FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
DAY 2-FRIDAY 5th DEC 2003
FLY TO ORLANDO
DAD-IAN AGE 38 1989/1994/1996/2003
MUM-GILLIAN AGE 35 1994/1996/2003
RACHAEL AGE 10 1994/1996/2003
HANNAH AGE 8 1994/1996/2003
So we get up from our awful nights sleep,But I suppose you actually have to sleep to get up technically!! Anyway we get on the shuttle bus to south terminal which cost £10 add that on to room price plus the £10 to get back to the hotel after the holiday! Next time we are definitly doing The Hilton, in the airport we had some spot-on baguetes for breakfast from The Crusty roll I think it was called and noticed a general festive feeling in the place,There was a giant Snowman walking round meeting the kids!
Checked out Duty free Awesome deals A Very big Baileys and a very big Glayva (RRP £28!!) 20 quid for the pair I dont drink at all really but I wouldnt have minded these for back home here at Christmas When discussing this with a member of staff she offered the Quite obvious solution of take them to America then bring them home and you can have a sip of them too out there!! I didnt want to do this really plus I wouldnt have been able to check out The US Duty free as We would go way over limit and were scared of getting the lot confiscated! So sadly I left it
We then entered the shuttle to Departure gate Where we first spotted our first family from hell I take no notice of other folk but these were really annoying!! About 12 of them The females all wearing huge afghan coats! Anyway they all entered the shuttle then the female leader of the pack was working out poll position to exit shuttle 2 seconds before all the other groups! When they got off they sprinted off to the gate!
A few minutes later we arrived and noticed the plane Jersey Girl through the glass so I took a few snaps of the girls in front of it, Then sat down waiting for boarding to start I also noticed The family in fur Hovering round desk waiting to jump in for the kill they wanted on that plane first to confirm they were top of the food chain,Do they not realise you are called on by Row numbers!
Then we entered plane This is where Virgin dissapointed me Im 6 foot 5 and have severe Osteo Arthritis in my knees,From 15 years of shipbuilding,At Twilight I asked about bulk head seating To which informed People with babys only So that was cool no big deal But what did I see when I sat in my row 2 behind the bulkhead-THE AFGHANS!! With no babies only they were hiding in the fur that is! I dont let stuff get to me but If its a rule for me why change it for other people IT SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY!! I dont know if its different for Disabled,But Man they didnt look Disabled!!Their money must be better than mine .
As it happens Virgin seats are very good so I had a one inch gap so it was quite OK really I stretched my legs now and again,The flight was great watched SWAT and CALENDER GIRLS had hot pot which was quite good as Ive never liked airplane food I was happy, There a song on BUSTED,S new CD called Air Hostess and they wrote it about Virgins Hostesses because their the best..and their Right! The Hounds from Hell were making them work though! They had to supply them with drinks before we had left the tunnel! They were forever pressing the buzzer too Please lets hope their not on our flight coming home!!
Also on the plane they had a competition to draw Father Christmas.I couldnt enter just for the kids!! 3 winners dont ask me for a description of the winners though!!
Leaving the plane at Orlando was very invigorating Just to be in The USA Im 38 The last time I was overseas I was a sprightly 31, we approached the x-ray machines Even though the staff a re incredibly busy they are so polite and nice The lady saying to us Great a family in sneakers!! as they xray shoes with heels all this time their saying Have you come to see Mickey Girls!! And Have a great holiday!! Absolute magic!
When we were in the queue for immigration the sniffer dog took a fancy to me In front of 500 people embaressed is not the word!! If im going to get the rubber glove treatment lets pray its in a quiet room somewhere!! The dog handler asked me do you have a dog or cat? I replied both she said no problem,I figure a sniff for drugs or a bomb must be different!!
The dog the took a fancy to young lad behind us which the handler then went through his lunch box,His Dad said to me Hes got allsorts spilled on his trousers!!
We then went to Immigration where the lady asked me why do you need a visa I started to explain,,When I was 17 . She then cut me dead then said no problem stamped our passports and said have a good time! We then handed in customs form to a guy who again joked with the kids!!
After we claimed our cases we encountered another checkpoint who were sending about 80% through the check and the others a clear route through, A middle aged couple who looked very responsible in front of us were sent through the check We were then sent through the bypass!! There was me 6 foot 5 pierced eyebrow and over 20 tattoos See,you should never judge a book by its cover!!
