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

[bsblady01]

I hope that you have a great time at the world.

[christiejay]

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Update 13th February – I finally have the AAA rate added to my booking of 2 rooms. It’s not fantastic but it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!


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[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

Isn't that the truth! Your plans sound great. I love the ideas you are coming up with for the special occasions happening during your trip. Who would have thought that V&A's would be cheaper than Cirque and a meal???

[Annabel]

<font color="purple">Part 5: Another change for Jez's birthday!

I was recently talking to Andy about eating at Beaches &amp; Cream before our IllumiNations Cruise on Jez's birthday and I had to admit that it wasn't very birthday-ish. My mum agreed when I spoke to her about it and said she'd rather have a sit down meal. After seeing a photo of the cheesecake on the dessert menu at the Yacht Club Galley, I decided to check out their menu. The menu looks great and very reasonable, and there was something on it that we’d all eat. I showed it to Mum and hubby and they liked the look of it, so a decision was made to eat there instead of Beaches &amp; Cream. I haven’t made an ADR as yet but I did real in my Unofficial Guide that a PS isn't really necessary here. If anyone knows differently, then let me know [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

A few Sundays ago, we went to Mum and Jez’s for lunch. We talked a little about the holiday as per usual and Jez admitted that he thinks about it daily and can’t wait [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] I think Mum is coming round to the fact that we will be quite busy. I also think that Jez wants to spend a lot of time in the parks than I originally thought - score [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] So far, we have decided that we’ll probably play at Epcot our 1st night and try and do a few rides while other people are waiting to see IllumiNations, and also our last night we’ll attend evening EMH at Epcot to tire ourselves out for the long flight home.

My next step is to get all the tickets sorted. Andy already has his Disney AP but I will need an ultimate 14 day park hopper as will Mum and Jez. Even if we don’t spend every day on Disney property, it’s worth having the ticket to come and go as we please. I will probably get these tickets from Attraction Tickets Direct as they are one of the most reliable plus they price match so I know I can get the price down a little. We also need Universal tickets for Mum and Jez. I was thinking about getting a 3 day pass for them but for £1 more, I can get a week ticket, how crazy is that? Or for another £4 a 2 week ticket. Madness [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] I don’t know how often Jez will want to ride Hulk so to save us possibly buying more tickets out there, I'm getting the week ticket. I put this to Mum and Jez and they both agreed that a week ticket is the way to go. Andy and I still have our Universal APs that finally run out in June this year. The only things I will need to do once the tickets are sorted is book the Guest House for our return journey and pay off the rooms, which I will have to do at check in.

So what am I looking forward to about this trip? Pretty much everything if I’m honest. It’s going to be very special for me in many ways. I’m so excited that Mum and Jez are coming with us. Instead of just telling them about the awesome stuff we love to do, we can show them. Plus it will not only be their 1st wedding anniversary but Jez’s 50th, and I can’t think of a better place to celebrate such special events. On our last trip in October, every ride we went on, every meal we ate at, we both said the same thing – that we couldn’t wait to show Mum and Jez this. I can honestly say that I think we’re going to have an amazing vacation [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] It’s true that we’ve never spent 2 weeks together before but we will have our own rooms to spend some alone time. At first we considered a villa because it would be cheaper, but Mum and Jez really wanted to stay on-site. Jez stayed on site in 1995 and loved it, and Mum wanted to sample it also after Andy and I have raved about it. Andy and I just adore staying on-site so staying in a villa would’ve been quite hard for us. I have no wish to cook and clean on my holidays, thank you very much [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] The only thing I’m minorly concerned about is my mum and counter service food. Why is this? Well, let me tell you a little story.

*Cue flashback music* Once, when Andy and I still lived in Wales, Mum and Jez came for a visit. It was an Easter weekend and on the Monday, we all went into Cardiff to shop. When it came to lunch time, let’s just say we had fun and games with my mum – and Andy has never forgotten this. We went into 3 or 4 different places because Mum wasn’t happy about them – either the food selections were not up to scratch or she just didn’t like the look of the place, and we finally found a place she wanted to eat at nearly an hour and a half later, and we had to queue up for about 40 minutes. So I think it’s safe to say that my Mum can be picky (I love you really Mum!). I’m sure that it will work out fine but I just hope that the counter service places will be ok for her. I had only made a few ADRs because when we first started planning, Mum said she didn’t want to be in parks every day etc, but I think they are changing their minds. I just hope that if we want sit down places we’ll be able to make some ADRs on the day. I’m worrying needlessly I know, I’m sure things will work out.

