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Hey hey,

So I’m still waiting for August to arrive so I can send off my Police Background Check to tick another item off my list of ‘things to do before I leave’. It’s the next thing on the list until we get our Welcome Packs in October.

Today, however, I decided that since the conversion from the Australian Dollar to the American Dollar is great at the moment, there was no harm in getting some money converted over onto a Travel Money Card which I got from Commonwealth Bank. Since I’m currently a student and with the Commonwealth Bank the usual $15 fee for the card was wavered for me – one less thing to pay for! I converted over $1000 AUD, which ended up being $1061.30 USD. I’m sure the dollar will keep rising for a while, but I got to start at some point and knowing my luck I’d keep putting it off then it would drop suddenly or something. My luck tends to do stuff like that, so I wasn’t in any position to bet against it, for today anyway.

I’ve added a link to the ‘Websites’ page that has information on the Commonwealth Travel Money Card for anyone who is interested or undecided with what card they’re going to take over with them.

Anyway that’s all that’s happened, nothing to exciting. I’m still saving like there’s no tomorrow, though I did buy a new pair of earrings the other day… I’ve still got some $$$in my account, which I’m keeping there if and when I get around to my Travel/Health Insurance. I’m back at uni now, last semester! And the countdown to both Disney and the end of University has begun (though, I did start the Disney countdown as soon as I found out about our starting date).

Have a great night!~

Steady As The Beating Drum

Evening Everyone,

So it seems that I’m looking for anything to write about so that my blog doesn’t feel neglected. I’ve now paid for accommodation and the transfer from the airport to the hotel Jen and I are staying in – which will be awesome since they will be standing there with a sign with our names on it! The small exciting things do count…

My list of items I have booked and paid for are:

      Brisbane – LA Flight

      LA – Orlando Flight

      2 Night Accommodation

      Transfer from Airport to Hotel

It seems like a small list, but that’s most of the stuff I have to buy! I’ve still got to get insurance, Visa and my police background check, but they will be done in the coming months (though I’d much rather to get it out of the way now!). I’m an organised person and like to have everything sorted and paid for ready for when I leave. I dislike the fact I’ve got to wait for certain months/dates in order for me to book and pay for items, though I do understand that the police background check has to be valid when we arrive over in Florida. Wish I could get my Visa out of the way though!

Jen and I are planning on heading down to Sydney together for our Visa interviews so it’s not so boring. We’re also thinking of catching up to tackle a Flight Centre together for our Travel Insurance to see what prices we can get – hopefully get some really good savings. Hopefully by then we’ll have our hoodie/shirt design for our ICP group so we can get it done at the same time. I know there are a few shops up here that do that sort of thing, so I’m sure they’re everywhere else also.

Anyhoo that’s all I’ve got. Not too long now until we can get our police background checks done. I’ll be glad to check another thing of the list of ‘things to do’.

Until next time!~

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Hey everyone,

To start off, sad day on Saturday, it was Flynn Rider’s last day at WDW. Just a tad devastated, I really wanted a picture with both him and Rapunzel… Hopefully he’ll make appearances throughout the year next year!

Today I officially book Jen’s and mine flights from LA to Orlando with Delta Airlines. Ended up being $241 each including tax, not too bad. Cheaper than flying to Melbourne, this is a shorter distance from Brisbane than it is from LA to Orlando! So, that’s all the flights taken care of until we get over there and change our return dates and eventually book our flights back to LA or wherever we travel after the program.

Hotel has been booked (well, I’m pretty sure it has, haven’t received an official confirmation itinerary from STA travel yet, but I’m going in tomorrow so I’ll work that out then). We’ve decided on staying at the Holiday Inn Resort, just down from Vista Way where everyone checks in on the first day, so not too far to travel. Here’s a link to the hotel:

http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/gb/en/orlando/mcous/hoteldetail

Looks good to us! 2 Double beds with breakfast for $105 each for 2 nights, yes please.

I think I might add a tab up the top with websites I’ve used or websites to hotels and flights etc that we’ve decided on… In case anyone is interested.

So our final flight itinerary is:

Wednesday 04-01-2012

Depart: Brisbane, Australia 11:15am (Air New Zealand)

Arrive: Auckland, New Zealand 5:25pm (Air New Zealand)

Depart: Auckland, New Zealand 10:45pm (Air New Zealand)

Arrive: Los Angeles, USA 2:00pm (Air New Zealand)

Depart: Los Angeles, USA 10:50pm (Delta)

Thursday 05-01-2012

Arrive: Orlando, USA 6:34am (Delta)

I’m getting all excited again, been looking at the Walmart website too often this week…I should probably find other shops to browse that are over there…

Tomorrow I’m dropping into STA Travel to hand in all the required proof of student/who you are for Jen and hand in my photo for our ISIC cards (basically to say we’re students, therefore get the cheap flights etc) and I should ask about what deals/passes they have for Universal parks (mainly: HARRY POTTER WORLD – can’t wait to try a Butterbeer haha!)

That’s all that’s happened lately, there’s not much else we can do until we receive our Welcome Packs from Disney. Anything else happens, I’ll keep you posted.