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Old 17 Jun 22, 07:24 PM  
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#121
Macca04
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Yeah! The shoes are amazing!
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Old 17 Jun 22, 08:04 PM  
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Alicia, your planning is so good , I’d love to be like you but my lot would have a hissing fit if I tried to get them onboard with one
It’s hard enough trying to explain that we now have to reserve Disney park visits !
I hope you get a few Dibb shout outs on your Hen night 🤞🏻
Xx
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Old 17 Jun 22, 08:06 PM  
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Some fab updates. Those bridesmaid dresses are beautiful 😍 and the boys shirts are fabulous too.

Seems like no further comments on the shoes are needed. As if you ever needed us to tempt you when it comes to shopping 🤣

Oh Alicia I bet you're thanking your lucky stars you don't have to worry about testing with the complicated arrival times of everyone and all the different flights.

The first week itinerary is busy, but you're on holiday you sure don't want to be having a rest 😉 . I was thinking about your first day at AK. It's our first park day too...we are on site so I'm figuring we will be there before the early entry and so I want to do FOP standby and then book Genie+ for the other rides. For you guys maybe you should just stump up for the individual lightning lane for FOP and then do all the other rides standby. They will have very short waits at park opening. Whereas FOP is likely to be loonng lines. I think this might be your best strategy for AK.

Oh and I so wish I could join you for your Florida hen do. Jock Lindseys is fab, it was our day 1 evening choice back in 2018.

Not long now! The weather down here has been very Floridian today. Its putting me in a holiday mood, not that it takes that much to get me in a holiday mood 😅

We need to set up a date again soon. Can't believe it has been 4 months xx
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2021: Jamaica. Rome.
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Edited at 08:07 PM.
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Old 18 Jun 22, 07:04 PM  
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Itinerary Part 2

Anna Maria Island - 7 nights
Day 8 - Saturday 27th August

Universal & IOA
Drive to Anna Maria Island
Dinner @ Rod & Reel Pier

Today we say goodbye to Orlando but not until we have one last theme park day to Universal and Islands of Adventure.





The Leans are coming too which is why they drove up from St Petes yesterday. They are theme park veterans so weren’t interested in Disney but wanted to do Universal as Sean hasn’t stopped going on about the Fast and Furious Ride from when he was last there and it was under construction in 2017! He is DESPERATE to experience it and will talk to you all day as he’s watched a million You Tube videos so knows the whole ride inside out.



For anyone who doesn’t know, Sean is Jim’s nephew and has severe additional needs. He is the biggest fan of all of the Fast & Furious films and currently wants to shave his hair off so he can be bald like Dom . We’re all trying to talk him out of it!

We again don’t have much of a plan but will try and get on as many rides as possible before leaving late afternoon to drive down to Anna Maria Island.
If we get to the island in time we’ll go for dinner at Rod and Reel Pier, if it’s getting late then we’ll more than likely grab something on the way down.



Mum, Dad, Sister and Co are planning on heading straight to Anna Maria Island once they check out of the villa and I believe Bill and Sylv will too.

Day 9 - Sunday 28th August
Breakfast @ Ginny & Jane E’s
Beach
Kayaking/Paddleboarding
Dinner @ Harry’s Grill

Today will be a well earned rest day so some pool and beach time will definitely be on the cards, not before breakfast at at infamous Ginny and Jane E’s though!





As our house backs onto the canal we’re going to hire some Kayaks and Paddleboards for us all to use for the week. I’ve found a company on the island called Beach Bums who will deliver them straight to the house so I’m sure we’ll be out on the water at some point too.



I may go for a wander up to Pine Street for a bit of window shopping as let’s face it, we all know I’ve always got ants in my pants and can’t relax for too long



Dinner tonight will possibly be at Harry's Grill that we ate at in 2018 and had the nicest quesadillas



Day 10 - Monday 29th August
Shopping - Michaels & Hobby Lobby
Nail appointment - 1pm
Beach
Dinner @ BBQ


Another fairly relaxing day. I plan on visiting some craft stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby in the morning as there are branches just off the island and I’m not sure if I’ll get time to go when in Orlando.





