Day Sixteen - NYE

New Years Eve and we go to Animal Kingdom; it's pretty quiet compared to the last few days at other parks but that's more than likely because people are getting into the other parks early to make sure they are there for the NYE celebrations. All our grand intentions of doing something are out of the window as we know we'll be knackered so just decide to enjoy a park and wing it.
Eldest daughter gets to go on Primeval Whirl with me which she has been waiting several trips to be tall enough for. We also do the Safari, Fast Passes for Everest are past when we intend to be in the park and these days I don't worry that I 'have' to do something. To be here is enough for me.

We hit the Rainforest Cafe for lunch as the daughter was promised a volcano for her birthday. After a meal, I only had a grilled cheese starter thing but there were about 20 million of them!!, we do the volcano. We've told them that it was Syds birthday last week and my Mums yesterday so they do the whole clapping thing. The volcano is a monster and we all pick at it but still some is left.

Back in to the park and into Camp Minnie Mickey. We meet the character in their winter clothing and after a brief view of some accapelo carol singers we do the Lion King show. Great as usual, not done it then try it.

Out and back, pool, shopping

Kids and Mum won't make a late night so we head to Celebration again for NYE. Atfer a great meal last night we ask at D'Antonios if they have a table and are seated. It's a set 3 course meal with only a few options but since it's all good we go for it. The only question being can I eat 3 courses.

We have the same great server who remembers us from the previous evening. We finish up at 10:30pm and ask him if they go through until midnight to which he tells us they were meant to close at 9pm. They don't ask people to leave though and normally shut up when the last person goes. I apologise as I didn't know but there is still a big table in the middle of slightly oiled old school friends (from what I could gather) who seem to be there for the duration. It's a shame as our waiters girlfriend was waiting for him at the bar to obviously move on somewhere for the night.

No fireworks and stuff as they try to disuade drunk people from what is meant to be a family orientated town so we head home and watch the Times Square ball drop. There are a few fireworks but they don't last long past midnight and it is defintely a lot quieter than it is when we are at home for NYE when it seems to go on for ever.

Day Fifteen - Celebration

Not wanting to head to the parks today so we go to Premium for probably our final visit this trip. Once done the parking lot is manic. We are trying to get out as are other people, problem is people are waiting for the spots causing gridlock because the people wantint to get out can't....one lady is waiting but when the spot she is waiting for becomes free someone speeds into it....not nice and things look to get nasty...we leave sharpish

Walmart shopping as well and pool for a lazy villa afternoon.

The wife and I head to Celebration and try Cafe D'Antonios. The meal is fantastic, as is the wine but I'm driving so only a small glass for me. The rest of the bottle is just as good or so the wife who had to finish it tells me. I love the feel of this place and the waiter is very very helpful. He commends on our choices but I think he would have on any choice. He also describes the meal and the flavours which was a nice touch.

After the meal we go and sit just down by the lake on a couple of rocking chairs. It's a very peaceful place just to sit watching the Celebration Hotel and it's reflection, the fact it's also right next to the Christmas tree just topped it off.

Day Fourteen - Cocoa Beach

Something we've never done whilst in Florida is visit the coast.
After a lie in today we decide that Cocoa beach should be easy to get to.
Just over an hour later we pull up on the road next to the seafront.
While getting the children out I notice a 'sssssss' sound and, not seeing a snake about to pounce, check the tyres.
To my dismay there is a piece of glass protruding from the rear driver side wheel which is the source of the 'sssssss' sound, whether a snake put it there could not be determined.
We ring Dollar who say they will replace the car or we can replace the tyre and be reimbursed but we must change the wheel to the spare ourselves.

Another thing we'd never done was change a tyre so we ask if they can arrange it, which they can, and put us through to Chrysler.
The cost is just under $50 so we decide to take the easy route having never changed a wheel between us before.
45 minutes later a man arrived in Ford Fiesta, a clapped out old Fiesta with genuine crunching gears and rust. Ah memories of good old blighty.
It has a graphic on the window of 'Pop and Lock'....very nice man, sorts us out but the spare is one of those temporary ones that you don't do above 50mph with.
Oh well a more leisurely drive back then.

We move the car to a place the nice man advises which is a park just up the road. Free to park with toilets and a walkway through to the beach.
We spend some time on the beach but we'd forgotten any swimming apparel.
The girls don't care and paddle on the edge while we relax and watch.
Cocoa beach is pretty nice and it's good to watch some surfers trying to catch some waves albeit small ones.
They don't stay up too long as it isn't too choppy but I don't suppose they care too much just as long as they are at one with the ocean.

