We are home again!

[Elise79]

Quick overview of our 10 day pre-Xmas trip now that I have got past Christmas and feel somewhat normal again!

Flights
We arrived back in the UK on Christmas Eve on a very empty flight (154 passengers on a VS 747!) we sat upstairs in PE with 11 passengers & 2 crew. Upstairs Economy was closed to them however we were allowed to spread there to sleep. Good crews & flights both ways.

Hotel
We stayed a BLT this trip - first night was a cash booking with the remaining 9 nights on points. This meant we got two sets of magic bands First night we checked in and they had put us in a ground floor room but we were moved the next day to the 3rd Floor which we much prefer. We don't like the ground floor rooms as you get a lot of people wandering by meaning you can't really leave the curtains open

Fast Pass +
Used FP+ for the first time this trip and was really surprised how much I actually enjoyed it. We only used one paper FP in addition all week and that was only because the ride was down when we went to queue and I pulled the FP so we could go back later. Yes there are still some kinks in the system, app and website are not the quickest to use and I do not like the tiering in Epcot (we had booked before that was brought in but I am still going to complain by email about it). I had pre-booked only 3 days worth of FP+ before we left. We were there 10 days and in the parks 8 days. The other 5 days I hadn't booked before we left some I did the night before but generally it was in the morning laying in bed before we got up.

The nice thing doing it like this was Chloe understood we had 3 FP and she got to chose the rides we used them - she loved doing FP this way and scanning her band in. Yes she picked things like Tomorrowland Speedway but if thats what she wanted to do fair enough. She is old enough now (5years 6 months) to make choices and understand that she may not be able to ride other things - we guided her but she had the final say.

If they leave the tiers as they are in DHS I can't see us riding TSM much for a while as Chloe is now 48" and loved R'n'R - she complained it was too short and she thought it would be longer!!

AK started a FP+ only test the day we went and it seemed to be going OK however with the crowds over Christmas week I can imagine it would get interesting!!

Magic Bands
Loved Magic Bands - Matt & I had 2 colours each and Chloe has 2 pink bands. Only downside is with Chloe's we had to remove the middle portion to make it smaller for her but the edge was quite rough and we ended up buying her "Cover Bands" - she was quite happy though as she then had a choice of colours

We found them easy to use, no real lines at FP returns as the seemed to scan very quickly and I think the cast are much more used to them now. The only glitches we had was they locked us out of our first room too early but we onlyed need to get back in once to get the luggage collected so no real problem. The other one was with our APs which were all linked up but for most of the trip we got the "Blue light of death" as we called it - meaning there is an issue and we had to scan our AP cards instead.

Really like that they are interchangeable - means I can collect different colours to co-ordinate with my outfit for the day I used both bands during the week with no issues for charging or entry.

Food
We had breakfast at 'Ohana on our first morning and it was excellent again. Stitch was really good for character interaction too. The other 3 were good but he was outstanding!

Other ADRs we did were Yachtsman Steakhouse, Artists Point (booked on the day) and Candlelight Package at Teppan Edo. YSH was excellent and the server treated Chloe so well. She gave her a balloon, one of the character cups and six 5x7 character photos. Our steaks were melt in your mouth and we had the holiday dessert that was divine

Offsite we went to IHOP (twice), Chillis, Olive Garden, Cafe D'Antonios, Celebration Hotel and Skinnys at AMI (twice). I can honestly say that everything we ate was good.

Other Stuff

We went down to the beach at Longboat Key twice and on our first trip we saw dolphins swimming just off the coast which was amazing - I have never seen them in the wild before

Beach was wonderful as always - first time I had a sun dress on the second time it was bikini weather In fact DD actually has tan lines from her swim suit

We love the pre-Christmas period at Disney. Crowds were moderate until Sunday 22nd when there was a marked increase in people in the parks and Monday 23rd was worse and we were greatful to be leaving that night.

Last a mini rant - Why oh why do people have to be so inconsiderate and film parades and fireworks with iPads????

Anyway, any questions please ask away!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

It sounds like an amazing trip - if only every flight home was like that one

Need to get reading about the FP/magic bands before next year. Kind of ignored them this year knowing we had no trip planned :

 

[queendisney]

Last a mini rant - Why oh why do people have to be so inconsiderate and film parades and fireworks with iPads????

Sounds like a great trip and wish all flights could be like that!

Your mini rant is the same as mine. I find people are becoming more and more selfish and its all 'me me me'!!

 

[wilma-bride]

Welcome back Tracy, glad you had a good trip.

I agree with the iPad rant - we found loads of people were using them last time. I honestly don't understand why anyone would want to lug them around but that's just me. I just think that, generally, people are getting more selfish around the parks (in fact, pretty much everywhere).

When's the next trip then?

 

[Tink2312]

I just think that, generally, people are getting more selfish around the parks (in fact, pretty much everywhere).

AGREED!

Welcome home. Glad you had a good trip. I can't wait to get back to BLT in October

 

[chmurf]

I honestly don't understand why anyone would want to lug them around but that's just me.

this.

and the sad part is that most of those videos will never be watched at all and sit on a memory card until the memory card dies out at the bottom of a drawer...

there are enough good quality (tripod users) videos on youtube ...

 

[tinks_1989]

Couldn't agree more with I pads. It really grates on me and DH x

 

[wayneg]

Welcome home Tracy, glad you had a good time.

Are Virgin getting their pricing policy wrong do you think? Are they always so empty at that time of year or is it due to their pricing? I haven't paid regular (have flown using miles offers) fare with Virgin for years (5+)
I know they need to try increase fares but if the planes are flying 2/3rds empty then they either need to cut fares or cut frequency of flights.
I was considering them for next year, again using some airmiles but now they are introducing the fee to choose seats I am waiting to see what indirect route I can get cheaper, I just don't feel VA want my business anymore.

We had someone using an ipad near us in August to film Wishes, wouldn't say it bothered me that much, I just thought "why?"

 

[Elise79]

Are Virgin getting their pricing policy wrong do you think? Are they always so empty at that time of year or is it due to their pricing? I haven't paid regular (have flown using miles offers) fare with Virgin for years (5+) I know they need to try increase fares but if the planes are flying 2/3rds empty then they either need to cut fares or cut frequency of flights. I was considering them for next year, again using some airmiles but now they are introducing the fee to choose seats I am waiting to see what indirect route I can get cheaper, I just don't feel VA want my business anymore.

We had someone using an ipad near us in August to film Wishes, wouldn't say it bothered me that much, I just thought "why?"

Flight out was almost full in all cabins. It's just the flight home and it was the same on that flight last year. Love it as the crew are in a great mood as they all have Xmas off. Santa hats form part of the uniform!

The iPads annoyed me mostly at the parade as they were standing out and holding right at Chloe's eye level blocking her view despite repeated requests to move back to where she should be.

Personally couldn't be bothered to carry mine all day - heck anything more than my phone and I feel like I am carrying to much lol