V-Flyer

It's that time of year again and the Family mdvipond are looking to get rid of some of them pesky FC miles and organise their autumn jollies. Not enough miles for anything as dramatic as Oz this year, and rather hoping to get the Senior Ponds to come along, so looking at the good old US of A once again.

Option A: MIA return - do Miami, Everglades, Tampa and some time at Orlando for mdvipond jr. (she loved Hong Kong Disney). Downsides: Is Florida a 'tourable' kind of place and will I find Orlando as 'downmarket' as my snobby inner-me suggests?

Option B: SFO return - tour north of the city. Downsides: Done San Francisco twice in the last four years (though just the city) and perhaps we should widen our horizons...

Option C: LAX return - tour Southern California, maybe do a bit of Arizona. Downsides: Done LA twice, wouldn't do it again unless the plane landed there. Done the Grand Canyon twice as well, which is probably enough for now.

Any ideas folks? Thanks in advance and all that...

How about SFO, VX to SEA then go east to place like Glacier NP, Mt Rainer and Yellowstone?

Why don't you do something a bit off the wall and go to Japan?!
Summer's too hotand humid, winter's chilly and I think Autumn is the absolute best time to go. It is an extra 20k miles per person though so may not be an option.

Ok, so you like roadtrips, enjoy the US and had a great time in Australia.

How about South Africa, it's no different to the US or Australia for me....[y]

The roadtrip from Joburg to Cape Town via the garden route is an absolute cracker. November is a great time of the year to visit SA also. You can combine visits to wineries with animal reserves and the coastal raods are pretty amazing. [:)]

Might be food for thought. [:D]

What about the East Coast? Boston, New England etc. Autumn is supposed to be the best time of year to visit that part of the States. Good G availability in/out of BOS, and you also are close to numerous other big cities NYC/Washington etc if you fancy that too.

As for MCO. IMO Mdvipond Jnr. is a big young for the full Disney experience. How much will she be able to do/remember in a few years? Also will the Snr Ponds really enjoy Disney? And I personally think MIA/Florida Keys is over rated.

Neil

Originally posted by Neil
What about the East Coast? Boston, New England etc. Autumn is supposed to be the best time of year to visit that part of the States. Good G availability in/out of BOS, and you also are close to numerous other big cities NYC/Washington etc if you fancy that too.

Neil

The soup boy [;)] has a point there. New England can be fantastic in Fall, although expensive around Columbus Day when the New Jersey, No Joysies all head north in the RVs. Mid Sept can be much more pleasant but you don't get the colours (if that's what you want) until later.

Well, if you are having that much difficulty in using your miles, I am sure I can help you out there .... [:)]

What sort of trip are you after? More of a driving/touring holiday? Option A sounds nice. maybe with a detour to the Keys if Orlando isnt appealing. I'd also agree with Neil on the East Coast if you will be there in the fall.

How about a Deep South tour? Memphis, Nashville, etc. Lots of music, whiskey and fried foods.

Thanks,
Sarah

Take them all on a gold run to Jakarta via Bangalore in SQ F [:D]

Thanks all. A true mine of suggestions.

Boston has always appealed, but I've read some awful reviews on how jam-packed the area can get come 'the fall'.

South Africa is definitely one on the list, but we're waiting for jr. to be a little older so that she can appreciate the wildlife a bit more.

Japan, again, pretty high on the list, and miles isn't an issue as we've already budgeted 100K each, but it's one to do minus the Seniors I think.

And Sarah - do you think I keep this figure of mine by indulging in beer and fried foods?! I don't really know if Orlando is 'our thing', not having been before. I'm sure jr. would enjoy the Disney side of things - and that the Seniors would enjoy watching her enjoy it - but we've never organised our trips just for the benefit of the wee one. I think my own preference is Florida, but I'm not sure...

Oh, and Dean - thanks, but no thanks.

The positive of choosing Orlando would be that you have the Seniors in tow, so you and the now-Mrs. can ask them to look after their darling much loved Grand-daughter for, oh, an afternoon or three.

The Buns might be able to give you some tips on their favourite holiday spot. There is more to the state than the Mouse so you might be able to balance a few days at Disney with the less populated parts, such as the Everglades or a drive down to Miami.

Thanks,
Sarah

I wouldn't recommend the Everglades as there's not too much to see and you will get eaten alive by bugs.

Much of the Gulf coast gets my vote. Sarasota is one of my favorite places to visit [y]

Regards

if you went to Florida you could always escape Orlando and drive down to the Palm Beach area, its a lovely area, some high class hotels, lovely beaches and away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando. Also think Orlando can be as downmarket/upmarket as you want to make it, we went a couple of years ago and had a great time.

Another suggestion, what about Dubai, no Disney but loads to do for young and old, and will be getting cooler by the Autumn.

Just my two penneth

Lynne

Option A.
Florida is tourable and there's more to Florida than Orlando alone. I thought I'd hate Orlando (snootiness personified I admit)but I didn't.I love it. Yes it can be like Blackpool in parts, but if you choose your accomodation carefully it's not a major issue.My parents have done a trip to Orlando with us and enjoyed it (but have admitted once is enough for them).Jnr would love Disney (as has been proven already)and the Snrs would have a great time just seeing her pleasure (mine did when they took DB to Eurodisney when she was little).
Loads to see and do in Miami (much better than Ft Lauderdale), the Keys are relaxing and the Gulf area is nice too (Marco Island, Sanibel,Captiva, Ft Myers etc). I'd suggest a few days in Orlando and the rest in Miami/Gulf Coast/Keys depending on how much time you have.East coast of Florida (Daytona /Cocoa Beach) isn't as nice as the Gulf coast IMHO but St Augustine worth a visit.

