Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread

[pbiflyer]

Well, I've driven all around Orlando and the surrounding area. Used to go there for work. I don't remember seeing anything there that made me say, "Wow, this is special. I gotta get back and see that again." But you're right; perhaps outside the touristy areas, there is not much objectionable, either.

I'll probably go to Orlando again someday if my wife ever participates in a grandkids-to-Disney trip. I've already said that I'm willing to foot the bill but that I'll be playing golf and enjoying a beverage somewhere well away from theme parks. I've already been to Disney/Universal more than a person needs to go there, and have no plans to go again.

Disney is not really anywhere near Orlando. But Lake Eola in downtown Orlando is a nice spot to hang. Good craft brewery and other nice outdoor venues.
Winder Park (in no way to be confused with Winter Haven) is also a nice place to hang. Heck, you may even run into a  MU alum couple that live there, especially since he isn't currently busy with his job, now that his season has ended. 

Ive never seen the appeal of Greater Orlando, besides Disney/greater Kissimmee attractions.  But I know a couple people who have the money to live/retire in large fashion wherever they wanted who have retired to/have a winter spot in the area (despite having no other ties to the area).  So clearly there is some appeal.  One actually swapped a $$$ house in the greater Palm Beach area for another pricey pad in Orlando, so there must be some draws.

Now that I live less than a 2 hour drive away, I'm sure I'll see some more parts of it other than Disney or the massive Gaylord Resort and Convention Center.  Hell, I always thought Winter Haven was weird/unappealing as a spot, but drove around it a few weeks ago and was kind of impressed with how nice some of it was.  Not for me, but my former coworker who retired there didn't seem as bizarre.

I was born in Orlando, but raised and now live in the Palm Beach area. Would not swap houses back to Orlando. But little pbiflyer is currently a student at UCF.
Winter Haven must have changed a ton since I worked there.  Winter Park appealing, Winter Haven, no. Even the old part around the big lake is quaint at best.

[DegenerateDish]

People fly to MCO because it's better than 2 days in the car with the kids.  It doesn't need to be a good airport, it just needs to be better than the alternative.

You’re severely undermining the convention crowd that has to go through MCO.

[MU82]

Disney is not really anywhere near Orlando. But Lake Eola in downtown Orlando is a nice spot to hang. Good craft brewery and other nice outdoor venues.
Winder Park (in no way to be confused with Winter Haven) is also a nice place to hang. Heck, you may even run into a  MU alum couple that live there, especially since he isn't currently busy with his job, now that his season has ended. 

Thanks for the tips. I'll be needing those and more to survive if I ever go back to the area while the rest of the family is at WDW.

[dgies9156]

You’re severely undermining the convention crowd that has to go through MCO.

Well, they could fly to Sanford. But that means flying on airlines that make Southwest cabins look spacious.

[pbiflyer]

Thanks for the tips. I'll be needing those and more to survive if I ever go back to the area while the rest of the family is at WDW.

Worst case scenario, Disney Springs isn't an awful place to spend a few hours. A couple nice bars and restaurants. Jaleo, the Jose Andres restaurant is great, but pricey.
A good option for Sunday for the family is Sunday Gospel Brunch at House of Blues, followed by a matinee performance at Cirque du Soleil. 
The Boat House is nice for waterside drinking. Stick the kids on the line for the Amphibious cars and relax with a cocktail (I've, of course, never done that, but heard it is an option)

[ATL MU Warrior]

Worst case scenario, Disney Springs isn't an awful place to spend a few hours. A couple nice bars and restaurants. Jaleo, the Jose Andres restaurant is great, but pricey.
A good option for Sunday for the family is Sunday Gospel Brunch at House of Blues, followed by a matinee performance at Cirque du Soleil. 
The Boat House is nice for waterside drinking. Stick the kids on the line for the Amphibious cars and relax with a cocktail (I've, of course, never done that, but heard it is an option)

I, of course, read the bolded as Manatee which sounded interesting.  Stupid Manatees...

[lawdog77]

Thanks for the tips. I'll be needing those and more to survive if I ever go back to the area while the rest of the family is at WDW.

Act I Scene II
Granchild #1- I want to ride the Jungle Cruise with GrandpaMU82!
Grandchild #2-me too! That is his kind of humor
Parent-sorry kids, Gramps likes his peace and quiet more than he likes you. You can talk to him tonight from the hours of 7-8:30. It's his bedtime then.

[MU82]

Act I Scene II
Granchild #1- I want to ride the Jungle Cruise with GrandpaMU82!
Grandchild #2-me too! That is his kind of humor
Parent-sorry kids, Gramps likes his peace and quiet more than he likes you. You can talk to him tonight from the hours of 7-8:30. It's his bedtime then.

That sounds perfect!

And the hugs I'll get when they're done with WDW and we're back together again will be great, too.

