Two Weeks to Go!!

That's right it is only 2 weeks to go until we see that 'Welcome Home' sign!! This vacation was booked approximately 16 months in advance and although at times it has seemed a long way off it really is nearly here!

So we are now down to the finer details in the planning process; from those last minute purchases to making sure all bills are paid before we leave to actually deciding on which park we will visit on which day (I keep putting it off because it's hard to decide).

So the Excel spreadsheet is up and running and I have key dates already marked out. Our first and last days are in my mind a 'no-brainer', it has to be The Magic Kingdom; it is after all the epitome of all that Disney conjures up, and nothing beats that feeling of walking under the railroad and down Main Street USA heading towards Cinderella Castle. I then have dates put aside for a few other things;

• We have our ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation) at Teppan Edo
• We will be attending WDW Radio's Meet of the Month at Disney's Blizzard Beach
• We shall be joining Michelle of The Minnie Minxes for a 'Drink Around the World' at Epcot
• And another date with Michelle will be over at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop when we will hopefully tackle the infamous 'Kitchen Sink Ice-Cream Sundae'

I have sorted our Photopass+ and ordered new raincoats for the kids as would you believe it they have grown somewhat since our last trip back in 2011.

I am hoping to book at least one more ADR, this time for Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge so I need to make some decisions as to where we are going on which days so that I can tie this reservation in nicely.

I am also, along with the help of my daughter, going to make up some envelopes ready for tipping 'Mousekeeping' - a creative few hours with pens, envelopes, glue and more decorating envelopes for those oh so important tips.

So over the next few days I shall let you know how the planning is coming along and just how excited we are all getting!

The Finer Details

So we are down to 68 days to go! Over the last few days I have managed to get some of the finer points put in place ready for our vacation.

Reservations have now been made for a hotel near our departure airport for the night before we fly.  We have a relatively early check-in for our flight but have a car drive of over 3 hours to get there.  So it makes life so much easier to drive to the airport the day before and then we're ready and refreshed for that early check-in.

I have also booked the car parking for the duration of our holiday, so I now know that whilst we are off having fun our car will be looked after and waiting for us when we return. I have opted for the valet service this year, just to avoid any delays when we get back.

This year I have had to apply for ESTA's (Electronic System for Travel Authorzation) for all of us.  An online system to get approval for entry into the US.  Which for some reason was strangely nerve wrecking when applying; making sure I'd input everything correctly and then paying the fee and waiting for the result only to then see 'Authorization Pending'!!!  Which meant I then had to log back on to check a day or so later and was much relieved to see 'Authorization Approved' - phew!  This will last us for two years...seems a good excuse to think about another vacation ;)

And finally I have booked an ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation)!!  My very first ADR...ever!!  We will be eating at Teppan Edo at the Japan pavillion in Epcot...and yes I'm just a little excited.  Booking online was so easy and it would be very tempting to make a few more reservations but as we have the Quick Service Dining Plan this meal, and any others like it, will have to be paid for separately out of our vacation budget.  So for the time being I am happy to have this one booked and I think we shall see what happens whilst on vacation.

So for now I think I have booked and sorted as much as I can, I have even booked all my hair appointments between now and when we go!  After all I want to look my best for Mickey :).  In fact the only things left to do are to order some US dollars nearer the time and a last minute shop for all the 'essentials'...68 days and counting!

Forward Planning

So here I am sat inside on a snowy Monday afternoon in the UK.  I decided to close pre-school early today because of the snow, and my kids school did the same; typical of the UK we have a few centimetres of snow and the whole world grinds to a stop!!

So with a bit of time on my hands (well I wasn't going anywhere and as much as a run would have been lovely it really wasn't possible in this weather) I got to thinking about warmer climes and future vacations....only 218 days to WDW!!

So using my new Mickey notebook I have started my 'WDW To Do List'.

Christmas present from Simon

Now having been to WDW 7 times before, I consider myself pretty up to speed on attractions (with the exception of brand new ones like those in New Fantasyland of course) but I am very aware that there is lots of other stuff that we have either never managed to squeeze into our vacation or simply weren't practical to do (for example when the kids were younger) or we didn't even know about previously (the world of Twitter, Facebook and Podcasts have increased my awareness!).  So this year I have decided to make a list of all those things that I'd like to do or see that we haven't done before (or done for a long time).

Now this list has only just started and everyone in the family has been instructed to let me know of anything that they'd like to do so that it can be a list for all of us to get excited about and involved with.  It can be anything at all from perhaps insisting on that favourite ride or stopping to take the time to drink in the surroundings.  So far we have;

• Stopping to look at the Mary Blair mural in the Contemporary Resort
• Completing all the miniature golf courses
• Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
• Beauty & Beast Stage Show - not done this one in ages
• Visit to Art of Animation Resort
• Make an actual ADR (never done one before....I know!!!) 
• and make it a Signature Dining experience
• ....oh and I suppose I'd better mention to ride The Tower of Terror - this is for you, Simon and Michelle!!! (I'll just add that I'm not a big roller coaster fan but I have been bullied into doing this ride by the aforementioned individuals!)

Now this is only the start of what I think may turn into a rather long 'To Do' list - what do YOU think I should add to the list?