The Trip Report for the trip that hasnt yet been booked!

Login to post comments
64 posts / 0 new
RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859
The Trip Report for the trip that hasnt yet been booked!

The Pre Trip

Right. That's it. I cant stand it any longer. I have to start my pre trip or I'll spontaneously combust!

This will be a very strange pre trip as currently, there is no trip! I know, but bear with me Wink

If you have read my last trip report (and of course you have Wink ) you will know that we bought some annual passes and intended to make good use of them - hopefully with 2 visits this year! Well 1 trip is booked, we have flights and DVC booked for a stay in September YAY Laughing out loud

Hold on I hear you cry, I thought you said you hadn't booked anything? Ahhh well, I might have booked a trip in September but the other trip is going to be in May! And for May I have booked nothing, nada, zilch, niente. Actually to be fair that's not exactly right. I haven't booked any flights, car hire or hotel/villa. I *have* booked some ADR's and tickets to see Olly Murs in House of Blues DTD Laughing out loud Anyway, I'll go back to the start to explain...

When we decided to upgrade our tickets last year to annual passes we did it on the basis that we would go back once more before they expired. Then we got to talking and decided we could do 2 trips if we booked 2 last minute bargains, one in May and one in September (as these are the months historically the bargains are to be had). We then went on the trip, upgraded our tickets and since then they have been burning our pockets, plaguing us in our sleep, pleading with us 'please use me'. Before we knew it, we were checking out flight prices for September (its okay, we'll just book some flights and then stay somewhere cheap on I drive). When we knew that Sy would be getting a bonus we thought yay, we can start thinking about booking some. Virgin miles plus money flights were really cheap, but then they started selling out for our dates (we wanted to make sure we were there for the start of food and wine) so we kinda went into panic mode! Ahhhh! All the other flights were over 100 pounds each more! Then the best woman in the world came to our rescue Smile my darling mother in law said 'I'll book them for you till you get the bonus though' awwwwwwww! My lovely mother in law Laughing out loud What a sweet and kind lady she is Laughing out loud No sooner were the words out of her mouth, the flights were booked Laughing out loud 11th till the 30th September. That's it, flights for September were booked. We can put the thoughts of that trip to bed now...

But we realllllly enjoyed our stay in AKL DVC last year for those 2 nights... and as we'd saved money on the flights, it would be good to stay in a standard or value studio for a few nights as we were going to be there for our wedding anniversary... if the points came up for rent from someone I knew... Well we could stay 1 week in a value for a really small amount of money (in comparison to normal Disney prices) and then slum it for the rest of the time in a really cheap hotel (well, as cheap as 3 stars go, Robyn doesn't do less than 3 stars Tongue ). A wonderful DIBBer came to my rescue and points were rented. 7 nights in AKL Jambo house, half of it was booked and half wasn't quite yet as she didn't have enough AKL points and had to wait till 7 months for the rest.
In the mean time I was talking with my good friend Hayley about DVC in general along with lots of Disney things, and she then lets the cat out that she *might* be renting some of her points out... And would I like some? WHAT?! After a few days of umming and ahhhing (yeah right!) we said yes, and another 10 nights at AKL were booked with 2 nights at BLT standard view... well I say standard view, that room was book for all of a few hours I believe before I fluttered my eyes lashes at Hayley and asked if she wouldn't mind changing it to a MK view for me Laughing out loud as its over our anniversary I wanted it to be special Smile

You are now probably wondering what this all has to do with the May trip? Well it means we have NO money left for May Sad Ah well, we will just go and have an amazing time in September and if there so happens to be a great last min trip for late April/early May then we might consider it.

