Outbound Nov. 27th, checked in online the day before and we had been given seats 21F/G in the small cabin behind PE. Checkin at manchester had no ref. for the fast track, as it happened there was no line for security anyway so it didn't matter
Didn't make a note of the aircraft name but the seating was horrible, I'm not huge but I couldn't even get into the seat, my son who is 6' 2" and not overweight just managed to get in, several other passengers were also complaining about the width, some had flown on the same aircraft earlier this year and said the seats had been changed, the AV remote was detachable from the armrest and stuck out about 1". Luckily there was a full empty row behind me so I got in there and put up the armrest.
Flight was OK, small delay as the tug was broken but we made the time up on the way. Meals were awful, chicken masala which looked pink and undercooked, meatballs which quite a few people left and a veg cottage pie which can only be described as foul!. Drinks were plentiful but of course only the 150ml Virgin cans not the 330ml you get on most other flights. There were several calls for medical passengers during the flight, 2 of the cabin crew were taken ill, one was stretchered off in Orlando!.
Holiday itself was fairly standard for us, lot's of shopping, visiting friends on the Gulf coast and a couple of theme parks trips, one to Mickeys Verry Merry Xmas Party and one to Seaworld to record the Shamu Xmas show which didn't go to plan as the whales didn't want to perform!.
Return journey was fun, Virgin had assured me that bringing back a couple of compund bows would not be a problem as they were classed as sporting equipment and were additional to our luggage allowance, when we checked our bags at Virgins Downtown Disney drop off we got 3 surprises, 1. They classed them as weapons and I had to fill out a lot of paperwork etc. and they would have to be collected from customs on arrival at Manchester, 2. the drop off charge wasn't $5 each it was now $10 and 3. there was a 2+ hour delay for the flight
The return flight was packed, no spare seats anywhere not even a PE upgrade, this time we got 21D/E. Luckily (?) the aircraft was "Jersey Girl" and had different style seats which I just managed to squeeze into, no chance of using the AV as it was fixed in the armrest and of course the tray table was unuseable, seating was very cramped and I now have a lovely 4" bruise on my side off the seat. The flight passed without incident and without much attention from the cabin staff who all vanished after the meal (which was better than the outbound!), they returned about an hour out from Manchester with a cereal bar and a drink.
Managed to get our lugage and the bows etc. without a problem, the customs officer just asked how much I'd paid for it all and that was it. A long walk to the train platform and 2 3/4 hours later we were back at Durham station.
So, all in all not too bad, condo was nice and clean but in the middle of nowhere, Lake Marion is about 23 miles from the 192 going south on Poinciana or about 15 miles east of Southern Dunes on the 27, not a place I'd pick again but at £350 for 2 weeks in a 3 bedroom condo it was still a bargain.
