Just Back - Initial Thoughts

[k-herm]

We're just back from our 2 weeks in Florida. I'll post a full report later, but for now:

Bad things:
Sanford - On arrival [after a long, bumpy approach in the rain] the immigration hall was absolutely mobbed. I believe 4 planes had landed within a short time of each other. It took 45 mins to get through, then the luggage carousels weren't signed, so all the passengers were wondering around in a confused sate. Another 45 mins before our cases came through.
On departure, the MyTravel check-in was checking-in 2 planes at the same queue, so more waiting and confusion there.

Dollar Rental - My fault really, I had organised insurance4carhire before I left, but got talked into paying for extra LDW at the Dollar desk. After the hour and a half I had just had, and with the kids standing outside in the dark and rain with the luggage, I foolishly agreed with the Dollar guy instead of sticking to my guns. I still am mad about that.

Universal Express - I was under the impression that this was included with our tickets and not an extra to be paid for on a daily and individual basis. We declined and managed OK without [at the end of one day, we did Hulk 3 times in a row - just walked straight back on again].

Buffet Food - Pretty poor all round. We felt that paying for individual items in places like Tony Romas and Brannigans[?] gave us a much, much nicer experience.


Good Things:
Disney - So much better than we remembered from 15 years ago. The cleanliness, professionalism and overall quality shine through. The evening shows were fabulous. We thought Illuminations was the best thing we had ever seen...until we saw Wishes 2 days later - words cannot describe this experience.

IoA - Wow! So many great rides and better detailing than we expected. Hulk, Spiderman, The Mummy, Duelling Dragons especially had us going back for more.

Staying in a Villa - Villa with a hire car...that's the way to do it. We were in Eagle Pointe off Poinciana Bvd. Excellent location. Quiet, but 5 mins to the 192, 20 to Disney parking and 40 to Universal.

MyTravel Plane - Didn't pay extra to get Premiare, just standard for us, but it was fine. Reasonable legroom, seat-back TVs, good attendants, food was as good as we could have imagined. No delays.


All in all, fabulous. Magical. Back to the cold rain and reality now though.

 

[wilma-bride]

Universal Express - I was under the impression that this was included with our tickets and not an extra to be paid for on a daily and individual basis. We declined and managed OK without [at the end of one day, we did Hulk 3 times in a row - just walked straight back on again]

Universal Express IS included with tickets - it's the Express Plus which is not. Express is where you can use Universal's equivalent of Fastpass machines to get a return time to ride. Express Plus is where you get Front of the Line access to each ride only once during the day your Express Plus icket is valid. The trouble is, as I understand it (and how it was when we went last month), Universal don't tend to have the Express machines in use during non-peak periods.

Glad you had a good trip and look forward to hearing more about it, particularly with regard to My Travel as we are flying with them next year.

 

[mandymouse]

Welcome home, glad you had a great time, and I can't wait to hear all about it

 

[squitty]

Welcome Home

Looking forward to hearing more about your trip

 

[Miffy2003]

Welcome home - sounds like a great trip!

I so totally agree about Wishes & Illuminations!

 

[KayleeUK]

Sounds like you had a fab time

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Welcome home - sounds you all had a great time!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Staying in a Villa - Villa with a hire car...that's the way to do it. We were in Eagle Pointe off Poinciana Bvd. Excellent location. Quiet, but 5 mins to the 192, 20 to Disney parking and 40 to Universal.

We have stayed on Poinciana too - it is a 5 to 10 minute drive to the 192 depending on traffic.
It's a good location, but I think the Formosa Gardens area is a bit better.

 

[natalielongstaff]

welcome back looking forward to hearing more about the trip

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Welcome home

We stayed in a villa - a first this year in all our Florida trips - also at Eagle Point (where abouts was yours?!) - we thought it was a great location.

This was our first year of not staying HRH and having FOTL, so on our first trip to IOA we looked at the huge queues to get in and went straight over to Customer Relations and bought $70 worth of FOTL access for the day. Complete waste of money - and this was in August. Most rides were reasonably walk on, with the exception of Hulk which posted a 20 min wait, which in reality was a 3-4 minute wait. Won't be bothering with purchasing FOTL access again, unless it was at a seriously busy time, but we wouldn't go then any way.

 

[Gibbo]

Just back too, I totally agree about the complete foul-up at immigration in Sanford. This was after the "enhanced" check-in asking about location during stay etc, and filling in exactly the same info on those pesky green forms!

Good thing was the customs hall, we had food for the kids, so ticked the box for importing foodstuffs, such a massive amount of people, they just waved us through even after checking the white form.

