Tickets are here!!!!!

I've just picked up our flight tickets!!! Unless there are any delays or cancellations (touch wood there aren't!), there's nothing left to stress about now.

The spending money I have right now is ok, so I'm just going to top up as much as possible over the next 3 1/2 weeks!!!!!

Everything booked now!!

Just booked the Spiderman breakfast for the 18th of October at 9am.

So nothing left to book or pay for now, just a few bits to take with us and spending money!!!!!

28 days to go now!!!!!!

Also, I changed teh T-Rex booking a few days ago. It's now on the 19th at 2:30pm instead of being on the same day as Shamu at 9pm!!

Getting sorted...

Ok, I think the spending money situation will be fine, fingers crossed, so that's one worry off my list.

I'm now getting freaked by how close the holiday is and how little I've got sorted!

Today I bought some suitcase scales so I know exactly what each case weighs instead of being charged at customs, a travel cushion for the kids, will get another so they each have one, and a new bum bag which fits everything I need in it and it's still small.

I've also got 2 cans of that mist spray in case we get too hot in the parks.

And last but not least, my passport has just arrived! I've just done my ESTA and it's been approved so we're all set to go!

I can get excited now, the biggest stresses (hopefully) are over and I just really need to pack and save as much spending money as possible and hope nothing is delayed or cancelled!

Update on my last post...

...well I've gone and cancelled the car!! I read the T+C to read up about the credit card issue and found that I had to have one in my name, and I had to have both parts of my driving licence, which I don't have (I have the card, but not the paper), so I wouldn't have been able to drive away in a car anyway.

Which is a very good thing, since I found a site (holidaytaxis.com) and have booked transfers to and from the airport for a total of £90! So I've saved over £200 there!

I now have nothing left to pay on my card, and have $1650 now. So I'm very happy right now. Even if I don't add any more, that's enough for us, although I will be adding more and will be getting money once out there, so things should be fine!

And I don't have the added stress worrying about the car hire or credit cards etc. I just need to sort out what I need to pack, what paperwork I'll need and how I'm going to cope for 2 weeks away from Ben!

Getting worried...

...about spending money. I now have $1800 on my card, which would be fine if there was nothing else coming off, but the car money is coming off soon which will be just over $500.

I'm trying to save up as much as possible and keep it in my work account, then withdraw it for when I go on holiday.

I'm pretty sure I'll be fine as long as nothing else is needed from this card. I don't know the policy at the car hire place. If they take a credit imprint, that amount will be blocked until I take the car back, so I hope they'll accept my mum's card but I'm not so sure. If that is what they do, I guess I'll have to save some of the shopping we had planned for the airport!

I do get £300 while I'm out there, so I just have to make sure I put as much as possible on there between now and 5 weeks!!!! Not even 5 weeks. Going to have to work my arse off I think.

Also, I rang up about my passport yesterday since it's been 2 weeks, and they said it was sent off for printing on the 3rd, so should hopefully be here Monday! That will be the end of the biggest stress and I can get ESTA sorted then too.

I really need to get sorted now. I've got loads of stuff to print off and sort out, packing to sort out (and we have nothing so far). I've not really sorted much at all!

The countdown has really begun now, it's going to come around really quickly now!

Update

Cancelled Teppan Edo, even though I really want to try it, as spending money is not going to be plentiful at all.

Got $1870 on my card and really need to add a lot more, since $500 is coming off for the car soon.

Still awaiting passport and will ring up on friday if it isn't here by then.

Booked with Shamu!

12:30pm on the 11th of October, all booked and paid for. :D Just need to wait a week or two to book the breakfast with Spiderman and all meals are sorted!

Passport sent!

Finally, with less than 7 weeks to go now!

Paid with my fairfx card so I now have $1900 on it, with just the car to get. I'm going to add everything I can to the card over the next few weeks, no more chips or stuff I don't need for a few weeks now. I really wanted to get to $3000 but I don't think that will happen now so I'm just going to put on as much as possible!

I'll be fine with money though as I'm not spending so much on food now, and I get about $500 while I'm out there so that will bring me up to $2400 straight away, plus anything else I put on from now, excluding the $500 odd that the car payment will be of course!

Cut backs...

I've cut some ADR's off my list. I had far too many and it was going to cost me a fortune. I'll save around $600 taking 5 ADR's off!

