kevbaz Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Hi guys Off to Florida for a couple of weeks in 19 days time its my first time to the states and was just wondering if anyone had any useful tips/reminders/reccomendations? cheers
laserblazer Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) Don't give the security guys at the airport any lip! When we went round Universal Studios, one of the guys on the gate noticed my wife was disabled and suggested we went round in the reverse direction. There were no queues at all and I got to star in a WWII movie. Don't sit in the front seats at the Killer Whale performance, unless you want to drown. Are you just going to Kissimmee? Where comfy shoes. Have a great time, it is an experience everyone should try. Edited March 16, 2011 by laserblazer 1
AngryTechnician Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 While there, don't refer to Florida as 'America's Wang'. 3
FN-GM Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Hi guys Off to Florida for a couple of weeks in 19 days time its my first time to the states and was just wondering if anyone had any useful tips/reminders/reccomendations? cheers They drive on the other side of the road oh and they talk funny Erm in the USA they have a big tipping culture, so expect to be tipping anyone who provides a service. Also i believe Airport security, TSA are a pain in the USA so make sure you have nothing on you that you shouldnt have. Who are you flying with? 1
rad Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Go to the Disney stuff, you only live once and I believe it is much better than the Paris one. 21 years ago, was only a little kid so not much help, but we did do the Disney stuff and it was really good then. 1
kevbaz Posted March 16, 2011 Author Posted March 16, 2011 Were flying with US Airways and have one stop in Charlotte north Carolina We have a car booked and have our disney and universal tickets to hand
Fatmas Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Here is some advice from my Dad: "If you can afford to take your kids to Disney World in Florida and don't, it's child abuse." I'm inclined to agree, I had a great time there when I was younger. 1
kevbaz Posted March 16, 2011 Author Posted March 16, 2011 How old are you kids? We are the kids there are 10 of us going which includes my 3 nephews who are 3, 5 and 13
FN-GM Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Remember to collect your AirMiles. With them you can get upgrade, free flights, extra baggage on any Star Alliance airline. These are the airline they can be used on - Star Alliance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
steve Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 On the practical side - take a 4-way extension and 1 uk-usa converter - that way you can charge lots of things at a time. Make sure you change your phone to stop roaming before you land (no data use). The cost of mobile data is crazy. Some phone companies will put a cap on your use, worth checking. If you manage to get to the odd bar, they'll usually start you a tab. Every few drinks they should give you a drink free (comp). That's one reason tipping well is expected. Take ID with you if you're buying beer anywhere - even supermarkets. Supermarkets / shops will usually add a sales tax at the till on most goods. If you're renting a villa, pay for the pool heating. 1
ButterflyMoon Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Some shops you need your passport also when buying stuff specially if you use your credit card. Security is certainly very tight when you land in the US these guys have NO humour whatsoever and have the power to send you right back on the next plane if you don't play nice. Wait BEHIND the yellow line till they tell you to move. All that said once through you will have a fab trip. If your a tea drinker take teabags with you as most places have all the herbal teas and if your taste is bog basic tea take your own. Have to say the tipping thing always hacks me off a tad, (no one ever tips me for doing my job!) it's usually 10% of the final bill. ONLY cross the road at crossing points otherwise you could be done for jaywalking. Generally though the Americans are great on customer service and nothing is too much trouble. Have a great one 1
JoeBloggs Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 I fly to the USA in 11 weeks, for 3 weeks! 1 week in LA, then to Vegas for a couple of nights then the rest of the trip in NY! Can't wait, never been USA too
