Just back from 9 nights - highs and lows! :)

[flortlebap]

Well I think this is the first trip I've returned from without the holiday blues, mainly because we are already into planning trips for both 2015 and 2016

Overall it was another amazing trip! We did find the addition of these new camera holders which everyone seemed to carry around quite amusing though (I have no idea what they were actually called, but they are long sticks which hold cameras or iPhones which we nicknamed "selfie sticks" )

We stayed at YC with FD and ate at RFC, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Boma, Cape May Cafe, Le Cellier and Cali Grill.

Highs

Discovery Cove

WOW!! This was the biggest highlight of the trip. We were there from 07:30 until 17:00 and we did the dolphin swim which was AMAZING! As all food, drinks, alcohol and snacks are included it was well worth the cost. The staff were excellent too, including the poor lifeguard in the lazy river (which isn't a lazy river at all) who had to pull out a 6ft 7 heavy guy who couldn't swim and then gave him a torrent of abuse... He should have just let him drown!

We got the cheap photo package at $99 but it was so worth it, the photos are beautiful. We also bought a $22 disposable waterproof camera.

Yacht Club

Great hotel, perfect location - a short walk to HS, Epcot and Boardwalk it's looking a little tired and dated but the rooms were very clean. The only downside was no QS options and having to walk to BC. A word of warning though, our room was really remote - next time I'll request something closer to the lobby.

MB and FP+

Both worked flawlessly. On our first MK day, SDMT and BTM were both down for hours due to rain - guest services happily added an all day FP for both rides so on our next visit we had 5 FPs

Universal & DA

We absolutely loved Universal and staying at HRH. The express pass was great too - we did both parks in one day by mid afternoon

DA is absolutely fantastic. The attention to detail is just amazing! And USF are WAY ahead of WDW for technology and innovation. The interactive wands are so clever!

The Hogwarts Express is one of the cleverest attractions I've ever seen and Gringotts was really enjoyable (albeit short). We waited 20 mins in the afternoon so no long lines.

Gringotts wasn't operating during EE so to compensate guests they very quickly opened up many of the other rides which wouldn't usually operate - very happy!

Crowds

Or lack of! The longest wait we had was 20 mins for Gringotts - our second longest wait all week was 9 minutes!! We rode many ride cars to ourselves which was fab

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Out of this world! I can't even begin to say how good this place was. We had the best table in the house (centre of the window looking out to SAB) and the food was incredible!!

Boma

Fantastic as always and our server remembered us from last year

Weather

Beautiful all week with only two storms, despite being an 80% chance of rain some days. Lovely and hot

Orlando Premium Outlets

This place was fantastic. We did both of them but Vineland was the best and only 10-15 minutes from our hotel. The bargains we got were unreal - I bought a whole new wardrobe and we all have cheap new trainers. Ralph Lauren and USPA were both just amazing!

Make sure you print your coupons before you go

Lows

Food

This isn't a huge low, but there was a noticeable decline (again) in dining generally.

Dress codes aren't really enforced and the menus are much more limited than previously it's quite sad to see how much dining has changed in the last 10 years or so.

It's also very difficult to get a last minute table anywhere - almost everywhere was fully booked. Make sure to reserve at 180 days out

Spider Bite

I got my first ever spider bite on day 2 - it went from being a small red patch to a large reddish purple, red hot lump which oozed gunk and had a rash spreading up my leg!! We went to get medical help from disney and I got a lot of anti bac, creams and dressings which dried it up and it was better in a few days. Not pleasant at all though.

Le Cellier

We just didn't get the appeal of this place! Hideous decor and tables crammed in so tight we were virtually sat with the table next door. We were pretty much forced into conversation with the surrounding tables, but they were nice people. Not so good for an intimate dinner though. We ordered rib eye, which was basically a huge slab of meat with 5 potato wedges and no other sides. Really not worth 2xTS credits.

Restrooms

Ugh. To say it was low crowds, there really wasn't any excuse for them to be as filthy as they were. Plenty of people walked straight out in Epcot and every stall in fantasyland was out of order one day!! Really not impressed at all.

Overall though it was just amazing. Really can't wait to go back!

Any questions, please yell!

 

[flortlebap]

Oh I forgot to add (stupid new iphone won't let me edit!) we flew PE with VA both ways, which was nice. They'd run out of my first choice food though (we were in row 16!).

We were amongst the first off the plane, high tailed it through immigration (fast track) and had picked up luggage and our hire car pretty fast - we were in our hotel at HRH within 90 minutes of landing! Very impressed.

We are also now VA silver flying club members, whatever that means!!

 

[karen1987]

Thanks for your write up, sounds like in general you had an excellent time! We love Boma too! Glad you had a nice meal there again.

I'd also agree that the restrooms were in a poor condition in the parks when we went last month, and as a result, you just didn't want to use them! Not really acceptable.

 

[edinburghlass]

The sticks are officially called Selfie Sticks, my daughter the selfie queen requested one for Christmas. Saw one in use at Disney in May but being used to photograph flowers in one of the garden exhibits by using it they got closer to the flower.

Daughter has since decided she would look a bit stupid using one

 

[flortlebap]

The sticks are officially called Selfie Sticks, my daughter the selfie queen requested one for Christmas. Saw one in use at Disney in May but being used to photograph flowers in one of the garden exhibits by using it they got closer to the flower.

Daughter has since decided she would look a bit stupid using one

Haha that's brilliant! We just thought it was a daft nickname lol!

 

[Azza1987]

Thanks for your highs & lows! Sounds like you had a great trip!

I think I'll be upgrading to PE on my way out to hot foot it immigration first! Did you sit downstairs? X

 

[scoobydooby]

Great highs and lows

I agree about the restrooms. I have actually written to Disney about this. If I want loos like that I can go to Alton Towers!!!!!!

 

[DLPDreams]

Glad you had a great time. I think you've pretty much missed the summer crowds so that is why you found it easy to get on things . Wish we could go at this time of year!

I am really pleased you liked DC as we are going to do that next summer. We are hoping to keep it as a surprise for the children !

Sorry to hear about the toilets - I just don't know what it is with Disney and toilets these days, it's a gripe you hear a lot about!

 

[SilentK]

Thanks for posting, sounds like a great trip. Shame about the toilets.

I'd never heard of Selfie Sticks, it's rather tickled me this evening!

 

[flortlebap]

Thanks for your highs & lows! Sounds like you had a great trip!

I think I'll be upgrading to PE on my way out to hot foot it immigration first! Did you sit downstairs? X

We sat downstairs on the very back row, on the side near the exit. No toilet on that side and a full recline so the seats were absolutely perfect, DH wants me to grab those seats every flight now

 

[Kath2003]

Sounds awesome, very jealous as it seems a long time since my last trip. Surprised about the restrooms - we don't often do Disney these days but have never found the bathrooms in Universal to be anything but spotless? Disneyland Paris, on the other hand....

 

[Azza1987]

We sat downstairs on the very back row, on the side near the exit. No toilet on that side and a full recline so the seats were absolutely perfect, DH wants me to grab those seats every flight now

Think I'll be upgrading tomorrow! Hopefully there's still some good seats left!