MPUK do Orlando

[Elbonio]

This would take ages to organise but it would be awsome

Universal Studio's, disney world, bush gardens - it'd be like AT but BETTER!!!1!!1111





how feasable do you think it would be? How far into the future would we look to go? 2005? 2006?


would you be interested?

[Chicane]

yes must have most ppl over 21, or no testing the alcolhol @ busch gardens...

[*Tsunami*]

It would be fun... lots of fun..

[afty]

Well, as long as we are planning it some way off, I am currently building a website for the hiring out of a 5 bedroom villa in Kissimee, Florida (less than half an hour from most of the major attractions).

We *would* have to be ultra nice to the place (absolutely no damage etc. etc.) seeing as it's my mothers - and I'm not starting any trouble there :)

It's brand new (being built at the moment) including enormous living room and kitchen, pool, jacuzzi, double garage which will probably be filled with pool table, table football, darts etc. Estimated completion date is before xmas next year, *but* it would probably be 6-12 months after that when we could go.
Furthermore, I've been asked to put cable into the place, and if I'm heading over as part of a group it shouldn't be an issue to take wireless gear for laptop hax. Before people start moaning about PCs on holiday, its worth bearing in mind that during the summer day there its often too hot (well, more humidity than heat) for many people to be comfortably outside all day. Spending a few hours in an air conditioned house is good, baby.

I'm reckoning we could sleep maybe anything up to a dozen people in the place (2 per room, plus living room? Maybe even get people in the games room, it's hardly going to be cold in summer. I'll go out myself once it's built and reconnoitre for exact numbers). We'd be talking very little to rent the place for the week (I have a deal where I get it for one week a year at a big discount). So all you'd need is flights, and spending money - food/beer is quitecheap over there.

If I were to go, it would obviously start as an invite only jobby, but that's really awkward on those who don't get an invite (there's so many peeps and only so many spots), so I'll look into arranging a reasonable discount on this place for an MPUK group...

[Elbonio]

We had a 5 bed villa in Florida

but we sold it

a bloody shame as it was very nice too - very similar to the one you're describing Afty (they are in fact all exactly the same :rolleyes: )

Ours was in Davenport which is 15 minutes from Disney World


If you need any advice on renting it out etc let me know as we had ours for 5 years


5 beds can usually sleep max of 13 ppl as they usually have a double and single sofa bed too. However 13 people would be very cramped.


if you were worried about your house getting trashed Afty (which im sure it wouldnt) but there are tons of villas for rental, I could speak to our old management company who handled all our rentals and see if they can book us a couple next door to each other?

[alipuk]

I have a family friend who owns a place in kissimee as well

And yes I would be up for it

I could even look into cheap flights for you all. mind you I would be in club :D

[Optimus]

2 hurricanes are heading for Florida... you sure there's going to be a Disney World left? :)

[afty]

Originally posted by Elbonio
If you need any advice on renting it out etc let me know as we had ours for 5 years Definitely mate. I will want to speak to you soon about this - I'll be creating a website for letting out the villa, but I know so many people who own one, I'm also thinking about setting up (and cross linking) an aggregate booking site to ensure if people are looking at one villa in the group on a week and it's booked, the sites can offer other villas within the same group of friends...
I'd be very interested to hear what you have to say.

I'm not worried about the villa getting trashed if I'm there (as people will end up getting the full value of their travel medical insurance and more) - but a touch worried if a group went when I didn't, but I'm sure we could cross that bridge :)

[Mu5icMan]

anyone over 25 years old for driving purposes?

[Elbonio]

you dont need to be


you just have to pay more for insurance

[Elbonio]

Originally posted by Optimus
2 hurricanes are heading for Florida... you sure there's going to be a Disney World left? :)

there's ALWAYS a hurricane, tornado or massive fire heading for/burning in Florida



always seems to survive :p:


i was there during Hurricane Mitch. Was good stuff. ;)

[Murray-Mint]

If you are under 21, you can FORGET hiring a car. Under 25 is difficult, but not impossible, and very expensive. Under 21 is actually impossible.

