Travel: USA - Florida/Orlando

[Laura02]

We're just back from Orlando. It was really fun! But the cold front moved in while we were there, and tempretures dropped to 5oC at night! But we were prepared and just piled on the layers (up to 5 layers at night!!)

I discovered that in US, they're preety relaxed about domestic flights. If you're late for your flight, just check in for the next available one. They're rather relaxed about our luggage too - Continental didn't tag one of ours on the flight fr Huston to Orland - so it didn't arrive till 24hr after we did. Good thing we had sets of clothes in both luggages. Then it misplaced our friends' golf bag on the return journey ... but it was found just as we were starting to really panic.
Shopping was good too - just try not to think about how much was already spent on plane tickets

[Dnls_mum]

Laura02:

We're just back from Orlando. It was really fun! But the cold front moved in while we were there, and tempretures dropped to 5oC at night! But we were prepared and just piled on the layers (up to 5 layers at night!!)

I discovered that in US, they're preety relaxed about domestic flights. If you're late for your flight, just check in for the next available one. They're rather relaxed about our luggage too - Continental didn't tag one of ours on the flight fr Huston to Orland - so it didn't arrive till 24hr after we did. Good thing we had sets of clothes in both luggages. Then it misplaced our friends' golf bag on the return journey ... but it was found just as we were starting to really panic.
Shopping was good too - just try not to think about how much was already spent on plane tickets

Laura02,
The flght from SG to Houston arrives in Houston around 2.15pm, and I notice that the next continetal flight to Orlando departs at 3.40pm. Were these the flights that you took? did you have enough stopover time?

[Laura02]

Actually, we were really kiasu and booked the one that left at 6 plus. We regretted that decision because our flight landed half an hour earlier and we’d been in time to catch the earlier flight. And most frequent fliers to the states said to give at least 2 hr between connecting flights to get everything done. But if you want to try - tell the flight stewardess that you have a connecting flight and ask them if they can help you. They can sometimes help you get priority check- in (not need to queue for check-in), but you must go through the queue for customs by yourself first.

[Dnls_mum]

Laura02:

Actually, we were really kiasu and booked the one that left at 6 plus. We regretted that decision because our flight landed half an hour earlier and we'd been in time to catch the earlier flight. And most frequent fliers to the states said to give at least 2 hr between connecting flights to get everything done. But if you want to try - tell the flight stewardess that you have a connecting flight and ask them if they can help you. They can sometimes help you get priority check- in (not need to queue for check-in), but you must go through the queue for customs by yourself first.

Thanks Laura.
We have managed to redeem 5 tickets to Orlando via Houston on SQ or end Nov. SQ refuse to let us connect to the earlier flight, so we'll be on the same 6+ flight to Orlando as you.

I think since ours is arranged as one ticket, they will not take the chance that we may miss the connecting flight, otherwise they will need to be responsible and make alternative arrangements for us. If we had booked separate tickets, then we could have tried for the earlier flight but take our own responsibility if we miss the connection.

Since DH has the Krisflyer gold, and I have the priority pass, we can have 3 free entry to the lounge and just pay for 2 kids, so that we can rest in the lounge and perhaps take a shower since we will have plenty of time on hand!

I am looking forward to our trip counting down to Nov!

[Laura02]

Yes, we used the lounge too. It has the usual tea/ coffee/ finger food selection/ clean toilets. I don’t remember showers, but I wasn’t looking for one. But Huston airport is huge and there’s lots of shops there.

But my main grouse is that taking the 6PM flight ment that we got to Orlando at 10pm. Are you renting a car? We rented one, and spent half an hour looking for the car rental company, then another hour looking for the guy who was supposed to be there to give us our car keys, another half an hour checking out the cars …It was way past midnight by the time we got to our hotel.

[G Tan]

Laura02:

Yes, we used the lounge too. It has the usual tea/ coffee/ finger food selection/ clean toilets. I don't remember showers, but I wasn't looking for one. But Huston airport is huge and there's lots of shops there.

But my main grouse is that taking the 6PM flight ment that we got to Orlando at 10pm. Are you renting a car? We rented one, and spent half an hour looking for the car rental company, then another hour looking for the guy who was supposed to be there to give us our car keys, another half an hour checking out the cars ...It was way past midnight by the time we got to our hotel.

