| Author |  Topic  |
louisbourg
 United Kingdom
92 Posts
Joined: 18 Feb 2008
Status: offline |  Posted - 26 Apr 2008 : 19:53:56  
| hi everyone
i was just sat here all , packed and ready to go on our first trip
i think the first day of that first time will always be a special one
so my question is ...
can you remember what you did , where did you go on your first ever day in this dream place and was it everything you hoped it would be
sharon | | Report this post to a moderator |
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Paula D-S
 United Kingdom
4409 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Apr 2008 : 20:04:47
| Our very first visit to Orlando, we spent our first day at Epcot. We really took a slow stroll around the park and due to a little jet lag we didn't take it all in. We did go back later in the holiday though.
I can remember pulling up at the gates of our rented villa in Lake Berkley and being more excited than the children. |
Paula
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2140.aspx |
Edited by - Paula D-S on 26 Apr 2008 21:40:10 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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brizzle
United Kingdom
1127 Posts
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Apr 2008 : 21:03:17
| First day of the first trip I would go with the Magic Kingdom.
The walk up Main Street USA with Cinderella's Castle as the backdrop is special for me during any trip, even now.
I think that it was the moment for me on our first trip when it sank in that we'd made it to Florida for the first time. Whilst there are many many many things in the area, the castle is *the* icon that everyone knows whether they have been to Florida or not.
Although whatever you end up doing will be special as I don't think you can go wrong with this one... |
Edited by - brizzle on 26 Apr 2008 21:05:13 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Sally D
 United Kingdom
1523 Posts
Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Apr 2008 : 21:13:37
| There is nothing like the first trip to Florida.
We did it all wrong the first time, just couldn't wait.
Up at 5.30am , swim in pool, breakfast out, magic kingdom all day until closing, dinner and then pubix as we had nothing in villa to even drink. I remember being completly shattered and spend most of the holiday like that trying to fit it all in. We came home for the rest
Other trips since we have always had a lazy first day, no parks just enjoying the villa and pool and some shopping, oh and eating
Hope you have a great time |
Edited by - Sally D on 26 Apr 2008 21:14:17 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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caroline
 United Kingdom
6323 Posts
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
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eclipsed
 United Kingdom
115 Posts
Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Apr 2008 : 22:17:59
| | Our first visit 10 years ago was quite a milestone for me as it was the first time I had taken the children abroad since I got divorced.we went with my brother ,his wife & their 3 boys.I always remember that 1st morning.....up and out of the villa at 7.30a.m. breakfast and onto MGM.We were staying at Country Creek just off the 192 and called at the Walmart on the way back,boy was that an eye-opener,the size was a bit overwhelming. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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louisbourg
United Kingdom
92 Posts
Joined: 18 Feb 2008
Status: offline | |
canarypam
 United Kingdom
872 Posts
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Apr 2008 : 22:28:50
| My first trip was 20 years ago on honeymoon. We arrived in Miami late May to floods. We stayed in a lovely hotel on the beach called the Marco Polo it has since been demolished. The next day we drove up to Kissimmee and stayed in a hotel called the Save Inn this was a hotel my new hubby had stayed in with his ex wife almost 10 years earlier, they had flown into Miami with Freddie Laker and basically apart from this there was 1 other hotel, a Pizza Hut, a Ponderosa and a Levi shop on the 192 my how it has changed. We intended to stay around this area for 2 weeks then drive back down to Miami for the last week. We had 2 great weeks the weather was brilliant with showers in the afternoon as usual for the time of year. We drove back down to Miami for the last week and it was still raining there so .... we got back in the car and drove back to Kissimmee !!!!!!!!!! The weather there was still beautiful! We had a fantastic holiday and have been back many many many times since the place really is infectious!
Have a great time Sharon and don't forget to post your trip report |
Pamela
http://www.villasflorida.com/florida-vacation-rental-3387.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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luckylady
 United Kingdom
3977 Posts
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Status: online | Posted - 26 Apr 2008 : 23:32:24
| Our first trip to Florida was 1983 in fact was our first time to the USA.
We arrived at Orlando international Airport early evening in March.We was on a package tour with a travel company called Transolar based in Liverpool. The package was 4 days in Cocoa Beach,10 days in Disneyworld
We was up bright and early the next morning walking on the beach that was it. We was hooked
when we arrived in Disneyworld for our 10 day stay we was totally amazed.
Was our best holiday ever,and we knew we would never again want to go anywhere but The States
The rest is history  |
Barbara
http://www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/1752.aspx
http://www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/2087.aspx |
Edited by - luckylady on 26 Apr 2008 23:33:26 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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orlandodaze
 Ireland
1066 Posts
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 00:30:02
| | We first visited Florida in 1995 for a once in a lifetime holiday ,two weeks in the Enclave Suites on International Drive and a week down in Clearwater in Beach Cottages . We not only have returned many many times but we have brought many friends so most holidays now we meet up with friends who are there at the same time as us , like the song says "Nothing Compares " |
Olive | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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LiesaAnna
 United Kingdom
11612 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 00:52:56
| we first went in 2002, first thing we think we did was go to self service mcdonalds on the highway 27, starving hungry and not ready to try bigger restraunts etc..... awww its lovely trying to remember...... our dear friends went over the day before and we were met at the airport by them..... i think we ate first then went in the pool and i remember big time feeling absolutely shattered!! jet lagged bigtime!! now we learn to take the first few days easy.... and let ou\r bodies tell us when we're ready to take on orlando and surrounding areas!!!
hope you have a fab time!!! |
Liesa | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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ellieboxer
 United Kingdom
65 Posts
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 03:21:36
| Hi
Our first trip was April 1994.