Upstairs then for our hire car from Dollar I located the desk with a huge queue never mind I thought! Suddenly pounced on by a Virgin Rep who directed me to the other side saying Virgin had their own Dollar desk! I went over and straight to another Virgin rep who informed me about The Downtown Disney check-in and then promptly got fixed up with a hire car,with Jose! Who asked me if I wanted to upgrade I said No Thanks already done it online and it was no problem,I then get sent across road to collect car The whole process took less than 5 minutes,The Dollar queue didnt seem to move in that time!!ALWAYS FLY VIRGIN! These little extra things they do make all the difference!
We walk across the road pick up our Dodge Stratus and leave the airport and it happened im in America listening To Journey on the radio I come Alive what could possibly be better!!
The night we landed There was A KISS and AEROSMITH concert in Jacksonville Im a fan of both a HUGE KISS fan been to over 20 concerts,Actually saw them at Orlando Arena in 96 It was going to bo too tight to make it so I decided in UK not to bother as KISS will be on stage at 8PM it would have been terrible if Id got there and missed KISS So I forgot about it and not let it spoil my holiday (I have a little weep now in quiet moments !!)
Anyway after 7 years I still remember the way to Quality Inn International,Not really hard! We like it here stayed twice before but weve decided next time we are trying something different,Check in was a breeze room was 2nd floor overlooking one of the pools, room 2212 in fact Got given 2 cards with a free dinner,2 breakfasts,drink etc,Another Virgin bonus,In fact I never knew Virgin actually have their own office here took over one of the rooms,No other travel co has they all sit in the bar!
So we go up to room ,Things have changed a little Fridge,Microwave,coffee Machine Yeah way to go!I leave Gill to unpack and go out to 7-11 for some water ,milk crisps etc, On the way the only way to describe me is Giddy I was just so excited after 2 years of us deciding to come I was finally here I WAS IN AMERICA!!!!! I felt like Eddie Murphy in that movie! With what was going on in Jacksonville up I4.It took the sting out of the pain
5150 WILL RETURN IN GOLDFINGER
DAY 2-FRIDAY 5th DEC 2003
FLY TO ORLANDO
DAD-IAN AGE 38 1989/1994/1996/2003
MUM-GILLIAN AGE 35 1994/1996/2003
RACHAEL AGE 10 1994/1996/2003
HANNAH AGE 8 1994/1996/2003
So we get up from our awful nights sleep,But I suppose you actually have to sleep to get up technically!! Anyway we get on the shuttle bus to south terminal which cost £10 add that on to room price plus the £10 to get back to the hotel after the holiday! Next time we are definitly doing The Hilton, in the airport we had some spot-on baguetes for breakfast from The Crusty roll I think it was called and noticed a general festive feeling in the place,There was a giant Snowman walking round meeting the kids!
Checked out Duty free Awesome deals A Very big Baileys and a very big Glayva (RRP £28!!) 20 quid for the pair I dont drink at all really but I wouldnt have minded these for back home here at Christmas When discussing this with a member of staff she offered the Quite obvious solution of take them to America then bring them home and you can have a sip of them too out there!! I didnt want to do this really plus I wouldnt have been able to check out The US Duty free as We would go way over limit and were scared of getting the lot confiscated! So sadly I left it
We then entered the shuttle to Departure gate Where we first spotted our first family from hell I take no notice of other folk but these were really annoying!! About 12 of them The females all wearing huge afghan coats! Anyway they all entered the shuttle then the female leader of the pack was working out poll position to exit shuttle 2 seconds before all the other groups! When they got off they sprinted off to the gate!
A few minutes later we arrived and noticed the plane Jersey Girl through the glass so I took a few snaps of the girls in front of it, Then sat down waiting for boarding to start I also noticed The family in fur Hovering round desk waiting to jump in for the kill they wanted on that plane first to confirm they were top of the food chain,Do they not realise you are called on by Row numbers!
Then we entered plane This is where Virgin dissapointed me Im 6 foot 5 and have severe Osteo Arthritis in my knees,From 15 years of shipbuilding,At Twilight I asked about bulk head seating To which informed People with babys only So that was cool no big deal But what did I see when I sat in my row 2 behind the bulkhead-THE AFGHANS!! With no babies only they were hiding in the fur that is! I dont let stuff get to me but If its a rule for me why change it for other people IT SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY!! I dont know if its different for Disabled,But Man they didnt look Disabled!!Their money must be better than mine .
