Not sure how long a Trip Report this will turn out to be but finally got a few minutes to write one in between the work hassles and Mrs E. getting me to decorate the dining room. (why do women always expect you to start a major project the week after a relaxing holiday to Florida?)
To explain the title we did a full 14 days in Florida without visiting the Mouse once! This not because we don't like Disney (On the contrary[msnwink]) but we had visited MK, AK, MGM and Epcot ad infinitum on our last visit in September.
So this time it was Universal, IOA and a week at the beach.[msnsmile]
We booked with TCD and took Air Atlanta out from Manchester on the 22nd April. Flight was approx 1 hour late outbound and marred slightly by the guy in front of me having a broken seat which reclined whenever he put any weight on it. Not his fault and unfortunately unfixable in flight so I was lumbered. He was extremely reasonable about it and we muddled through with polite understanding. Movies Ok but not so up to date (2 Weeks Notice and Daredevil), food fine, drinks et al free and service very friendly and attentive. Arrival only 15 minutes late due to very generous timetabling of the flight at 9 hours 20 minutes.
Arrival in Sanford to the worst crowds at Imigration I have ever seen in the US. Every desk was open bar 1 and even though we were one of the first off the plane every queue was back to the wall. They ended up diverting the majority of passengers into a side room until the queues subsided. We were blessed with good luck when a supervisor checked our I-94's and then opened the last desk and started a new queue with us at the front.[msnsmile2] bonus!
We entered into the luggage hall to find a full carousel of our flights luggage but no passengers to claim it as they were all still in immigration. We claimed our luggage and were straight into an empty Dollar office, keys to Dodge Caravan and we were out in 35 minutes from landing, double bonus!!
Our first week was at a villa in Orange Tree (We had stayed here previously for a fortnight in September). Everything was perfect once again and the villa remains a real credit to the owners. We had paid for Pool Heat this time and the main pool was a respectable 87F. The Spa became a balmy 98F within a few minutes of switching on the bubbles, our 2 and half year old son soon had this as his own territory demanding to be put in the 'Warm Pool' as soon as the Patio Doors were opened. We had to run the bubbles for 5 minutes and then let it cool for another 10 just to stop him cooking[msneek].
We decided to spend 2 days at US and 1 at IOA during our first week, this gave us time for my Mum, and Mrs E's Mum and Dad to see US for the first time. Mrs E and I had been several times before but it was great to see the old favourites through first timers eyes again. Big hits with the newbies were Earthquake, Twister, Shrek and Terminator.
Little E got to see Barney again and we spent a good hour letting him run wild in Barney's Forest, including one classic moment when it was quite empty and the Purple One appeared and Little E spent 5 full minutes chasing and hiding with Barney on his own before the other kids realised he was there. For all those that think US has some surly Cast Members I say they definately have one who made our Son's holiday.
We also did 1 day in IOA, mainly because I am the only one who will ride most of the attractions there but we did get some of the Newbies to try Jurassic Park River Ride and Popeye and Bluto, Little E got to do all the Cat in the Hat rides too.
Finally we watched the Sinbad stunt show which is always very impressive. Just outside this attraction is a talking fountain which squirts guests and asks them riddles, Little E was fascinated and kept us there for 20 minutes watching and going up to the fountain without getting soaked unlike many of the other guests. I must add at this time we were all wearing Ponchos as this was the only day in the 2 weeks we had proper rain (ie it lasted most of the day).
The rest our first
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