Bloody hell, it's in TWENTY DAYS TIME!
I now have a 'solid' itinerary which I've detailed below for those of you interested. If you've followed the rest of the thread you'll see how it's all come together, I'm ridiculously excited about it all.
I've just got a few loose-ends to tie up between now and Friday 24th, and need to cement plans with the spa, hotels, restaurants etc. I just REALLY REALLY hope everything pans out as I've planned!
I'm not naive enough to think everything will go without a hitch, there's bound to be the odd slip-up here and there but I'm hoping its generally a huge success!
So here's the final itinerary, just two things to keep in mind;
* This is all under the guise of being a birthday trip!
* We REALLY aren't this wealthy,I'm on a Teaching-Assistants wage but have saved for 18 months for this trip since it first manifested in my head!
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Friday 24th
* Presenting the birthday presents alongside balloons, flowers and a cup of tea set up on a little table in the front room! Ive got her a multi-drawer Laura Ashley box which will have different elements of her present in each drawer;
1) A brochure and some paraphernalia from the 5* hotel were visiting for her Spa day.
2) The remote for the Blu-Ray player (wrapped up), itll already be set-up and paused ready to roll with a the DVD presentation (its like a cinematic trailer) announcing were going to London, then to DLP. If I dont say so myself, its SPECTACULAR , I guarantee shell be in tears from it!
Helps that we've got a 62" TV on the wall too for the full cinema effect!
3) A guide book in the form of a photo-book with loads of pics and info for the trip.
4) The latest copy of Vogue (to read on the train/Eurostar), a voucher for Starbucks (we spend way too much in there given how skint we usually are!) and some other little goodies.
* Ive then got her a massive stash of fresh fruits, yogurts and cereals so we can have a buffet-style breakfast nibble!
* Celebrate Spa Day at the Cedar Court Grand. Well both have use of the spa facilities before a light lunch then shell have an hours treatment of her choice before we round up with a glass of champagne.
http://travsup.tripadvisor.co.uk/Ho...d_Hotel_Spa-York_North_Yorkshire_England.html
* Once were done well head home but then were heading back into town later on for drinks and a meal. My mate has an executive private hire company and hes taking us to/from town in the company Mercedes. Well have a drink at the pub where we first met then were back at the Cedar Court for a meal in their signature restaurant, Hudsons.
Saturday 25th
* Mercedes to the station for First Class train to London Kings Cross.
* Dump the bags at the hotel, Premier Inn Kings Cross then head to Oxford Street for some shopping. Ive told her shes got unlimited spending money which would be suicide with most women (!) but she's a good lass, Ill bet she spends about £50 max, probably all in Primark!
* Once were done there were gonna head over to Covent Garden for more shopping and some lunch at Carluccios, its a chain weve eaten at around the country and have always enjoyed so thought itd be nice to visit there. Whilst there Ill tell her were going to see the Lion King that night (shes always wanted to see it) and pop round the corner to the Lyceum Theatre to pick the tickets up.
http://travsup.tripadvisor.co.uk/Re...Carluccio_s_Covent_Garden-London_England.html
* Once weve got the tickets well head back to the hotel for a turnaround/spruce up and some tea in the restaurant there (I got a stay & eat deal and it looks decent enough). Well then head back out to the Theatre for the show and maybe some drinks after if weve got the energy!
Sunday 26th
* Premier Inns famous all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast before check-out.
* Eurostar to the magic!! Was thinking of picking up some sarnies from a shop beforehand, I assume you can take your own food on-board.
* Once were off the Eurostar Im going to play dumb and head towards the DLH, before realising my mistake that Im going the wrong way. Shes always said how amazing it would be to stay at the DLH but will be thinking were staying at the Santa Fe. Ill come out with something along the lines of oh well, well stay there one day before piping up with something massively cheesy like well today's the day!
* Check-in, dump the bags then go on an assault of the parks. I really need to write up a loose itinerary of what attractions were gonna hit in what order.
* Eating at Inventions that night, hopefully be out to watch Dreams at 10pm.
Monday 27th D-DAY
* Down for breakfast early doors, then into the parks for EMH.
* Im hopefully then meeting up with my contact at the DLH to cement the plans for the evening and have a look at the ring. Ill need to create some form of excuse to go down to reception. Ill be registering the credit card so we can charge everything to the room so I may just say theres an issue with that and need to pop down to reception.
* Full day in the parks, I might pop into City Hall for the birthday badge/phonecall! Were going to do a fair bit of shopping throughout the stay too, again saying she can have what she wants within reason, that e10,000 Mickey statue might be pushing it a bit far!
* Back to the room to have a good spruce up, relax for a bit and get ready for the night.
* The A Dream To Live experience; cocktails in Café Fantasia followed by the meal in California Grill. DGF is a vegetarian and Ive made them well aware of what she does/doesnt eat. I've also requested a window-table with view of the castle.
* If all goes according to plan, well go up to the Founders Club to watch Dreams with a glass of champers. If my requests all come true then well have the place to ourselves and thats when Im planning to propose!
Again, if all goes according to plan, Ill get the answer Im looking for (!) then head back down to finish dinne r,then back down to Café Fantasia for more drinks!
Tuesday 28th
* Well probably have a bit of a lie-in (well, until 7.45), do EMH then breakfast.
Another full day in the parks/studios.
* Were doing Buffalo Bills in the evening as being rowdy and getting a load of free ale sounds like my kinda way to let off steam!
Wednesday 29th
* EMH/Breakfast, in which order Im not sure!
* We head home on the 6pm Eurostar but actually have that night booked at the DLH. It was part of the deal (4 nights for 2) when I booked and Im gutted to be missing out but we both need to be back for the Thursday morning! SO, well just have a super-late check out!
* Once back at Kings Cross weve got an hour to kill before our 9pm first-class trip back to York. We get in at 11.02 so may pop into town for a cheeky late taste to celebrate!
I then imagine well need a MASSIVE snooze!
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Reckon it'll do?
I'll update with news as and when it arrives between now and departure. FIL in the ONLY person (in person, if that makes sense) who knows about this whole mission so I need to let off some steam on here!!! I'm bursting to tell someone!!