Head back, try to swap car at Dollar on I-Drive but there are none in stock since it's holiday season.
Plan B: We drop the kids off, double check with head office we can get a new tyre fitted with reimbursement and head to Walmart....2 hours later and after some more shopping, rude not too tbh, we are good to go.

After putting the kids to bed and leaving my Mum there, she's had a hard day sat doing nowt, we head to Ruby Tuesday again as it's close and wanted to try an evening meal there. To be honest I need a beer too after the days problems.
Wife drives so I get to have 2 beers, woohooo.
Food is nice, I had a chicken pie or at least it would be if you put it together. It was one of those where you get the pastry and the chicken 'filling' is piled on top.

Stuffed and happy we retire to bed.

Day Thirteen

Today we visit MGM, get there pretty much for opening and as we head for the big two rides CMs are Handing out FP for Stunt show.
I suppose with it being busy people are heading to the two big rides to get them done and as a result the first Light, Motors, Action show is more than likely quiet.
Good idea by Disney to get bums on seats.

We grab the Fast Pass and head to Rock n Rollercoaster, only the eldest daughter and I are brave enough so grab 4 Fast Passes for 2 rides but there's not enough time when we finish ride 1 for the second.
They will also be expired by the time the Lights, Camers, la la show is finished so we grab two more Fast Passes and hand ours to someone in line. They look a little confused but hopefully they'll use them even though a mad English guy is giving them free tickets...

Lights, Motors, Action is pretty good and I'm sure a lot of work goes into it but it never really excites me that much.
A side show did provide entertainment though; a child had been flicking popcorn (or something similar) for the duration of the show and the lady turned round to ask him to stop.
The 'Mom' then took offence and said something, cue the mother of offending child to retorted to which she got a middle finger salute in reply.
Something else was then said and then the husband of the victim yelled at the top of his voice 'What did you say to my wife!!' several times in a very mentalist type of way...

A quick bite to eat at Starring Rolls and we head to Rock n Rollercoaster again since eldest sprog has decided it's her new favourite ride.
We ask for the front seat and the picture is really good so we buy it.

We head out now and try a new place for us,Ruby Tuesdays on the 192.
It's never looked like much from the outside but is very TGIs and the meal is very good fare.
My Mum and wife swear by the strawberry lemonade complete with fresh strawberries.

Home and pool again...swim, swim, relax.

We go out early evening to the Magic Kingdom to watch Spectromagic.
It's very very busy and after taking our position had to tell several late comers not to block our view, tsk the nerve of some people.
The person next to us turns out to be an Elementry school head teacher and guessed the ages of our two little ones (4 + 6 which isn't bad as the eldest had only just turned 7 so we'll let her have that one!!). She has a friend in Abergavenney and Spectro was is one of her favourite shows.
After watching it I have to say it's now one of my favourite shows too/

Once finished a walk back into the hub in front of the castle for Xmas Wishes, not as good as normal wishes as I prefer the music on the original but still very very impressive.
We visit the Tiki rooms to let crowds disperse but there are still big lines for the boat and monorail when we arrive. This is my most hated aspect of Disney and one that makes me try and keep to a minimum the evening visits.
We chose the boat and it did move well, in 30 mins we're tired but back at the car which considering the crowds was very good.

A trip back, with lots of people trying to leave Disney property, and beddy byes.

Day Twelve

We get up a little late today and head off to the Magic Kingdom.
We don't do much there apart from the Tiki room, pirates and the haunted mansion. Wandering back we spot Push, the girls are interested but too wary for any real interaction which is a shame as he spoke to them both. He was trying to coax them out but they were having none of it.
We situated ourselves on Main Street as the parade was due soon and there was a spot just asking to be stood in.
From my memory this was the same as the MVMCP and it made a change to see it in daylight, shame I forgot to pack the camera today as I would have managed some great shots....ho hum

Before and during the parade, there was an acrobatic plane in the air writing 'messages'. The first one we spotted was 'U + GOD = ' which is pretty impressive.
We might get someone in the UK hand you a pamphlet, in Florida they fly smoke messages in the sky!!!!

Drop my Mum at Target on the way home and, yup you guessed it, into the pool where we can still see the pilot writing messages, ' Jesus loves U' and 'God = Truth' this time.

