Auchenlarie Holiday Park in Scotland

Late on Sunday we returned home from our 3rd and final adventure of the summer holidays. We had been up to Scotland for our 4th visit to Auchenlarie Holiday Park, which is in Dumfries and Galloway. Whilst we love to holiday in different places, Auchenlarie is somewhere we have never tired of visiting. The kids love it there as much as we do, and here is why

The Seaview

The site slopes down to the sea which means that virtually every caravan or lodge will have a Seaview. I find it so relaxing gazing out to sea with a coffee/wine in hand.  Here is the view from our decking

The accommodation

As with most holiday parks, Auchenlarie has a wide range of accommodation.  On previous occasions we have stayed in a standard caravan, even snapping up 4 nights during Easter for £69.00. This year we stayed in the park lodge, which was virtually brand new. It had 3 bedrooms, a huge ensuite and a fireplace I could look at all day. The price was £575.oo for the full week, which for the quality of the lodge was fantastic value. One thing I love is that ALL of the accommodation comes complete with decking, even the standard caravans.

Private Beach

Whilst it is quite a steep slope getting down to it, it is worth the trip to the private beach. We enjoyed many hours on the beach, playing football, climbing on the rocks, paddling in the sea and having picnics. It was never busy, and one time we even had the whole beach to ourselves. Pure bliss.

Facilities on site

There is a small pool, arcade, restaurant, take away, sports bar, crazy golf, shop, and play areas dotted around the site. You have to book a session in the pool, and they also have pool parties twice a week. There is an additional charge of £2.oo per person, but this was well worth it as the kids had a great time. We enjoyed the take away one evening back in the lodge, which was good value and tasted fresh.

Entertainment

There is a modern entertainment suite which usually opens at 7.30pm. You need to purchase entertainment passes, which are around £30.00 for 2 adults and 2 children for the full week. There is a good mix of entertainment in the evening, and there is always a good atmosphere in there.  They also have activities running during the day. My daughter went to Build a Bear, daytime karaoke and we did the family quiz (which we won whoop).

Katie with the bunny she made

This is the balloon Katie won when we visited in 2014. Oh the fun we had getting it in the car

The local area

There really is lots to do in the local area, and even though we have visited 4 times we are still finding new places to go to. Some of our favourites are Cream o Galloway (ice cream farm and adventure park), Laggan outdoor activity centre and the chocolate factory. And whilst you are driving to nearby places, sit back and enjoy the stunning Scottish scenery.

Would we return for a 5th time ?

Before we went, I honestly thought this would be our last visit. But sitting on the decking with the sun shining down (a rare miracle in Scotland), I felt sad with the prospect of not returning again. The park has such a nice atmosphere, and the staff have always been so helpful and friendly. Its a safe site and the children are getting to the age where they can go off and explore by themselves. The children are already asking to go back next year, so I am sure they will twist my arm. Though where holidays are concerned, my arm needs no twisting. See you next year Auchenlarie for our 5th visit.

Linking up with mytravelmonkey and packingmysuitcase for Monday Escapes

Forest Holidays Sherwood Forest – Part 2

As soon as the children broke up for the summer, we headed to Forest Holidays in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire for the week. I did a little ‘live blogging’ when we there, and you can read it here if you wish. Believe me, blogging on the dining room table is not the same as having this gorgeous view when writing.

So what did we think of our first visit to Forest Holidays ? Did it live up to all the wonderful reviews I had read before we went ? Well in a word YES, and this is why we had one of the most relaxing holidays we have ever been on.

The Surroundings

Forest Holidays occupy a small corner of the Sherwood Pines Forest. There are 82 lodges on site, ranging from a 1 bedroom hideaway to the treehouses for up to 10 people. The majority of the lodges seemed well spaced out and private, and we were very lucky with our Golden Oak cabin. We were literally nestled into the forest, and I loved how we could just see an abundance of trees from every window. The surroundings offer so much nature, and whilst we were there we saw birds, squirrels, rabbits, butterflies and even a lizard. The great news is you have even more forest on your doorstep, with Sherwood Pines being a 5 minute walk away. See my post for 10 things to do at Sherwood Pines.

