Gandalfsbeard
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2010
- Messages
- 19
First I would like to thank every one who posts and who answers posts as that was invaluable for our trip. Again Thank You All!!
Some background.. I am the OCD planner. My wife and 2 older teens. We live about 20minutes from Manhattan and 30 minutes from 6 Flags NJ. We are used to NYC prices. Kids love extreme rides. Were at HRH 5years ago. So were off.
Took a real early flight from Newark airport. All I can say about the whole screening process was said better by the comedian Lewis Black in his book. Or if you can't say anything nice about the TSA then don't say anything at all.
Got to MCO with no problems. Had booked trip through a package this time and used Mears Transportation. The wait was 20 minutes no big deal because it was only 1oam. Driver was a sweet heart. Last time I used a towncar with grocery stop. This time I used Garden Grocer. It was 12$ for the entire order. It was so easy I would do it again. But... the towncar is much better and will expain on the return trip.
Get to the HRH and the check in is a breeze. I don't have special accounts or associations so it was a simple check in. The room was on an upper floor and no where near K-9 rooms. I went for the Queen Deluxe and was told that I could expect a call around 4pm to check in. Great. Did I say that the staff of the Hotel are some of the nicest people you will meet.
Go to guest services and get the passes for the parks. We pass the Rock it ride and DD says that it looks like a smaller KindaKa 6 flags or Farenheit at Hershey Park Pa. I think it looks great. We walk back to WWHP to see what it is like. FJ is like 90 minutes Dragons 10 min. They fotl and we walk around. I can now see what many posters have said about the small size of the shops. We get the frozen Butterbeers in the Hogshead Pub. We don't get the Ceremonial mugs because I the burka of all things don't feel like carrying them . $3.99 for the BB. Hogs Head real beer 6.50$$ I like it kinda reminded me of a Harps.
Kids are now back after riding the DDs several times. We decide to go to Margaritaville. Lunch is great love the vibe and love the AIR CONDITIONING. Did I mention that it is really hot in Florida in August! It has really been hot in NJ but we don't have the humidity. Family rule no AC we don't eat there.
This was a different trip for us this time. We are not theme park commandos so the early entry wasn't going to work for us. We did want to check out the other hotels tough. As much as we liked HRH it seem off for us. They have the same memorabilia in the same spot as 5 years ago. My son was disappointed. He says they have the largest collection in Orlando, but it must be locked up pretty good. Also the interior and common ares seem old. I don't know it might be me. This is not to say it is not clean. As I said before it is kept clean. We fell in love with Portofino . May be hotel of choice next time.
In no particular order we hit almost every ride we wanted to go on. The FOTL is worth the money. Favorites were HRR Coaster,Mummy, The Simpson Ride, MIB. And of course FJ.
For the food we used the Garden Grocer for breakfast most days. Emack and Bolio supplemented it. Bagel $3.50, Crossaint $3 Large coofee 4$, Small milk $4 Bud Light $5. Cranberry Juice 2.75$. Again NYC is real close so I would compare the prices to be about the same.
You can definitely save money by reading through these posts. We ate in most of the resaurants reviewed in Mr Monahans book. I didn't buy the 2011 edition but will see his update on Mythos. A past post by him had knocked it down. We enjoyed it alot although the menu seems to have gotten samller. Family of 4 Drinks and dessert under 125$. As good as any upscale restaurant I have eaten in.
We also ate at Pastamore as we had eaten there before..it didn't do it for us. Perhaps if our kids were smaller it may work.
NBA City got voted in this year..in years past it would have been Hard rock cafe but we have been disappointed in other HAC over the years. NBA was great..I'm not a big NBA person but the food was really good. Try the Cinnabon Berries for dessert.
One night it rained so we ate at the Kitchen so we wouldn't get wet. The food was good but I think I was tired and didn't have a good time.
Finnegans Pub worked well for lunch as it wasn't crowded and the AC was blasting.
On the last day we packed early and checked out by 9. Stored the bags with a pool bag set aside. We hit the parks for the last rides and souvenirs that we had forgotten to buy. I think that Forbidden Journey will be the standard for a new attraction in any theme park. I enjoyed it that much. I really think that after the crowds die down to be able to really slow down and see the detail of what was done will really be impressive. It really is that good. We went back to the pool and relaxed for while.
After changing we crashed in the lobby and waited for Mears. He showed up on time. I budgeted 3.5 hours from pick up to departure at MCO. Driver loads us in van and says he has a pick up at Crown Plaza. OK we shouldn't be long. Driver gets out no passengers. Starts doing the back 2 van to front lobby dance. 15 minutes go by and gets in saying "They aren't there". And this is my problem why? He calls dispatch who informs him its THE OTHER CROWN PLAZA!!! So I say your going to take us to the airport right? No you have plenty of time and you will make the flight. At this point I surrpress desire to grab microphone and tell dispatch driver is idiot and should be washing van instead of driving van..but DW says that throbbing vein in neck is cute and to relax. We pick up the other passengers and get to airport. Did I mention how hot Florida is in August. Get the bags go through line and relax at gate. Note to self next time I will definitely use a town car. Make it home. Tired hungry but a great time.