That was before the winter that would never end Sad My illness is much worse in the cold and I've been slipping slowly downwards Sad (I have severe ulcerative colitis). I'm still okay and not back on any nasty steroids (which is a huge bonus as I hate them!) but its going that way... So getting away somewhere hot would be perfect. When I was younger my parents would try to book a holiday for feb - march time as it would be like clockwork each year I'd be ill and back on the steroids, but the warm weather sped up my recovery and sometimes staved off the need for the steroids, bonus! Smile

So then we were back to seriously considering Florida - were we ever really not?! If we could get cheap flights and a cheap hotel, Florida would be as cheap as anywhere else that's hot right now. We already have the tickets, and eating out isn't exactly expensive - especially as we like a mixture of places including the odd Taco Bell and Chili's dinner for 2 for $20! Smile

So we have a budget of around 2000 pounds for both of us including spending money. That's 1000 each for flights, hotel, car hire and spends! OMG! That's not a lot is it? If it cant be done then we wont be going :'( This time last year flights went as low as below 200 each Shock I've already checked out car hire and that will be around the 200 mark. We wont be doing any shopping (who needs to shop now when we're going back in September Wink ). We need to be there for the 7th of May for Olly Murs but other than that, we have no set dates. For a little while there we thought we would be going for 13 nights on the 25th April with Thomson, the flights went to 258 each (plus 70 for baggage) but I was hoping they might drop more and low and behold they went up again. Then I saw some for 14 nights leaving on the 3rd May, perfect as we would be there for most of the time Hayley and Matt were going to be there, we wanted to hopefully meet up a couple of times for dinner Smile Those flights were 328 but then went up the very next day. At the moment, right now we could fly for just over 400 each for 15 nights including baggage, but that it's a bit too much, we need them to come down to around 300 each at the most. Nail biting stuff! If the flights don't come down enough we will just got for 1 weeks (so saving on the hotel car hire and need for spends). We can grab together another few hundred possibly if we really need it, but we shouldn't really touch that if we can help it.

Wow I've written so much already without introducing us!

Me, Robyn, 28 years young, Super planner extraordinaire, obsessed by Disney in general but WDW in particular. Fav character is probably Tinkerbell as she's sassy like me Wink ideal job in WDW would be in one of the shops, so I could shower pixie dust every day Laughing out loud

My lovely hubby Simon, or Sy for short - 'Simon' is usually reserved for when I'm annoyed with him Wink He's 30 years old (damn he's old!) He became obsessed by Disney after he met me and we honeymooned in WDW. I went to WDW when I first started dating him and he would hear about all the wonderful things I was doing, so it was his choice to go back there for our honeymoon - and the obsession there began for him Wink His dream job is an imagineer so if he worked at Disney he would be doing that (in fact he hopes this might be true one day!).

And here we are Laughing out loud

A bit of background on us (a refresher for those who have read my many other trip reports!)

We met in 2008 after years of being online pals and clicked from the moment our eyes locked Smile then 1 week later I was off on holiday with a girlfriend for 2 weeks to Orlando Sad I was a love sick puppy! To be fair though, so was she Wink she had just started seeing a guy too hehe. After 2 weeks and a mahoooooosive phone bill I was in love Smile 3 months later in DLP on new years eve at midnight, Sy got down on 1 knee and asked me to marry him Laughing out loud we planned to marry 9 months later - we married just 1 year and 2 weeks after the day we met, bit of a whirlwind but we had talked for hours on end online for 4 years previous and just not had the opportunity to meet, so we did know each other very well.

A shameless picture of us on our wedding day

We honeymooned in WDW as I said before and hubby was hooked. A few weeks before our wedding I was introduced Disney forums by a lovely girl called Nicola Smile we were planning our weddings at the same time and knew each other from a wedding forum. As she knew we were going to WDW for our honeymoon she introduced me to the wonders of the dibb (the UK disney forum where it all started) and all that we could do to make it wonderful! As it happens I didn't really go on there much in the run up to our wedding so I didn't really learn much for that trip, but all the trips since then have been amazing (thank you Nic!).

