Live Trip Report :))) More photos added p5&6

[orangetiggs]

Yes thought it was:-( gonna look at no1 lounge i think

 

[RDP]

Yes thought it was:-( gonna look at no1 lounge i think

We found the No 1 lounge a bit of a let down after the Vroom. We got in free via a bank account perk. Would not pay to go there. I would rather sit and eat in F&Bs . In its defence it was almost full, the food and drink needed restocking. Maybe on a quiet day and time it would be better.

 

[Laurafoster]

We found the No 1 lounge a bit of a let down after the Vroom. We got in free via a bank account perk. Would not pay to go there. I would rather sit and eat in F&Bs . In its defence it was almost full, the food and drink needed restocking. Maybe on a quiet day and time it would be better.

Ive been 6 times and never had a problem so maybe you were just unlucky.

Always been able to walk in and have a choice of tables. Food always restocked frequently and great waiter service with the drinks.

The only slight let down is the choice of hot food is limited. But it was tasty.

Its generally aimed at business travellers though so not as family friendly as the vroom.

But so much nicer than sitting in departures.

 

[Linda67]

Have an amazing trip

We've booked a fly-drive through VH for our next trip so that meant we could also book into the V Lounge

We love it in there but as others have said, VH prices are so high we tend to do DIY now

The Number 1 Lounge isn't as nice but still a million times better than fighting for a seat in departures!

 

[WSussex]

DAY 3

Flight was good - landing was rapid - whole plane went in unison whoah twice as had two big dips to decend followed by the stewardess coming over the speaker saying that we didn't need the parks for an adrenaline rush!!!

Flight 20 min late but immigration and baggage collection took 20min ) checked straight into the Hyatt in the airport - FANTASTIC - cant recommend more highly - great service, enormous spotless room with balcony looking straight over the runway! Used the rooftop pool then went and had a good ol macdonalds in the food court - beds in the Hyatt enormous and the most comfortable I have ever known!

Up at 0430 (good ol jet lag) straight to Alamo at 0530 - perfect not a sole about - needless to say fantastic service - pick of the car lot and a quiet easy drive to the hard rock hotel - in time for early park entry to universal studios - did transformers twice and mayhem minions by 0830! With fast passes all done by 1130 - back to hotel - gorgeous deluxe 2 king bedded room - spotless - afternoon by the pool (cheeky mojito ) dinner at Hard Rock Cafe - fantastic service and excellent food! Back to room after as shattered!!

DAY 4

Early park entry to islands of adventure - Harry potter fantastic as always - was packed by 0900 but yet again with fast passes all done by 12! Back to room as extremely hot 35c - early dinner again at Hard Rock Cafe - again amazing service - asked for my burger well done and it was pink - politely pointed this out to our server who was very apologetic and took it away for a replacement - next think we know manager at our table to apologise in person and removed charge from our bill - after a few minutes received brand new meal shortly followed by the manager to insure all was
Well - what more could you ask!! Typing this sat by the pool - fab music as
Sun goes down - maybe another mojito?!

Plan tomorrow - re do favourite rides first thing then onto our
Lovely villa!!

Sallyl

 

[queendisney]

DAY 3

Flight was good - landing was rapid - whole plane went in unison whoah twice as had two big dips to decend followed by the stewardess coming over the speaker saying that we didn't need the parks for an adrenaline rush!!!

Sallyl

OMG That sounds horrific to me..I am a self confessed rubbish flyer

Great to hear you only had a 20 min wait to get through immigration etc..After all the bad stories I've heard, I am now beginning to hear good ones.

Have a great time and thank you for doing your live TR.

 

[RDP]

Sounds like a good start. Have a great time.