If you have any questions will try and get back asap
Some background.. I am the OCD planner. My wife and 2 older teens. We live about 20minutes from Manhattan and 30 minutes from 6 Flags NJ. We are used to NYC prices. Kids love extreme rides. Were at HRH 5years ago. So were off.
Took a real early flight from Newark airport. All I can say about the whole screening process was said better by the comedian Lewis Black in his book. Or if you can't say anything nice about the TSA then don't say anything at all.
Got to MCO with no problems. Had booked trip through a package this time and used Mears Transportation. The wait was 20 minutes no big deal because it was only 1oam. Driver was a sweet heart. Last time I used a towncar with grocery stop. This time I used Garden Grocer. It was 12$ for the entire order. It was so easy I would do it again. But... the towncar is much better and will expain on the return trip.
Get to the HRH and the check in is a breeze. I don't have special accounts or associations so it was a simple check in. The room was on an upper floor and no where near K-9 rooms. I went for the Queen Deluxe and was told that I could expect a call around 4pm to check in. Great. Did I say that the staff of the Hotel are some of the nicest people you will meet.
Go to guest services and get the passes for the parks. We pass the Rock it ride and DD says that it looks like a smaller KindaKa 6 flags or Farenheit at Hershey Park Pa. I think it looks great. We walk back to WWHP to see what it is like. FJ is like 90 minutes Dragons 10 min. They fotl and we walk around. I can now see what many posters have said about the small size of the shops. We get the frozen Butterbeers in the Hogshead Pub. We don't get the Ceremonial mugs because I the burka of all things don't feel like carrying them . $3.99 for the BB. Hogs Head real beer 6.50$$ I like it kinda reminded me of a Harps.
Kids are now back after riding the DDs several times. We decide to go to Margaritaville. Lunch is great love the vibe and love the AIR CONDITIONING. Did I mention that it is really hot in Florida in August! It has really been hot in NJ but we don't have the humidity. Family rule no AC we don't eat there.
This was a different trip for us this time. We are not theme park commandos so the early entry wasn't going to work for us. We did want to check out the other hotels tough. As much as we liked HRH it seem off for us. They have the same memorabilia in the same spot as 5 years ago. My son was disappointed. He says they have the largest collection in Orlando, but it must be locked up pretty good. Also the interior and common ares seem old. I don't know it might be me. This is not to say it is not clean. As I said before it is kept clean. We fell in love with Portofino . May be hotel of choice next time.
In no particular order we hit almost every ride we wanted to go on. The FOTL is worth the money. Favorites were HRR Coaster,Mummy, The Simpson Ride, MIB. And of course FJ.
For the food we used the Garden Grocer for breakfast most days. Emack and Bolio supplemented it. Bagel $3.50, Crossaint $3 Large coofee 4$, Small milk $4 Bud Light $5. Cranberry Juice 2.75$. Again NYC is real close so I would compare the prices to be about the same.
You can definitely save money by reading through these posts. We ate in most of the resaurants reviewed in Mr Monahans book. I didn't buy the 2011 edition but will see his update on Mythos. A past post by him had knocked it down. We enjoyed it alot although the menu seems to have gotten samller. Family of 4 Drinks and dessert under 125$. As good as any upscale restaurant I have eaten in.
We also ate at Pastamore as we had eaten there before..it didn't do it for us. Perhaps if our kids were smaller it may work.
NBA City got voted in this year..in years past it would have been Hard rock cafe but we have been disappointed in other HAC over the years. NBA was great..I'm not a big NBA person but the food was really good. Try the Cinnabon Berries for dessert.
One night it rained so we ate at the Kitchen so we wouldn't get wet. The food was good but I think I was tired and didn't have a good time.
Finnegans Pub worked well for lunch as it wasn't crowded and the AC was blasting.
On the last day we packed early and checked out by 9. Stored the bags with a pool bag set aside. We hit the parks for the last rides and souvenirs that we had forgotten to buy. I think that Forbidden Journey will be the standard for a new attraction in any theme park. I enjoyed it that much. I really think that after the crowds die down to be able to really slow down and see the detail of what was done will really be impressive. It really is that good. We went back to the pool and relaxed for while.
After changing we crashed in the lobby and waited for Mears. He showed up on time. I budgeted 3.5 hours from pick up to departure at MCO. Driver loads us in van and says he has a pick up at Crown Plaza. OK we shouldn't be long. Driver gets out no passengers. Starts doing the back 2 van to front lobby dance. 15 minutes go by and gets in saying "They aren't there". And this is my problem why? He calls dispatch who informs him its THE OTHER CROWN PLAZA!!! So I say your going to take us to the airport right? No you have plenty of time and you will make the flight. At this point I surrpress desire to grab microphone and tell dispatch driver is idiot and should be washing van instead of driving van..but DW says that throbbing vein in neck is cute and to relax. We pick up the other passengers and get to airport. Did I mention how hot Florida is in August. Get the bags go through line and relax at gate. Note to self next time I will definitely use a town car. Make it home. Tired hungry but a great time.
If you have any questions will try and get back asap