Kissimee is a nice area, do you know how far this villa is from US 192 or I-4?

Oh and Busch gardens is a good hour's drive away down I-4. It's over in Tampa Bay, whereas Universal, Disney, Islands of Adventure, Seaworld and Discovery Cove are in Orlando. By the way, Busch Gardens is f**king busy all the time, whereas there are quiet periods for the Orlando parks (American Mothers Day). Also, since Busch Gardens is owned by the same company who own Seaworld, you get most of the same stuff, like the Annheuser Busch beer, etc.

I like Florida, so count me in!

[afty]

Originally posted by MurrayMint
Kissimee is a nice area, do you know how far this villa is from US 192 or I-4? Not yet, they've (the wrinklies) have been over once to take a peek at the place, but I won't see it until I visit for real. I'll be slapping a map on the villa website which we can take a peek at in a coupla months.

All I do know, from the American Yellow Pages, is that there are at least FIVE golf courses within 10 minutes of place. American golf courses are usually the ones with a golf cart inclusive or cheap, immigrant caddies for around $10 and those little hats with the display in the visor part that use wireless hax tech to show distance to green, recommended club etc. all calculated on where you are standing. I believe they're looking at adding video to them of famous golfers talking you through the hole... but that won't be around for a while.
I, for one, will be taking the clubs, and will happily take anyone with me on course who is of a reasonable standard (it's more about knowing etiquette than actually being good) who can beg or borrow some clubs and agrees to not act like a yob. For an impression of how I feel like golf should be enjoyed, see:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-07-05&res=h
http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-07-07&res=h
http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-07-12&res=h

In other words, it's an opulent mans game.

Speaking of clubs I have a spare set that would suit someone between about 5'6 and 6'0. Would just need to borrow a bag to put 'em in...

[Elbonio]

yeah it;s best to be best in one of the outlying districts near Orlando such as Davenport which is just off the 192 - we timed ourselves going from our house to disney and it ook 11 minutes to get to the entrance of the car park.

There are a lot of new houses in davenport (well... new when we bought ours) so its a real nice area, full of holiday villas to rent.

Most of the estates have tennis courts and stuff too which is a nice bonus


Universal Escape, Sea World, Wet n Wild are all down the other end of international drive which will take a good 30-40 minutes to drive to in the morning Orlando Traffic


Best times of the year to go to Florida are OUT of school holidays (obviously)

We found May and September were good times - it's hot, but not height of summer, its relatively quiet but not dead


the only thing is if you go in may it's tornado season, in september it's hurricane season :p: however we've enevr had a problem and storms over there last a couple of hours at most (and are often a welcome respite from the heat + good fun to watch)

[Aardvark]

Golf now? I am SO there! :D

[bvark]

Would definitely be interested in this (holiday permitting) in the summer next year.
Golfing could be a touch embarrassing given the lack of opportunity out here, but hell, I'll still beat Zakalwe.

[Zakalwe]

Beat me at what? Highest score per hole? Loudest cursing? Most balls lost? Quickest to be ejected from the course? 'Cause I can tell you one thing, you certainly wont be beating me at Golf on your historic form.

[afty]

Originally posted by bvark
Would definitely be interested in this (holiday permitting) in the summer next year.
Golfing could be a touch embarrassing given the lack of opportunity out here, but hell, I'll still beat Zakalwe. As the house will not built until at least October next year, I'm thinking it's more likely to be a 2006 holiday.
I know people may want to go in summer, but it does get stupidly hot and humid over there - we can have great "summer" weather in late Spring or early fall, far more condusive to actually "doing stuff".

Golfers will be vetted on a driving range before they come on the course (there's no way Im waiting 6 or 7 hours with an empty course in front of us and 500 angry yanks behind because someone decided to play having never picked up a club before! :-) but the ability to merely hit the ball *relatively* consistently will be all that is required.
Anyone who takes a run up, or misses the ball more often than he hits it, will have to stay on the range, or be a caddy/waterboy. Like Hector.