MYK-IT Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) I went on holiday to Florida (our 2nd time) with my kids in December 2010, got back on Christmas Eve. Fantastic! If you are staying at a hotel, and not fly-drive, use the i-ride trolley to get about International Drive. Kids under 12 are free, and they run approx every 30mins. The website also has discount vouchers you can print off and use at various shops or food outlets. I Ride Trolley The family loved Friendly's on International Drive. Friendly’s - Where Ice Cream Makes the Meal You can also use the Lynx Bus System. Cost around $2, can get you to the Florida Mall, Airport etc LYNX Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority If you can afford it, do the Dolphin Swim at Discovery Cove. We purchased the Ultimate Pass, expensive, yes but besides giving you a full day at Discovery Cove with unlimited food and drink, you also get 2 weeks access to Sea World and Aquatica Water Park. SeaWorld Check out The DIBB Forum, full of vast amount of information. Disney and Orlando, Florida Holiday Planning - theDIBB Check out The UnderCover Tourist Website, for information of parks and attractions etc. You can also download an app for the iphone and Android which will show you realtime waiting times for the attractions. Disney World tickets discount, Free Disney iPhone app, Android, Disney wait times, Universal Studios tickets - Undercover Tourist Maybe use a pre-paid debit card. I used the Dollar card from FairFX, just use it as cash. And always use the safe within your hotel (room) for all your valuables. Travel Money Card - Best Exchange Rates - FairFX Currency Card Oh, you have applied for your ESTA? https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ A lot of hotels offer free Internet (if not within your room, within the lobby) or they have Internet cafes. So you can use your mobile (or BBM free on a BB) to speak to family at home etc. Alternatively, purchase a pre-paid telephone card (or a USA SIM Card). Try and plan your days, using the weather forecast combined with info from UnderCover Tourist. And always plan a few days to do nothing (just chill around the pool etc). You will be doing a lot of walking around Disney / Universal. Take a ruck-sac, and put bottles,drinks or food in there. An alternative is to buy 1 or 2 drink beakers from Universal etc. They cost more initially (around $7 each) but refills are .79c. So pay for the refills, and decant into your empty drinks bottles. Edited March 17, 2011 by MYK-IT 1
Andrew_C Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) Kennedy Space centre. Wow! Especially if there is some sort of launch while you are there. The worlds biggest firework... Looks like you are JUST too early. Shame. Edited March 17, 2011 by Andrew_C 1
MYK-IT Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Kennedy Space centre. Wow! Especially if there is some sort of launch while you are there. The worlds biggest firework... Looks like you are JUST too early. Shame. Yes, went there on our first visit to Florida. FANTASTIC. Looks like I will never fulfil my childhood dream of seeing a Shuttle launch Only 2 left now. 1
Dom_ Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 I went to Vegas in the Feb holidays, and had a stopover in Atlanta, where we passed through security... I had no issues, and when the security guard saw I was going to Vegas and said 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas', he cracked a grin when I replied "Except for herpes...". Obviously it will depend who you get, but they're not all uber strict :-P. Have an awesome time - I went when I was a kid and stayed in a villa... Don't leave any food out, or you'll get a trail of ants running everywhere... Go to the water parks, they are amazing! Fill your boots at the breakfast buffets (not really your boots, but ask for a box and you can fill it with cookies and stuff for the rest of the day!). As someone suggested earlier, don't sit on the front 10 rows at seaworld, they're empty for a reason! If you go to Animal Kingdom, go watch the 3D movie in the tree, it's great (or was 10 years ago :-P) Remember that all the teddies and stuff you buy have to fit in your luggage - we ended up leaving a couple of massive ones as we simply couldn't fit them anywhere :-( Try alligator - it's nice! Hooters isn't all its cracked up to be, but worth a punt... (be careful with the drinks offers - they're usually dependant of which bar you go to and don't work when eating!) Get a spare camera battery, you'll need it! 1
Arcath Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Don't do what my Irish friend did and go up to passport control and say "Yeah I'm just here for the crack"