The accommodation

We stayed in a 2 bedroom Golden Oak lodge. I love the anticipation of going into a holiday home for the first time, and as soon as I stepped inside I was blown away. The lodge was spacious, and I loved the little touches such as the ‘Welcome’ on the scrabble board. Our bedroom was at the back of the lodge, complete with en-suite. The kids shared a twin room and there was a further large bathroom. Does anyone else get excited when they realise you have miniature toiletries included ? And the fluffy towels and robe were perfect for wrapping yourself in after a dip in the hot tub.

The main living area was open plan and roomy. The kitchen had a dishwasher and an under the counter fridge with small freezer compartment. Luckily I knew beforehand the fridge was small, so I just packed food for a few days. There is a great co-op in Edwinstowe which is less than 5 minutes drive away. I had paid for the entertainment package before we went, which meant WIFI and a selection of films. We really made use of the package (which was £65) watching around 10 films during our stay. The tween had the occasional moan that the WIFI was not super fast, but hey we were in the forest, what does he expect.

But to be honest who needs WIFI when you have this on the decking. This is where Forest Holiday sets itself apart from other similar holiday companies.  We have been lucky to have stayed in some amazing lodges, but this one will take some beating.

Forest Holiday Activities

During our week my daughter did the pottery painting twice. This was held in the Forest Retreat and could be done anytime it was open. This was great as it meant you didn’t have to plan the activity. The pottery was good value and the ladybird below cost £8.50.  As we were in Sherwood the boys booked in for the archery. It was £20 per adult and £10 per child, for around 1 hour 20 minutes. They both enjoyed the lesson but I don’t think they will be giving Robin Hood a run for his money.

The Forest Retreat also held a quiz on the Saturday and Thursday at 4.30pm priced £1 per person. This was great fun and the best bit……. coming 1st on the Thursday. And boy did I enjoy our winning wine that night. Other activities include Young Explorers, Family Den Building and Hawk Experience. Opposite the Forest Retreat is where you will find the play area, picnic benches, and a great open space which was perfect for games of football.

What else do they offer ?

Fancy a night off from cooking, then you can hire a chef to come to your lodge and cook your meal. If you can’t stretch to the £150 (plus meal costs), then how about ordering a pizza or curry from the comfort of your lodge and having it delivered. We didn’t do this but its great to have the option. Food and drink is also served in the Forest Retreat, and I can highly recommend the milkshakes at £1.70. There is also a small shop selling gifts and food items such as bread and milk.

They also offer in lodge pamper sessions, celebration packages and even doggy deli delights.

 Would we return ?

YES, without a doubt. There was nothing negative about our week long stay, and as I am a ‘holiday perfectionist’ I can sometimes be hard to please. The hot tub was cleaned every morning, the accommodation was one of the best lodges we have stayed in, and the forest was just divine. Having a nearly 13 year old our holidays are changing, and I wondered whether he would be bored. But there were plenty of activities to keep him busy, though I would say the WIFI package is a must. To be honest my 2 were just as happy sitting in the hot tub. We went the first week of the summer holidays, and even though the site was full it never felt crowded or noisy. You have to quieten down after 10pm, and the majority of guests adhered to this. Most nights all you could hear was the bubbling sounds of the hot tub.

Thank you Forest Holidays for a truly relaxing and peaceful week. I received a discount off our week long break and all comments and views are my own.

Forest Holidays Sherwood Forest – Part 1

I thought I would do a little ‘live blogging’ following on from my last post of our Impromptu Getaway. Its Monday afternoon, and this is my current view from our decking at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Not a bad view to blog from.

View from our decking at Sherwood Pines

Sherwood Forest is part of Forest Holidays, and altogether they have 9 locations around the UK. Forest Holidays combine 2 of my favourite things. Staying in the forest and hot tubs. We chose to visit Sherwood as its a part of the UK we have never visited before. The journey took us around 3 hours from the North West, and we checked in at the Forest Retreat. This is where you will find the reception, shop, place to book your activities and also the café. As I am writing this, husband and daughter are currently doing the pottery painting activity in there.

