I'm home! (Unfortunately)

[LoodlesNoodles]

After 2 weeks of non stop fun and ridiculously long journeys I'm home.
Can't be bothered to do a proper trip report so I'll just give my highs and lows.

Highs
Busch Gardens, we had an amazing time here, loved the rides especially Shiekra. Though Gwazi was definitely the most painful coaster I've ridden.
Saw a baby rhino and petted a kangaroo, as well as watched the meerkats for a good 20 minutes! Well worth the trip IMO

MSEP and Wishes they provided the perfect ending to our trip... *sigh*

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, this was an amazing ride and I'm so glad I didn't spoil it for myself beforehand. Though I was freaked out by some of it.

HHN, scared the bajeesus out of us both. And we ended up walking round the park to avoid scarezones to get back out but it was a lot of fun. And managed to do almost everything in one night! And Bill and Ted was excellent! rotfl

Sum of all Thrills, in one way I wish they'd put it on the map as it deserves more recognition. In another I'm glad they don't as the queues would be massive for such a fun attraction. We had just as much fun building the rides as we did riding them. What a great addition to Epcot!

The weather! It was lovely, first week we had some rain and one afternoon a thunderstorm (which were caught in at DTD) but after some purchasing of giant hoodies to keep us warm we continued on our way.
As of Friday/Saturday the weather seemed to calm and we had a week of lush weather with practically no humidity and barely a cloud in the sky.

Shopping, this was the first time we actually went out of our way to do some shopping whilst there and we both got some great stuff. Loved looking around Florida Mall and the outlets. My wallet was weeping by the end of it though!

Kennedy Space Centre was fun, but what really made our trip was our Florida Dolphin Tours driver, Pete. He was great! He gave us a little quiz at the end of the day so we felt we had to take some things in. We were at the front of the coach so he was chatting away to us for a while.
(Any Disers at KSC on 4th? I'm sure I spied a LGMH while on the tour bus but couldn't move to say anything.)

The food, omg the food. I feel like I've put on about a stone this trip. We ate at some great places and was pleasantly surprised with Planet Hollywood and Finnegans. And had fantastic meatball subs at Busch Gardens, they were the most delicious meatball subs ever. Subway could learn a thing or two there.

Lows
There weren't really any lows, but a few things bugged me a little bit.
Our Disney shuttle driver giving people false information (not important information but false nonetheless)

SheiKra being broken on our 2nd trip (and last day) to Busch Gardens
RRR being broken entirety of our trip
Haunted Mansion, Mummy and Forbidden Journey all breaking whilst on them.

Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue, I'd heard good things about it and the pre show with Don the TM amped the crowd up with some good solid rock tunes. And they just sang lame pop music. Not really what I was expecting to be honest. But the guy playing Beetlejuice was fantastic! Spot on really.

The rudeness of some people. When in queues with small kids behind you, you kind of expect to be kicked and things, but when you know the parents saw them kick you hard in the back and you exclaim, I don't know about you but I expect an apology. I wouldn't mind if it weren't for that. I actually have bruises from this child.

Not enough Disney. I would've liked to have seen more of the shows this time around but didn't get a chance to.

Coming home and knowing I won't get another chance to go back for a long time.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Welcome back and thank you for sharing you thoughts.

Funnily enough, I was just thinking today that I saw substantially less rude behaviour this year than others. In fact I don't think I encountered any. Guess we were just lucky.

 

[wayneg]

Welcome home.

Glad you liked Busch, its my fave park out there.

We also enjoyed Finnegans for the 1st time, will be back there another trip.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I really like Busch too but I hate driving to it. I think it is due to the fact that we got horrendously lost going when I was 16 - we nearly ended up in Georgia!! I think I am scarred for life and can never now enjoy the journey.

 

[Laurafoster]

Welcome Home, we arrived home Yesterday so know exactly how your feeling!!

Gwazi was definitely the most painful coaster I've ridden. :

I completely agree! I went on this last time i went to Busch and as i got in the queue this year i remember saying to myself it cant be as bad as i remember - but it is!

Most of the time i found people quite polite but i did come across a woman that i found very rude! We were on our way to MK and the bus was almost full, i saw a seat in the middle so i walked towards it and a woman barged me out of the way and sat down. I wouldnt have minded so much but i was holding my 5 month old daughter and it would have been nice to sit with her rather than have to stand trying to hold on tight to her and not fall over myself. So i stayed standing where i was and as the bus went around a corner i must had bumped her legs (it cant have been too hard as i didnt feel it!) and she said "For F*** sake, cant you be more careful". and then proceeded to tut at me for the remainder of the journey.