The wife and I finished off the day with a bit of shopping, lots of cars on the road...it's definitely busier this week than it was last.

Day Eleven- Boxing Day

So it's boxing day and what better to do than Shopping
We park up in the early evening at EPCOT and after some 'fish and chips' for the kids wander through the International Gateway to the Boardwalk. We decide we're now a bit peckish and try the ESPN for food.
The food is just OK but the server isn't very impressive, asked twice for our TV by the table (there are mini-TVs with sport on, or if you prefer the kids can play a Playstation 2) to be switched to 'soccer' to no avail.

The intention was to watch Illuminations but we still have about 2 hours to go and the cold front which brought the weather yesterday makes this evening a bit chilly to wait about. The decision is taken and off we go back to the villa to grab a jumper or two before heading to Celebration.

We park up and just have a nice stroll around, watching the snow fall on Market Street and grabbing some chocolate from the chocolate/ice cream store which is next to the book store just up from the cinema.

Day Ten - Xmas

A few times in the night we are woken by Syd who is way tooooo excited...eventually get up and do the presents at 7am.

We'd decided that the only place to be Christmas morning was Magic Kingdom. It was busy but the transport (parking, trams and monorail) was very smooth and professional. In no time at all we are in the park and it's not as busy as we expected. We manage to get on Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Indy Speedway, Teacups, Carousel, Snow White, Haunted Mansion and then ride the Liberty Belle, all with very little wait. It's getting decidely busy now so we head out.

We hit the pool at home but get out when we encounter thunder and lightning. It wasn't too bad here but the news later reports on communities further East, Brevard County and nearer Cocoa, being hit hard. Some of the homes have had the walls and roof ripped off. It was the first tornado to hit the area on Christmas Day since the early 80s.

We all get dressed up as we're off to the Gaylord Palms for our Christmas lunch (well tea since it's a 5:15pm booking).
Before the meal we've go tickets for ICE!, this is amazing. The sculptures which have been put together by Chinese artists are magical and it's hard to believe it's all made of ice. 20 minutes in and it's time to leave as the hands and ears are starting to hurt with the cold!!!! A quick go on the slide made of ice and we hit the heat outside....ahhhh, nice.

We eat at the Villa De Flora which is a buffet but, like Boma, it's a buffet on steroids with very fine fare.
As part of ICE! we also added ice skating which was in a tent outside and busy, busy busy. I took the children on in turn and the youngest managed to make me fall on one of the trips with her. There was a DJ playing music and it was a real holiday feeling.

Home, Pirates of the Caribbeam was on TV but we retire to bed after a busy day...


ICE! at the Gaylord Palms

Day Nine - Xmas Eve

Libby feeling a lot better now, just in time for Christmas....good. So it's a day to try out Seaworld. Our first experience is to feed the dolphins, we each have a try of fish and Syd eventually plucks up the courage to actually drop a fish into the mouth of one of the dolphins.
One of the pictures taken is pretty good so we purchase it.

Now for the equal best coaster in the Orlando area, Kraken. I think it is too close to call between this and Hulk. I thought that the parks would be busy by now but I manage to ride the front then the middle and finally the back row in the space of about 15 minutes....no queues, straight on, extremely welcome.

Forecast was rain but there is no sign of it and the weather is particularly nice. Other parts of the US were also mild but Denver had been hit by 2 foot of snow!!!

I met the rest of the family outside the penguin exhibit after my Kraken triple bill. A quick free beer from the owners and then it's time for the new Believe show with Shamu. It's pretty good but for some reason Shamu has never really done it for me. A bit of swimming, jumping and some interaction with the trainers but it's not something I 'have' to do when in Seaworld.

Syd and Heidi meet Father and Mrs Xmas after getting there annual pearl from the diver who dives for their oyster which you choose from a selection. Syd gets a boy and Libby gets a girl. You can tell a boy oyster by the little 'belly button' on it (a little dimple).

Heidi has booked a surprise at Disneys Wilderness Lodge. We arrive and have a brief look around the Lobby, Syd grabbing a quick photo op with Minnie. It's outside the main door, apparently we can't miss it. Outside is a carriage decorated like a sleigh, it's our Christmas Eve sleigh ride around the grounds of the Wilderness Lodge.
As we clip clop around we can hear the train that circles the Magic Kingdom and we also spot some deer in the woods to the side of the path.

