Back from Orlando. Random thoughts.

[wayneg]

interesting....we were there in August and i noticed how clean things were...
i mentioned it to DD - how surprised i was at how clean the bathrooms were in particular, despite the massive crowds..

it was much improved from my last visit there....i wonder if they have more cleaning staff during the summer months....

Fully agree Beth, yet again we were amazed how clean everywhere was with the large crowds, just landed back at Heathrow airport, called at the toilet, the guy in front of me would not touch anywhere, he used 1 finger to open the toilet door and would not touch the lock, left it unlocked, Just so ashamed foreigners are met with these standards at UK airports, they are disgusting. We then did a stop at a service station on the M1, again disgusting toilets, plus £3.80 for a coffee & 90p for a small bag of crisps
Give me Disney/Orlando any day.
It's a shame you didn't find it as good Kevin.

My thoughts on our 9th trip are that we won't be going back again - I just wish i could recapture those first couple of trips and the excitement of seeing things for the first time. I wish my children were your childrens ages - now they just want to sunbathe and shop!!

I will still be lurking on the boards but have booked to go to Egypt next July.

Shame they don't want to still visit the parks, thankfully we all still want to go in as much as we ever have, maybe having a Son that's not into shopping or sunbathing & is a Disney/theme park fan helps. (although we did do a little more shopping than usual this trip) My Brother has property in Spain, Turkey & soon in Egypt I can use but no interest in them just now, still can't get enough Florida.
Hope you still lurk and post .

 

[disneyholic family]

My thoughts on our 9th trip are that we won't be going back again - I just wish i could recapture those first couple of trips and the excitement of seeing things for the first time. I wish my children were your childrens ages - now they just want to sunbathe and shop!!

I will still be lurking on the boards but have booked to go to Egypt next July.

sorry you didn't have as much fun as on your past visits...

i was actually quite worried before our trip in august....we hadn't all been together at WDW for 6 years so i wondered how it would be (plus we had the two new spouses added to the group)..
and last year, when i was there on my own, i was disappointed in some things that i worried would repeat on this visit..

but despite all my fears we had a truly magical two weeks at WDW!!! so much more wonderful than i'd even hoped....and that was despite massive crowds and killer heat/humidity....
so yes, we will be going back....perhaps not all together for a while (DS won't be able to get away from studies at all this year), but DD, DSIL and i will certainly be going back this year and the entire group in another 2 or 3 years....the planning has already begun!!

 

[2Tiggies]

interesting....we were there in August and i noticed how clean things were...
i mentioned it to DD - how surprised i was at how clean the bathrooms were in particular, despite the massive crowds..

it was much improved from my last visit there....i wonder if they have more cleaning staff during the summer months....

Beth, we were there in 'off season' and noticed exactly the same as you did - things seemed to be incredibly clean and like you, we continuously mentioned it throughout our trip so perhaps not down to increased number of cleaning staff during the holiday periods

So glad to hear you are commencing planning for the next round. Please keep us updated

 

[kevin harrison]

I carry out H + S audits as part of my job, so I tend to notice things others don't as much. One example the signs pointing you to the ferries - look lovely and clean, but when lit up look very dirty. Noticed litter in green areas a couple of times also.

But - Disney is massive and these were minor issues really.

 

[kevin harrison]

It was lovely to have met you and your family.

My jet lag has gone now - a week in work put a stop to all that!!!

My thoughts on our 9th trip are that we won't be going back again - I just wish i could recapture those first couple of trips and the excitement of seeing things for the first time. I wish my children were your childrens ages - now they just want to sunbathe and shop!!

Loved HRH (as always) - staff on the front door are just amazing and really helpful...as we arrived and got out of the limo they remembered our names!! Its little things like that which make them head and shoulders above other hotels.

Weather was a bit hit and miss - when it was hot it was beautiful but we had 27 hours of solid rain whilst we were at Disney.

V-room @ Manchester was a great way to start our holiday, flights on the new plane were great. Entertainment system made the time go really quickly.

I will still be lurking on the boards but have booked to go to Egypt next July.

Yes, it was nice to meet you and Hannah is still wearing her presents !

The staff at the V - Room carried Daniel's equipment to the plane and arranged for the kids to go into the cockpit before the flight!

I know that Florida has lost it's thrill for you - I could happily go to Florida and never set foot in Disney again.

But I had my best day ever last Sunday at HRH, I hired a cabana and hung out there from 10am - 11pm. In the afternoon an Orlando band called Light Exchange played a few sets at the pool, covering the Eagles, U2, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band etc - all music right up my street and as I laid there in the sun I thought "this is the best day I have had in many years" - there was no stress, boiling hot, lovely surroundings etc. I spent well over $100 during the day and was so happy.

I could visit and spend 14 days by the pool..I will one day..

I email and call one of the valet guys now and am friends with the VIP manager as you know, I have stayed at many hotels and not made the friendships I have there.

Have heard a rumour that they are interested in adding a casino there, if that happens - it will really spoil it.

 

[2Tiggies]

I carry out H + S audits as part of my job, so I tend to notice things others don't as much. One example the signs pointing you to the ferries - look lovely and clean, but when lit up look very dirty. Noticed litter in green areas a couple of times also.

But - Disney is massive and these were minor issues really.

That makes sense then - viewed by all of us in a different light.

On a more light hearted note there were times when we found Disney's enthusiasm to keep all areas clean had their drawbacks ......

This was my photo, but the Photopass photographer just stood there with his mouth open in disbelief. We couldn't stop laughing

 

[disneyholic family]

I carry out H + S audits as part of my job, so I tend to notice things others don't as much. One example the signs pointing you to the ferries - look lovely and clean, but when lit up look very dirty. Noticed litter in green areas a couple of times also.

But - Disney is massive and these were minor issues really.

i do usually notice things like that, but they don't bother me as much as dirty bathrooms....our past few visits, the bathrooms definitely weren't up to disney standards, much to my disappointment, but this time things were much improved.......really good and much appreciated by me, DD and DDIL!!

That makes sense then - viewed by all of us in a different light.

On a more light hearted note there were times when we found Disney's enthusiasm to keep all areas clean had their drawbacks ......

This was my photo, but the Photopass photographer just stood there with his mouth open in disbelief. We couldn't stop laughing

Lee, that is hysterical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Lee, that is hysterical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photobomb deluxe What made it so amusing was that DD had not just walked up. She had been engaged with Mickey for a good 20 seconds plus and this lady just stolled up as though there was nobody around. We were a bit red faced in the next picture from laughing (although by that stage we were at the reaction of the stunned PP Photographer more than anything else)

 

[disneyholic family]

Photobomb deluxe What made it so amusing was that DD had not just walked up. She had been engaged with Mickey for a good 20 seconds plus and this lady just stolled up as though there was nobody around. We were a bit red faced in the next picture from laughing (although by that stage we were at the reaction of the stunned PP Photographer more than anything else)

i wonder if she photobombed any of ours...was that at the epcot character spot? i have to go take a good look at our pictures

 

[2Tiggies]

i wonder if she photobombed any of ours...was that at the epcot character spot? i have to go take a good look at our pictures

It was. Although I wonder if she did it as it was so quiet - without thinking. It had rained earlier that evening and we literally walked into an empty character spot around 8 pm. I mean there was NOBODY around. Even WS that evening was almost deserted. You could walk right up to any spot you wanted to watch Illuminations! She may have just been in her own world having had an hour or so of no people around to get in the way. Must have thought DD's shoes were part of the Character Spot props though - 2 more inches and DD would have had her crocs buffed for her