What's your worst experience in Orlando?

[TotallyAngelic]

I am always pleased to arrive as I don't really enjoy flying, especially as my eldest always gets airsick no matter what travel sick remedy is given, and a particularly bad experience was at a change over in Atlanta, when we got off the plane, walked down the concourse to a particularly busy area, at which moment (and with no warning) our son chose to say hello again to his stomach contents! Ever wish the ground would open up! Other than that, no real bad experiences, other than our youngest son hurting his ankle at the far end of Universal Studios, by the Jaws ride, and I had to walk all the way to the entrance and back to get a buggy in the 100 degrees heat.

[lisi]

I guess my worst experience was getting mugged on International Drive and having my bag snatched. I got injured, but the police were marvellous, got the guy and my bag back minus 60 dollars. I had lacerations and stitches - but I am still going back in October. I never felt unsafe all the while we were there - guess I was just an easy target as I walk with a stick and was vulnerable.

Lisi

[Ray&Sarah]

Can sympathise with the sick child, we paid to go premium economy for the first time last August as it was my parents 40th wedding anniversary and we wanted to make it a bit special for them. Our eldest who is not normally travel sick, suddenly announced that he was going to be sick and promptly was, all over his seat. We had about an hour to go and had to sit with wafts of stomach churning smells, and he got to go and sit downstairs in a fresh seat and be fussed over. What an embarrasmment, we told him he has to fly economy from now on![msnwink]

[tuzanne]

My worst experience in Orlando was when my husband and I booked a condo in Downtown Orlando for a week a few years ago. It was situated in Rio Grande Road and was absolutely horrible. We did not actually get the keys for the condo and left after seeing the area to rent another condo via the Tourist Information Office. The actual road had burnt out houses at the enterance and the grass around the condos must have been at least 3 feet high. The community swimming was closed "for chemicals". A few people walking around looked like they could have been extras for the film 8 Mile. We booked on the internet at a time when online booking was new. Anyone booking a villa for condo online should investigate the resort or area before deciding to rent it. We paid our money up front but wrote it off. I had no intention of letting my family stay at this condo whatever I had paid.

[blott]

I think we should add to that comment that all the homes on the OV sites are in lovely communities and all the homes are verified as being owned by the owners but I agree, in general, you should always check other unverified sites out for yourself.

[Pikey1999]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrisj
American Customs and immigration do it for me everytime[/quote]

What is it with these people?
I know that they have a serious job to do but would manners prevent them from doing their job?
A simple smile doesn't cost the earth and I speak from experience!

[Jules]

We've been to Florida every year since 1993 and on the whole have had fantastic holidays but like anyone we've had a few bad experiences. The worst was in 2002 when the villa we were staying in was broken into while we were in bed. Fortunatley we never heard a thing so the offenders were well away by the time we got up. The police were very helpful and the first thing they asked me was if all the windows were locked. I assumed they were as we had not opened any during our stay but when we checked they were all unlocked! I suspected the cleaners, the plumber who had been in earlier in the week to mend a faulty tap, infact anyone who had a key, of "setting us up". The day before we came home the air-conditioner broke down, it turned out someone had vandalised it hoping that we would open the windows just like they had the week before! Now the first thing I do when I arrive is check that all the windows are locked!!

Julie

[Joolz]

Well guess what... I recon the fire ant trip has to be a lasting memory whichin all comes close to the worst trip experience...
On this trip (4 days 3 nights) we stayed at a hotel (charging $220) per room per night (we didnt pay that[)] our offer was $45 so I felt I didnt have much reason to complain) when we arrived we were given a key to a room - which was occupied!![:0] then given another room, which smelt as if someone had been smoking and then had put perfume in the air conditioning- so we complained -got given another room smelt similar but more tolerable- The tv web connection didnt work - they promised an immediate repair- it happened eventually... then our U.S. rep came to meet us at the hotel reception and enquired 3 times to see if we were residents- they insisted that they had no one registered in our names- until the third attempt&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt; The hotel emailed me to confirm that our visit had exceeded our expectations...yeah right!![xx(] Then on day 2 I got bitten by the dreaded fire ants- (I've now got 80 marks on my legs) And on the way to buy the kids a prezzy at Florida Mall on the way to the airport for departure- a car hit us from behind...waited half an hour for the trooper to turn up [for the accident number for the hire car]- missed the shops....got the plane- people in front of us reclined their chairs through entire flight- we had tvs in our faces for the whole flight- ant bites got bad on flight home felt v ill-
interesting trip[msnsmile2]

[Robday]

More embarrasing, than worst, was when queing up to get on the new space ride at Epcot I got chatting to a very attractive american woman who was with her equaly attractive daughter, husband and son.

As I was queing alone because my freinds were too chicken to join me I had a great time chatting for about 45 mins with the mother and daughter as they were both very interested in my english accent and where I was from.[msnwink]

After the ride I lost site of them and carried on to the next fun stop. Catching up with my freinds in the next que I told them about these visions of beauty I had met and had just finished saying how much I fancied them, when I turned round to see the rather large husband and son standing right behind me in the que. [msnoo][msneek][msnembarrased][msnscared] Embarrased or WHAT!!

[ruthless333]

Joolz, you didn't mention the hotel name/ address - if it is allowed! it might be helpful to others. (I believe some owners stay 1 or 2 nights in hotels if their villa is still occupied, to fit in with flights).
Regards. hope your bites have calmed down now.....