We are back - HIGHS and LOWS

[mickeyforpresident]

Hi all,

So, we're are just about adjusted to being back:

HIGHS

• A free upgrade to tower room at the Contemporary - the room was AMAZING
• Our meal at the Yachtsman (very lovely)
• DS(6 going on 7) birthday - lots of magical moments (CM in Star Tours shop played bowling with DS, he was presented with an honorary citizen of WWD badges and a lovely meal at Chef Mickeys)
• The magical sorcerer's game at MK - the surprise hit of the holiday
• Staying at Universal for FOTL access (and the HRH was nice too!)
• Staying 18 nights so that we could relax too
• Dessert at San Angel inn
• Getting DS7 to go on BTMR and Mission: Space (priceless reactions of joy!!)
• DS7 meeting Duffy Bear
• DS13 agreeing that he should still hug the characters

LOWS

• Hideous flight on the way back - old plane, awful crew, shocking food and drink
• Extremely hard selling techniques of Alamo lady - currently writing a letter of complaint
• Awful CM in Columbia Harbour House - she was rude to non-English speaking visitor and moaned about her to the next customer (didn't like that at all)
• Smoking in the parks - it's getting worse (one man happily puffing away along main street in front of CMers and nothing done)
• We are soooo tired!

Our best ride of the holiday has to be Harry Potter - we got in the park at 7am on our first day, knowing the time difference would help us get up early and, whilst we couldn't quite get over the fact that we were in a theme park at 7am, we loved the ride.

One thing that has never happened to us before was a dodgy american couple who tried to buy our tickets off us when we arrived back at the airport - very disconcerting.

We did the dessert party but never again - it was ok; plenty of food, but too squashed and the view not half as good from floor 11 of the Contemporary.

We also visited Mall at Millenia and enjoyed it very much.

Not a bad meal all holiday, although we need find chewing gum on the table at the sci-fi diner (yuck!!)

 

[jen_uk]

Sounds like an amazing holiday!! When will you be booking the next one

 

[dixonsontour]

Sounds like a great time was had by all.

Hoping my DD who will be 6 3/4 will enjoy the sorcerers game aswell.

 

[queendisney]

do you think its ok for adults to play the new game at MK ie pretty sure my DH would be up for it..?

 

[xxpeplyxx]

Sounds like you had an amazing time all in all! 18 days to!

What was the weather like?

 

[joolz1910]

A lovely upgrade - any photos of the room?

 

[tracey1302]

Wow sounds awesome!

Agree, would like pictures of the room please!

Urgh, Alamo, we had problems with their upselling techniques when we rented a car from them in California this year. We booked the basic Economy car, there were only two of us.

She started chatting to us telling us we weren't insured for this, that and the other, when the guy at VH had told us we were insured for everything we needed to be insured for.

Then, taking some more details from us, she asked us where we were driving. We responded up the California coast, across to Yosemite, through Death Valley, across to Vegas and back through Anaheim to LA. She shakes her head promptly. 'Your car isn't suitable for that journey.'

What?!

"If you do that journey in THAT car, you're going to get a lot of shaking in the suspension as you drive through, there is a risk of breakdown. I really wouldn't recommend it."

What?!

Then she moves on to the luggage, looking over our 2 medium sized cases. 'How much luggage do you have with you?'

Me: These two cases and a few bags of hand luggage.

The head shake again. 'Oh these cars don't have room for that sort of luggage. You would be lucky to fit one of those cases in the trunk.'

Me: Well, even if we don't, we could put one on the backseat.

Woman: Well we wouldn't recommend that as any thiefs would know you are tourists when you park the car and you would get burgled.

Me: We wouldn't leave our cases in the car. We'd take them with us, into the rooms?

Woman: I still really wouldn't recommend it.

I think she even tutted, looking at us like we were idiots.

We finally got our car. It was a Chevrolet Aveo. BOTH of our cases and all our hand luggage fit into the boot and we never had a single problem with the car the whole time we were there. It was the smoothest ride ever.

I should have complained. She was ridiculous.

 

[KayTom]

Sounds like a you had a brilliant time, little niggles aside.

