How big?

Yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon catching up with my favourite girls in the whole world; which as always as part of my pre holiday planning included discussing what presents they would like me to bring them back.

If I brought everything that they asked for I would be bankrupt and probably need to bring home at least 6 extra bags; but when a very cute little person says "you can fit it all in your bag, can't you?" its very hard to say well actually that might not be possible.

As I think I said way back in my first blog our home looks like an extension of a disney store with a great collection of Vinylmations (not to everyones taste I know) and also an impressive collection of aeriel toppers (or nickits as they are otherwise known as people keep stealing them off the car!); we have said more than once that we have enough stuff.

But yesterday evening I found my self drawn to the disney store website to see what's new and found this:

I already have a Belle, Snow White, Tinkerbell and Winnie the Pooh one and think that Rapunzal will make a lovely addition to my collection and needs to come home with me......its not that I want it but that I need it (or thats what I am telling myself)

This led me to thinking about what else I want this year and just how big a bag I might need to get everything home - and so my thought process turned to our return flight. You see if you fly economy you get 1x23kg bag home but if you fly premium economy you get 2x23kg; yes you get to sit in a nicer seat and get more baggage allowance or you could just save yourself a huge amount of money (all the more money to buy pretty things with) and just pay for an extra bag

So the question must be asked just how much shopping can one person do? And the answer to this of course is shed loads, whilst we are there we will visit Walmart twice, go on a day long shopping trip taking in the Florida Mall and the Premium Outlets and then to top that off we have the worlds biggest Disney store.

I might need a bigger shopping list let alone a bigger baggage allowance......make-up, yankee candles, bath and body works another vinylmation......

Until next time xxx

Get up, get on up!

Ok, let me start by saying I do know today is not Sunday the lack of blog writing was down to some very disturbed sleep due to a toothache; not mine but James ( who was very brave and visited the dentist) but here I am ready and raring to go......or something like that

The time has come for the pre holiday exercise regime to start, however it is too cold for nice long walks so the Wii fit board has been dusted off. I did my first session last Tuesday which I enjoyed but oh my god I did suffer the day after as my legs ached sooooo badly and were the cause of much amusement as I winced every time I sat down.

I looked as happy as this:

I wasn't to be put off though so tried it again on Saturday, I tell you those virtual trainers are ruthless as she started the session with I haven't seen you in a while! What? I dread to think how she would have been if I hadn't done it for even longer

So why am I putting myself through this? If you consider that if you walked the distance round World Showcase lagoon you will have walked 1.2 miles; I do a sedentary job so definitely some light exercise before we go is called for

I have had burning calf muscles, sore feet, blisters and so the list goes on by going on holiday with new shoes and expecting them not to rub. I know they are not to everyone's tastes but last year I brought
some crocs flip flops that I walked in 3 to 4 times a week for about six weeks prior to the holiday and
thankfully apart from 1 blister I was trouble free

My tips for this week are:

• Don't take new shoes
• Do some walking before hand you don't realise how big the parks are
• If you feel a blister starting deal with it straight away, each park has a first aid station who can supply you with plasters

I'm off to put my trainers on; not really its too cold tonight but I promise this week I will see my virtual trainer again and hope that I don't get told off

Until next time xxxxx

Anywhere you go, always take the weather wtih you

Well what a week it has been, not for me though as this week my life has been full of work with a little bit of socialising thrown in for good measure. What I was talking about was the weather in America - oh my goodness that is what you call snow.....not like the few flakes we get but the 21.8 inches they had in Boston over the weekend.

The Governor made the decision to ban all cars from the road at 4pm Friday to make sure that instead of attending car crashes the emergency services could where possible get to those people that really needed their help - I think we could learn a lot by this example.

So what does this have to do with my holiday planning; it got me to thinking about the weather. America has some of the most accurate weather forecasting EVER, I mean they knew just how much snow was going to fall, they can predict thunderstorms by the hour and predict the path of hurricanes and super storms like Sandy (now they just need to get better at Tornado's but they are a bit more tricky).

An average day in Florida:

Whilst in the states I have seen incredible weather, I have experienced Thunder Drops which are rain drops that when they hit the pavement the drop appears the size of a dinner plate, seen the most incredible lightening ever and also nearly fallen out of bed as the life was scared out of me by the loudest clap of thunder I have ever heard (I am sure Emma still laughs about this).

We have had an eventful day at Sea World when a storm came in, we were just about to leave the park when they started tannoying over the loud speaker we urge you to seek shelter; WHAT!!! For the next 30 minutes we hid in the admin offices with the staff whilst the storm raged outside; the water was ankle deep, trees had been ripped up and road signs bent over.

