Aceman88888
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2003
- Messages
- 198
Just back yesterday after 2 weeks. A few comments
1. Stayed in a villa at Santa Cruz on HY27. Small community, didnt seem to be many rental properties but quite convenient compared to Southern Dunes. Villa was not the cleanest on arrival but was sorted out quickly. Travel times were good as only 15 mins to AK, and 25 max to MK.
2. Flights with TCD were really quite good except for audio issues on the way out. Only delayed 20 mins leaving Gatwick and actually left Sanford 30 mins early!!. Service was excellent, no problem with car seat for our toddler. Food was standard airline but easily edible. Plane didnt really look old once inside (747-300). Virtually no turbulence both ways.
3. Immigration at Sanford was a nightmare. Arrived at same time as 1st Choice from Newcastle and all the generous Geordies got off before us. Had to Q for 90 mins in stifling heat and screaming kids. Only 7 desks open. However after immigration car hire, villa pickup and baggage were a breeze. Arrived in Sanford 4.05pm. Left 6.05pm, at villa by 7pm.
4. Did all Disney parks and Universal, IOA, Busch, Seaworld and Wet n Wild. Highlights since my last visit were Mission Space, Disco H20 at WnW and Philarmagic. Dissapointed by Revenge of the Mummy although effects were good and Sheikra, which for a coaster fan is visually impressive but forceless. Q's were virtually non existent except MK on the Saturday (not nice) and Soarin at 90 mins which was nothing special (like a Cine2000 on a handglider)
5. Waterparks were as usual ecellent with 2 visits to Typhoon Lagoon including our final day. Nothing beats a day by the pool followed by a quick dash up the I4 for our evening flight.
6. Shopping- Ive done a seperate post in the shopping thread.
7. Freetime facility- Worked very well at LBV stores. Would use again as we didnt have to worry about all of the chocolate melting if we left our cases in the van.
8. Photos- Took over 1500!!!- Glad I took my laptop to upload every night. Got dangerously close to filling it as you don't appreciate that a good photo will take up over 4mb each!!!
A few warnings:
1. Beware Dollar charges for fuel at Sanford. They charged me $4.05 per gallon for my startup fuel tank (35 gallons) OUCH!!!!. Pump prices ranged between $2.60 in Tampa to almost $2.99 and they often fluctuated daily by up to 40 cents!!!!
2. Shocking Staff- Most Disney staff showed exemplary standards. A few to mention include the staff at 'Wimpy Burgers' in IOA. 45 mins Q with only 12 people in line. Slow and very miserable. Some shop staff were also poor. Finally we did not get anything close to good service in McDonalds (3 visits).
3. Dubious gifts- My DW loved the funnel cakes and decided to spash out $21 for a 'funnel cake starter pack' at EPCOT. She was most smug with her new purchase despite not asking what was in it. However once back at the villa she was most displeased to find it only contained a plastic Jug and a bag of funnel cake mix. We still havent stopped laughing at her yet. To add to it all, she was paranoid her case might be searched as it contained a 5lb bag of white powder!!!
4. Gatwick- I have formally renamed this now THE ZOO. Very stressful departing with massive Q's for everything from the motorway inwards. Upon return we had to wait 2 hours for our luggage. Serviceair apparently were not ready. Baggage area was dangerously overcrowded.
1. Stayed in a villa at Santa Cruz on HY27. Small community, didnt seem to be many rental properties but quite convenient compared to Southern Dunes. Villa was not the cleanest on arrival but was sorted out quickly. Travel times were good as only 15 mins to AK, and 25 max to MK.
2. Flights with TCD were really quite good except for audio issues on the way out. Only delayed 20 mins leaving Gatwick and actually left Sanford 30 mins early!!. Service was excellent, no problem with car seat for our toddler. Food was standard airline but easily edible. Plane didnt really look old once inside (747-300). Virtually no turbulence both ways.
3. Immigration at Sanford was a nightmare. Arrived at same time as 1st Choice from Newcastle and all the generous Geordies got off before us. Had to Q for 90 mins in stifling heat and screaming kids. Only 7 desks open. However after immigration car hire, villa pickup and baggage were a breeze. Arrived in Sanford 4.05pm. Left 6.05pm, at villa by 7pm.
4. Did all Disney parks and Universal, IOA, Busch, Seaworld and Wet n Wild. Highlights since my last visit were Mission Space, Disco H20 at WnW and Philarmagic. Dissapointed by Revenge of the Mummy although effects were good and Sheikra, which for a coaster fan is visually impressive but forceless. Q's were virtually non existent except MK on the Saturday (not nice) and Soarin at 90 mins which was nothing special (like a Cine2000 on a handglider)
5. Waterparks were as usual ecellent with 2 visits to Typhoon Lagoon including our final day. Nothing beats a day by the pool followed by a quick dash up the I4 for our evening flight.
6. Shopping- Ive done a seperate post in the shopping thread.
7. Freetime facility- Worked very well at LBV stores. Would use again as we didnt have to worry about all of the chocolate melting if we left our cases in the van.
8. Photos- Took over 1500!!!- Glad I took my laptop to upload every night. Got dangerously close to filling it as you don't appreciate that a good photo will take up over 4mb each!!!
A few warnings:
1. Beware Dollar charges for fuel at Sanford. They charged me $4.05 per gallon for my startup fuel tank (35 gallons) OUCH!!!!. Pump prices ranged between $2.60 in Tampa to almost $2.99 and they often fluctuated daily by up to 40 cents!!!!
2. Shocking Staff- Most Disney staff showed exemplary standards. A few to mention include the staff at 'Wimpy Burgers' in IOA. 45 mins Q with only 12 people in line. Slow and very miserable. Some shop staff were also poor. Finally we did not get anything close to good service in McDonalds (3 visits).
3. Dubious gifts- My DW loved the funnel cakes and decided to spash out $21 for a 'funnel cake starter pack' at EPCOT. She was most smug with her new purchase despite not asking what was in it. However once back at the villa she was most displeased to find it only contained a plastic Jug and a bag of funnel cake mix. We still havent stopped laughing at her yet. To add to it all, she was paranoid her case might be searched as it contained a 5lb bag of white powder!!!
4. Gatwick- I have formally renamed this now THE ZOO. Very stressful departing with massive Q's for everything from the motorway inwards. Upon return we had to wait 2 hours for our luggage. Serviceair apparently were not ready. Baggage area was dangerously overcrowded.
) and 'recommended' we could get the stuff much cheaper elsewhere.
welcome back! 
You'd have to laugh..... 
at the funnel cake, I agree with you about Gatwick it got the thumbs down from me.
