The kids reactions to their surprise!

This is the reaction we got the morning of the surprise!  They got ready for school as usual and got their uniforms on.  Then we faked a phone call from the school telling us there had been a power cut!

Sooooo I suggested they get their uniforms back off and watch a DVD...a brilliant one I watched the night before and know they will love!

So they came down and I started the DVD I posted earlier to reveal our long hidden secret!  I couldn't have asked for a better reaction, it makes me tear up every time I watch this!  Amazing start to an amazing holiday.

We're leaving tomorrow!!

Aaaaggghhh!!!

Ben's spend the day cleaning, I've spent the day packing!

Our cases are too heavy so we're going to have to get them down and get rid of half the stuff in there!

All ready for the big reveal in the morning!  I'll try to get a BT hotspot for long enough to upload their reactions!

2 days to go!!

So close now!  I've finished the DVD, banner and kids folders.  Just about to go to boots for some last minute things for packing, Ben's washed all the clothes and we were planning on packing today but they're not dry yet so we'll be packing tomorrow, our last night at home!!

I've just added another $100 too!




So $4300 in total!  Minus the $1300 everything mention = $3000 for spending money!

Taking the MAXIMUM we'll spend on food off makes $1350 (although realistically it'll probably be nearer $1000) our total spending money after food and wedding stuff is $1650!

We're also taking a chunk of change, £50, to the bank to change so may add that on later!

Bit more added!!!

Had a nice sale day today so just had to add more!  Another $200 added onto the total!




Which makes $4200 in total!  Take off the $1300 for the wedding, licence etc makes $2900 spending money!

THEN take off the maximum amount on food of $1355 (although realistically it'll probably be nearer $1000) our total spending money after food and wedding is $1545!

All that for 'stuff'! 

AND we still have 7 days to go so hopefully we'll be able to add a teensy bit more on too!! :D

The kids also smashed their pots yesterday!  Cameron and Alyssa both had £35, which is around $50, so they'll both have $150 of their own money to spend :D  Charlie had £15 in his.

I'm thinking of putting $10 in an envelope for each day for them to spend on what they like.  Of course we'll be buying things as well but that'll be theirs, once it's gone it's gone and if they don't spend it they can roll it over to the next day :D

Yes!! Target met!!

Woohoo!!!  Thanks to our savings jar I have reached my $4000 target!!



Which means we have $150 more than worked out below!

And we still have the kids pots to smash too! :D

Smashed my pot!

I've just smashed open my terramundi pot!  No where near as much as the last pot I smashed but I've not had this pot that long, the total is £180!!  Very chuffed with that, especially after totaling our meals last night!

That means I can bump the total up to our target, $4000!!  Possibly more! :D

Next is to smash the three kids pots.  They got $100 each from the last post so hopefully they'll have the same again.  I can't wait to see their faces when I hand over $200 each!

I'm going to try to get to the bank today to change my money then update the total properly then! :D

The Surprise Reveal DVD!

As I've mentioned before I have made a DVD for the kids to watch that will reveal they're going to Florida!!

They will get their uniforms on as usual, thinking they're going to school, then we'll get a phone call from the 'school' telling them there's an electrical fault and won't be open until 12pm.

I'll tell them they might as well get their uniforms off and watch a DVD...and below is what they will watch!! 

If you don't want to watch the whole 15 minutes then it's mainly made of adverts about everything we'll be doing, but made to look like normal adverts you find on a DVD...it gets good at 11:00 so SKIP TO THAT BIT!

Surprise DVD for Disney World! (SKIP TO THE GOOD... by f581604776

Then right at the end they'll turn around and we'll be standing there with either a banner or our suitcases ready to leave!!

Little added to the kitty!

Another $50 bought from the Post Office, not sure if we'll be able to get to $4000 but you never know! :D  Currently standing at $3850!

 

With the rest of the wedding cost, wedding licence, travel to Cocoa Beach etc that brings us down to just over $2550 which is fab for spending money!