Hey guys

Me and my girl went to Orlando in DEc 2010 also. It was very fun

[Dnls_mum]

Laura02:

Yes, we used the lounge too. It has the usual tea/ coffee/ finger food selection/ clean toilets. I don't remember showers, but I wasn't looking for one. But Huston airport is huge and there's lots of shops there.

But my main grouse is that taking the 6PM flight ment that we got to Orlando at 10pm. Are you renting a car? We rented one, and spent half an hour looking for the car rental company, then another hour looking for the guy who was supposed to be there to give us our car keys, another half an hour checking out the cars ...It was way past midnight by the time we got to our hotel.

Where did u stay? We will be staying onsite at the Contemporary Hotel at WAlt Disney World so we will be taking the Disney Magical Express to the hotel. We will be staying there for 11 nights then move on to Hard Rock Hotel at Universal for 5 nights. We will only rent the car when we move to Hard Rock.

Can't wait to be back to the Contemporary. We stayed there and at the Hard Rock too when we went to Orlando 5 yrs ago. We love being able to watch the Wishes fireworks in Magic Kingdom from our room balcony as well as walk to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary

BTW, DH is in the US now. He took the flight to Houston yesterday and it took him 1.5 hours to clear custom! He said that he had to rush to catch his connecting flight to Dallas!

[Dnls_mum]

G Tan:

Laura02:

Yes, we used the lounge too. It has the usual tea/ coffee/ finger food selection/ clean toilets. I don't remember showers, but I wasn't looking for one. But Huston airport is huge and there's lots of shops there.

But my main grouse is that taking the 6PM flight ment that we got to Orlando at 10pm. Are you renting a car? We rented one, and spent half an hour looking for the car rental company, then another hour looking for the guy who was supposed to be there to give us our car keys, another half an hour checking out the cars ...It was way past midnight by the time we got to our hotel.

Hey guys

Me and my girl went to Orlando in DEc 2010 also. It was very fun

Yes Orlando is great! That's why we've decided to go back a second time. The last time we were there was in 2007. It is a place that makes me happy! I am having fun planning the trip!

[Honey]

Dnls_mum:

G Tan:

[quote=\"Laura02\"]Yes, we used the lounge too. It has the usual tea/ coffee/ finger food selection/ clean toilets. I don't remember showers, but I wasn't looking for one. But Huston airport is huge and there's lots of shops there.

But my main grouse is that taking the 6PM flight ment that we got to Orlando at 10pm. Are you renting a car? We rented one, and spent half an hour looking for the car rental company, then another hour looking for the guy who was supposed to be there to give us our car keys, another half an hour checking out the cars ...It was way past midnight by the time we got to our hotel.

Hey guys

Me and my girl went to Orlando in DEc 2010 also. It was very fun

Yes Orlando is great! That's why we've decided to go back a second time. The last time we were there was in 2007. It is a place that makes me happy! I am having fun planning the trip![/quote]Ohhhhhh ..... makes me want to go back too. The very first impression upon landing is already enough to make you want to go back. They have one of the nicest airports around. We were there in late Nov 09 with all the christmas lights all decked up so nice with Hyatt in the heart of the airport! The driving condition in Orlando is good with wide roads & good drivers. And nice weather too .... Food wise also good.

Our plane landed at 6pm. After checking out & had dinner at the airport, we took a taxi around 8pm from the airport to our hotel (US$50, I think) & was so happy to find that our car rental Hertz's office was just minutes awayfrom our hotel. The next morning, we just walked over & took over the car & returned the car on our last day. We took a taxi at 5am early next morning to the airport, no trouble of returning the car at an unearthly hour & having to wait for this & that.

[Laura02]

Yes, Orlando was fun! And there’s a lovely Disney shop in the airport too. And shopping at the post-Thanksgiving sales was a blast! But the flight was exhausting. And I get really jet lagged.

We stayed off Disney, at a resort called Tuscana 'coz a relative bought a place there. Its easy to drive there, and the car rental companies are just a short walk cross the road fr the departurel terminal. Just a word of caution - becareful where you park. We parked at Pizza Hut on International Drive, then crossed the road to eat. But when we got back, we found that our car was missing. Then we found a small sign tagged to a tree that said that they will tow away cars parked there if you’re not going to Pizza Hut. While thankful that it was just towed away and not actually stolen, it was a hassle to have to take a cab to an unsavory part of town to retrieve our car.
Check out Legoland if you’re a Lego fan, like I am. The type rides are mostly the same as in any other theme park, but I liked the Imaginarium section where they let you "experiment" with lego.