We then planned to go back in 2010 for our 1st anniversary with both of our parents. My parents had been a few times and love Orlando (almost as much as us Wink ) but Sy's parents had never been before. They fell in love with Florida, less so the theme parks (though they did enjoy them) and have been back twice with us, once in 2011 (we went for 2 weeks and they joined us for 1 week at half term) and again last year when my parents came too (along with friends of Sy's parents). You can find TR's for all of those trips in my signature Wink

Last year was the first time we have ever stayed onsite, 1 week in the beach club with free dining and then 2 nights in a DVC villa at AKL. OMG I am SOLD. If I had the choice I would never stay offsite again. Like ever. We have even been seriously looking at buying in DVC but decided to pay off all of our debts first.

The plans

Well as I said before, we kinda don't have any! :S I have made some ADR's already but that was when I was sure we would be going on the 25th April. To be fair, we tend to eat in less popular places, plus as there are only 2 of us we can usually find a slot we want and slip it into the plan.

The Disney places we intend to eat at this time are...
Teppan edo
Grand Floridian cafe breakfast
The Plaza
Via Napoli
Les chefs des france
Coral reef
Sanaa

Also hoping to eat at Dine in cinema and Splitsville

We also want to eat in

Steak and shake (thanks to Hayley and her pictures!)
Hooters to try their loaded tato tots
Kobe
Outback
Chili's

Must eat snacks
I have never eaten a funnel cake, I know - weird?! So I must have one this trip.
Dole whips of course
Corn Dog for Sy
I'd like to try dippin' dots, never had one of them either.
Must try the *new* napoleon in the French Bakery in EPCOT (why Disney, WHY?!?!!)
And while I'm there I want to try the ham and cheese croissant
Sy wants to try the carrot cake cookie
Although I don't really drink much, I'm going to try a grey goose slushie, if I don't like it I can always make Sy drink it Wink
Beignets Smile

I know what you're thinking, that's a lot of food on a small budget! I'm not sure we will make it to all of them, but there's always September if we don't Wink Plus for the Disney restaurants we will be getting the tables in wonderland card.

Still left to do

Book flights
Book hotel/villa
Book car hire
Get some more dollars (didn't have many left from last year!)
Make sure our *wonderful* friends are still okay to cat sit our new addition (who is incredibly noisy, I'm warning you now! But he's really loving, especially at 3am... and honestly, you'll get used to the fish breath...)

*Side note. We adopted him 4 weeks ago and he was at home with us from day 1, his owners signed him over to our vets as they didn't want him anymore Sad he's 11 years old.

Where was i? Oh yes,

Tickets, ESTA, travel insurance and passports are still all okay from the last trip.

We plan on visiting all of the Disney parks, with a day at each water park maybe and 3 days in US & IOA (a day in each and 1 day to go back and do our fav rides). MK will be or first full day and last full day. Always is Smile

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

Emilio's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/23/2013
Posts: 339

Wow, you are inspired mickey ! Great reading and congratulations on your 4th anniversary!!!

btw, I've been a DVC member for many years (since 1993) and we have enjoyed tremendously our purchase. Like you said, after you've stayed on the property, it's very hard to settle for anything else.

Have you looked into a Disney cruise? We went on the Northern European one from UK (port of Dover), we had a blast! We also did the Med cruise (Disney of course) from Barcelona. Highly recommend either or both.

Anyways, best of luck, enjoy, and hope all your dreams come true. Cheers

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

Ooh yes, we took our first cruise last year, I booked it as a surprise for hubby's 30th birthday Smile not sure of the European cruises, they are very expensive to visit places I can get to cheaply being in the UK. I'd love to try the Alaskan cruise next Laughing out loud

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

JMUDukz's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/28/2012
Posts: 822

Woohoo!! Beautiful fur baby!! He's super lucky to have found some amazing humans!! What's his name?

Trip sounds awesome!! Steak and Shake is a must, we love driving back to the midwest just for some S&S. Trip sounds awesome, I can't wait for your next trip report.

__________________

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker

Offline
Joined: 08/01/2012
Posts: 2037

Robyn I just love your "newsy" reports and your new addition well what can I say but that he will be well loved. Keep the faith. I am sure that you will get your May trip!

