Virgin welcome meeting

[PChef]

Hi
Is it worth going to this? How long does it take? Is it just hard sell of excursions or useful info? Where is it?

I am presuming it would be scheduled for our first morning in Florida.

Thought you guys might have some info to share!

Michelle

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi - must admit it is several years since we have been, it is located at the Pleasure Island side of DTD - to be honest I am not 100% sure where as like I say not been for a long time, possibly close to the Virgin Megastore? - if not then close to there.

Unless you have anything specific to ask, or tickets to collect then to be honest from what I remember it is not worth attending, most of us have all the tickets we need anyway.
They do try and sell you tickets to shows etc but they are not that pushy about it.

As you are a 1st time visitor there may be some value in going, as it may help if you have any questions etc (not that you can't find all the answers here on the DIS)....certainly for frequent travellers time can be better spent enjoying the 1st morning of the holiday.

 

[THE COLONEL]

If the Brits Guide didnt exist then GO
If this web site didnt exist then GO

They DO so DONT

Well intentioned but ultimately a waste of time if you put the hours in before you go

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We went on our trip in May to get the free Hard Rock Cafe meal voucher. We don't buy anything as we have annual passes but if Virgin Holidays wants to give me a free meal I'll take it. From memory the meeting lasted about 30mins with a talk and video, they are at various locations depending on where your staying and ours was at the Quality Inn International on I-Drive.

Mick.

 

[alisonbestford]

We went for the free meal voucher too

We didn't go for the whole presentation though, just popped in, asked a couple of simple questions and ran.................

Our meeting was in the Virgin MegaStore at Down Town Disney.

 

[wilma-bride]

As Mick has said, it depends where you're staying. If on-site, it is usually at Downtown Disney (Virgin Megastores) but there are several locations if you're staying off-site.

When you arrive at MCO, you meet with the Virgin rep who will tell you where and when the welcome meeting is. We went the first year but only because we had a problem with our accommodation that we wanted to get resolved. We didn't bother last year. In my opinion, it's only worth going if you know you might want to book some excursions. If not, then don't bother (unless, of course, you really want the Hard Rock voucher - which, again, in our opinion wasn't worth it).

 

[Minniespal]

We don't bother. Everything I ned to know I get from either books or the internet, so going to the meeting seems pointless IMO.

 

[Spook]

we went once - would not go again. If you are staying offsite and are relying on hotel transport to the parks make sure you don't miss it just because you are at the meeting

Jan

 

[Miffy2003]

I wouldn't bother myself; I'm not sure a free meal voucher would be enough to persuade me either!

 

[UKDEB]

The biggest problem is that, thanks to the jetlag, you'll be awake at the crack of dawn on your first morning and raring to go. You could be at a park for opening and getting a head-start on the crowds, but instead you'll be kicking your heels and wondering what to do with yourselves whilst you're waiting for the Welcome Meeting.

Your time in Orlando will fly by. Don't waste your first morning.

 

[ely3857]

I wouldn't bother myself; I'm not sure a free meal voucher would be enough to persuade me either!

Ditto!

After spending time on here chances are you'll know as much as the rep anyway!



Jodie

 

[Lisash]

We've never bothered and don't feel we have missed out on anything as a result. They are always early am and personally we'd rather be in the parks getting in some rides before the crowds build up. If you have the DIS and a Brits Guide you'll have all the info you could ever need

 

[PChef]

Thanks for your input everyone!

I think we shall be giving the meeting a miss and hitting a park that morning instead! Off to re-jig my itinerary!!!

Michelle

 

[dee slack]

Unless you have anything specific to ask, or tickets to collect then to be honest from what I remember it is not worth attending, most of us have all the tickets we need anyway.

Could I just ask if you have to go to a welcome meeting to receive your pre-paid ticket vouchers (ie Universal or Disney) or will they come in the post with all the other travel docs?
The reason I'm asking, is that we are staying our first 2 nights at Royal Pacific Universal, so were hoping to run straight into the park after checking in, just for an hour or so. We don't want to waste any minute of our precious time, but if we haven't got our ticket / voucher with us, it would be useless after.
Thanks! Dee

 

[Miffy2003]

Could I just ask if you have to go to a welcome meeting to receive your pre-paid ticket vouchers (ie Universal or Disney) or will they come in the post with all the other travel docs?
The reason I'm asking, is that we are staying our first 2 nights at Royal Pacific Universal, so were hoping to run straight into the park after checking in, just for an hour or so. We don't want to waste any minute of our precious time, but if we haven't got our ticket / voucher with us, it would be useless after.
Thanks! Dee

I think it depends who you book with. I would phone and ask

 

[daipp]

Like many others on this post, we went to the meet the first time we went to WDW but since then we buy Annual Passes, regularly read the Disboards, conduct lots of research on the internet, and generally make our own way.

We ask at the airport where we can collect our voucher and providing it's convienient we do so.

On some holidays we've collected the voucher and on others we haven't.

David

 

[Shooby doo]

Like most others we never go,might be differant if they held them on arrival but our first morning is too important to waste hanging about! Up- Denny's- then MK parking- ferry across the lagoon- opening show/ceremony & off we go.....
SD