Just got back from a 10 day trip to Orlando. First time ever for a trip report. There were 6 of us......... myself and dh (50, 49) and 4 teens (my three boys 19, 17 and 15 and the 19 yo's girlfriend) plus mil (75 yo- she came from another city and flew USAirways). We leave June 27th. We flew Air Tran which we have never flown before. We had no problems. Our flight was on time leaving and arriving in Orlando. The plane looked brand new and it was a very pleasant ride. We had rented a minivan from Dollar. I had called a couple of days before to reconfirm our reservation and asked about the type of minivan since with 7 of us we had a fair amount of luggage. My dh started getting upset that we wouldn't fit it into the car. They told me they used Dodge Caravans but not the Grand Caravans. So to our surprise when we got our car it was a Grand Caravan and we had NO trouble fitting in the luggage. Mil was to arrive about 30 min. before our flight and we were upset to find that her flight had been delayed about 4 hours so we just went ahead to the hotel.
We drove right over to the RPH to check-in. I'm not sure how the parking works but we were never charged for parking (I know we are supposed to be). The hotel lobby was very nice and there are many employees standing around ready to answer any questions you might have. They couldn't have been nicer!! We checked in rather quickly. We had asked for two connecting rooms plus reminded them of the Leows first status. They couldn't upgrade as the hotel was sold out but we did get the welcome bottle of wine plus they also sent a fresh fruit to our other room. (Wasn't expecting that). When we got to our rooms they weren't connecting just next to each other. So my dh calls down to the front desk and they send someone up who switches us. He was very nice and went on and on about the hotel and rooms almost to the point where my teens wanted to strangle him!!! We were all hungry and had PS at Margarittaville for 8 pm and it was now going on 7:20 pm..............He finally leaves........
Our impression of the room was it has beautiful furniture and accessories. The rooms are small but livable for a couple of nights. Everyone freshens up.........unfortuately dh has to go to the airport for his Mom and can't go to dinner with us. So off we go to check out the pool and get a water taxi over to city walk.
The pool area looks great. Tons of little kids are using the boat area and spraying water on others. Lots of activity at the pool. We rush for the water taxi. It was there we board and before you know it we are at Citywalk which was bustling with activity. I stand in a fairly long line waiting to check in at Margarittaville and didn't realize with PS's I should have went right inside.
So they tell me it will be about 20 min. - not bad since they were telling others a hour and a half.
We get seated in about 20 min. There are the tall people doing the funny balloon hats in the restaurant and the kids are hoping they stop by but they never do and before you know it they left never to be seen again. (The last time we went here they did get hats and were hoping again). I could barely hear the music which I wish had been turned up ever so slightly. My meal was the crab cakes and it was EXCELLENT 
Everyone was pleased with their meals.
We hear from my dh that mil plane was finally in and they were on their way. So we shopped around and went into stores. Finally they arrive and of course they are both hungry so (It is now 10 pm) and we end up at Hard Rock Cafe and get seated quickly. The teens all order snacks or desserts (where do they put all that food) while dh and mil order dinners. We had a pleasant time but the music in here was too loud!!! Wish it could have been toned down a bit as you really could barely carry on a conversation with those right around you!!!
We got back to the room around 11:30 pm and got settled. Had everyone get out their clothes for the next morning so we could be ready to get showered and dressed quickly. Set alarm for 7 am. I awoke at 6:30 am and got showered and dressed so when 7 am rang I was ready. Beds were comfortable. Everyone got up and dressed quickly. I thought we should try the bus service for the parks to see how it works. So we were down at the front of the hotel by 8:20 am. there is no bus. Finally we ask someone about the buses and had to ask about three people and we finally found out they don't start running until 8:30 am by now it is 8:40 am and still no bus.............my teens are upset that we have waited this long so we give up and go to the water taxi............no wait..........get on no problem.............over to citywalk by 8:50 am!!! We decided the night before to go to Cinnabon at Citywalk for breakfast. So everyone ordered drinks and we got a large box of buns heated up........we sat and enjoyed our breakfast as we watched people racing into the park. Having never experienced the FOTL before my group was a little ansy about all the people coming into the park. I just kept telling them..........FOTL is supposed to be really FANTASTIC so just relax everyone.