Of that we'll mainly be spending on food!

ADR's we have are below, estimated budget for those, going off the most expensive choices and highest tip is...

Cinderella's Royal Table     PAID
Coral Reef Restaurant         $120
Ohana                                  $80
California Grill                    $190!!
Boma - Flavors of Africa    $120
Teppan Edo                         $135
Mama Melrose's                  $125
Ohana                                  $120
Sanaa                                   $155
Le Cellier Steakhouse         $95
Garden Grill Restaurant      $125
The Crystal Palace              $85





...a massive $1355!!!  BUT I have added up the most expensive meals, included drinks and desserts, and a 20% tip on everything, so this is the absolute maximum can come to!

California Grill for example has a $47 steak!  But also has $23 options which we'll most likely choose instead.

But I did total the maximum so we can be sure we will have more than enough for food so I'll take the $1350 total and take it off the spending total above which leaves us with $1200 for everything else!

Which only includes meals at the villa, petrol and shopping! :D  I think that's plenty!  Oh and $200 for the video package at Discovery Cove!  So $1000 total for everything else! :D

Single digits!!

9 days to go!!

So much still to do!

Kids folders still not done, wedding payment still not made (issues with paypal so can't use that!), some directions still not got, itinerary still not fully done...

The main things are done though, everything paid for, everything we need is bought (apart from new cossies and sat nav which we'll get there), travel cards in hand, tickets, confirmations, cases, passports, crocs etc in hand.

Wedding booked and finalised apart from the last payment, rings sorted, wedding outfits sorted, cameras sorted, dining reservations booked, photospass+ paid for just need to collect it...

So excited now, we're leaving next week!!!!! :D

20 days!!

Aaaggghhhh!!!!!

Starting to get just a teensy bit stressed now, making sure we have everything, everything is booked and planned, everything on track etc

The new camera I bought recently is faulty so I've had to get a new one and return the other one for a refund, waiting for the camera to arrive still so as of now I have no main camera!

Added another $100 to my new fairfx card so our total now stands at $3800!!  Woop!!

 

I've added on a videographer as well for the wedding so we don't have to worry about balancing a camera on a tripod in the sand and leave it filming!  So we have just over $1000 to pay for the wedding, and $93 for the wedding licence then that's done, then £200 left to pay for the dogs home boarding! 

So that will leave us with $2700 spending money, although I'm hoping to reach the $4000 mark before we go!! :D

Lil update...

It's getting very close now, 22 days to go!!!

We've pretty much got everything sorted now!

Music is now sorted for the wedding and we've added an aisle and palm trees for the altar :D

Got directions,  hope, to everywhere we need, although we will have the ipad and laptop and a sat nav once we've got it from Walmart so we should be fine.

I've memorised the route from Sanford airport to Walmart for the sat nav and some food for the villa,  although I'm nervous about driving there for the first time so I hope I'll remember!

All outfits finished, I think we have everything we need although I do have that 'we've forgotten something really important' feeling!

Our total spends hasn't gone up that much recently as we've had to dip into it for other expenses but today I topped it back up to where it was the last time I posted and I've also just topped up the new fairfx card with $100 so our total spends now is $3700!!!




 

 Out if that we still have to pay for the rest of the wedding, which is around $700 (or $1000 if we decide to add a videographer!), and $93 for the wedding licence bringing the total to a minimum of $2600, possibly $2900, which is still a good amount :D

We have a couple of 'free' days, meaning already paid for, Discovery Cove is paid for with unlimited food and drink all day and Cinderella's Royal Table is already paid for.

Our wedding planner is ringing shortly for a phone rehearsal since we obviously can't do it in person.  We've already discussed the colour of the flowers, position of the aisle/palm trees, music player, photographer etc and it's going to be a purple and white theme.  We're all in white, purple flower basket and ring pillow, purple flowers for me and I think either purple flowers or complimenting colours for the aisle.

