Belated trip report

I would firstly like to thank everyone who gave such fantastic advice before our trip to Orlando. It really was invaluable.

We left on 8 December and stayed at the Gatwick Hilton the night before our flight. We used the twilight check-in and the staff were a bit bemused because we only had hand luggage! We intended to shop while in Orlando and shop we did!

The flight was on time and less than half full. We had requested a child seat for our daughter (20 months) but I would not recommend this unless your child is maybe a lot younger. The child seat doesn%26#39;t recline and therefore sleeping wasn%26#39;t very comfortable for her as her head kept falling forward. However, as the flight had so many empty seats we were able to move and spread ourselves out.

On arrival we had upgraded our hire car and the Dollar staff were really helpful with assisting us to fit the child seats. I had been dreading using the ones the provide as I%26#39;d heard that they were dirty from so much usage. However, ours came in sealed bags and were immaculate, maybe even brand new. We had taken our Tomtom so found our hotel fairly quickly.

On our first morning we ent to Walmart and bought a stroller and two Net 10 phones.

We stayed at the Hard Rock and it was lovely. We had bought the 7 day Universal tickets so the location was perfect. With two small children, aged 20 months and 3 years it was ideal to be able to walk to the parks. We spent most days either at Universal or shopping. We would shop for while in the morning and spend a few hours in the parks. Our 3 year old was fine without a stroller but we didn%26#39;t overdo it and would come back to the hotel when they got tired (or we did!).

We went to Bahama Breeze (again advised on here) and it was great. Also made a big mistake by eating at Pastamore at City Walk. This was by far the worst meal we had and I would not recommend it. It may have been the food we chose but it was bland and tasteless.

Since booking the holiday our 3 year old has eaten his dinner every day so that he would be tall enough for the Spider-Man ride. I was so excited for him and he went on the ride with OH and didn%26#39;t like it!! I couldn%26#39;t believe it. All those months of anticipation ... He did meet Spider-Man though and we have some lovely photos so that made up for it.

We loved Universal but we did spend one day at Animal Kingdom and one day at Magic Kingdom. They were far more crowded than Universal. We had fast passes for Universal but really didn%26#39;t need them. The waiting times for rides were so short anyway. The day we went to Sea World was the wettest day and it poured with rain all morning and into the afternoon but we still enjoyed it.

We used our Fairfax card (advised on here) which we will always have for any future trips. We kept our stroller because it was actually a pretty good one! We live in Germany so have kept it in the UK for when we go over to visit family in the summer.

Thank you again for all the advice. I shall probably be back later in the year as we want to go back but next time we will be renting a friend%26#39;s villa.

Hope you all have a lovely 2009!

x

Belated trip report

Welcome Home

It%26#39;s never too late for a TR :)

Sorry your little guy was let down by the Spiderman Ride but pleased the Photos were good. Maybe Next Time. Glad you are already thinking and Planning a Next Time.

It%26#39;s always funny that at home if it%26#39;s raining the day is a waste but when at the Parks on a Holiday, it hardly matters, I like that

Thanks for sharing

Belated trip report

When my twins were small (4 I think?) I took them on that ride. One was laughing and the other spent the whole ride tucked under my arm with his eyes shut lol.

Luxapple11,

Glad you had a good time, we are also in Germany, and are going to Florida in February because of the exchange rates we are flying from Gatwick and I was wandering what you did about parking? Be grateful for any advice you can give! You can PM if you want.

Regards

Great trip report.

So sad the ride was not what he thought. All the vegies he must of eaten to be tall enough.

Thanks for sharing.

Amanx, that did make me laugh! It%26#39;s obviously not about age then but depends on the child.

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