V-Flyer

Well looks like next March Mrs D and I are doing our first ever cruise with some very good US friends. So to over egg the pudding we figured, fly into Orlando on a G (currently showing available) stay at the Hilton in WDW for four nights (thank you Hilton Honors). So we have three full days in WDW. As a non Disney-phile this sounds like hell BUT everyone else seems to go for a week at a time so any and all recommendations welcomed.

which cruise?

If you do not want to 'do the mouse' I would recommend Busch Gardens. It's still my favorite Fla Park no matter how many times I go. So much to see plenty of rides and the added bonus of [y]FREE[y] Busch products to sample......Need I say More?

Dave,
the "tent" is also available at Sea World (Hic!)

EPCOT is for us older ones, the more interesting of the parks, though the same could be said about Animal kingdom if you are into those creatures.
Whilst Magic kingdom is the park everyone goes to, that can be the problem, can get very crowded with long lines for all rides.
MGM Studios, is good fun, if you like being scared to death. You have to try the Tower of Terror at leasst once in your life!

Crusing? Oh the temptation is almost too strong!

Well I know you'll appreciate EPCOT - you can basically drink your way around the world!! They also have a fantastic (if a little cheesy) Fireworks display in the evening - Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

If you fancy a night-out Pleasure Island is good fun - Disney's nightclub spot. Pay one entrance fee and you have your choice a host of clubs to choose from - Four Tracks 70's disco, dance club (with spinning dance floor!), comedy club, beach club (live bands), cabaret club and some others. Thursday night there is the unnofficial gay night - occasionally if your lucky you can get to see a drag queen go flying on the spinning dance floor. Dean rated the Margarita's here if memory serves.

For a day out you could always for a swim with the Dolphin's, snorkel with the tropical fish on coral reef or play with stingray's at Discovery Cove.

Dean and I were a bit disappointed with MGM Studios - though Tower of Terror is very good!

If you want to try before you buy i'd recommend buying a pass for WDWMagic.com as it is full of photos, full ride vids, show and parade video's, lots of forums reviews. A free account gives you access to the thumbnails of photo's and maybe a few sample / smaller vid's.

Foz xx

lol, cruisings fine for me as long as its not on a boat.

Anyway thanks guys, 5 times in Orlando both Seaworld and Busch Gardens
and I never realised the beer was free.

But this November I must make up for it.

Here's a weblink for some discounted attraction tickets. If it was me, i'd go for the two Busch parks (SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, and a 1 night pass for Pleasure Island, which of course if your at the WDW hilton is just across the street, so no designated driver:D)

http://www.park-tickets.com/?villa=602

Enjoy!

Matt

This is so cool - thanks to all of you! Will digest then come back with more queries

Dave - Adventure of the Seas - Royal Caribbean.

EGG shame on you not knowing there was free beer to be had[:(] That's the only reason I go to Sea World/Busch is to 'sampl' the wares

Decker, I have only done EPCOT, but loved it! If you go you must have a go on Mission Space and Test Track. Both well worthwhile. And as fozzyo says you can walk or stagger round the World, depending on your state;)

I haven't been on Royal Caribbean, but have done Celebrity a few times and was hooked on cruising as soon as I stepped on the ship that first time. Please note it is a ship egg, not a boat. LOL A boat is what you get into when the ship is sinking! What ports are you doing? I might be able to give you a couple of ideas there.

Phil

Whats this about free beer?! More importantly since I think Beer is icky is the Gin free?

Foz xx

Fozzy, as Seaworld and Busch Gardens are owned by Anhuesar (Ooo don't know how to spell it) Busch, both parks have hospitality 'tents' where you can have two free sample beers.

No Gin though.... sorry. However, go over and see a friend of mine at one of the DTD hotels and you can have as many free drinks as you like;)

Matt

I would highly recommend EPCOT, not 'real' Disney and much more aimed at adults. The firework display here in the evening is also amazing.

What about Seaworld?

or

Discovery Cove if this interests you and you have the money. It is very exclusive and a far cry from any of the other disney parks.

continued thanks - we're trying to finalise our thoughts now. Epcot looks like a definite and perhaps a film studio thingy We'll keep reviewing options though.

Decker

Have you been with RCCl before.

We went on Explorer, Adventurer's sister ship 2 years ago.[y][y][y]

Regards

Paul

Never done a cruise before :>. Quite excited tho' it's a bit far off. Gone for an E2 I think - same deck as our friends who are in a family room.

Be prepared to be amazed, its the "WOW" factor, when you first see and walk down the atrium, if you didn't know you would never realise your on a ship.

You may want to have a look at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=83, thats the message board for all things RCCI, like V Flyer you should be up some great tips and ideas.

Regards

Paul

Originally posted by Decker
Never done a cruise before :>. Quite excited tho' it's a bit far off. Gone for an E2 I think - same deck as our friends who are in a family room.

Good choice,never cruise without a balcony,it makes such a difference,so nice to be able to eat breakfast sitting on your balcony watching the sea roll by

Well I concur with Dave and Paul. Watching the sea pass by on your balcony is something special and breakfast does definitely taste better. It's also pretty good for your favourite tipple after dinner too;)

Cruise Critic is an excellent source of information, as Paul says. I have received so much good advice from there and it has on occasions saved me a bit of money too.

You'll have a ball!

Phil

OK really starting to get pysched now - thanks peeps!

We will want some pic's from SXM please

Is there a course for people who are literally and probably unecessarily TERRIFIED of boats and ships, I literally freeze with fear if I get on one.

Shouldn't have watched the Posidon Adventure when I was a kid I guess.

Decker,

Go with open mind on the criuse. I did one with RCCL also on the older Sovereign of the Seas a few years back and had a ball. Just join in the madness of it all

Enjoy when it comes

Iain

what I love about cruising is the fact that you can choose to join in the maddness or just kick back and relax,with a balcony room you have it even better,the last cruise we were on (honeymoon) we went nuts and grabbed a suite,now that was the life.

Chris IMHO you would love it,I know so many people that go on saying thier spouse made them take a cruise,then they are the first to book another.Just at least get an outside room and that is at the very least,a balcony room is only a little more on most druises and well worth the extra money.The ships nowdays are so big you can hardly feel them moving,on the last cruise we felt the motion of the sea one day and that was due to hurricane Ivan being in the area.The number one thing a cruiseline as well as an airline is saftey,we ended up doing a 9 day cruise to nowhere dues to a couple of hurricanes in the area.

The crew did a great job of keeping us entertained.We were on the HAL Ziderdam,which while being a great ship with great rooms the foodd was a little bit of a let down.

My fav ship is the Sun Princess,small enough to not get lost big enough to wander,they also have an aft pool which is adults only.
The food was amazing,the Italian place served to best lasagne period,anywhere in the world Garfield would be proud .

I too endorse busch Gardens

They now have the largest vertical drop rollercoaster called Sheikra
There website is here

Also if you click on buy tickets/full ticket menu/enter promotion code I know a code thats gets you 20% off the gate price on single day tickets for both seaworld and busch

when prompted enter promo code pepsi (then pick busch or seaworld) and you'll see a 20% saving on the single day admission!:D

$44.76 is a great deal!

also universal are doing a deal 5 days for the price of 2