Then we have the sand ceremony which should be really nice, and the sea shell wishes too. The boys outfits are in the suitcase already, they'll just need ironing.  Alyssa's dress is hanging up and mine is in it's wedding dress bag hanging up, we'll put those in at the last minute and hope they unwrinkle themselves once we're there, we have 12 days once we arrive until the wedding so they should do :D

Very excited now!!  The kids folders are getting there, the DVD needs re-burning as it skips so we'll have to get a blank DVD to do again!

Fairfx have come through!

Those of you who read my blog from our last trip in 2009 will know I had a major issue with the travel currency card company Fairfx!

A lot of money went missing from my card and they confirmed it was fraudulent, although it has taken them 3 years to refund me!

They've finally come through, refunded all monies taken back to me and a little extra for the wait, AND they've given us a wedding gift of $100 on a fairfx card as a further apology :D

So adding that $100 to our total we now have $3600 spending money!!

That SHOULD be plenty BUT, we still have half of the wedding to pay for, half of the cost of homing Cassie for 2 weeks, not to mention all the meals, necessary sat nav when we get there and normal holiday stuff so a good few hundred £ will be gone from that total in the first day!

We have 36 days to go, just over 5 weeks!  I'm waiting for my wedding dress bag so I can hang up my dress ASAP and hope it smooths itself out by the time we go as obviously I can't iron it!

More underwater cameras have arrived as I've misplaced my digital underwater one so wanted some just in case I can't find it, everyone's wedding shoes are here apart from Cameron's, they should be here any day, the tripod for the video camera is here, crocs ordered and I've ordered a veil too...no idea if I'll actually wear it or not, I don't know what my hair will be like, but it's there if I want it :D

Not much left to do now!  :D

Eeeek!

40 days to go!!

Last leg now and most things are sorted!

Got Ben's ring in hand and mine on order, hopefully to be picked up next week.

Got my shoes and Alyssa's shoes which match, and Bens, just need the boys ones now which is proving difficult!

Dog booked in to her new home for two weeks, the second half of that to pay when she's picked up.

Keys cut for house sitters, jewellery and valuables booked into bank safety deposit box.

Need music and music player sorting still.

Tripod is ordered.

All tickets and confirmation print outs done, train tickets in hand, hotel the night before, Gatwick lounge, Sanford lounge, MNSSHP tickets, photopass+, Discovery Cove, Disney Parks, Seaworld, Universal parks and coupon booklets :D

New check list!! Almost done!

More added to the heck list!!

Hotel the night before flight - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Used avios airmiles so was free. Day's Hotel (formally Skylane hotel)

Pick up from airport/train station to the hotel

Return to airport in the morning

Flights - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Thu 11-OCT-12 London Gatwick(09:15) to Sanford(14:25) Monarch(MON349)

Check-in: 07:15 Thu Gatwick South Term

Thu 25-OCT-12 4 seats Sanford(16:25) to London Gatwick(05:45 Fri) Monarch(MON348)

Your baggage allowance is 20kgs per adult/child.

Villa - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Thu 11-OCT-12 14 nights Disney Area Villas 4D, Disney Area - Self Catering

1 x 3 Bedroom Villa. Sleeps from 2 to 6 Adults plus 2 Children. 1x Cot Space

Address: Disney Area Villas

6365 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy

Kissimmee

FL

34747

Tel. 001 407 362 1017

Car hire - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Thu 11-OCT-12 14 Days 1 x INTERMEDIATE 4DR AUTO 2BAG AC

Insurance: Fully Inclusive

Pick-up: Alamo Desk at Airport Drop-off: Alamo Desk at Airport

One night in Hard Rock Hotel - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Tuesday 16th - Wednesday 17th

Includes two days Front of line passes and Early entry an hour before park opening

Park tickets - BOOKED, PAID FOR & ARRIVED

All Disney's parks/water parks/areas

Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure

Seaworld

Discovery Cove (3 x dolphin swim, 2 x non swim)
Sea venture at Discovery Cove for me!

