V-Flyer

Family of 5 including three boys (age 9, 7, 3) on large mouse related adventures.

My goodness that was an epic three weeks in Florida! First week at Disney’s Old Key West then a more relaxing time in a villa. We didn’t bother with online check-in having already requested 79JK and 80HJK in the bubble. After vacating the villa we used the VH Downtown Disney service to drop off the majority of the luggage then spent the morning on Disney property. It was my first time using the DTD check-in and I was pretty happy with it, would use it again but next time I’ll park the car closer! We left just after 1.30pm for our 1625 flight and were at the airport 40 minutes later to drop off the hire car. Didn’t need the services of the man with trolley for once and we took the child seats to the check-in where they were bagged.

Had a last wander about, dumped the bottles of water, went through security (10 mins) and got the monorail to the international area. By this time the pre-boarding calls were already being made and G-VROM Barbarella was waiting (parked next to the just arrived Pretty Woman). The Bubble seats were called and we headed upstairs where I was pleased to find nobody in 79H giving us 6 seats between the 5 of us but more importantly the kids could move between rows without disturbing anyone. Based on our outbound experience, we requested and were given access to the cockpit where we chatted to the pilots for 10 minutes. They were pretty bored waiting on the boarding and liked the distraction.



The air conditioning system was also spouting out a lot of water vapour, it was like a 1980s disco upstairs! We got wet on take off when it started to condense on the overhead lockers.



No gate-to-gate IFE for some reason, flight pushed back within tolerance and we taxied up to the start of runway 17R skipping past a line of 6 waiting Jet Blue 737s, taking a left turn towards the ocean and heading up the coast.

Dinner was served an hour after takeoff. Now I’m one of those rare people who don’t mind airline food, some of it can be pretty impressive given what they’ve got to work with. However, the quality of food when flying out of Orlando is usually below par. (This comment also applies to British Airways, was disappointed with ex-MCO WT+ food last year.)

Menu
Mixed salad with Ranch dressing
Beef in red wine with mashed potatoes and roasted veg
Chicken teriyaki with rice, carrots and peas
Penne pasta with pesto sauce, peas, carrots and tomato
Strawberry swirl cheesecake

I went for the roast beef which had the appearance of pulled pork, it was pretty good and better than the usual ex-MCO food. Mrs Fuzzy had chicken teriyaki with no complaints. The children’s food (which arrived first) consisted of a grilled chicken fillet dry on top but moist underneath with the bizarre inclusion of macaroni and cheese. The strawberry cheesecake for desert was good. There was enough food to go round, everybody ate something and there was no swapping for once.

There was a drinks service not long after takeoff, one with meal and that was it until breakfast. Any additional drinks were to be fetched from the galley which is standard for a night flight.

Crew were pretty good, less visible than the outbound but to be expected on a night flight. They instructed us to put down our window blinds when it was still daylight outside which annoyed me, it wasn’t as if the sun was shining through it.

Having done Florida several times now we’ve kinda worked out the best method. For the earlier flight let the kids stay awake and get sleep back home. For the later flights let them sleep on the plane. That was the plan anyway, in the end the two younger ones fell asleep just before landing and had to be carried home. The eldest was happy with his mix of movies and iPad.

The middle child had complained about a sore tummy for most of the flight then decided with 30 mins to land to vomit, most made it into the bag and I cleaned up the rest but one of the crew must have been susceptible and it set off a vomit chain reaction with him. Sorry about that. Both were fine 5 mins later.

1 hour before landing the usual disappointing cold breakfast box was handed out consisting of Greek yoghurt, granola (loose nuts not a bar) and a mini muffin. Children used to get a different box of better quality but now they get the same. These were uneaten and came home with us, where they remain uneaten.

We came in more southerly than usual over Ireland and up over Stranraer and Prestwick before looping round Glasgow and waking the residents of Bearsden and Clydebank, landing on runway 23 at 5.30am. We were last to get off the Bubble due to sleeping kids but still before most of the downstairs passengers.



UK Border Control are usually taken by surprise with a large jet arriving on schedule and I was concerned as the ex-MCO Thomas Cook A330 beat us in, but the border was pretty quick, 6 desks open plus the new self service (that we can’t use.) Bags arrived out in usual random and curious order and we got a taxi, home for 6.30am and off to bed.

Very good flight, transatlantic travel with young children shouldn’t be this easy. We plan to book again for next year as soon as I get paid!

To explain my star ratings

Ground 4* First time using DTD CI, quite happy
Crew 5* Great service in the Bubble, couldn’t ask for more
Food 3* Orlando caterer has improved, kids meals still terrible quality
Seats 5* Great seats, PE standard for EC prices
Entertainment 5* If only the flight was longer. Or indeed my kids gave me peace.

Fuzzy14

Thank you for a super TR covering your return from the family trip to Orlando.

It is claer you are a "seasoned traveller - like me" (for those who rember the old safety video) when it comes to the preparation for coming home with little ones after an exciting trip to see the Mouse and other Florida Theme Parks.

I am sure your shared experience here will be helpful to many - indeed I have family members who will be travelling out to Orlando shortly and I will make sure your tips are passed on

Thanks once again

buns

Thank you for the return TR : full of useful information for V-Flyers with children.
Glad, overall, it was a good experience.

I am full of admiration for you travelling with three sprogs !

Thanks again for your comments, we've now got it down to a pretty good routine flying transatlantic with them is so easy these days and a lot of that comes down to the VS staff who have been brilliant every time. With the inflight entertainment and iPads there's no such thing as boredom on flights anymore.