Just got back, flight from hell!!!

[matty624]

We finally got back this morning after an extremely unpleasent flight with BMI, via Washington (2 hour delay, after being told we were going to hotels, then a fire evacuation at Manchester airport!). I'm too tired to post a trip report just yet, but here are the highs and lows...

Highs:
-ds finally being able to go on 42" rides
-the amazingly cool temperatures at times, Busch Gardens was an absolute delight to walk around as a result.
-excellent Dollar minivan, courtesy of Airline Network for £181/week, great value
-fantastic villa location. It really did only take 20 minutes to Universal, 10 to Disney, and 3 to Walmart.
-Being able to upgrade our Universal Power passes to annual passes and then take advantage of the second year free promo currently running.
-ds and dd being chosen to take part in the Lion King show.
-ds (3years old) loving Tower of Terror, and demanding to go on it 3 straight times!
-the good behaviour of ds and dd, when all around it seemed, small children were slowly torturing their parents who couldn't understand why their offspring weren't more grateful for being brought to the most magical place in the world...

Lows:
-ds being ejected off Dinasaur (for failing the 42" height requirement) after being measured and given the ok by 3 previous cast members further down the queue!
-the amazingly small villa, everything about it was small, the bed, the toilets!, the tvs, the kitchen, the pool, even the cultery looked like it was out of a toddlers tea service!
-the 2 hour delay coming back
-the sweet family who decided 5 minutes after take off on the outbound flight (i.e. a day flight) to recline their seats to the absolute maximum, until told to put them in the upright postion 10 minutes before landing. Have you ever tried to eat a meal with a headrest 2" from your face!
- the billions of bugs (I think they are called 'Love bugs', on account that pairs of them fly around attached to each other, usually round me! (they definitely loved me!)

Having said that, the highs definitely out weighed the low points. Going for such a long time allowed us to take it a little easier than usual.
We managed to do all the Disney parks at least 5+ times each. Universal and IOA, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Kennedy. Having Annual Passes for Universal/IOA and SeaWorld/Busch Gardens saved us plenty in parking fees and gave us discounts ranging from 10-20% in shops and restaurants. We ate at all the usual touristy places like Planet Hollywood, Rainforest, Wolfgang Puck etc. We even managed to do some of Pleasure Island, no mean feat with a 3 and 4 year old.

If any-one has any questions, I'll endeavour to answer them, once I've slept for 48-72 hours...
Ian

 

[Rain]

Welcome back Matty,

Sorry about your flights, look forward to hearing more when you have rested

Lynda

 

[KayleeUK]

Welcome Back Matty

I am glad the highs outweighed the lows for you

Poor DS and the Dinosaur ride - not fair at all!!!

Can't wait to read your trip reports

 

[LINCLAIRE]

Welcome back Matty
Your comments about reclining seats really hit a nerve with me and just reading it made my blood boil!!
Nothing worse on a long haul flight.
Where was your "dolls house" villa?
Glad to hear dispite the hiccups that you had a great time
Lin

 

[snookhams]

Sorry to hear that your Villa at Indian Point was not the 'Size' you thought it would be, we have stayed at different villas at Indian Point 3 times now with 2 more holidays planned and have always been really pleased, we love the quiet location and the fact that we can be at Wal Mart within 3 mins. and Disney in 10. Hope that you recover qickly from the dreaded jetlag.

 

[amf]

Sorry to hear of the hell flight, especially as we'll be on the same flights in a few weeks time

What a brave boy DS is, going on TOT I don't think I'll be able to persuade my just turned 7 year old to go on TOT.....but you never know - he may surprise me

My old cure for the dreaded jet lag is a couple of (dozen) beers....it doesn't make you feel better, but you have no problem sleeping

Alex

 

[belinda_r]

Matty, sounds like you had a great time (despite the lows)!

Being able to upgrade our Universal Power passes to annual passes and then take advantage of the second year free promo currently running

I'm going to Orlando at the end of September and I have until 13th October remaining on our Power passes. Can I ask, how much it cost to upgrade to the annual passes and was there any restrictions.

Thanks
Belinda

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Welcome home.
Sorry to hear about the flight and the villa.
Sounds like you had a great time in overall!!!!

Happy Napping!!

 

[kazzie]

Welcome back Ian

Many highs and only a few lows Maybe it's the lows that keeps us going back and trying for the perfect holiday!