Travel card x 3 GOT

Topping up continuously

Passports - GOT

ESTA's -DONE

API's - DONE

Travel Insurance -  GOT

With the AA, kids free :D

ADR's - BOOKED 

Photopass - ORDERED, UPGRADED TO PHOTPASS+ & PAID FOR

Wedding - BOOKED; FINAL PAYMENT ONCE WE'RE OVER THERE

Wedding licence - TO BE BOUGHT WHEN OVER THERE

Wedding dress- GOT

Bens attire- GOT  

Kids attire - GOT

Halloween costumes for MNSSHP - GOT!  PIRATE FAMILY!

Wedding accessories - HAIR GRIPS, FLOWERS, BRACELETS, GOT

Photgrapher - GOT
Music - CHOOSING

Wedding shoes - TO GET

New Camera - GOTTripod - TO GET

Wedding rings  - TO GET

Train tickets to and from airport - BOOKED AND RECEIVED

Drive to my mum's, leave the car, have a cuppa then head to Leicester train station for around 11:45am

Train to St Pancreas, change to train to Gatwick

Ring hotel from Gatwick for transfer 

Extras - GOT

Camera/Camcorder

5 x disposable cameras for kids

2 x dispoable under water cameras for kids

1 x digital underwater camera

Luggage tags

Luggage locks

Suitcases

Car seats for Cameron and Alyssa

5 x 16gb SD cards 

Lots more to add on and little bits to get but most of the main things are sorted!!

My wedding dress is here and altered so it now fits perfectly! Alyssa's dress is here and gorgeous. The boys shirts and bottoms are here or on their way. Wedding rings chosen, just got to pick them up.   Main thing to get now are shoes for the wedding! 

Almost completed check list!!!

I've added so much since the last check list!!

Hotel the night before flight - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Used avios airmiles so was free. Day's Hotel (formally Skylane hotel)

Pick up from airport/train station to the hotel

Return to airport in the morning

Flights - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Thu 11-OCT-12 London Gatwick(09:15) to Sanford(14:25) Monarch(MON349)

Check-in: 07:15 Thu Gatwick South Term

Thu 25-OCT-12 4 seats Sanford(16:25) to London Gatwick(05:45 Fri) Monarch(MON348)

Your baggage allowance is 20kgs per adult/child.

Villa - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Thu 11-OCT-12 14 nights Disney Area Villas 4D, Disney Area - Self Catering

1 x 3 Bedroom Villa. Sleeps from 2 to 6 Adults plus 2 Children. 1x Cot Space

Address: Disney Area Villas

6365 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy

Kissimmee

FL

34747

Tel. 001 407 362 1017

Car hire - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Thu 11-OCT-12 14 Days 1 x INTERMEDIATE 4DR AUTO 2BAG AC

Insurance: Fully Inclusive

Pick-up: Alamo Desk at Airport Drop-off: Alamo Desk at Airport

One night in Hard Rock Hotel - BOOKED & PAID FOR

Tuesday 16th - Wednesday 17th

Includes two days Front of line passes and Early entry an hour before park opening

Park tickets - BOOKED, PAID FOR & ARRIVED

All Disney's parks/water parks/areas

Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure

Seaworld

Discovery Cove (3 x dolphin swim, 2 x non swim)
Sea venture at Discovery Cove for me!