1999-Swan, 2001- Grand Floridian, 2002-Yacht & Beach Club, 2003- Animal Kingdom Lodge,2004- Grand Floridian&Disney Cruise,2006- Off site, 2008- Dolphin, 2009-AKV Kidani, 2010-Saratoga Springs ,2011-AKV Kidani ,2012 - Port Orleans, DCL-Dream & Beach Club, 2013 - AKV Kidani

 

[WSussex]

Hi Vanda,

I have been a nervous flyer for years but this year I have been totally chilled about it - I will admit it wasn't the perfect decent but we all laughed about it and then we were in Orlando so who cares!! The stewardess was brilliant throughout the flight with lots of humorous moments - she also said that we had landed 10 min ahead of their competitors and if we were swift to migration it would be a breeze - I guess a few min later the story could have been very different!!

Sally

 

[queendisney]

Hi Vanda,

I have been a nervous flyer for years but this year I have been totally chilled about it - I will admit it wasn't the perfect decent but we all laughed about it and then we were in Orlando so who cares!! The stewardess was brilliant throughout the flight with lots of humorous moments - she also said that we had landed 10 min ahead of their competitors and if we were swift to migration it would be a breeze - I guess a few min later the story could have been very different!!

Sally

My fear of flying started years ago now when we all had to brace for a crash landing as the pilot (we later learnt) thought they had run out of fuel in mid air and didn't know if we would make it to a runway!!! It was horrific and we all thought we were going to die, the cabin crew looked scared to death. Me and my sister drew blood from each others hand from our fingernails digging in! I always find myself looking at cabin crew now and if they look relaxed then I am ok-ish!! Not so bad nowadays, but prone to tears in bad turbulence!!! But hey, if I want to go do WDW then I have get on that plane!.
I would have legged it off that plane as well.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Loving your updates, see you are making the most of those early mornings!

 

[flortlebap]

My fear of flying started years ago now when we all had to brace for a crash landing as the pilot (we later learnt) thought they had run out of fuel in mid air and didn't know if we would make it to a runway!!! It was horrific and we all thought we were going to die, the cabin crew looked scared to death. Me and my sister drew blood from each others hand from our fingernails digging in! I always find myself looking at cabin crew now and if they look relaxed then I am ok-ish!! Not so bad nowadays, but prone to tears in bad turbulence!!! But hey, if I want to go do WDW then I have get on that plane!.
I would have legged it off that plane as well.

How awful for you. Last year my SIL was circling over MAN for a couple of hours, unbeknownst to her that the plane had leaked its hydraulic fluid and the pilots didn't know if they could retract the landing gear or move the flaps to land! They were burning fuel in case of a crash landing and were diverted to an extra long emergency runway full of fire engines... Fortunately they landed safe and well albeit nowhere near the gates or airport.

I would look at your experience as a positive - flying is so safe that statistically it's incredibly unlikely you will ever run into another issue!

I was terrified of flying until I did Virgin's Fear of Flying course last year which was the best £250 I ever spent. I've flown three times (well six flights) in the last year without even feeling nervous. Five years ago I was a wreck if I even SAW a plane.

(Sorry OP to thread hijack!)

 

[WSussex]

DAY 4

Had a lie in this morning - checked out of the Hardrock and left luggage with concierge for a last bit of fun on our favourite rides then around 1330 left for our villa at sandy ridge - we timed it from the Disney exit on I4 and it took us 11 min to the villa

Villa is fantastic - big, spotless, luxurious - 2 dining areas all with place setting beautifully done - juice, milk, coffee, tea, biscuits, butter, bread, loo roll, soaps all waiting for us!! Beautiful view over a huge lake - not at overlooked by anyone

Will try and work out how to post photos - idiots guide please?!

Sally

 

[queendisney]

DAY 4

Had a lie in this morning - checked out of the Hardrock and left luggage with concierge for a last bit of fun on our favourite rides then around 1330 left for our villa at sandy ridge - we timed it from the Disney exit on I4 and it took us 11 min to the villa

Villa is fantastic - big, spotless, luxurious - 2 dining areas all with place setting beautifully done - juice, milk, coffee, tea, biscuits, butter, bread, loo roll, soaps all waiting for us!! Beautiful view over a huge lake - not at overlooked by anyone

Will try and work out how to post photos - idiots guide please?!

