The Double Celebration Trip April/May 2006 - Pre Trip Report Last Update 22/4 About This Page:

[lauren-roxy]

Glad to hear about the great deal for your flight Annabel!!! Can't wait to read about more of your plans!!!

[christiejay]

This sounds like it will be a fun trip. Can't wait to read about the goody bags!

[luvnwdwgal]

What a relief that must have been to finally make that call and book your flights! I think my blood pressure was raising just reading about it!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[angiek1024]

Goody bags? I've gotta hear about those! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[lvstitch]

So excited you are staring another TR. Looking forward to reading all about your planning.

[OCEANGRLLG]

WOOHOO [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Another Annabel trip report, I can not believe it is almost time for your trip, boy how time flies. Can't wait for more of the plans [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Kimberly

[bsblady01]

have a great trip and save some good weatehr for us because we arrive on may 12th we are staying at pop

[Annabel]

<font color="purple">Part 3 - Goodie bags for everyone as our planning night gets under way [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

Fast forward to October 2005. Andy and I were heading to the World for a wonderful 2 weeks and we were both so excited. I decided that a planning night was needed for our joint trip on our return, so I needed some things for goodie bags. I bought everyone a magic towel of a character, a trading pin, something from Pop Century and a Disney badge with their name on it, which we'd bought and had engraved at Celebrity 5 &amp; 10 at MGM Studios, plus I decided to give Mum and Jez some Disney Dollars. I also bought some goodies for my brother as he loves Stitch. Mum and Jez had $20 Disney Dollars each in their bags and they were Happiest Celebration on Earth ones so even more special.

Not even one week after returning from our 2 weeks at our happy place, a bombshell was dropped. My brother rang me to say welcome home - or so I thought. He also told me that I was going to be an aunt [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] Once the shock had faded somewhat, we all realised that it was just as well Chris and Clair had decided not to come with us, as the baby will be a mere 2 or 3 weeks old when we go on our trip [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] It turned out that Clair had been pregnant for awhile and she’d been complaining of not feeling well and being sick. The doctors had diagnosed her with different things and a scan hadn’t picked up the baby either. By the time they realised she was pregnant, Clair was already at least 3 months gone. I was really happy about becoming an aunt, but then I started to think. First grandchild in the family. Would Mum still want to go away? I must admit that I panicked here in case Mum decided she didn’t want to go [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I didn’t want to ask her in case I got the answer I didn’t want. Eventually, I had to ask her and she said it made no difference and we would be going as planned. Phew! Mum told me I was daft and I think she’s right but there you go [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Our planning night was arranged for the first weekend in November. Mum and Jez came over to stay the night, as they have done on many occasions. I have a day bed in my Disney room that extends to a double and it’s extremely comfy. We had dinner, which was fresh curries from Asda with rice and popadums and the drink was flowing nicely. Once dinner was eaten, it was time for some Disney fun. Mum and Jez didn’t know what was to come – especially when I donned my Minnie Mouse ears [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I also had on my Happiest Celebration on Earth t-shirt while Andy wore his 1971 WDW t-shirt. I presented them with their goodie bags and Mum quickly said “oh god, you’re not going to make us wear those ears are you???” We all laughed and I admitted that I had thought about buying everyone gold mouse ears with our names on but Andy had poo-pooed the idea. Just as well he had then!

Each goodie bag had a name badge on it. Mum’s badge had Winnie the Pooh characters, Jez’s was Chip and Dale, Andy’s was 3 of the dwarfs and mine was Figment. Jez had a ten pin bowling pin with Mickey on it and he was amazed at the detail on it. Mum’s pin was of Eeyore and he had a ladybird on his nose. They also had some Pop Century goodies – Jez had the light up pen while Mum had the keyring. Jez’s magic towel was Tigger, Mum’s was Eeyore, mine was Figment and Andy hadn’t wanted one so he went without [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] Mum and Jez really loved their goodies, especially the Disney Dollars. I have a feeling that they will be saved and not spent [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I made everyone wear their badge and we moved into the front room. We watched the UK planning DVD, some of the Universal video and part of the Disney US planning DVD. We were all pretty excited by the end of it. I took out the folder I had put together for them to help the planning along a bit, which included stuff like Disney maps and booklets, menus for the Disney restaurants and our First Choice premier class menus.

