Just back Highs and not so Highs

[HiddenMickey35]

thank you your feedback and it sound that you had a fab times.

Oh Disney Cruise I love it and want go back again!

[Infinity Red]

Originally Posted by syber32

Thank you for reading. Minions is now 2D so no need for the 3 D glasses, which I suppose if better for people who don't manage well with 3 D glasses because of sight issues. I also suppose that the cost of cleaning and maintaining the glasses was a big factor. As I said though personally I felt it took away from the experience as there are now some scenes that just don't work as well.

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Yes I bet it did, I hope they don't do that to all the 3D rides

[syber32]

Originally Posted by mickey house

Welcome back, and a good holiday in the main. That is unacceptable waiting an hour for a disney bus and I wouldn't be impressed.

I have found BA club can be hit and miss, and if people expect great service all of the time they might be disappointed.

$21 for two beers is crazy, and with the usual/expected tip that's about Ł10 a beer!

We are at Univeral next week (just one night at RPR for the front line passes), and we are hoping to do Hagrids and sounds like you were very lucky wait wise, and glad you enjoyed it.

My wife wants to do afternoon tea at the grand Floridian and glad you enjoyed it (again), I don't mind paying, but I am a simple man and anything other than plain cheese or ham isn't my thing.

With regards coral reef that doesn't sound fun with the screaming babies, but I would have politely told the waiter to bring me a fresh mains after I had finished my starter

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Thank you for reading, you are right about Club we have had some good and not so good experiences with crew, this unfortunately not so good but it was comfortable and nice to be able to travel that way in one direction at least.

I probably should have asked them to take the main away at Coral Reef, next time I would but hopefully there wont be a next time.

We spoke to a couple the day we did the Hagrid ride and they had ridden the day before - they got there early in the queue for park opening and waited about hour and a half - so hopefully you will be fine.

[daffodil92]

Welcome back and thanks for taking the time to post.
How did you find the 3 night Disney cruise? Did it go to Nassau too? I’ve booked 3 nights for next August (2 stops at Castaway) and keep wondering if it will feel too rushed. Did they do Pirate night and have good shows on still in the evenings?

[Lulu Belle]

Thanks for posting, really helpful when planning our future trip. We haven't considered the cruise before but you've made me think twice.

[Disneypls]

Hi
Great report

Do you have any pics of your costumes?

Thanks Angie

QUOTE=syber32;14039200]Hi

Landed back on Sunday Morning after a lovely 2 weeks in Florida. Thought Id share a few Highs and not so Highs

Flights

BA - Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale.

Highs
Never flown in to FLL before and was pleasantly suprised. Flight was on time, flew out in Club which was nice. Good flight, food was fairly good.
Immigration, almost first into hall, used automated machines and was through in less than 5 mins.

Not so Highs
Crew on flight completely disinterested, hardly saw them. In comparison Crew in Economy on flight home were fab.

Avis car hire, name on board but nothing else had to go to desk - car not ready, waited for car 20 mins then given wrong car. Waited another 10 mins then finally got away - lots of other people waiting around for cars, not as organised as Orlando.

Rosen Inn Pointe

First time we have ever stayed here, have stayed at the Rosen Inn International but quite a few years ago. We stayed for 4 nights.

Highs
Cheap and cheerful. Close to bars, restaurants. Had a nice meal at Olive Garden. Hotel room was clean and functional. CVS Pharmacy next door meant lots of money spent on make up

Not really any lows

Hard Rock Hotel and Universal


Highs
Lovely hotel, have stayed here before. Stayed 2 nights for the Express passes.

New Hagrid ride. Got into IOA at opening to be told Hagrid ride on delayed opening. Kept an ear out, wandered around Hogsmeade for a bit then went over to ride Hulk. As we came off Hulk checked the Universal App, Hagrids ride open and showing 4hr wait. We ummed and ahhed then decided to walk over and see where the queue was. Got to Hogsmeade and no visible queue so decided to go for it. Locker area was very empty also. Walked in straight round the outside bit queue started in first room and we were on the ride in about 1hr 15 mins.

The ride was amazing, I went in the sidecar and OH on the Motorbike. So so glad that we decided to go back and check the wait. I kind of feel that this ride is how slinky dog should have been, I love slinky but would have loved it more if it was a bit faster.

Not so highs
$21 for 2 beers at the Irish bar, to be expected I suppose but it was a nice break and a sit down for half hour or so.

Minions now has no 3D , we felt it took away from the experience as I noticed all the seats around me a lot more and some of the film just doesn't work as well like the floating in the zero gravity chamber. We probably wouldn't rush back to it next visit.

Didn't bother with the Jimmy Fallon ride, the ride itself was okay (rode last year) but didn't like it enough to want to go through all the pre show stuff which we both found tedious.

Fast and furious, didn't ride this either, we didn't enjoy it last year, feel they really missed something here and it could have been a much better attraction.

Three Broomsticks restaurant. Not really a low but never eaten here so thought we would give it a try. Odd combination of Shepherds pie and salad?. It was okay nothing special. OH had the turkey leg which he quite enjoyed but probably wouldn't eat there again.

Disney Cruise

We boarded the Disney Dream for 3 nights as we had such a good time last year we couldn't miss the opportunity to do it all again.

Highs

Its a beautiful ship we spent a lot of time in the Adult only areas which are so peaceful.

