My first ever pre-trip Report! *UPDATED* Proposal Pics added 09/10/08

[tigger300686]

I like the first one best, the second two appear to be more like the one you had looking at them from the side angle. I like that you can see the sides of the diamond on the first one.

 

[The Fetherstons]

Oh how lovely Craig , thing ring is beautiful
Your plans sound really good, and who knows we may even bump into you

 

[Snowy-girls]

I am also going for the first one-i did like the original one though.x.

 

[madmumof2]

*sob* Sorry..can't speak...choking on tears here!

You are one amazing man and your future wife is a hell of a lucky lady!

I would still go for the surprise. Women being women shop, and in Florida she' get bargains, so let her pack for a weekend trip, then hand her your card and let her shop! lol

It would be amazing for her to hear 'boarding the plane for Orlando' then seeing her face when you stand up and she realises where you're taking her.

I can't wait to hear about your holiday. I don't think any could ever top it. xxx

 

[raph_b]

I like the first one best, the second two appear to be more like the one you had looking at them from the side angle. I like that you can see the sides of the diamond on the first one.

Good choice It's the one I've gone for

Oh how lovely Craig , thing ring is beautiful
Your plans sound really good, and who knows we may even bump into you

Glad you like it I'll be in Universal on Tuesday 23rd Sep, the day after the proposal, so if you see a bloke with the biggest smile in the world on his face, say hi

I am also going for the first one-i did like the original one though.x.

Clearly all the women here have great taste

*sob* Sorry..can't speak...choking on tears here!

You are one amazing man and your future wife is a hell of a lucky lady!

I would still go for the surprise. Women being women shop, and in Florida she' get bargains, so let her pack for a weekend trip, then hand her your card and let her shop! lol

It would be amazing for her to hear 'boarding the plane for Orlando' then seeing her face when you stand up and she realises where you're taking her.

I can't wait to hear about your holiday. I don't think any could ever top it. xxx

That would be wicked. I really hope I can keep it secret until that stage!

 

[raph_b]

Hi Guys,

I've taken your advice and started putting together a 'pack' of information for Em to read on the plane on the way over there.

So far I've got:

information on all the theme parks

trip advisor reviews of the restaurants we're going to

a couple of holiday brochures on florida


Can you think of anything else interesting to put in there?

Bearing in mind she has never been to Orlando before.........

 

[wicket2005]

Where you are staying.

 

[raph_b]

Where you are staying.

How on earth did I not think of that?! lol

Cheers Wicket!

 

[wicket2005]

That's okay, glad to be of help - just make sure you write up a trip report.

 

[tigger300686]

I cant think of anything atm but i just wanted to say good luck- its not far away now

 

[SusanEllen]

Perhaps include lists of the stores in the shopping malls you plan to take her to supplement her wardrobe. She may not want to spend a lot of time shopping. On the other hand, it might ease her mind to know that she will have the opportunity to get things that she didn't have the chance to pack. Plus, if she enjoys shopping, she'll enjoy seeing what stores are available.

You have a great plan set in motion. Have fun, take pictures, and tell us all about it.

 

[raph_b]

I cant think of anything atm but i just wanted to say good luck- its not far away now

Thanks only 42 days away now!!!

Perhaps include lists of the stores in the shopping malls you plan to take her to supplement her wardrobe. She may not want to spend a lot of time shopping. On the other hand, it might ease her mind to know that she will have the opportunity to get things that she didn't have the chance to pack. Plus, if she enjoys shopping, she'll enjoy seeing what stores are available.

You have a great plan set in motion. Have fun, take pictures, and tell us all about it.

Any tips on which shopping malls are the best?

 

[SusanEllen]

I'm sure you can get help with shopping advice from lots of the UK DISers. I live in the US and can shop these stores at home, so don't spend any time shopping when I'm at WDW (except for Disney shops at the parks and DTD, of course). I'm sure any shopping centers/malls our DIS friends suggest will have websites with descriptions of their stores.

 

[tigger300686]

We went to Festival Bay Mall I'm not sure if i has places you partner might like but i was impressed to see the Vans skatepark in the shop

 

[madmumof2]

I think the Florida Mall is the best place to start. Lots of shops at great prices, she's bound to find something she likes there.

Have you decided to keep it a secret till the airport now? That would be amazing!

Not long now!

