 |
| His |
 |
| Hers |
When we were marking out the Grand Plan, we split our research two ways. Clifford would take care of the West Coast planning, while I would research and plan all things in the East Coast. I jumped at the chance because I had been to New York a couple of times before and knew my way around. I was dying to show him the New York that I love. New Orleans was mine because of my undying love for jazz. At 14, I eschewed pop but loved jazz. Dave Grusin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Spyro Gyra, Billie Holiday, Larry Carlton and Wynton Marsalis were my Madonna, Green Day and Pearl Jam. No, seriously. So obviously, I got New Orleans. And then, there was Orlando. Blame it on a childhood trip with my folks when I was 10, when we went through Florida twice during a 5-week journey through the US of A and didn't see any semblance of Disney. I even had a 5-year old copy of Fodor's Magic Kingdom in Orlando sitting in my library. So the moment I was awarded the task of planning for the East Coast, I called up the local bookstore, made a reservation for the 2011 version of a Disney Guide (this time, it was the Unofficial Guide to Disney) and voraciously devoured all 800-plus pages of mouse tips and strategies.
Through
undercovertourist.com, we purchased two 6-day passes to the Disney Parks, with the option for Water Parks Fun and More, which gave us 6 entries to the water parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, and Disney Quest. We also bought two 3-day passes to Universal Studios, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and added a one-day Wet 'n' Wild option.
We had planned to watch La Nouba, a permanent Cirque du Soleil act at Downtown Disney.
We're all set and ready to rumble with the likes of Mickey and Harry (Potter) for two whole, glorious weeks!
 |
| Our room at the Hilton Grand Vacation Suites on International Drive, complete with kitchenette. |
 |
| The bed in our room. It's a lot more comfy than it looks. |
 |
|
| The balcony, on which served as our semi-alfresco dining room for the first 2 nights – till we discovered eating in front of the tv, in bed! |
|
