Got back yesterday!

[***SandieUK***]

Hi all

We returned from our third trip to Florida yesterday and it was so sad to leave the hot weather and return to the grey downpour of good old England.

We had a great time overall - these are the main points:

Booked with TCD - all documentation for accommodation, car hire, air tickets arrived in good time and with no problems.

However - just prior to flying, TCD had to switch to Air Atlanta jumbos and it looked like we weren't going to get the Sunshine First service we had paid for. At the last minute we did get our seats at the front of the plane after all and the service was brilliant - complete with complementary Thornton's chocolate Easter Bunny for each person!

Stayed at the Liki Tiki Resort off the 192 in Kissimmee. This is a Timeshare Resort but we had booked privately and so were not obligated to do the 'Tour'. Only once did someone contact us to see if we were interested and they quickly left us alone when we politely explained we were not interested. We stayed in the newer block (Building 1000) in a luxurious two bedroom apartment with interconnecting door to my parents' one bedroom apartment next door. We all really enjoyed our stay there.

We did the following. I am only listing the slightly negative things just to pass on the information - we still enjoyed it all nevertheless:

Seaworld - no Bayside Stadium show and plenty of work in progress going on around the Waterfront. Fireworks were not as good as before as the Bayside Stadium was closed so we watched a ten minute display from the side of the lake.

EPCOT - unfortunately there was a problem with Test Track so even going back on a Fastpass caused queues.

Busch Gardens - Rhino Rally was only running the shortened version. The Skyride cable cars were also closed.

Dixie Stampede Dinner Show - A mixed bag of entertainment capturing America's past. Colourful and entertaining. Lots of audience participation is called for as it is North against South. Food was plentiful but you eat it all without cutlery. A note of warning - wrap up well as the arena is really cool (probably to stop the performers and horses sweating too much as it is a very energetic show). We took cardigans and jumpers and were very glad we had.

Boggy Creek Airboat Ride - True Florida country! Swamps, reeds, gators, flying things! Exhilarating ride, very fast, very loud (make use of the ear defenders). The pilot decided to spook me (easily done) by prodding my shoulder with a broken-off reed - I was nearly out of the boat thinking that a flying thing had landed on me!

Gatorland - big gators, medium gators, old gators, baby gators. Entertaining shows but on a much humbler scale than Seaworld. Very good gift shop!

Sorry, this is turning into a Trip Report which was not my intention!

Briefly, we also did Bonanza Golf on the 192 (good family fun for a couple of hours), Ripley's Believe it or Not, Fun Spot on I-Drive (excellent kart tracks), Downtown Disney (great fridge magnets shop), Florida Mall (don't go into Nordstrom wearing casual gear like I did - you will feel distinctly underdressed - this is a real upmarket department store with a lady playing a grand piano by the elevators.

We ate at: the Las Vegas Buffet, International House of Pancakes, The Mercado (Best of British food outlet), the Ponderosa.

Any questions on any of the above - please feel free!

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi Sandie

Souds like you had a great time - I wish my counter would progress a bit faster.

Especially liked the Thorntons chocolate bunny gesture

I had considered doing the Dixies Stampede but I think we're going to do the rodeo again instead.

 

[UKDEB]

Thanks for the mini report. The Liki Tiki sounds fab.

Originally posted by ***SandieUK***
Boggy Creek Airboat Ride - True Florida country! Swamps, reeds, gators, flying things! Exhilarating ride, very fast, very loud (make use of the ear defenders). The pilot decided to spook me (easily done) by prodding my shoulder with a broken-off reed - I was nearly out of the boat thinking that a flying thing had landed on me!

It's the fear of flying things landing on me which has prevented me from doing this!

(don't go into Nordstrom wearing casual gear like I did - you will feel distinctly underdressed - this is a real upmarket department store with a lady playing a grand piano by the elevators

I know exactly what you mean, but I've always found the staff at Nordstrom to be gracious and helpful despite the tourist gear! I think it's my favourite Department Store along with Neiman Marcus at the Mall at Millenia.

 

[kazzie]

Hi Sandie,

Glad to hear you had such a great trip,SOOO depressing to come back though

I like to hear a balanced report as you can learn much from the 'negative' things too.

 

[signtalker]

Welcome home , although thats not a good thing Right???

Look forward to your TR, and when I feel bad about coming back, I book another holiday to make me feel better!!!

 

[KayleeUK]

Welcome Home

Sounds like you had a good time.

