We're back! mini TR....

[alibeau]

Landed on Saturday morning. Felt quite good on Saturday but had a terrible jetlag headache yesterday, it's just about worn off today but still feeling a bit groggy, not to worry

So we flew PE on the new plane outbound and PE in the bubble home. A bit difficult to compare the two. The IFE on the new plane is just FAB. For the first time since having children I managed to watch two complete films as I was able to stop and start as and when required. The girls thought it was great too. When you first turn the system on you can select 'kids only' so that they can only access the child friendly stuff

Flying home in the bubble was also great, no requirement for the IFE as we all intended to have a sleep. Spacious and peaceful. It's the first time we have flown on the later flight which definately suited us better, girls were more tired etc. So all in all I think for us we got it right, new plane going and old plane back Great service from VA. I had ordered a bottle of champers for DH on the outbound as it was his birthday whilst we were away, two CC and the pilot presented the bottle and sang happy birthday to him

Oh I should add that VA managed to 'lose' one of our cases on our return flight. Luckily it was located very quickly and delivered to us yesterday.......

Dollar Express - fab yet again, brand new Chevrolet Traverse (I think!) single digit mileage on the clock when we collected it - all good.

Villa, not as nice as others we have stayed at but we are back to using our usual company for our next few planned trips......

Our night out for DH's b'day was super. I booked a limo, meal at CG, watched fireworks, Mickey b'day cake and limo home - really lovely evening. Total cost was an arm and a leg so can't see me booking anything like that again ...

Annual passes - brill. It meant that we could pop in and out of the parks and also just visit for a few hours in the evening without having to worry about parking charges etc

Weather was beautiful, we do now have a few concerns about how hot it will be in August but we have a plan where if we find it unbearable we will stay at the villa all day and then visit the parks in the evening

More and more 'good' restaurants opening at 'our' end of the 192 (FG end). Olive Garden, Millers Ale House, Applebees, Longhorn Steak and then Bahama Breeze and Sweet Tomato look due to open any time now.....

We tried Outback Steakhouse for the first time but were a bit disappointed, I ordered a steak salad which was REALLY salty. DH's steak was tiny but I guess that was his own fault for ordering the wrong size......

Wwohp was fab but crazy busy so we re-visted one evening, much quieter and did a few rides. Just seeing DD2's face was priceless, seeing Hogwarts castle and Hogwarts express and that screeching plant in the shop window, she was amazed

Well I think that's me for now.... another lovely trip. So glad we opted for Florida again in August as opposed to our usual Spain/Portugal trip So I am off to make myself a new ticker

Ali

 

[disneyholic family]

how fun that the pilot sang happy birthday!!!! that's lovely!!!
sounds like you had a wonderful trip..
so you suggest visiting universal in the evening?
the only reason we'll want to go is for harry potter.....
so you think our best bet is in the evening?

by the way, as far as heat goes - august is hotter than hades....and it doesn't really let up at night as the problem is the humidity...and that never stops...but we're going in august...that's when we can go....drink plenty of fluids and rest rest rest...

 

[alibeau]

Hi Beth,

We went in the daytime to the WWoHP and got a fast pass type thing with a return time on it. Once inside the wait times were over two hours for the 'castle' ride and the kids roller coaster was an hour. It was crazy busy and very hot so we walked through the castle, had a quick look at Hogwarts Express and left as quick as we could!

I then asked for advice on here and the thought was to return as near to closing as possible which is what we did. We walked onto the kids roller coaster (ride of the doodah) three times and then pretty much walked straight onto the castle ride (although the wait time said 20 mins) and did a child swap. After DH had been on the ride he thought that DD1 would like it so he went on again with her.....

So I am glad that we saw the place in the daylight as it is a wonderful sight but equally glad we revisited in the dark as the place is beautifully lit and we got to go on both the rides we wanted with no waiting

HTH

Ali

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi Beth,

We went in the daytime to the WWoHP and got a fast pass type thing with a return time on it. Once inside the wait times were over two hours for the 'castle' ride and the kids roller coaster was an hour. It was crazy busy and very hot so we walked through the castle, had a quick look at Hogwarts Express and left as quick as we could!

I then asked for advice on here and the thought was to return as near to closing as possible which is what we did. We walked onto the kids roller coaster (ride of the doodah) three times and then pretty much walked straight onto the castle ride (although the wait time said 20 mins) and did a child swap. After DH had been on the ride he thought that DD1 would like it so he went on again with her.....

So I am glad that we saw the place in the daylight as it is a wonderful sight but equally glad we revisited in the dark as the place is beautifully lit and we got to go on both the rides we wanted with no waiting

HTH

Ali

thanks! sounds like a good plan!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

Sounds like you had a great time. Lucky you getting to go back so soon

 

[taylor91]

Sounds like you had a fab time Your very lucky to get to go back so soon with annual passes too... always a good thing

 

[crabbie1]

I would say welcome home but I am sure you would rather still be thereGood job you have another trip soon. Good to hear about the annual pass how much did it cost? I want to upgrade our tickets this time.
Glad you had a great time.

 

[Cyrano]

Welcome home. Sounds like you had a great time

 

[alibeau]

I would say welcome home but I am sure you would rather still be thereGood job you have another trip soon. Good to hear about the annual pass how much did it cost? I want to upgrade our tickets this time.
Glad you had a great time.

It's the first time we have gone for AP's as we usually only do one Florida holiday a year. We paid around £1260 for two adults and two children. We are hoping to return in April 2012 also, so we will hopefully get three trips out of the AP's Result

Ali

 

[irisheyes123]

Welcome home sounds like you had a really great trip Not too long now for your next trip in August

 

[loobzuk]

welcome home and not much longer to wait until your next visit, keeps the holiday blues away. And another trip planned for 2012, you are definitley getting good value from your AP's.