Back Home Overall Good Trip !

**alp1972** · 7 Aug 23, 08:54 PM

So we are just back from our trip Universal only this time staying at Cabana Bay and Portofino . Flight out was great flew Virgin Upper , lounge was amazing as ever lovely breakfast pre flight staff really nice and couldn't do enough for you. Slight problem they changed our seats the night before for the flight no real reason that we can think of but staff on the flight said it had happened also on the previous flight . So just to be aware if anyone if travelling soon may be worth keeping an eye on your seats .

We has a few nights at Cabana to start with room good , we have stayed there before so knew what to expect but it was really busy and breakfast was a bit of a bun fight , pools were not too busy we tended to eat out most nights elsewhere but there were very long queues in the food court every evening up to closing time. We did have a couple of issues with our neighbours being noisy but as we were in a family suite once we were in the bedroom we couldn't hear them so didn't let it bother us. This was our 5th time at Cabana and we have decided to try somewhere different next time, so if anyone has any suggestions ?

Portofino lovely as ever nice sized rooms and we were in a club room so took advantage of the breakfast before heading over to the parks in the boats . We did also partake in the evening drinks a couple of nights and the access to cans and waters was helpful. Knowing we has access to express we sometimes went into the parks in the morning came home late afternoon then went back in the evening .

We really enjoyed Universal and crowds were not too bad , although the express passes helped and definitely worth a stay at the premium hotel to get them. Staff were all great and we also joined a craft group that hides either hand made or bought things in Universal so enjoyed hiding and and finding, having made some items before we left the UK.

We ate at Perkins, Cowfish, Longhorns, IHOP, Leaky Cauldron, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, TREX, Bubbas as well as others all great but we really enjoyed Cowfish so ate there couple of times . Landry's card got us into Bubbas straight away while there was a 2 hour wait , likewise for Trex we were in within 20 mins . We also joined the Cheesecake Factory rewards so managed to book a table each time before we went and got free cheesecake , always a bonus !

Booked car through Dutch Alamo all went perfectly and the price we booked was the price we paid , also took the Florida Toll Pass which saves us looking for coins for the tolls .
We also visited KSC , golf on a very hot day never again , and couple escape rooms , can recommend Dare2escape Ice Cream Shoppe very fun room ! Did some shopping at both outlets but preferred the one on Vineland.
All in all a good trip now to plan for next year !

ClaireNJ · 7 Aug 23, 09:26 PM

Great sounds a wonderful holiday 😎🇺🇸
Loads of nice restaurants on there too
I love Cheesecake Factory 😋😋😋 can anyone join the rewards & how do you book a table as I didn�t think you can anymore 🤷

**Myakka17** · 7 Aug 23, 09:29 PM

Is �upper� with Virgin ,premium economy or more?

**alp1972** · 7 Aug 23, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by ClaireNJ

Great sounds a wonderful holiday 😎🇺🇸
Loads of nice restaurants on there too
I love Cheesecake Factory 😋😋😋 can anyone join the rewards & how do you book a table as I didn�t think you can anymore 🤷

We couldn't join with a UK number but we did a Google for US phone numbers and used one of those to join , then you just put that number in to book tables and they add the rewards after each visit to your account.

**alp1972** · 7 Aug 23, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Myakka17

Is �upper� with Virgin ,premium economy or more?

It's the one above premium similar to BA Club level.

**mushumadness** · 7 Aug 23, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by alp1972

So we are just back from our trip Universal only this time staying at Cabana Bay and Portofino . Flight out was great flew Virgin Upper , lounge was amazing as ever lovely breakfast pre flight staff really nice and couldn't do enough for you. Slight problem they changed our seats the night before for the flight no real reason that we can think of but staff on the flight said it had happened also on the previous flight . So just to be aware if anyone if travelling soon may be worth keeping an eye on your seats .

We has a few nights at Cabana to start with room good , we have stayed there before so knew what to expect but it was really busy and breakfast was a bit of a bun fight , pools were not too busy we tended to eat out most nights elsewhere but there were very long queues in the food court every evening up to closing time. We did have a couple of issues with our neighbours being noisy but as we were in a family suite once we were in the bedroom we couldn't hear them so didn't let it bother us. This was our 5th time at Cabana and we have decided to try somewhere different next time, so if anyone has any suggestions ?

Portofino lovely as ever nice sized rooms and we were in a club room so took advantage of the breakfast before heading over to the parks in the boats . We did also partake in the evening drinks a couple of nights and the access to cans and waters was helpful. Knowing we has access to express we sometimes went into the parks in the morning came home late afternoon then went back in the evening .

We really enjoyed Universal and crowds were not too bad , although the express passes helped and definitely worth a stay at the premium hotel to get them. Staff were all great and we also joined a craft group that hides either hand made or bought things in Universal so enjoyed hiding and and finding, having made some items before we left the UK.

We ate at Perkins, Cowfish, Longhorns, IHOP, Leaky Cauldron, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, TREX, Bubbas as well as others all great but we really enjoyed Cowfish so ate there couple of times . Landry's card got us into Bubbas straight away while there was a 2 hour wait , likewise for Trex we were in within 20 mins . We also joined the Cheesecake Factory rewards so managed to book a table each time before we went and got free cheesecake , always a bonus !

Booked car through Dutch Alamo all went perfectly and the price we booked was the price we paid , also took the Florida Toll Pass which saves us looking for coins for the tolls .
We also visited KSC , golf on a very hot day never again , and couple escape rooms , can recommend Dare2escape Ice Cream Shoppe very fun room ! Did some shopping at both outlets but preferred the one on Vineland.
All in all a good trip now to plan for next year !

Hi how did you manage to join cheesecake rewards I�ve been trying but it wants a usa phone number

**alp1972** · 7 Aug 23, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by mushumadness

Hi how did you manage to join cheesecake rewards I�ve been trying but it wants a usa phone number

Hi we searched for free US mobile numbers chose 1 and added it then created the account .smsrecievefree.com you can then go into your account and book tables get free cheescake etc. You just have to find a number that hasn't been claimed. They do disappear quite quickly. Then when you go in to the restaurant then will usually text you to say your table is ready but we just said we didn't have that phone with us and they gave us a buzzer.

danisleigh · 8 Aug 23, 05:35 AM

We booked tables at cheesecake factory in Orlando last year, I think it was with yelp. Free cheesecake sounds great though so will have to look at that next time!