Stateroom Host
He was great. We won a bear at Universal in the claw machine (something from cartoon network called the bare bears - I've never seen it). We took him along as our Mascot. We had some fun with him, One day I left him in the shower with a flannel round him as a towel and when we came back in the evening he was tucked up in bed reading a copy of the Navigator. Our Host probably thought we were nuts.

Castaway Cay

Stunning as always - this time we took our own snorkel masks and had an amazing time, saw rays, cuttle fish and even a giant turtle.

Art of Animation and Disney parks

Stayed for 5 nights before going home. First time for us at this resort but wouldn't hesitate to stay again.

Highs

Seemed to be close to everything. Just round corner from Animal Kingdom. Close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, even MK didn't seem that far away. We had a car so only used Disney buses twice (see not so highs)

Lovely themed resort, and actually managed to use the pool this holiday which we really enjoyed.

MNSSHP - first for us as can't holiday in term time. We loved it, we went as Fear and Disgust from Inside out and had loads of compliments on our costumes, all home made. The parade and show were amazing.

After hours, did AK and MK - especially glad as MNSSHP was very busy we felt and only managed about 3 rides. Would definitely do After hours again.

Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian
Once we got there after the bus fiasco it was fabulous. Third time we have done this and we really enjoy it, food is lovely server was lovely and it wasn't too busy.


Not so highs

The long queue for check in at AOA - very slow only 3 CMs on desks. I had done on line check in but needed to pick up magic bands, with hindsight perhaps could have linked our magic bands from last year then when we got the room number message sent perhaps could have skipped check in - not sure if this would work but would have been a lot quicker.

Disney Buses
Waited an hour for a bus to the Grand Floridian from Disney Springs. Then leaving GF sat and waited for a bus and wait time just kept going up and up - waited half hour then decided to get the monorail to The contemporary mainly for a change of scenery. Luckily a bus came in just as we got there - however vowed never to use them again. Then OH suggested our last night at Epcot that we take the bus and have a drink. Waited only 2 mins at Art of Animation so great then when coming home, very long wait, stood in queue wishing had decided to bring the car - oh well.

Coral Reef
Lovely food. Far too noisy. 2 screaming babies, yes that's what babies do however no attempt was made to even try and quieten said babies. Also I was halfway though my starter and main was plonked on the table, think server saw my face as she came over and apologised but didn't offer to take it away. My OH also has a real issue with the clearing of plates before we have both finished but they do that in every restaurant.

Ohana
Again lovely food and atmosphere was good but felt very rushed, dessert came out with the bill. We paid OOP for it as no dining plan this year and was nice to do it but probably won't do it next visit.

Music around AOA. As I said above the hotel has a great theme, but walking round the lion king rooms area and they are blasting out Christina Aguilera, can we not have some Disney music?


Overall we had an amazing holiday. Parks felt very busy compared with last couple of years, we always go same time of year. Weather was good but I think we had a bit more rain than usual however it doesn't bother us.

Next year we are off to California but might get a cheeky week in Orlando if we can...

Thanks for reading
[/QUOTE]

[syber32]

Originally Posted by daffodil92

Welcome back and thanks for taking the time to post.
How did you find the 3 night Disney cruise? Did it go to Nassau too? I’ve booked 3 nights for next August (2 stops at Castaway) and keep wondering if it will feel too rushed. Did they do Pirate night and have good shows on still in the evenings?

See more...

Hi Thanks for reading. The cruise was so amazing. First port was Nassau and we took an organised trip to Atlantis which was fab they have a lovely man made lagoon to swim in or you can go to the beach, if you pay extra you can also use the waterpark there. Pirate night was the second night they had a show on the stage on the pool deck with characters and there were photo ops in the Atrium. There were fireworks at 1030pm which was lovely, we watched from the adult only area on deck 13 and had a great view.

We went to Castaway Cay the next day, had amazing weather, we took our own snorkle gear.

We had 2nd seating of dining which as 815pm so would have watched the earlier shows. If you have early dining at 615pm you would catch the later ones. We actually again didn't watch any shows, there is just too much to do, If we were on a 7 night we definitely would. The shows were Golden Mickeys which is a tribute to Disney Songs and Movies, Beauty and the Beast and Believe which is about a Dad who has lost his faith in Magic. We didn't feel we had missed out as I said too much to see and do. We did catch Toy Story 4 in 3D one night though and that was so good.

It did seem to go very quickly and would love to do a 7 night but the Disney cruises are rather prices especially as we can only go in School Hols. Will definitely do the short one again though it was the highlight of our trip.

[Sue]

Thanks for sharing - seems like it was mostly a fab holiday.

We didn’t enjoy Coral Reef much last trip, the food was ok but the atmosphere was more canteen than restaurant, it was very loud and we got seated in a booth right at the back of the restaurant, you practically needed binoculars to see any fish!
We also dislike what seems to be the American way of bringing all your food out really quickly and now make a point of saying when ordering that we want a break between appetiser and main please, it usually works. (We were told by a server in WDW once that American families like to eat and leave, it’s only us Europeans that linger over meal times apparently).

[syber32]

[QUOTE=Disneypls;14040929]Hi
Great report

Do you have any pics of your costumes?

Thanks Angie

Couple of pics, given the humidity we decided against the purple and green face paint

[Hidden mickey]

Sounds like you had a great time