Travel Day - July 2025
#hughesfamilyadventures
3 years after our last trip we decided it would be fun to do a WHOLE family trip! 11 of us for 3 whole weeks. 10 nights at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside and 11 nights at a villa in Windsor Hills. Let's see how much we can squeeze in to 3 weeks!
Vlog video also at
Pre-Travel Day – Friday 4th July 2025
The first step of any holiday: nails. Caitlin and I rocked up at 9:15am. I was done by 11:15am, so naturally I went for a quick catch-up with my best friend and popped into Greggs. This was meant to be a 20-minute detour, but apparently time runs faster when you’re gossiping and eating sausage rolls, because suddenly it’s 1pm and I realise I'm supposed to drop Thumps off at 1pm ...
Thumper was dropped, Belle was dropped, and I came home feeling like I’d run a marathon in flip-flops. Unfortunately, it was 3:45pm and the taxi was due at 4pm.
Meanwhile, Chris — in a truly heroic act of poor timing — decided this was the perfect moment to return a parcel. He got stuck in traffic and sauntered in at 3:50pm, which left him one full minute to prepare before the taxi arrived. We threw our things together like contestants on Supermarket Sweep and bolted out the door
We reached Manchester Airport at 7pm for Virgin’s twilight check-in. Organising 11 people in a public space is like herding cats… cats with roller bags, food cravings, and selective hearing.
After some navigation hiccups (“You're going the wrong way!”) we found our hotel. Chris had booked his sister’s room under her maiden name… which wouldn’t be odd, except she’s been married for over a decade
Dinner at the bar was standard hotel fare — edible, but not Instagram-worthy. The bar was packed, the boys wanted dessert, and I wanted bed. I left them to their sugar high and returned to the room. They arrived 15 minutes later, buzzing like bees that had licked a Red Bull. Showers, pyjamas, and finally… sleep.
Travel Day – Saturday 5th July 2025
The alarm was set for 6:15am. I woke up at 4:30am because my body is a chaos machine. Olivia was awake around 5am, also vibrating with pre-Disney energy - I'm not a stalker - I could here her in the room next door
Breakfast was hotel buffet + omelette station. Everyone was “too excited to eat” but somehow still managed several trips back to the buffet.
At 8am, we headed to Terminal 2 for Chris’s mum’s wheelchair. Then we glided into security… and by “glided” I mean we got EVERY bag pulled aside like we were smuggling contraband. I’m convinced they inspected my powder foundation for signs of terrorism.
Forty-five minutes later, we fled to duty free for emotional support shopping. Some went to the pub, the rest of us bought foundation, mascara, Sol de Janeiro, and meal deals for the picky eaters (yes, they’re pickier than me — a real achievement).
At 10:20am, we headed to Gate 96 and boarded straight away. Olivia and Noah were thrilled with their Virgin kids packs and blankets, as if we hadn't packed half of Smyths toys for them already.
50 minutes after take-off: drinks + BBQ snacks (shockingly edible). Kids’ meals followed — I ordered one for myself because the adult options looked like they’d been through a divorce. Pasta, tomato sauce, broccoli — basic but safe. I gave Noah my bread and chocolate dipper as those were the only things he'd eat on there
I put on Wicked because it’s my emotional support movie. Chris and Noah swapped seats. I did some cross-stitch during turbulence, because nothing says “I’m fine” like stabbing fabric while the plane bounces.
Afternoon tea arrived — cream cheese and a cheese and chutney sandwich, a true culinary “meh.” We landed at 8pm local time but had to wait for a gate.
Immigration via the MCP app was smooth, but car hire was… biblically slow. One staff member, huge queue, 11 tired people, and my will to live evaporating. After 1hr 30mins (and three more staff showing up just as we reached the front), we played “luggage Jenga” to fit everything in the two 7-seaters.
We reached Port Orleans around 8:15pm, grabbed our Magic Bands, and discovered Thomas is possibly colour blind after choosing “orange” that was aggressively fuchsia. Eye test incoming next weekend.
Dinner was chicken tenders and fries because apparently that’s our first-night tradition. Back in the room, Chris and I planned to partially unpack… which turned into a full unpacking marathon. Bedtime: 11pm.
Travel days are always a test of patience, but with 11 people? Honestly, we deserve medals. Tomorrow: Animal Kingdom + Walmart. The true American dream.
#hughesfamilyadventures
3 years after our last trip we decided it would be fun to do a WHOLE family trip! 11 of us for 3 whole weeks. 10 nights at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside and 11 nights at a villa in Windsor Hills. Let's see how much we can squeeze in to 3 weeks!
