The Cast:
Me and DH - Reine and Paul, 50 somethings
Mom and Aunt, 80 somethings
DD the CM, Robyn, 24, meeting at the port
Friday, April 30. The day FINALLY came and we were all packed. Fortunately DH and I both got off a few minutes early from work and met at home to add last minute things to the suitcases. Then put one car in the garage and loaded the other and off to Moms to meet up with DM and Aunt and our chaffeur, DS. Got everything transferred to the van. It was tight fit for 6 people (DS had a friend along) and luggage for 4 but we made it and off to DFW by 7:15 for a 9:07 flight.
Arrived at DFW, unloaded luggage and people and said goodby to DS. Sorry he has to work and doesn't get to go. Had the "joy" of being selected for extra luggage scrutiny so couldn't do curbside checkin. Oh well. Got through that without a hitch and then through security and off the Chili's Too for dinner. Knew better than to try to get dinner between work and airport and it helps kill the time between security and boarding. Had a great dinner of quesidillas and chips and salsa and some other stuff and then to the gate to wait for boarding.
8:35 - announcement that the gate is "closed" because of lightning in the area....uh oh. Now we wait.
8:45 - gate is reopened. they're going to try to get the plane loaded and out before more thunderstorms come through. This is Texas in April/May, it's what you expect every so often. So we get on the plane.
9:00 - gate is "closed" again. Now we get to wait on the plane. Attendant comes on the mike and says that we can't leave until all the lightning is at least 3 miles away from the airport. Sounds sensible to me. I want to fly not fry.
10:30 Attendants have someone check in the terminal about purchasing food if they let folks off the plane but find that everything is now closed. So everyone stays put. Really GLAD we ate at Chili's when we did.
12:15 am - long story short. We FINALLY push away from the terminal and get in line for takeoff.
12:45 am - YEAH - takeoff.
Note to everyone.
Always take bottled water with you when you fly. It lets you have a drink when you want one and attendants didn't serve anything while we were waiting.
1:00 am ---oops now it's 2:00 AM Orlando time with time change.
3:30 am --- V e r y D r a g g y. We landed and headed for luggage pickup. Of course we landed in an outlying terminal (maybe they all are?) so had to walk a distance and take the shuttle thing. Our 80 somethings are beginning to wilt as are we. We get to the luggage and get a porter with a Large cart. Between the 4 of us we have 10 pieces of stuff including luggage and carryons which at this time of night no one wants to carry. Follow the porter to the Hyatt. Thank goodness for that ressie and the senior citizen discount that made it affordable.
4:00 am - we're checked into our room and ready to turn out the lights. Wake up call at 7:00 so we can get breakfast and our luggange tags. Good Night.
Link to next page. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=570076
Me and DH - Reine and Paul, 50 somethings
Mom and Aunt, 80 somethings
DD the CM, Robyn, 24, meeting at the port
Friday, April 30. The day FINALLY came and we were all packed. Fortunately DH and I both got off a few minutes early from work and met at home to add last minute things to the suitcases. Then put one car in the garage and loaded the other and off to Moms to meet up with DM and Aunt and our chaffeur, DS. Got everything transferred to the van. It was tight fit for 6 people (DS had a friend along) and luggage for 4 but we made it and off to DFW by 7:15 for a 9:07 flight.
Arrived at DFW, unloaded luggage and people and said goodby to DS. Sorry he has to work and doesn't get to go. Had the "joy" of being selected for extra luggage scrutiny so couldn't do curbside checkin. Oh well. Got through that without a hitch and then through security and off the Chili's Too for dinner. Knew better than to try to get dinner between work and airport and it helps kill the time between security and boarding. Had a great dinner of quesidillas and chips and salsa and some other stuff and then to the gate to wait for boarding.
8:35 - announcement that the gate is "closed" because of lightning in the area....uh oh. Now we wait.
8:45 - gate is reopened. they're going to try to get the plane loaded and out before more thunderstorms come through. This is Texas in April/May, it's what you expect every so often. So we get on the plane.
9:00 - gate is "closed" again. Now we get to wait on the plane. Attendant comes on the mike and says that we can't leave until all the lightning is at least 3 miles away from the airport. Sounds sensible to me. I want to fly not fry.
10:30 Attendants have someone check in the terminal about purchasing food if they let folks off the plane but find that everything is now closed. So everyone stays put. Really GLAD we ate at Chili's when we did.
12:15 am - long story short. We FINALLY push away from the terminal and get in line for takeoff.
12:45 am - YEAH - takeoff.
Note to everyone.
Always take bottled water with you when you fly. It lets you have a drink when you want one and attendants didn't serve anything while we were waiting.
1:00 am ---oops now it's 2:00 AM Orlando time with time change.
3:30 am --- V e r y D r a g g y. We landed and headed for luggage pickup. Of course we landed in an outlying terminal (maybe they all are?) so had to walk a distance and take the shuttle thing. Our 80 somethings are beginning to wilt as are we. We get to the luggage and get a porter with a Large cart. Between the 4 of us we have 10 pieces of stuff including luggage and carryons which at this time of night no one wants to carry. Follow the porter to the Hyatt. Thank goodness for that ressie and the senior citizen discount that made it affordable.
4:00 am - we're checked into our room and ready to turn out the lights. Wake up call at 7:00 so we can get breakfast and our luggange tags. Good Night.
Link to next page. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=570076
