carolfoy
<font color=cc6633>One has Ones hat and One's orf.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2005
Ok I'll start in the pre-trip waffle stages.
Its monday 18th september and there are 5 home sleeps and 1 Gatwick sleep to go. Excited? you betcha!
The gang this year will be Myself (35 - how did that happen?) Mum, (60) this year and Callum (10 - he had his birthday just before we went last year so he's chuffed he can tell everyone he's been twice in his tenth year)
My father once more refuses to come which is sad because I know he'd love it.
Anyway last years trip with the Pattersons was supposed to be our last to WDW for a while but as it was our first time on site and we had such an amazing time etc, etc it didn't take long before I started looking around at prices again. In fact I think all of December was taken up with my personal research! that's ok, I'm a travel agent so it was on-the-job training. To be honest most package prices seemed to have shot up in comparison to what we paid last year so I looked at individual component prices. Short time later I realised I can't justify paying that amount to go back to somewhere I've been before.
Christmas came and went, mid january and I noticed a TCD advert in a sunday paper offering 14 days Pop century for £299 a head - could it be true? yup! bargain city, with upgrades and tickets (special offer at £149 for 14 days) we've paid less than 2k. which was about £1500 less than Virgin not including the park tickets.
So, we're off agin, the only other change came when I noticed the announcement re All Star Movies pool being in refurb, a quick call to TCd and £50 amendment fee and we're changed to Pop, admittedly I could have waited until they informed me of the pool refurb and changed for free but it was £50 well spent in my eyes to guarantee another resort.
Another change came when I decided to change for the second week, I'd fancied the look of French Quarter for a while (actually I fancied the look of Poly concierge more but this was always supposed to be a cheapie) so another quick call and we're moving for the second week. This will remain a surprise for my mum, I'm pretty certain she'll love POFQ.
The plans to finally venture out to Universal and IOA are on hold as we just decided to see when we get there, but to be honest I'm pretty certain we won't even go - sorry Universal fans, I know I should but just can't tear myself away from Disney.
Now we're less than a week away. Matisse my killer-cat-from-hell has been booked into the only cattery in the country that will take her, The suitcases are basically packed. We're waiting to see if hand luggage rstrictions are lifted so Callum can take his wheelie rucksack with portable dvd player, gameboy and assorted bumph only children need. that's pretty much it so far.
Saturday will be a cattery trip, another clean through the house, top up the suitcases with last minute essentials and pick up Mum who will be working in the morning. We'll catch our train from Exeter around 2 or 3 o'clock and stay overnight in the Gatwick Hilton. Sunday we fly out at 12 and as long as it doesn't turn out to be like last years trip where we turned up at LGW to find the computers had crashed and we were delayed for hours, we should be there around 4:30 pm.
that's all for now, I'll update as and when.
Its monday 18th september and there are 5 home sleeps and 1 Gatwick sleep to go. Excited? you betcha!
The gang this year will be Myself (35 - how did that happen?) Mum, (60) this year and Callum (10 - he had his birthday just before we went last year so he's chuffed he can tell everyone he's been twice in his tenth year)
My father once more refuses to come which is sad because I know he'd love it.
Anyway last years trip with the Pattersons was supposed to be our last to WDW for a while but as it was our first time on site and we had such an amazing time etc, etc it didn't take long before I started looking around at prices again. In fact I think all of December was taken up with my personal research! that's ok, I'm a travel agent so it was on-the-job training. To be honest most package prices seemed to have shot up in comparison to what we paid last year so I looked at individual component prices. Short time later I realised I can't justify paying that amount to go back to somewhere I've been before.
Christmas came and went, mid january and I noticed a TCD advert in a sunday paper offering 14 days Pop century for £299 a head - could it be true? yup! bargain city, with upgrades and tickets (special offer at £149 for 14 days) we've paid less than 2k. which was about £1500 less than Virgin not including the park tickets.
So, we're off agin, the only other change came when I noticed the announcement re All Star Movies pool being in refurb, a quick call to TCd and £50 amendment fee and we're changed to Pop, admittedly I could have waited until they informed me of the pool refurb and changed for free but it was £50 well spent in my eyes to guarantee another resort.
Another change came when I decided to change for the second week, I'd fancied the look of French Quarter for a while (actually I fancied the look of Poly concierge more but this was always supposed to be a cheapie) so another quick call and we're moving for the second week. This will remain a surprise for my mum, I'm pretty certain she'll love POFQ.
The plans to finally venture out to Universal and IOA are on hold as we just decided to see when we get there, but to be honest I'm pretty certain we won't even go - sorry Universal fans, I know I should but just can't tear myself away from Disney.
Now we're less than a week away. Matisse my killer-cat-from-hell has been booked into the only cattery in the country that will take her, The suitcases are basically packed. We're waiting to see if hand luggage rstrictions are lifted so Callum can take his wheelie rucksack with portable dvd player, gameboy and assorted bumph only children need. that's pretty much it so far.
Saturday will be a cattery trip, another clean through the house, top up the suitcases with last minute essentials and pick up Mum who will be working in the morning. We'll catch our train from Exeter around 2 or 3 o'clock and stay overnight in the Gatwick Hilton. Sunday we fly out at 12 and as long as it doesn't turn out to be like last years trip where we turned up at LGW to find the computers had crashed and we were delayed for hours, we should be there around 4:30 pm.
that's all for now, I'll update as and when.