Brian Griffin
Striker
Would you consider a couple of days in southern Florida before going to the parks?
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Disney world Florida
- Thread starter Whitburnmakem
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Sgt Pepper
Striker
I hate that journey at the best of times. M60 ring road is like the wacky races and there’s nearly always bad traffic there or somewhere else on the journey. No traffic jams at all over there for us, busy roads aye but because they’re massive it flowed perfectly. You could potentially even plan it so that you could stay the night in Melbourne itself after you land and then hire a car to drive to Orlando yourself the following day. If it was me I’d prefer that than the prospect of driving after I land and unable to have a beer on the plane over. Don’t think there’s much there but from the plane and what I’ve looked up it looks a decent built up coastal area so as long as you got a half decent hotel and there was a couple of restaurants nearby it would probably be canny relaxing spending a night on the coast before Orlando the next day.
BMX Bandit
Striker
Ive enjoyed my trips to Miami but wouldn’t take me kids.
It’s not something we’ve ever thought about. For us it’s quick to hotel head out, few beers and bite to eat. Bed then have a nice chilled pool day and do our food shop. Then parks days after.
Brian Griffin
Striker
Was just thinking you could land in Miami, 40 mins to Lauderdale - Kip there, water park and drive up to Orlando - it’ll take 3 hours but if you did it after the water park you’d basically be in the parks on day 3 with no jet lag and something different - with better flight options
BMX Bandit
Striker
It’s a shite drive from Miami to Orlando like. I was massively hungover last time like. Had a huge jeep and kept shitting my pants going through the toll booths.
Brian Griffin
Striker
I don't mind it - it's only 3 hours and a pretty straight line!
PTR
Striker
We've all been saying the same, its horrendous.
Earlier this year my folks came with us, and they booked a hotel at the airport. Landed, went to the hotel, had a kip then travelled home the NEXT day! Not a terrible idea for the sake of £200 extra.
BMX Bandit
Striker
PTR
Striker
I think my folks booked 2 nights, i.e. the night before, and called ahead to explain why. tbh, if you get a cheap deal then its fair enough.We always look to stop. This year was £50 for a night but no check in toll 3pm. I was home by 2pm
BMX Bandit
Striker
AndrewP
Striker
Years ago for me, but it was the most straightforward drive I could imagine. One road the whole way.
Last time I went I drove back from Gatwick. It was a bit of a drive from hell. The kids all puked several times in the back and I must have had about 10 coffees just to stay awake.
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PTR
Striker
f***ing hell!
BMX Bandit
Striker
It is. Thats why I found it shite. Nowt to see. Nowt going on. Reminds me of some drives did it cali. Pure boring shit.
AndrewP
Striker
Oh yeah, it was boring like.
BMX Bandit
Striker
Rather fly in closer and quick Uber done.
Sgt Pepper
Striker
This is exactly why I’d rather fly direct to Melbourne and put up with the journey needed to Orlando. It’s better than any option of landing somewhere in the UK after a red eye flight and having to drive home. Actually quite dangerous as well really.
AndrewP
Striker
Agreed. I won't be doing it again. The problem I had was we landed at about 5am and I got no sleep on the way home as the old (about to be decommissioned) 747 had a reading light above me that wouldn't turn off.
Driving at the other side is loads safer as it's usually a normal hour in UK time. Unfortunately they don't fly from Newcastle the whole year.
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Sgt Pepper
Striker
Think the only time in my adult life I’ve landed back early in the morning from a red eye flight that would’ve required driving home (so basically neither landing at Heathrow then the flight to Newcastle, or Newcastle itself), has been when we went to New York in February 2020 just before Covid and we landed in Manchester.
Told the now wife before we went that I’m not driving back from Manchester so we booked the train (parents gave us a lift down to Manchester on the way out). Was a good decision because as well as being completely knackered after no sleep on the plane, it was snowing and sleeting when we got back. Absolutely no chance would I have fancied that drive in the morning rush hour to boot. It was a bit grim when we had to change trains in Manchester city centre and were stood on an outside platform that had sideways snow blowing on us, but it was still better than the prospect of driving. It wasn’t even as cold as New York had been either.