2 bedroom Golden Oak Lodge at Sherwood Pines

We booked a 2 bedroom Golden Oak lodge with the entertainment package. The entertainment package cost us an additional £65 for the week, which gives us access to films and WIFI. Believe me coming away with a tween and NO WIFI is no holiday. I have to say the lodge is stunning. We are totally in the forest, and our lodge is surrounded by trees. I am sat here on the decking and all I can hear are the birds tweeting. We wanted a relaxing holiday, and we have definitely found this at Forest Holidays.

We have no concept of time, and we are all enjoying being together as a family. We are loving the moments such as toasting marshmallows, playing charades in the hot tub and going for long walks through the forest. When I return home I will write more posts of our time here, but for now that hot tub is calling me.

Our hot tub at Sherwood Pines

I am linking up with the lovely ladies from @my_travelmonkey and @packingsuitcase for Monday Escapes #9

Impromptu getaway

I am a planner when it comes to holidays, days out and pretty much everything else. I am one of those annoying mums who fills in school letters and sends them back in the next day. I love an organised life, and like to know that my holidays for the year are all planned out. I sometimes spend more time on Trip Advisor than I do on the actual holiday.  But a few days ago I stepped out of my comfort zone.  I booked a holiday, AND WE GO ON FRIDAY.  That’s barely enough time for my pre holiday stress to arrive.

That’s only 5 days to wash, iron, stress what to pack as you never know what the UK weather will do, buy food, organise days out whilst on holiday, buy the obligatory new toothbrushes, purchase holiday alcohol (most important job of all), delegate boring but important car jobs to husband, and probably another 100 things which will wake me up at 2am. PHEW. As well as getting through the final few days of school and not forgetting work. So instead of packing I thought the sensible thing would be to blog about it instead.

I am just counting down the hours till Friday at 4pm when I can check in. And from 4.01pm you will find me in the hot tub with a very large gin. Happy holidays.

Do you like to plan your holidays or do you prefer spur of the moment breaks ?

 

The Pirates Show in Majorca

Pirates Show in Majorca

On our recent holiday to Majorca, we spent the evening at The Pirates Show in Magaluf. The show is now in its 29th year which is just incredible, and promises an evening of acrobatics, comedy and dance. My Dad who has lived in Majorca for over 20 years, raved about how amazing the show was, so I knew we were in for a good evening.

We got to the indoor theatre before the doors opened, and there were pirates outside interacting with guests. There was the chance to have your photo taken with a large bright parrot, and on the way into the indoor theatre we were handed a small bottle of cava each. Kids got some treasure in the shape of chocolate coins. We were then shown to our table by one of the stars of the show. I thought this was a great idea, and certainly reinforced what a great interactive show Pirates is.

We were seated on the Quarter Deck, and had a great view of the stage. To be honest I think every table would have a good view. We had a jug of Sangria on the table, together with a large bottle of coke. We were quickly served our meal which was chicken and chips, coleslaw, bread roll and a sausage. For afters there was ice cream. There were plenty of staff serving extra drinks to your table, and we ordered some more bottles of small cava which were 5 euros. Whilst we were waiting for everyone to finish their meal, there was plenty of interaction between the children and pirates. This certainly helps with the ‘when is it going to start mum’

Food at The Pirates Show

Hubby helping himself to the Jug of Sangria on the table

Soon it was time for the show to start. I won’t say too much about it as I really don’t want to spoil it for you. But WOW what a truly amazing show. We were all mesmerized from start to finish, even the tween (and we all know how hard it is to get a nearly 13 year old mesmerized). The acrobatics were dynamic, the host of the show hilarious and the music fantastic. Afterwards there is the chance to meet the stars of the show and have pictures with them.

Meeting the stars of the show

Katie in a pirate headlock

 

Trying to make the tween smile !

My dad got us complimentary tickets, and I have to say a huge thank you to The Pirates Show for providing them. It truly is an amazing show, and I would not hesitate to return when we are next in Majorca. Thank you to all the acrobats, pirates, staff and all the stars of the show for providing us with a fun filled evening on our holiday.