FOTL is really wonderful. I believe because of not having to wait we were less tired and less hot. It was the most relaxing day I have ever had at a theme park. We will probably never go again with out staying on site. Lines for most of the attractions were 45 min. or longer.
We did just about everything at IOA by about 1 pm. We ate at the Oak Tavern??? (Not sure of the name) I had the most wonderful salad with fresh wood roasted chicken on it. YUMMM. The kids had the ribs/chicken combo platters which they enjoyed. MIL/dh and one son ended up with hot dogs at another vender.
We went over to US and did everything we wanted there and really enjoyed it all. It was about 8:00 pm and we hadn't eaten dinner so we stopped at the NBA for dinner. We were less than happy with this establishment. I think we were all tired and hungry and ready for the day to end. We were seated upstairs - the waiter we had seemed to take forever to take our orders..........get drinks..........etc. Drink refills took forever and finally when our meals came - the food was just OK. One of us didn't like the dressing that he brought with the salad and it took about 10 min. for him to bring something else..........he had a poor attitude and I think as we read the menu that parties over 6 are automatically charged a gratuity of 18% - so it didn't really matter to him if we were happy. We were hoping to get back to the room to soak in the hot tub/pool but as he took so long we realized that we wouldn't be able to do that. Son and girlfriend decided to walk around citywalk a bit before coming back to the hotel. So the rest of us got back to the hotel and it looked like the pool was still open and found out that they had extended the time until 10:30 pm so even though we only had about 30 min. we decided to go for it. We quickly changed and came down. I got cooled off in the pool and then soaked in the hot tub for 15 min. It was heaven.
The next morning we got breakfast in the first floor lounge area.....bagel/sweet roll and tea/coffee/juice. I had called for a late checkout and they granted us an extra hour......so we had to check out by 12 noon. We all wanted to go swimming so we got to the pool around 8:30 am. Checked out by 12 noon.
Positives:
Beautiful hotel and rooms
Toilet/shower area seperate from sink area
FOTL can't be beat!!!!!!!!!
Negatives:
Automatic gratuity for parties over 6 at NBA restaurant
Toilets are loud......I woke everyone in my room using it at 5 am even though I had the door closed.
Wood carved area by the sink - pretty but casts light onto the room when you would rather have some privacy - not wake others up while you wash/brush teeth........etc.
Pools closing at 10 pm..........What's with that??? Wish it were open until midnight.
We loved the FOTL access and wouldn't go any other way again!!! It was worth every $$ we spent!
We drove right over to the RPH to check-in. I'm not sure how the parking works but we were never charged for parking (I know we are supposed to be). The hotel lobby was very nice and there are many employees standing around ready to answer any questions you might have. They couldn't have been nicer!! We checked in rather quickly. We had asked for two connecting rooms plus reminded them of the Leows first status. They couldn't upgrade as the hotel was sold out but we did get the welcome bottle of wine plus they also sent a fresh fruit to our other room. (Wasn't expecting that). When we got to our rooms they weren't connecting just next to each other. So my dh calls down to the front desk and they send someone up who switches us. He was very nice and went on and on about the hotel and rooms almost to the point where my teens wanted to strangle him!!! We were all hungry and had PS at Margarittaville for 8 pm and it was now going on 7:20 pm..............He finally leaves........
Our impression of the room was it has beautiful furniture and accessories. The rooms are small but livable for a couple of nights. Everyone freshens up.........unfortuately dh has to go to the airport for his Mom and can't go to dinner with us. So off we go to check out the pool and get a water taxi over to city walk.
The pool area looks great. Tons of little kids are using the boat area and spraying water on others. Lots of activity at the pool. We rush for the water taxi. It was there we board and before you know it we are at Citywalk which was bustling with activity. I stand in a fairly long line waiting to check in at Margarittaville and didn't realize with PS's I should have went right inside.
So they tell me it will be about 20 min. - not bad since they were telling others a hour and a half. We get seated in about 20 min. There are the tall people doing the funny balloon hats in the restaurant and the kids are hoping they stop by but they never do and before you know it they left never to be seen again.
