allie5
<font color=blue>WARNING! DHL men should be cautio
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2002
- Messages
- 1,572
Part 3. Virgin Atlantic, Dollar, Villa.
Main Players
Allie
Neil
Jessamy (4)
Daniel Noah (2)
Nanny Sylvie
Thursday December 9th 2004
A gentle tapping rouses me from my slumber, as I open the door of the hotel room, a tray of warm croissants, soft rolls and ripe fruits is thrust at me by the most gorgeous waiter I have ever seen Would Madam care for sausage? Oooh, not half, chuck I reply .then suddenly something hits me square on the head and I wake up. The waiter had been but a cosy dream and in the real world, Daniel had launched his empty beaker from his cot (with surprising accuracy for a two year old I might add - maybe the England Cricket team will be interested in a few years?) and is now wailing Milk gone at the top of his voice. Its 5:50AM. Grooooaaan. So much for the optimistic Wake Up Call at 8am. No need for those with toddlers in the vicinity.
Even though I hastily replenish Daniels empty beaker (with a carton of milk procured from Boots last night and very carefully balanced on the coke in the Mini Bar), he is now officially AWAKE and a paltry offering of milk is not enough to entice a few more hours of peaceful sleep. Blast, so much for a lie in before the flight.
Within 2 minutes, Jessie and Nanny Sylvie are also awake and join us in our room. Jessie goes to investigate whats happening on the runways this morning (by looking out of the window, not actually ONTO the runway, in case you were wondering).
Virgins, Daddy THREE Virgins!! Look Im sure Neil thought the chances of 3 virgins out and about at 6am in south London were slim, but no, there they were. Three splendid Virgin Atlantic aircraft parked right outside our window (well, just about, there may have been a fence in the way
). Jessie immediately wanted to know which one was ours so we gambled on plane number 2. I think we may even have been right about that!
Being 6am, there is no tearing hurry when your flight leaves at 11:15am from precisely 500 yds away. We packed our overnight things into a spare holdall along with 6 cans of coke a 3 mini bottles of vodka huh???
NOOOOOO Daniel has discovered the mini bar and what a great source of amusement it is moving all those tiny cans and bottles into Mummys bag. On the bright side, he hasnt managed to open anything (arriving to board a flight with a drunken toddler in tow may not endear us immediately to the Cabin Crew). I hastily stuff them all back in the fridge, hoping that it isnt one of those sensor operated ones.
By 7.30 we are all ready to go. It seems pointless lingering here, when there are Duty Free Shops to spend money in instead. Belongings gathered we depart the room hang on a minute, I seem to missing something. Where for art thou, £5 Primark fleece? After a hasty search of both rooms and a poke round the bags, it appears said fleece has been misplaced. Thinking about it, Im pretty sure that it might still be at Frankie & Bennys, so will nip up there later to see.
My mother reprimands me severely for being so hopelessly careless. Its not long before the boot is on the other foot though, so I will say nothing for now!
In case Daniels dawn raid on the mini bar had sent klaxons off at the reception desk, I decide on the easy option of Express Checkout. Fill out a little card and post it and the room keys in a handy little box. To date, no heavies from Le Meridien have shown up at my door demanding payment for 6 cans of coke and 3 bottles of vodka, so I guess no harm was done.
Jump on the little train back to the south terminal and 5 minutes later we are in front of a 500 strong line queuing for the Virgin Check In Desks. Gleefully point out to Nanny Sylvie that is where she could have been standing if her wonderful, forward thinking daughter had not arranged Twilight Check In. She is suitably apologetic.
Park Nanny Sylvie up with the kids whilst Neil and I go up to the Bag Drop. Goodie, there are only two people in front, so this wont take long. Leaving Neil the boarding cards, I pop up to Frankie & Bennys to see if my fleece was still lurking there. Yes! They have it stowed safely in a cupboard, we are reunited and I go back to join the others. Neil is still in the bag drop queue and hasnt moved from where I left him. It appears that both the families in front hadnt done the online check in and were then arguing about having to join the main queue. Both times they were allowed to check in, which I think is out of order. Still, we did our bag drop eventually and it was very easy.
