Chapter three how many flights does it take to visit the Mouse?
Girl was awoken by the alarm at a very early 6am, to allow for a good breakfast and last minute panic packing, oh and a high impact aerobics session; to ward off the DVT... At 7.30 Boy was woken by the smell of bacon sandwiches, handed his travelling clothes, and bundled into the shower
And finally, at 8.15, Girl and Boy rounded up the two suitcases, duffel bag, back pack and carry on, and with a last check around the house, marched out into the freezing cold morning.
The cumbersome cases made the 4 minute walk to the bus stop a little longer
have you ever tried pulling two trolley cases down a hill? The phrase; the dog took me for a walk springs to mind! Of course neither Boy nor Girl were very impressed when half way down the hill the airport bus sailed past
Now had they been anywhere else in the world the bus might have waited
after all if you see a couple being dragged down the road by two run-away cases you could hazard a guess that they were headed for the airport, but alas, this is Bristol, and that was not the case.
So it was that Boy and Girl found themselves, cases reprimanded and brought to heel, standing at a bus stop, at 8.30am on a cold November morning waiting for another bus.
Some feet stamping and hand clapping was enough to ward off the cold and before long another bus came into view
woohoo exclaimed Girl, were going to Disney!
The bus ride was short and sweet, and by 8.50 Boy and Girl were walking smugly up to the Continental Airlines online bag drop
isnt it great how online check in lets you secure fire exit seats and then bypass the queue of disgruntled travellers at the airport?
The next two hours passed quickly, what with emptying bags and pockets for security, stocking up on water for the flight, and a quick read of The Sun. Before long the flight was being called, and Boy and Girls adventure was really about to begin
that is of course after an impromptu pat down by the security staff on the way out to the tarmac!
The flight was uneventful; books were read, PSP games were played, and some episodes of Criminal Minds and Xmen cartoons helped pass the time. Just as boredom began to bite the pilot announced the descent into Newark airport, and Boy and Girl were distracted by the New York skyline.
As the wheels touched down Boy and Girl began to prepare for the first obstacle of the trip, making the connection to the next flight
Hand luggage was collected, and once off the plane they walked as fast as they could to immigration
where they were faced with a Disney shuffle of great proportion
Blimey remarked Girl, well be here for an hour! Im so glad we didnt dilly dally like the rest of our flight.
Of course there was a law at play in the immigration hall that day, the law of sod; for as Boy and Girl neared the front of the queue they were told to pick a booth, any booth and yes, youve guessed it, behind the booth they chose sat the worlds slowest official, and as they stood in line they watched all of those dilly dallying passengers head through to collect their luggage!
With a last minute booth switch getting them to the front of the line a bit quicker they had their fingers printed and their photo snapped, and arrived at the baggage carousel just in time to see their cases appear.
And so they sped through the customs line nothing to declare here and dumped their cases in an ever growing pile before being directed to departures. I wonder said Girl, crossing her fingers how on earth our cases are going to arrive in Orlando when we do
At the top of the stairs they were faced with a huge crowd of shoeless people, which was of course not some sort of tribal gathering, but the queue for security. Its ok said Boy, grabbing Girls hand there are three of these, and if we go to the next one the queue will be shorter.
And what would you know, Boy was right. So they joined a slightly smaller queue of shoeless people, and once again emptied pockets and removed laptops, and despite being ridiculed for their cardboard boarding passes what, paper not good enough for you two? they made it, without a beep, or a pat down, to the other side.
By now it was nearing 3.30, giving Boy and Girl just enough time to wolf down a cardboard McDonalds, and visit the bathroom; hooray were in the USA, but why is there a one inch gap around the toilet door, I get nervous with people watching me pee, before boarding the next flight at 3.40. Whats with the cardboard boarding passes? Says the attendant, You gonna give someone a paper cut? Geez said Girl I just wanted to make sure they didnt get crumpled!
It appears the flight has been overbooked, and the lucky recipient of a first class upgrade prefers to sit with his wife and elderly mother in steerage, leaving a mother and child unable to sit together. Girl and Boy watch in vague amusement as the air hostesses try and complete a giant IQ puzzle, who to move passengers around the plane to ensure that all interested parties can sit together. Girl did of course consider volunteering for the seat in First Class, but that didnt seem fair to Boy, who is a very nervous flyer.
Entertainment over, and all passengers seated somewhat satisfactorily, the plane left the runway at 4.15, on course for the Land of the Mouse.
After some complaints about the lack of leg room, how dare Continental switch planes and cause Boy and Girl to be sitting in a row with no fire exit, and a small nap, these rather tired but excited travellers found themselves leaving the cramped plane behind and boarding the monorail for the main terminal.
By 7.30 the luggage had been collected and loaded into the rental car, and Boy and Girl hit the road, driving on the wrong side, which of course is the right side, and within the hour, and only one U-turn, were pulling up in front of the villa which was to be called home for the next 13 nights.
Looks good from the outside, said Girl, as she typed the code into the key store to free the key. She handed it to Boy so he could open the door, and waited to step into the hall. As the door opened and Girl peered inside she let out a gasp, for there, where you would expect to see a hallway, with a place to store your hats and coats, was a swimming pool! A real Narnia moment if ever there was one.
Tiredness suddenly forgotten Girl and Boy went from room to room, exploring their new surroundings and exclaiming, about the size of the tv, and the fact there was a pool in the house, and the size of the rooms, and the fact there was a pool in the house, and the entertainment system, and the pool that was in the house
I think you get the picture!
Sanity returned, Boy and Girl drove the short five minutes to the local Publix, for breakfast supplies, and then returned home where Girl smiled at the pool, pulled some pyjamas from the suitcase, and Boy and Girl collapsed into their four poster bed, and slept a well-deserved sleep.
you guys are too kind!
Update. Please!