(The last time we went here they did get hats and were hoping again). I could barely hear the music which I wish had been turned up ever so slightly. My meal was the crab cakes and it was EXCELLENT Everyone was pleased with their meals.We hear from my dh that mil plane was finally in and they were on their way. So we shopped around and went into stores. Finally they arrive and of course they are both hungry so (It is now 10 pm) and we end up at Hard Rock Cafe and get seated quickly. The teens all order snacks or desserts (where do they put all that food) while dh and mil order dinners. We had a pleasant time but the music in here was too loud!!! Wish it could have been toned down a bit as you really could barely carry on a conversation with those right around you!!!
We got back to the room around 11:30 pm and got settled. Had everyone get out their clothes for the next morning so we could be ready to get showered and dressed quickly. Set alarm for 7 am. I awoke at 6:30 am and got showered and dressed so when 7 am rang I was ready. Beds were comfortable. Everyone got up and dressed quickly. I thought we should try the bus service for the parks to see how it works. So we were down at the front of the hotel by 8:20 am. there is no bus. Finally we ask someone about the buses and had to ask about three people and we finally found out they don't start running until 8:30 am by now it is 8:40 am and still no bus.............my teens are upset that we have waited this long so we give up and go to the water taxi............no wait..........get on no problem.............over to citywalk by 8:50 am!!! We decided the night before to go to Cinnabon at Citywalk for breakfast. So everyone ordered drinks and we got a large box of buns heated up........we sat and enjoyed our breakfast as we watched people racing into the park. Having never experienced the FOTL before my group was a little ansy about all the people coming into the park. I just kept telling them..........FOTL is supposed to be really FANTASTIC so just relax everyone.
FOTL is really wonderful. I believe because of not having to wait we were less tired and less hot. It was the most relaxing day I have ever had at a theme park. We will probably never go again with out staying on site. Lines for most of the attractions were 45 min. or longer.
We did just about everything at IOA by about 1 pm. We ate at the Oak Tavern??? (Not sure of the name) I had the most wonderful salad with fresh wood roasted chicken on it. YUMMM. The kids had the ribs/chicken combo platters which they enjoyed. MIL/dh and one son ended up with hot dogs at another vender.
We went over to US and did everything we wanted there and really enjoyed it all. It was about 8:00 pm and we hadn't eaten dinner so we stopped at the NBA for dinner. We were less than happy with this establishment. I think we were all tired and hungry and ready for the day to end. We were seated upstairs - the waiter we had seemed to take forever to take our orders..........get drinks..........etc. Drink refills took forever and finally when our meals came - the food was just OK. One of us didn't like the dressing that he brought with the salad and it took about 10 min. for him to bring something else..........he had a poor attitude and I think as we read the menu that parties over 6 are automatically charged a gratuity of 18% - so it didn't really matter to him if we were happy. We were hoping to get back to the room to soak in the hot tub/pool but as he took so long we realized that we wouldn't be able to do that. Son and girlfriend decided to walk around citywalk a bit before coming back to the hotel. So the rest of us got back to the hotel and it looked like the pool was still open and found out that they had extended the time until 10:30 pm so even though we only had about 30 min. we decided to go for it. We quickly changed and came down. I got cooled off in the pool and then soaked in the hot tub for 15 min. It was heaven.
The next morning we got breakfast in the first floor lounge area.....bagel/sweet roll and tea/coffee/juice. I had called for a late checkout and they granted us an extra hour......so we had to check out by 12 noon. We all wanted to go swimming so we got to the pool around 8:30 am. Checked out by 12 noon.
Positives:
Beautiful hotel and rooms
Toilet/shower area seperate from sink area
FOTL can't be beat!!!!!!!!!
Negatives:
Automatic gratuity for parties over 6 at NBA restaurant
Toilets are loud......I woke everyone in my room using it at 5 am even though I had the door closed.
Wood carved area by the sink - pretty but casts light onto the room when you would rather have some privacy - not wake others up while you wash/brush teeth........etc.
Pools closing at 10 pm..........What's with that??? Wish it were open until midnight.
We loved the FOTL access and wouldn't go any other way again!!! It was worth every $$ we spent!