I then have a nail appointment at 1pm as even though I’ll do them just before the holiday, I’d quite like them freshly done for the wedding.
Tonight we plan on having a family BBQ at ours

Day 11 - Tuesday 30th August
Breakfast @ Rod & Reel Pier
Wedding
Dinner @ The Sandbar


Wedding Day!
It will actually be quite a chilled morning as the ceremony isn’t until 6pm so I shouldn’t think I’ll start getting ready until about 2 or 3pm?
We’re kicking the boys out of the house to get dressed at Bill & Sylv’s so us girls can get ready in peace with a few glasses of bubbly!
The plan is
Ceremony - 6pm
Cocktails and photos - 6.30-7.30pm
Dinner - 7.30/8pm until we’re kicked out





Day 12 - Wednesday 31st August
Beach
Dinner @ Skinny’s Place

We will all more than likely have stinking hangovers after what will hopefully be a fabulous day so another Beach/Pool day will ensue.
Dinner will be at Skinny's Place





Day 13 - Thursday 1st September
Lunch @ Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe
Hire boat
Dinner @ The Bridge Tender Inn
Mini golf @ The Fish Hole


Today we get our sea legs on and hire a boat! We had such a great time when we did it in 2018 so this is a must







We’ll stop off to get a picnic lunch then spend the afternoon cruising up and down the Bay.



I’m keeping everything crossed we don’t get the bad Red Tide like we did in 2018 . We still had a great time but couldn’t go to Sarasota as the dead fish were awful the further South we went!
However we did see so many dolphins so hoping for a repeat





As Bill & Sylvia are flying home tomorrow it is our last evening as a full set so tonight we are going to have a family mini golf tournament at The Fish Hole. I will do everything in my power, cheat if I have to, to beat Jim





Day 14 - Friday 2nd September
Breakfast @ Peaches
Kayaking with Happy Paddlers
Sunset - Beer Can Island
Dinner @ Hurricane Hanks

Our last full day in paradise . However! instead of wallowing I’m going to book a kayaking tour with Happy Paddlers for today. We’re planning on doing the Coastal Island Tour which takes us around the waters of Anna Maria and Longboat Key on the lookout for dolphins, manatees and smaller marine life. We were meant to do this in 2018 but the Red Tide and a bad storm put paid to that, the company were amazing and gave us an instant refund so I vowed I would book with them as soon as we went back!



One place we have never visited is Beer Can Island which isn’t technically an island but a peninsula at the Northern tip of Longboat Key. You can witness some amazing sunsets so as it’ll be our last one whilst here we want it to be good!



Will get some dinner at Hurricane Hanks before driving back to the villa to pack up all our bits



And that's the second week done! Fear not we have one more week
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Edited at 09:24 PM.
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Old 18 Jun 22, 07:20 PM  
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#125
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What an amazing wedding week you have planned Alicia
I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets itchy feet if I’m in one place too long , that’s what shops were invented for
One day we will get to AMI , until then I shall enjoy reading everyone else’s experiences
Xx
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Old 18 Jun 22, 07:51 PM  
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#126
smithlane
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Originally Posted by Macca04 View Post
Yeah! The shoes are amazing!
Aren't they stunning

Originally Posted by WIGGYSMUM View Post
Alicia, your planning is so good , I’d love to be like you but my lot would have a hissing fit if I tried to get them onboard with one
It’s hard enough trying to explain that we now have to reserve Disney park visits !
I hope you get a few Dibb shout outs on your Hen night 🤞🏻
Xx
Haha my two don't like my planning either, probably why they're not coming to the parks the first week
I hope so too, I wish you were joining us!

Originally Posted by Goldia View Post
Some fab updates. Those bridesmaid dresses are beautiful 😍 and the boys shirts are fabulous too.

Seems like no further comments on the shoes are needed. As if you ever needed us to tempt you when it comes to shopping 🤣

Oh Alicia I bet you're thanking your lucky stars you don't have to worry about testing with the complicated arrival times of everyone and all the different flights.

The first week itinerary is busy, but you're on holiday you sure don't want to be having a rest 😉 . I was thinking about your first day at AK. It's our first park day too...we are on site so I'm figuring we will be there before the early entry and so I want to do FOP standby and then book Genie+ for the other rides. For you guys maybe you should just stump up for the individual lightning lane for FOP and then do all the other rides standby. They will have very short waits at park opening. Whereas FOP is likely to be loonng lines. I think this might be your best strategy for AK.