 

[Nick_UK]

Originally posted by ***SandieUK***


However - just prior to flying, TCD had to switch to Air Atlanta jumbos and it looked like we weren't going to get the Sunshine First service we had paid for. At the last minute we did get our seats at the front of the plane after all and the service was brilliant - complete with complementary Thornton's chocolate Easter Bunny for each person!

I'm a bit concerned to hear about the last minute switch drama. What happened? Was it a case of there not being enough seats on the Air Atlanta plane in its Sunshine First equivalent class?

Hasn't something like this happened to someone else from the DIS boards on a TCD flight a couple of weeks back??

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Yes, great report.
I have just booked to stay at Liki tiki next year. I have been reading some reviews of the resort from this website over the last few days and I was concerned about the accomodation.

Please can you tell me more about the resort facilities daily and evening. Parking facilities at resort and at the parks.
I have never driven in USA before any tips would be appreciated.
How far from parks, do you have to pay at parks for parking.

Any answers would be appreciated.

Cheers

Neil

 

[***SandieUK***]

Hi Nick

You are right - it was probably my post prior to leaving.

What happened is that TCD used European Aviation previously but then they had some problems so TCD called in Air Atlanta until their own fleet is ready (some info is on their website)

Right up until a week before we flew, we were told that we would get a similar service to Sunshine First but it would be in the Premium Cabin located in the upper deck (fewer seats so a big risk that some passengers would be downgraded at check in).

We sent several frantic faxes querying this and then just a few days before we flew we were advised that the configuration on the Air Atlanta flight would be similar after all to the original European Aviation 747, ie seats at the front of the plane downstairs (20 seats in total).

Our treatment onboard was very good - the captain and cabin crew were extremely welcoming and courteous and we had a trouble-free trip both there and back which is what matters most!

One slight niggle would be the lack of seat-back or personal TVs. It was just a main projector on a screen at the front with headphones provided which indicates that the plane was not as new as you would wish.

We were just unlucky at the end of the day that European was out of action and it affected the March and April flights.

 

[***SandieUK***]

Hi Neil

Like you, I have read some mixed reports about the Liki Tiki which worried me a bit so just before we left I emailed the resort and requested if we could be accommodated in the newer, high-rise buildings which they confirmed.

You can't see the resort from the main 192, only when you turn into Bali Boulevard. There were more buildings (townhouses and high-rise) than we expected and the water lagoon was smaller than we expected but the resort is very attractively landscaped with a total of three pools in all around the site. The waterpark has slides and basketball ring and nets and the bar/grill is situated next to it. We had some nice snacks there. The staff organise daily activities ranging from face-painting and tie-dyeing t-shirts, to competitions and karaoke. There is a Luau held there on Thursday nights. There is also a lake for boating and a sandy area with swings for the kids to play.

There is plenty of free parking on site. We just parked outside our high-rise and got the elevator up. One thing to mention is that being so far away from the main 192, it takes a little longer to get somewhere. Nothing too drastic - just allow for a little extra time. The Disney main gate is about 7 miles away. Parking at Disney and Seaworld is about 8 dollars but we didn't have to pay for parking at Typhoon Lagoon.

The main thing to know is that first and foremost the Liki Tiki is a timeshare resort so you get quite used to seeing staff showing small groups of customers around the site. I think it is obligatory for people who have accepted a cheaper deal to take 'the tour' but as I have said, we were not pressurised at all. Our apartments were clean, spacious and well-equipped with their own kitchen and washer and dryer - everything you needed to be self-sufficient. Hope this helps!

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Welcome Home.
Can't wait for the trip report.
Sounds like you had a fantastic time

 

[Hilary]

Welcome back!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hello and welcome back Sandie

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Thanks, Sandie that is excellent.
Can you let me know the e-mail address you contacted at the resort.
Who did you book the holiday through?
Neil

 

[sharon78]

Hi Welcome back sounds like you had a great time

Which IHOP did you go to?what was it like?

thanks

 

[***SandieUK***]

Neil,

The email address I used was:

central@islandone.com

and there is a lot of info on their website:

www.islandone.com

We booked through Travel City Direct but I notice that the Liki Tiki is not advertised in their current brochure. Not sure why.


Sharon,

The IHOP we went to was on the 192 in Kissimmee. If you think you can't manage the five pancakes they give you, have the crepes - they are not so filling and absolutely delicious - I'm still dreaming about them!

 

[sharon78]

Thanks for the tip Sandie

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Thanks again Sandie.
If you can give me any tips on how to enjoy the resort better, anything will be appreciated.
Cheers
Neil