I'm now no longer booked at Sci-fi, Crystal Palace, Boma, Le Cellier or 'Ohana's.

I did really want to try Le Cellier, especially because it's so hard to get and I got a really good time, but it's one of the most expensive of the lot so had to get rid. Next time. :)

I'll post my new, and final, itinerary later.

Hit a few snags!

Knew it would happen!

Firstly, I've still not got my passport yet, or paid for my car. This will all have to come off my fairfx card :S

I've had a lot of unexpected bills and payments, which I've had to use my fairfx card too so I only have £2040 on my card now. Still not bad really.

I haven't been working much over the past few weeks either which hasn't helped so I need to work my butt off to save as much spends as possible.

Also, the Sofitel hotel we're staying at the night before will have the monorail closed at the time we're there. Not a major deal, we can get a short bus ride to the airport, but hopping on the monorail straight to our terminal within minutes was one of the reasons I booked the Sofitel in the first place.

So I've got $2040 on my card. $150 will be for the passport. The car money will be going onto the fairfx card anyway over the next few weeks so won't be eating into my current spending money. I still want $3000, which means I'll have to save up £800 in 8 weeks!! Not sure if I can manage that but I'll try my hardest!!

Tickers...

Update!

I know it's been ages since I updated this so I think it deserves a good update!

Was ADR day last week. The online system is up and running so at 11am I was all ready. I managed to get most of the ADR's I wanted and good times for us, and a couple of extra ones I never thought I'd get!

I'm still working on my itinerary now the emh hours are out and I know where we'll be eating so I may change or add things on before we go.

So far I have;

Coral Reef

Saturday 10th Oct

7:20pm

T-Rex

Sunday 11th Oct:

7:30pm

Princess Storybook meal at Akershus

Monday 12th Oct

8:10am

Donald's breakfast safari

Tuesday 13th Oct

9:00am

Boma

Tuesday 13th Oct

6:50pm

1900 Park Fare

Wednesday 14th Oct

8:00pm

Mickey's Backyard BBQ (paid for)

Thursday 22nd Oct

6:30pm

Just need to wait until I can book Dine with Shamu and breakfast with Spiderman. :)

Changes...

Ok, I did have £85 to pay the TA for my extra luggage, but they now owe me £14!

I've taken the transfers off and booked car hire!

14 day car hire in a Chevrolet Colbalt (or similar), 4 door, with a full tank of petrol and the young driver surcharge included, for £373! A bit more than I was quoted before but that one was a two door :S

Paid £35 deposit today so have £338 left to pay on that.

I've saved £100 from taking the transfers off so that's brilliant. Only paying an extra £273 for fully inclusive car hire which is an amazing price!

Things will be going a little slower now...

So far all earnings have been going straight onto my fairfx card, but now I have more outgoings, so adding to my spending money is going to take longer than he has been so far.

$2700 on my card so $1300 left to reach my big target! I've actually got enough now for everything I want to do, but the more the better!

Little more...

$2650 saved up so far!

Car hire!

Until now I wasn't even considering car hire because of the under 25 surcharge. Everywhere I've looked charges around £450 for the car, then another £350 for the young driver surcharge! No way am I paying £800 for a car, that's more than the resort alone!

But I've found a site, http://www.carhire3000.co.uk , that has a 4 door car, all insurances, surcharge included, and a full tank of petrol for just over £350!

So I may be booking that soon. :D

Booked a meal!

Found out today you can book the T-Rex dinner 6 months in advance so I've booked it for us!

Can always change it if my other ADR's don't fit around it.

Right now, we are booked at the T-rex café on Sunday teh 11th of October at 7:30pm. Should arrive 15 minutes before.

Yay!

Little more...

$2550 on my card!

Well I've actually got $2600 but there's an issue with something I bought, so waiting for a refund.

I've also decided to book window seats for on the way there. It'll cost £70 both ways but I don't think it'll matter on the way back so will book them for the way there instead for £35.

Don't much fancy being able to watch us leaving Orlando, and we'll probably sleep most of the way back.

I can't wait to see the kid's faces when we take off, looking out of the window. :D

Woop!

$2500 now on my card!

And...

$2350 now on my card :D

Woohoo!!

The kids passports arrived this morning!