So here we are in March with 8 weeks to go. The AP rates finally came out so I emailed my TA just to point this out (I know it’s probably like trying to teach an old dog new tricks but hey, I wanted to make sure they were on the ball). Turns out I don’t think they were. I waited 2 days for an email which I wasn’t really happy about. And my email wasn’t good news either – the AP rate couldn’t be applied and we didn’t know why. I think the word to describe how I was feeling was gutted. Absolutely and totally. I really wasn’t sure what to do next, although my TA assured me that they would try again.

The Friday afternoon as I’m eating my lunch, I check the Passporter boards from work. I checked my mailbox and found I had a message from iamgrumpy (Amy). Amy was so kind, she offered to ring Disney for me and see what she could sort out. I thought that was such a kind gesture and happily took her up on her offer. I checked my mailbox again before leaving work that night and found another message from Amy, saying she had been successful and sorted things out for us – thanks Amy, you rock [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grouphug.gif[/img] All that we needed was a split stay reservation – the first is for 10 days, the second for the remaining 4. I’m so ecstatic because it’s saving us so much money. I'm a bit disappointed with the service I received from our TA after using them so many times but we've decided that next time, we'll try another who gets rave reviews if the price is right [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

Thank you for reading my waffly pre-trip report so far. I shall update it as and when stuff happens but look out for the real deal in May [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] </font>

[Colexis Mom]

More great plans Annabel [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] You're going to have a fantastic trip [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[lauren-roxy]

Sounds like you have a really super trip planned Annabel and I can't wait to read all about it when you return!!!!

[christiejay]

Well, it sounds like you are ready to go tomorrow! Don't worry too much about not having the ADR's. You should still be able to get in most places without one if you are there early. Once it gets to be the middle of the lunch or dinner rush, then you're probably out of luck. If that should happen, grab a snack from a nearby cart - is your Mum okay with eating while walking, standing, or sitting on a bench? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] No offense meant ... I just know that some people (like my sister-in-law) won't eat unless they're inside with air conditioning!

[TroianRae]

Oh, I can't wait, Annabel!!!!!!!! You are gonna have a blast!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

[luvnwdwgal]

Can't wait for your trip report Annabel! The 4 of you are going to have a wonderful time!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[iamgrumpy]

Great start I can't wait for the real report to start! Glad I could help make your trip more magical!

[OCEANGRLLG]

Can't wait until the trip report, so far your plans look great [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Sounds like everyone is going to have a great time!

[ariel14]

I'm so excited for you to go on your trip! I also can't wait for the TR!!!

[simbarel]

How nice of Amy!

Can't wait to read your adventures!!!

[Pooh1219]

I'm so looking forward to your next trip report. Yours are my favorite. As for getting a place to eat without advance ADRs, we've been to Disney the last two years in the first weeks of May and have never had a problem. You might have to compromise and eat a little earlier or later than you initially asked for, but I would doubt if you'll have much trouble.

[Annabel]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Kathy [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Just a quick update - we've just under 5 weeks left to go and we've just purchased our park tickets [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Andy already has his premium AP so we just needed a ticket for me, Mum and Jez, plus they needed Universal tickets. I got Disney 14 Day Ultimate Tickets for the 3 of us, which covers us if we want to do any water parks, Pleasure Island or DisneyQuest. There is a mere £10 difference between a 7 day and a 14 day ticket so it makes sense to go for the 14. I've also got them a 7 day Universal ticket as going through the Universal website and other ticket agencies, it worked out the same as a 2 park 2 day ticket/get a 3rd day free. I know that Andy and Jez will want to get their Hulk fix so it works out just right.

All that is left for us to do now is pay off the hotel rooms at check-in, ring Disney to confirm the IllumiNations Cruise 14 days before and then to contact Yacht Club Private Dining to arrange for a birthday cake and some beer for the men. Practically everything else is done [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] All I have to do now is sit and wait in a totally non-patient manner [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[clio]

I sounds like you've gotten everything taken care of. Have a great trip.
Liz