August 2018 Dixonsontour does Universal Day 1 Travel Day

[dixonsontour]

Trip report Day 1

Friday 17th August 2018

I need to get a Universal countdown sign!



We live about an hours drive from Manchester airport. Early start and arrived at airport at 5am. We use the onsite parking at T3 which we had pre booked.











Had done online check in. Security was busy. We didn't have anything to eat or drink at the airport just got Anna who is fussy a 'just ham' sandwich for the plane.





1st flight was BA Manchester to Heathrow at 7am from Terminal 3 and this arrived early. It's only a short flight and we slept. They sell M & S food and drink on this shuttle flight, nothing complimentary.

At Heathrow we changed from Terminal 5 to 3 on the shuttle bus. Takes about 10 mins. The only hassle is you need to do security again but it wasn't busy.

We got something for breakfast at Just Eat and DD persuaded DH to buy her some rose gold flip flops from Ted Baker.











We then flew BA to Miami at 10.40am. Sat as a 3 to one side. Poor DH got a huge man in front who reclined for the full duration. Flight was ok, plane was showing it's age. Watched a couple of films on the IFE.

Landed slightly early, think we were due in 3pm. They didn't have the Immigration kiosks as an option this year so waited about 45 mins in Immigration.

Then collected our bags which were there waiting.

Then airport tram to car rental. We had registered for Avis VIP so went straight down to the garage, no need to wait in line at Avis counter.

We had rented a class W full size SUV through BA.









Left the airport garage at 4.15pm Unlike last year when we landed Sunday it was Friday rush hour which meant traffic was awful. DH did very well and got us out of Miami and onto Turnpike.

We just stopped at West Palm Beach Service Plaza for a snack then up to Orlando.









We arrived at Aventura hotel at Universal 9pm ish. It had opened the day before. First impressions were very nice hotel. Checked in, got some bottles of water and went to bed at 10.15pm

























It is a long travel day but the savings on the Miami flight were massive (£313 return inc luggage in school hols). Second time we have done it and I would do it again if the price was right.

[JanetteP]

Looking forward to this. You did so well to drive after 2 flights and such an early start. We've done Miami before and would definitely do it again for the right price.

[dixonsontour]

Originally Posted by JanetteParker

Looking forward to this. You did so well to drive after 2 flights and such an early start. We've done Miami before and would definitely do it again for the right price.

See more...

Thank you

DH did very well driving. The Miami section in rush hour was stressful. Once we got on turnpike it was fine.

We would do it again for a huge saving.

[mobeckwith]

oh i thought i had missed this,i was wondering if you were going to do the changing of airports in london,because i am wondering about this.aventura hotel looks fab xx

[Ilovesnowwhite]

A good uneventful travel day

Can i ask do you get the park fast passes with this hotel?
Thank you
xx

[disneypars]

Great start. Not sure I would fancy the drive directly after a long flight. Savings were good last year via Miami long may it continue. Thanks for posting. Love reading your food reports they're great.

[RachelM]

I love reading your reports. Looking forward to the rest x

[Cinderella]

Looking forward to this 👍 nice flip flops!

[boltyboy]

Blimey Stephanie that is proper cheap flights into Miami, well worth the long day.

[darbs]

We Did this route the day after you but were on later flights, the immigration kiosks were open so I wonder if it depends on the time of day. Looking forward to reading more 😁