I've applied for ESTA for the both of them and they have been approved. So it's just me now.

I've added 5k each onto our luggage both ways so we don't have to worry as much about going over on the way back, which I think we will with only 15kg each!

I also got all of our birth certificated back so I can get my passport done now.

Dining....

Online dining is up and running!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/

I'm still going to ring so I can book the next 10 days (perk of staying onsite) and the site doesn't let you do that. That could change though so fingers crossed!

But once I'm all booked I can swap and change and add on dining whenever I like up until the week we go. :D So not as much pressure to get the reservations we want first time.

Plus, I finally got hold of my U.S reservation number! I've been trying for weeks to get it with no luck (need it to book ADR's over the phone) so I'm pleased now.

...

$2300!! Getting so close to my target now!

I rang the passport office yesterday and they said they hadnt recieved my forms, but I sent them special delivery so they should be there today for sure. They told me the kids's passports should be here in a week, maybe less, but they can't guarantee it in case loads of people apply now or something like that.

So I'm waiting for those to arrive, and I can finally do mine!

Update...

Kids passports forms sent off again and $2250 on my fairfx card!

Yay!

$2150 now on my card and our birth certificates have finally arrived!! So I'll be going to the Post office today and sending them off.

Hopefuly it won't be long before we get their passports so I can get on with getting mine sorted so we can apply for ESTA!

Less than a month till I make my ADR's!

More...

$2050 now on my card.

Woohoo!!

Half way there!  $2000 on my card. :D  So chuffed!!

Plus, today my ticker has moved into the 3 month mark.  3 months and 29 days but still!!

Less than one month until I can make my ADR's. :D

$1900!

Looking like a daily thing right now! I was going to wait and see if the rate went up again but figured it wouldn't make much difference as I'm adding little and often so got another $50 today. :D

My tickers. Sooo close!!!!!

:D

$1850!

More...

$1800 on my card now!  Yay! 

Yay!

A lot of debts paid off so I've been left with a lot more today after a big pay day :D

$1750 now on my card!  Woop!

Half way to minimum amount!

My minimum spends is $3000.  I now have $1500!!!

I have to get $3000 to be able to afford everything I want to do, go to the places I want to eat etc, but I'm still aiming for $4000.  If I can get more then even better!

Update

$1450  now on the card!  It's amazing how quickly that's gone up!

I'm also trying to find out my US reservation number and having all sorts of problems.  The dining reservation line has been having trouble with a lot of people right now trying to make their ADR's.  They can't find UK reservation numbers, and say they can't get hold of the US number you need to ring. 

Some have been fine with just their dates and names so hoping it's just a glitch that will be sorted before I have to make mine in just over a month!

I still haven't received my, and my mum's, birth certificates so I can send them back to the passport office.  I'll have to get on to them and see what's going on.  I should have had them by now. 

Wow!

The rate has shot up this week!  $1.60 on Fairfx right now which is brilliant!

$1350 now on my card :D

Top up

$1300 on my card now.  Should have been about $1400 but I had to get food shopping with the card this week! 

Still going up though :D Depending on what bills are coming out this week I may get another $100 on saturday. :D 

.....

Another $100 on the card today. I was paid a day early because of the bank holiday next week!

I also have my new crocs! The flip flops aren't that comfortable really, the bit in between my toes, but the flats are heaven! I can wear them all day long!

$1200 on the card, $1800 to go minimum. $2800 target. :D

More...

Rate has shot up in the last few days. It's $1.5575 to the £1 right now so added another $50!

$1100 on the card now :D

Woo! Broken the 1000 mark!

I now have $1050 on my fairfx card! Over a third of the way to my minimum target, and just over a quarter to what I hope to have on there!

Money and crocs!

$900 now on my card!  Should have a grand on there on Thursday! Yay!

And Alyssa's crocs arrived this morning.  I'll take a pic later when she will agree to take them off!   I'll add Cameron's too.  

I have two more pairs coming, the non ugly kind.  One pair of flat crocs, whch look kind of like a regular high heeled shoe without the heel, and one pair of flip flop crocs.  

I can never normally wear flip flops because of the bit between your toes, but these should be comfortable. :D

I've had the kids passport forms back asking for my birth certificate and my mums to prove they are British citizens!  Which means two copies each, which will cost me about £35! 