[afty]

Originally posted by Zakalwe
you (...bvark..) certainly wont be beating me at Golf on your historic form. Am I gaining a sense of some kind of historic BFC golfing tradition here? If so, excellent :)

[Towneh]

Sounds nice for a potential holiday for 2005, i'm sure there are plenty of us over 21's thinking about going and sharing a few hire cars would hopefully cut the cost down.

[Elbonio]

i personally think 2006 would be better tbh


better to plan it properly and save up tons of cash than to rush it and make it half assed


what does everyone else think?


maybe easter 2006 ish?

edit: not to mention we often had our house booked up 2 years in advance...

[bvark]

It's not highest score per hole? Ohhhhhh....

[Mingtea]

I'd go for 2006.

but yes i'd be well up for this, florida experts unite ;)

[alipuk]

easter is bad bad bad bad bad

mainly cos of spring break

look for late september

[Mingtea]

spring break = easy women though!!! :(

erm.... yeah so anyway.

[afty]

Originally posted by alipuk
mainly cos of spring break I suppose it depends on your POV and all that, but I've been told I *MUST* go during Spring Break, and the reason for the impetus was similar to Mingteas post :)

[Elbonio]

yeah and when i say easter i dont mean the easter weeks becuase that's high season - kids off school etc


you want it just after

[Limi]

I would definatly be up for this.I could even look into cheap flights for you all. mind you I would be in club Har har same here ;D

[afty]

Originally posted by bvark
It's not highest score per hole? Ohhhhhh.... Highest score out of the 18 buys the first round in the on the 19th

[Aardvark]

We should so badly have gone for a round at SL20. Dammit!

[afty]

I will sort it for next StratLAN - people will need to bring clubs though, I have only one spare set (and no bag for that set...).

Also we will need to find a local municipal where people can play without a handicap card - can be hard to find these in affluent areas...

[Elbonio]

i have 3 sets of clubs we can use. 2 sets in good nick, 1 set in reasonable nick.


could always just share...

[Strych]

I have also had the pleasure of Kissimee and it is teh win. I say late september 2006, as I will then be able to hire a car. Mwuahahahahahahahahahahaha. Hahahahahahahahaha. Muuwuwuwuuwahahahahahahahahahahaha.
*cough*

[afty]

Originally posted by Elbonio
i have 3 sets of clubs we can use. 2 sets in good nick, 1 set in reasonable nick. You play then? Often?

[Dan]

I'd possibly be up for it, but not in 2006 :p


Spending ALL of my money on germany, world cup! :D

[*Tsunami*]

I would like to point out, visiting in September is an excellent month for the theme parks, as they generally are EMPTY..
Last time I visited September 2001, I walked on nearly every ride, and I dont think we queue'd for more than 20 mins.
As for drivers, well, not everybody HAS to drive. So you only need enough drivers to ferry the passengers (or a couple more max!).
I'd love to go, who do I pay? :)

[Elbonio]

Originally posted by afty
You play then? Often?

no they're my dad's old ones - he plays alot so he has lots of sets... mostly bought from America actually!


I go on the driving range at the trafford centre a lot though - if you're interested sometime it's good fun whacking the balls out as hard as you can and they have a decent bar too - let me know ;)

[Mingtea]

I also suggest we do the true disney hax, 8am through to Midnight.

it's a long haul, but it's worth it.

[afty]

Originally posted by Elbonio
I go on the driving range at the trafford centre a lot though - if you're interested sometime it's good fun whacking the balls out as hard as you can and they have a decent bar too - let me know ;) Never been there (there's a driving range just past the field behind our house) but shout me if you're heading over and I'll join you if I can. Got bitten by the golf bug again last week, time to start putting more time into it :)

[ShadowMan]

ohh. ears picked up at the sounds of golf. would deffo be interested in either the florida 2006 or golf at SL. Me, WychDog and Nikumba actually played the racecouse course at i17. Was out of practice then, better now. Must sort out my handicap again

/me starts cleaning clubs.


