From The Keys to The Kingdom live

[wayneg]

Glad you had a good time. Pleased you thought economy comfort was worth it as we upgraded both ways. We go July 22. Was beginning to think we should have saved our money but as flight only £420 in the first place an extra $300 didn't seem too bad. We fly via Boston on way out and currently showing only overhead entertainment which I hope will be ok as never done such a long flight without own tv before.

They showed 2 movies, I think one was called Life of Pi? and no idea about the other, I was asleep when it started. Then just before landing an episode of US The Office. I either sleep or listen to my own music on flights, never use IFE.
EC is comparable to PE on VA for leg room, seat width maybe not quite the same but we paid £500pp(only upgraded on return leg) PE was almost £1500pp return.

 

[london75]

Economy Comfort on Delta is worth every penny, cost about £60 to upgrade but loads more room.

Hi Wayne, welcome home, I'm living my 2013 WDW experience through you and others as we're not going this year so good to see you had a nice trip. I'm thinking about EC for next year, was the £60 per person and did you upgrade at the airport or pre-book?

Cheers, Andy

 

[wayneg]

Hi Wayne, welcome home, I'm living my 2013 WDW experience through you and others as we're not going this year so good to see you had a nice trip. I'm thinking about EC for next year, was the £60 per person and did you upgrade at the airport or pre-book?

Cheers, Andy

Yes per person, I logged into my reservation about 2 months ago and it offered me the upgrade each way, I wasn't bothered going out but coming home I prefer to sleep in comfort.
I did notice there was a sign on the desk at MAN airport offering the upgrade but it was a little more than I paid (£85 or 85 euros IIRC)

 

[london75]

Thanks, so £480 for a family of 4 upgrading both legs. Shame really that it adds up so quickly but probably still worth it as I'm 6'5 and I don't think the Mrs would appreciate me having nice seats while she's stuck with the kids in the small ones!

 

[wayneg]

Thanks, so £480 for a family of 4 upgrading both legs. Shame really that it adds up so quickly but probably still worth it as I'm 6'5 and I don't think the Mrs would appreciate me having nice seats while she's stuck with the kids in the small ones!

If you paid a low price or economy then the extra might still make it a reasonable price. I put up with the outbound flight, not that bothered about that leg.
Also depends on your own family finances, thankfully for me its spare money, upgrading does not affect the rest of my holiday spend in any way, Kath2003 posted recently she would rather spend the money on drinks & minigolf, I don't need to make that choice others do.

 

[Pootle]

Glad the flights home were good; sounds like money well spent to me

Just returned from Epcot where DH's Segway trip was cancelled and he ended up with a $50 gift card by way of an apology for not getting in touch to tell us

This is the first trip I've been on in years where my next one wasn't already booked. Waiting for the summer Virgin offers to book for January . Meanwhile, I'll be following your next trip report/Matt's blog avidly

 

[wayneg]

Uploaded some pics from our first day. First lot Miami.

 

[Magic Megadegs]

Uploaded some pics from our first day. First lot Miami.

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/DSC04623Medium_zpse45b1e00.jpg.html

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/DSC04651Medium_zpsb8bc9f6a.jpg.html

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/IMG_5864Medium_zpsf9aec4e3.jpg.html

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/DSC04642Medium_zpse4495143.jpg.html

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/DSC04652Medium_zpsa29376c8.jpg.html

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/IMG_5866Medium_zps03b38bc9.jpg.html

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/DSC04681Medium_zps84b6f593.jpg.html

http://s6.photobucket.com/user/wayneg1/media/Easter 2013/DSC04687Medium_zps9d8d89d7.jpg.html

They look fab! That sat nav shot looks like you sailed!!!

 

[wayneg]

They look fab! That sat nav shot looks like you sailed!!!

Then long drive down to Key West, Pic of our car and a few pics of us Geocaching. Lunch at Hungry Tarpon and deciding which flavour vodka to buy.

