Hi everyone! Crazy girl here! lol

Hi everyone. I'm Gem and I have 2 children, nearly 5 and 2 1/2.

Like a lot of you I guess, I can't begin to describe how much I adore Florida. I normally feel quite pathetic telling people, so hopefully I can brag away here? lol

This will probably sound completely crazy, and a lot of you won't think I can do it, but I've just started planning our holiday for July............2013!

I figured out how much I need to save for the holiday of a lifetime and it will be 5 years! It will be worth it though, as we'll be doing everything. 5 weeks in pop century, going to all the theme parks and attractions, swimming with dolphins, everglades, car, dinner shows, tonnes of shopping, you name it, we're doing it lol

I've decided to save dollars instead of keeping in an account because 1) I wouldn't trust myself not to dip in for five whole years lol and 2) the pound is so strong at the minute it's not only saving, but a good investment lol

I hope you don't think I'm wacky. Anyone who knows me in rl knows I'll do it. I can't afford yearly holidays so instead will give my kids a once in a lifetime trip. And me of course!

I;ve been twice myself befre, once for 5 weeks, once for 3 and have always been heartbroken when I've left.

If you've got this far, well done. You'll probably have to get used to me rambling on about Florida. Sorry! lol

Hope to get to know you all well over the next few years.

Gem

Hi Gem,
welcome to the friendliest orlando villas forum....
wow to booking a little in advance.... we all know how fast time goes by especially when watching countdown timers... but it will give you loads of time to save some lovely money in order to do everything....awwww this is so exciting, good luck in your quest to sort it all out, where will you stay? villa or hotel, many beautiful villas to rent on here and some great prices to, and all villas are verified on here so you know everything is legitimate and above board, everyone is so helpful..... good luck:D[high5]

Welcome Gem!

WOW I'm impressed with your forward planning! Your children will have a fabulous time - our youngest had his 8th birthday in Florida on our first trip there and it was great as he was big enough to go on all the rides.

5 weeks will be amazing and give you time to fit lots in[msnsmile2]

Hi Gem and welcome to the forum. You will have so much fun planning your Florida adventure and you have found a great place to start by joining the forum [msnsmile2]

hello and welcome to the forum [msnsmile]

HI GEM
Hope your savings go well ,It is worth it in the end and your children will have something to look forward to .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

Hi. Thanks for the great welcome!

We were planning on staying in the Pop century resort in Disney. Looks brilliant and it has a babysitting service! Wouldn't normally need it but I'm a single mum and 5 weeks is a loooong time to spend without a break so that's a must. Obviously I don't know what will happen in the next five years so may change to a villa at a later date.

I stayed in Kissimmee the first time I went in a villa. It really was lovely.

I know it sounds far fetched but I'm so determined. I wouldn't have gone any earlier if I had the money now as I want my children to enjoy and remember it.

Did someone say your 8 year old went on all the rides? This is something I was looking into recently. Height restrictions are between 36 and 56 cm I think? I've got no idea what the average 8 year old is (which will be the age of my youngest when we go). It's be fantastic if she could go on everything. It would have been another year if she was restricted too much.

I've got a big folder with so much info in it that will inevitably change every few months, but I'm happy to keep updating it lol. It's got a contents page there's that much stuff there.

I'm so excited even though it's years away! I've been planning it for a few months now already and the excitment still hasn't gone. I just hope I don't build myself up too much, or end up getting depressed when it's all over! lol

No doubt I'll really enjoy this forum. I could look at the pictures forever, alone.

Gem

Hi and welcome to the forum. You are certainly planning early but hey why not. Enjoy the planning and the holiday will be fantastic. At least by being on this forum you will learn all that is happening in Disney and Florida in general - a mine of information.

Welcome to the forum Gem ! 5 weeks will be great have you considered renting a villa for some of that time? [msnsmile2]

I have actually. Was thinking maybe just 2-3 weeks in a disney hotel, then moving to a vilaa.

I've only ever been in a villa in kissimmee and loved it, but I wouldn't be loyal to just kissimmee. It is really nice to just do as you please with the quiet and the lizards.

What are the usual rates for a Florida villa, with pool, probably 2-3 bed, for a single person and 2 children? In July lol

I think this site will be fantastic, knowing all the changes straight away and being able to hange my plan early on.

I would skip the hotel and save money, pop century is one of Disney value resorts (I have stayed there) and to be honest I would not want to spend 2-3 weeks in the same rooms as my children!!! The resort is not really onsite as such you still have to bus into the parks each day.
Try putting out an inquiry on our sites and see what comes up. there ares some lovely small villas and condos and yo will save money over a Disney hotel so may be able to get there sooner:)

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by madmumof2
I have actually. Was thinking maybe just 2-3 weeks in a disney hotel, then moving to a villa.

I've only ever been in a villa in kissimmee and loved it, but I wouldn't be loyal to just kissimmee. It is really nice to just do as you please with the quiet and the lizards.

What are the usual rates for a Florida villa, with pool, probably 2-3 bed, for a single person and 2 children? In July lol

I think this site will be fantastic, knowing all the changes straight away and being able to hange my plan early on.
[/quote]

Hi Gem and welcome to the forum. I'm sure when you do get back you will find how much everything has changed in that time. I'm sure the children will be over the moon and I bet there will be a lump in your throat when they see the places for the first time.