Disneyland is always good for a laugh too :)

[Elbonio]

Originally posted by Mingtea
I also suggest we do the true disney hax, 8am through to Midnight.

it's a long haul, but it's worth it.

i did 7am > 2am on 4th july once


nearly killed me

[Zeuseh]

ony 21's+ pah!!!!

[Limi]

Originally posted by Zeuseh
ony 21's+ pah!!!! No one said it was 21+ only, its only 21+ if you want to drink or drive.

[Killy]

wow last time i went to the US i was 6 so i'd be up for it.

stayed in kissimie did all the rides, needs to be repeated rarararar etc

[Elbonio]

and it is in 2006 (most likely) so that gives you a good two years to get to 21

[Shadowhunta]

hmm sounds like fun...2006 you say?..i'd be interested :)

[Toptotty]

I'm interested :D
Disabled h4x at DisneyWorld is meant to be fantastic!

Mandy

[andyf]

Very interesting thread...

Let me divert us a touch here. If for some reason this doesn't pan out, if Florida has sunk by summer next year, how about a bit of a detour to Texas? You see, they have this small little LAN event over there called Quakecon (http://www.quakecon.org) - you may of heard of it, I dunno. Not too shabby, like - 6000 people, 3000 BYOC slots (not that taking PC's to the USA would be particularly easy/cheap/practical), over a 4 day period I think. Lots of interesting stuff that goes on, industry people giving talks etc. Not sure what else there is to do in Texas having never been there however.

But considering the big Ski Trip in the earlier part of the year some of us might have to work damn hard to get the cash for two holidays :)

[Aardvark]

Originally posted by andyf
But considering the big Ski Trip in the earlier part of the year some of us might have to work damn hard to get the cash for two holidays :)

Solution: work damn hard! :D

[afty]

Originally posted by andyf
Quakecon Sorry, but how much would this cost? just to go to an i-series full of people you don't know and Americans?
I think if i was going to pay out 750 quid or so I'd rather have my toenails pulled out :/

[Exegesis]

would cost a fair bit considering you guys are getting all those new passport fees in october ;).
but rather cheap for me... as i could hop a free flight as well as not having to have a passport at all.

[AphexTwin]

Originally posted by andyf
Not sure what else there is to do in Texas having never been there however.

**** all.

[afty]

Originally posted by Exegesis
those new passport fees in october ;). Passport fees? Wassat all about then?

[Exegesis]

i saw something about it on the news how they are making it harder for just anyone to come into america. they are making it so that people cant just use an international passport anymore, they have to have a visa along with it.

[Elbonio]

America seems to think it's a good idea to try and isolate itself from the rest of the world

"i know lets make it really hard for tourists to come to our country and spend money"


Ive heard stories ranging from having to get retinal scans, fingerprints and new passports (with fees ranging from £30 to £70 in some versions of the story) to some peopel saying it's just a piece of paper but you have to go to London to get this piece of paper?


it sucks basically, whichever version of the story is true

[Mouse_On_Mars]

The cost is for the visa that would be needed after the US deadline for biometric passports but before the UK issues biometric passports.
But it looks like the US are extending the deadline.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3929501.stm

[afty]

How strange, the other fascist states in history made it harder for people to get out usually before/at the same time as making it harder to get in - but I suppose this "no-fly" list which has been instituted is the start of that.

(BTW before anyone jumps in, accusing my of hypocrisy due to my extreme antipathy towards American foreign/domestic policy, note I had no say at all in the purchase of said above property.)

[10acious]

HYPOCHRISY !!!!!! (http://www.multiplay.co.uk/columns.asp?uid=4) <<<< link btw

Just makes me giggle. You got on your high horse, saying you'd never attend without major reforms and now your organizing an MPUK trip.

Teehee

[andyf]

Yes the quakecon thing might be a bit of a stretch for a group outing. I know at least 10 people who regularly attend and staff there, but it probably won't be anywhere near as fun without PC's.

Also, Florida still seems to be attached to the mainland, so it's not all bad yet. My last abiding memory of staying in Orlando (I think I was 10~ yrs old) was being told to watch out for tornados from my bedroom window when I went to bed. Disneyworld, however, was great. I'd go again just to lounge about at Typhoon Lagoon.