Oh and I so wish I could join you for your Florida hen do. Jock Lindseys is fab, it was our day 1 evening choice back in 2018.

Not long now! The weather down here has been very Floridian today. Its putting me in a holiday mood, not that it takes that much to get me in a holiday mood 😅

We need to set up a date again soon. Can't believe it has been 4 months xx
Thanks Abby!

Haha, I NEVER need much of an excuse to go shopping

I am so relieved the testing has been dropped, I honestly thought Joe would never do it in time for our hols!

That's a good plan for AK, I think we might do just that. There will only be a few of us riding FoP so shouldn't be too expensive then hopefully not too long queues for the rest

It would have been amazing if you were still out there when we are so you could join us for drinks!

How cold has it been today? Which is typical seeing as I was off work but didn't finish until 5 yesterday

Yes! We very much need to meet up. In fact I'm going to text you now to arrange it xx
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Old 18 Jun 22, 07:54 PM  
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#127
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Originally Posted by WIGGYSMUM View Post
What an amazing wedding week you have planned Alicia
I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets itchy feet if I’m in one place too long , that’s what shops were invented for
One day we will get to AMI , until then I shall enjoy reading everyone else’s experiences
Xx
Thanks Emma!
I'm glad I'm not the only one either, everyone thinks I'm mad that I don't just sit down
Oh you must, it's the most stunning place
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Old 18 Jun 22, 08:06 PM  
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#128
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I just realised that your hen do is on my wedding anniversary. We will have been married 19 years this summer. I was reading all about your second week itinerary and saw the dates and then had to look back at the first week, I hadn't twigged on the dates! Lol! Don't tell Dave...

I hope all Sean's dreams are realised on Fast and Furious, I have to say it's not the best ride and we were somewhat underwhelmed. Have you done Kong? It's a very similar ride structure. But given how much he's been looking forward to it I hope it's totally awesome. I'm sure there were other important things going on in the second week, but this was the bit that stuck out for me 😂
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New pre trip report - Summer 2024

Link to all my completed trip reports
2017: NYC and Orlando. Salzburg. Boston.
2018: Orlando. Berlin.
2019: DLP. Orlando. Washington DC.
2020: DLP.
2021: Jamaica. Rome.
2022: Orlando.
2023: Orlando. Niagara and Toronto.
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Old 18 Jun 22, 09:18 PM  
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Itinerary Part 3

Sawgrass - 1 night
Day 15 - Saturday 3rd September

Breakfast @ Ginny & Jane E’s
Drive to Tampa Airport
Drop off kids
Drive to Micanopy
Lunch @ Old Florida Cafe
Drive to Sawgrass


Today is going home day for everyone bar Jim and I.
We’ll pack up the villa and have one last breakfast at Ginny and Jane’s before driving up to Tampa Airport. Everyone including the Leans are on the same return flight which connects in Charlotte before going on to Heathrow.
After what I’m sure will be a tearful goodbye , Jim and I start the drive up North to start our ‘honeymoon’
To break the journey up we’ll stop at a little town called Micanopy that I read about in Anji’s trip report from a few years back.





We’ll get a late lunch at Old Florida Cafe before driving the last leg of the journey to our first stop of the week, the Hilton Garden Inn Sawgrass.
We’ll more than likely have some pool time then crash early.



Hilton Head Island - 5 nights
Day 16 - Sunday 4th September

Jim @ golf
Drive to Savannah
Explore town
Drive to Hilton Head Island
Dinner @ San Miguel’s


Not the most romantic start of our honeymoon but Jim will be playing golf this morning at the famous Sawgrass course



The original plan had us going down to The Florida Keys but after our Southern States road trip family holiday was cancelled in 2020 and then in 2021 due to you know what, we decided to change as we had already paid a hefty deposit for an apartment on Hilton Head Island. So we’ve recreated one of the weeks from that holiday to do this year.
I’ll either drive the golf buggy or go and visit my friend who has recently moved to St Augustine from Columbia in Maryland.

Once golf is done we’ll drive up to Hilton Head Island but will stop in Savannah for a wander and something to eat.



This is where the famous scene of Tom Hanks sitting on the bench in Forrest Gump is filmed so will be finding that for sure!
The whole of Savannah looks gorgeous so I can’t wait.





Once we’ve had a good look around the town we’ll head to our apartment in Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island.









