This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
After spending two of the most bizarre nights at the Hyatt at Orlando airport, a hotel which on a positive turned out to be a brills home from home if only because of it’s ideal location for visits to the Florida Mall and international drive $2 each way on the bus. Sunday morning thankfully arrived quite quickly and we picked up the Disney Cruise coach somewhere down in the bowels of the airport, our luggage collected direct from the hotel room and then magically transported to our cabin on the ship.
The Disney Dream was brilliant totally accessible from the wheelchair, our cabin perched on the stern was so spacious and the balcony so large you could land a jet on it (well ish). The only down side of this cruise was the sheer number of Kids, yes I know Disney cruise = kids but there were a lot of kids crammed into that particular tin box. On a positive on Disney’s private Island there was an adults only area and that was nice get away from it all. All the ports of call were accessible from the wheelchair Nassau, Castaway Cay and it was nice to be able to wind down and get over the usual jet lag before hitting the parks. This concept of eat all you can on cruise ships becomes a personnel challenge to me thankfully this was a mere four day cruise but I still managed to pack a fair bit away.
Before long we were once again boarding a Disney Cruise bus at Port Canaveral and on our way to Disney’s Old Key West Resort for the last eight nights, a great resort and it really does allow you the chance to hide away from the constant Disney bombardment. We had a two bedroom Villa that came with the works and all mod cons and I cant think of anything we were lacking whilst there and on a positive it had two loos both wheelchair accessible, the winds of change were positive...probably not a good proverb to have used! We did all the parks and all the rides, being in a wheelchair they some times let you ride around few time in succession as getting on and off to be honest is a wee bit problematic and it was whilst on Shreaker at Bush Gardens for the third consectative time one really starts to doubt one’s sanity...but it had to be done!
As is the case when you are having real fun sadly that time to try and get number one on the OLCI rears it’s ugly head. Yes..... just look at what you lot have done to this fairly normal person...... now found sitting and trying to get the No.1 slot...how sad....anyway No.6 was best I could do and comforting to realise that I was not the only sad only out there doing the same!
(which is actually worrying sort of statistic on it’s own)
Again we were soon boarding the Disney coach from the resort to the Airport but having spent the first two days of the holiday staying at the on site Hyatt, the airport now was a far more familiar and friendly place. Last minute shopping done and the sudden appearance of an empty wheelchair lane we set off through security, which was totally painless and quicker than previous visits. As is the norm for September the evening thunder and lightening started all very impressive until you suddenly remember you will be soon flying through it!
Boarding was called half an hour late due to the weather and off we set to claim our seats this time in PE. A quick transfer between wheelchairs and I was soon sat in seat 82c , a cosy little cabin with just two rows of seat across it. Due to the very server weather we were delayed leaving the gate for nearly two hours but the CC were brills and kept us topped up with drinks and snacks during the wait. A few of the UC paxs we had travelled out with in UC popped in to say hello and there really was a nice atmosphere on board. The pilot announced we were going to find the furthest strip away from the storm and take off from there...Orlando airport is really that huge and that is just what he did. Guess by the time we took off we were just over two hours late but the storm was less fierce and the rain less heavy.
Dinner was nice , though I really can’t remember now what it was we actually had but I know I ate it all so guess it was OK.([found my notes, it was the curried Lamb and rice][/color]) The CC were absolutely brills and truly worked their socks off throughout the whole flight. After a few hic ups on the outward flight this time when I reluctantly pushed the call it took 4 seconds for the CC to attend. During the night the crew walked up and down just being there and offering those folk still awake water or juice etc. I opted for a coffee and was surprised when I was given a very welcome china mug full, she had noticed I suffer from tremors and felt that the mug would be easier (top marks for understanding and caring). As frustrating as it was I was seated just two rows from the loo but still need the wheelchair to get there and not once did any of the crew make me feel awkward or a nuisance having to be assisted such a short distance. I genuinely felt that the service we received in PE coming home was 100% better than I received in UC going out, the CC were so genuinely helpful. I once mentioned on a previous trip report how disappointed i was that I felt there is an overwhelming pressure of having to go to bed on the night flights in UC but now understand from others that is what some folk pay for and I now fully understand. I didn’t though feel that same pressure in PE and feeling of being forced to bed, the flight crew were as attentive as on any day flight I have ever experienced
I managed a good nights sleep as it happens and awoke to a full breakfast which was not arf bad..all eaten and was washed down with a comforting mug of coffee. I was even offered use of the wheelchair to freshen up prior to landing........ was this really the same airline I had flown our with to the USA?. As many of you have posted on my first trip report, when the VA service is bad it is dire but when it is good it’s absolutely fabulous. I just cant fault or even praise enough this very proffessional and dedicated CC we had the pleasure to fly with on the trip home, thank you all!
We landed expectedly late due to the late departure but taxied quickly to the gate and folk cleared the plane quite quickly it was not long till I was re united with my wheelchair on board and we were soon on the way through the new fast track channel, a brills, effective and most welcome addition to the immigration process at Gatwick and all you need is your boarding tab!
The welcome sight of our taxi driver greeted us and just over an hour later we were home
Thanks for reading
Last edited by Cloudscudder on 07 Oct 2011, 11:31, edited 1 time in total.
Delighted to hear about your praise for the CC after the debacle on your outbound leg!