Hopefully that will be enough and no more will be asked and we'll have them in a couple of weeks!  Then I can get on with doing mine!

Update...

$850 on my card now, plus the $20 on my second card which has now arrived!

I have also bought Alyssa some new crocs, as the ones I bought before were fake.  I'va also got some more stylish crocs for myself!  One pair of black flat crocs, one pair or flip flop crocs.  

We should be getting them in the post this week. :D

New savings ticker

More dollars on my card!

I now have $800 on my card!  I think I'll add another ticker with my spending money target! 

4 months and 25 days to go,  $2200 to go minimum, although I'm aiming for $4000 so we definitely won't need to worry about money at all when we're out there.  

Pics!

I have a new camera from a lovely friend from the DIS!  So I thought I'd add a few pics of some, yes some, of the stuff I've got for Florida so far!

Minnie purse, attatched to my lanyard :D

My Mickey Mouse lanyard with my first pin, again from my dis friend :)

My crocs!  Alyssa's haven't arrived yet and Cameron's have disappeared so I'll have to post pics of them when I have them both!

Alyssa's piglet bag for the parks.  It's so tiny, she loves it!

Alyssa's lanyard with 6 pins on it.  The LOVE one has lost the back though so that won't be coming. 

Autograph books!  One each. 

Cameron's bag for the parks.  Bit bigger than Alyssa's and this one is a back pack so he loves it. 

Cameron's lanyard.  Again the back of the LOVE one came off and he's lost it. 

My Disney Folder!  It's so full with everything we need, love it!

Kids eat free card.  Free meal for one child with each adult in certain places.  

Park tickets!  Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Seaworld, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywoord studios, not to mention Disney Quest, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard beach, Downtown Disney, World of sports...

The voucher for the Clearwater trip.  Need to ring a couple of days before to confirm the booking. 

Park maps, including Downtown Disney and Disney Quest. 

More...

Another $50 dollars on my card.  I also bought another one!  Well, I say bought, it was an offer so I didn't have to pay for the card.  I loaded that one with $20 so should have that in  few days.  

I will leave that one and keep it in my folder and will hopefully never have to use it.  

The reason I've bought another one is in case I lose my current card over there.  I have no other cards and that is my only money, so I cannot afford to lose it for 3 days while I get a replacement.  

I will keep the new one in the room, and if I do end up losing the other one, I can ring up and transfer the funds to the new card.  

Aah, still two weeks.

I wasn't able to add on an extra week unfortunately, but we still have so much planned, and it will be amazing so it's no big deal really.  We can do 3 weeks next time! 

Fairfx...

I have $600 on my card :D

Getting there!

Got to show you hotel...

The Sofitel, the hotel at Gatwick airport we're staying in the night before our flight.  Looks stunning. 

Update

$550 now on my fairfx card and I've also got us all some crocs each!  Ugly things, but we'll need something super comfortable for walking around the parks so they were a must really!

More money on my fairfx card, and a change?

I have $500 on my fairfx card now.  

I'm also looking into adding an extra week on!  I rang the ta and she said, as I'm adding something, there will be no charge for changing the flight dates!

I have found a hotel on I-Drive, near Universal which is what I wanted, with free transfers to all parks for £130 for the whole week!  I'd only need a bit more spending money (although not that much, breakfast is included and the places to eat on I-drive are cheap!), so it's definitely a possibility. 

The ta cannot get hold of Thomas Cook though right now because of everything that's happening in Mexico, all airlines must be so busy right now. 

As soon as she gets through, I'll know when they have 3 week flights and can decide whether to add it or not. 

If so, I would change the dates of POP so it's in the last two weeks of the holiday rather than the first.  We'd arrive and go to our hotel on I-drive, visit Seaworld, Universal, Islands of Adventure etc without having to pay for taxis to get there.  Then we can explore I-drive and Kissimmee, again with hardly any travel costs.  We can eat at all the cheap resturants that we want to eat at while we're there. 

Then we'll move to POP and spend two weeks in Disney, and we won't need to spend money on taxis to get everywhere we want to that isn't on Disney property.  I think the savings on taxis would more than cover the extra weeks acommodation and spending money!

I just hope Thomas Cook have flights for three weeks, and at a good time.  We can't go any earlier than we already are, and I won't have Cameron missing the beginning of term.  

Fingers crossed!