Back from Florida!!!

[bossybritches]

It was fab-different to what we'd planned/ expected in a lot of ways(mostly due to DD1 getting a cold post-flight then a horrendous ear infection, god love the NHS you appreciate it when you can't get it!!)

Still great & I'd do it again gladly with a few minor tweaks now we have "insider" knowlwedge.

Chleseygirl was it you that wanted to know about the dolphin swim thingy??

GOOD STUFF-Villa was great-Kissimmee area perfect for easy access to parks /shops/eateries of every kind

PRICES- the prices are cheap at the best of times but with the dollar being so weak ATM it's silly money even in the parks that are normally totally overpriced for basic snacks/treats.Take a big suitcase if you are going or even better travel light & buy one(or two) out there!!

VILLA- basic but clean & had pool & washer/dryer so came home with all clean clothes (sad but true) godsend for a family.Also we found the heat quite draining so we tried to get out early do the park of the day & come back around 2-3-ish for a siesta/swim. Then we'd go out for early tea/supper or cook something light at home(pasta)& scoot back for the evening parades/shows/fav rides.

AQUATICA-the new water park in the Busch Gardens group. Fantastic. Loads of log-flume/slidey things & pools with waves, basically speed & water!!Lovely golden sandy "beaches" with loads of sun-loungers so you can plonk yourself down (lockers for valuables) for the day & take it in turns to do the rides /laze or if your kids are old enough like mine (11 & 13) let them go off on their own & you can watch in comfort while they jump waves!!

NOT SO GOOD STUFF

errr not much!! One cold day ( the day we were in Discovery Cove swimming all day dammit but hey-ho it was a great day!)So take a fleece/tracksuit top even if it's hot most of the time thay have cold spells.

The drinking water- don't know if it's just our area but it tasted foul like swamp water, & judging by the quantities of bottled water for sale in Wal-Mart its obviously the same everywhere, didn't upset us though so don't know what it its!!

Sales tax- beware the price you see is NOT the price you pay, unlike with our VAT they add it on at the end as the tax is decided locally not nationally & varies state to state.

Lack of recycling- sounds odd but it drove us NUTS as we are really into it at home & it's second nature. Some areas have kerbside collections but not all especially on gated estates like we were on. We kept all our plastic & glass hoping to find a tip but the nearest one was 8 miles away in the opposite direction & we were told it all goes to landfill anyway-bizarre!!!

God how much more shall I bore you???

Glad you had a fab time. The DCs and I loved Orlando, sadly DH not a big fan so unlikely we'll go back.

Thanks Lilo- I'll let you know next time we're going (saving like mad probably 2010) maybe we could leave the DH's behind!!

Ace idea bossy (except I am probably bossier than you!) What age are your DCs?

tell me more, I want to know MORE

going on 15 May

get back here woman...

Where have you gone BB? Did the jetlag claim you? I'm still waiting to hear about weather & queues! (4 sleeps 'til Disney!)

How very dare you!!

Yep the old jet -lag finally hit me this w/e & although it was a late-ish party I had had a bottleortwo few wines which finished me off!! Anyway up & busy now!!!

McFee the weather was mostly great but a few rainy afternoons which don't last long & it's warm rain so quite fun to get soaked in!!! Rain ponchos are only £3 & are useful for keeping in your backpack for emergencies. The last few days we had a cold cnap & because it had been late 80's we REALLY felt chilly s a light fleece is a good idea.

Lilo my DD's are 11 & 13

FloridaK where are you staying? What do you want to know??!!

McFee who are you flying with? Have you booked kiddie meals for the flight- worth doing as they are usually full of little snacky things that are better for keeping them going than the grown up meals. Only sausages / chicken nuggets type meals but it's stodge to keep them going & usually they have a choccy bar in there too.

Port Orleans Riverside

I want to know about everything, where's good to eat, any top tips about Disney World, how much to tip for things, was Discovery Cove fantastic?

jsut doing dog walking then back for the evening will answer properly then!!

wow FloridaK you'll be right near all the parks-is it a Disney resort? In which case you get a free bus to link all the parks & leave the car at the hotel.

