Holiday Thread

[Yinster]

The shows in Hollywood Studios are all pretty good. Disney has introduced a new system for their fast passes which I actually like. Fast pass is basically a pass to skip the stand by queue. Previously with fast passes you go to a ride that had them and put your ticket in to get the next available slot for a fast pass. However with this old system you couldn't get another fast pass until you reach your fast pass time slot. So if the park is really busy and you got your first fast pass in the morning but it wasn't till 16:00 then it is a long wait before you could another one if at all. The new system means you wait at one of the kiosks and when a cast member is available you can get your three fast pass for the day and the time when you are get them. If you stay in one of the on site resorts you can do this online before you hit the park.

We did Epcot on Sunday. Missed the parks on Monday due to it being President's day and thus being very busy. Hollywood studios and Animal Kingdom on Tuesday. Magic Kingdom on Wednesday.

Having experienced Disney in Hong Kong when it is usually not so busy we found in particular Magic Kingdom pretty busy even though everyone was saying it was quiet. Yikes. Hate to see it when it is then. Our hotel was full due to a lot of Canadians and those living in the north taking a break from the snow. Most standby queues were about 40 minutes or longer. And most of the rides were accurate with the stand by times. Apart from Peter Pan which said 40 minutes so we thought we have time for the ride, lunch before hitting Haunted Mansion. Alas it was 1 hour 30 minutes. If we had known we would have taken an educated decision and not to ride it. We set ourselves a limit of 60 minutes or less.

We also booked the Wishes Dessert party in Tomorrowland for our last night which we thought was lovely and good value for money. No need to joust for a space to view the fireworks and desserts to eat. Also as I booked it really early on, in October I think we had a really good spot to sit down to our desserts.

We did compare rides in the Magic Kingdom to those in Hong Kong and tbh personally I think the same rides in Hong Kong are so much better.

I know there are people out there that do Disney in every holiday possible but I can't understand why? Yes it is a magical place and if you are organised like us you can get your money's worth. But it is expensive for what it is and the world is such a huge place for you to discover. Each to their own I guess.

[Yinster]

In all our fortnight honeymoon has it's highs and lows. But as we pa*d top dollar for it sadly it wasn't perfect. Which is a shame as I hoped it would be. Perhaps if we didn't pa*d as much or waited as long we might not be as disappointed. We did have a lovely and enjoyable trip but it could have been better. I did mention to a Virgin rep on the last day of our stay but even if they knew beforehand there wasn't much they could have done that we didn't do.

[Diane65]

Just returned from a 5 day holiday in Marrakech and can for the first time ever say I didn't enjoy it 100%. I always enjoy my trips for what they and enjoy it for what it is but Marrakech is something else. Let's start with the positive the flights were good, the hotel was just perfect along with the very attentive staff so relaxing, clean and pretty.

On our first full day we decided just to explore the local area and had a trip to the Souks - well my oh my it was not what I expected at all! I assumed that they would be quite persuasive trying to sell you their goods but not for one minute thought that I would be grabbed rather firmly and told to F*** Off ****** (it's too bad to write) so many times - it got so bad that I had to square up to one man to make him let me go (this was when you didn't b*y something from them). I can hand on heart say that I have never been shown so much disrespect in my life. I was dressed appropriately and was perfectly polite but suddenly realised that this was not how you had to behave to survive so you literally have to put your hand more or less into their face to get through (like a police officer would do to stop traffic). We also witnessed two English ladies being knocked down by a motor cycle and just left on the floor! I am not highly sensitive and like to experience different cultures but even I found this too offensive.

On the following day we decided to p*y the taxi driver who worked for the hotel to take us sight seeing for the day along with another couple (man and woman) and what a difference it made we had a wonderful day visiting the Marjorelle gardens (tiny but beautiful), camel riding, visiting Bahia palace and the Palmerie for a spot of camel riding. Couldn't make out if it was purely because he was Moroccan or because we had a man with us as to what made the difference.

The following day we hired Mohammed again (the taxi driver) to take us on a trip to the Atlas mountains and Ouzoud Falls (plus a quick visit to Richard Branson's hotel (how the other half live ) - the scenery is so varied it was just wonderful from the dessert like valleys, to lush greenery to snow topped mountains. We had a climb up to the waterfall with the help of a Berber gentleman (well he helped my friends holding their hands but I was left to my own devices ) what an exhilarating experience! It isn't the most stunning of waterfalls due to lack of greenery but well worth a visit. The Berbers are a completely different kettle of fish, very humble people living a very simple life so I was more than happy to b*y from them as yes they do barter as is traditional but are never rude. Also stopped at the most amazing place where they made lamps and pottery (watching them in action) so we were delighted to b*y all our gifts from there without being told to F off once

It certainly was a holiday of 2 halves one just wonderful and the other I certainly won't be going back but it maybe different if you have a man with you whereas we were 3 girls, although my French is rubbish I can make an attempt to speak in their language so wasn't even expecting them to speak in English to me. The people in the Kasbah area where we were staying were fine it was just around the Souks that it was vile.

