Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

KarenG

Kido wrote: »

Another OT post I'm afraid. My friend is meeting me at Tampa Airport, but we seem to be having language barriers. She is insisting she'll meet me in the baggage hall (surely this is before passport control and customs though) whereas I think it should be International Arrivals. Can anyone advise on what the meet and greet area is called?

Not OT at all!

Baggage hall is right by the exit so your friend may be right in suggesting you meeting there. You will deplane, enter through immigration, then collect cases and go through customs.


What I'm not sure on - as I've only flown into Tampa internally, not internationally - is whether International Arrivals is more convenient. Either way you can get to the Baggage Hall with no problems if that's where your friend wants to meet. Just head right there after you leave the secure area - its well signposted.

hillcats

Florida is great!
We are finalising plans for our third visit in Aug 2014 and the kids are still as excited as the first time...

maemaesmummy

KarenG wrote: »

Oh, poor DH and DD. They have my sympathy! We spent years coping with quite extreme travel sickness for my DD, but thankfully managed to find a remedy so travelling is less awful now.

We've been to FL for a week a few times so not in your 14 day camp at all there. Like you, we're pretty stuck with school holidays but we've always managed to find flights below £550 before.

Also eating beans on toast here

I agree always used to think 2 weeks minimum but did 8 days one trip last year (stupid flight prices £179 each :eek:) and was fine

maemaesmummy

hillcats wrote: »

Florida is great!
We are finalising plans for our third visit in Aug 2014 and the kids are still as excited as the first time...

ha ha my kids are so blase about it all now..one trip last year we didn't tell them until they got to the airport and they were like...:eek: again...can we not go to Spain.....:rotfl:

beth3735

We have been planning for April 2015, I know its a long way off but we are now thinking we may need to plan it for even futher away due to having to put in a whole new bathroom.
Problem is as its futher away our eldest will of started Comprehensive school and we won't be able to pull them out of school no more. Does going during 2 week half term or summer holidays really make a huge difference compared to 2 weeks in school time during April? Will we regret going when its heaving and busy for our 1st time?

KarenG

beth3735 wrote: »

We have been planning for April 2015, I know its a long way off but we are now thinking we may need to plan it for even futher away due to having to put in a whole new bathroom.
Problem is as its futher away our eldest will of started Comprehensive school and we won't be able to pull them out of school no more. Does going during 2 week half term or summer holidays really make a huge difference compared to 2 weeks in school time during April? Will we regret going when its heaving and busy for our 1st time?

I guess Easter is in April 2015?

It will be cheaper (sometimes a lot cheaper) going outside of school term.
Easter is a very busy time. It's only second to Xmas, so it wouldn't be my choice for a first trip if I'm honest. The weather will be nice which is a bonus :cool:

If you want to go in the summer holidays, definitely go as close to the end as you can. The reason is that many US students have returned to school / college by then. US holidays have a far greater impact on how busy the theme parks are compared to UK ones.

If you went in May that would be a nice balance weatherwise, low ish crowds, and less scary prices.

maemaesmummy

I agree with everything Karen has said...Easter is great as a bonus yearly trip but to make it your 1st (or only trip that year) but be a huge mistake..it is very, very busy.

Kido

Sorry another OT question that you guys can probably help with. I've just got an AT&T sim card and registered it. Sadly I can't put any money on it online or phone as I've got a UK credit card. Does anyone know where I can buy a $10 phone card? Do supermarkets sell them like in the UK or will I have to fine an AT&T shop?

jackieblack

beth3735 wrote: »

We have been planning for April 2015, I know its a long way off but we are now thinking we may need to plan it for even futher away due to having to put in a whole new bathroom.
Problem is as its futher away our eldest will of started Comprehensive school and we won't be able to pull them out of school no more. Does going during 2 week half term or summer holidays really make a huge difference compared to 2 weeks in school time during April? Will we regret going when its heaving and busy for our 1st time?

We've been twice during school Easter hols, the first time was my families first time. Yes it's busy, but it's definitely do-able. If you get to parks before they open, you can get more done in the first 2-3 hours than the rest of the day. We did, rode & saw everything we'd hoped to.
Personally, I wouldn't be able to handle the heat/humidity in August.
If you go at Easter you need to be organised and go prepared for the fact that it's going to be very busy, but if it's a choice between going at Easter, August or not at all? I'd go at Easter

maemaesmummy

Kido wrote: »

Sorry another OT question that you guys can probably help with. I've just got an AT&T sim card and registered it. Sadly I can't put any money on it online or phone as I've got a UK credit card. Does anyone know where I can buy a $10 phone card? Do supermarkets sell them like in the UK or will I have to fine an AT&T shop?

walmart, publix, walgreens, 7-11, racetrac pretty much anywhere really