etail
Episodic Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1999
- Messages
- 317
We shortened our usual 7 day trip to 5 days this year for economic reasons. We were planning to use our plus features for the water parks and stay at AKL but Disney decided to keep Blizzard Beach closed. So at the last minute we bought tickets for Universal.
Here's the run down:
Jet Blue from JFK to Orlando. Good flight and service.
Budget rent a car at MCO. They gave me the weekly rate even though it was M-F because of the late reutrn time. The aggregate web sites (Expedia etc.) only quoted daily rates. IT saved to dig. Siince we were planning on Universal we didn't really have a choice.
Day 1
Checkin to AKL. We fell in love with this resort. WE were upgraded from Standard view to Pool view at a $189 per night rate.
Day 2
Universal
Walk on to everything the first two hours it was open. But our seven year old son didn't like the volume level and the extreme action on most rides.
So we tried Island of Adventure in the afternoon. Jonathan was apparently unhappy at the un-Disney aspects and the volume in IOA as well... We ended up going back to the hotel by 4.
We met friends and ate at Boma. Long wait because it was a party of 10 (four kids) but the food was great.
Day 3
Typhoon Lagoon and PI
More crowded than last year. THis was the first week of near 90 degree heat so all sorts of folks turned out. We also got there late (10 o'clock) and missed all the good chairs. We got most of our rides done and enjoyed the wave pool despite the corwds.
We had e-mailed Joy Wright who was playing at PI Jazz Club. So even though Jonathan was seven (he is a semi-pro jazz violinist! http://www.jonathanjazz.com) we all went to PI. Joy was great and there were only 12 people there for the first set. We decided to try Adventurer's Club with Jonathan ion tow. We all enjoyed it. Yvette (Oooh-la-la) asked JOnathan if he had ever been in a bar before (he plays in them twice a month on average) and when he said "Yes" she said "That's just what Walt wanted!" or some such.
Jonathan missed the off color jokes and was one of about three kids (though he was the youngest) in the club.
Day 4
Switch to MK
We had planned on a half day at Universal, but Jonathan balked. We swithced to MK despite the cost. Managed the day with Fast Pass. Crowds were up and Splash Mountain waits worked their way up to 90 minutes. Spring Break has started.
Day 5
IOA
We made it to Jurassic Park in IOA and JOnathan enjoyed a few rides. The rain started and we ran out of energy. So it was back to the AKL for a quick swim.
Synopsis:
Disney like to change the hours and keep some parks closed when the economy is bad.
Universal and IOA will wait till our son is about 10-12.
AKL is great, Mara has a great African Salad and a good sugar chicken.
Jet Blue is still one of the best from NYC.
Here's the run down:
Jet Blue from JFK to Orlando. Good flight and service.
Budget rent a car at MCO. They gave me the weekly rate even though it was M-F because of the late reutrn time. The aggregate web sites (Expedia etc.) only quoted daily rates. IT saved to dig. Siince we were planning on Universal we didn't really have a choice.
Day 1
Checkin to AKL. We fell in love with this resort. WE were upgraded from Standard view to Pool view at a $189 per night rate.
Day 2
Universal
Walk on to everything the first two hours it was open. But our seven year old son didn't like the volume level and the extreme action on most rides.
So we tried Island of Adventure in the afternoon. Jonathan was apparently unhappy at the un-Disney aspects and the volume in IOA as well... We ended up going back to the hotel by 4.
We met friends and ate at Boma. Long wait because it was a party of 10 (four kids) but the food was great.
Day 3
Typhoon Lagoon and PI
More crowded than last year. THis was the first week of near 90 degree heat so all sorts of folks turned out. We also got there late (10 o'clock) and missed all the good chairs. We got most of our rides done and enjoyed the wave pool despite the corwds.
We had e-mailed Joy Wright who was playing at PI Jazz Club. So even though Jonathan was seven (he is a semi-pro jazz violinist! http://www.jonathanjazz.com) we all went to PI. Joy was great and there were only 12 people there for the first set. We decided to try Adventurer's Club with Jonathan ion tow. We all enjoyed it. Yvette (Oooh-la-la) asked JOnathan if he had ever been in a bar before (he plays in them twice a month on average) and when he said "Yes" she said "That's just what Walt wanted!" or some such.
Jonathan missed the off color jokes and was one of about three kids (though he was the youngest) in the club.
Day 4
Switch to MK
We had planned on a half day at Universal, but Jonathan balked. We swithced to MK despite the cost. Managed the day with Fast Pass. Crowds were up and Splash Mountain waits worked their way up to 90 minutes. Spring Break has started.
Day 5
IOA
We made it to Jurassic Park in IOA and JOnathan enjoyed a few rides. The rain started and we ran out of energy. So it was back to the AKL for a quick swim.
Synopsis:
Disney like to change the hours and keep some parks closed when the economy is bad.
Universal and IOA will wait till our son is about 10-12.
AKL is great, Mara has a great African Salad and a good sugar chicken.
Jet Blue is still one of the best from NYC.
