Having posted all my holiday photos, well almost all it seems i have brought my holiday to a close. When i got back and saw i had over 400 photos just on my phone and tablet it seemed i could share it all for an endless amount of time.
I had first said i wanted to go to Disney for my 30th Birthday well before i got a job and did worry i would not be able to get the time off. Big thanks to my boss for giving me the time off to be able to go end of November and early December. Although it was in advance of my Birthday i felt the whole time was a celebration.
Having the chance to go shopping USA style was an extremely exciting idea for me now grown up and being a big baking nerd Geek. I researched what shops to potentially visit and also hunted down some Disney outfits and accessories. I also was equally as excited to go to Harry Potter Wizarding world. I was never a fan when i was younger, not even knowing of its existence. Having watched the films and also seen the range in Primark made me a bigger fan and i got some stuff to completely geek myself out.
Having not been on holiday since 2006 YES 12 YEARS! it was an exciting adventure.
The day of departure was a long day from setting off to the airport to landing when it is warm at night. I managed to watch a few films onboard and having some food. I do not really eat on board as i have had air sickness in the past, i hoped this was gone but sadly not. When it came time to land i developed a headache and unfortunately was sick on the descent downwards. I did not eat on the flight back just slept.
Getting lost in the car
As soon as we had our bags we got the hire Car and we got terribly lost for over an hour, finally finding our Hotel set right at the back of Old town. Road signs at night are not quite the same as here in the Uk. We stopped twice to get directions from Subway and another store before we got to the hotel exhausted and just went to bed.
We was getting tired and irritable, i was also a little more sick in the car whilst we drove around frantically looking for the Hotel.
The Hotel and Breakfast
Having no time to unpack we found something to wear and went down to the Hotel Breakfast, not knowing what to expect we had a look around.
Mickey Waffles, Eggs, Bacon, Cereals Toast, Yogurt, Juices and whatnot. Donuts muffins and Fruit. I usually just have Cereals but the ones they had were all sugar laden so opted for something sweet Mickey Waffles. We went each day down to Breakfast besides one day when we went to IHOP. As part of the Breakfast you also got Teas and Coffees and they had flavoured Coffee Mates so we took some up to the room to have and had a bundle left to take home with us. Irish Cream, Hazelnut and French Vanilla
The hotel was clean and nice. The room was large and the bed was comfortable, we did watch some TV but not much. The bath did seem small compared to at home, but maybe they take showers more. Their was a fridge a Microwave and an Iron. The lift seemed to take forever to come down when called. The Hotel was also well situated behind Old town in Kissimee. Was close by to many Restaurants and shops by foot and by Car. We had a walk out to a few shops and grabbed some Coupon Books and went into Walgreens.
EATING OUT
I wont go on about Food as i have mentioned this in length in my other Blogs.
I can honestly say we had a great array of Foods and snacks whilst we was away and not too many disasters to speak of. I guess also being a Baking nerd makes me a big foodie also so eating and buying food was one of the things i had looked forward to.
I am surprised i did not come back as big as a house as the food was not exactly Veg and Fruits hahahaha. I guess all the walking around the Theme parks and shopping burned off some calories lol
SHOPPING
The array of shops and places we visited provided us all with many things to purchase and look at. I was wise to take my debit card as i did use it on several occasions, although this meant a charge which i didn’t know how much until i got back. It turns out i got a better rate on the transactions on my card then i did getting the travel money.
The timing also being around Black Friday meant many deals were about, i would not have got so much if they was not on sale offers. I am still a super savvy shopper abroad and still would not buy things expensive. We managed to find a Thrift store ( charity shop) which was a surprise and it was huge!
Looking around there was so much i got a Nutcracker Xmas Bauble and a Mickey Mouse Cupcake Pin. Bargains to be had if you had a real good look around.
For more detailed breakdown of the best places to bag a bargain and shop check out my blog post on Orlando shopping guide
THE SUITCASES
Shopping during the holiday period i just built up items, without thinking too much about the suitcase space. When it came towards the end and packing was in sight. It was clear all of us were in trouble, Their was talk of leaving stuff behind due to the space. We had to go to Walmart at 10pm on the last day and get 1 extra suitcase and 2 small hand luggage. We were prepared to pay for an extra case and it being my stuff and mums blankets i was dreading them saying No. Anyway we dropped the Cases to Downtown Disney Springs and my case was over weight. Luckily this was then made the extra case and the others were within the limit. We paid the fee and that was that.
But at least we know the situation now in regards to Luggage with Virgin Atlantic.
On the way back our cases took forever to come out and i did think WHERE ARE THOSE CASES? i hope they are not lost. We got them finally and one had been opened for inspection and rummaged through randomly apparently. One or two of my Cake tins was all dented where they had been put back haphazardly. I had to get rid of one of them and the other has minor dents, luckily these were low cost from Dollar store and Hobby Lobby. I was lucky only one of my Xmas ornaments was damaged and that was me! i put it in the case and squashed it when i closed it.
DISNEY
I can say i did take a fair amount of photos in Disney and the Disney parks, here are just a few. I had several Disney inspired outfits to wear in my days at the parks. With My Mickey Jacket, Bag and t shirt for Disneyland. A group wanted their photo taken so we took it for them and they took ones of us. I love these pictures!
My mum also had some Disney inspired outfits i found the romper for her and the Ears and she got the Trainers from Primark. They did rub on her and we met a lady in the lift of the hotel with the same Shoes on and she said the same!