The lovely Captain Scarlett. This was husbands favourite. I can’t think why !

Our stay at The Fergus Cala Blanca Hotel in Majorca

Fergus Cala Blanca Hotel in Santa Ponsa Majorca

We have just returned from a fantastic 4 night break to Majorca during the Easter holidays. I booked both the flight and hotel with Monarch back in January, and we chose to stay at the Fergus Cala Blanca hotel in Santa Ponsa. I have been to Santa Ponsa a few times as my Dad and Step Mum used to live there, but it would be our first time as a family visiting Majorca.

We had a VERY early get up last Tuesday morning as our flight was at 6.00am. As is the tradition at the airport, we had a very early breakfast at Frankie and Bennys around 4.30am. Soon it was time to board the plane, and we actually took off 10 minutes early. We flew with Monarch last year when we went to Corfu, and again I was really impressed with the service from them.

We met my Dad at Palma airport, and it was around 30 minutes to get to Santa Ponsa. First impressions of the hotel were wow as we were met by a lovely gleaming white reception. As we arrived at the hotel around 11am we had to wait a few hours for our room to be ready. Once we were in our room, we quickly unpacked and headed to the restaurant for lunch. We were all inclusive, but the hotel also offers bed and breakfast and also half board options. We could not fault the service in the restaurant, and the choice at every meal was plentiful. We certainly got used to having a large glass of wine with our lunch and evening meal.

The restaurant at the Fergus Cala Blanca

A very large gin and tonic

Part of the bar area

The rooms at the Cala Blanca are very spacious, and were perfect for us. We had a separate bedroom, and the children slept in the living room. There was a huge walk in room which was perfect for storing suitcases in. The balcony was the largest one we have seen, and the best bit was the bed. Perfect for siestas !

The separate bedroom at the Fergus Cala Blanca

Huge walk in room for all your clothes and suitcases

The balcony bed at the Fergus Cala Blanca

The hotel also has an entertainment programme, from pilates in the morning to shows in the evening. There is also a kids club which runs in the day at certain hours, but our 2 made friends really quickly, and they were happy to play/hang out with them. Our 2 loved the zip wire, the table tennis and the football pitch, and of course the hotels pony Pongus. This is where they spent the majority of their time with friends, whilst we enjoyed a very relaxing holiday.

The hotel zip wire

Pongus the hotel pony

The pool area is nice and there were plenty of people sunbathing. Daughter did brave the outdoor pool but it was very cold, but kids are kids and didn’t seem to bother them. The hotel also has a beach bar, and I believe you can see some stunning sunsets from there.

The pool area at the Fergus Cala Blanca

All in all we were very impressed with the hotel and we will certainly return. Its very clean and modern and the staff seem to work very hard in looking after the customers, especially in the restaurant. The only negative we had was not enough staff behind the bar. However this would not stop us from booking again, as the hotel had a very relaxed feel to it. The children made some lovely friends, as did we, and this certainly made our holiday. Happy kids = Happy parents.

Enjoying a gin in the hotel reception

Thank you to Fergus Hotels and also Monarch for making our holiday fantastic. I booked the flights and hotel separate (both through Monarch), and paid £920 for 2 adults and 2 children which was all inclusive. This was for 4 nights during the Easter holidays.

This post has been shared with the #TotsTravel linky for May

Apple Macs in the hotel reception

Looking back at our Florida and Disneyworld trips

A princess meeting a princess !

4 years ago today we went on our ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to Disneyworld in Florida. I still remember the excitement of that day. Our first trip to the magic had been years in the planning. 2011 had been chosen as we had been married for 10 years, and also hubby turned 40. The kids would be 5 and 8 which we thought would be a good age to visit Disney (though I do think ANY age is great to go there). We were going with my mum and step dad, my step sister, her husband and their son. So in total there were 9 of us. I was chief planner and I threw myself into the task from the word go. I believe planning is key when visiting Florida, and I love all the excitement and build up before you go. Here are some of my tips I have learnt from planning our ‘once in a lifetime’ trip, and not forgetting the other 2 trips we had in 2012 and 2013.