 

[bombhead444]

Sounds like you have most things planned,my husband and i did HHN last year with Freddie,Jason and Leatherface!!! i am not a horror fan but my husband loved it,if it is the same as last year the whole park is a scare zone and i found it really scary to the point where i only went in one house and we left not soon after.Hope your girlfriend will be much better than me

<a href='http://www.mickeypath.com/'>
<img src='http://www.mickeypath.com/id/1225947586.jpg'>
</a>

 

[Lizzybear]

I definitely agree with the Florida Mall, huge range of stores there. Here is their website/store directory:
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?id=139

 

[wickywinn]

Hi there! I've been lurking and, I have to say, I wish my dh was half - even a third - as romantic as you are. She is a very lucky girl to have you.

The mall is a great place to get some outfits but also Target is absolutely fantastic to get stuff that's not too expensive. Think Wal Mart gone chic. Target is pretty much every American's favorite all around one stop shop. Wal Mart is where we buy essentials - groceries, plain tees, socks, lawn care, etc. Target's where we go for cute clothes and shoes when we're on a budget- or rather - when we want to "load the cart up"! The clothes, shoes, bedding, etc are lines by famous designers. Think fashion for the masses. I'm not sure where Target is but it's a good bet there's one pretty close to WDW. Probably near the closest Wal Mart - being each other's competition and all.

Also, I know for me personally - although I love all the planning that goes with a trip to Disney - if I were in her shoes, I would looooove a big surprise at the airport. Sure, I would worry about how much I packed but if I knew I was getting to shop I'd be a happy girl! Good luck!

 

[raph_b]

I'm sure you can get help with shopping advice from lots of the UK DISers. I live in the US and can shop these stores at home, so don't spend any time shopping when I'm at WDW (except for Disney shops at the parks and DTD, of course). I'm sure any shopping centers/malls our DIS friends suggest will have websites with descriptions of their stores.

We went to Festival Bay Mall I'm not sure if i has places you partner might like but i was impressed to see the Vans skatepark in the shop

Thanks for all the tips guys

I think the Florida Mall is the best place to start. Lots of shops at great prices, she's bound to find something she likes there.

Have you decided to keep it a secret till the airport now? That would be amazing!

Not long now!

Yep - decided to keep it a secret until the airport. She now knows that we are going away for 2 weeks rather than 5 days (I accidently mentioned it whilst under the influence of alcohol) - still, only 1 slip up in 9 months so I'm still pleased! - I digress - and I figured that anything she hasn't got she'll be able to buy out there anyway.

I'm hoping to keep the destination secret right up until we check in. Then I can give her the 'Orlando' pack I made to read on the plane and hopefully to get her excited!!

At the moment I've told her we're heading to a country that has the Euro......

Sounds like you have most things planned,my husband and i did HHN last year with Freddie,Jason and Leatherface!!! i am not a horror fan but my husband loved it,if it is the same as last year the whole park is a scare zone and i found it really scary to the point where i only went in one house and we left not soon after.Hope your girlfriend will be much better than me

<a href='http://www.mickeypath.com/'>
<img src='http://www.mickeypath.com/id/1225947586.jpg'>
</a>

I think Em will be fine, its me I'm worried about!! Although I love horror films I'm pretty crap with them, I get scared so easily, Em is the one who has to calm me down afterwards

I definitely agree with the Florida Mall, huge range of stores there. Here is their website/store directory:
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?id=139

Florida Mall does look amazing, thankis for the link to the shops

Hi there! I've been lurking and, I have to say, I wish my dh was half - even a third - as romantic as you are. She is a very lucky girl to have you.

The mall is a great place to get some outfits but also Target is absolutely fantastic to get stuff that's not too expensive. Think Wal Mart gone chic. Target is pretty much every American's favorite all around one stop shop. Wal Mart is where we buy essentials - groceries, plain tees, socks, lawn care, etc. Target's where we go for cute clothes and shoes when we're on a budget- or rather - when we want to "load the cart up"! The clothes, shoes, bedding, etc are lines by famous designers. Think fashion for the masses. I'm not sure where Target is but it's a good bet there's one pretty close to WDW. Probably near the closest Wal Mart - being each other's competition and all.

Also, I know for me personally - although I love all the planning that goes with a trip to Disney - if I were in her shoes, I would looooove a big surprise at the airport. Sure, I would worry about how much I packed but if I knew I was getting to shop I'd be a happy girl! Good luck!

Target sounds all good, will def be checking that out

I agree about the planning, I've loved the planning aspect of this holiday but seeing as the plans are now pretty much sorted, I think keeping it secret until the last second is now the best way forward.

We watched Jaws on the weekend and Ratatouille and Men in Black a few weeks ago, hopefully I'm sub-consciously getting her in the mood for Orlando.....


Less than a month to go now!!!

 

[raph_b]

Hi guys

For those interested - I've now got pics of the ring (this is the actual ring!):

Thanks to everyone here who helped me along the ring picking process