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

JMUDukz wrote:
Woohoo!! Beautiful fur baby!! He's super lucky to have found some amazing humans!! What's his name?

Trip sounds awesome!! Steak and Shake is a must, we love driving back to the midwest just for some S&S. Trip sounds awesome, I can't wait for your next trip report.

His name is Wilbur, obviously he was named when we got him and he really knows his name so we didn't even consider changing it. I do sometimes call him wilberdinks or dinks. He doesn't mind what you call him, as long as you're paying him attention Wink he's a Siamese cat, I don't have any pedigree papers for him but it didnt even occur to me until someone asked, we took him cause he needed a home, not cause he was a pedigree.

We've never eaten in steak and shake but my friends pictures look soooooo good that we have to give it a try Laughing out loud

PirateGirl wrote:
Robyn I just love your "newsy" reports and your new addition well what can I say but that he will be well loved. Keep the faith. I am sure that you will get your May trip!

Aww glad you like it Smile I typed it out tonight, hubby couldn't believe how quickly it came out, what can I say, get a girl talking disney and I could go on for hours! Wink

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

Offline
Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 4703

RobynPrincess wrote:
He's 30 years old (damn he's old!)

Oh, ouch!! I feel like a dinosaur!! laugh wheelchair laugh

Last time we were at WDW and the French bakery, all the food was fantastic - including the ham & cheese croissant. Hope you have the same experience. I can't wait to get back there.

And congrats on Wilbur!! YAY!

Thanks for sharing - I loved it all!

Kat's picture
Kat
Offline
Joined: 05/05/2012
Posts: 395

Wow, what an awesome intro! Loved reading your and Sy's love story, and can't wait to hear more as your May trip comes to fruition...we'll be there in May too! awesome

__________________

Fall 2015: Master's Degree Graduation Trip, Details TBD! Can't wait to be back in the World!
Nov. 2014: Baby's First 1/2 Day at the Magic Kingdom; our date day at Hollywood studios
Jan. 2014: Our princess was born!
May 2013: Our POR & DCL honeymoon (& my husband's first Disney trip of hopefully many!)
May 2013: Our Disney-themed wedding

crazycatperson's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/19/2011
Posts: 3718

I love your cat. muchlove

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

JeffC wrote:
RobynPrincess wrote:
He's 30 years old (damn he's old!)

Oh, ouch!! I feel like a dinosaur!! laugh wheelchair laugh

Last time we were at WDW and the French bakery, all the food was fantastic - including the ham & cheese croissant. Hope you have the same experience. I can't wait to get back there.

And congrats on Wilbur!! YAY!

Thanks for sharing - I loved it all!


It's all about the napoleon in the France bakery, I'm sooooo mad that they changed it Sad I hope I still love it!

Kat wrote:
Wow, what an awesome intro! Loved reading your and Sy's love story, and can't wait to hear more as your May trip comes to fruition...we'll be there in May too! awesome

Will be keeping an eye out for you Wink

crazycatperson wrote:
I love your cat. muchlove

Aww we do too Smile thank you lovely Smile xxx

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

Kristen K.'s picture
Offline
Joined: 09/01/2011
Posts: 23803

rolling
That's a lot of report for a trip that hasn't been booked!
I love that you're just as Disney planning obsessed as I am.

Offline
Joined: 11/15/2012
Posts: 912

Robyn I don't know what sites you are using but someone I used to work with swore by skyscanner.net. They will give you all the possible options. At the moment it is still over PS400 waiting

Wilbur is gorgeous, if I lived nearer I would cat sit for you. Having to put my two into a cattery and am dreading it. Hope you get lucky fingers, toes all crossed

__________________

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

Kristen K. wrote:
rolling
That's a lot of report for a trip that hasn't been booked!
I love that you're just as Disney planning obsessed as I am.