Glad you had a good time, better start on next years planning now!

 

[k-herm]

wilma-bride - thanks for that info...it all makes sense now. Just a pity it wasn't explained to us at the time.

miffy - We still can't get over that Wishes show. Pure magic.

JohnnySharp2 - I'm sure Fermosa is closer and could be a better option. I suppose I was trying to say that an extra 5/10 minutes travelling isn't necessarily the big deal one might think it is.

Mrs Dazzle - Our villa was recommended to us by a friend of the owners. It was on Soaring Eagle Lane. Very quiet area. Lovely.

Gibbo - We sure were disappointed with Sanford and those green forms...however I did manage to get a spare one!! [I believe they are as rare as hen's teeth] Would it be helpful if I was to send it to the DIS board for them to scan and put up on the site for all to see? I know I would have liked to see one before we went.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

JohnnySharp2[/B] - I'm sure Fermosa is closer and could be a better option. I suppose I was trying to say that an extra 5/10 minutes travelling isn't necessarily the big deal one might think it is.

Yes I agree - I do think Poinciana is a good location and would never put anyone off staying there. There are times when the traffic can be bad though, I remember our stay in August at Cumbrian Lakes (just slightly further away than Eagle Pointe) - one morning on our way to Universal it took me ten minutes just to get onto Poinciana Boulevard the traffic was so heavy.
PB can get very busy at times.

 

[Ali and boyz]

Poinciana is a great location especially for eating out at night.

I have a copy of the green form on my computer if somebody tell me how to do it I will copy it on here . I did this this year filled it in then copied it on the plane as every year I made a mistake .

 

[gbrchill]

I have a copy of the green form on my computer if somebody tell me how to do it I will copy it on here . I did this this year filled it in then copied it on the plane as every year I made a mistake .

I have a bunch of them in a draw and always fill the form in well before I travel. I then smile sweatly when I get handed another at check in and put it in the drawer with the spares for next time.

I've filled them in sooo many times they are getting quite easy now.

Chris.

 

[Cochise]

Universal Express IS included with tickets - it's the Express Plus which is not. Express is where you can use Universal's equivalent of Fastpass machines to get a return time to ride. Express Plus is where you get Front of the Line access to each ride only once during the day your Express Plus icket is valid. The trouble is, as I understand it (and how it was when we went last month), Universal don't tend to have the Express machines in use during non-peak periods.

Glad you had a good trip and look forward to hearing more about it, particularly with regard to My Travel as we are flying with them next year.

Yep Universal express is included BUT and a big but this was not operating whilst we were there for October and it sounds like it isnt still. All the machines were covered and only Universal plus was operational.

 

[Ali and boyz]

I have a bunch of them in a draw and always fill the form in well before I travel. I then smile sweatly when I get handed another at check in and put it in the drawer with the spares for next time.

I've filled them in sooo many times they are getting quite easy now.

Chris.

Chris did you get them here or have you been saving them up over the years. I keep meaning to do this but the air stewards only hand out the minimal amount.

Ali

 

[Giddy Kipper]

Yep Universal express is included BUT and a big but this was not operating whilst we were there for October and it sounds like it isnt still. All the machines were covered and only Universal plus was operational.

Do you think it`s just a way of conning folks into buying the Universal plus option by not having the express machines not working..we are just back and some of the lines were 30 mins long (although once you were in them they did seem to be fast moving)

 

[Cochise]

Some of the lines got that busy for us, Spiderman hit 50 mins at one point. I am sure they dont use them because they believe it is not busy enough but this should have been a little more flexible in my opinion. If it is needed it should be put into operation. I was a little shocked in being told it would £15 s person and it only gets you to the front once...but that is only when they actually can be bothered to scan it.

One day on our way in to Universal from IOA a kind Englishman stopped us and said he needed to leave early I think something to do with his son and would we want their Universal Plus card. It was put to good use on that day especially for Back to the Future that still pulls the crowds after all this time.

 

[gbrchill]

Chris did you get them here or have you been saving them up over the years. I keep meaning to do this but the air stewards only hand out the minimal amount.
Ali

There are usually tables and racks of the green (I94-W) and and white (customes) forms. just before you go through immigration at most arrival airports. Follow the trail of people sent to the back of the line because they didn't fill the forms in correctly. You can usually grab a hand full on your way to the back of the queue. You just have to remember to do this at the end of the flight, more easily said than done (when all you want to do is get through and get to your destination).

I usually restock when my pile is getting thin.

Chris.