VS073 MAN-MCO 17 DEC 13 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Quicky TR from our outbound MCO trip:

Disappointingly unable to snag any bubble seats and even though gained seq 1,2 & 3 at Check-in still stuck at rear of downstairs PE (although I quite liked the 19 rear row (and our middle seats on the side away from the loo- which I imagine would be come bothersome).

Boarding and take-off as expected, no kids packs anymore- assume a stealth move by bean counters, also no amenity kits of any description...

Meal service...well you know whats coming....in row 19...

Hadn't ordered mini NH a kids meal as they are disgusting and at 8 she is mature enough to eat a proper meal, so the chicken option suited fine...yep that was all that was left (all beef, as usual had run out). did raise this as a reoccurring issue, CC were fine, they admitted this happened on nearly every flight...(surely a clue there...), had the chicken thing, but CC gave me a spare Pea risotto to try also... It was actually really nice. I was on soft drinks as driving on arrival, but settled into couple of movies. Mini was oblivious to most of the flight due to 1 Direction (aka No Sense of Direction, as "dad" calls them) and the Croods.

Drifted off for a couple of hours and before long, tidying up for landing. had a mission on for getting to immigration, but unfounded as empty! and through in no time, bags also arrived soon after.

Across to Hertz Gold Canopy, had ordered a full size saloon but really wanted a small SUV, so happened american couple in the office were wanting the opposite, so agreed an amicable swap with agreement from the Hertz rep, at no additional cost...

easy run out to Loews portofino for 3 nights and a Universal fest (where the 1hr pre-opening Harry Potter and fast pass was an absolute god send), then on to Sheraton Vistana for 7 days of mainly sea world/ gatorland for mini, trip to Kennedy Space Centre (pair of us hadn't been since the '80's) and shopping for mrs NH... (stock up pre-NZ):w

All-in-all an "as expected" flight, disappointing on the meal choice/ no amenity kits/ kids packs etc...

NH

There are still kids packs. They are a new style but should have been available

[Neil]

Thanks for the TR NH.

Personally I would always go with PE downstairs on the 747's now, so I don't think you missed out too much, and I actually quite like row 19, but know what you mean about the meal issue.

They were handing kid packs out in our flight last Friday so sounds like mini was just unlucky.

Sounds like it all worked out with Hertz, never had any issues with them, for the first time we used Budget this trip (Hertz were nearly £400 more for same vehicle!) but it was a very painful and long process, although the free upgrade we got helped a little.

Thanks for the TR . How pleasing to find an empty Immigration Hall.

[buns]

Thanks for the TR

You have confirmed to me that the kids meals will not feature during our trip in May and I sincerely hipe that kids packs will be available

Enjoy Florida

buns

Thanks for the TR

You have confirmed to me that the kids meals will not feature during our trip in May and I sincerely hipe that kids packs will be available

Enjoy Florida

buns

Buns, if said child is able to eat fairly standard "adult food" they are best avoided, given its usually cheese/pasta/ beans or a gloopy combination of..

Never fail to be disillusioned with the "kids meals" available in most eateries in FL. no wonder they have an obesity issue- even more obvious this time in kids for some reason.. So unless paying for full adult item off nearly all menu's in Orlando, it will be last time they will see some form of veg...(ok over boiled and beyond much use..but least its there...), the only decent appealing healthy alternative was at Wolfgang Pucks Dining Room in DTD...decent piece of salmon and some proper broccoli...

Have found the idea of asking for a half portion of a adult meal, does not compute?

[buns]

NH

Thanks for your reply - I am sure that Mum will benefit from your experience, as Mrs Buns and I will be joined by children for the very first time in travelling to the US.

I found your advice about US eateries very helpful. It had never occurred to me before about the lack of proper veg and the results of asking for small portions will be remembered

Thank you once again

buns

There are still kids packs. They are a new style but should have been available

Not on our flight, come to expect it on every other flight non-mco flight as never been available/ on offer ( to be fair have never asked...should I need to?)

No amenity kits/ no kid pack offered/ no meal choice available.........

Thank you for the TR.

I don't think they've been doing amenity kits on the way out for some time now, I didn't get one earlier this year.

[honey lamb]

NH

I found your advice about US eateries very helpful. It had never occurred to me before about the lack of proper veg and the results of asking for small portions will be remembered

Thank you once again

buns

buns, one of the things that I learned in the US with regard to kid's meals for John (and indeed some of my own meals come to that given the size of US portions) was to look at the starter menu and use it as a main course. A couple of starters plus a salad could give the right amount of veg - or as near as. It was Ben who put me up to that several years ago and I was eternally grateful to him for that tip.

[Darren Wheeler]

Avoid Cheesecake Factory then....

Don't think the amenity packs are available on day flights but I may be wrong. I have been trying to select a kids option on the VA website for our May flight but it doesn't give me that as a choice? Maybe it's a good idea to give it a miss then? She's quite a 6 going on 16 year old anyway

Don't think the amenity packs are available on day flights but I may be wrong. I have been trying to select a kids option on the VA website for our May flight but it doesn't give me that as a choice? Maybe it's a good idea to give it a miss then? She's quite a 6 going on 16 year old anyway

If she'll happily eat normal adult food, then really up to yourselves, ok you'll get a pack of apple slices and something like a fruitshoot with kids meal...

HL- yep the starter idea was used a couple of times, worked well.

[buns]

HL
(and of course Ben)

Thanks for the tip about Starters

Darren

I will ensure that the Cheesecake Factory will not feature on the trip - not least because I will not be taking them to the Mall of the Millennia

buns

Amenity kits are now definitely only provided on overnight flights.

Vegetables in Florida? I'm not sure that many people can even spell the word!

Come to think of it, 'seasonal vegetables' in Vegas consisted of a couple of straggly green beans and nothing else! Still, had a great meal at Lombardi's (Italian) in the Magic Mile arcade (Planet Hollywood)for anyone who might be desperate for something half decent at reasonable prices.