Lol yes, I am totally disney obsessed, was it that obvious? Wink

Sally-Ann wrote:
Robyn I don't know what sites you are using but someone I used to work with swore by skyscanner.net. They will give you all the possible options. At the moment it is still over PS400 waiting

Wilbur is gorgeous, if I lived nearer I would cat sit for you. Having to put my two into a cattery and am dreading it. Hope you get lucky fingers, toes all crossed

Ooh yes, I have daily emails from skyscanner Wink I'm a little bit obsessed with checking the prices at the min. I don't think I could put Wilbur in a cattery, he's so cuddly, think he would be upset by it. Sad have you decided on the cattery? I used to work in one when I was 16, we used to tell people to come in and have a look around to get a feel for the place, we always wanted people to be happy Smile well as happy as they can be leaving their babies with us.

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

mimi's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/27/2012
Posts: 234

Robyn - your enthusiasm is absolutely contagious !!! awesome What a fabulous pre trip report so far! You and your husband make a beautiful couple! Your new baby Wilbur is soooo precious muchlove Fingers and toes crossed for you to get the bargins you need to make your May trip a reality! crossfingers crossfingers crossfingers

Offline
Joined: 11/15/2012
Posts: 912


Ooh yes, I have daily emails from skyscanner Wink I'm a little bit obsessed with checking the prices at the min. I don't think I could put Wilbur in a cattery, he's so cuddly, think he would be upset by it. Sad have you decided on the cattery? I used to work in one when I was 16, we used to tell people to come in and have a look around to get a feel for the place, we always wanted people to be happy Smile well as happy as they can be leaving their babies with us.

Yes we went to look at it. She has about 8 cats of her own that are all rescue ones and they were all happy,healthy and friendly. There were cats in there and they all seemed OK, it's just they like their human contact and cuddles on demand and I've always lived somewhere where my friends could look after them, not so here.

I'm an advance planner too, nothing wrong with being prepared!

__________________

Miss Mikki's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/20/2012
Posts: 766

Hey Robyn, I just had a marketing email from Expedia. They are having a 48 hour sale on trips to Orlando. Check it out, you may find something that will suit for your May trip.

__________________

no ticker Sad

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

Miss Mikki wrote:
Hey Robyn, I just had a marketing email from Expedia. They are having a 48 hour sale on trips to Orlando. Check it out, you may find something that will suit for your May trip.

Ooooooh thank you so much! I'm off to have a look now!

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

mimi wrote:
Robyn - your enthusiasm is absolutely contagious !!! awesome What a fabulous pre trip report so far! You and your husband make a beautiful couple! Your new baby Wilbur is soooo precious muchlove Fingers and toes crossed for you to get the bargins you need to make your May trip a reality! crossfingers crossfingers crossfingers

Aww thank you, keep your fingers crossed for me!

Sally-Ann wrote:

Ooh yes, I have daily emails from skyscanner Wink I'm a little bit obsessed with checking the prices at the min. I don't think I could put Wilbur in a cattery, he's so cuddly, think he would be upset by it. Sad have you decided on the cattery? I used to work in one when I was 16, we used to tell people to come in and have a look around to get a feel for the place, we always wanted people to be happy Smile well as happy as they can be leaving their babies with us.

Yes we went to look at it. She has about 8 cats of her own that are all rescue ones and they were all happy,healthy and friendly. There were cats in there and they all seemed OK, it's just they like their human contact and cuddles on demand and I've always lived somewhere where my friends could look after them, not so here.

I'm an advance planner too, nothing wrong with being prepared!


I'm sure they will be fine when you go, it's reassuring that she has so many rescue babies Smile

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

UPDATE

OMG OMG OMG OMG!