You will not do everything in one trip. We have been 3 times and there is still things we want to do. Sit down and write a list of your priorities and which parks you want to visit. The first year we did all of the Disney Parks and Universal. Second visit was Disney, SeaWorld and NASA. And our third visit we just did Disney.

In 2013 when we stayed at Disney Old Key West hotel

Don’t discount staying in a Disney hotel. Many people think that Disney hotels are simply too expensive, but if you book when they have the free dining on they can be great value. On our third visit we stayed in Old Key West Hotel. We booked for 2 weeks and paid £2000 which included all of our meals (including character meals) for the 4 of us. This meant that we dined in the ‘actual’ castle which was included in our dining plan. You do have to pay tips, but we covered this cost with a $300 gift card we also got when we booked. The free dining is usually released around the start of April.

The amazing Disney food

Knowing when to book your flights is also key. You will need to decide whether you want to fly direct or indirect. Indirect will be cheaper, but you have to weigh up the cost saving against hanging round airports or worse still rushing (with kids) to get your connection. Direct was the only option for me, basically because I hate taking off and landing. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have sales throughout the year. For our last 2 visits we booked with Virgin Atlantic in the September sale, for flying the following May. Both years we paid just under £2000 for the 4 of us.

Shop around for tickets and I would personally get them before you travel. There are many ticket agents such as Attraction Tickets Direct  and FloridaTix who are great to deal with. You can also purchase Disney tickets at the Disney stores in the UK. If you are booking a Disney hotel combined with the free dining plan, you will have to order your Disney tickets at the time of booking. This is a condition of the deal, but to be honest last time we found Disney was offering the best price for their tickets.

Plan in some rest days. Florida is exhausting, with the walking and the heat combined. We tend to do 2 days of visiting parks and then a rest day. This seems to work well with us, and we can enjoy some down time in the hotel room or villa. This stops us from burning out towards the end of the holiday.

A tired Princess back in 2013

Going back to our first trip it had been years in the planning. The photo below was taken about 2 hours after we had landed in Orlando. It was in Applebees which is your traditional American diner, and was about 2am UK time.

Our very first night in Orlando on 1st April 2011

I still remember walking up Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and seeing THE CASTLE for the very first time. I was really emotional as I thought ‘wow we are really here’. Its funny as I don’t really feel I am there until I see the castle.

Our very first picture in front of the castle in 2011

We hope to visit Florida again (hopefully next year) and I know next time we visit it will give us a different experience. That’s the beauty about this magical place. Any age is the best time to visit. I just really wish it was 4 years ago. I would be somewhere over the Atlantic, instead of sat here watching the rain pouring down. At least I have our wonderful memories of our 3 trips to treasure forever.

Never too old for a hug from a Disney Princess

I am linking up with Monday Escapes run by the lovely ladies at My Travel Monkey and Packing my Suitcase

Awesome Centerparcs Weekend – January 2015

We have just returned from an awesome weekend at Centerparcs.  As a family we are all avid lovers of the place, and each year takes us back there. I booked this break back in June, but we decided to tell the children on THURSDAY night, when we went out for a meal for my birthday. It was lovely to see them so excited for the weekend ahead. I gave the tween strict instructions to be home from school on time on Friday, quick change out of uniforms and we were on the M6 heading up to Whinfell. A few hours later and we were in our lodge.

Centerparcs lodge at Whinfell

I received alot of tweets when I posted a picture of our lodge the other night, so I will do a separate post on the lodges we have stayed in over the years. I am sure we have nearly stayed in every type now ! Anyway we were soon unpacked and off for a night time swim. We LOVE going swimming in the evening, and for some reason the kids like hurtling down the outside slides in minus conditions. I checked out the nice warm hot tub. We headed back to the lodge around 9.30pm for a well deserved gin, and to light the fire. Blissful evening.

