S
SpottyDog
Guest
Some excerpts from me trip from Immigration to the Magic Castle
CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION
..Into the Immigration Hall and its packed. Three flights have come in together and we are all jostling for position. I bet you do the same ; scan the lines in a nanosecond assessing the number in each queue, how many per party and which has the lowest average age. Sorry to our more senior members (Im talking people who are too old to travel, not you), but you do take so much longer to do the most straightforward things - juggle eight bags, open your passport to the photo page with your tongue and ask the nice man with a gun if you can have another form coz youve crossed over the line ever so slightly on his ever so important (well,I can still read it) form. Well that might work for you but weve read the boards and they said go left, so we did. Into the Line of Many Idiots Quote I didnt know we had to fill that bit in "Does that bit matter,then?" After an age we cleared Immigration.
Keep calm Dave. Deep breaths and relax. Dont glare at the nice people with guns. They can be a bit touchy these foreigners.
Right, lets get the bags. It was horrible, there was pushing, shoving, gouging even, but I didnt care! I had to do it to get me bags and get on , me plans running behind time already - glad I didnt finalise it in minutes after all now.
Got the bags and headed for the Airtours Check In Desk.
Not so fast there, Buoy (like him off Dukes of Hazard) Been on a farm lately?
Got any proedeuce with Yaall
No, nice man with a gun. Can I go now? coz me stress levels are likely to land me in your ever so nice, but dirty and smelly with sawdust on the floor and sun streaming in the two barred no-glass window, jail cell in a minute
Step to the right please. Cross the lovely disinfected carpet and feed your bags
through the X Ray machine over there in case youve brought any oxo cubes or pictures of a roast beef dinner with you
Now he didnt say that when we got to the nice machine, there would be three lines and we could fight with each other to put our bags through first - but we did anyway. I was thinking I might as well mug someone who looks rich cause Im going to end up in jail anyway.
JOURNEY TO AS MUSIC
. Well get on our way then? Not now. Ive been so stressed with all the goings on from going left ,when I should have gone right, through disinfectant alley to Land of Dollar via Airtours Line of No Hope that Ive no confidence in me memorized directions. So I sat and chilled with me maps for a minute. That done, we belted up and prepared to move off. Hang on, Id better just pay a quick visit. One more upset could be costly. Out I pop and am back in a minute. I walk to the car and reach inside to pop the trunk ( see one pee and Im a struttin merican cruisin dude again). Funny thing is, a compact doesnt have a trunk release button (I missed that off me upgrade features). So I popped the trunk to get me tape from me bag & oh my god the luggages gone! I slammed the trunk in shock and went to tell Valerie the luggage has gone and shes not there either. The cars empty! Now youll not have guessed, but I was really freaked out for a split second. No release button? Yep, Id walked past the family ( who wondered what the heck I was doing looking round that other car further up the lot) and was so full of what I had to do I just went through the motions and got in the wrong car. Well I felt a bit silly. Especially as one of the Dollar attendants had been watching me all the time. I sheepishly shuffled past her and rejoined our party ,who seem to think Dads breakdown due to being the only one in this family that ever does anything and if you all helped me from time to time Id
cope just that little bit better ! was one of the highlights of the holiday.
..First junction, OK, ease into the right lane and stay there then you cant do what you did last time - drove the first half mile on the wrong side of the road coz the junction twisted me mind. First traffic light coming up - they seem so high up when youre staring ahead with the concentration of a chess master on speed. Please stay green, dont want to stop yet, might stall. Nearly through. Nearly.. oh, shucks RED. Pulled up short to make sure I didnt overshoot - once the cars stopped Im not edging forward for nobody. Green and off towards the left turn onto the 417 slip road. Up onto the 417 I pushed it on to join the faster traffic. Oh its all coming back now. Just needed a minute to get back in the swing. Indicate to join the main road and look over your shoulder to move out. I saw Gary and Julie (who to their credit smiled back at me) - Id looked over me right shoulder! Before anyone noticed, I swished me head round so fast I was dizzy . If theres anything there its too late and got into the lane just before the slip ran out.