Go through Passport control without much ado. None of our bags are searched this year. The idea had been to have a full English at Garfunkels, but unfortunately, so did 300 other people at Gatwick that morning. Couldnt be bothered to wait for a table so settled on Monsieur Ronald Macdonald providing all our breakfast needs. Egg and bacon Mcmuffins all round, OJ for us and coffee for Mum. Jessie needs the toilet, so do that and then change Daniel as well.
Do the usual round of shops, debate whether to buy Jessie a Gameboy in Dixons decide against. She is usually quite content with stickers and crayons on the flight, so the need to introduce high technology gadgets can be left for another year.
Change some of my Christmas money up into Dollars and mum decides she better have a bit more just in case as well. It is at this point when Mommy Dearest notes the absence of her tracksuit top. This is a major trauma for an OAP and panic sets it that the anti terrorist squad might be blowing it up as we speak. We back track all our steps, but unlike my faithful Primark fleece, her expensive M&S top refuses to relinquish its position and stays lost. I reckon she left it on the bench before we came through Passport control.
Have just a very slight sense of satisfaction when I waggle my finger at her and tell not to be so careless in future. No, that sounds mean doesnt it! We did really try to find it
Neil walked the entire length and breadth of the Duty Free but couldnt find it. It hadnt been handed in airside, so we had to mourn its passing. I cheered Mum up by telling her that the Wal-Mart would have much nicer ones anyway!
By now, our flight was up and we were called to Gate 32. This involved quite an expedition, ending in a massive glut of people huddled around a tiny stairwell and even tinier lift. Having the buggy, we had to use the lift, which was like Tower Of Terror in reverse .sort of Plummet Of Doom I think. Disembark lift to find a draughty room and airport person waiving people out onto the tarmac. Oh, no wait a minute, not the tarmac, its a bus.
Are we going to Florida on a bus this year Mummy? enquires Jessie, a little puzzled. Unless Virgin have seriously downgraded the fleet I hope not!
Of course, everyone in the draughty little room is utterly convinced that this will be the one and only FINAL bus of the day to Gate 32 and much pushing and shoving is witnessed. This starts Daniel off as he is not good with crowds.
Even though, there are a constant stream of buses once one is full, the next is ready to pull in behind, so many people are behaving like school kids, pushing their way to the front. Disgusting behaviour.
Well, we finally get to the gate and see our plane today is to be Pretty Woman.
Oooooh says Mum, impressed Does that mean No, mother, that does NOT mean Richard Gere and Julia Roberts are Cabin Crew today. Sigh.
The boarding area is chaos, so like any good woman spotting a Retail Environment I leave Neil with the kids and go off to buy perfume in the Duty Free. Feeling a twinge of guilt, I buy Neil a pack of Calvin Klein smellies as well.
Plane starts to board at 11:30. Hmmm, werent we meant to take off at 11:15? Boarding is a chaotic affair. There is no call for infants or special needs, just row numbers. Of course, 90% of the people in the lounge jump up and join the line as soon as an announcement is made. We are sat near the boarding gate and they are turning away 2 out of 3 families because their seat numbers havent been called yet!!
Whilst amusing ourselves chuckling at the 37th family in a row to be sent away with a flea in their ear by the Virgin check in staff for trying to board before their rows were called, Neil notices one of his mates in the line! He cant believe it (men never talk about important stuff like holidays do they??) and neither had any idea that the other was onboard! This would NEVER happen to a woman!
After a brief reunion, they promise to meet by the toilets later in the flight. OO-er missus! Finally, there are only a few of us left now and our row is eventually called to board. Take deep breaths and walk down the tunnel of doom to the aircraft. Find our seats and stow the bags. Daniels insert isnt here yet, so I pootle off to find a red clad person with either a pencil skirt or tight fitting waist coat. Pencil skirt wins and I explain I need the insert. She returns shortly with the news that they are one seat down and either Daniel or another baby will have to do without. She says she had read Daniels notes and feels that he should have the seat. As Daniel is screaming blue murder and in some distress I was not about to argue. Seat is promptly brought over and fitted into the second bulkhead. Calm Daniel down enough to fit him in it, but he isnt happy. Im getting more and more stressed as well. This isnt going well. I wish we could just take off and get going.