We’ll go and explore our surroundings and if hungry grab a bite to eat or go for a few cocktails. I’m planning on hiring bikes for us for the week to make getting to and from the beach and marina easier.



Day 17 - Monday 5th September
Breakfast @ Hilton Head Diner
Beach
Dinner @ Top Dawg Tavern


Today will be a do absolutely nothing day, maybe the beach, maybe the pool, maybe a bit of both





Day 18 - Tuesday 6th September
Jim @ Golf - Harbour Town
Shopping @ Tanger Outlets
Lunch @ Harbourside
Beach
Dinner @ Hickory Tavern


Jim will be playing golf at Harbour Town which is apparently a must on Hilton Head



I however wouldn’t have been shopping for a while so I’ll head off island to hit the shops in peace



I’ll meet Jim after and we can have lunch around Harbourside which is another area of the island.



Maybe some more beach time this afternoon before dinner out



Day 19 - Wednesday 7th September
Drive to Kiawah Island Golf Club
Jim @ Golf
Drive to Charleston
Shopping down King Street
Museum @ Market Hall
Carriage Tour
Lunch @ Another Broken Egg Cafe
Drive back to HHI
Dinner @ The Dunes House


Another golf day for Jim but I actually suggested this one as I’m desperate to visit Charleston. If we had more time I would have booked us a night here but a whistle stop tour of the town will be enough until we return.



I’ll drop Jim off at Kiawah Island Golf Club which is a good 2 hours North of Hilton Head so it’ll be an early start for us, I’ll then drive into Charleston and go exploring. I’ve done a bit of research and will definitely be going on a carriage tour, exploring King Street and looking in a few museums.
Another Broken Egg Cafe has been recommended so if I get hungry I’ll stop there for food.









Once done I’ll go and pick Jim up and we’ll head back to the island and have dinner at The Dunes House



Day 20 - Thursday 8th September
Coligny Beach
Lunch @ The Sandbar
Dinner @ Big Jim’s BBQ


After yesterdays long day we’ll be taking it easy today where the furthest we’ll go is the beach. Maybe drive to Coligny Beach which is about 10 minutes away from Palmetto Dunes and looks like a nice community.





Dinner will be at Big Jim’s BBQ, has to be done doesn’t it!



St Augustine - 1 night
Day 21 - Friday 9th September

Breakfast @ Stacks Pancakes
Drive to St Augustine
Explore town




Today we leave the island so once we’ve packed up we’ll start our drive South to St Augustine, hopefully we’ll arrive in plenty of time to explore the town. St Augustine is actually the oldest town in the USA dating back to 1565.



We may meet my friend and her husband for dinner or grab a bite on our own.
We are staying at the very lovely looking Renaissance St Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel.



Day 22 - Saturday 10th September
St Augustine Outlets
Drive to Orlando
Flight home
MCO-LGW
17.20-06.40

Last day
Our flight from Orlando is at 17.20 so once we check out of the hotel we’ll do some last minute shopping at St Augustine Outlets before heading to MCO to drop the car off and start the miserable journey home.



We are flying WT+ so I’m hoping that helps!



And that there will end what should hopefully be an unforgettable and amazing holiday!

I’ve just had my start date through from BA so I’ll have exactly 2 weeks back at work before starting the intense 6 week training on the 26th September . Wish me luck!
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Old 18 Jun 22, 09:54 PM  
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Originally Posted by Goldia View Post
I just realised that your hen do is on my wedding anniversary. We will have been married 19 years this summer. I was reading all about your second week itinerary and saw the dates and then had to look back at the first week, I hadn't twigged on the dates! Lol! Don't tell Dave...

I hope all Sean's dreams are realised on Fast and Furious, I have to say it's not the best ride and we were somewhat underwhelmed. Have you done Kong? It's a very similar ride structure. But given how much he's been looking forward to it I hope it's totally awesome. I'm sure there were other important things going on in the second week, but this was the bit that stuck out for me 😂
Haha your secret is safe with me! Good job you're not out in Orlando as saying to Dave that you've got a hen do on your anniversary might not go down well . I'll raise a glass to you though, 19 years wow!

The Fast and Furious Ride is rubbish isn't it , we did it when it opened in 2018. Jim jokingly told Sean that it wasn't very good but he doesn't believe him and continued to give Jim a lecture about how speedy fast the ride was going to go
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