As you will have seen by our past posts, the Gaylords Palms Hotel is our favourite Dining place. We recommend it to all of our guests for that ‘Special Occassion’ while they are on holiday in Orlando. They have just announced that they are teaming up in a partnership with DreamWorks Animation. They will be bringing some of the well known characters from the animated movies including, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs. Aliens and Madagascar to the four Gaylord Palms Resort Hotels, including the Gaylord Palms Resort near Disney World in Kissimmee.

Called “The DreamWorks Experience, the new attraction opens in November 2011 in the run up to Christmas. Tickets are already on sale. Guests can expect character breakfasts, private birthday parties, meet-and-greet sessions, parades, shows and special themed Christmas events.

Gaylord Resorts have decided to go into direct competition with Disney, Universal and Nickelodeon who all already have themed dining experiences. Our visits during the Christmas Season to see the Ice Creations have been amazing, so this will make the whole visit even better as all of the original restaraunts are still there.

Following up on our last post, Legoland have finally announced their opening dates as SATURDAY 15TH. OCTOBER 2011. Idealy suited for the young ones aged 2-12

Happy Holidays

Mary & Larry

Having just returned last week from Florida, some Good News. Epcot has started testing a new entry ticket scanning system. Unlike the current entry systems, the new systems does not have any turnstiles or require the ticket to actually be inserted into a machine which should make it easier for families with strollers and guests in wheelchairs.

The new system only works with tickets that have a barcode on the back, basically new multi-day tickets and annual passholder tickets. Instead of putting the ticket in a machine, you just scan the barcode. In addition, you still have to scan your finger in the hand scanner to check that you are the valid owner of the ticket.

Each scanning “station” has three scanners on each side, making six in total. The idea is that the new scanners will speed up entry to the park. Note however that guests still have to have their bags checked

We are constantly asked by our future guests, which site gives the best deal for Park Tickets. It can be such a mine field with all of the different packages available, length of pass, which Parks etc. The best answer we can give is, search around the reputable sites and do a comparrison package price for each Park, as their needs are different from others.

Our main advice is DO NOT buy your tickets at the booths along the 192 & International Drive, as  again there have been a lot of tourists ripped off in the recent months.

Several people have been arrested in the latest operation to crack down on the illegal sale of part-used multi-day theme park tickets. Some 860 tickets for Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, worth over $100,000, were seized from shops operating along Highway 192. & International Drive.

A few Tips, Be aware, Multi-day passes are non-transferable and their resale in Florida is illegal. If you buy a partially used theme park ticket you could well be refused admission and there is no way to tell how many days are still remaining on the ticket.

Be very suspicious if you are offered tickets for considerably less than their normal face value; remember when it comes to theme park tickets, heavily discounted prices are usually too good to be true.

Unless you specially pay for the non-expiry option on Walt Disney World multi-day tickets, they typically expire after 14 days from date of first use. Therefore there is a temptation for some holiday makers to sell part-used tickets to unscrupulous dealers.

It is not worth the risk of spoiling your holiday and hitting your pocket heavily. Always use a reputable site for your tickests.

Happy Holidays,

Mary & Larry

On our third visit to our villa in Davenport, Orlando, my parents were to come with us.

Every thing was booked, so off to the airport we went, staying over night in a hotel the night before. On arrival at the check in desk my wife, daughter and myself checked in OK. But my parents could not check in as they had British subjects on their passports as they had moved to the UK from the Irish republic 60 years earlier. We did resolve the problem, my parents went and got their Irish passports renewed, but lost a week of their holiday, so be warned, check all of the following:

US VISA AND PASSPORT

Under the US Visa Waiver Programme, many British Citizens holding a UK Passport do not require a US visa providing: -

· Duration of stay is not more than 90 days and the traveller holds a valid ticket for their onward or return journey.

· Passport is valid for at least 90 days from the date of entry into the US

· Travel is for business, tourism or transit only.

· Traveller is not a journalist on assignment or an individual seeking gainful employment.

· Traveller has never been arrested (even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction) and has not been convicted of a crime.

· Traveller has not been refused entry into or deported from the US and has not previously violated the terms of admission under the Visa Waiver Programme.

· Traveller is in possession of a machine-readable passport. All children and infants must also have their own machine-readable passports.

· Traveller completes and presents an I-94 W form to the US Customs and Border Protection at the first point of entry into the US (these forms are available at check in or on the aircraft) and otherwise be eligible for a visa.

British Subjects (i.e. not British Citizens) are not eligible to travel visa- free under the Visa Waiver Programme and require a visa to enter the United States.
If you do not meet the above requirements, and need to apply for a visa, you may contact the US Embassy on 09055 444 546,for an appointment as far ahead as possible. You may also visit their website www.usembassy.org.uk.

On £2,000, you will get an extra 2,000 x 5.85 cents, which is $117. Well worth having in my view: nearly enough for two park tickets, or a slap up meal for 4!
 
Corporate FX will give you a competive rate if you want cash delivered to your door, or travellers cheques etc, but always the rate will be as good as or better than other sources. They can also transfer your dollars to your US bank account by BACS, (takes 3-4 days) which at present is free, but is likely soon to be charged at £10 or so by their bank, Lloyds, or CHAPS (24 hours) for a current fee of £20.
 
One of the very best things about them is that they never talk down to you when you phone them and display your ignorance of the system! They are very friendly and matter of fact about what they can offer, and will tell you what they think the $ rate will do in the short term, although obviously there are no guarantees!
 
If you are changing a large sum and want to achieve a particular, higher, rate, then they can ‘log’ your rate and will only make the exchange (automatically) if the rate goes up to that level on the currency markets anywhere around the world. You can also ‘forward buy’ to protect the rate over a given period, and only pay a deposit at the time of 10% of the total contract value, which will be deducted from the outstanding balance which is due the day before the value date. Of course this costs more because you are effectively borrowing the money for that period. However, I did do it when buying the original purchase money, and luckily it paid off!