Orlando - Next Weekend, so what have I forgotten?

Orlando - Next Weekend, so what have I forgotten?

Author
Discussion

wobert

5,010 posts

221 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
Thought I'd check back in here to report my findings......

Holiday was an absolute ball from the point we landed in Orlando to the point we departed two weeks later.

Disney's Old Key West is our type of resort, low key, easy access, self-catering type accommodation. Service whilst there was superb, with nothing too much trouble for the staff. My only comment that Good's Food to Go wasn't a patch on most of the other quick service food outlets.

We accessed all parks via the bus network that Disney lays on. A good regular service to all the places we wanted to go. On the occasions we went to DTD we picked the boat service up from OKW.

All the parks exceeded expectations and queuing was minimal, never more than 20 mins, and most of the time we would use the Fastpass system to avoid even these queues.

Using the Photopass is a good way of sorting group photos and not having to commit to buying them, although we did!

The Disney Dining Plan was included on our ticket deal.

It's great VFM and we used our full quota. Some days a quick-service meal was adequate, and others a quick service meal and table service were too much.

All in all I've put on a few pounds which will need to go before Christmas!

We didn't suffer too much disruption with the hurricane, but temperatures did drop and we had the odd squally shower and constant breeze for a few days. Temps picked up after that.

Return flight was marred slightly.....and extended our holiday by a day....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by wobert on Thursday 8th November 17:06

telecat

8,528 posts

240 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
We are flying in on the 21st November and the "local" Virgin rep has already contacted me by phone and email. It seems that we'll be there for thanksgiving and "Black Friday". My daughter is already "working out" and reckons she'll be able to slip in between the gaps the Americans leave. We'll be fine for Thanksgiving but as a pair of Atheists we'll not be joining in the prayers!!!!!

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
quotequote all
I think you may have the wrong idea about Thanksgiving. It's more about frying turkeys, getting hammered and watching Detroit getting hammered than sky-daddy adoration.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

244 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
quotequote all
Everywhere be very busy on the Thursday/Friday and through the weekend though, but it'll then quieten off again. If I was doing a them park holiday I think I'd probably avoid them until the following week. But then the shops, normally deserted compared to UK shops, will be manic too.

We left just before Thanksgiving one year after a 2 week atay and you could really see activity picking up during that week.

LukeSi

5,753 posts

160 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
Looking at possibly going to Disney sometime next year. I was wondering, can you still ride at the front of the monorail or have they stopped that now after the crash (which I only just learnt about). I remember riding at the front last time I went in 2000. I can only remember a few things about it and am quite looking forward to going again.

wobert

5,010 posts

221 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
LukeSi said:
Looking at possibly going to Disney sometime next year. I was wondering, can you still ride at the front of the monorail or have they stopped that now after the crash (which I only just learnt about). I remember riding at the front last time I went in 2000. I can only remember a few things about it and am quite looking forward to going again.
From reading some Disney stats since I returned, I believe they no longer allow riding up front with the driver.

LukeSi

5,753 posts

160 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
wobert said:
LukeSi said:
Looking at possibly going to Disney sometime next year. I was wondering, can you still ride at the front of the monorail or have they stopped that now after the crash (which I only just learnt about). I remember riding at the front last time I went in 2000. I can only remember a few things about it and am quite looking forward to going again.
From reading some Disney stats since I returned, I believe they no longer allow riding up front with the driver.
That is a shame. Still at least I have a fades memory of it. The fact I can't remember it is why I quite want to go.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
Matt Harper said:
I think you may have the wrong idea about Thanksgiving. It's more about frying turkeys, getting hammered and watching Detroit getting hammered than sky-daddy adoration.
And when you say frying turkey, that's the whole thing in a dustbin sized fryer. It's quite a sight to behold.

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
davepoth said:
And when you say frying turkey, that's the whole thing in a dustbin sized fryer. It's quite a sight to behold.
yes.....well......


Trustmeimadoctor

12,525 posts

154 months

Monday 12th November 2012
quotequote all
davepoth said:
Matt Harper said:
I think you may have the wrong idea about Thanksgiving. It's more about frying turkeys, getting hammered and watching Detroit getting hammered than sky-daddy adoration.
And when you say frying turkey, that's the whole thing in a dustbin sized fryer. It's quite a sight to behold.
yes almost as good as chicken in a can


Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Monday 12th November 2012
quotequote all
This is coming up at the end of the month - might be of interest to some visitors....

www.festivalsofspeed.com

Viper

10,005 posts

272 months

Monday 12th November 2012
quotequote all
another car event, like a mini SEMA

http://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow/

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Tuesday 13th November 2012
quotequote all
Viper said:
another car event, like a mini SEMA

http://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow/
PRI isn't open to the public, which is a shame, because it's a great event.

telecat

8,528 posts

240 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Off tomorrow. Have to fill up to get to Manchester beforehand.

cat220

2,762 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
telecat said:
Off tomorrow. Have to fill up to get to Manchester beforehand.
Have a great time!

BlackST

9,079 posts

164 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Great thread!
Would love to go to Orlando next year but the fact that it could potentially cost 1/3 - 1/2 of a mortgage deposit is putting me off. Priorities.

Maybe one day frown

telecat

8,528 posts

240 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Didn't reply back at the time but it was a great holiday! Just made the flight out thanks to a couple of accidents on the M62 but had a good flight over. Pushed the boat out and upgraded to a V6 Camaro as well so even the driving was enjoyable. Went to the usual parks and went down to Busch Gardens. Shopped til my Daughter dropped. Overall this time it was expensive but I wasn't scrimping. Last time we stuck with the car we got and only had 7 nights so had to pick and choose the parks carefully and it was not as expensive.

Roger Woods

643 posts

210 months

Tuesday 18th June 2013
quotequote all
Off to our villa on the 16th August, flights in to Tampa where MUCH cheaper this year than Orlando, fly during the week if you can as well, BA and Virgin are much more expensive to fly with on Saturdays and Sundays this year and a BIG plus is the airports at the other end are not as busy during the week when you land.