An EPIC Adventure - A Live & Interactive trip report

[UK-Trigg]

As most of you know I am an avid fan of the parks, Orlando and Florida in general, over the last 10 years I have made 16 trips which has seen me travel all over Florida From Miami to Clearwater and Key West to Daytona (I drove the whole route on the old A1A road). Over the course of 2, 3 and occasionally 4 week trips I have ended up seeing more of Florida than I have the UK.

This trip is a little different, it is one that will tick off a few bucket list items, will see me visit 4 states, take in 6 parks none of which are Disney, but I will still get my Disney fix from a trip on DCL.

Along the way I will be catching up with old friends and maybe making some new.

I start this EPIC Adventure with my GF two weeks today, after over a year of planning the wait is nearly over and the big departure day is fast approaching.

Here is rough plan and just a few of the Highlights I have planned.

• Over night stay in Manchester before an early morning flight into JFK
• 5 Nights 6 Days in the Big Apple to Include all the tourist stuff and maybe a trip out to Coney Island to ride Cyclone if I can Squeeze it in. I just have to do Katzs Deli too.
• Overnight Greyhound to PA to spend a week with my good buddy @maddog. Cedar Point and Kennywood days are planned and I am expecting some quality ambience :grin:
• From PA its a road trip down to Tennessee where we are staying at Pigeon Forge in a traditional log cabin with some old friends of the site, Good ole Bob and Dianne. During our week here we are hitting the Moon Shine Trail and have Dollywood tickets booked. Also looking forward to seeing the Smoky Mountains and eating BBQ at the cabin whilst howling at the moon.
• We leave Pigeon Forge and head down to Port Canaveral for a week aboard the Disney Fantasy for a western Caribbean 7 nighter, This will be Halloween on the High Seas and will complete the set of all 4 DCL ships for me. Also looking forward to a sunset meal at Remy whilst onboard.
• After the rest and relaxation of the cruise it will be a quick Uber over to Uni for the final leg of our trip. we finish off with 2 nights at RPR and 4 at the shiny new Aventura Hotel, this will complete the set of Uni hotels (I know you can book for the news ones but they aint open yet so I am claiming it :grin. Highlights will include first trip to VB, HHNs and of course hanging out with my good buddy @Disneyhead .

This really is an EPIC Adventure and I invite you all to join me.

So right at the top I said live and interactive........

Live

I will post here whilst on my travels and keep you all posted of my adventures (presuming anyone would be interested). @Mad Dog and @Disneyhead can contribute and I will even try and get good Ole' Bob to show his face.

Interactive

This trip really is a once in a life time one, it has taken a lot of hard work and planning so I intend in getting the very most out of it so Ill also be looking for tips and Ideas when I'm there, maybe you can suggest a great roof top bar whilst I am in NYC or have a must do for Kennywood, I wanna know it all :grin: Oh and if you are in town, in a park or nearby when Im in town, give me a shout, maybe we can have a beer .



Oh and one last thing, for now. No trip report is the same without photos, I struggle uploading to forums from mobile so I will post photos on my Twitter feed if someone wants to link from there that would make life easier.

 

[Ridgepole]

Absolutely EPIC!!!

 

[Ridgepole]

Dp

 

[Scott W.]

If Universal is listening, this is the EPIC you should be aiming for.

It’s funny the bit about seeing more of florida than the U.K. everybody in the US I’ve met who’s been to Scotland has been more places than I have.

I’m sure you’ll have a great trip and if time permits, a beer on my last day and your first at Universal sounds like a must! :toast:

 

[UK-Trigg]

If Universal is listening, this is the EPIC you should be aiming for.

It’s funny the bit about seeing more of florida than the U.K. everybody in the US I’ve met who’s been to Scotland has been more places than I have.

I’m sure you’ll have a great trip and if time permits, a beer on my last day and your first at Universal sounds like a must! :toast:

Will do our best to make it happen

 

[Universal 4 Life]

Whilst in NYC, if you have the time and if you are a true steak lover, visit Peter Luger's in Brooklyn. My favorite steak house in the city. Bring CASH, as far as I know they still do not accept credit cards.