Vlog video also at
Pre-Travel Day – Friday 4th July 2025
The first step of any holiday: nails. Caitlin and I rocked up at 9:15am. I was done by 11:15am, so naturally I went for a quick catch-up with my best friend and popped into Greggs. This was meant to be a 20-minute detour, but apparently time runs faster when you’re gossiping and eating sausage rolls, because suddenly it’s 1pm and I realise I'm supposed to drop Thumps off at 1pm ...
Thumper was dropped, Belle was dropped, and I came home feeling like I’d run a marathon in flip-flops. Unfortunately, it was 3:45pm and the taxi was due at 4pm.
Meanwhile, Chris — in a truly heroic act of poor timing — decided this was the perfect moment to return a parcel. He got stuck in traffic and sauntered in at 3:50pm, which left him one full minute to prepare before the taxi arrived. We threw our things together like contestants on Supermarket Sweep and bolted out the door
We reached Manchester Airport at 7pm for Virgin’s twilight check-in. Organising 11 people in a public space is like herding cats… cats with roller bags, food cravings, and selective hearing.
After some navigation hiccups (“You're going the wrong way!”) we found our hotel. Chris had booked his sister’s room under her maiden name… which wouldn’t be odd, except she’s been married for over a decade
Dinner at the bar was standard hotel fare — edible, but not Instagram-worthy. The bar was packed, the boys wanted dessert, and I wanted bed. I left them to their sugar high and returned to the room. They arrived 15 minutes later, buzzing like bees that had licked a Red Bull. Showers, pyjamas, and finally… sleep.
Travel Day – Saturday 5th July 2025
The alarm was set for 6:15am. I woke up at 4:30am because my body is a chaos machine. Olivia was awake around 5am, also vibrating with pre-Disney energy - I'm not a stalker - I could here her in the room next door
Breakfast was hotel buffet + omelette station. Everyone was “too excited to eat” but somehow still managed several trips back to the buffet.
At 8am, we headed to Terminal 2 for Chris’s mum’s wheelchair. Then we glided into security… and by “glided” I mean we got EVERY bag pulled aside like we were smuggling contraband. I’m convinced they inspected my powder foundation for signs of terrorism.
Forty-five minutes later, we fled to duty free for emotional support shopping. Some went to the pub, the rest of us bought foundation, mascara, Sol de Janeiro, and meal deals for the picky eaters (yes, they’re pickier than me — a real achievement).
At 10:20am, we headed to Gate 96 and boarded straight away. Olivia and Noah were thrilled with their Virgin kids packs and blankets, as if we hadn't packed half of Smyths toys for them already.
50 minutes after take-off: drinks + BBQ snacks (shockingly edible). Kids’ meals followed — I ordered one for myself because the adult options looked like they’d been through a divorce. Pasta, tomato sauce, broccoli — basic but safe. I gave Noah my bread and chocolate dipper as those were the only things he'd eat on there
I put on Wicked because it’s my emotional support movie. Chris and Noah swapped seats. I did some cross-stitch during turbulence, because nothing says “I’m fine” like stabbing fabric while the plane bounces.
Afternoon tea arrived — cream cheese and a cheese and chutney sandwich, a true culinary “meh.” We landed at 8pm local time but had to wait for a gate.
Immigration via the MCP app was smooth, but car hire was… biblically slow. One staff member, huge queue, 11 tired people, and my will to live evaporating. After 1hr 30mins (and three more staff showing up just as we reached the front), we played “luggage Jenga” to fit everything in the two 7-seaters.
We reached Port Orleans around 8:15pm, grabbed our Magic Bands, and discovered Thomas is possibly colour blind after choosing “orange” that was aggressively fuchsia. Eye test incoming next weekend.
Dinner was chicken tenders and fries because apparently that’s our first-night tradition. Back in the room, Chris and I planned to partially unpack… which turned into a full unpacking marathon. Bedtime: 11pm.
Travel days are always a test of patience, but with 11 people? Honestly, we deserve medals. Tomorrow: Animal Kingdom + Walmart. The true American dream.
but it was a brilliant 3 weeks 
is there anything you would have done differently?
Mears coach ftom MCO to ASM. There was no dining plan at that time, so we were more aware of costs/budget, etc . Didn't use any Fast Pass or whatever it was at thst time and had to book parks in advance. We had meetings beforehand do everything was covered for Disneyworld. Any idea extras people wanted to do were added in as needed. One of our party had a DAS pass that came in useful. We've been a few times as 6/7 do were experienced in what was needed. Had 21 day WDW passes (no longer available 
). Had 5 rooms (3x2,1x1 and family of 5in one room and all next to each other - we booked preferred rooms fue to wheelchair).