On to Belz then? Well no, actually.
While we were in the converted cargo plane with no headphones to speak of we passed the time by talking- I cant say I enjoyed it and dont intend to make a habit of it, but it passed the time! Anyway, V was worried about leaving the car outside Belz while we went shopping, in case the luggage got stolen and she was itching to get to Disney. We could go into the shops in pairs and the other two guard the car, but whichever two werent with me couldnt be trusted to come
back inside the allocated five minutes . Julie would be bitterly disappointed at missing out on Ponderosa, but shes smaller than us and certainly couldnt take us together! Anyway, it would be cheaper to grab a burger in the food court at ASMu. As it happened, Vs feet were quite swollen when we landed and she didnt think shed be able to try shoes on today. So were heading straight for Disney. I know youll be sorry to see this journey end coz you seem to be enjoying it so.
But Ive got a holiday to get on with you know. I put me tape into the machine,cranked it up and were looking good -
LET ME EE ENTER TAIAINN YOOOO !!!
The toll booths are a ploy to teach us to drive their cars ,you know. Like the training levels on computer games are designed to introduce you to elements of
the game bit by bit. While it took me the whole route to master stopping in line with the collector in 99 , I was nearly straight there at the first one this time.Just short. Thatll do. The hard faced lady just waved her hand in a very Im bored with these tourists that cant drive way. Come on she demanded. She made me pull forward all of two feet. If Id undone me belt and shed held onto the booth as she leaned into me, we neednt have gone through all that polarver.
Still, I made the next one almost perfect. Much more confident now, its amazing how quickly you get back into the swing of things. Thats the benefit of staying calm and being in control in a quiet confident manner.
As we approached the third booth, I spotted that the green bays had tourists waiting to get through but the exact change gate was free. Valerie already had the two coins ready for me so we went for the regulars route. As I slowed, I noticed it wasnt an outstretched hand I was aiming for but a wide mouthed bucket to keep the traffic flowing. I passed the coins to me left hand, pulled up beside the bucket - it was me first time and I decided, throwing while driving past would be asking for trouble. I should have kept me toe down. I flung like a girlie and was horrified as the coins hit the rim of the very small mouthed bucket and bounced into the road. The attendant looked at me with a mix of pity and tedium. Do I have to get out ,Mate? Well, he might have had a gun. He just looked at me in that just go in the green lane from now on,tourist way and picked up me coins and let me go. I was a tad quiet for the rest of the journey.....
THE MAGIC FLOODS BACK !
.We leave the Resort bus station, and walk towards the main entrance. As we walk under the monorail lines that obstruct your view , we get our first real look at the Magic Kingdom. It really is just that. Getting a little darker all the time, the Railway Station is one of my favourite views and its looking all the better as its outline is picked out with the lights. Right on cue, the MK Railway whistle blows and sends a shiver up me spine and we head for the ticket barriers , quickening as we get nearer. Faster now , to a brisk pace, were going through the tunnel and enter Main St Square. Slowing to take it all in the sounds of the piped music, people congregating for the MStEP in less than an hour - the hustle and bustle - its busier than we expected. Feel like bursting, keep calm. Turn left and walk on. Dont look up. Get to the centre of the station and turn right. Cross the road into the garden and follow the path round to Walt and Mickey. Keep out of the way of those getting their photos taken. Dont look up. Back on the road in front of the garden, position me feet dead centre of the tram tracks. Deep breath. Look up.
The Castles lit in mauve, rising above Main St. Its dusk now and the lights just right. Its like that illumination postcard I bet most of youve got. Take a minute.
Bite bottom lip as silent tears fall ( then and now). Whenever anyone tells you nothings worth what we pay to get there. That Orlandos just an American money factory. You send them to me. That moment, for me, is worth all the sacrifices we all make to go there and why well keep going time and again.
I Thank you.