Finally, we are moving. Daniel is still upset and I try soothing him with distractions like toys, snacks and juice. None of it works. I apologise to the man sitting next to him, as he is thrashing about and kicking so much. Man stares at me frostily and doesnt say a word. Great, boy do I feel like the worlds worst parent. Seeing as the man is travelling with his partner and a very young baby I would have hoped he may have been more understanding.
After what seems like eternity, we are UP! The seatbelt sign clicks off very quickly (thank HEAVEN!) and as soon as Daniel is freed from the seat he is all smiles and relatively happy. Drinks are soon served and Mummy is now much happier as well.
Thank the Lord above for the saintly being at Virgin Atlantic who saw fit to install the VTOTS channel. Balamory, Thomas The Tank Engine, Postman Pat and similar run in a loop and Daniel settles after his screen idol, Miss Hoolie (only parents of under 5s will have a clue who this sex kitten is) appears, silly hair and all to entertain him for 9 hours. Well, it lasted 10 minutes or so I think!
Senior Cabin Lady calls round to my seat to introduce herself and to let her know if I need anything for Daniel. She apologises for the mix up with the seat inserts and is altogether thoroughly lovely.
To improve things even more, the grumpy man next to me then apologises about being so rude earlier. He explains he is terrified of flying and cannot speak before take off. I can totally sympathise with that, and from then on we get on famously for the rest of the flight. Their little girl is 8 months and a real cutie. Apparently, his wifes father makes the seat covers for Virgins aircraft and they usually get free upgrades to Upper Class. They wouldnt let them this time because of the baby. So, now you know folks, the key to a freebie upgrade is to dig out your needles and threads and supply Mr Branson with some snazzy new seat covers and you are IN! Bet you didnt realise just how useful this Trippie was going to be did you?
Dinner is served a short time into the flight. Jessie had already grilled the cabin crew as to what was on offer and she was served a kids meal which she enjoyed. Daniel got one too, but he didnt each much. There was a good selection on there including fruit, sweets, juice, and hot meal what that was I have totally forgotten, but I think it was chips and burger.
Adult fare came round shortly after with the choice of beef stew (as always!!), chicken pasta or vegetable curry. Being a cosmopolitan group, we all ordered something different I had the curry (very nice), Neil had the pasta (OK) and mum was the brave soul with the beef stew (ugh). Still, as usual there were lots of bits and pieces on the tray to make up a fairly decent meal, even if you didnt like the hot dish salad, rolls, cheese and crackers for example. Wine is now dispensed from big bottles by the crew the teeny individual ones have all gone now. Probably a good thing, as I could never see the sense in taking away peoples tweezers as they posed a security risk and then handing out 300 glass bottles mid flight.
There then followed 8 hours of mind numbing boredom. This had to be the longest flight to Florida EVER! My flight nerves got bored and left, so instead of abject terror I was just fidgety and restless. Daniel had a sleep, which surprised me, so I had a chance to tinker with the in flight entertainment. Watch snippets of Garfield and Shark Tale. Jessie watches the Disney movies on offer and is good as gold for the whole time. We wander back to visit Karen and her family who are only a few rows behind us. They also agree the time is dragging mercilessly!
FINALLY the pilot announces we are on the descent and will land about 3.45pm. Daniel is now happily in a window seat next to mum, so we gamble and decide to leave him there for landing. This works OK.
The plane unloads very fast and we are soon in the immigration line. There is someone going round checking the forms before we get to the desk and I ask whether mum should go up with us or separately (its different every year). We are told its separate this year. Give mum hasty instructions to avoid her being deported straight back home and tell her not engage the official in idle chatter about his cats or her gout.
All goes well and we arent I line long, though there is one heart stopping moment when Daniel makes a break for American soil and I have visions of him being wrestled to the ground by 15 FBI agents. Manage to snag the back of his jumper just as he is about to cross the line. Oh, how I wish we got our buggy back as soon as we got off!