 

[matty624]

My mental state (and hopefully spelling) has improved slightly after a very long sleep. Thanks for the replies all.
Belinda- the power passes are $99/adult and the annual passes on line are about $150. However, the usual price for an annual pass if more than that (around $170 I think). To upgrade to annual pass was no problem, but you had to pay the regular price to take advantage of the second year free promo. You also theoretically anyway, need the Burger King token, but the nice people at Universal overlooked that for me! A slight problem with you going when you are, I have a slight suspicion that the offer expires early in September, but I could be wrong... Sorry.
Snookhams- it was Eagle Point we stayed at (a whole 30 seconds further down the road from Indian Point), we wouldn't hesitate to stay in that area again, it was ideal.
Let me expand on the villa size... It was a 3 bed with pool. The villa it self was just about what was expected of this size of property, it was the things in it which fell short of what we've come to expect from villas out there.
-the fridge freezer was small, very unusual for the US!
-the quantity of plates etc was limited, we constantly had the dishwasher running and frequently ran out of things
-the toilet bowls were minute. Our 3 and 4 year olds loved them, they were designed it seems for toddler bottoms! I'm only of average weight and size, I can't help but imagine what would happen if a large american were to rent that house!
- the pool was so narrow you could leap from one side of it to another, if you were so inclined!
-the tv in the living room was smaller than the one we have in our bedroom at home...
Having said all that, the location of the house made up for all of the above...
I'm now going to start looking through the villa sites (for next year, well we've got to go back now, we've got annual passes!), paying particular attention to toilet and tv sizes!!!
Ian

 

[matty624]

Ooops, just realised the bit at the bottom of all my posts does say Indian Point, I hadn't noticed that until now.
Ian

 

[WDWfan uk]

Welcome home Ian

Time to start planning the next trip now !

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Welcome back

 

[FEEBEE]

hi ian,

we have stayed in an excellent villa on indian Point - on Oakbrook Court, which is a fantastic location, and Villa.

This end of Indian Point is 1 minute literally from Wallmart and the short cut from the villa takes you right there, which is so handy.

I found the villa through a staff magazine initially 5 yrs ago, and i was very nervous as first time over there and booking things DIY, but neednt have worried, we have been in it 3 times since. along with some 'nice' hotels accross Florida and I can recommend it, I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE VILLA! by the way, check out the website it is v good and the owners are lovely and have always been more than helpfull. I think it is www.floridadreamvillas.co.uk or search on floridadreamvillas and you should find it.


The Villa is a generous size, with BIG everything with lots of extras, they do send out a video too which gives you a good idea.

If you are looking for Feb you may be lucky as we are going out in Feb and it was vacant, but we are going in a 5 bedder with 2 master suites this time on VISTAPARK as there are 3 families, I hope we dont regret it as I love 'our' old villa as we have now adopted it!!

hope this helps.

ps. I think the rate is about 550 ish per week, mention my name as a referal if needed Fiona Broadbent (it may help)!! and they tend to be brilliant with deals, they offered it to me in feb for 1400 for 3 weeks!

 

[matty624]

Thanks Feebee, I'll have a look right now. Before I book anything though, I'll have to work on dw, who is suffering jetlag still and saying shes had enough of the mouse!
Ian

 

[FEEBEE]

Ian,

If she is sick of it it is worth doing the coast, the villa people are often surprisingly good at accomodating you for shorter stays with good prices, I think they are pleased with any money in the quieter months.

I have stayed at the Raddison on Sand Key at Clearwater which is excellent and I booked direct through the hotel, not even the centralised booking office, I got the hotel no' direct, from the web I think and got a brilliant price for an excellent hotel, a very luxurious break away from it all!!

The Hilton on Marco Island is even more special! you can cut the cost with this one and fly into orlando and out of Miami, I did stand alone flights with Virgin at a brilliant price because I was going out of Miami.

Again, hope this helps!

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Welcome Home Ian!!!!

Glad you had such a great time, and the kids were well behaved - it really makes such a difference doesn't it!!
Can't believe you're three year old did TOT...... . My 3yo DS was begging to go on, but I decided against it...

What was it like being there for a whole month.......you must know that Wal*Mart like the back of your hand.........

We stayed in Cumbrian Lakes......just 1 minute further down Poinciana from Eagle Point - we thought the location was fantastic too, and would definitely go back to that area. The new Estate of Terra Verde looks lovely there too!!

Looking forward to your trip report....it'll be a long 'un!!

Cath

 

[matty624]

It's a thought Feebee...
Cath, dw was very dubious about TOT, because dd (nearly5) doesn't like rides, full stop! Ds however, will ride anything and love it. When you think about it, TOT isn't that scary, until the drops/rises etc at the end, by which time everyone else is screaming too! We had more problems with Haunted Mansion, which chose to break down for 10 minutes with me and ds right by a skeleton who pops up every 15-20 seconds and screams. For some reason, even though he'd seen it do it over and over, he jumped every time it appeared. After 10 minutes of it he was a little gibbering wreck!
Ian

 

[amf]

Ian....a quick question if I may, as we are on the same flights you took.

Can you confirm that, when you checked in at both MAN & MCO, you were issued with boarding passes for the 2 flights in each direction? I've just read something elsewhere which casts some doubt, but I'm still hopeful

Thanks.

Alex