As it happens Virgin seats are very good so I had a one inch gap so it was quite OK really I stretched my legs now and again,The flight was great watched SWAT and CALENDER GIRLS had hot pot which was quite good as Ive never liked airplane food I was happy, There a song on BUSTED,S new CD called Air Hostess and they wrote it about Virgins Hostesses because their the best..and their Right! The Hounds from Hell were making them work though! They had to supply them with drinks before we had left the tunnel! They were forever pressing the buzzer too Please lets hope their not on our flight coming home!!
Also on the plane they had a competition to draw Father Christmas.I couldnt enter just for the kids!! 3 winners dont ask me for a description of the winners though!!
Leaving the plane at Orlando was very invigorating Just to be in The USA Im 38 The last time I was overseas I was a sprightly 31, we approached the x-ray machines Even though the staff a re incredibly busy they are so polite and nice The lady saying to us Great a family in sneakers!! as they xray shoes with heels all this time their saying Have you come to see Mickey Girls!! And Have a great holiday!! Absolute magic!
When we were in the queue for immigration the sniffer dog took a fancy to me In front of 500 people embaressed is not the word!! If im going to get the rubber glove treatment lets pray its in a quiet room somewhere!! The dog handler asked me do you have a dog or cat? I replied both she said no problem,I figure a sniff for drugs or a bomb must be different!!
The dog the took a fancy to young lad behind us which the handler then went through his lunch box,His Dad said to me Hes got allsorts spilled on his trousers!!
We then went to Immigration where the lady asked me why do you need a visa I started to explain,,When I was 17 . She then cut me dead then said no problem stamped our passports and said have a good time! We then handed in customs form to a guy who again joked with the kids!!
After we claimed our cases we encountered another checkpoint who were sending about 80% through the check and the others a clear route through, A middle aged couple who looked very responsible in front of us were sent through the check We were then sent through the bypass!! There was me 6 foot 5 pierced eyebrow and over 20 tattoos See,you should never judge a book by its cover!!
Upstairs then for our hire car from Dollar I located the desk with a huge queue never mind I thought! Suddenly pounced on by a Virgin Rep who directed me to the other side saying Virgin had their own Dollar desk! I went over and straight to another Virgin rep who informed me about The Downtown Disney check-in and then promptly got fixed up with a hire car,with Jose! Who asked me if I wanted to upgrade I said No Thanks already done it online and it was no problem,I then get sent across road to collect car The whole process took less than 5 minutes,The Dollar queue didnt seem to move in that time!!ALWAYS FLY VIRGIN! These little extra things they do make all the difference!
We walk across the road pick up our Dodge Stratus and leave the airport and it happened im in America listening To Journey on the radio I come Alive what could possibly be better!!
The night we landed There was A KISS and AEROSMITH concert in Jacksonville Im a fan of both a HUGE KISS fan been to over 20 concerts,Actually saw them at Orlando Arena in 96 It was going to bo too tight to make it so I decided in UK not to bother as KISS will be on stage at 8PM it would have been terrible if Id got there and missed KISS So I forgot about it and not let it spoil my holiday (I have a little weep now in quiet moments !!)
Anyway after 7 years I still remember the way to Quality Inn International,Not really hard! We like it here stayed twice before but weve decided next time we are trying something different,Check in was a breeze room was 2nd floor overlooking one of the pools, room 2212 in fact Got given 2 cards with a free dinner,2 breakfasts,drink etc,Another Virgin bonus,In fact I never knew Virgin actually have their own office here took over one of the rooms,No other travel co has they all sit in the bar!
So we go up to room ,Things have changed a little Fridge,Microwave,coffee Machine Yeah way to go!I leave Gill to unpack and go out to 7-11 for some water ,milk crisps etc, On the way the only way to describe me is Giddy I was just so excited after 2 years of us deciding to come I was finally here I WAS IN AMERICA!!!!! I felt like Eddie Murphy in that movie! With what was going on in Jacksonville up I4.It took the sting out of the pain
5150 WILL RETURN IN GOLDFINGER