[Mingtea]

ah it's all changed now my man, typhoon lagoon is a dump, Blizzard beach is where it's at.

[*Tsunami*]

Having the JOY of passing thro' america customs I'm not sure what all the fuss is about passports. Far as I know, so long as your passport is machine readable, you should be able to pass thro' US customs. I did notice they have now setup fingerprint scanners, and webcams at the customs check-in desk. There are signs telling you to look directly @ the camera, and give 2 finger prints (one from each hand). They didnt ask anyone on the flight to do it thou', I guess they are just prepairing!!!

[afty]

Originally posted by 10acious
HYPOCHRISY !!!!!! (http://www.multiplay.co.uk/columns.asp?uid=4) <<<< link btw

Just makes me giggle. You got on your high horse, saying you'd never attend without major reforms and now your organizing an MPUK trip. Sadly, my parents wouldn't buy a place in Spain (as I suggested) so got one in Florida. The possibility of a free (or nearly free) holiday sounds too good to me to pass up on. So I have changed my mind on a personal opinion.

NEWS AT TEN!

[10acious]

changes of opinion are forbidden.

[afty]

Don't you mean verboten?

[andyf]

blizzard beach blizzard beach i wanna go there lets go there!

[Elbonio]

blizzard beach and typhoon lagoon are good


blizzard for the tallest, steepest vertical freefall slide in the world, typhoon for the most powerful wave machine in the world

[RTO]

Originally posted by Mingtea
spring break = easy women though!!! :(

erm.... yeah so anyway.

here here... And I'll be 21 by then :)

Also, blizard beach is win, typhoon lagoon hurts if you boy surf al lthe way in and land on the 'sand' (Read: sand cemented to the bottom (= cheese grater))...

[Elbonio]

Spring break 2006, that gives us a little over a year and a half to decide what slogan to have on the t-shirts...

[RTO]

but they have to be pink.

[afty]

Originally posted by RTO
but they have to be pink. "MPUK Tours, sinking pink since 19XX"

[Murray-Mint]

Doing the occasional bit of research, like I do. Accordingto BA site, return flights are roughly £500 for Economy, £850 for Economy Premiere and £1200 for Club. That's Gatwick to Orlando return. Obviously prices WILL be totally different when it comes around to booking time AND pe0ns like limited will be getting rediculously cheap flights.

Just checking other airlines.

[Valane]

You can count me in, sounds like a great idea.
Could build the website for the trip too if that helps organize it alittle better.

[TheDon]

How did I miss this thread? Count me in!

As far as the passport thing goes, as far as I know if you have an old passport (issued before some date in october) you have nothing to worry about and don't need a visa or new passport. It's just that any new passports issued need to have biometric data.

[Nivek]

this sounds really fun, i must learn how to ski to do one of the mpuk sking trips

[Elbonio]

ive heard the ski-ing in Florida isnt too good around the time of year we're going....

[Nivek]

but you could do water sking on the hurracain flood water

[*Tsunami*]

Originally posted by MurrayMint
£500 for Economy, £850 for Economy Premiere and £1200 for Club.

Im sure we can get better prices than those, heck I bought a around the world ticket for £999. Remember all you student / young ppl out there, some airlines DO offer cheaper tickets for the 18 -> 26 year olds. Ok, they dont shout about it, but they do it :p:.

[alipuk]

me and limi are ok

K thx :p:

[Murray-Mint]

Note to Alipuk and Limited,

You bastards.

Regards, Murray-Mint

[Nes]

Assuming i can save some money id love to go to america again and the parks again :]

Oh btw murray busch gardens was empty when i went in Oct 2000. We managed to get on Tomba twice with 8 minutes :)

[Murray-Mint]

WHen I went to Busch Gardens (around American Mother's Day) It was packed. All the other parks, Seaworld, Islands of Adventure, Universal, All Disney Parks were pretty much empty. Walk on for Kraken was nice. As was walk-on for every other ride at every park :)

[Wise Washu]

Count me in!