We had seen our friends videos of the parks and villa.
But nothing can prepare you for the "wow" factor.
I remember walking into the villa, with my mouth wide open !I was so impressed............. it was fantastic.
We did most of the parks during the 3 week stay. I was so impressed with the cleanliness and organisation.
It certainly was a holiday of a lifetime....................
We have since travelled all over Florida, and we love the Gulf coast, especially Sanibel Island.
Last year we spent a week in Miami, then took a cruise back to Southampton
This year we are back in Orlando, staying at Sandy ridge..........and I cant wait....
 1 week 4 days to go
Have a great time Sharon...............
Ellie | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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rosieuk
 4078 Posts
Joined: 14 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 04:31:52
| Our first trip to Orlando was in 1990, and was our honeymoon. We actually got married in 1979 but it took us that long to manage to get a holiday. We even left the kids with my mum and dad
We arrived at MCO on March 4th, spent an age finding the hotel (found private villa's before the next trip ) and fell into bed exhausted. Next morning, up with the larks and raring to go, so we headed for Epcot. Arrived at 9am and left at 10pm totally and utterly in love with Florida from that moment on.
Epcot is possibly our favourite park because of our first day of our first trip. The fireworks that night (the old Illuminations) just blew us away and I still get goosebumps when we see them today.
I kept a diary during that trip and still have it, as well as video of the park and the fireworks, and hundreds of photo's.
Of course we spent the entire trip cramming in as much as we could as we weren't sure we would ever get back to Florida.... we shouldn't have worried, we even bought the kids with us next time 
No one here will be taking bets that this will be your one and only trip, it's addictive. Have a fab time and look forward to reading your trip reports. |
Rosie
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steph_goodrum
 United Kingdom
6665 Posts
Joined: 12 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 07:54:04
| Our first trip in '96 was also going to be the trip of a lifetime, hubby had no particular desire to travel anywhere but Florida was on his "I'll do it once to see what it's like". My brother had come with us and our 10 year old daughter.
The memory that will stays with me the most and I get reminders of now and again is the smell in the airport, the heat and humidity hits you immediately and often if we get into a car with airconditioning in the summer it takes me straight back to that first day. We picked up the hire car (my brother was driving as he was bit more confident about driving on the wrong side of the road) and prepared to drive out of the airport, within 5 mins though the 4 oclock "shower" had started, we had never encountered rain like it before and at one stage almost pulled over because the visibility was so bad and the lorries were almost aquaplaning. Fortunately after 10 mins it stopped and the sun came out and there was no more rain at all for the fortnight we were there. In all our trips since there has only once been rain that compared.
The next day though as we met up with osme friends who were staying further along the 192 at the Sheraton and we all prepared to go to the Magic Kingdom it was hard to tell who was the most excited our 10 year old or any of the 7 adults and even on the boat ride over as we first spotted the castle was nothing like as we stepped into the park and walked up Main Street trying to take it all in. That was it, we were hooked and now wherever else we travel, it all is still compared to Florida and for the most part falls way short, which was why we ended up buying there 4 years and 5 trips later.
We never imagined that trip was going to cost us so much money or give us such lasting pleasure as we now explore the other offerings besides the theme parks and relax more as we know we will be back.
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Babblin Boo
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/92.aspx
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Pegasus928
 Kuwait
988 Posts
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 09:33:41
| First trip May 2005
Up at 5am. In the pool.
In the car to explore. Got lost. Stumbled across Old Town (what a gem). Found a map then went to have lunch at Race Rock down I-Drive. In fact the first photos we took were of the kids stood in Big Foots wheels.
Kenny | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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E. Cosgrove
 United Kingdom
5778 Posts
Joined: 26 Apr 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 10:18:39
| Our first trip was a package tour ........ the only one we ever did as we quickly discovered the joys of villa holidays and doing it all ourselves, back in the time when owning our own villa was just a pipe dream
On our first day we were up early and dodged the rep who wanted us to attend her welcome meeting so she could flog us tickets etc!!
We went to Universal studios and were knocking on the gates when it opened! We were just blown away by it all  Jaws, King Kong and Earthquake were fantastic and the newly opened Back to the Future was something else.
My husband won a huge Bart Simpson doll at one of the fairground stalls and went to put it in to the car, only to find that the car park, which was virtually empty when we arrived, was chock a block, and most of the cars looked like ours!! He was gone ages and I was imagining all manner of things had happened to him whilst I was stuck in the theme park with 2 smallish children!! Needless to say we never made the same mistake again!!!!