[dgies9156]

Worst case scenario, Disney Springs isn't an awful place to spend a few hours. A couple nice bars and restaurants. Jaleo, the Jose Andres restaurant is great, but pricey.
A good option for Sunday for the family is Sunday Gospel Brunch at House of Blues, followed by a matinee performance at Cirque du Soleil. 
The Boat House is nice for waterside drinking. Stick the kids on the line for the Amphibious cars and relax with a cocktail (I've, of course, never done that, but heard it is an option)

Brother PBI:

We live in the same media market. I have to admit I just really have never liked Orlando. It's incredibly plastic and there's really not much there other than tourist attractions. I get that it is important to our state and am grateful for the 70 million+ tourists who come to Orlando every year. They help hold our taxes down!

The are a couple of restaurants we've tried and liked in the area around Dr. Philips (yeah, that's a real suburb of Orlando for all you non-Floridians). And some of the communities north of Orlando have retained some of their charm. But by and large, I've never been impressed by Orlando. About the only thing I like is their airport!

[pbiflyer]

Oh I agree with you. I never understood why rich folks lived there.  But as you note, there are the occasional oasis in the desert.
Little pbiflyer choice of school was because of her goal of building amusement parks and UCF is ground zero for that goal. Currently interning building stuff she’d have to kill you if she told you what it was( the rat is scary that way) 

[dgies9156]

Oh I agree with you. I never understood why rich folks lived there.  But as you note, there are the occasional oasis in the desert.
Little pbiflyer choice of school was because of her goal of building amusement parks and UCF is ground zero for that goal. Currently interning building stuff she’d have to kill you if she told you what it was( the rat is scary that way) 

All the best to Little PBIFlyer. I've worked with companies that have been in disputes with the mouse. He turns into a very nasty rodent very quickly when his interests are threatened!

[Spotcheck Billy]

All the best to Little PBIFlyer. I've worked with companies that have been in disputes with the mouse. He turns into a very nasty rodent very quickly when his interests are threatened!

Rodent? I have a niece that interned in restaurants at Disney. They were trained never to use rat/rodent when seeing one. They were always Mickey's relatives, never the R words.

[Hards Alumni]

MCO is the worst airport in the US.

Precheck…I mean no airport has longer lines, it’s comically slow.

Try getting a meal there, good luck.

That place can not deal with the mix of convention visitors and the once a year tourist family. If you’re a Group 1 or Group 2 UA flyer, it’s a maze due to a lack of space.

MCO flat out sucks, burn it down.

The correct take.

[StillAWarrior]

This reminds me of a time about 20+ years ago when I flew through Detroit and afterward asked my assistant to pleas never route me through DTW again. A while later (months? a year?) she apologized in advance because there was no other reasonable option. In the meantime, DTW had opened a new terminal. It was fantastic. After that, I routinely connected through DTW for the next several years. I can't speak for anything else about DTW (e.g., ground transportation, security, etc.), but that was a nice terminal for connections.

[CreightonWarrior]

Not sure if it's been brought up here yet but the new chase sapphire lounge at LGA is very nice. need to keep expanding that network of lounges.

[Galway Eagle]

Planning a baby moon in Montreal, any recommendations?

[4everwarriors]

Sumwon 'splain y WDW iz da #1 honeymoon destination in da US, hey?

[pbiflyer]

Planning a baby moon in Montreal, any recommendations?

Heard there are a lot of strip clubs.    (Had to look up what a baby moon was)

Seriously, Lots of great restaurants, but stay away from anything with the word cheval in it.

[4everwarriors]

Pretty sure dis qualifies, hey?

[tower912]

Stranded at BWI as the Southwest plane has an undocumented nick in a fan blade.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Planning a baby moon in Montreal, any recommendations?

Don't do it. We did a babymoon and regretted it. 5 days of pregnancy induced naseau isn't any better just because you're on vacation

[warriorchick]

Don't do it. We did a babymoon and regretted it. 5 days of pregnancy induced naseau isn't any better just because you're on vacation

YMMV.  I didn't have any nausea past the first couple of months.  I was fine with my baby moon at 7 1/2 months.

[Galway Eagle]

YMMV.  I didn't have any nausea past the first couple of months.  I was fine with my baby moon at 7 1/2 months.

Yeah she hasn't been nauseous since February so we're set there. Only slight concern is back pain making tourist walking difficult. 

[pbiflyer]

YMMV.  I didn't have any nausea past the first couple of months.  I was fine with my baby moon at 7 1/2 months.

We did a cross country trip at 5 months pregnant. Mrs pbiflyer loved it. Included biking and a tubing trip.

[JWags85]

We actually did a honeymoon that was unintentionally a babymoon.

We got married in July of 2021.  Had planned to delay the honeymoon for 6 or so months to further let COVID travel stuff dissipate.  Scheduled 2 weeks in the Maldives and UAE for late Feb/Early March of 2022...found out my wife was pregnant the first week of Feb or so.  She was totally fine travel wise and we actually saved a bunch of money on alcohol 

My wife actually didn't really have sickness for most of her pregnancy so maybe not the best comparison point.  But my sister went to Miami/The Keys on a babymoon with my brother in law early last year at like 5-6 months pregnant and had no real issues.