Eekk, going to my happy place. August 2019

[mdsouth]

I still haven't decided about which NASA trip... we went in 2016 and had lunch with an astronaut which was fab . The bus tour has changed since you did it.. it's been different each of the 3 times I've been there ... first was 1990 then in the early 2000s .. I must make a decision soon..

Once your trip is over, you will definitely have to write a TR so I can see what has changed.

 

[OurLuce]

62 days to go...

 

[OurLuce]

So I've done the fast passes. Not sure exactly which ones I snagged as I was on the tram in Manchester on the way to the cricket. Thankfully I've got stupid amounts of data. Sitting with a pimms in the sunshine at a world cup game. It could be worse

 

[OurLuce]

a day at the cricket was lovely. New Zealand beat the windies. And I got to spend time with the other half and our daughter. We left the son with his uncle and cousin and their dogs. Not sure how to get my photos rotated...

So the fps were got. Now feeding them into another website to get the plans for each day. I think it see where we are when we are hungry and eat at a nearby qs or any must do qs places? Recommendations gratefully received.

58 days to go. Daughter has a trip to Italy with the school in two weeks... it's a music tour to lake guarda.. but has at least 3 concerts first. Son is counting days before he finishes primary school and we have the prep for him going up to his secondary.. mainly getting them ready for a zach, he tends to leave a zach shaped hole and you have to keep up.

It really is happening soon....

So 2 weeks then Amelia is off for a week then there is one more week of school. We have a week of school holiday before they are both off to (different) scout camp. Then 2 weeks and we fly out.

 

[mdsouth]

Sounds like your plans are coming together and the weeks leading up to your trip will be busy ones.

 

[caylene44]

I need to work out when we do customs/immigration.

Not sure if you've already researched this but you do customs/immigration as soon as you land in the US on your first layover. They usually fly you into an international terminal (depending on the airport), you go through customs/have to pick up any checked bags there, and then you can re-check your bags and walk to a domestic terminal/gate for your next flight. I would say most airports have the int'l/domestic terminals connected where you won't have to break security. Not all do though- at LAX, you have to completely move terminal buildings which means going through security again Hopefully United has your layover at a decent length to do customs/get to your next gate.

 

[OurLuce]

Sounds like your plans are coming together and the weeks leading up to your trip will be busy ones.

Stupidly busy. Amelia had her school awards ceremony last night where she played in a uke group then got the technology award for her year group (very proud mum) tonight she has a school concert and tomorrow night she has a music school concert where I'm also playing.. next week she has two concerts too. I'm just hoping we survive to the holidays.

 

[OurLuce]

Not sure if you've already researched this but you do customs/immigration as soon as you land in the US on your first layover. They usually fly you into an international terminal (depending on the airport), you go through customs/have to pick up any checked bags there, and then you can re-check your bags and walk to a domestic terminal/gate for your next flight. I would say most airports have the int'l/domestic terminals connected where you won't have to break security. Not all do though- at LAX, you have to completely move terminal buildings which means going through security again Hopefully United has your layover at a decent length to do customs/get to your next gate.

Thanks for the info ... I hope we have enough time ... I think it is a couple of hours. Once I went via Miami from the Caribbean to London with an hour between planes. we made it but the luggage was on the next plane, the airport delivered it to my flat in London that evening which made my tube trip home much easier. It would have been brilliant except we had to wait for all the luggage to be unloaded before we could report it.

 

[caylene44]

Thanks for the info ... I hope we have enough time ... I think it is a couple of hours. Once I went via Miami from the Caribbean to London with an hour between planes. we made it but the luggage was on the next plane, the airport delivered it to my flat in London that evening which made my tube trip home much easier. It would have been brilliant except we had to wait for all the luggage to be unloaded before we could report it.

I'm sure it will be fine. They're usually pretty good about timing layovers so that people make it. I would definitely look up the airport your layover is in to see the layout. Hopefully it's all in one interconnected building and won't be an issue! Luckily, you won't hit customs on the way back until you arrive at LHR so no worries on that layover.

That's pretty nice that they delivered it for you! (I've definitely struggled with luggage on the tube when I visited the UK last summer, not an easy feat). We had an airline here in the states that made us drive BACK to the airport on our trip to retrieve our bag. It was a big waste of time but of course you aren't going to abandon your luggage with them.

 

[OurLuce]

Getting closer. I got a letter from disney yesterday. I have now booked my seats which are all towards the very back of the planes. This time next month we will be there.

 

[mdsouth]

Your trip is fast approaching! I know you must be super excited!

 

[OurLuce]

Your trip is fast approaching! I know you must be super excited!

Just a little bit... but first kids have a week at scout camp starting on Saturday so me and the other half get a week off. We have managed 1 night without them before but this is the longest we have been childless in 13 years. We have a Michelin starred restaurant booked in Birmingham called Adams for an evening meal and a hotel will be booked so we can both drink.

... trying hard not to get too excited too soon.... I might be failing.....

 

[mdsouth]

Enjoy your time childless! I am sure it feels really weird, but it will a nice way to just relax and reconnect before your big trip!

 

[OurLuce]

The kids made it back from camp. Zachs was closed early as there was too much mud. So he got back Wednesday. Our posh meal was in jeopardy, so we cancelled the hotel and found a babysitter and went anyway but drove home afterwards. I picked up Amelia on Saturday. Washing almost done.

16 days before we get to Disney. 15 before we leave the house. Packing list is started.

Its getting closer.

 

[mdsouth]

Sorry your plans changed for your big weekend out without the kids. How was the meal? Was it worth the drive? If I am figuring it correctly, you are now at TEN days away from the start of your trip! Woo Hoo!
You should be doing the Disney dance!

 

[OurLuce]

10 from leaving home. 11 days till the flight and eventually arriving in the most magical place on earth. We have been listening to disney playlists and have just watched tangled.

The meal was worth over 3 hours in the car. It's the second time we have been there and we can't work out how it hasn't got 2 stars. The food was sublime.

 

[OurLuce]

Happy dance time. In a week I'll be driving down to london. The following morning we will be flying and properly on our way.

Meanwhile mil is staying for the week. Which makes getting everything sorted a little more complicated. Other half isn't very well and even more grumpy than usual. Again not helping.

The order for school uniform hasn't come yet. We need it before we go away so if any doesn't fit we have time to swap it. Obviously by fit I mean isn't too small. The way zach is growing at the moment it needs to be big so it will last more than a couple of weeks.
I'm also going to buy school trousers tomorrow, at least they don't have to be from the specialist supplier.

But only a week to go. Breath and we will be there. Obviously I've been checking weather forecasts as it is close enough. Unsurprisingly it will be hot and humid with regular thunderstorms. The Joy's of going in August.

Lucy

 

[OurLuce]

3 sleeps and we are in Disney. Daughter is now (almost) as excited as me. She has done her nails. She will be doing mine tomorrow...

As mil was here last week plans for travelling day are now to leave here after I've done the check in online so about 9.30 on Tuesday morning. Then drive to my big sisters for lunch before heading over to Heathrow mid afternoon were we are staying at the premier inn. Find food. Early night.

Travel day proper will be leaving the purple palace about 6. Drop off the car 10 mins later then hang around t2 until 9.30 when our flight departs. Spend a lot of hours trying to keep kids from killing each other. Stress over changing planes and terminals and doing the whole immigration stuff in houston then more hours on a plane when we eventually land in orlando. Me to all stars sports. Find food. Collapse.

Day 1. Leave resort for 8am reservation at tusker house. And do Disney.

...

 

[OurLuce]

We got here last night. My body is still in uk time so I'm hiding from the kids who are still asleep. Let's hope 20 hours of travelling are worth it! All we have done so far is pick up our bands, find our room, report 1 lost bag to me as zach left his carry on in the bus, and go to sleep.

Report to be written on the other side.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Rest up... ur going to have an Amazing time.
Hope ur sons bag shows up!! Pixie dust ur way!