Top tip I was given for all Disneys was if you want to eat in the hotel or park restaurants (quite good for flagging energy levels to have a main meal at lunchtime)then book early. Go to guest services as you enter the park (or check-in the hotel)& book that days meals. Or else you find tey all get booked & you're snacking late at night.

That said there are zillions of eateries outside the parks/hotels you can go to for any type of food you can name!!

How old are your DC's??

We tipped 10% if it deserved it- the service culture is MUCH better over there than here. However as in the UK check whether the server actually gets the tip before you include it if paying by card, or else slip them a few notes before you leave.

Discovery Cove was fantastic. sigh

I'll try & download a piccie to show you in my profile later.

Yes it's a Disney resort - Thanks for your advice, anything else you want to talk about I am all ears - geddit - all ears!!!!

DD is 9 and DS is 6.5

They can't wait but have no real concept of how WOW it's going to be. DH hasn't been before either and I last went with my mates in 1988 so I guess alot has changed.

Very excited about catching up with my family out there too, I am cousins in Orlando that conveniently work for Disney > so even better!!

Great stuff- inide contacts are VERy useful!!

errrrm what else.

IS your DS a good walker? There are LOOOONG treks sometimes from one side to t'other in the parks & in the heat it can be draining. Pace opurself. have you got tickets that allow you to go back more than once a day? Then you could go back to the hotal for a break /swim & return to the parks later. If your family are getting you passes get the all inclusive ones it's not that much more but worth it for the flexibility. However apparently unless they are quite high up in Disney they won't get perks likethat- Disney are notoriously stingy with cheap tickets!!

Oh and if either you or your DH are forces personnel you can get a discounted ticket to Busch Gardens (about an hour south near Tampa)they're doing a "Hail the Heroes" promotion - sentimentalism aside it gets a good reduction for those on R&R as a thank you.

They both are good walkers luckily. We are going to pace our days so no one gets tired and emotional. I have free entry to the parks so we can go as many times as we want so no worries there. Ain't what you know !! I can't believe we're actually going in .... 24 days..... It's taken me 17 years to talk DH into - not bad eh!

I was recommended (on here I think!) Golden Corrall eateries. They do humongous all you can eat buffets, very cheap. $7.99 for lunch, $10.99 for supper(but they do get busy so go early & be prepared to queue) & the kids would be $4.99 I think. Great selection & even the fussiest eaters would find SOMETHING to tempt them, yummy puddings bar too, plus unlimited tea/coffee/soft drinks. Basically as long as my kids ate at least one bowl of fruit from the salad bar each time I let them eat whatever, it's all freshly cooked & some lovely southern food.

free entry good move!!

Yes good idea to pace yourselves. We intended doing parks alternate days with a "day off" for swimming/vegging out & shopping.

Oh yes make sure you hit the malls for bargains!! Things are basically half price because of the exchange rate & then they often have 50-70% off as well!!

I am really looking forward to three weeks of eating out, not having to cook, not having to decide what every wants in their packed lunch or dinner. Will be bliss.

God yes that's the nicest bit!! Do you get inclusive meals at the hotel?

I know! I am one lucky girl! We'd never stay at a Disney hotel otherwise. I can't get my head round it. Last year a tent in rainy Weymouth for a week this year Florida!! Actually Weymouth was the deciding factor, we spent a fortune and had a shit time so DH succumbed to my argument that Florida would fab and not cost as much as a fortnight in this country.

Didn't take the dining plan option, I want to eat somewhere different every night.

Can't wait to be warm (hot) and swim in the pool and swim with the dolphins and just relax on the non-park days. We're not going to stress about doing everything but my cousin has lots of plans for us (there is a shuttle launch on 31 May and we are also going to the Disney Vero Beach resort and going to the West coast beaches to watch the sun set apparently!!). OMG I can't believe it.

Still lots of overtime to be worked before then !!!!

BB thanks for the info and the chat but I'm off to bed now (after packed lunch making - back to school tomorrow!!). Speak later!!

Glad you had a great time. We are hoping to go back for a week in December when DD has finished for the holidays.