Now we find our way to MGM to take in the Osborne Lights, or as it is called this year the Osborne Dancing Lights. The lights now dance every 20 minutes or so to music. It was good but I can't help thinking I prefer the original ones that just looked nice. You could wander at your own pace whilst the gentle Christmas music played around you, now it hits you a bit too full on in my opinion.

Home, sleepy


'Believe' show at Seaworld




Dolphin at Seaworld

Day Eight

Need some down time so it's a non-park today, most of the morning is taken up by relaxing in the very nice pool.

Drop Mum at WalMart for 2 hours so she can release her demons and shop to her hearts delight.
Having left her we drive West a little further down the 192 to the Super Target and get some nice bargains on clothes.

Pick up Mum who could have spent more time there and drop her off at the villa.
Weather is nice so we decide that we should try something we've never done on our 8 previous trips and that's Wet N Wild situated up on International Drive.
I've seen this from the outside and never really thought much of it. My impression was it looked a little drab and not too much to keep us occupied....
...I was wrong, it was great.
The rides were fun and definitely gave you a buzz.
I would say that it has the most thrill rides of any parks, albeit water ones.
Syd and I stuck together trying pretty much all of the rides together. Disco H2O being a highlight but all were good fun. Syd surprised me by riding several times on the head first Mach 2!!!
Libby and Heidi joined us on a couple and seemed to enjoy it.

Having finished at Wet N Wild we head back to the villa to get ready as tonight we had decided to eat at Tony Romas which as usual provide much ribtastic munchies.

Still being early when we have eaten we drop into the Boardwalk, which is becoming one of my favourite haunts for it's relaxing atmosphere, for more Magician type shennanigans and a lovely choir, complete with hand bells, singing Christmas carols....altogether now, ahhhhhh.

Home, bed, sleep.

Day Seven

Back to Universal, this time the Studios. We try Shrek 4D first which is great, 3D movie with extras like moving seats!!.
Into Jimmy Neutron and more movement but no 3D show.
We then decide on Twister, it says 10 minute wait but in the end we leave there after 60 minutes. It's not worth that wait but it's a nice techincal feat getting an indoor twister going.

Starbucks stop for a coffee break and onto Men In Black which is a good laser shooting, car spinning ride. I get a high score but we lose to the competing car because of my car companions....thanks family..

Back to the Future is next and to me seems very dated but the wife liked it. I just feel it is too jerky and doesn't really feel like I am immersed in the storyline.

Then Syd has a go on the water slide in the play park, she goes up for a second go but a kid get stuck...he's yelling in there and the 'Mom' says 'I know that sound, he's hurt' and promptly shoots up the tunnel. The poor Universal worker is saying you can't go up there. In the end he comes out with her and is just scared not hurt.

Back to villa and the pool. We see a police car bombing down the road as we turn in and it turns into our community. There's a police chase on with helicopter. The entrance to the community is sealed off with fire trucks and police cars. Everyone is vetted coming in and out. Eventually after 90 minutes they catch the person and I leave (I assume!)

Now we can leave me and the wife head to Bahama Breeze. The server is Joe and remembers the 5 hurricane season where he got all the fresh food when they closed down.

A trip to WalMart on the way home for the easiest Xmas shop ever!!!

Day Six

Disney again today and we set off for Disneys Animal Kingdom.
I get my first ride of Everest, with the wife and Sydney. Great ride, forwards and backwards. Some in the open, some in the dark and a yeti!!

Head across to do the Safari with some great wildlife on show. I can't help feeling that they could ditch the Little Red story though as it doesn't really need this extra show to the already good show that the animals give.

Chester Hesters and it's quiet so the fairground games are just the two children playing each other so a guaranteed prize. Do it 4 times and upgrade the small toys to two large alligators.

Back to the villa now for yet more Pool activities, can't keep the girls out of it.

We were given free tickets for the minature Golf at Port Orleans so we use these to play a round on the garden course (Disney themed) at the Fantasia location situated by the Swan and Dolphin. We'd parked up at the Boardwalk and walked through so on our return we sit down for a meal at the Big River Brewing Grill place.

Once finished, and I mean doggy bagged as generous portions are delivered again, we wander lazily around the Boardwalk watching the various entertainers on show. Two magicians this evening and the girls love his show, finding it funny and enthralling to the point of laughing out loud.

Once we tire of this it's back home to bed again...

Day Five

Today we'd visit Universal, Islands of Adventure. It's our first visit since 2004 and we really enjoyed it last time with a real Christmas feel to the place with all the decroations up.