But that said I won't let the weather dictate my holiday as there is always something you can do, and even use it to your advantage; I mean you wouldn't let it stop you doing something at home so why do you let it ruin your holiday?

I see so many posts on my many Disney forums that I visit saying the forecast is predicting rain, I was hoping for better weather - as with our forecast this is only a snapshot and its best to check out one of the websites closer to the time that shows a more detailed hourly forecast.

I mean the rain could fall for 20 minutes and then the day turn out to be amazing or as at home it could rain all day. Just take this day at Magic Kingdom...these photo's were taken 5 minutes apart and shows how things can change. The day did turn out nice in the end - but it wasn't a light shower by any stretch of the imagination.

 

So what can you do when it rains in Disney World? My best tip If it was a shower would be to sit it out, you would be surprised how many people leave the parks when it rains which can lead to shorter queues for the attractions which is always a good thing.

If it looks like the rain is going to last you have a couple of options; you can join the masses and purchase a Disney poncho and carry on or change your plans. Downtown Disney, the cinema, bowling or shopping are great ways to spend a rainy day.

Me personally, I just carry on (I have a Disney poncho but it drives me mental - I mean its 80 degrees why would I want to cover myself in plastic which is only going to stick to me) so as long as there is no lightening (are you listening James?) I will put up my umbrella and off I go

And speaking of going I am off to check if its still snowing, don't forget you can subscribe to my blog by the links below if you aren't fed up of me already

Until next time....xxxxx

Planes, trains, automobiles; oh yes and a monorail

I was watching TV earlier when an advert came on for a job site, you know the one with Max Beasley where he starts off by talking about fears. Apparantly we are only born with 2 fears:

1. Loud noises
2. Falling

The rest of our fears are learnt behaviours, how does that work?!?!?

Anyway, I am sure you are wondering what this has to do with my love of all things Walt Disney World? Well today we tried to deal with one of my fears so visited the place with extortionate parking costs - yes we went for a trip to the airport as I hate flying with a passion.

Really, how does a large tin can filled with people stay up in the air? I have read those fear of flying books and know the statistic that you are more likely to be killed being kicked by a donkey than you are when flying but that doesn't make it any easier for me; however I do understand its a means to an end and allows me to visit my favourite place so you will find me dragging myself onto one of these:

Having arrived in Orlando you have a few more means of transport to try out, once you have cleared customs at MCO (sorry haven't flown into Sanford so can't tell you about that) you travel across to the main terminal on a shuttle (if possible and you can manage it take your luggage with you, missing out the second bag drop which saves loads of time)

You then have the choice of hire car, Disneys Magical Express, a travel company shuttle, a town car and so the list goes on.....James is yet to drive in Orlando so we opt for the Virgin Shuttle which takes us to our hotel; its the luck of the draw if you are the first or last drop off but who cares once you have gone under the Walt Disney sign - you know you are really there!

Staying on site has the advantage of transport directly to the 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and Downtown Disney either by bus (or motor coach as they call it), boat or the monorail. However, the term direct isn't all that it seems; sometimes if you are in a resort with seperate sections your bus or boat may take a sometimes lengthy detour.

For example when returning from Downtown Disney the bus to Port Orleans will visit Riversides 4 stops before heading over to the French Quarter and at The All Star resort a bus leaving for Animal Kingdom may stop at Sports, Music and Movies before heading off to the park.

Don't let this put you off though as they normally offer a pretty efficient service; just be prepared when planning and make sure you leave in plenty of time if you have those ever important ADR's

Here's a Friendship boat which travels between Hollywood Studios and Epcots International Gateway, which also serves the Swan and Dolphin hotels, the Yacht and Beach club and the Boardwalk

The most spectacular form of transport at the resort is the monorail, which from the TTC services Epcot and Magic Kingdom (including the Poly, the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian). To watch the monorail disappear into the Contemporary is still an amazing sight after all these times (you can get some incredible photo's of the monorail travelling around Seven Sea's Lagoon from the balcony at the Californian Grill - which unfortunately is closing for a refurb)

And after all that fun you will find me dragging myself on to the Magical Express to the airport for 8 and a half hours spent in a flying tin can to come home with thoughts of how long it will be until the next time.....

Before I sign off just to let you know of a little update; at the bottom of the blog I have added an option for you to subscribe by email - fingers crossed it will mean that the next time I post you will get a lovely little email drop into your inbox to let you know a new post is dying to be read

Until the next time......

xxxx