Sally

sounds fab. Yes photo's please

You need to open up an account with somebody like photobucket and load them on to it. Then you can copy the link to share from photobucket and you then click the little square yellow icon on the top of this message panel and copy the link into it. Obviously I haven't explained that very well but when you open the website hopefully you'll see what I mean.

 

[Linda67]

Loving your updates
Sometimes jet-lag is a very good thing when you want to hit those parks super early!

 

[WSussex]

DAY 5

Up early and at Blizzard Beach for opening - saw guests using the magic bands - very cool! Was busy but our "waterpark plan" worked a treat! Got all the main slides done at least twice by late morning and left at 12 - it was 97F !!

Popped home to freshen up then went to Walmart super centre on turkey lake road - got lots of pressies for friends and family - then back to villa for a hot session at the pool (bought the obligatory shamu inflatables etc )

Sea world tomorrow - we have bought the quick queue and we have dine with shamu booked too

Sally

 

[PJB71]

hope you have a lovely day

 

[WSussex]

DAY 6

Seaworld
Always one of my favourite days and did not disappoint ! Blue horizons and one earth as usual bought a tear to my eye and also the military tribute I always get a lump in my throat too. Dine with shamu was ok - food was average and felt rushed, however the up close experience with the killer whales was fantastic! Hubby and eldest daughter had the quick queue and got straight on everything even though q's were on average 45 min - did empire of the penguin and we were first people on it! The technology is clever but I was disappointed with the ride - a bit lame and short in my opinion!

Total highlight of the day - shamu viewing area!! I was sat here for a while as I just think the killer whales are amazing and two things happened - a camera crew with two children and a trainer arrived and the interaction with the whales was totally mind blowing - and then about 40 min later there were only about 6 of us there and two trainers arrived with a big mirror and a giant bouncy ball and 6 orcas - well I nearly wet myself lol - incredible once in a lifetime - the whales went crazy - feel so blessed to have witnessed it

Hottest day by far - even when not in the sun the sweat just pours

Tomorrow Aquatica - kids love it but not my fav!

Sally

 

[WSussex]

DAY 7

Aquatica

Not usually one of my favourites but had a really good day - another scorcher! Love Roa Rapids although it wasn't working properly until late morning but worth it when it finally sorted itself out!

Back to villa around 2pm where we then had an afternoon of thunderstorms and heavy rain but we were chilling under cover on the deck enjoying natures own show!

Then went to Millers Alehouse on the 192 - fantastic food and service (thanks Wayne) followed by Illuminations at Epcot and a single rider on Test Track - first ride since refurb - amazing!!!

DAY 8 (today)

Animal Kingdom - there at opening very busy but still did dinosaur twice, Everest twice and Kali river rapids twice and once on the safari and home by 1330 - chilling by the pool now - still scorching and out somewhere for dinner tonight! Tomorrow is our first chill out day!

Sally

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Sounds like you are having a perfect time

 

[queendisney]

DAY 6

Seaworld
Blue horizons and one earth as usual bought a tear to my eye and also the military tribute I always get a lump in my throat too.

Phew glad its not just me then. I always have tears in my eyes when they do the military tribute.

did empire of the penguin and we were first people on it! The technology is clever but I was disappointed with the ride - a bit lame and short in my opinion!

was the penguin encounter at the end good? I am really looking forward to that.

Total highlight of the day - shamu viewing area!! I was sat here for a while as I just think the killer whales are amazing and two things happened - a camera crew with two children and a trainer arrived and the interaction with the whales was totally mind blowing - and then about 40 min later there were only about 6 of us there and two trainers arrived with a big mirror and a giant bouncy ball and 6 orcas - well I nearly wet myself lol - incredible once in a lifetime - the whales went crazy - feel so blessed to have witnessed it

That sounds amazing. I really enjoy SeaWorld and its the one park I could not miss when we go to Florida


Sally

Thank you for doing the updates