Valet parked for $16, lazy but hey it's a holiday after all and into the park. First hit for me is the Hulk which was a walk on with no wait. The rest of the family went to the Univeral version of the Disney teacups (name escapes me for now).
The Hulk gives you an immense rush as you are blasted off and straight into a twist/drop....fantastic.

Metting the family we ride Spiderman, again no wait so Syd and I ride it again. A little discussion and the water rides are skipped which is a shame...but on we go with Syd and I riding the River Adventure. Forgot just how big this drop is and Syd got a little scared so won't ride it again (might have something to do with the T-Rex going for you as you drop!!)

We have a 20 minute wait for the flyers thing, Libby doesn't want to ride this so we child swap and after we have a little play in the playground part just after.

We go around and the Little Unicorn isn't open until 11am so I ride Duelling dragons, Ice side, rear seat. Very energetic and a good ride although I still feel this lacks something, maybe the front is the place to be for the 'near miss'.

Back to the Little Unicorn now it has opened and we all ride. It is a little more frisky than I remember and think it may still scare some small children who would be tall enough to ride.
We take in the Talking fountain which the children are now too scared to talk to for fear of a soaking....

One thing new this time is the Seuss monorail which is a nice fun ride above the Seuss landings part of the park and then we do the car-seuss-el.
Onto Red Fish thing and we ride together and the children ride on their own. Both parties end up soaked....I was sure we could avoid it...oh well

One thing I have to point out is that I am very very disappointed with the Christmas decorations this time. Last time we came the whole park was very festive. This time you had to look real hard to find any. I suppose it's a money saving exercise but to me it is a major let down.

Libby still felling under the weather so we head off home.

Wal Mart twice, once with Mother, once with Wife then Margheritaville.
As usual it's nice food with music being played and a bit of crowd interactivity. The atmosphere is always good in here and I suppose is meant to mimic the Keys area of Florida.

After a tiring day all back to the villa and beddy byes

Day Four - 8th Wedding Anniversary

Today we move, we we're originally going to stay here for 10 nights, but decided that 3 would be enough. Made more sense since my Mother was now coming too and could share the villa cost.

Express check out meant the bill was on the door, so we just pile all the luggage into the Chrysler Town & Country and make our merry way to MGM. Rock n Rollercoaster FastPass because it breaks down and we decide not to wait.
Off to the Muppets 3D but Libby is felling a little ill and wants none of it. Good show and we meet with Libby/Heidi outside.
A quick knock about in the 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids' Playground and we then just go and watch some fantastic street performers. These actors are where MGM really excels, I think I could watch them all day with their larger than life early 1900s Hollywood overacting.
I then ride Rock n Rollercoaster with Syd who just measures up this trip, she loves it and goes on to ride it again with me.

Time to get off to the villa, but first do a shop in Publix on the 192.

To the Management Company and a small problem with check in where they said it wasn't one of their villas first (panic) and when they found it said that someone had checked us in the day before.
Keys in hand we take the 5 minute drive to the villa which is just off of Ponciana Boulevard. As usual with all of our villas the pool heat is not working from the off. I rang to tell them to which they said wait 24 hours, Heidi took charge grabbed the phone and they said someone would be around. The lady hung up before Heidi could ask when...hmm, friendly service.

Maintenance man came, said he'd ring the pool people as it wasn't working, as we'd guessed.
Us 1 Woman 0.

Oh yeah, it is also our 8th wedding anniversary today.
We have a reservation at Boma, the buffet restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Do not let the fact that this is a buffet put you off as it is one of the nicest meals you could probably have in the Orlando area. It has an African slant to the food but nothing too over the top. Heidi had a Glowing Bluetini which came with glowing ice cube to top it all off.

Day Three

We are off to the Bibidi Bobbidi Boutique because they didn't do these on the weekend for the daughters birthday. Syd, the birthday girls is in her Elizabeth Swan dress while Libby has her Snow White dress on.

After checking in both girls sit down for their pampering. It takes place in a room at the back of the Disney store and juding by the amount of girls getting themselves made over, it's popular.
There is a photographer that takes pictures throughout and these appear on your Photopass page (as did someone elses child!!)

On leaving the manager comes across to take look at the Elizabeth Swan dress our Eldest daughter is wearing. She tells us that they can't get this dress and people are always asking for this one. We explain we got it in the UK and one thing we have found is that the UK dresses are always of a higher quality.