America requires a holiday snap of the adults and a finger print as well. Official is quite nice, and spotting the numerous Orlando Immigration stamps in our passports comments that we must like it here! Yep, spot on there mate!
I am nervously watching mum being dealt with on another desk, but breathe a sigh of relief when she is through before us! When Daniel and Jess spot Nanny, they both run off to meet her, but our nice man says thats OK, even though he hasnt finished doing his important stamping and filing.
Finally, we are through to the baggage collect. I go and get the buggy which is already out and the cases soon follow. Last off is the car seats and we are soon in line for the next security check. Then Jessie decides she needs the toilet. Lose our place and have to start again!
Once again, through with no search after the US is satisfied my jar of Marmite isnt dangerous to its citizens.
Do silly second bag drop and proceed to the next security check. No problems here and we are through within minutes and onto the monorail to the other terminal.
I spot the Disney Earport store and as there is no-one there, we decide we will get our Annual Passes now. The process takes about 15 minutes, long enough for Jessie to return with 67 assorted items of Disney merchandise that she has decided to buy with her Christmas money. Manage to whittle this down to 2 charms for her charm bracelet.
After a few computer troubles (the UK didnt seem to be a country that the Disney computer recognised) we are the proud owners of our APs. I am a little peeved that they are flimsy paper, without any photo or even a signature! As my tickets for MVMCP were credit card style plastic Im struggling with the idea that Disney supply flimsy paper tickets for a ticket that is to last a whole year and lovely plastic tickets for a one time use event that will last about 4 hours!! I dont get it!
Off to baggage claim B, where our delay at the Disney Store has thinned out the bags and the crowds. Pick ours up immediately and enlist the help of a porter to take them down the car rental hall.
Mum offers to baby sit the luggage out in the Dollar car park with Daniel (now sans buggy), whilst Neil, myself and Jessie collect the paperwork for the car. I then remember I have got mums $$$ and she wont be able to tip the porter so have to dash out to pay him! Dont have anything smaller than a $10 so he is VERY happy.
Car rental goes painlessly. Man takes voucher and says we can upgrade to a Durango for $10 a day. We decline and there is no more pushing to sell an upgrade. We are also offered to take the car fully fuelled and return empty or to take it empty now. We pay for the fuel as we are tired and dont want the hassle of filling up now. We are charged $53 for fuel. We filled it up for $35 for the rest of the holiday though!
Off we go to meet mum. The weather is normal Florida style .hot and humid! Neil drives the car round its a silver Grand Cherokee. Not too bad. Luggage loaded, kids loaded, we are off! Jeep has an outside temp gauge which is reading 82! Wooohoooo!
Go down the Beeline and pay two tolls at .75c each. Join the I-4 briefly but come off and go down the Osceola Parkway all the way to Animal Kingdom and out at the Sherberth Rd cut through. Big cheer as we drive under the Disney entrance!! We are all famished after fairly meagre offerings on the plane, so stop at Burger King and load up with assorted snacks. Kids devour loads and so do we!
Have to pick up our Villa keys from a lock box at the management office on the Polo Park estate. That is done without a hitch and we proceed to the villa which is only 5 mins away from here.
Villa looks the same as when we left it 2 years ago, but with a few more black marks on the cream carpet! Still, its lovely and we are very glad to be back. Kids LOVE it and spend 10 mins dashing about exploring. Calm them down ready for bed. There is a cot provided for Daniel and we make the walk in wardrobe in our room his bedroom! No, that is not as cruel as it sounds as the wardrobe is immense and actually bigger than his bedroom at home!
Once the kids are settled, Neil and I pop off to the Publix next door for essentials like Milk, nappies, diet cherry coke, trail mix, jelly beans and key lime pie. $85 lighter we return and find that mum has discovered the US version of UK Style (HGTV) and is engrossed. This channel is barely left during our 21 night stay!
We give in and go to bed at 10.30. Have to be at the Magic Kingdom at 8am tomorrow for a breakfast at the Crystal Palace ..not feeling that was such a cunning plan now!!