.....the full version of me arrival and start of the holiday is here , on the UKDIS
Day 1 1/2 We get off the plane
<font color=red>Dave (SD)</font>
CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION
..Into the Immigration Hall and its packed. Three flights have come in together and we are all jostling for position. I bet you do the same ; scan the lines in a nanosecond assessing the number in each queue, how many per party and which has the lowest average age. Sorry to our more senior members (Im talking people who are too old to travel, not you), but you do take so much longer to do the most straightforward things - juggle eight bags, open your passport to the photo page with your tongue and ask the nice man with a gun if you can have another form coz youve crossed over the line ever so slightly on his ever so important (well,I can still read it) form. Well that might work for you but weve read the boards and they said go left, so we did. Into the Line of Many Idiots Quote I didnt know we had to fill that bit in "Does that bit matter,then?" After an age we cleared Immigration.
Keep calm Dave. Deep breaths and relax. Dont glare at the nice people with guns. They can be a bit touchy these foreigners.
Right, lets get the bags. It was horrible, there was pushing, shoving, gouging even, but I didnt care! I had to do it to get me bags and get on , me plans running behind time already - glad I didnt finalise it in minutes after all now.
Got the bags and headed for the Airtours Check In Desk.
Not so fast there, Buoy (like him off Dukes of Hazard) Been on a farm lately?
Got any proedeuce with Yaall
No, nice man with a gun. Can I go now? coz me stress levels are likely to land me in your ever so nice, but dirty and smelly with sawdust on the floor and sun streaming in the two barred no-glass window, jail cell in a minute
Step to the right please. Cross the lovely disinfected carpet and feed your bags
through the X Ray machine over there in case youve brought any oxo cubes or pictures of a roast beef dinner with you
Now he didnt say that when we got to the nice machine, there would be three lines and we could fight with each other to put our bags through first - but we did anyway. I was thinking I might as well mug someone who looks rich cause Im going to end up in jail anyway.
JOURNEY TO AS MUSIC
. Well get on our way then? Not now. Ive been so stressed with all the goings on from going left ,when I should have gone right, through disinfectant alley to Land of Dollar via Airtours Line of No Hope that Ive no confidence in me memorized directions. So I sat and chilled with me maps for a minute. That done, we belted up and prepared to move off. Hang on, Id better just pay a quick visit. One more upset could be costly. Out I pop and am back in a minute. I walk to the car and reach inside to pop the trunk ( see one pee and Im a struttin merican cruisin dude again). Funny thing is, a compact doesnt have a trunk release button (I missed that off me upgrade features). So I popped the trunk to get me tape from me bag & oh my god the luggages gone! I slammed the trunk in shock and went to tell Valerie the luggage has gone and shes not there either. The cars empty! Now youll not have guessed, but I was really freaked out for a split second. No release button? Yep, Id walked past the family ( who wondered what the heck I was doing looking round that other car further up the lot) and was so full of what I had to do I just went through the motions and got in the wrong car. Well I felt a bit silly. Especially as one of the Dollar attendants had been watching me all the time. I sheepishly shuffled past her and rejoined our party ,who seem to think Dads breakdown due to being the only one in this family that ever does anything and if you all helped me from time to time Id
cope just that little bit better ! was one of the highlights of the holiday.
..First junction, OK, ease into the right lane and stay there then you cant do what you did last time - drove the first half mile on the wrong side of the road coz the junction twisted me mind. First traffic light coming up - they seem so high up when youre staring ahead with the concentration of a chess master on speed. Please stay green, dont want to stop yet, might stall. Nearly through. Nearly.. oh, shucks RED. Pulled up short to make sure I didnt overshoot - once the cars stopped Im not edging forward for nobody. Green and off towards the left turn onto the 417 slip road. Up onto the 417 I pushed it on to join the faster traffic. Oh its all coming back now. Just needed a minute to get back in the swing. Indicate to join the main road and look over your shoulder to move out. I saw Gary and Julie (who to their credit smiled back at me) - Id looked over me right shoulder! Before anyone noticed, I swished me head round so fast I was dizzy . If theres anything there its too late and got into the lane just before the slip ran out.