 

[wayneg]

Last bit of the journey we called at No name Key http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Name_Key stopped by the visitor centre and had a talk to the couple who run it, told us best places to go to see deer, they also have a Geocache in their store. Lots of wildlife here, we saw Chickens/Roosters, Key Deer, Gators and Iguana (no pics umfortunately)

 

[wayneg]

End of the road we hit our hotel, Southernmost Hotel. Checked in unloaded car had a shower then we set off for a walk to Southernmost point and a meal at Blue Heaven. A very long day but one of the most enjoyable days of all the holidays we have ever had.

 

[bex7583]

great photos

sat nav shot very useful

this geocoahe* thingy sounds fun

 

[edinburghlass]

Daughter sitting at the side of me, said amazing twice at the food pics, then said even more amazing when it came to the picture of the vodka

 

[wayneg]

great photos

sat nav shot very useful

this geocoahe* thingy sounds fun

Geocaching is a lot of fun but can be very time consuming, the caches can be as little as a 0.5cm magnet with a tiny log inside only big enough to sign your initials or as big as a 30L box full of allsorts.
You find places you never knew existed, I have lived around here all my life, 46 years but Geocaching gets us places I have never seen. Especially in summer its a great activity to get kids off the computer/games\TV and out into the fresh air.

Daughter sitting at the side of me, said amazing twice at the food pics, then said even more amazing when it came to the picture of the vodka

The vodka choice in Florida is amazing, 1.75L of any flavoured Smirnoff for $17.99. We bought Blueberry at this one then later in the holiday, up in Orlando we bought Raspberry.

 

[Magic Megadegs]

Wayne these shots are all fabulous but I am trying to lose weight and resist snacking and thanks to your scrummy food shots I am now ravenous!!!

 

[bex7583]

now you are back from your road trip do you mind helping me with a few questions/

what day were you driving to key west ? my proposed plans land on doing miami to key west on a friday?? im thinking it may be busier with locals driving down for the weekend?

also had mixed reviews on key west and how family friendly it is , whats your opinion?

also we had roughly settled on fort myers as our place btween islamorada and key west but you didnt enjoy it there ? did you pass through anywhere else between these destinations that you would have recommend?


ooh that merignue pie looks ace !!

 

[Elise79]

What is this pie? It looks so good

 

[dixonsontour]

Great pics brought back lots of happy memories - hoping to go back when DD is older

 

[wayneg]

now you are back from your road trip do you mind helping me with a few questions/

what day were you driving to key west ? my proposed plans land on doing miami to key west on a friday?? im thinking it may be busier with locals driving down for the weekend?

also had mixed reviews on key west and how family friendly it is , whats your opinion?

also we had roughly settled on fort myers as our place btween islamorada and key west but you didnt enjoy it there ? did you pass through anywhere else between these destinations that you would have recommend?


ooh that merignue pie looks ace !!

We drove down Easter Tuesday. Could possibly be busier on a weekend.
Key West is very adult on Duval st at night. Transvestites trying to get you in their bars, places with women sat outside and a list of their offerings etc.

I find it difficult to say its not family friendly because everyone/every family is different. We have taken Mathew to Vegas, key West, over 10 times to Amsterdam etc, to us its part of life and something we have never hidden. When Matt was learning about drugs in school we took him to Amsterdam where he saw an addict having an argument with a tree, I know which experience would deter me from using drugs.

There is plenty to do in Key West but I can easily see why some people prefer not to take children.

Key west to Fort Myers is approx 5hrs 30mins & over 300 miles. Are you not stopping anywhere on the way? If your plan is straight there then around Fort Myers area, we chose north of Venice, by the time we got there we had had enough travelling that day but we stopped off in the Everglades and did some Geocaching, we even missed Marco Island due to lack of time.
Sanibel is just 5 mins further than Fort Myers, 6 miles further (and a $6 toll) but a totally different world.

What is this pie? It looks so good

It featured on the travel channel, clip is very short.
http://www.travelchannel.com/video/a-slice-of-blue-heaven-12107
Best (and most expensive) Key lime pie I have ever had. $9.50 + tax but it was delicious.

 

[Linda67]

Great photos, the pie looks delicious

Love the shot of the Sat Nav!