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AIBU?

to think that Orlando is the new Benidorm?

120 replies

newfavouritething · 04/03/2014 15:30

I've been trawling around the internet researching an upcoming trip to Florida and have come to the conclusion that it is. There's an awful lot of families travelling with their parents/grandparents scared to leave the confines of the Disney bubble. There's much talk of what to take with you - teabags, Weetabix, chocolate, peanut butter (yes really, apparently the US version is 'oily') and wanting to keep up with 'the soaps' while they are there. AIBU to think that they really shouldn't bother visiting a new country unless they're going to experience new things?

OP posts:

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Crowler · 08/03/2014 07:34

wobbly that's treasonous. As an American you are obliged to hate British chocolate.

wobblyweebles · 07/03/2014 23:35

I am an American and I still bring over tea and chocolate from the UK. The bread here is also generally awful.

The butter is fine though :-)

newfavouritething · 07/03/2014 23:16

and I've just joined the Denny's club to get 20% off a breakfast there, got to be done!

OP posts:

newfavouritething · 07/03/2014 23:15

alwaysbloodyhungry - because I've been to florida twice, and another dozen different states of America, and the 'trawling the internet' is because I'm going again and have been looking on sites where people are worried about American bread, butter, tea, chocolate and it reminds me of the stereotypical Benidorm tourist not wanting to eat foreign food etc

OP posts:

wobblyweebles · 07/03/2014 19:09

Denny's is amazing.

Especially for bacon...

SconeRhymesWithGone · 07/03/2014 18:01

I also like their gay-friendly ethos. They were one of the first, if not the first, corporation in Florida to give employee health care benefits to same-sex partners.

SconeRhymesWithGone · 07/03/2014 17:42

I agree that Disney does theme parks really well. One nice thing that they do is to provide substantial discounts for Florida residents, including seasonal and annual passes. We lived in the Tampa Bay area (an hour's drive from Disney World) when our children were young and also had visiting nieces and nephews from other states on a regular basis, so we had passes for several years. I did get my fill in those years and so have not been back, but now that the grands are getting older, I am sure we will visit again. One is already obsessed with Minnie Mouse (not Mickey, just Minnie) so it will likely be soon.

Crowler · 07/03/2014 17:40

Denny's is amazing.

Alwaysbloodyhungry · 07/03/2014 17:14

How can you arrive at a conclusion about Florida being like Benidorm from "trawling the internet"?! If you have a spare few grand go and find out for yourself you may be pleasantly surprised! Nobody does a theme park like Disney! You,d be hard pushed to find anywhere that comes close in Benidorm I suspect! X

spababe · 07/03/2014 16:49

Florida is amazing and yes I go for the theme parks. Alton Towers seems pretty depressing after Disney though. I am not a chav by any stretch of the imagination. I admire Disney's slick operation. I choose my restaurants carefully (don't eat meat). Love the cheaper shopping and I especially love the fact that waiting staff and shop staff are polite and friendly. It's quite a shock when I get back to the UK and a shop assistant is rude and indifferent. The theme parks are what they are and do you know what? I have always had a brilliant family day out at each and every one and that's why I go to Florida.

mrsjay · 06/03/2014 09:09

one of the nicest meals i had when iw as there was at Dennys the food is what you make it I think we went to Mcdonalds once on Idrive cos the dds wanted to go as it is the biggest in America or something , we ate nice food in different places every night for a fortnight

Oriunda · 06/03/2014 08:27

Talking as a tea purist it's only worth taking tea bags if you also have access to a kettle and decent milk. Water has to be boiling otherwise tea tastes wierd. The jugs of hot water or hot taps in hotels don't keep the water boiling. Milk has to be fresh/non treated. I take tea bags and fresh milk from airport out with me to Italy because they use a lot of uht and the 'fresh' milk has been treated to make it last longer. If I'm going somewhere with no tea culture then I drink coffee.

Mia32 · 06/03/2014 07:09

Have you been to Florida or Orlando.? I've been lucky, I've done a lot of travelling, and Florida is one of my nicest places to visit. I must laugh most people who make these comments on Florida have never actually been.

Caitlyn2014 · 06/03/2014 04:51

We didn't have a bad meal whilst there but then again we didn't go to the fast food type places given that we love our food and evening meals had to be dinner, not just something to eat.

As for mass tourism. I honestly didnt see it. The parks were crowded but not overcrowded, but then we were there in October and even for the very popular rides the wait was minimal. Perhaps 10 minutes and I didnt witness children being pushed out of the way by adults.

SconeRhymesWithGone · 06/03/2014 02:46

I agree with wollyweebles. If you had rubbish food in Florida, you weren't in the right restaurants. Florida has its own native cuisine and a flourishing food culture, which includes many diverse elements. Go to Tampa and Miami; two of the best restaurant cities anywhere.

wobblyweebles · 06/03/2014 00:42

Florida has a lot more to offer than Benidorm but the food is pretty rubbish and the tv is even worse

It depends where you're choosing to eat. I have eaten absolutely amazing food in Florida, including in Orlando. You probably just chose really crappy restaurants.

Agree about the TV though.

mrsjay · 05/03/2014 23:15

oh god i think we ae on the 3rd generation of sticky vicky i think i would give it a miss tbh

I loved the floridian weather reports theyw ere so dramatic lots of charts and satelite geek

EurotrashGirl · 05/03/2014 23:06

I think many people would prefer not to leave England and only go abroad for the sun.

shebird · 05/03/2014 22:59

Florida has a lot more to offer than Benidorm but the food is pretty rubbish and the tv is even worse. Neither are exactly somewhere you would travel to experience culture. I think many Brits like to travel with home comforts like tea bags etc. I'm sure they can experience a new culture and still enjoy a cuppa back at the hotel.

Petal02 · 05/03/2014 22:27

We steered clear of Sticky Vicky!!! But Benidorm was definitely NOT the hell hole it's made out to be.

Skivvywoman · 05/03/2014 21:30

Mrsjay some people shouldn't knock it till they try it! You haven't lived till you have seen sticky Vicky

mrsjay · 05/03/2014 21:25

My parents have been to benidorm Loads of times have been going since the early 80s they like I wish some folk wouldnt be snobby abou t holidays ,

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Skivvywoman · 05/03/2014 21:23

I really enjoyed benidorm although it was a hen weekend,
We booked to go on holiday last year but holiday got cancelled I was gutted but DH was relieved!

mrsjay · 05/03/2014 21:11

I sadly have been to Benidorm. I would rather rub shit in my hair then post a selfie than return.

gwan Katie do it

I saw a programme about the homelessness and drug taking in Las vagas put me right off

Crowler · 05/03/2014 20:41

I agree, the absolute limit on Las Vegas should be 4 days on the outside.

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