You can probably take a guess at what I'm about to say but I'm going to tell you the whole story anyway Tongue

I have been to the point (okay, maybe past the point) of obsessively checking on skyscanner, like 10 times a day obsessive. Its been driving me round the bend! I already had a list of hotels we were looking at, that were around 500 pounds for 2 weeks so I just needed the flights to come in at the right price. Last night at about 1am I was on the Thomson website looking at their flight prices and feeling somewhat disheartened as they hadn't come down (the weekend I was hoping for they were still over 350 each plus 70 each for baggage) but I thought I would take a quick gander at the late deals, to see if they had any offers on, and basically to get an idea of what price they were going for. I then see a deal leaving on the 27th April for 2 weeks staying at the Clarion Lake Buena Vista for 624 per person. That was one of the hotels on my list. Hmmm... if you worked out the flight price of 438 (as the package includes baggage) that made the hotel 186 each?! 372 total? That cant be right, the hotel is 500 on the cheapest website I could find. Maybe it would be worth booking the holiday as a package rather than a DIY as I usually do. We did the maths, if we booked DIY and paid 500 for the hotel, the flights would need to come down to 300 before baggage charge, which I'm not sure they will do for those dates (remember I have been religiously checking skyscanner Wink )

I talked with Sy and he thought it was a great idea too so I went in search of a cashback website, to see if there were any deals to be had. Our usual one was 10 cashback, well its better than nothing! But more amazing, they had a voucher for 40 off a holiday booked with them leaving in April, if spending over 1000! That's it, I'm sold! I did all my research on other websites to see if there was a deal out there better than the Thomson one but as I already knew, none came close. So off I went to book Laughing out loud but hold on, its now 2:30am and the website wouldn't let me book?! It kept saying 'Sorry, there is a fault. Please call us, our lines are open between 9am and 5pm (or times around that Wink ) Don't they know I am desperately trying to book our holiday?! How can there be a fault?!?! What are they trying to do to me? Ahhhh!

Well after quite a few *ahem* attempts I gave up and went to bed at about 3am. And I lay there. And lay there. Could I sleep? Hell no! I had a holiday to book, all sorts were going through my head, what if it wouldn't let me book? What if the deal had gone? What if someone before me had booked the last room? I finally gave up trying to sleep early (for me) at around 8:30am. I picked up my iPad and went to my favourite website, Skyscanner. I just wanted to check that the deal I found last night was the best around. You can only imagine my heart stopping when it showed the flights going up in price by 100! NOOOOOOO! With my heart in my mouth I quickly headed back to Thomson to see if the deal was still there. Yep it was. Quickly closed the page and went through the cashback website. I went through everything to make sure it was all right, that they hadn't got my hopes up and were about to add on a huge charge for something, nope. I put the code in to get 40 off and it worked! I then put the card details in. That's it, we're all paid and going! Then the page sat there for 10 minutes (I swear I'm not exaggerating!) saying please wait. Honestly, what are they trying to do to me? Take years off my life?! I went to the bank website to check and see if the money had gone - it had. So I clicked refresh, it then gave me our reference numbers and confirmation, phew!

So that's it, we're booked Laughing out loud for a grand total of 1206 - 603 per person for 2 weeks in Orlando. Flight and hotel. Laughing out loud leaving the UK on the 27th April for 14 nights.

So for those of you who don't know, the Clarion is in Lake Buena Vista, just down the road from Downtown Disney Wink and right near Hooters (really want to go there to try their loaded tato tots!). We have never stayed in LBV so it's a first for us.

This is the hotel

The rooms

Flying with Thomson. We didn't entertain flying one of the other charters with no IFE, I have grown accustomed to those seatback TV's Wink

Now I just need to book some car hire and get packing Laughing out loud

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

fmknightuk's picture
Offline
Joined: 08/23/2012
Posts: 259

Well done! That's an amazing deal. I've seen just a flight to Orlando cost PS600 pp so all your constant checking has defo paid off!! yay

__________________

Fiona

Vettelover's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/28/2009
Posts: 4658

Great deal Robyn, so happy it all worked out the way you were hoping. It pays to perservere.

__________________

crazycatperson's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/19/2011
Posts: 3718

What an awesome deal, Robyn! Congratulations on finding it, and have a wonderful time!

Kat's picture
Kat
Offline
Joined: 05/05/2012
Posts: 395

Congratulations! yay I'm so glad you booked the trip at such a bargain and that everything's working out for you--you'll be in the World so soon!!