Main Players
Allie
Neil
Jessamy (4)
Daniel Noah (2)
Nanny Sylvie
Thursday December 9th 2004
A gentle tapping rouses me from my slumber, as I open the door of the hotel room, a tray of warm croissants, soft rolls and ripe fruits is thrust at me by the most gorgeous waiter I have ever seen Would Madam care for sausage? Oooh, not half, chuck I reply .then suddenly something hits me square on the head and I wake up. The waiter had been but a cosy dream and in the real world, Daniel had launched his empty beaker from his cot (with surprising accuracy for a two year old I might add - maybe the England Cricket team will be interested in a few years?) and is now wailing Milk gone at the top of his voice. Its 5:50AM. Grooooaaan. So much for the optimistic Wake Up Call at 8am. No need for those with toddlers in the vicinity.
Even though I hastily replenish Daniels empty beaker (with a carton of milk procured from Boots last night and very carefully balanced on the coke in the Mini Bar), he is now officially AWAKE and a paltry offering of milk is not enough to entice a few more hours of peaceful sleep. Blast, so much for a lie in before the flight.
Within 2 minutes, Jessie and Nanny Sylvie are also awake and join us in our room. Jessie goes to investigate whats happening on the runways this morning (by looking out of the window, not actually ONTO the runway, in case you were wondering).
Virgins, Daddy THREE Virgins!! Look Im sure Neil thought the chances of 3 virgins out and about at 6am in south London were slim, but no, there they were. Three splendid Virgin Atlantic aircraft parked right outside our window (well, just about, there may have been a fence in the way
). Jessie immediately wanted to know which one was ours so we gambled on plane number 2. I think we may even have been right about that!Being 6am, there is no tearing hurry when your flight leaves at 11:15am from precisely 500 yds away. We packed our overnight things into a spare holdall along with 6 cans of coke a 3 mini bottles of vodka huh???
NOOOOOO Daniel has discovered the mini bar and what a great source of amusement it is moving all those tiny cans and bottles into Mummys bag. On the bright side, he hasnt managed to open anything (arriving to board a flight with a drunken toddler in tow may not endear us immediately to the Cabin Crew). I hastily stuff them all back in the fridge, hoping that it isnt one of those sensor operated ones.
By 7.30 we are all ready to go. It seems pointless lingering here, when there are Duty Free Shops to spend money in instead. Belongings gathered we depart the room hang on a minute, I seem to missing something. Where for art thou, £5 Primark fleece? After a hasty search of both rooms and a poke round the bags, it appears said fleece has been misplaced. Thinking about it, Im pretty sure that it might still be at Frankie & Bennys, so will nip up there later to see.
My mother reprimands me severely for being so hopelessly careless. Its not long before the boot is on the other foot though, so I will say nothing for now!
In case Daniels dawn raid on the mini bar had sent klaxons off at the reception desk, I decide on the easy option of Express Checkout. Fill out a little card and post it and the room keys in a handy little box. To date, no heavies from Le Meridien have shown up at my door demanding payment for 6 cans of coke and 3 bottles of vodka, so I guess no harm was done.
Jump on the little train back to the south terminal and 5 minutes later we are in front of a 500 strong line queuing for the Virgin Check In Desks. Gleefully point out to Nanny Sylvie that is where she could have been standing if her wonderful, forward thinking daughter had not arranged Twilight Check In. She is suitably apologetic.
Park Nanny Sylvie up with the kids whilst Neil and I go up to the Bag Drop. Goodie, there are only two people in front, so this wont take long. Leaving Neil the boarding cards, I pop up to Frankie & Bennys to see if my fleece was still lurking there. Yes! They have it stowed safely in a cupboard, we are reunited and I go back to join the others. Neil is still in the bag drop queue and hasnt moved from where I left him. It appears that both the families in front hadnt done the online check in and were then arguing about having to join the main queue. Both times they were allowed to check in, which I think is out of order. Still, we did our bag drop eventually and it was very easy.
