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 

Woop! Passport has arrived!

Ben's passport is here, just two days after his interview!

So ESTA is now done and API entered, yay!  Check list now is almost complete!

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)

2 x kids eat free cards

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 & PAID FOR


WEDDING - BOOKED; FINAL PAYMENT ONCE WE'RE OVER THERE
WEDDING LICENCE TO BE BOUGHT WHEN OVER THERE

TRAIN TO AND FROM AIRPORT - CAN'T BOOK UNTIL AUGUST

So now we can just enjoy buying 'stuff', Ben's wedding ring (just got mine today) and wedding outfits for the kids, new cossies etc!

Passport interview over!

Ben has been to his passport interview so now it's just a matter of waiting for either the passport to come or a letter asking for more info? 

I won't relax until that passport is here!  Once that's done we can apply for ESTA, add API then I think apart from the train which we can't book until August we're all done! :D

Reached my original target!!

I now have $3000 spending money saved! :D

It's not hit me until just now how much money that is!  The last time we went we had a little over $2k when we left which was fine.

This time there are more of us BUT Charlie will get everything for free, there are a couple of whole days paid for (Discovery Cove, Wedding day and night etc) so we'll have less days to pay for and we're in a villa so no need to spend so much on food this time!

I've booked LOTS of ADR's but most days we only have one booked, so instead of having to eat the other meals in the parks we can stock up on food from Walmart :D

I'm determined to fit into the little beach wedding dress I bought a size too small, Ben is going to sort out the boys outfits and I'll get Alyssa a lovely dress too :D

Then we just need the rings, but thankfully as I work in the jewellery business I can get some really nice ones at a great price :D

So, as of now we have $3000 spending money!  I won't be topping up again until we've bought all the wedding outfits so may not post for a while, but knowing me they'll be sorted soon!

MNSSHP tickets are here!

Disney made a bit of a boo boo with my tickets. I had booked MNSSHP for the 23rd but the e ticket said the 26th!

They couldn\'t seem to fix this so instead they sent me the tickets, usually a £10 charge by express post on the 14th and they arrived today!! :D

Been far too long!

Well, after using my dollar card for the wedding deposit, then paying for Mickey's not so scary Halloween Party I've spent the last couple of weeks topping up the card back up to the $2800 so haven't posted much.

I've now just added another $100 making $2900 on the cards! :D

The only things now we need to save for are another $1100 to reach our big $4k, $93 for the wedding licence we need to buy there before we get married, and the rest of the wedding which is about $500 more, then we're done, everything is paid for!

Technically we can go now and have plenty enough :D  Obviously the more the better so roll on that $4k target!


 

MNSSHP and Wedding booked!!

Woohoo!!

Our wedding will be on the 23rd of October on Cocoa Beach!

 

We'll each have one of the below...

We'll have a shell wishing, which is everyone having a seashell with our names and date of marriage, making a wish, then throwing them in the ocean...

 

 Bridal bouquet with tropical flowers of course!

 And a sand ceremony :D  All 5 of us will have our own coloured sand (I'm thinking birthstone colours) and will pour it into on glass vase to make a unique pattern and keep forever..

All this will include the registrar (or US eqivalent of anyway), and photographer, who will give us the entire CD of photos, rather than just 50 a lot of companies offer!

AND to top it off, afterwards we'll have something to eat, then spend the evening at Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party!

Which means we'll get to have some fantastic (and free!) photopass pics of us ion our wedding gear in front of the Castle and with characters, as well as all the free sweets we can handle!  What a lovely end to our holiday! :D

New 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)

2 x kids eat free cards

Travel card x 3- GOT

Topping up continuously

Passports -

Me, Cameron, Alyssa and Charlie - GOT

Ben - SENT OFF, WAITING TO ARRIVE

ESTA's -

Me, Cameron, Alyssa and Charlie - DONE

Ben - NEED TO DO

API's -

Me, Cameron, Alyssa and Charlie - DONE

Ben  - NEED TO DO

Travel Insurance - GOT

With the AA, kids free :D

ADR's - BOOKED

PHOTOPASS - ORDERED & PAID FOR


WEDDING - IN PROCESS OF BOOKING

TRAIN TO AND FROM AIRPORT - CAN'T BOOK UNTIL AUGUST

Wedding!

Added another $100 on my cards making $2800 total so far, and I've also moved the target to $4000!

We've decided we will be getting married in Florida!  I've just got to confirm a few things, then we can book!

It'll be on Cocoa Beach (even the name sounds lovely!) on the 23rd.  We'll have summer clothes on, photography, flowers, sand ceremony and seashell wishes :D

AND then afterwards we'll go to Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party in our wedding outfits and get some fantastic photos in front of the castle, with the characters, getting lots of photopass pictures in our wedding gear for free!

The kids will also get to trick or treat and get LOTS of sweets!  If they're still awake by 9pm we'll stay for the fireworks and try to get some pictures infront of them :D

ADR list!