[eumenides]

Wow Diane65, that sounds like an experience and a half ! It sort of mirrors the holiday I had in Egypt several years ago in terms of the levels of disrespect shown though that was more pervy than sweary. How horrid ! Glad that there were highs to the holiday but understand why you wouldn't want to return. Also glad that you're home and safe ! Welcome back.

[prettyxcool]

Oh dear, sorry to hear that the start of your holiday was so horrid, but glad it all turned out better the rest of the holiday. I always love reading what everyone gets up to, so thanks for sharing. Welcome back from me too!

[ejwrank]

Sorry to read about the low points (very low points) of your holiday, Diane and very glad you met up with a sympathetic taxi driver and others to accompany you to make things easier. Welcome back -- we've been missing you!

[eumenides]

Newly returned from Tromso in Norway and can thoroughly recommend the place. But if you make the journey, come prepared for the most expensive trip of your life; eating out was an eye opener with a "meal deal" for pizza costing £17 for two slices. So avoid pizza, folks! After getting over the initial shock of the expense of living and breathing you can't help but fall in love with the place.
The Northern Lights were nothing short of spectacular and we managed to get some nice shots over the four hour light display we were lucky enough to catch. And the stars ! What a treat to be able to see the rest of the Milky Way.
Managed to fit in a fjords safari, snowshoeing up a mountain, cable car and general sightseeing in a short trip but hope to return in the summer to check out the midnight sun. Oh, I need another holiday badly!

[baty]

Oh, you two make me soo envious I think you both have done well to find the good and hopefully avoid as best you can, the bad. Maybe we could do with a places we have been section? We could learn from others experiences.

Would love to see the northern lights - I really must start a to do/see list. I know I haven't done enough with my life yet.

Would like to see more of the uk for a start, might be easier with RSH and travelodge etc. SO, Manchester here I/we come. only 3 weeks away whoooo

What would anyone else like to see or do?

[Diane65]

Wow Diane65, that sounds like an experience and a half ! It sort of mirrors the holiday I had in Egypt several years ago in terms of the levels of disrespect shown though that was more pervy than sweary. How horrid ! Glad that there were highs to the holiday but understand why you wouldn't want to return. Also glad that you're home and safe ! Welcome back.

Glad to be back and thanks!

Sorry to read about the low points (very low points) of your holiday, Diane and very glad you met up with a sympathetic taxi driver and others to accompany you to make things easier. Welcome back -- we've been missing you!

Missed being on here too. We met the other couple at the hotel and they were good fun so I suggested that we all went together (still organising everybody even people I don't know ) - We were all happy as it was £60 for the day so split between 5 a bargain all around.

Oh dear, sorry to hear that the start of your holiday was so horrid, but glad it all turned out better the rest of the holiday. I always love reading what everyone gets up to, so thanks for sharing. Welcome back from me too!

Me too I love reading about other people's experiences and you know me I can get just as much enjoyment from walking around the local marina as I can from a wonderful holiday hence I thought that I would be honest as if it upset me it could really offend some people.

Newly returned from Tromso in Norway and can thoroughly recommend the place. But if you make the journey, come prepared for the most expensive trip of your life; eating out was an eye opener with a "meal deal" for pizza costing £17 for two slices. So avoid pizza, folks! After getting over the initial shock of the expense of living and breathing you can't help but fall in love with the place.
The Northern Lights were nothing short of spectacular and we managed to get some nice shots over the four hour light display we were lucky enough to catch. And the stars ! What a treat to be able to see the rest of the Milky Way.
Managed to fit in a fjords safari, snowshoeing up a mountain, cable car and general sightseeing in a short trip but hope to return in the summer to check out the midnight sun. Oh, I need another holiday badly!

Wow wow wow!! Just been looking at images of the place along with the Northern Lights and that's as close as you can get to paradise. I'm so happy for you.

[biggins]

So sorry to read about your problems on holiday Diane but just as well you played it safe and travelled with others and the taxi driver. Hope your next trip is to a safer place and no nasty people.