Travel card x 3- GOT

Topping up continuously

Passports - GOT

ESTA's -DONE

API's - DONE

Travel Insurance - GOT

With the AA, kids free :D

ADR's - BOOKED

Photopass - ORDERED, UPGRADED TO PHOTPASS+ & PAID FOR


Wedding - BOOKED; FINAL PAYMENT ONCE WE'RE OVER THERE
Wedding licence - TO BE BOUGHT WHEN OVER THERE
Wedding dress- GOT
Bens attire- GOT 
Kids attire - JUST CHOOSING BETWEEN A HANDFUL BEFORE BUYING
Halloween costumes for MNSSHP - GOT!  PIRATE FAMILY!
Wedding accessories - HAIR GRIPS, FLOWERS, BRACELETS, GOT
Photgrapher - GOT
Music - CHOOSING
New Camera - GOT
Tripod - TO GET
Bens wedding ring - TO GET

Train tickets to and from airport - BOOKED AND RECEIVED
Drive to my mum's, leave the car, have a cuppa then head to Leicester train station for around 11:45am
Train to St Pancreas, change to train to Gatwick
Ring hotel from Gatwick for transfer 

Extras - GOT
Camera/Camcorder
5 x disposable cameras for kids
2 x dispoable under water cameras for kids
1 x digital underwater camera
Luggage tags
Luggage locks
Suitcases
Car seats for Cameron and Alyssa
5 x 16gb SD cards
 
Lots more to add on and little bits to get but most of the main things are sorted!!

The big things we need to get soon are the kids wedding outfits (found them, just choosing between a handful we like), Bens ring, and waiting for my dress to arrive so I can make sure it fits and get it shortened (15cm too long!). 

I've started making the kids their plane folders, which has 40 pockets to fill, and I will fill them!  So far we have some activity sheets each for them, and invitation each for our wedding, letting them know the part they'll be playing, and an envelope with $100 each inside :D 

I'm planning on making a proper little brochure folder for them detailing everything we're doing, on what days, with info and pictures etc, hoping it'll keep them occupied for a good while on the plane!

They'll be made more exciting by the fact they won't be able to look at them until we get on the plane :D

Booked the train tickets!

Everything is coming together very nicely!

We'll do the surprise DVD for the kids around 11 ish, then head straight to my mums house, have a quick cuppa and she'll take us to the station or we'll get a taxi from there :D

The train is not going to be a bad trip at all, here's me with 3 1/2 hours in my head, when in fact it's just over an hour to London St Pancreas, then switching to the one to Gatwick which only takes 45 minutes :D

Which is a huge relief for the way back, at least we won't get off the plane just to travels for hours again!

Gatwick lounge!

We've booked the No1 airport lounge for before our flight in the morning :)

It includes free food and drink, yes including alcoholic drinks, which will pay for itself after an hour! It also has free wifi, a football table, tv, games and all the usual, magazines, papers etc and the whole side is a viewing area for the planes taking off which the kids will love!

Bargain! Well check in early, then head straight for the lounge :)

It's getting so close now and real!! I've also bought my wedding dress, subject to it fitting! I'll be buying the kids outfits very soon, we've just got to decide between a handful of choices.

We've also decided to dress up as a pirate family for the Halloween party afterwards so that's getting sorted too!

Just bens ring, wedding music and tripod,  and tidbits to go once the above is sorted :)

Almost there!

I\'ve now got $3500 to take with us! I got lots of $1 bills for tolls etc so the wad is quite big! I have $500 in cash and I think I\'ll stop at that now, that\'s plenty for the first day or two and to give the kids their money before. Leave too :)

I\'ve also got luggage tags for the cases! Need to think about what well be packing now and the rest of the wedding stuff.

href="http://www.tickerfactory.com/savings/wyAQVgw/">

Photopass+

The photopass+ package arrived last week!

It has the voucher we need to take and exchange for the photopass+ card, the code for the regular photopass photos and a DVD full of stunning stock photos!

Can't wait to start using it :D

Ben has also got his wedding outfit sorted :D  So now we just need the boys to match him and decide what me and Alyssa will wear, and of course Ben's ring!

Miscalculation!

I bought $50 at the post office today and realised I'd added up the total wrong somewhere! So I now have $3400!!!!!

Up again!