Go through Passport control without much ado. None of our bags are searched this year. The idea had been to have a full English at Garfunkels, but unfortunately, so did 300 other people at Gatwick that morning. Couldnt be bothered to wait for a table so settled on Monsieur Ronald Macdonald providing all our breakfast needs. Egg and bacon Mcmuffins all round, OJ for us and coffee for Mum. Jessie needs the toilet, so do that and then change Daniel as well.
Do the usual round of shops, debate whether to buy Jessie a Gameboy in Dixons decide against. She is usually quite content with stickers and crayons on the flight, so the need to introduce high technology gadgets can be left for another year.
Change some of my Christmas money up into Dollars and mum decides she better have a bit more just in case as well. It is at this point when Mommy Dearest notes the absence of her tracksuit top. This is a major trauma for an OAP and panic sets it that the anti terrorist squad might be blowing it up as we speak. We back track all our steps, but unlike my faithful Primark fleece, her expensive M&S top refuses to relinquish its position and stays lost. I reckon she left it on the bench before we came through Passport control.
Have just a very slight sense of satisfaction when I waggle my finger at her and tell not to be so careless in future
. No, that sounds mean doesnt it! We did really try to find it
Neil walked the entire length and breadth of the Duty Free but couldnt find it. It hadnt been handed in airside, so we had to mourn its passing. I cheered Mum up by telling her that the Wal-Mart would have much nicer ones anyway!By now, our flight was up and we were called to Gate 32. This involved quite an expedition, ending in a massive glut of people huddled around a tiny stairwell and even tinier lift. Having the buggy, we had to use the lift, which was like Tower Of Terror in reverse .sort of Plummet Of Doom I think. Disembark lift to find a draughty room and airport person waiving people out onto the tarmac. Oh, no wait a minute, not the tarmac, its a bus.
Are we going to Florida on a bus this year Mummy? enquires Jessie, a little puzzled. Unless Virgin have seriously downgraded the fleet I hope not!
Of course, everyone in the draughty little room is utterly convinced that this will be the one and only FINAL bus of the day to Gate 32 and much pushing and shoving is witnessed. This starts Daniel off as he is not good with crowds.
Even though, there are a constant stream of buses once one is full, the next is ready to pull in behind, so many people are behaving like school kids, pushing their way to the front. Disgusting behaviour.
Well, we finally get to the gate and see our plane today is to be Pretty Woman.
Oooooh says Mum, impressed Does that mean No, mother, that does NOT mean Richard Gere and Julia Roberts are Cabin Crew today. Sigh.
The boarding area is chaos, so like any good woman spotting a Retail Environment I leave Neil with the kids and go off to buy perfume in the Duty Free. Feeling a twinge of guilt, I buy Neil a pack of Calvin Klein smellies as well.
Plane starts to board at 11:30. Hmmm, werent we meant to take off at 11:15? Boarding is a chaotic affair. There is no call for infants or special needs, just row numbers. Of course, 90% of the people in the lounge jump up and join the line as soon as an announcement is made. We are sat near the boarding gate and they are turning away 2 out of 3 families because their seat numbers havent been called yet!!
Whilst amusing ourselves chuckling at the 37th family in a row to be sent away with a flea in their ear by the Virgin check in staff for trying to board before their rows were called, Neil notices one of his mates in the line! He cant believe it (men never talk about important stuff like holidays do they??) and neither had any idea that the other was onboard! This would NEVER happen to a woman!
After a brief reunion, they promise to meet by the toilets later in the flight. OO-er missus! Finally, there are only a few of us left now and our row is eventually called to board. Take deep breaths and walk down the tunnel of doom to the aircraft. Find our seats and stow the bags. Daniels insert isnt here yet, so I pootle off to find a red clad person with either a pencil skirt or tight fitting waist coat. Pencil skirt wins and I explain I need the insert. She returns shortly with the news that they are one seat down and either Daniel or another baby will have to do without. She says she had read Daniels notes and feels that he should have the seat. As Daniel is screaming blue murder and in some distress I was not about to argue. Seat is promptly brought over and fitted into the second bulkhead. Calm Daniel down enough to fit him in it, but he isnt happy. Im getting more and more stressed as well. This isnt going well. I wish we could just take off and get going.