All glitzed up we head back to Port Orleans to pick up my mother and then onto the Magic Kingdom where we the higlights are Pirates since the eldest daughter has her Elizabeth Swan dress on. Thinking that it's a fairly tame ride I take my Mum with us on Thunder Road...oops obviously not tame enough!!

For lunch we have a date at the Grand Floridian - the Pricess Tea Party. Leaving the girls in the capable hands of Alice we wander around eventually settling on the beach for some sandwiches and a cool beer por moi... very nice and got me thinking about a beach holiday again. On picking up the girls who had a great time we head back to Port Orleans for a dip in the pool.

In the evening we leave the kids and mother at home and decide on a visit to Downtown Disney on the free boat from the resort. A light meal, or so we thought, from the Earl of Sandwich. I can only liken it to a Subway sandwich if you've tried one. Wife orders a Frozen Margherita and I a beer as we sit to people watch for a while. A walk into Pleasure Island and another relaxing drink in the Irish pub before we head back for a Girehdelli (sp?). There are some lovely Christmas carols being played by a local brass band on the stage and we stay for a while to enjoy the festive music.

We're still a little on UK time so grab the boat back to Port Orleans for a drink in the resort bar then bed.

Day Two - Syds 7th Birthday

Syd's 7th birthday, I've made a T-shirt telling everyone and she has badges. People make a fuss of her but she just gets embarrassed....oh well.

Off to breakfast court early since our body clocks are still on UK time.
First park we hit, as usual, is EPCOT. We all do Soarin' as this is the busiest ride and is it's normal fantastic experience.
Straight off and over to the living sea's to ride the new Nemo ride which to be honest is good but I wouldn't queue for any significant amount of time.
A nice stroll in the sun over to Mission: Space, via the pin station to pick up some pins for the kids. Just Syd and I ride this one and it's great.
Syd is complaining of ear ache which she can get from time to time so it's a visit to First Aid (were there in July too for Libby when she fell on the Mission: Space play area).

Wandered around the world showcase, popping into Mexico for Kidcot.
The children eat in America with my Mum while the wife has food in Morrocco.

Back early afternoon to use the pool at the hotel which is pretty good, not too heated though but enough to take off any chill. The slide gets a thumbs up from all although I didn't quite 'whizz' down.

After a break in the room we head down to the Carriage Ride which takes us around the river at Port Orleans with a quick visit to the French Quarter. Horse was called Dan and the rider was John.
It's a very pleasant trip with just the small talk and the clip clop of the horse to accompany us. The setting of Port Orleans on a river makes it seem just right.

We head to Downtown Disney for the evening and have a really good meal, I had salmon, in Planet Hollywood. We had a good server and only a 5 minute wait to be seated. This is a pleasant change because we last visited 3 years ago and it was very underwhleming and a major reason we had not been back.

Day One

The trip was fairly uneventful, a little more tight on the security through to airside at Gatwicks North terminal but on-line check in worked fine.
Flight OK, main meal better than Virgin,didn't watch any of the movies as they didn't take my fancy, afternoon tea a bit weird as the childrens meals had beef and horse radish sandwiches in!!!

Touched down about 4pm local time and were leaving MCO with rental car at 5pm, record time.

We check in to Port Orleans Riverside, no line so nice and quick too and just had a quick look around.
Enjoyed a quick bite to eat before retiring to bed....busy day tomorrow with Syds 7th birthday

Day before the day before....

Well, tomorrow we're off to the airport hotel. I always prefer an overnight stay since there is no chance of getting caught in any motorway problems on the day of the flight and missing our planned escape from the winter gloom.

Saturday we'll be flying to Florida to spend the Christmas and New Year....

Really looking forward to it with all the festivities and decorations in the parks over the holiday period.
I love the area normally but at Christmas it takes on such an extra special feel, so much so that at other times of the year I feel that something is 'missing'.

Think we'll pack this evening ready to head off as soon as the girls finish school tomorrow afternoon. Once settled into the hotel we'll probably head to the airport, as usual, to have a wander and a pre-holiday beverage.

6 months since our 'July 4th' trip, which seems like yonks ago now, but I'm sure that as soon as we touch down it will seem like yesterday. It normally does and always seems like we've never been away.

pics and vids

Well, main reason for this blog is to put some photos and vids for people to have a butchers at while we are away so this entry is just a test.

Photo from July trip of Disneys Boardwalk, hosted at Picasaweb



And a vid from a couple of years ago from EPCOT