Been back a week - highs and lows

[jorm35]

So now we are back to reality and over the jet lag, I thought it was time to reflect on our recent trip.
Background - this trip wasn’t really supposed to happen, we were going to Tenerife after only being in Florida last summer for 3 weeks! Anyway, due to our school holidays being out of synch this year with the rest of the country we got a fab deal that worked out cheaper than Europe - 2 adults and 2 teens, 2 weeks at the Rosen Inn@Pointe with car hire and flights for £1700. Only did Disney this time.

HIGHS -
Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. This is our favourite park anyway but it was so pretty and smelled gorgeous
Disney Magic - fantastic CMs singing happy birthday to DD and giving her a free slush (although she was mortified the whole of Cosmic Rays were looking) and being chosen as ‘family of the day’ on one visit to Epcot
Crowd levels - we have only ever been before in July/August and were amazed how quiet it was, especially at night.
International Drive - we have always stayed in a villa previously on the 192 so were dubious about this location. We did however love being able to walk to so many restaurants and bars. Had some fantastic meals and really enjoyed the atmosphere around the Icon area.
Flying via Dublin - why have we not done this before?
Winter Park - thank you to all the Dibbers who recommended visiting, it was gorgeous and we had a great day there

LOWS
Being in a hotel - although we loved international Drive, 4 of us in a hotel room for 2 weeks wasn’t great. It has definitely confirmed we are villa people where the teens can have their own space and there’s more than one bathroom!
Lack of Disney photographers - ride photos aside, we only got about 20 pictures as there were so few photographers about. We have a tradition of getting a pic in each part of world showcase… but this year we failed!
Teens and their phones😡 You are on holiday, you do not need to be on snapchat 24/7!
Disney toilets - just not as clean and tidy this time as they’ve been on previous visits

FINAL THOUGHTS
We did miss doing Universal and Discovery Cove this visit and found the teens were a bit underwhelmed by Disney. They are past meeting characters and watching the parades, they were even bored at the fireworks. After 5 visits now, I think we need to have a break and go elsewhere for a few years. We have said that we’ll return in 4 years but who knows... watch this space 😉

[disney332]

The world is a big place...Disney is a pin prick on the map

Disney332

[abiknox]

Sounds like a great trip overall and what a bargain!

[darbs]

Fab price! Sounds like you've had a good trip 😀

[FloridaFairy]

What a fab deal!

We had a half term out of sync in 2017 and got a dab deal for NYC but definetely agree with 4 in a hotel room, esp teens, does not work!

Agree with Disney332 too... but oh my goodness ... Florida does have a strange 'pull'... Saying that I'm really wanting to see more of the US...

[Labboy]

Love reports like you have done Jorm35 thankyou.

[Sue]

Thanks for this. We too have found that the teenagers in the family became underwhelmed, but give them a break of a few years and when you mention you’re going without them... just see what reaction you get