Finally, we are moving. Daniel is still upset and I try soothing him with distractions like toys, snacks and juice. None of it works. I apologise to the man sitting next to him, as he is thrashing about and kicking so much. Man stares at me frostily and doesnt say a word. Great, boy do I feel like the worlds worst parent. Seeing as the man is travelling with his partner and a very young baby I would have hoped he may have been more understanding.
After what seems like eternity, we are UP! The seatbelt sign clicks off very quickly (thank HEAVEN!) and as soon as Daniel is freed from the seat he is all smiles and relatively happy. Drinks are soon served and Mummy is now much happier as well
. Thank the Lord above for the saintly being at Virgin Atlantic who saw fit to install the VTOTS channel. Balamory, Thomas The Tank Engine, Postman Pat and similar run in a loop and Daniel settles after his screen idol, Miss Hoolie (only parents of under 5s will have a clue who this sex kitten is
) appears, silly hair and all to entertain him for 9 hours. Well, it lasted 10 minutes or so I think!Senior Cabin Lady calls round to my seat to introduce herself and to let her know if I need anything for Daniel. She apologises for the mix up with the seat inserts and is altogether thoroughly lovely.
To improve things even more, the grumpy man next to me then apologises about being so rude earlier. He explains he is terrified of flying and cannot speak before take off. I can totally sympathise with that, and from then on we get on famously for the rest of the flight. Their little girl is 8 months and a real cutie. Apparently, his wifes father makes the seat covers for Virgins aircraft and they usually get free upgrades to Upper Class. They wouldnt let them this time because of the baby. So, now you know folks, the key to a freebie upgrade is to dig out your needles and threads and supply Mr Branson with some snazzy new seat covers and you are IN! Bet you didnt realise just how useful this Trippie was going to be did you?
Dinner is served a short time into the flight. Jessie had already grilled the cabin crew as to what was on offer and she was served a kids meal which she enjoyed. Daniel got one too, but he didnt each much. There was a good selection on there including fruit, sweets, juice, and hot meal what that was I have totally forgotten, but I think it was chips and burger.
Adult fare came round shortly after with the choice of beef stew (as always!!), chicken pasta or vegetable curry. Being a cosmopolitan group, we all ordered something different I had the curry (very nice), Neil had the pasta (OK) and mum was the brave soul with the beef stew (ugh). Still, as usual there were lots of bits and pieces on the tray to make up a fairly decent meal, even if you didnt like the hot dish salad, rolls, cheese and crackers for example. Wine is now dispensed from big bottles by the crew the teeny individual ones have all gone now. Probably a good thing, as I could never see the sense in taking away peoples tweezers as they posed a security risk and then handing out 300 glass bottles mid flight.
There then followed 8 hours of mind numbing boredom. This had to be the longest flight to Florida EVER! My flight nerves got bored and left, so instead of abject terror I was just fidgety and restless. Daniel had a sleep, which surprised me, so I had a chance to tinker with the in flight entertainment. Watch snippets of Garfield and Shark Tale. Jessie watches the Disney movies on offer and is good as gold for the whole time. We wander back to visit Karen and her family who are only a few rows behind us. They also agree the time is dragging mercilessly!
FINALLY the pilot announces we are on the descent and will land about 3.45pm. Daniel is now happily in a window seat next to mum, so we gamble and decide to leave him there for landing. This works OK.
The plane unloads very fast and we are soon in the immigration line. There is someone going round checking the forms before we get to the desk and I ask whether mum should go up with us or separately (its different every year). We are told its separate this year. Give mum hasty instructions to avoid her being deported straight back home and tell her not engage the official in idle chatter about his cats or her gout.
All goes well and we arent I line long, though there is one heart stopping moment when Daniel makes a break for American soil and I have visions of him being wrestled to the ground by 15 FBI agents. Manage to snag the back of his jumper just as he is about to cross the line. Oh, how I wish we got our buggy back as soon as we got off!