On the Saturday the day started off with no plans. We had a walk round the forest, and ended up at the Sports Plaza. This is where most of the activities are, and the kids had their eye on indoor caving which is a fairly new activity. We found out they had space at 2.30pm, and I booked them in at a cost of £18.00 each. As they were over 8, this meant they didn’t need an adult, and this resulted in one hour child free !!!!! So I enjoyed one of these………

A gin cocktail…. very nice too

Kids loved the caving, and it was nice to see them doing an activity together. By this time we were starving, and we decided to eat at The Pancake House. With full bellies we strolled back to the lodge and chilled out, before another evening swim. We came out around 9pm and we were all starving again. It must be the forest air !! We were lucky to be squeezed into Hucks which is an American Restaurant. The kids love it there as a) they have apple macs you can play games on and b) they have an all you can eat buffet. Perfect for a hungry tween. We had a lovely meal and as it was Saturday night there was a lively atmosphere.

Sunday was a special day for 2 reasons. The first reason it SNOWED, and the second it was Katie’s 9th Birthday. What a fantastic surprise for her. We had a lovely morning in the lodge, watching her open her presents, building snowmen and throwing snowballs. I had booked a birthday meal at Bella Italia for 2pm. This is the one restaurant I have never eaten in at Centerparcs. We had a lovely table overlooking the frozen lake. The meal was lovely as was the service. We will definitely return to Bella Italia. Next it was time for Katie and I to watch the Wizard of Oz show. It cost just under £18.00 for the 2 of us. We were lucky to get a front row seat, and Katie loved the show.

Birthday girl and her snowman

Afterwards we met the boys and headed to the swimming pool again. But this time I had booked a Cabana. We had booked a Cabana last year and really enjoyed having somewhere to chill out. You get a TV, fridge with soft drinks in, comfy chairs, a safe and towels. It was good to use it as a base, and we had the use of it for 3 hours. On the Friday I had told the staff it was Katie’s birthday, and they said they would arrange a balloon and a banner like they did the previous year. However it was not done and the pool staff were very apologetic. They presented Katie with a HUGE ice cream and 2 inflatables for her to take home, plus a card signed by all of the lifeguards. The adults were not overlooked either as we got this below. Fantastic service by the pool team, and we were very grateful.

Thank you to the Centerparcs Pool Team

Monday morning and it was time to get the car from the car park and start packing. Even though we had only been there 3 nights, it felt longer as we had packed so much in. The kids wanted to go Ten pin bowling before we went home, and we were lucky to get a lane for 11am. The cost was £18.00 for 45 minutes, but this can rise to £28.00 if you book for the evening time. I got suitably thrashed so I will leave it there !!!

We left at 1pm to head home and back to reality. We all agreed this was one of our favourite Centerparcs break. Being there when it was snowing was definitely a highlight. Katie is lucky to have turned 8 and also 9 at Centerparcs, and I am sure we will return next year when she will turn 10 on the Monday. And the added bonus is I will turn 42 three days before, so I will have a Centerparcs birthday too !!! Just need to work on the husband.

Watch out for more Centerparcs blog posts coming soon.

 

Our Christmas Holiday – South Lakeland Leisure Village

This year we decided to go away for Christmas. This is something we did back in 2011 when we went to Centerparcs, and we loved being away. Now I know its not for everybody, and people love being at home surrounded by their family. I knew my parents would not be around for Christmas day. When a mailer came through my door offering me Christmas breaks for 50% off, I was on the phone and booked within the hour !

View of the lake from our decking

 

Now I just had to formulate a plan as dear daughter had asked for a bike off Father Christmas. Luckily she decided she wanted her bike delivering to home, and the rest of her presents delivered to our lodge. After packing the whole of Christmas up into a medium sized family car, we headed off up the M6 to Carnforth. We were staying at South Lakeland Leisure Village, where we had stayed twice before. I was really excited about seeing our lodge as I knew it was right on the lake. It certainly did not disappoint, and we all got the wow factor when we walked in. Food was unpacked, clothes were put in the wardrobe and the tree was put up. It was finally time to relax and enjoy Christmas.

