holiday back pay of DHs – back then I recall the flights were much cheaper and we ate a lot of McDonalds LOL! My only Disney experience was DLP last year and I loved it, and planned the living daylights out of it.

DH – Gav – almost 39 and will be 40 just before our Florida adventure begins. We were teenage sweethearts meeting when we were 16 and in the midst of the dreaded GCSE’s. He’s not a massive Disney fan but he knows a good holiday plan when he hears one and he also appreciates I am the Queen of holiday organisation so he’s in for a great trip. I’m wondering if I can get him in some sort of Disney t-shirt at all during the trip – we’ll see. He loves Star Wars and is disappointed that our DS doesn’t seem all that enthralled by it. Hoping to have some special birthday celebrations on this holiday for my lovely hubby.

DS – Zach – 9 about to turn 10 and will be 11 for our big holiday. Zach is just a lovely lad, he can be a proper giddy kipper and he never sits still, we’re trying to divert his energy into his love for athletics and cross country running but it just seems to give him more! Loves kicking a ball about and playing minecraft, often melts our hearts with unexpected kindness, sometimes drives us mad winding up his little sister. This holiday will come a couple of weeks after his year 6 SATS, great timing I think. Zach loves a Disney film even if he sometimes acts like he’s too old for them, he also loves the Minions and Marvel.

DD – Immy – 6 about to turn 7 and will be 8 for our big holiday. Immy is a really lovely little girl, she can be very shy but thanks partly to her bravery and partly to excellent school teachers the past couple of years she is really coming out of her shell. Dancing is becoming a big part of Immy’s life having plucked up the courage recently to join a dancing class – she absolutely loves it and I’m sure it’ll help even more with her shyness. She is all about princesses and fairies and shopkins and my little ponies!

Neither of the children have been on a long haul flight, we’ve been on a few trips to Greece though and spent many hours in the car towing our caravan from Manchester to Devon and other places so this sort of travel experience isn’t new to them, I know they’ll be super stars on the flights. I’m just hoping they both get a bit braver for the rides but if they don’t then it’ll be fine too.

Next Update : The Plan So Far

Thanks for reading 