America requires a holiday snap of the adults and a finger print as well. Official is quite nice, and spotting the numerous Orlando Immigration stamps in our passports comments that we must like it here! Yep, spot on there mate!
I am nervously watching mum being dealt with on another desk, but breathe a sigh of relief when she is through before us! When Daniel and Jess spot Nanny, they both run off to meet her, but our nice man says thats OK, even though he hasnt finished doing his important stamping and filing.
Finally, we are through to the baggage collect. I go and get the buggy which is already out and the cases soon follow. Last off is the car seats and we are soon in line for the next security check. Then Jessie decides she needs the toilet. Lose our place and have to start again!
Once again, through with no search after the US is satisfied my jar of Marmite isnt dangerous to its citizens.
Do silly second bag drop and proceed to the next security check. No problems here and we are through within minutes and onto the monorail to the other terminal.
I spot the Disney Earport store and as there is no-one there, we decide we will get our Annual Passes now. The process takes about 15 minutes, long enough for Jessie to return with 67 assorted items of Disney merchandise that she has decided to buy with her Christmas money. Manage to whittle this down to 2 charms for her charm bracelet.
After a few computer troubles (the UK didnt seem to be a country that the Disney computer recognised) we are the proud owners of our APs. I am a little peeved that they are flimsy paper, without any photo or even a signature! As my tickets for MVMCP were credit card style plastic Im struggling with the idea that Disney supply flimsy paper tickets for a ticket that is to last a whole year and lovely plastic tickets for a one time use event that will last about 4 hours!! I dont get it!
Off to baggage claim B, where our delay at the Disney Store has thinned out the bags and the crowds. Pick ours up immediately and enlist the help of a porter to take them down the car rental hall.
Mum offers to baby sit the luggage out in the Dollar car park with Daniel (now sans buggy), whilst Neil, myself and Jessie collect the paperwork for the car. I then remember I have got mums $$$ and she wont be able to tip the porter so have to dash out to pay him! Dont have anything smaller than a $10 so he is VERY happy.
Car rental goes painlessly. Man takes voucher and says we can upgrade to a Durango for $10 a day. We decline and there is no more pushing to sell an upgrade. We are also offered to take the car fully fuelled and return empty or to take it empty now. We pay for the fuel as we are tired and dont want the hassle of filling up now. We are charged $53 for fuel. We filled it up for $35 for the rest of the holiday though!
Off we go to meet mum. The weather is normal Florida style .hot and humid! Neil drives the car round its a silver Grand Cherokee. Not too bad. Luggage loaded, kids loaded, we are off! Jeep has an outside temp gauge which is reading 82! Wooohoooo!
Go down the Beeline and pay two tolls at .75c each. Join the I-4 briefly but come off and go down the Osceola Parkway all the way to Animal Kingdom and out at the Sherberth Rd cut through. Big cheer as we drive under the Disney entrance!! We are all famished after fairly meagre offerings on the plane, so stop at Burger King and load up with assorted snacks. Kids devour loads and so do we!
Have to pick up our Villa keys from a lock box at the management office on the Polo Park estate. That is done without a hitch and we proceed to the villa which is only 5 mins away from here.
Villa looks the same as when we left it 2 years ago, but with a few more black marks on the cream carpet! Still, its lovely and we are very glad to be back. Kids LOVE it and spend 10 mins dashing about exploring. Calm them down ready for bed. There is a cot provided for Daniel and we make the walk in wardrobe in our room his bedroom! No, that is not as cruel as it sounds as the wardrobe is immense and actually bigger than his bedroom at home!
Once the kids are settled, Neil and I pop off to the Publix next door for essentials like Milk, nappies, diet cherry coke, trail mix, jelly beans and key lime pie
. $85 lighter we return and find that mum has discovered the US version of UK Style (HGTV) and is engrossed. This channel is barely left during our 21 night stay!We give in and go to bed at 10.30. Have to be at the Magic Kingdom at 8am tomorrow for a breakfast at the Crystal Palace ..not feeling that was such a cunning plan now!!
