Summer Holidays Bucketlist!


It's the first day of my summer holidays today, and there's a lot of things I'm hoping to do over the next few weeks! I have rounded up my main aims, and decided to share them with you...


-Visit somewhere new. I've already had my big holiday for this year, but there's so many different places near me that I'd really like to visit. At the top of my list is probably Whitby beach- I think it looks so pretty!

-Go to a theme park. I've not been to a U.K. theme park in  a long time so I would love to take a day in summer to spend time with my friends at one!

-Go to a concert. As you've probably gathered, I absolutely LOVE going to concerts, and I 110% want to get myself to one over the course of the summer! I've got my tickets for Twin Atlantic already, but who knows, maybe I'll squeeze a second one in!

-Get a part time job. Ok so in a way, this links to the whole concert obsession. I really want to get a job so that I can manage to save up money! I also want to get some experience in the working world to gain new skills and meet new people!

-Make a tie-dye t-shirt. This sounds really weird and like something a 5 year old would do, but it's something I've wanted to do for so so long!

-Make homemade ice-cream. I've done this before and found it so fun! The bonus of this is the end result- getting to eat it!

-Have a bake-a-thon. I absolutely love baking, but haven't done it in ages because you know, exams and all that. I want to get together with a group of friends and make a massive selection- cookies, brownies, cupcakes- the whole shebang!

-Do the summer photo challenge. I want to take a photo EVERY day in summer! Then, at the end, I'll be able to look back at everything I've done.

-Improve my YouTube channel. I've neglected it a bit because of exams(ugh, they ruin everything don't they?). But I'll hopefully have a bit more free time over the next few weeks to produce some videos and build up my channel!


So that pretty much sums up everything I'm hoping to achieve over the coming weeks! I hope you enjoyed this post- feel free to let me know what's on your bucket list for this summer!

My Top Tips for Holidaying in Orlando!


I'm recently home from the best holiday EVER- and whilst away I picked up a few useful tips. So what better thing to do than share them with you?


1       Fight jet lag! As hard as it may be, try to stay up until a decent time the day/night you arrive. This will make your body more likely to adjust to the time difference and ensure you don’t end up wide awake at 4am!

1       Leave plenty of room and weight allowance in your luggage. You’re highly likely to buy more than you think- trust me! It’s better to be safe than sorry- especially as you will more than likely stay in the same clothes all day.
1
1       Take juice pods. When going round the parks, the water in fountains isn’t very nice so having something to give it a little flavour is very useful!

1       If you’re going to Disney, purchase a Memory Maker! In 2016 these come free with every adult ticket for 7+ days, or alternatively they can be purchased for $149 in advance or $169 to be used immediately. You can also purchase a one day Memory Maker at a cost of $59. They may seem pricey but when you add up the cost of individual photos, the prices are well worth it! We bought 2 single day Memory Makers and came away with over 300 photos (including character meet and greets, ride photos and ‘street’ photos)!

1       Get cups of iced water where possible. The majority of cafes etc in all parks will give you a ‘cup of iced water’ at no cost. These are very refreshing and incredibly important to keep you hydrated in the Florida heat!

.         Don’t be afraid to ask for freebies! Disney gives out various badges for special occasions absolutely free- they include ‘First Visit’, ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Happily Ever After’. Less known freebies from Walt Disney World are the Collectors Transportation Cards. When boarding/exiting Disney operated transport (monorail, boat, bus), ask the driver or attendant for one- there’s 27 to collect and they make fantastic souvenirs for all ages!

1       Book fast passes! All Disney tickets come with 3 free fast passes per person per day. If you download the ‘My Disney Experience’ app you can view all available fast pass opportunities. The windows open 30 days prior to your visit (60 days prior if you’re staying on-site at a Walt Disney World hotel). Check the wait times on attractions before booking so you know what’s most popular- you don’t want to waste a fast pass on a ride with a 5 minute wait when you could use it for one with a 90 minute wait! 

1       If you’re passing a ride/character meet and greet with a short wait time that you’re interested in, do it there and then! Don’t risk going back an hour later to find that the queue has tripled.

1       If you want to watch a parade, try to find yourself a good spot at least half an hour before it’s due to begin. Not only do you want to be near the front, you also want to try and have a spot in the shade to hide from the blazing heat!

1       Be organised! You may not like the idea of having to plan a day to day schedule for your holiday, but trust me, it will work to your benefit if you do. Knowing what you’re doing and when means no time is wasted as when you wake up in the morning, you’ll know exactly where you’re going. It can also be a good idea to have a backup plan, just in case something gets in the way- e.g. weather, illness or extreme crowds. When making a plan, try to include a couple of ‘chilled’ days- this could be at a beach, the hotel pool or even a waterpark. Any of these allow you to escape the extremely busy nature of the theme parks.

1       Treat yourself! There’s so much to buy, and everyone deserves a treat! Whether you’re a ‘Potterhead’ or Disney mad, or just obsessed with makeup- I can guarantee there’s something you’ll want! A lot of stuff (e.g. Harry Potter wands) is hard to get outside of Orlando- so if you want something, go for it!

1       Shop around. If possible, go to one of the outlet areas before the regular shops. I personally loved the Orlando International Premium Outlets- in the Elizabeth Arden Outlet I got two bronzers, a highlighter and a blusher for just $20- that’s only £14- bargain!

S     So, that just about summarises my top tips for going on holiday to Orlando- feel free to share your tips below- or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
S