FragglePete Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Flying out ourselves on the 1st of April. First decent family holiday since we had kids. We're flying to Miami and driving up to Orlando which saved about £600 on the Flights (there are five of us going), flying with Delta from Heathrow direct which is quite a new route for them. Last time we were there was about 12 years ago, and we were lucky to see a Shuttle Launch - just staggering to watch, hear and feel! Just when you think something couldn't get louder it suddenly does! We've got a week in Orlando, then a week down in Cape Coral. So it's a week doing the parks (with a rest day, which is important) and then a week doing the beaches, national parks and hopefully seeing more of the real Florida than the Mickey Mouse Florida. We've spent a long time planning; the last thing we sorted out was Travel Insurance which we're covered on our House Insurance (Direct Line House Insurance Plus) which has a decent medical and cancellation limit (check what yours is). Funny thing is that when the renewal came through last week we just phoned them up and said we found it cheaper and they knocked £100 off straight away. Other advice, don't try any jokes or humour on the Imigration Officers; smile sweetly, say "Yes Sir/Madam" or "No Sir/Madam" at the appropriate times and be polite. They've got the power to ruin your holiday as quick as it takes to stamp your passport! Plan your days, and plan appropriate rest days. Enjoy yourself Pete 1
sister_annex Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 As you have never been before be prepared to have your fingerprints taken (and that goes for all over 16 IIRC) and to have a grilling from passport control about your stay. I haven't been to Florida but have done LA and Vegas, loved it! food is excellent (even the fast food joints) and there is always lots of it I do have to agree security is tight and lots of them do look like guns for hire mercenaries and most don't have a sense of humour - trust me I know (I tried making a joke with passport control officer and by the look on his face I'm surprised he didn't shoot me on the spot!) Either way have fun and watch out for the crocs 1
MK-2 Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 steer clear of saying "well the chances of there being two bombs on a plane are a billion to one, so i thought if i carried one on i'd be lowering the risk for everyone". or "i dont know how that cocaine got in ther.....oh yes sorry my name is" 2
kevbaz Posted March 17, 2011 Author Posted March 17, 2011 Thanks for all the tips guys we fly home a day before the shuttle goes up, which were kicking ourselves about, gutted big time! Were staying in a villa about 6 mins fom disney, got the esta forms, travel insurance, passports are good, got both parts for my driving license. only query is my phone, i have a samsung galaxy s from tesco mobile and will be using copliot sat nav on it, which isnt data connection dependant, buf if i picked up a payg sim when we arrive will it just work in the phone? will need to have a phone on us to keep in touch with the rest of the group etc
Andrew_C Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 When we arrived in the States on the Queen Mary in 1966, my father was ill with what turned out to be pneumonia, and my mother had two small kids (3 & 6) and a Siamese cat to deal with. When immigration goon asked "Do you intend to overthrow the lawful govt of the USA?" "Does it look like it?" wasn't an appropriate response. On the way back we saw the launch of the second Skylab crew from the VIP area. Stunning. Quite literally slack-jaw stunning. The crews were sent up on Saturn 1Bs, not the even huger Saturn 5s, and the ground was shaking several miles away.
sonofsanta Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Get up early, which isn't too hard a habit to get into due to the time difference anyway, get to the parks as soon as you can and go straight for the ride you're looking forward to most. You can get on Splash Mountain three times in half an hour if it's the first thing you go to. Normally me, my daughter and father-in-law pace off to get there ASAP whislt the wife and mother-in-law amble behind to wait for us Take sunhats and suncream, sunstroke is less fun than being stabbed in the eye with a plastic spork. Eat a corndog. They are delicious. Go to Typhoon Lagoon, world's greatest wave machine. Take plasters for your knees afterwards. And if you have a day, go on a swamp boat ride. We drove about an hour away from International Drive to get to one properly out in the sticks and it was just beautiful. And don't forget your camera charger! We went out in Summer '09 for a fortnight, going out again this summer for 3 weeks as a final blowout, last time we'll be able to go with the wife's parents as they're getting on a bit now and won't be able to enjoy the coasters for much longer. Can't wait 1
mac_shinobi Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 Reminded me of Flo Rida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and the movie the hang over lol 1
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now