 

[crabbie1]

Welcome Home, we arrived home Yesterday so know exactly how your feeling!!
Laura I dont think I would have been able to control my tongue. I came across a few rude people and one was the last day in boma. I was on the phone and this american kid and his family decided to kick hell out the drums the guy had left.Hence I had to end the call.My DB was polite and said do you mind to his parents and they said "whats your problem man" not a good thing to say to my DB who gave them a very calm "you arrogant,inconsiderate person" when we walked off.He was still mouthing off to us but we ignored them. Another was a disney bus driver who told my daughter to "sit her *** down" when she had fallen off the seat. I was fuming especially when there was another kid running up and down the bus.Hence I told him to smile as I knew he loved his job so muchIdiot! Hope you had a good holiday.I found people to be very selfish this time and everything was about them.Pushing in queues and putting there kids on shoulders when already stood at the front for the parade.

 

[Tinks1984]

Welcome home, sounds like you've enjoyed a wonderful trip! Some great highs there!

I completely agree about Gwazi, I had a serious headache after it! I felt like my brain had bounced around my head, it wasn't good. I was so pleased to get on Shikra to ride something smooth!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Welcome Home, we arrived home Yesterday so know exactly how your feeling!!
Laura I dont think I would have been able to control my tongue. I came across a few rude people and one was the last day in boma. I was on the phone and this american kid and his family decided to kick hell out the drums the guy had left.Hence I had to end the call.My DB was polite and said do you mind to his parents and they said "whats your problem man" not a good thing to say to my DB who gave them a very calm "you arrogant,inconsiderate person" when we walked off.He was still mouthing off to us but we ignored them. Another was a disney bus driver who told my daughter to "sit her *** down" when she had fallen off the seat. I was fuming especially when there was another kid running up and down the bus.Hence I told him to smile as I knew he loved his job so muchIdiot! Hope you had a good holiday.I found people to be very selfish this time and everything was about them.Pushing in queues and putting there kids on shoulders when already stood at the front for the parade.

Another thing I encountered was a very rude lady at KSC in the IMAX theatre, was walking across from one wall to the seats at a slant so couldn't see people behind me properly (I have depth perception problems anyway) and as I was walking across a man pushing his lady-friend in a wheelchair far too quickly for the area behind me. I managed to see them in time to move out of the way but as they went past the women shouted out at me to look where I was going. Which I was. I'm sorry I don't have eyes on the back of my head.
This remark actually upset me. But I shook it off and for the next few days that was all I did. I barely took in any of my surroundings and I noticed that I was essentially the only person looking out to make sure I wasn't going to bump into everyone.

 

[Muse]

The weather! It was lovely, first week we had some rain and one afternoon a thunderstorm (which were caught in at DTD) but after some purchasing of giant hoodies to keep us warm we continued on our way.
As of Friday/Saturday the weather seemed to calm and we had a week of lush weather with practically no humidity and barely a cloud in the sky.

What were the temperatures like? We're going in a few days and after the non summer we've had in the UK I can't get my head around what I need to pack!

Thanks.

 

[suzybear6]

What were the temperatures like? We're going in a few days and after the non summer we've had in the UK I can't get my head around what I need to pack!

Thanks.

Here you go..Orlando weather forcast for next few days :-


http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/273

Warmer in the nights there than it is in the day here now and hotter in the day than a hot UK summer's day

Luv Suzy

 

[Muse]

OMG that is way hotter than I thought!! I was thinking low to mid 20s. I'm off to repack our cases! Might reconsider wearing the Uggs.

 

[tinks_1989]

Glad you had a good time Im still suffering Post Disney Blues

We did encounter a few rude people as well most of them on their phones whilst at meals talking very loudly on rides and having to have it on loud speaker you are in WDW do you really need to be talking to your friend back home about who won at football ???

Also people with push chairs ramming in to the backs of our legs!

RRR closed down the day we arrived I wasn't bothered as couldnt ride but would have liked to have watched it! It made news that night though that the company in Germany that made the harness had warned Universal that they weren't good enough or something cant quiet remember :S

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

OMG that is way hotter than I thought!! I was thinking low to mid 20s. I'm off to repack our cases! Might reconsider wearing the Uggs.

Oh it's definitely not ugg weather! When the breeze dies down a bit you really feel just how hot it is. Only time I needed a cardigan/long sleeves was in the evening one night and KSC (mostly inside).

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Glad you had a good time Im still suffering Post Disney Blues

We did encounter a few rude people as well most of them on their phones whilst at meals talking very loudly on rides and having to have it on loud speaker you are in WDW do you really need to be talking to your friend back home about who won at football ???

It's like people can't live without their phones now. Saw so many people whipping them out just before getting on rides and one man even keeping it in his hand as he rode BTM.
The lady in front of me in Mickey's Philharmagic was on the phone throughout the entire show.