Family Florida Trip

[Gemini]

This has been on the cards for years. OH and I went with DD2, SIL and GD for her 3rd birthday, to Disney Paris. DD2 and SIL have been to Florida with my ex , me and DD3 several times, and love it.

We planned a family trip to Florida when GD was 7. However, her gorgeous little brother arrived when she was 6 and a half, so obviously we delayed.
Then DD1 suddenly made it clear that she was upset that she and GS1 were left out of these plans! As she has never shown any interest in Disney, and tends to have low budget holidays it didn't occur to us that she wanted to be included! We were delighted that they wanted to come, of course. She has some PPI money which she is investing until we go.
DD2 and I , having experience of these holidays felt that GS1 was at that point not ready for this

2020 has been decided on. GS2 will be 4, GS1, 7 so both boys will be better able to cope with it all. We will have villa with pool, and having learned by last years experiences, OH and I will do less park days. There may be days when we stay at the villa and pool with the boys and let the adults and GD, who will be 10, hit the rides.
I am very much looking forward to it.

We hope DD3 and OH will be able to come too!

Leaving my mum behind with no family is a headache in itself and will require a lot of planning on my part and involve friends and ex husband, but it is a long way ahead to think too much about that.

Mickey here we come

[Plantaholic]

Sounds wonderful Gemini, you do like your holidays.

[Enfys]

Fabulous, Gem. We’ve enjoyed some wonderful family holidays in Florida. The last time we went DH and I had a few days on our own either at the villa or a bit of sight seeing. We also babysat in the evening whilst our DC and older GC hit the parks for the parade/fireworks. We had the same villa each time we went as it was ideal for all of us. Lovely memories, you’ll all have a wonderful time.

edited: the last time we went was in 2010 and we were caught by the Icelandic volcano! Luckily the villa wasn’t booked after us so the owners kindly let us stay there, free of charge!, until we could get home. So we had an unplanned third week. Disney gave free entry to their parks for anyone stranded, all you had to do was show your return ticket home, everyone was great and so helpful. More lovely memories 😃

[Gemini]

Enfys, we were there in 2010! The first time OH and I went on our own.
The ash cloud happened while we were there. We hadn't seen any news so I really thought DD was joking when she texted me about an ash cloud!
We desperately wanted to be delayed, because as you say the parks were letting people in for free, and we were in a hotel on a Virgin Holidays package and Virgin were sorting it out for people to stay where they were.
We were gutted when we had to fly home! If it was safe to fly on your day you had to fly, even though there was a backlog of travellers who were meant to go home a week or so earlier.

[Nanto2girls]

That holiday is something to look forward Gem.

[Enfys]

Hey, Gem...we could have bumped 8nto you without knowing! We were travelling independently so it was up to us to sort out our flights home. I spent 3 hours on the phone...my ears were ringing after that. But at least once it was sorted we could sit back and relax. Like you we thought someone was lulling our leg when they texted from home to tell us about the volcano.

You have something lovely to look forward to now, brilliant. Did you visit the little town of Celebration? We thought it was like something out of a Doris Day movie from the 50’s.

[Gemini]

Enys, we could have been next to each other in a queue or a restaurant
On this last trip OH and spent our final day in Celebration, as we didn't have to be at the airport until late afternoon. Lovely and relaxing in contrast to the parks. And yes, quite 1950's !

[Daisy]

Gem - it's a complicated holiday to organise with such a big age range (from GS2 to the more senior members of the family). We have never been to Florida with the family, only with friends or on our own. When we've been on our own we've had a week in Orlando and then treated ourselves to an upmarket hotel in Naples for the second week. But it was all a while ago and I imagine there is much more on offer now. Very exciting!

We took our DSs to the west coast when they were mid-teens - cramming as much as we could into 3 glorious weeks. And of course, it's only 3 years since we visited family in Washington State.

[Gemini]

Daisy it will be very complicated!
I have been with my DD3 when aged 7, 10, 13, 16, but otherwise everyone else has been an adult. Going with children of 4, 7 and 10 will be different!!

[Daisy]

Gem, at least there will be enough adults to share the children out to meet their different interests and accessibility to the rides.

[Nana]

Sounds really exciting & always good to have something to look forward to.

[Gemini]

Excitement, we are about to book the villa!
I have got a really good early booking rate for Easter 2020, so I want to get it booked this weekend. Just waiting for DD2 to have time to look at the website (She has hit the ground running now she is back at work after Christmas) then I will book.

This means OH and I will have to cut back on the type of holiday we have this year. No pension until 2020, then things will be slightly better!

[Clover]

Well done Gem. It seems ages away but time passes so quickly these days

[Daisy]

Gem - how exciting. I know you like to plan ahead and have lots of time to look forward to your holiday, so this sounds perfect.

[Gemini]

The villa is booked, the deposit paid.
A spacious 5 bedroomed, 3 bathroom villa, with pool, games room etc is remarkably cheap when divided between 4 families

Air fares are another matter. I was shocked by the price increase since we went just under 2 years ago

Better get saving!!