Another vote for Florida and the Gulf Coast. The area around Hudson is very nice, although, as we have found out in the last few years there is a lot more to Orlando than just Disney.

David

Mr. Vipond,

I think I know what you mean about Orlando - and DragonLady has covered some of it. There is a cheap and tacky element to MCO that lowers the desirability for those that tend to travel on luxury holidays. But then given the availability to the masses now, its no real surprise. There is a reason why breakfast buffets are $3.99 each.

There are some good restaurants and hotels/resorts in the greater Orlando area though. I think anymore than a week would drive me nuts though, as there is the 'British' element to it that annoys me. You go to Epcot and see the crowds at the Rose & Crown pub. September or very early October is a good time to visit as the parks are very quiet and the queues will be tiny, if at all. I've not got over to Pensacola or Sarasota yet but have heard very good reviews of both.

Thanks,
Richard

Option A: Had my first taste of Florida last year and loved it. We went to Orlando armed with God Children. Thoroughly enjoyed the theme parks, but didn't care much for Orlando itself. Our youngest God Child was 3 at the time and she seemed to enjoy it as much as the older children.

Spent an afternoon in Miami then drove down to the Keys to Islamorada and went on a glass bottom boat trip where we saw loads of turtles (Junior would love this).

We are booked to go again in April for a week in the Keys(Marathon) with our God Children, so it will be interesting to see what they make of it compared to Orlando. Much to my surprise I was charmed by Florida and I'm looking forward to going back there next month.

Option B: We have taken road trips, North and South out of San Francisco on Highway 1. The North trip was my favourite drive with stunning scenery along the coastal road. We stayed in Guerneville one night which was home to some very friendly drag queens! Drove up as far as Mendocino and then in land down to Napa, staying in Yountville. We spent a day touring the vineyards, trying to stay sober at the same time(difficult) I appreciate that Napa may not be top of mdvipond junior's list of places to visit just yet...

Originally posted by RichardMannion
There is a reason why breakfast buffets are $3.99 each.

I was going to mention the loathsome el cheapo 'all you can eat buffets' but thought it would would not favourably enhance the picture of Orlando for mdvipond.
Ghastly ,ghastly,ghastly (spoken as Michael Winner would).But beloved by the adidas/burberry half mast trouser and trainer brigade, and to be avoided at all costs.

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by RichardMannion
There is a reason why breakfast buffets are $3.99 each.

'all you can eat buffets'

Never have 5 little words brouught so much joy to so many people [^]

Once again, thanks y'all for your kind advice (see, I'm getting that Southern States drawl already. Before you know it I'll be marrying my cousin).

I can only assume that mdvipond jr. has been listening to my good lady and I discussing this trip. As I was about my toilette this morning the bathroom door suddenly burst open. It was my darling daughter.

'Daddy. Mouse'

'Sorry sweetheart?' said I, wiping suds from my eyes.

'Mouse, Daddy' she repeated earnestly. 'Mouse. Donald Duck. Tomorrow'. Then she turned heel and left. I feel my options are receding rapidly.

Still, Orlando does trouble me a little, though I'm sure with some careful planning we can manage to avoid the 4 buck breakfast buffet, burberry half-mast trouser brigade. The Ritz-Carlton looks rather nice - they don't go there do they?

Away from Orlando (Miami, Gulf Coast, Keys) are there things to actually see and do or is the focus on 'beach holiday'. I like beach holidays - we've got one coming up in 7 weeks - but come our autumn hols we like to tour and see the sights, so to speak.

Also, are the middle two weeks in November a good time to go (for this is when the best chance of G availability and least chance of hurricane coincide)?

And finally, dear trusted advisors, are we going to kick ourselves that we didn't do Highway 1 instead...?

a trip I've always wanted to do is San Diego, that way you could go to Disneyland in Anaheim, I know its not as big but it is the original, then in San Diego there's the zoo, and Seaworld I think, and you could drive along the coast too. Got best of both worlds then, and there probably won't be so much of the English tourist element there.

Lynne

Originally posted by billybob
a trip I've always wanted to do is San Diego, that way you could go to Disneyland in Anaheim, I know its not as big but it is the original, then in San Diego there's the zoo, and Seaworld I think, and you could drive along the coast too. Got best of both worlds then, and there probably won't be so much of the English tourist element there.

Lynne

That's quite a good suggestion. I quite like Disneyland California, and the whole ticket pricing structure seems a lot better there compared to Florida.

It's not a bad idea at all, but the hotels around Anaheim look - without exception - awful...

Beverly Hill and I5 or even Palm Springs and drive in.

Oh, and for the East Coast alternative, why not look at renting a villa. Classy, private and if any chav scum happen to wander in, you can legally shoot the intruder [;)]

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Oh, and for the East Coast alternative, why not look at renting a villa. Classy, private and if any chav scum happen to wander in, you can legally shoot the intruder [;)]

Excellent idea Darren. I could even hang Big Mac Meals and Elizabeth Duke jewellery in the trees to entice them in...