Room with a view

[Fester]

When we went, we stayed in a Disney resort hotel.
That gave you unlimited access to all the parks, and a shuttle service to and from.
So, basically you could go to half a dozen each day if you wanted... with no queuing.

Another great theme park is much nearer to home, Portaventura, near Salou in Spain.
It is, (or was) a Universal Studios park, and it is excellent.
Every year they open new rides and attractions.
Again, if you stay in one of the many resort hotels, you get unlimited access to the parks, and a 'fastpass' to avoid queuing.
I have been many time, I highly recommend it.

[Ian]

When we went, we stayed in a Disney resort hotel.
That gave you unlimited access to all the parks, and a shuttle service to and from.

Simply staying in a Disney hotel doesn't actually afford you unlimited access to all the parks.  You still have to buy passes for the parks and that costs a fair bit. However, the big advantages of staying on the property are early entry to one park a day plus admission to their celebrated 'e' nights.

The 'e' nights can be rather good, because although they cost a bit extra they do close the parks completely to anyone other than the registered 'e' guests, so you can end up with almost no one in the parks.

[Fester]

I re-iterate, that on my last visit, the Disney hotel package gave us unlimited free visits to all the theme parks.

Using the shuttle buses, which were every few minutes, we were able to go to MGM studios, and if we found it too busy within, we could simply move on to a water park, magic Kingdom etc...

Maybe things have changed since we went?

[Ian]

I re-iterate, that on my last visit, the Disney hotel package gave us unlimited free visits to all the theme parks.

In a sense, that's correct, because you bought a package which included the cost of the park tickets. In effect you paid for them at the time you booked the hotel. But you can book all Disney hotels throughout the world both with or without park tickets. If you book them without, they're substantially cheaper.

I always advise folks to stay in a Disney hotel. They do offer advantages (which I've mentioned) but they're also that bit more secure. Disney have their own security force and they're pretty good. The 14 or 21 day unlimited Pass package is excellent, but here's a tip: if you go in January or February, not only is the weather generally balmy without being too hot, but you can buy residential annual passes for the parks, which can offer even better deals than buying the hotel package.

[hollins]

I have enjoyed reading all the comments about the Florida experiences. We have some real experts on the subject on this forum.
I love reading about other people's holiday experiences. I wish more members would share theirs.

I stayed one night in Zurich on my way back from Switzerland this time and just to raise a smile here is a photo of my room with a view.
Not one of my best, I am sure you will agree!

[Yorkie]

The best part of the view is without doubt the Tower Crane which I believe from the configuration is a Wolff Crane.  Manufactured by Wolff Maschinenbau GmBH, a competitor of the German Company for which I worked.

 ZXZ

[hollins]

I was just checking the Chateau Rhianfa availability, the way you do!
Look what has made a comeback.....


"Chateau Dining Experience, Bed and full Welsh Continental Breakfast

Your stay is inclusive of room and full Welsh breakfast. In the evening you will enjoy the Chateau dining experience. The Chateau dining experience - 7pm is the start of the evenings drinks reception of a glass of Prosecco or Kir Royale before being escorted to the 'Chateau table' at 7.30 pm for the dinner to start. Your will enjoy five courses with the company of your fellow guests."


Note: You WILL enjoy 5 courses with the company of your fellow guests!

Weird.

[Hugo]

Perhaps they haf vays of making sure you will enjoy the five courses!       

It's a great place to go to but we spoke to a couple who had been to the dining experience and they said the food was very good but they were still hungry afterwards and they would have preferred a more romantic touch with tables set out for couples etc.

The Raven in Much Wenlock, that we stayed at wasn't as grand as the Chateau but the 9 course taster meal we enjoyed would be very difficult to beat.   

[DaveR]

I was hoping that Chateau Rhianfa had finally dropped their obsession with communal dining. It's a fabulous place to stay in most other ways.

[hollins]

I know it is most odd as they told Fester they had scrapped it and the last reviews don't seem to refer to that type of dining but that is what it came up with last night on an online trial booking.

[Mr Tunnock]

Hello!

[Merddin Emrys]

We are away for a week, staying in a cottage in Oxfordshire, we lived here a few years ago, still very pleasant! 

[Merddin Emrys]

This is the canal at Lower Heyford, a stunning location!

[Ian]

Very nice, ME :-))

[Fester]

A week???   The pigeons will starve!!