V-Flyer

2 weeks (ok 13 nights) at the Animal Kingdom Lodge had passed in a flash, and we’re all “Disney”ed out; but a lot of fun was had by all.

On this trip, we’d ventured into Disney Quest and Typhoon Lagoon – 2 areas we’d never visited before and great fun they were – especially the Astro shooter things!

The build your own roller-coaster then ride in a simulator thing was also fantastic – my daughter managed to build one with 5 “upside downs” and 3 sideways, and it made even me, a hardened coaster fan, feel a little disoriented!

The day of departure arrived all too soon, and equipped with several new furry toys, new Aerosmith baseball caps and a Star Wars gun that shoots foam darts, we were all packed up and ready to go.

Spent a last few hours at the Animal Kingdom, paid our last visits to the savanna and the yetis, and returned to the hotel to pick up our luggage and get changed for the flight home.

We took a taxi and arrived at MCO terminal A at around 16:40 for the VS016 at 19:35 – we were determined not to be in a hurry this time!

Were called forward to the PE check in very quickly, and processed by a very friendly agent – as others have said on here, the check in staff at MCO are great, I don’t think I’ve had anything other than happy, smiley, friendly check in agents at MCO.

Boarding cards in hand (82A,C,D again!), we headed off to security.

Wow – the staff at security were also happy, smiley and helpful – what was in the air tonight? Smoothly and quickly through – they appear to have relaxed the shoes off thing for kids, hadn’t noticed that before.

Monorail and some walking, at arrived at the V-Flyer lounge – err, the Outback Steakhouse!

Were actually questioned as to what time our flight was before being shown to a table – perhaps they’ve had a few too many who have had to leave early due to lack of appreciation of how long everything takes at airports – but we satisfied what ever criteria were in operation.

A few large cold ones, a 12-ounce sirloin, and the world was looking a better place still. As always, the service in the Outback was great, and the bill (check) only served to re-enforce how expensive it is to eat in WDW itself – oh hmmm…

I’d forgotten, as well, that you only get plastic knives/forks in the Outback, presumably to fear that someone will take the metal knives and use them for nefarious purposes on board an aircraft – never, ever eaten a steak with plastic knife and fork before, but they’ve obviously got the right stuff, as the knife was remarkably effective!!!

Knocked back the last (large) beer, gratuity left etc, and we set off for gate 85 at about 18:40…

The gate area seemed well organised, priority boarding called forward quite promptly, and we again turned left – stopping short of UC once again!.

As I approached my seat, I became aware of something assaulting my nostrils – what was it – oh know!

There was a lovely lady in 82E, with her children and husband spread out over the remainder of row 82, and she would appear to have sampled every perfume on offer in duty free, selected one she particularly liked and emptied the bottle over her head! Ok, Ok, I probably exaggerate, but PHEW, what a pong!

This over-powering niff stayed with me for the entire journey, was present in my pre-take-off bubbles, in the beef, wine and coffee for dinner, in my breakfast coffee, and on my clothes until I stuck them in the washing machine when we got home.

There ought to be a law against wearing so bloody much perfume, that’s all I can say!


Erhem, back on track.

Carry-on stowed, bubbles consumed etc, we taxied out and took off roughly on time.

Hot Lips had 452 passengers and 16 crew on board, and we were promised a 7 hour, 40 minute flight to Gatwick.

Like the outbound flight, there’s nothing substantial to report regarding the on-board service. Efficient, friendly, nothing particularly good or bad – perhaps two specific comments are in order though.

Having eaten at the Outback, my intention was to have a further small meal, bit of wine and a coffee, then put my head down (metaphorically speaking) for a sleep. The meal service, though, took about 1 hour and 30 minutes after take off to reach us – seemed quite a long time to me, perhaps a function of the PE mini cabin on LGW/MAN 747s?

The full English, when it arrived prior to landing, also seemed like a great idea, until I received it and opened it – yuck! It was not at all appetising, perhaps it was the essence of perfume dressing, perhaps it just wasn’t good, perhaps I had partaken of too many large beers at the Outback, but this breakfast just turned my stomach – no!

Coffee though, was plentiful, and I was grateful to a member of CC that noticed my plight, and brought me a large foam cup of coffee and refilled it (I would have need 8 re-fills of the stupid little cups for the same quantity!).

Anyway, got several hours sleep, and after the 7.5 hours flight as predicted by the pilot after take off, was glided in for a smooth landing at Gatwick, a little early.

What ever gate we arrived at, we had a long walk, up stairs and down, along moving walkways for seemingly miles before reaching Immigration which we were through in a matter of minutes.

You certainly get off the plane fast from the PE downstairs cabin, and this definitely helps with immigration, and so too with luggage when priority luggage is in full operation.

Today, it was, and our cases were soon collected and we met with our taxi home.

Another functional VS flight, although one particularly member of CC was nicely attentive, perhaps a hint of the “Virgin difference” there, and nicely uneventful from start to finish.

I still don’t like row 82, having a strong preference for the bubble seats as they currently are….I just find them more cramped.

I can still smell that perfume though, as I’m sitting here composing this TR – luckily, a hot wash and out on the washing line for a week has just about cleared the aroma from my clothes!!

Hope you enjoyed reading…

A most enjoyable read indeed. Thank you for posting.

Concorde

Thanks for yet another entertaining and engaging TR

Your account epitomises why that first trip to Orlando becomes a trip of a lifetime - a lifetime of wanting to go back

I have to agree with you about the Outback - good service, good food, good beer - all at a good price (considering it is in an airport and airside to boot). I do like those large draft beer servings too

Whilst I cannot agree more about the bubble, what is the seat recline like in 82?

Thanks once again

buns

Hi Buns - I'd say the seat recline in 82 is about the same as that in the bubble.

My impression though, is that the seat in front is closer (feels a bit like the LHR PE seat pitch), but the thing that really makes the difference for me, is the narrower armrests.

Not only do I feel that I can't stretch my legs so far, the overall width is reduced such that I feel that I'm constantly in the space of my adjacent passenger.

I also found I get bumped by aisle traffic a lot more as well, this not helped by the narrower aisle.

It's not much, an inch or two, but makes a difference over an 8/10 hour experience.

Thanks for the great trip report -- you evocation of the perfume "aroma" was funny!

Concorde

Thanks for that assessment

It is that overall feeling of space in the bubble that Virgin seem to not realised in thier propsed changes

Perhaps the WT+ product might get better

Thanks

buns

Concorde

Thanks for that assessment

It is that overall feeling of space in the bubble that Virgin seem to not realised in thier propsed changes

Perhaps the WT+ product might get better

Thanks

buns

A wonderfully written TR, thanks Concorde The duty free perfume devil strikes again...achoo! I bet she didn't buy any As for Outback..been doing it for years and am glad that we all enjoy those last few large ones

Another totally acceptable VS flight from MCO

Lovely TR, Concorde. Many thanks

I chuckled when I read about the lady doused in perfume but I do sympathise. I boarded a flight from, I think, HKG to LHR (I can't remember whether it was that or another flight. All I can remember is that it was a long overnight flight and it was on an A346 where I was sitting in the 9-17A seats) and in the suite next to me was an elderly man whose clothes reeked of cigarette smoke. It was so strong that it was in my nostrils for days afterwards and it did permeate onto my sleep suit which thankfully I could ditch at the end of the flight Perfume is just as bad!