__________________

Fall 2015: Master's Degree Graduation Trip, Details TBD! Can't wait to be back in the World!
Nov. 2014: Baby's First 1/2 Day at the Magic Kingdom; our date day at Hollywood studios
Jan. 2014: Our princess was born!
May 2013: Our POR & DCL honeymoon (& my husband's first Disney trip of hopefully many!)
May 2013: Our Disney-themed wedding

Kristen K.'s picture
Offline
Joined: 09/01/2011
Posts: 23803

Oh my gosh!! That's amazing Robyn!
yay yay yay

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

fmknightuk wrote:
Well done! That's an amazing deal. I've seen just a flight to Orlando cost PS600 pp so all your constant checking has defo paid off!! yay

Thank you! So excited Laughing out loud

Vettelover wrote:
Great deal Robyn, so happy it all worked out the way you were hoping. It pays to perservere.

I love that you call it persevere instead of obsessive Wink I'm going to start saying that, I wasn't obsessed with skyscanner, I was just persevering to get a good deal hehehe

crazycatperson wrote:
What an awesome deal, Robyn! Congratulations on finding it, and have a wonderful time!

Thank you! Can't wait Smile

Kat wrote:
Congratulations! yay I'm so glad you booked the trip at such a bargain and that everything's working out for you--you'll be in the World so soon!!

Awww thank you Smile will keep my eyes peeled for you Smile

Kristen K. wrote:
Oh my gosh!! That's amazing Robyn!
yay yay yay

yay I'm bouncing off the walls today Laughing out loud

The plan has been made, ADR's fiddled and ill be posting an update possibly later today, depending on how long I'm at the gym (need to go now I have a deadline hahaha)

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

Offline
Joined: 11/15/2012
Posts: 912

yay congratulations, am so glad you have found such a good deal

__________________

The Colonel's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/08/2012
Posts: 2943

There is a job opening at the NY Times you may be interested in, writing obituaries for people who aren't dead yet. Right up your alley.

__________________

See my Disney Photography at...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rt_images/

DVC owner since 2002 BCV/BWV/BLT/VGC

finngirl's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/11/2012
Posts: 1072

Super deal Robyn! This trip was just meant to be. We'll be there for some of your days - I will keep my eyes out for you in your pretty sundresses. wink

__________________

Diana

Time marches on. Eventually you realize it's doing it across your face.

Offline
Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 4703

clapping yay clapping stars stars yeah stars stars clapping yay clapping

Go Robyn!!!!

Kristen K.'s picture
Offline
Joined: 09/01/2011
Posts: 23803

The Colonel wrote:
There is a job opening at the NY Times you may be interested in, writing obituaries for people who aren't dead yet. Right up your alley.

rolling She didn't do too bad for a trip that wasn't booked now did she?

muchlove I can't wait to read the actual trip report!

RobynPrincess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/14/2010
Posts: 2859

Sally-Ann wrote:
yay congratulations, am so glad you have found such a good deal

Thank you!

The Colonel wrote:
There is a job opening at the NY Times you may be interested in, writing obituaries for people who aren't dead yet. Right up your alley.

laugh laugh well what can I say? A girl cam dream Wink

finngirl wrote:
Super deal Robyn! This trip was just meant to be. We'll be there for some of your days - I will keep my eyes out for you in your pretty sundresses. wink

Awww thank you, I'm usually found stuffing my face with food Wink

JeffC wrote:
clapping yay clapping stars stars yeah stars stars clapping yay clapping

Go Robyn!!!!


Thank you!

Kristen K. wrote:
The Colonel wrote:
There is a job opening at the NY Times you may be interested in, writing obituaries for people who aren't dead yet. Right up your alley.

rolling She didn't do too bad for a trip that wasn't booked now did she?

muchlove I can't wait to read the actual trip report!


You know what it will be like, a lot of food pictures with a few rides in between to fill the gaps Wink

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa