Don't Stop! PRE-TRIP AND LIVE TRIP REPORT COMPLETED - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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It's time to move on and move forward.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Don't Stop! PRE-TRIP AND LIVE TRIP REPORT COMPLETED
Don’t stop....
I guess really I should start with the basics, before I get going on this pre-trip report... First off then, who are we?
Adventurers: Me, Cheryl (35, turning 36) and DH Mark (44)
For those of you who don’t know us – and heck, let’s be honest, there aren’t very many photos of us on the boards, : so you might not be familiar with our mugs.
This shot was taken on our last major holiday to Japan and it’s at Tokyo DisneySea, the world’s most amazing Disney park – seriously. It’ll be interesting to see how we are with Walt Disney World, having been to Tokyo Disney. I’ve been back there since Japan on the Decade of Dreams tour, but Mark hasn’t and I’ll be fascinated to see how he finds it, having experienced a Disney park that is truly out of this world.
So when will we be gone?
Dates: Thursday 10 December – Saturday 2 January
No, your eyes did not deceive you. We will really be away for three weeks. Before you wonder how we’re managing that, I should first say that the Europeans get a lot more – and I mean a lot more – vacation than the Americans do. We both get 30 days holiday and both of us have a mandatory shutdown at our places of work between Christmas and New Year, so going away over Christmas works perfectly for us. Because of this, we’re both only taking 11 days off work, as we leave two weeks before Christmas Eve. I believe Mark’s work will shut down earlier than mine. I know my work colleagues will be in work until Christmas Eve, something I did last year – I had the proud record of being the last person left in the office last Christmas Eve and our Deputy Chief Executive almost had to force me out of the office, having already sent everyone else home, as it was so deathly dull and quiet that day...
So where are we off to this time? As you might expect, if you’ve read any of my previous trip reports, this won’t be a simple trip, with just one port of call. : Heck, the more I can cram in a vacation, the better, as far as I’m concerned. Let’s just say Mark doesn’t quite share that view...
Destinations: Walt Disney World, road trip along the eastern coast of Florida, taking in Palm Beach and Miami, and down to Key West, back to Walt Disney World and then a week with our friends Sue (rescuesk) and Steve at their Pocono Mountains. Here’s a shot of the four of us together outside Buckingham Palace in London on their trip over here in May 2008:
As I say, not straightforward. I’ll take you through my logic as to how we got to this as this pre-trip report progresses.... so where will we be staying? We’re not moving around too much... yeah, right!
Resorts:
Thursday 10 – Saturday 12 December: Bay Lake Tower
Saturday 12 – Monday 14 December: Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village)
Monday 14 – Tuesday 15 December: Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Tuesday 15 – Wednesday 16 December: Express by Holiday Inn, Boca Raton
Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 December: Z Ocean Hotel, South Beach, Miami
Friday 18 – Sunday 20 December: Crowne Plaza, Key West
Sunday 20 – Friday 25 December: Beach Club Villas
Friday 25 – Saturday 26 December: Hyatt at Orlando International Airport
Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 December: Crowne Plaza, King of Prussia Mall
Sunday 27 December – Friday 1 January: Sue and Steve’s, Pocono Mountains
Friday 1 January – Saturday 2 January: Holiday Inn, Newark Airport
Meets: Hopefully lots during the PassPorter gathering and then one big, long, happy PassPorter meet with Sue and Steve at theirs.
So, before we begin this report in earnest, what’s with the title? Well, I will leave it as a teaser in some respects. For anyone who read my last trip report from the Decades of Dreams tour in May, that was called Go Your Own Way after the Fleetwood Mac. It seemed like a perfect title, as I was indeed going my own way, leaving Mark at home, for the first time in our 10 years of married life.
As many of you will realise, Don’t Stop is also a Fleetwood Mac classic. I’m no Fleetwood Mac fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I knew Mark was, so when they announced tour dates this year, I was able to snag tickets for what turned out to be the very last date of their tour at Wembley Arena on the night of our 10th wedding anniversary of 6 November. I will admit I was very impressed with them, and as I listened to them belt out Don’t Stop, I couldn’t help but think that it would be perfect as a trip report title, as the words really reflected how I was feeling. As I say, more of that to come in due course... stay tuned!
Great start Cheryl! It sounds like you have a lot planned! If you haven't been to the Palm Beach area, you'll love it! I sure do miss it and you're staying in one of my childhood home towns (Boca Raton)! Looking foward to more please
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I'm so glad you started your TR Cheryl!!! Looks like you'll be moving around quite a bit on this trip. I'm glad that you're getting the opportunity to visit other parts of Florida. My DH and I have seen quite a few other cities in Florida but I've always wanted to visit the Keys! Glad that you'll get a chance to visit with Steve and Sue at their place. Looking forward to hearing more.
Okay. I'm exhausted just looking at your itinerary. Other than that I don't know how I would manage to keep where I'm staying straight with all those changes. Great start. Looking forward to more.
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I love your trip reports so I am happy to see that you have started. Looks like an amazing trip! Can't wait to read all the details and see all the pics.
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I'm always exhausted reading your itinerary. I would need a vacation after the vacation. Looking forward to reading more and hopefully making a few small appearances in your epic TR.
Safe travels and see you next week!
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Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
Last edited by Minnie Lor; 12-03-2009 at 10:06 AM..
Love what you have planned! I'm from Jacksonville, FL and thought you might want to think about a visit to St. Augustine while in FL. They decorate it for the Holidays really nice. St. George St is great for shopping and they have some great restaurants there. Lot of history there and I think it's quite romantic. A1A is a beautiful drive as you head South.
Just a suggestion.
Hope ya'll have a great time! Can't wait to hear more!
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First off then, who are we? 
: so you might not be familiar with our mugs. 
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Waiting to eat with Goofy - DLR May 2010
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You started your trip report!!! 
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