It rained later in the Afternoon and many ducked for cover getting out their rain macks and protectors, compared to the cold Rain we have this was nothing and it was still warm out. We did not stay for the Fireworks or night time display as we had to go and eat off sight.
There are plenty of places to eat in the parks for every budget and Disney themed foods and souvenirs to get. ( Check out my blog post on Disney food for more info on that)
When you are in Epcot do stop by Club Cool you get to try different sodas from around the world for free. These are from across the globe my faves were the Pineapple Fanta and Melon Frosty Fanta
THE QUEUES
I think you know if you are going to Disney you are going to have to line up at some point. Not having been for 12 years it seemed like everything had a long line. The longest line was avatar in Animal Kingdom which was 2hours! it was worth it in the end.
Having to spend that much time in a line does take chunks out of your day and you need to prioritise which rides you want to go to first before the lines gets silly waiting times!
You really need to be patient and think to yourself do you want to wait that long. Several rides we bypassed for this reason.
- Avatar river rapids
- Toy story land
- Big thunder mountain
I think the shortest line was 20mins for the Mickey 3d show, Carousel of Progress and the People mover everything else was a long wait. It is no wonder people fork out extra for the fast passes. The area for the queues has grown considerably since i remember it.
Disney water parks
We never really had any issues with crowding at the waterpark, one was closed as is always seasonally so we went to Typhoon Lagoon. The Car park was never very full and you could go on the attractions freely and easily. Lovely atmosphere with the music going on and snacks available. We always got there early but managed to find seats all the time in decent places.
I am not used to sitting around sunbathing relaxing so took some time to get used to. I did get a tan and my legs were the first to burn. We went to the waterparks 4-5 days out of the 14 we was there.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS / ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE/VOLCANO BAY
I was quite excited to go to Universal which was our first day, we took a photo in the Voodoo Donuts chair and sneaked past Cinnabon ( we went later on) 
Visiting Harry Potter world Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade was an experience for sure, completely immersive for any Potter fan. I myself am a fan mum not so much, but being there i think makes more of a fan of you. Could not leave without trying the all talked about Butterbeer in a souvenir tankard also. Both me and Dad got that. I tried the regular and Frozen kind and leave the hot Butterbeer for a future visit. Walking around with an outfit on you feel not strange at all. It is not cheap the shops and food but worth getting something as a memento i got a Chocolate Frog in Box and the Butterbeer tankards with the drinks in. Note they serve these footed dishes in Diagon alley and the Tankards in Hogsmeade
The 2 rides in Harry Potter world excluding Hogwarts express and Flight of the hippogrith both require you to get a locker and place all your possesions in before riding. This is free of course. These rides can get quite busy so worth going early. The Hogwarts castle great escape ride flips you back and forward and i had my phone in my pocket and had to hold my pocket firmly, so worth putting all your stuff in the locker to be safe.
It really is an experience walking around immersing yourself in all the themed areas shops and rides. Their are also countless photo opportunities.
Some attractions have gone like Jaws and the Earthquake ride in Universal and Twister and Terminator 3d making way for new attractions. We did not stay for the Macys holiday Parade. We were lucky to not have to wait for most rides very long in Universal.
Islands of Adventure next door to Universal if where the second part of the Harry Potter world is Hogsmeade. We were very lucky to wizz around most attractions with little or no line unbelievably. we got a whole boat to our self on Jurassic park water ride. We walked on the King king Skull island ride. This is in the dark so hard to walk into, mum struggled to see and dragged her feet i held her hand to guide her. These were all rides i had heard could have a long wait time and we walked into them with little line.
The longest we had to queue up was for the Seuss landing trolley ride, which was the shortest ride for the time spent waiting. Poseidon adventure was not open die to technical difficulties so we missed out on that. They seem to have got rid of the Sinbad show also since last i was there.
Because of that we left the park earlier than planned after our Cinnabon of 1000 calories! lunch
and ride back to Universal studios via the Hogwarts Express Train. You do need a ticket for both parks to ride the train from one to the other.
VOLCANO BAY
Now Universal has its own water park based around this Hawaiian theme and a giant Volcano. You get a bus from the parking lot which takes you to the park and you get a wristband called TAPU TAPU you touch this in attractions which if busy gives you a time to come back . Luckily we got to go on most of the attractions easily with no wait. Me and dad went on the water coaster in this raft. We then went on the highest slide i have ever been on in a big raft you are pushed down the slide which goes up and round bends trough water and mist. It would have been different if i wasn’t facing backwards and could not see the terror to come. It was fun The seating is different than Typhoon Lagoon with upright seats in a canvas material. The wave pool where the Volcano goes off with noises occasionally was good also. We had some Churros whilst we were there.
So many memories of food and shopping and seeing things. What made it so special was that it was worlds apart from when i visited in 2006 Harry Potter world was not even built so i had lots of stuff to see and experience. I am also grown up more and the experience is much different for me. Being more mature and having perhaps a different mindset made finding things more exciting and also the not knowing what i might find was the biggest excitement.
I am happy with what i came back with, of course some things i did not get and some things were a complete surprise to find. Coming back home seemed strange after living in a hotel for 2 weeks which seemed like an apartment. I was happy to come home to eat more normal breakfasts like plain cereals, i did refrain from having Fries for a while as i was all fried out. I have enjoyed sharing my holiday with others and stories and photos and also gradually trying the things i got. It feels the holiday is kept alive longer each time i try something different and report about it.
Whilst it seemed i took photos of everything from Disney to Walmart it all played part in putting together this whole holiday experience and how it unfolded. My dad also took some photos and he did videos of short clips so documented our holiday also for future years to look back on.
Adampastryguy 