 

[UK-Trigg]

Whilst in NYC, if you have the time and if you are a true steak lover, visit Peter Luger's in Brooklyn. My favorite steak house in the city. Bring CASH, as far as I know they still do not accept credit cards.

Thanks @JackHammer , these are the little nuggets I'm looking for :thumbsup:.

 

[Teebin]

Whilst in NYC, if you have the time and if you are a true steak lover, visit Peter Luger's in Brooklyn. My favorite steak house in the city. Bring CASH, as far as I know they still do not accept credit cards.

Is that the place that one steak will set you back $250.00?

 

[UK-Trigg]

Is that the place that one steak will set you back $250.00?

from trip advisor 2 days ago

One of The World's Great STEAK HOUSES "A Must Do" in NYC
Yes Peter Luger's is without questio one of the Worlds Great Steak Houses, there is no question about this. The Porterhouse Steak is what Luger is Famous for. It cost $84 for 2 People and does not come with any side dish, which are $10. Creamed Spinach and Roast Potatoes are the best things to go with your Steak. Not many people know, but you can get a Burger here at lunch and many of those in the know, do just that. The Buger cost $14.95 and most people (Myself Incuded) get a Slab of Luger's famous Bacon for $3.95 the portion.

Seems reasonable.

As I mentioned before I have to do Katz Deli, ever since I saw it on a food show years ago Ive known I had to go and have Brisket, Pastrami or Corned Beef (maybe all 3)on rye with a coke and a pickle on the side. Other food must dos are a classic slice, a wiener. Oh and a Knish and Cannoli, just because Joe Gatto always has them on Impractical Jokers and an egg cream to wash it down.

 

[Teebin]

from trip advisor 2 days ago

Ah... so it is just a dry-aged Burger King kind of joint.

 

[andrew]

Can't wait to read. Tenement Museum in NY is a must. And for the love of all things your still ach, avoid restautrest in Times Square. So many wonderful options in MYC, avoid settling on what's right there.

 

[ChristopherSE]

Can’t recommend any rooftop bars, but if you’re looking for any more entertainment/tourist advice for NYC, feel free to PM me! I’m a theatre major right outside the city, so I’m in Manhattan quite a bit for art and theatre and the occasional night out.

And agreed with Andrew. I’ll sometimes grab lunch at John’s or Junior’s if I’m catching a matinee, but generally speaking Times Square is a poor choice for food.

 

[Disneyhead]

This is my favorite NYC Italian place.

Italian Restaurant| New York, NY | Home

And I thought I should mention

 

[Universal 4 Life]

If you want a good cannoli try Cafe Palermo on Mulberry. My family knows the owner. Avoid Ferrara Bakery on Grand. Tourist trap and its history and splendor far outweigh its product.

 

[Viator]

Maybe a dumb thing, but have you been to an area like Central Park in the evening period? May be a bit late now, but I'd be curious if that'd be something y'all would be interested to do.

 

[Mad Dog]

We're looking forward to visits from our good friends Mark (UK Trigg) and Samantha...The Brits are coming. :thumbsup::toast: ...and, of course, we are stocking up on the spirits .

 

[snayberry]

Sounds like an epic trip, for real.

 

[Mad Dog]

If Universal is listening, this is the EPIC you should be aiming for.

It’s funny the bit about seeing more of florida than the U.K. everybody in the US I’ve met who’s been to Scotland has been more places than I have.

I’m sure you’ll have a great trip and if time permits, a beer on my last day and your first at Universal sounds like a must! :toast:

It's funny you said that. When I told UK Trigg of the places I've visited in England, he said the same thing.

 

[UK-Trigg]

We're looking forward to visits from our good friends Mark (UK Trigg) and Samantha...The Brits are coming. :thumbsup::toast: ...and, of course, we are stocking up on the spirits .

You never said WDW1974 was coming :bolt:

 

[Mad Dog]

You never said WDW1974 was coming :bolt:

....ohhh, I guess that was a 'different' UK Trigg that was drinking at Thirsty Fish & Pat O'Brien's and other Orlando drinking establishments, washed down with a spot of tea in the vicinty of 2 AM nightly. . When caught in the act(s), blame it on poor Dave.