Highs and lows- 11 days in the darkside

[match]

The basics- 8-20 Feb Virgin holiday for me and DS14 doing Universal/IOA/Seaworld/Busch/Aquatica and Discovery cove non dolphin swim
The highs
1)Fairfield hotel at Seaworld- modern, free internet, free breakfast and plenty free shuttles to Seaworld and aquatica (+1 a day to universal). Really impressed with hotel perfect for a seaworld trip.
2) Harry potter at Universal- our first time there and its very good (and I didn't puke on Forbidden Journey which was surprising ).
3) Discovery Cove and their frozen cocktails and the huge manta ray in the reef that wouldn't give way-we were eyeball to eyeball nearly!
4) Seaworld generally -really loved that park this time. added on SW/Busch and aquatica onto our DC ticket for $50 - bargain i think.
The lows
1) Virgin Atlantic, late out and back (45 mins and 2.5 hours) , one drink on the way back offered and no tea or coffee after dinner, didn't honour any of our seat bookings despite reserving them at 11 months out and online check in. Really unimpressed.
2) Queued 2 hours to get thru passport control in Orlando! Just what you need after a long flight
3) Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal. I booked this for a one night treat and we had appalling service, had to move room at 9.30 at night because of work done in next door room, got woken up at 6.30 am by alarms and they gave us a late check out as compensation (wow!) but didn't enter it on the computer correctly and we got locked out of our room. Offered me free upgrade next time (if available), but don't think we'll take that one up.
4) Doing Busch Gardens in teashirt, fleece, Jacket and gloves. it was freezing!

Disney next time but will take me a couple of years to save up again....
Thanks to those on here for your continued wisdom in the trip planning department.

 

[dixonsontour]

Thanks for taking the time to do your highs and lows.

We did non disney last trip and really enjoyed our seaworld days.

Immigration sounds

Worth looking at indirect flights just to avoid MCO immigration.

 

[wayneg]

Welcome home.
Was just going to post the same, consider indirect, it usually saves money and gets immigration done before MCO. We are back to Virgin again next trip but PE so hope we are some of the first thru.
Stayed at RPR for 3 nights, can't see us going back again, really tired room, we paid about $152/night which was more double what I would pay.
You can get very cold days in the winter over there.
Get saving for your next trip

 

[cheryl.UK]

Sounds like you had a great time.

How did you do the $50 add on?

 

[Cyrano]

Welcome back. Thanks for sharing

 

[wayneg]

Sounds like you had a great time.

How did you do the $50 add on?

If you book direct with DC it gives you this option in the checkout process "For only $50 more, receive unlimited admission to SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Aquatica for up to 14 days. ($100 savings per person)"

If you book thru a UK agent you get the option of choice (1 park) or Ultimate(all of them) see here http://www.travelrepublic.co.uk/Att...450177&aid=1&gclid=CO3CkIaRta4CFUZkfAodDRuwpQ
The difference was £26 on the one I just checked.

 

[crabbie1]

Wayne the immigration lines are not so bad on the earlier flights but the late flight is mad.doesnt matter if PE or not.there is no special queue for PE is there We went in the disabled line and still took 80 mins. Absolutley crazy and tht was november. Dreading august and we are on later flight. Seemed to b letting all the US citizens through ration 1:10 to non US visitors

Sorry u had a few lows and they were quite big ones looking at them. The RpR did not compensate u enough and u shoukd write to the lowes hotel group. As for a free upgrade if you join their hotel ckub u get tht anyway after ur first stay. Bit naughty of them.
We were moved last time with VA as well from window to cente isle. Wasnt happy as hate sittin in the centre but it was the row behind PE so no too bader
Change. At least u had some great days. We love seaworld my DD favorite park. Welcome home

 

[wayneg]

Wayne the immigration lines are not so bad on the earlier flights but the late flight is mad.doesnt matter if PE or not.there is no special queue for PE is there We went in the disabled line and still took 80 mins. Absolutley crazy and tht was november. Dreading august and we are on later flight. Seemed to b letting all the US citizens through ration 1:10 to non US visitors

We were on the later flight last August, as I posted at the time Immigration was no problem about 15-20 mins but luggage took a while to get thru. That was with us sat way back in economy. This time we will be in PE first off plane so about 150-200 people less infront of us. I know coming home in PE it made a massive difference last year, first off and just a handful in immigration line before us at MAN.
You are Correct they let loads of US citizens thru quickly but then the pulled us from our lanes, worked very well.

 

[crabbie1]

We were on the later flight last August, as I posted at the time Immigration was no problem about 15-20 mins but luggage took a while to get thru. That was with us sat way back in economy. This time we will be in PE first off plane so about 150-200 people less infront of us. I know coming home in PE it made a massive difference last year, first off and just a handful in immigration line before us at MAN.
You are Correct they let loads of US citizens thru quickly but then the pulled us from our lanes, worked very well.

I hope its like tht for us. I couldnt believe the queueWe could not get people to move for my mom in her wheelchair. After a long flight its a real drG espec with small kids.

 

[dixonsontour]

I think sometimes it it just bad luck due to planes being delayed.

In Oct 2010 we landed on the Virgin Manchester flight about 5 pm - couple of hours delay (never found out why). Gatwick had just landed before us. They wouldn't even let us off the plane for an hour as immigration hall was full, then another hour through immigration.

Oct 2011 we went indirect and arrived at the hotel at a similar time to 2010. No line at all for immigration in Philly. Hoping for a repeat this year - going indirect again.

 

[Beep]

My husband moans at the indirect flights and the time in between flights, but he would moan even more at that sort of wait at MCO immigration.

The longest we've ever had at Newark has been about 45 minutes and we were just unlucky with planes landing together.

Glad you had a good trip, shame about the lows.

 

[loobzuk]

we were lucky last August as we flew Virgin PE and were 3rd in line at Immigration - it made a huge difference and we even had an officer who smiled and talked to the children - I'm sure by the time they've processed their umpteenth person the grumpiness sets in.

I'm going to have to give some serious thoughts to going indirect and organising a trip myself rather than keep relying on a package.

I hope your highs outweighed your lows though, it sounds as though they did.

 

[Chilly]

I think a complaint letter is in order to RPH