When did you fly home? Just asking because my cousin flew back with Virgin Sunday night/Monday morning and she said her flight back was awful...really old plane, lack of staff, etc xx

 

[bazzanoid]

Hi all,

So, we're are just about adjusted to being back

I never adjust to being back!

glad you had a good trip

 

[CupcakeLisa]

Sounds like a good trip

 

[wayneg]

Welcome home.

do you think its ok for adults to play the new game at MK ie pretty sure my DH would be up for it..?

Definitely suitable, we were 3 adults doing it a couple of weeks ago. More adults doing it on their own than with kids when we were there.

Urgh, Alamo, we had problems with their upselling techniques when we rented a car from them in California this year. We booked the basic Economy car, there were only two of us.

All the car rental companies have used these type of tactics since I started going in 1993. I have heard them all, trunk won't be big enough, seats not very comfy in that catagory, better with 4 drs (even though you know they only have 4 drs, never had a 2 dr yet).......
Only once collected from Sanford Dollar, she said what do you drive at home, I said a BMW, she said well the car you have rented does not have the same saftey levels then whispered "I shouldn't tell you this but the car you have doesn't pass our saftey regulations, let alone yours"
I had them try get $40 a day out of me for an upgrade to a Chevy Tahoe, only to find thats what I was getting anyway when I didn't upgrade.
They will try anything, just say no to anything they throw at you, I used to try explaning why but I won't even enter into a conversation now, I just constantly say no thank you or not interested until they give up.
It doesn't bother me, with all teh hard sell in the world they won't get a penny out of me but it can be difficult for some.

 

[juliebro]

In all the years we've rented cars, in the U.S and in Europe, we have never once had anyone try to get us to pay more. We usually go for an intermediate 2 door or group B or C in Europe.

Had 2 free upgrades to Mustang and paid for one once but that was our request and not suggested by hire company.

 

[darthtatty]

Sounds like you had a great time.
we got an upgrade to a tower room on our last visit-so I know how amazing that felt.
its great to stay at a Universal hotel for the FOTL.
Id love to stay for 18 days-hopefully one day

 

[amacspad]

We got told by Alamo that it was illegal for my then 15 daughter to sit on the back seat with any luggage??? Plus they tried to charge us an extra $120 (can't remember what for now) which my laid back dh was about to pay, I said no chance and looked for one of our reps who angrily sorted it, when we got back they tried to charged a small amount for something they shouldn't have, I rang the credi card and got it reversed! Idiots!

Oh and when we got outside the guy gave us a bigger car anyway lol!

Debs x

 

[sovietsong]

Sorry to jump on your thread , regarding the renting a car problem , is there a way to avoid the '"counter" thus avoiding the sales rep ? or do you have to face them lol

 

[wayneg]

Sorry to jump on your thread , regarding the renting a car problem , is there a way to avoid the '"counter" thus avoiding the sales rep ? or do you have to face them lol

Dollar Express avoids the desk and straight out to the garage, saved me hours of standing in the lines.

Last month I tried Alamo's Save Time link wont work so click on link from Google. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a...s=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a
When I got there there the desk was empty so didn't bother going straight to the garage, others say it works though.

Others probably do similar.

 

[luke]

Dollar Express avoids the desk and straight out to the garage, saved me hours of standing in the lines.

Last month I tried Alamo's Save Time link wont work so click on link from Google. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=alamo+save+time&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&client=firefox-a
When I got there there the desk was empty so didn't bother going straight to the garage, others say it works though.

Others probably do similar.

Can you just join Dollar Express? Don't need 'loyalty' or anything?

 

[wayneg]

Can you just join Dollar Express? Don't need 'loyalty' or anything?

Free to anyone http://www.dollar.com/Express/MainNonMember.aspx

 

[luke]

Thanks Wayne

 

[mickeyforpresident]

do you think its ok for adults to play the new game at MK ie pretty sure my DH would be up for it..?

Defo - DW and I loved it and I'd play it without my kids! Actually, I saw more alone adults playing than I did children!! Some adults were taking it VERY seriously!