Originally the boys were going to do a day at Busch Gardens, leaving me and mum to indulge in a spa treatment or two, followed by afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge. Looking at my list of what we all wanted to do, it was decided that Busch Gardens and a day at Discovery Cove would be left for another visit. As Jez said “let’s face it, we’ll be back again and it will all still be there.” Mum also said that she didn’t want to be parked out and that we had to have some shopping and rest days too, which Andy and I normally plan for anyway. A day or two at Universal and Islands of Adventure was a must, as both Jez and Andy are desperate to ride Hulk, plus I want to ride my favourite Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] We also talked about spending a night at the Hard Rock Hotel but that probably won’t happen this time, so this is what we plan on doing during our two week adventure:

All 4 Disney parks – Animal Kingdom at least once or twice for Expedition Everest, Festival of the Lion King, Kilimanjaro Safari. We have never seen any of the daytime parades so this time, we want to see them all;

One or both water parks – Jez wants to try Summit Plummet and Andy has said that if Jez goes down it then he will too. Mum and I will stick with the lazy river;

Shopping – and lots of it! Another thing we all have in common is that we love to shop. Visits will be made to Florida Mall, Wal-Mart, Premium Outlets, Lake Buena Vista Outlets, Downtown Disney and The Loop, which is a new mall. Why The Loop? Because there is a Kohls store. Why Kohls? Well, the last time Mum and Jez visited Texas (Jez’s sister used to live there), they fell in love with the shopping, especially Kohls. Mum came home raving about it so much that I had to check their website. Unfortunately they didn’t have a store in Orlando, bummer. I can’t remember how I found out about the Loop opening but I found the website link and went to investigate. What did I find? Kohls of course! Oh and another Chilis for us to eat at [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] Andy and I were going to try The Loop out last trip but I’d forgotten to print out directions. Doh [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Now I have directions so we will definitely be paying a visit.

It was also decided that I wouldn’t make too many ADRs – Andy, nor Mum and Jez for that matter, wanted to feel tied down to a particular park or dinner. The rest of the time I guess we’ll eat counter service or possibly try and make ADRs on the day. I printed off some menus to give to Mum and Jez ideas but they were happy enough for us to make recommendations. I discussed it with Andy and this is what we came up with:

Dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern – this is our favourite character meal and we try to eat here every trip.

Dinner at Hollywood &amp; Vine for the Fantasmic package. Our favourite buffet, there’s a lot of choice here.

Boma – another wonderful buffet. Andy could take it or leave it but it’s one of my absolute favourites and I have a feeling that Mum and Jez will enjoy it too. There is definitely something here for everyone. Plus I know that Andy can raid the kiddie section if he can’t be bothered to try anything else [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Lunch at Le Cellier – our favourite restaurant, mainly because of the delightful cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I know the steaks here are awesome and I couldn’t leave it off the list.

I have plenty of other places I want to take Mum and Jez too. Chilis of course is one of them – they’ve never eaten here and I hope they love it as much as I do. They’re not big on Italian food really so I don’t think we’ll be visiting Olive Garden. Jez’s one request was to try Tony Romas as he loves ribs. We visit one near them in Kingston and the food is awesome so it’s definitely time to sample it Stateside [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] I think possibly a visit to the Cheesecake Factory is needed, and I will definitely be taking them to Earl of Sandwich.

coming up: what do you mean the EMH hours have changed [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[BostonTeaParty]

Sounds great, Annabel. I really hope our paths cross while at WDW. We have so many of the same things planned - (including Universal). You're all going to have a magical time. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update Annabel, and great plans [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[WishIwasinDisney]

Great update. I can't wait to see what they think of Chillis! We went last night and I had the boneless shanghai wings in honor of you! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

[Annabel]

[ QUOTE ]
We went last night and I had the boneless shanghai wings in honor of you!

[/ QUOTE ]

Mmmm how scrumptious [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] Thank you for having them in my honor....you don't happen to have a few left do you [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I don't think they'd send very well via airmail though [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]

[CRCrazy]

Annabel - I'm loving reading all about your plans - they sound perfect - and you did a marvelous job with your planning night!

Congratulations on becoming an auntie!

By the way - I think that the name should be changed from boneless Shanghai wings to Annabel's famous Shanghai wings! You've inspired so many Passporters, including myself, to try these - and you're right -they are scrumptious!!!

[CindyD]

Great report so far! Can't wait to read more!!

[lvstitch]

Everything sounds great. You will have an amazing time. I can feel your excitment as I read the report. Can't wait to read more.