On to Belz then? Well no, actually.
While we were in the converted cargo plane with no headphones to speak of we passed the time by talking- I cant say I enjoyed it and dont intend to make a habit of it, but it passed the time! Anyway, V was worried about leaving the car outside Belz while we went shopping, in case the luggage got stolen and she was itching to get to Disney. We could go into the shops in pairs and the other two guard the car, but whichever two werent with me couldnt be trusted to come
back inside the allocated five minutes . Julie would be bitterly disappointed at missing out on Ponderosa, but shes smaller than us and certainly couldnt take us together! Anyway, it would be cheaper to grab a burger in the food court at ASMu. As it happened, Vs feet were quite swollen when we landed and she didnt think shed be able to try shoes on today. So were heading straight for Disney. I know youll be sorry to see this journey end coz you seem to be enjoying it so.
But Ive got a holiday to get on with you know. I put me tape into the machine,cranked it up and were looking good -
LET ME EE ENTER TAIAINN YOOOO !!!
The toll booths are a ploy to teach us to drive their cars ,you know. Like the training levels on computer games are designed to introduce you to elements of
the game bit by bit. While it took me the whole route to master stopping in line with the collector in 99 , I was nearly straight there at the first one this time.Just short. Thatll do. The hard faced lady just waved her hand in a very Im bored with these tourists that cant drive way. Come on she demanded. She made me pull forward all of two feet. If Id undone me belt and shed held onto the booth as she leaned into me, we neednt have gone through all that polarver.
Still, I made the next one almost perfect. Much more confident now, its amazing how quickly you get back into the swing of things. Thats the benefit of staying calm and being in control in a quiet confident manner.
As we approached the third booth, I spotted that the green bays had tourists waiting to get through but the exact change gate was free. Valerie already had the two coins ready for me so we went for the regulars route. As I slowed, I noticed it wasnt an outstretched hand I was aiming for but a wide mouthed bucket to keep the traffic flowing. I passed the coins to me left hand, pulled up beside the bucket - it was me first time and I decided, throwing while driving past would be asking for trouble. I should have kept me toe down. I flung like a girlie and was horrified as the coins hit the rim of the very small mouthed bucket and bounced into the road. The attendant looked at me with a mix of pity and tedium. Do I have to get out ,Mate? Well, he might have had a gun. He just looked at me in that just go in the green lane from now on,tourist way and picked up me coins and let me go. I was a tad quiet for the rest of the journey.....
THE MAGIC FLOODS BACK !
.We leave the Resort bus station, and walk towards the main entrance. As we walk under the monorail lines that obstruct your view , we get our first real look at the Magic Kingdom. It really is just that. Getting a little darker all the time, the Railway Station is one of my favourite views and its looking all the better as its outline is picked out with the lights. Right on cue, the MK Railway whistle blows and sends a shiver up me spine and we head for the ticket barriers , quickening as we get nearer. Faster now , to a brisk pace, were going through the tunnel and enter Main St Square. Slowing to take it all in the sounds of the piped music, people congregating for the MStEP in less than an hour - the hustle and bustle - its busier than we expected. Feel like bursting, keep calm. Turn left and walk on. Dont look up. Get to the centre of the station and turn right. Cross the road into the garden and follow the path round to Walt and Mickey. Keep out of the way of those getting their photos taken. Dont look up. Back on the road in front of the garden, position me feet dead centre of the tram tracks. Deep breath. Look up.
The Castles lit in mauve, rising above Main St. Its dusk now and the lights just right. Its like that illumination postcard I bet most of youve got. Take a minute.
Bite bottom lip as silent tears fall ( then and now). Whenever anyone tells you nothings worth what we pay to get there. That Orlandos just an American money factory. You send them to me. That moment, for me, is worth all the sacrifices we all make to go there and why well keep going time and again.
I Thank you.
.....the full version of me arrival and start of the holiday is here , on the UKDIS
Day 1 1/2 We get off the plane
<font color=red>Dave (SD)</font>