This is the list of ADR's we have! There are a couple in there we've done before but most are new and I can't wait to try them!

Cinderella's Royal Table 
Magic Kingdom® Park
Date: Friday, October 12, 2012
Time: 9:35 a.m.

Coral Reef Restaurant 
Epcot®
Date: Friday, October 12, 2012 Time:
5:40 p.m.

'Ohana 
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2012
Time: 9:30 a.m.

California Grill 
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2012
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Boma–Flavors of Africa 
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Date: Sunday, October 14, 2012
Time: 5:00 p.m.

Teppan Edo 
Epcot®
Date: Monday, October 15, 2012
Time: 6:30 p.m.

Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano 
Disney's Hollywood Studios®
Date: Friday, October 19, 2012
Time: 1:25 p.m.

'Ohana
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Date: Saturday, October 20, 2012
Time: 6:45 p.m.

Sanaa 
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas
Date: Sunday, October 21, 2012
Time: 6:35 p.m.

Le Cellier Steakhouse 
Epcot® Date: Monday, October 22, 2012
Time: 11:35 a.m.

The Garden Grill Restaurant 
Epcot® Date: Monday, October 22, 2012
Time: 6:30 p.m.

Whispering Canyon Café 
 Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Time: 6:40 p.m.

Wedding?

Another $100 on the 3rd card making $2700! :D

AND...we're seriously thinking about getting married in Florida! :D

It's fairly cheap and easy to arrange and what can beat getting married on a gorgeous white sand beach?

The only downside to that is there will be no guests BUT there's nothing stopping us having a big party when we get back! :D

ADR's all booked!

Since my last post I've booked 'Ohana for dinner at 6:35pm on the 20th so we can eat a fantastic meal in a stunning location, then watch the fireworks from the beach :D

Then it's Sanaa on the 21st at 6:45pm, still light enough to see all the animals and this is one for Ben and his spicy pallette!

And finally on the 22nd, we'll be spending our day in Epcot, eating lunch at 11:35am at the hard to get Le Cellier!

And Dinner at 6:30pm at the rotating Garden Grill :D

I've also topped up one of my cards by $100 making $2600 total!

Now my ADR's are booked I can update my check list and start saving for spending money again!

Booked Mama Melrose for lunch on the 19th!

Yay!

Charlie's passport is here! So cute!

So his ESTA and API is now done :D Just Ben's to go now, his should be back soon too :D

I also booked 'Ohana for breakfast on the 13th at 9:30am, the morning before our Cali Grill reservation. It was brilliant last time so wanted to do it again :D

I'm also looking into booking it as a dinner too and watch the fireworks on the beach :D

Teppan Edo!

Tepan Edo in, in the Japan pavilion in Epcot, booked for 6:30pm on the 15th!

4 ADR's now booked!

Our first full morning we'll be having breakfast in Cinderella's Castle!

Later in the evening we'll make out way to the Coral Reef restaurant in Epcot...

The next evening we'll have dinner in California Grill in the Contemporary resort with a fantastic view of magic Kingdom and at 9pm we'll be able to watch Wishes from the private viewing area.

The next Day we'll have dinner at Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge! :D

California Grill!

Got California Grill in the Contemporary resort booked for the 13th at 7:30pm.

This means we'll be finishing dinner just as the fireworks show above the Castle, Wishes, starts! There's a private viewing area for anyone eating at California Grill so we should get a fantastic view without the crowds :D

ADR day!

I've managed to book Cinderella's Royal Table for 9:35am on the 12th, our first morning there :D

I also booked Coral Reef again for 5:40pm for dinner. We might be doing more park hopping this time, it means less limitations :D

I've had to pay in advance for CRT ($176!! :O Although that is including tips) so my balance went down on one of my card, which I've now topped up with $71 odd making. So I'll add another $96 at my next top up which will bring it back to $1000 on that card! :D

I've had to change my first day from DHS to MK and swapped them. Now to get another booked tomorrow! :D

A few updates...

Charlie and Ben's passports are now both sent off, so we're just waiting for them to come back so we can do ESTA's and API's...

Boostapaks are both here and they're fab! To0 big to use as school backpacks and park backpacks I think but perfect for car seats and hand luggage :D

Another $100 on my 3rd card! Making $2500 total so far :D

And ADR day is on Saturday! I have less than 2 days to sort out which ones I want!

Boostpaks!

Well we needed back packs for the kids in the parks, we needed booster seats for the car since we're driving this year, and we needed a bag each for them to take on their plane as they get a luggage allowance too so no point wasting it.

This would cost a fortune normally with 3 children! But I've just found boostapak!

It's a back pack cross car seat cross hold on luggage!

I've just bought Cameron a green one and Alyssa a pink one! Charlie will still need a proper car seat, not just a booster, but this also means we can get rid of their normal ones (big and heavy and take up so much space!) in our car and they can use these for their every day car seats and school lunch bag too!

It should be more room in the car and less hassle getting the kids in and out the car with all their stuff every morning!