Orlando Florida/Disneyworld (Part 2) *CLOSED*

disney_cjd

furrypig wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your experience Craig, just goes to show you though!!

I'm now sick in Kissimmee and everyone else is at MK and I've just made it out of bed for the first time (other than going to a walk in centre to see a doctor this morning!). They give you tonnes of meds here but so far I've not actually taken them as I don't agree with taking lots of antibiotics unless absolutely necessary but may do tomorrow if I am still bad!! I'm trying to drink gatorade to rehydrate me!!

Oh thats dreadful news, I am sorry to hear about that. The docs like a pill over there thats for sure. Get well soon!

C

Blink_Eden

Guys - how good is Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios?

I have planned out our fortnight, but the only thing I am having trouble fitting in is getting to HS to see Fantasmic on a day that isn't a Magic Hour's day? Would people recommend missing Fantasmic to avoid a MH day?

(There is supposed to be a rocket launch whilst we are out there, so we want to go to Kennedy to see this, but it is causing havoc with the rest of my schedule

ailuro2

NickyDee wrote: »

A friend also mentioned about reclaiming tax at the airport from receipts on the way home. Is this true and how does it work?

VAT can be claimed back by foreign visitors to a country, but it's not VAT you pay on goods in the U.S. it's a state sales tax, which varies from state to state, so no, you can't claim it back.

Used to be able to claim back tax from Canada but they stopped this a few years ago. Americans can claim VAT back if visiting the UK.;)

disney_cjd

Blink_Eden wrote: »

Guys - how good is Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios?

I have planned out our fortnight, but the only thing I am having trouble fitting in is getting to HS to see Fantasmic on a day that isn't a Magic Hour's day? Would people recommend missing Fantasmic to avoid a MH day?

(There is supposed to be a rocket launch whilst we are out there, so we want to go to Kennedy to see this, but it is causing havoc with the rest of my schedule

Hi Blink

I would do all you can to try and see Fantasmic. The stadium its shown in holds 90000 people and each show costs approx $30k to put on.

I forget when you are going but you could always park swap maybe to get there for the evening?

Its a wonderful firework and water show. Truly awesome, there are some great videos of it over on you tube.

Keep an eye on the shuttle, its often delayed due to weather and other reasons. Seeing it at the space centre is awesome, also you can drive to were the locals go which is a place called (trusth) titsville. This is the BEST palce I have seen the shuttle from (although once I did see it (well the orangel flame of it) from our drive.

http://www.titusville.com/page.asp?navid=204

Hope that helps.

disney_cjd

NickyDee wrote: »

Everytime I go to the USA I become confused about prices due to tax - sometimes it is included, other times it is added at the till. So I never really know how much something is... does anyone have any tips for working out?

A friend also mentioned about reclaiming tax at the airport from receipts on the way home. Is this true and how does it work?

Its an odd thing. I have onl;y ever seen tax included in Disney theme parks. Most other places is extra. The general sales tax (like our VAT) is 6% and added to everything you buy, well almost everything, there are some exclusions.

Then each county within Florida has a discretion to add up to 1.5% extra in tax so you can pay up to 7.5&. I think Orange Counrty (Disney) is only 7 % all in.

As for claiming it back, I have seen it but have never done it. If you did, you would then I expect have to pay VAT when you got back in to the UK so its probably better just to pay the sales tax. I am sure someone will have a more definite answer on that one though.

Cheers

vivatifosi

disney_cjd wrote: »

All

I have for many years been an advocate of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger and the brilliant Len Testa.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unofficial-G...3829853&sr=8-1

This book rocks for three reason.

- complete info on everything
- touring plans
- crowd calendar.

That's our book of choice too. My DH is very angry with this year's version of Birnbaum (the official guide) as the update has been very shoddy and it has failed to mention a ton of changes (eg the closure of Pleasure Island for one). There can be no excuse for the official guide to miss that one. We've always preferred Sehlinger, but this year it is the absolute clear winner in the pack.

Our second choice would be Brits Guide which is also very good.

Blink_Eden

disney_cjd wrote: »

Hi Blink

I forget when you are going but you could always park swap maybe to get there for the evening?

Keep an eye on the shuttle, its often delayed due to weather and other reasons. Seeing it at the space centre is awesome, also you can drive to were the locals go which is a place called (trusth) titsville. This is the BEST palce I have seen the shuttle from (although once I did see it (well the orangel flame of it) from our drive.

http://www.titusville.com/page.asp?navid=204

Hope that helps.

Cheers for the tips. We didn't get hoppers as we are only doing 2 Disney parks this time. because we are going last week in March, Fantasmic is only showing a couple of times in the first week we are there *shrugs*

It isn't the Shuttle, but there are 2 rocket launches (1st and 6 April, I think), so we should catch one.

jackieblack

Blink_Eden wrote: »

Guys - how good is Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios?

I have planned out our fortnight, but the only thing I am having trouble fitting in is getting to HS to see Fantasmic on a day that isn't a Magic Hour's day? Would people recommend missing Fantasmic to avoid a MH day?

(There is supposed to be a rocket launch whilst we are out there, so we want to go to Kennedy to see this, but it is causing havoc with the rest of my schedule

My brother-in-law raved so much about how wonderful Fantasmic was that we made a huge effort to get there, re-arranging other things. Maybe our expectations had been raised too high, but we were hugely disappointed. For us, it really wasn't worth the effort. We've seen it again since (it suited us to be there at the time it was on and we thought we'd give it another go) but again, weren't over impressed. For us, Fantasmic is the most over-hyped event at WDW. We haven't bothered again since.

I'd say if you're there and it fits in with your schedule, give it a go - everyone likes different things and I know others rate it highly - but I wouldn't forego other things you want to do in order to be there.

rolo1952

I would appreciate some advice on the following.

I am due to fly out to Orlando with Virgin in just over a week.

I have purchased through Virgin 4 Seaworld attraction tickets.
I have received a confirmation invoice through the post.

My booking information online shows that the tickets will be dispatched to me.

I contacted Virgin a couple of weeks ago who confirmed that I would be issued with the actual Seaworld tickets and they would also be sent through the post.
I have contacted them again today and they have told me that I will be issued with vouchers which I take to Customer services at Seaworld and exchange for the tickets.
They told me that these vouchers should arrive in 10 working days.
I am concerned that these will not arrive in time.

I have read in this thread of someone taking the voucher to customer services in exchange for the tickets.

As I have an invioce (Paid in Full) would I be able to take this with me and receive the tickets. If these vouchers/tickets etc do not arrive in time.
thanks
rolo

markelock

rolo1952 wrote: »

I would appreciate some advice on the following.

I am due to fly out to Orlando with Virgin in just over a week.

I have purchased through Virgin 4 Seaworld attraction tickets.
I have received a confirmation invoice through the post.

My booking information online shows that the tickets will be dispatched to me.

I contacted Virgin a couple of weeks ago who confirmed that I would be issued with the actual Seaworld tickets and they would also be sent through the post.
I have contacted them again today and they have told me that I will be issued with vouchers which I take to Customer services at Seaworld and exchange for the tickets.
They told me that these vouchers should arrive in 10 working days.
I am concerned that these will not arrive in time.

I have read in this thread of someone taking the voucher to customer services in exchange for the tickets.

As I have an invioce (Paid in Full) would I be able to take this with me and receive the tickets. If these vouchers/tickets etc do not arrive in time.
thanks
rolo

I would check with Virgin. When did you buy them? My vouchers arrived two weeks before departure, I had booked them 3 weeks before going.

My invoice turned up a couple of days ago.

If they can't provide them, you will be able to get your money back ultimately.