Just a thought but as you are planning so far in advance, do you not have any friends or relatives in the same position who might like to team up with you? That way you get a bit of adult company as well and can share the babysitting duties.

It's a good idea to save your spending money in dollars as well whilst you know what you will get but dont forget flights etc will be priced in pounds so it might be worth starting a separate fund for that, maybe an Isa or something that you can have a little money deducted each month from wages so you dont have to remember to put it in and after a couple of months you generally find that you dont count this as part of your wages so arent so tempted to dip into it.

Just ask if we can help in anyway.

Thanks for your reply LiesaAnna. Thing is, I'll be the only adult there so the disney resorts babysitting service is invaluable! lol After so long with the children 24/7 on my own, I know I'll need an hour break every now and again, which you can't get from a Villa.

I would happily spend 2-3 weeks in a Villa later though, as it's cheaper and 2 weeks without a break is easier than 5! lol

Hi Gem,

There is nothing like forward planning!

You have the right idea by saving early. This will allow you to do everything you want to do, there is so much in Florida that being able to do everything you want is what makes it a great holiday.

There are some great villas to stay in and they will be much better than any hotel room (even if it is a Disney one).

Welcome to the forum, hopefully it will give you all the info you need.

Hi again. Thanks for your welcome!

Those are great ideas Steph. I do have a couple of people in ind to go with me (my mum and uncle mainly) but don't want to mention it yet incase I get lucky and meet the man of my dreams lol.

I'll have to pay for 2 adults anways as most places are based on 2 adults, so it'll only cost the extra theme parks tickets. I know there are deals for single parents on hotels, but they're not the hotels I want to stay in. I'd rather pay a bit extra to get what I want lol.

"but don't want to mention it yet incase I get lucky and meet the man of my dreams lol

I very nearly mentioned in my reply that in 5 years you never know you might have met, married and have 2 more children to take along but thought that might imply that you MUST be looking for one. As one who was brought up along with 2 brothers and 2 sisters by a single Mum from the age of 10 I know you can do just as good a job on your own and dont necessarily have to be looking for someone else.


You may find the situation different in time with regard to the single parent trips (especially as you have 2 children) because many people are objecting to the fact that they are usually based in term time and the children are penalised for being taken out of school. Some are starting to realise that they should be offered year round, but I guess if oyu plan on gooing for 5 weeks then summer holiday will be the only time to take that length of trip.

Yeah I would much rather go in october november time when it's not quite so hot and busy, but, as you say, july august is the only option I have for a 5 week trip. I'd never take them out of school for more than a week, never if I can help it.

I'm not looking now, but I will be before 5 years I imagine lol. I know I won't be having any more children though! lol 2 is plenty. Don't want to sound big headed but my kids are better off me being single, rather than having their dad around. He's a deadbeat.

Off topic, does anyone know where you can buy American stuff and get it delivered? I've been craving lucky charms for years! lol

Gem

Lucky Charms are available at Selfridges and here:

http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/Ame...t/default.aspx

But they are expensive!

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by madmumof2
Yeah I would much rather go in october november time when it's not quite so hot and busy, but, as you say, july august is the only option I have for a 5 week trip. I'd never take them out of school for more than a week, never if I can help it.

I'm not looking now, but I will be before 5 years I imagine lol. I know I won't be having any more children though! lol 2 is plenty. Don't want to sound big headed but my kids are better off me being single, rather than having their dad around. He's a deadbeat.

Off topic, does anyone know where you can buy American stuff and get it delivered? I've been craving lucky charms for years! lol

Gem
[/quote]

Thanks for that I ordered from them a while back but they never turned up. :(

Hi Gem, welcome to the forum[msnsmile2]

I am not a villa owner so have nothing to gain but I would think about a villa rather than a hotel.

Having 3 girls I know that after spending a whole day in the parks and they are all hot and tired that is when the bickering can start, if we were in one room it would drive me nuts. A villa they all just go to their own rooms, peace, no arguments about tv etc.

A hotel would have to have all your meals out, a villa you have the option of eating out or in and 5 weeks would work out expensive eating out all the time. You can load the fridge/freezer up with drinks, ice cream etc for a fraction of the cost.

My girls are happy to spend the whole day in the villa pool eating ice cream and having lunch by the pool.

Aahh, I hadn't thought of being stuck in one room with tired kids. lol Altough there is food at the resort, it would be nice to have a meal in now and again.

I think I'm definately leaning towards splitting the accommodation between a hotel and villa now.

The first 3 weeks of our holiday will be when we use the disney pass, so great, but the last two weeks we'll be using the orlando flexiticket, and it is quite a way to drive everyday from epcot (pop century) to universal, so I think I'll look for villas nearer to universal.

Anyone got any nearby there? Obviously I won;t be booking now lol but it'll be good to know.

Gem,

Villa owners are not allowed to contact you directly via the forums, if you wish to book a villa then nearer the time you would be wise to make an enquiry on the above sites with all of your wishes and owners will then contact you with prices and availability. Most of the villas are nearer to Disney than Universal and there are quite a few on the Gulf coast.

Oh right, that's handy. Much easier. Thanks

Welcome to the forum Gemma[msncool][msnsmile2]

Hi Gem, A warm welcome to the forum from me too.

Maureen

Hi Gem and welcome to the forum, happy planning [8D]