Our lovely lodge on the lake

We all agreed that the lodge was one of the best we have ever stayed in. It looked virtually brand new, and I loved the open plan living area. Our kitchen is separate from our living room at home, and it was nice to chat to hubby as he cooked the Christmas dinner. The site is all lodges, and predominately owners. There is a great swimming pool and gym which you can pay to use. We went in the pool twice and paid £10.00 each session. There is also a restaurant and a small bar area. We had a lovely meal on boxing day, and the food has never disappointed us when we have ate there. We even walked over to the bar on Christmas day, and enjoyed a mulled wine.

He found us !

We were there for 4 nights and had a lovely chilled out Christmas with the kids. We ate, drank, played games, swam, walked round the lake and had far too many afternoon naps ! There was no pressure on us as a family to go and see people, and we loved our quality family time just the 4 of us. We still did our Christmas Eve traditions of new Pyjamas and daughter sprinkled the reindeer dust over the decking. Christmas this year had zero stress, and I am very tempted to go away again next year. With the 50% off we got an absolute bargain break in a stunning lodge right on the lake. I must have been a good girl this year !

A little bit of me time

The Williams and Walt Disney World

I have been blogging for 18 months now, and the one subject I have not yet written about is Walt Disney World in Florida. So here goes with my first post about my favourite place on earth.

2011 – Walt Disney World

2011 – We went on our ‘once in a lifetime’ trip in April 2011. We chose that year as we were celebrating 10 years of marriage and the hubby was turning 40. We went for 2 weeks and stayed in a huge villa, along with my mum, step dad, step sister and her family. This was the first time I had been to America, and I fell in love with Orlando and of course Disney.  Our children were 8 and 5 at the time, and it was a great age for their first visit. Walking up Main Street and seeing the castle for the first time took my breath away, and we made many memories during those 2 weeks. At the start of the holiday we were already discussing that we should return in 2 years. This soon led to ‘lets do it next year’. As our plane touched down in a dreary Manchester at the end of an amazing holiday, I was already planning our return for the following year.

2012 – Walt Disney World

2012 – So after a lot of planning, and eating beans on toast for tea, we returned to Orlando. This time we went with my mum and stepdad, and for the first week they went off on their own around Florida golfing. We were staying in a Disney hotel for the first week, and then joining the parents in a villa for the second week. I never imagined we would be able to afford to stay in a Disney hotel, but with the offer of FREE dining for the first week, it made it affordable. We decided on Old Key West, which is classed as a deluxe villa resort on Disney property. All our meals were included during our hotel stay, and this meant we could dine in pretty much ANY of the Disney restaurants, including the character meals. The highlight of the first 7 days was dining in the actual castle, amazing experience made even better by being on the Disney Dining Plan. The second week in the villa was taken at a more relaxed pace, and we visited NASA and SeaWorld.

2013 – Walt Disney World

2013 – Yep another year and we were back again to our favourite place, 1 year almost to the day we had last been. This time it was just the 4 of us, and because neither myself or husband fancied driving in America, we decided to stay in a Disney hotel for the full 2 weeks. As we had loved Old Key West, we had to return. As we were only doing Disney on this trip, the pace would be much more relaxed. We had plenty of days chilling out by the pool which has such a relaxed atmosphere. Again we had the FREE Disney Dining plan for the whole 2 weeks. Again we ate at some truly amazing restaurants, and loved visiting the different hotels within Walt Disney World. It was such a relaxing trip, and we were truly in a Disney bubble for 2 whole weeks.

2014 – Corfu

2014 – So this is the first year we have not been since our first visit in 2011. This year Disney was replaced by going to Corfu and watching our wonderful friends get married. Totally different holiday, but we had an amazing time. The children had only been on a plane to Orlando, so a 3 hour journey to Corfu was a piece of cake for them. As for our future plans we will probably definitely return in 2016. I LOVE all the planning that comes with a Florida holiday, and really missed it this year.  Though I am sure the husband was glad I wasn’t nattering on about Florida this, Disney that the whole year !

Have you been on a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to Walt Disney World ? And has anyone managed to go just the once ?