Ok, I've not long topped up but I've just spent $70 on upgrading to photopass+ and it wasn't a whole number so I had to top up again!

Up to $3300!! :D

Photopass+

Just upgraded my photopass pre order to photopass which includes lots of extras!

Photopass CD includes all photopass photographer pictures, the ones in the parks.

Photopass+ includes that AND lots of meal photos and ride photos as well which are around $20-$30 EACH!  With the amount of meals we have booked and rides we'll be going on, $70 extra for the photopass+ upgrade will pay for itself in just one day!

The extras are;

Participating Attractions:

• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Rock ‘n Roller Coaster
• Expedition Everest
• Dinosaur

Participating Character Dining Locations:

• 1900 Park Fare
• Ohana (Breakfast only)
• Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
• Chef Mickey’s
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Tusker House Restaurant (Breakfast only)
• Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
• Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Disney PhotoPass+ Includes:

• PhotoPass+ Card and Lanyard
• A gallery CD with over 400 stock photos
• A unique code to create and order a PhotoCD with all your photos online at DisneyPhotoPass.com
• Print Packages at select Dining locations
• Digital Downloads of select Attractions

More on the card, $3250 total!!


 

Back!

Long time no see! I've topped up a little again, another $150 on the card :D



Just a quick update, everything is booked and paid for in full apart from the wedding, which will be paid in full when we get there :D

We're waiting for train prices so we can decide if it's better to get a train or to drive, or possibly get a lift there and train back!

Our itinerary so far is;

Wed 10 -  
Pretend kids are going to school - Fake phonecall from school telling us about late opening because of electrical fault - Uniforms off - Surprise DVD - Train or car to London Hotel

Thu 11 -  
Gatwick 09:15 to Sanford 14:25 Monarch(MON349)
Check-in: 06:15 South Term – Request seats
Pick up car – Alamo –
Walmart for Sat Nav and food
Pick up villa keys – Find villa

Fri 12 -  
Disney Park- Magic Kingdom

Breakfast – Cinderella’s – 9:35am

Dinner – Coral Reef – 5:40pm

Sat 13 –  

Breakfast – ‘Ohana – 9:30am

I drive – Kissimmee

Dinner – California Grill – 7:30pm

Sun 14 -  
Disney Park – Animal Kingdom

Dinner – Boma – 5pm

Mon 15 -  
Rest Day

Dinner – Teppan Edo – 6:30pm

Tue 16 -  
Up early, drive to and check in to Hard Rock Hotel

Leave bags at desk, get FOL passes and head to Harry Potter

Breakfast with Spiderman

Wed 17 –   

 
Early entry to IOA and WWoHP

Check out 11am, put bags in car, head to Universal Studios

Thu 18 -  
Arrive at 8:30am at Discovery Cove

Fri 19 -  
Disney Park – Hollywood Studios

Lunch – Mama Melrose – 1:25pm

Sat 20 –

Seaworld

Dinner – ‘Ohana – 6:45pm

Sun 21 –  
Water Park morning – Park afternoon

Dinner – Sanaa - 6:35pm

Mon 22 -  
Disney Park – Disney Park- Epcot – Food and Wine – World Showcase a must this time

Lunch – Le Cellier – 11:35am

Dinner – Garden Grill – 6:30pm

Tue 23 – 

Wedding!!  Cocoa Beach – 11am

MNNSHP!! Magic Kingdom – 7pm

Wed 24 –  
Shopping - Florida Mall - Outlet stores

Dinner – Whispering Canyon – 6:40pm

Thu 25 - 
Sanford 16:25 to London Gatwick 05:45 Fri Monarch(MON348)
Check in: 13.25 into Sanford airport Lounge

I've got to book the Spiderman breakfast again for after the early hour in the WWoHP and somewhere in Seaworld for when we're there.

We've got to get everyone new shoes for the parks and a few nicnacs, and we've still got to find wedding outfits!

Other that we're pretty much sorted! :D