3. Florida – Here we come!

[marias]

The Team:
DH: Long suffering one (42)
DD: Beautiful, amusing and very so slightly stroppy (9 going on 19)
MIL: Sexagenarian
FIL: Sexagenarian
Me: Planner, worrier, pessimist (35 – almost)

3. Florida – Here we come!
Midnight – DD wakes and yells “we are going to Florida today”, Oh joy – what must the guests in the next room think. Well, we agree that yes it is today and that the alarm will go off in 5.5 hours so we must return to sleep. All is quiet!
3am – DD wakes “we are going to Florida quite soon” she states giggling and squealing. OK, given that I’ve not been sleeping all that well of late I am a little touchy – but as it is officially the first day of the holiday, I soothe and settle her back to sleep with the understanding phrase of “if you don’t let me rest I am going to be grouchy tomorrow”. Hah – scared her into submission. Again quietness reigns.
5am – DD is awake with a capital ‘A’, and before she has a chance to utter a word we are out of bed, kettle is on and shower is running. We of course knew that sleep would not come easy and we are more than a little excited.

Having already checked-in using the DIY service on Virgin’s website we get to the airport at seven and there was no queue, boarding cards collected and relieved of luggage in less than 20 minutes. On to breakfast, which unfortunately was a bit of a rip-off and not that tasty – never mind. Boarding began at 10.00 with take-off at 10.45. It was a really good flight and we landed at 2.00pm local time. We were expecting to be delayed ages in immigration but we were at the Dollar desk by 3.30 – which I think was pretty good going. I had already warned DD not to try and engage the officials in banter (as she is wont to do) and bless she was on her best behaviour. Who should get told off – yep, me! The lady said “if you are staying in Kissimmee then that is not Orlando” I just looked sheepish, apologized and scarpered as soon as I could. I always have a guilty look on my face – and true to form, where I could get stopped I did, unfortunately dragging both DD (who thought it was great fun, having the bags searched) and DH (who wasn’t quite so impressed) with me.
The journey to the villa started uneventfully and we were making very good time, until we came to an un-manned toll-road which thought we hadn’t paid enough money ($0.50 was the charge – but we ended up putting in about $2) as it refused to register any display. Anyway tempers were fraying inside the car and DH drives through the booth only to be greeted with a siren and the prospect of our photo being taken. By this time DD is hysterical in the back seat – imagining that DH is soon to be arrested. A kind local pulls alongside us and confirms that the toll has been broken for a week and does this to everyone. I’m still hoping this is the case and we don’t get refused entry next time. As we get ready to make the final turn off US192 it becomes clear that they have closed it for road works. With only written directions and no map we are completely lost. A car dealership gives the assistance we require and we arrive at the villa around 5.00pm. After a quick tour of the villa and a bit of unpacking we leave FIL and DD in the pool and venture out for supplies, Walmart is exactly like Asda at home – full of English people. Nice to know we weren’t the only ones having their first nights meal in their room.

Maria

 

[KayleeUK]

bloomin toll eh!!

 

[Alysa]

I know that "I'm so excited I can't sleep because I am going to Disney in the morning!" feeling. The one (and only) time we drove, we arrived about 6 hours early (at 2am) because I wanted to drive straight through (naughty) and so we had to rest in the car unntil morning. I kept popping my head up every fifteen minutes to see if it was time yet. I was an adult at the time and it is a miracle that my oh-so-patient DH didn't throttle me!
I am in the same boat as you were, and am living vicariously through others trip reports and planning every moment until our trip next Christmas. So excited for you! Can't wait to read more.
Cheers.

 

[squitty]

Woo Hoo you arrived

 

[Tartan Tigger]

Yeah.......you've arrived. Let the fun begin.

 

[MazdaUK]

DH ended up driving through the 50c toll every time DS x 2 and I just pretended we weren't with him (the car was so big that was easy )

 

[fizz13]

Yeah, time for "Orlando" fun

 

[mandymouse]

Let the fun commence !!

 

[marias]

Hi mandymouse,

Its great that you are enjoying the reports, the messages that i get saying someone else has read them brings it all back - and with the sun shining i could almost be there

 

[wicket2005]

Lovely and amusing report. On our second visit we stayed at a villa in a gated community, as we hadn't got an electronic card we couldn't get, it was gushing down, hubbie had a migraine, he jumped out to speak to the guard through one of those talk in posts. All the guard kept saying was 'sir, sir get back in the car'. We felt like we had machine guns trained on us! He just opened the gate and let us in, we must have looked innocent enough! Electronic card was in the villa.

 

[Minniespal]

Lets rock n' roll.