Army Rumour Service

Just a quick update on the family holiday to FL, USA.

As the OP says, Sea World was free. However, the discount took some proving (wanted to see the wife's ID etc) this became clear (finally) when it turned out the discount is only for one of the Anshauser Buesch attractions once per family per year. The normal admittance I guess for a family of 4 would have been about $300 I guess.

We also got discounts at Universal Studios.

Disney we got nothing because apparently you have to stay at SHADES OF GREEN which is the military hotel complex where they sell the military tickets - all priced appropriately.

Hotels was interesting, some places gave 10% but Marriott gave us the FEDERAL GOVT RATE which turned a $300 room down to $94.

Which meant we checked out of this $99 place when we discovered the cockroaches:



to this place

www.marriott.com/hotel...golf-club/

Thanks very much.

Lastly, cheers to the Yanks as ever it was a pleasure, and advice to any other travellers, don't fly into Miami, Fly to Orlando.

...As to Disney tickets, the Disney site refers only to US personnel getting discounts. I think the current discount program is one free 5 day ticket for the military member and up to 5 companion tickets for 5 days at $99 each. It would be worth checking to see if they will honor UK military ID. Also on Disney, if a person in the party is disabled Disney has a reputation of being very helpful. On rides with long lines the disabled go to the front of the line in most cases...

Yes and IIRC, Universal and Seaworld resorts have a similar policy. Something that I thought was a nice idea until I got there. Almost everyone that was classed as "disabled" was actually just a fat knacker. They would ride around the parks on spaz chariots, go straight to the front of the queues and the only thing wrong was them was gluttony. For the genuinely disabled it is a really good idea but to reward people for being obese just seems wrong.

Cheers mate, late dec early jan is all thats available for me unfortunatly

Almost everyone that was classed as "disabled" was actually just a fat knacker. They would ride around the parks on spaz chariots, go straight to the front of the queues and the only thing wrong was them was gluttony. For the genuinely disabled it is a really good idea but to reward people for being obese just seems wrong.

Sticky don't let yourself down by attacking obese kids and adults who may be overweight due to their condition or medication. Be thankful your own family is, I hope, healthy and show some grit!

That will be expensive, the park prices remain the same but hotels and flights will cost much more.

£1695 for me an the wench for 11days at the hilton, not gonna be able to afford t agan for a whle but thought that wasnt a bad deal?

Yes and IIRC, Universal and Seaworld resorts have a similar policy. Something that I thought was a nice idea until I got there. Almost everyone that was classed as "disabled" was actually just a fat knacker. They would ride around the parks on spaz chariots, go straight to the front of the queues and the only thing wrong was them was gluttony. For the genuinely disabled it is a really good idea but to reward people for being obese just seems wrong.

Would you absolutely, positively need your MOD 90 tho?

As a former squaddie, I can certainly endorse the Hampton roads area of Virginia. I now live and work here, and there is loads to do if you are fed up with the Disney thing. Colonial Williamsburg, looks really good, but if you want to go inside the houses and talk to the re-enactors, it costs an arm and a leg, although the whole site is free to walk around, and you can quite easily waste a few hours doing this. There are also free show, on most afternoons, mainly on the build up to the Revolution. Much more interesting especially for us Brits, is the Jamestown settlement, this is about 5 miles down the road, its cheap to get in, (about $10) and there is a cracking visitors centre with replicas of the 3 ships, a fort and an indian settlement. Make sure you take the guided tour as these people really know their stuff, 1 mile down the road is the real site of where the English landed back in 1607, again this is cheap to get in, and a lot of work has been done since the Queen visited back in 07. I am sounding a bit like a tour guide here, but I will carry on regardless. about 20 miles down the road is Yorktown, which was not such a good result for the British Army, but still really interesting. You also have Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for the rollercoater fix, and almost next door is a large water park. just down the road is the biggest Naval base, on the East coast. The vast majority of the Civil War was fought in Virginia, and I have not really explored that yet. 3 hours north, is Washington DC, with all the excellent free museums, and of course Arlington Cemetery which is a must see. We usually fly Heathrow to Dulles, and then drive south. Flights with BA out of season are quite cheap.
If I can help anybody thinking of visiting, feel free to email or pm me.