Flights from Manchester or Gatwick?

[SimonC]

Hello to everyone on the boards. May I formally introduce ourselves.

Simon - Chief everything, knows everything (30 yrs)
Kim - General dogsbody (31 yrs)
Jordan - Daughter, dolphin and buffy mad (10 yrs)

We are travelling to Orlando on 15.10.02 to 2 wks and stopping at the Village Premier on Westwood Blvd nr Seaworld. We are planning to do the lot, WDW, Seaworld, DC, US, IoA and Kennedy, oh and plenty of shopping believe me. Now we have done our provisional plan and so far it looks quite good. We have tried to plan so that if we have an early start we have a fairly easy evening and if we have a late evening we have a relaxed day the next day. Believe me it took some planning and may still change apart from DC, we are going on Tues 22.10.02. Jordan doesn't know we have booked this yet and we are not planning on telling her either until we get there (that is if we can contain our excitement).

I would be grateful if someone could advise on the following questions.

1. We are due to book the seats on our flight next week with Virgin Atlantic (or so we thought) until we seen the post regarding the change to Icelandic Airways and was wondering whether it would be worth changing to Gatwick or not? We live in the Midlands and so Manchester would be better. The problem is that on our return we are concerned about driving back from Gatwick having been up for so long. What do you think?

2. Does anyone know anything about Village Premier (was Wynfield Inn)? It seems quite good?

I am sure I'll have plenty of other questions but I can't think at the moment. Be warned.

Many thanks in advance.

Kim

 

[Hilary]

Hi Kim.

I know exactly what you mean about the drive back from Gatwick after the return flight - it's a real nightmare for us (in South Wales) and we avoid it if we possibly can. I appreciate your concerns about the plane switch, but don't know anything about the one you're now with, so can't really comment. However, I know that for us the attraction of a local airport would still outweigh the switch of plane.

You may also have difficulty getting any seats on the Gatwick flights because your dates cover the half-term period and those flights often sell out way ahead of time. Maybe you could ask anyway - if there's no availability then you'd effectively have your decision made for you!

 

[caroley]

Hi Kim, I know exactly what you mean. We're flying from Manchester with Virgin the day after you and travelling from the midlands too. We did briefly consider changing to Gatwick but have decided to accept Virgin's assurances that we won't notice any difference on the flight. I don't think I could cope with the orbital car park

Dh just said to ask you that if you stay with Manchester, can you keep our seats warm for us

 

[lisag1]

Hi Kim,


We're also from the Midlands and travelled to Gatwick last Novemer/December for our Virgin flight as they don't operate from Manchester after Nov 9th.

We stayed overnight in a grubby B&B (although we didn't know this at the time! as parking would work out cheaper than the airport parking). On the return I must admit it was awful for my poor husband who was driving, we landed approx 6.00 a.m. and didn't get home until 3p.m. because of delays at the airport and traffic etc. I don't think we would do it again (unless we really needed to) and this year we're flying from Manchester. I also called Virgin about Air Icelandic and they told me that we wouldn't even notice.... So we'll see.

I'd stick to Manchester, incidentally we're also out there from 9th - 25th October - might see you out there!!! Wear a lime green ribbon!!!

Lisa

 

[SimonC]

Many thanks for all your replies. I think you are right, but final decision time will be this Friday when we book our outgoing flight. I'll let you know.

Carole, if we go from Manchester then you can rest assured we'll keep your seats warm and Lisa we'll be wearing our green ribbons too. Just have to find some first.

Hope we see you out there. Needle in a haystack springs to mind though, but you never know.

Once again, thanks.

Kim

 

[SimonC]

Carole, I've just realised that it isn't the 15th Oct we fly but the 16th so we'll be on the same flight. I'm getting a bit over excited you see and well it tends to cloud your judgement doesn't it? We are actually travelling up on 15th Oct and stopping at Hotel overnight. Spoke to Simon and I think that we are definitely going from Manchester now and not Gatwick.

See ya there.

Kim