The biggest mistake we made was staying all day and then trying to eat dinner at Charleys steak house on the way home, my seven year old ( who is is 24 today ) fell asleep with his head in his dinner
After that it was fast food in the theme parks on park days Nowadays we rarely stay all day, sometimes we have a late start or an early finish, and the biggest advantage of a villa holiday is back to the villa and chill out before returning for round 2 in the evening!
Our first trip to MK was about day 3 and I cried It was just so magical. It is always fantastic but I have never quite felt the same as I did this first time. I am hoping that next year when we take our grand daughter for the first time I will feel that special magic again.
Have a really wonderful trip I envy you. |
Liz
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1599.aspx |
Edited by - E. Cosgrove on 27 Apr 2008 10:20:46 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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FraserLynn
United Kingdom
129 Posts
Joined: 09 Jan 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 10:21:19
| Our first trip was 10 years ago and the first day was a bit stressful. We arrived on a fly drive with nothing booked and spent the first day driving up and down International drive (as it was the only place we had heard of) looking for somewhere to stay that was in our budget and lived up to the picture we had in our mind.
This was also the first time I had driven abroad, our first time to America and our first time on a holiday which wasn't a package tour.
Anyway, we finally got settled in a hotel and had a complete blast, it was an amazing 2 weeks spent both in Orlando and the gulf coast, the only thing was that my wife was often very tired in the early evenings and became completely obsessed with where she would be getting her next meal from....odd behavior!
When we got back we found out she was expecting our first child! How he held on I'll never know as we went on every roller coaster and water slide we could find and we did our best to pickle ourselves in bud!
Anyway, as we had started a family it was nearly 6 years before we got back again and we have been 5 times since then. The first time we went with the Children felt like the first time again, so many different things to do.
Of course now we always book our villa before we go, the only way to stay in Florida, especially if you have a young children. We do go on other holiday each year as well, but nothing compares to the excitement that builds for our Florida holiday.
This year we took our nephew and so it was like having a first time all over again, watching him take in everything for the first time.
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rosieuk
4078 Posts
Joined: 14 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 12:25:09
| quote:
Originally posted by E. Cosgrove
Our first trip to MK was about day 3 and I cried It was just so magical. It is always fantastic but I have never quite felt the same as I did this first time. I am hoping that next year when we take our grand daughter for the first time I will feel that special magic again.
Liz, it will be like the first time all over again. The girls, Kevin, Leah, Sam and my mum came out for Xmas 06. Everyone had been before except Leah and Sam and they just adored it.
I remember watching Kevin crying at Sam, sat in Fantasmic, his mouth and eyes like saucers and his little excited whoops of joy at everything going on. Every day we got back to the villa and asked the kids what was their favourite day so far, and without fail, it was that day each time.
I love it when newbies come to visit, to see their faces as they walk down Main St and see the castle is priceless There is nowhere else like it.
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Rosie
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ShirleyD
 United Kingdom
5168 Posts
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 12:27:54
| Our first trip was in November 1981, we flew into Miami. It was the first time I had flown long haul and I remember the amazing feeling of the terminal doors opening and to find it was warm We stayed the first night in this awful 'hotel' where they issued you with towels at reception
Next day drove up to a little place called Ft Lauderdale (it was little then!!) Where a nice man in a shop spread all his change accross the counter to show us all the coins and tell us what they were worth
We then stayed in Kissemmee on the 192 somewhere and the first morning we thought we had not chosen our motel well as the people were so noisy. It turned out everyone was watching one of the (rocket or shuttle not sure which it would have been then) take offs and we missed it
We visited MK and I think Epcot had just opened on that first trip (although that may have been the next time...yes just checked and it would have been the Nov 1982 trip). went to Gatorland and then spent our time shopping. The dollar had just dropped to around $2.40 to the pound, but we had just rented our first house, so we brought back a huge rug, pictures, glasses and decanter to name just a few... in the new case!
We were definately hooked and went back frquently, renting villas with friends when the kids came along in the late eighties
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Shirley
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-850.aspx |
Edited by - ShirleyD on 27 Apr 2008 12:30:41 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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alanandjude
 United Kingdom
399 Posts
Joined: 04 May 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 12:31:53
| Our first trip was June 1999 when it was just me and Alan. We only booked it a few weeks before and were really excited. We stayed just off International Drive, near Wet 'n' Wild and the first morning set off for our welcome meeting at the Mercado. We had no idea how long International Drive is so decided to walk and it took us ages!
The whole holiday was brilliant and so our love affair with Florida began. Since then, we have got married there, bought a villa, taken family, attended Alan's sister's wedding and our son Barney (6) thinks of it as his second home.
You really can't beat it - have a brilliant holiday (the first of many I am sure).
Jude |
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mfairhurst
 United Kingdom
1897 Posts
Joined: 07 May 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Apr 2008 : 14:00:30
| Our first trip was in 1989 as we had bought a time share in SPAIN and the complex was not finished so we exchanged to one in USA and that was it we never went back to it .
We went back every year and got hook ,The first trip we did all the parks and since found lots more about FLORIDA and each time it is just like going back for the first time .
From sitting on the rocking chairs at CELEBRATION to going into theme parks it is good .
MAUREEN
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memories ..first trip..first day what did you do?
