How do you know you have arrived??

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Just a quick question for those of you who have gone more than once.
I know that I have arrived in my favourite state when I get on the mini tram from the sattelite to the main building at Orlando International Airport and the voice (of troy Macluer ) says "Plase stand clear of the doors, this shuttle will be leaving momentarily" when i hear that I go into relaxation mode and know I have weeks of fun ahead of me.

Whats the sound/sights/smell (yes US airconditioning does smell different!) that makes you feel you have arrived?

 

[stemikger]

When I get to the airport and see my first palm tree. I know, I have a whole lot of fun ahead. I think it has to be the same as yours when I get on that tram, I get that warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

 

[carolfoy]

standing at the door of the plane when the first blast of hot air hits you, after being cooped up in air conditioning for 9 and a half hours, it always feels like heaven

 

[AlanUK]

I have to agree with you there Carol

That's definitely the moment I know I have arrived. It would just feel all wrong if I got out of the plane and it wasn't baking in that tunnel

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I have to agree with you there Carol

That's definitely the moment I know I have arrived. It would just feel all wrong if I got out of the plane and it wasn't baking in that tunnel

Never arrived in the middle of a rain storm then Alan?

 

[AlanUK]

Actually no

Just lucky I guess but whenever I have stepped out of the plane I've always felt the sensation of walking into a wall of heat.

The closest we ever came to it raining when we arrived was when it started on the journey from MCO into Disney. By then we were in the car though and all the initial triggers had been set off

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Actually no

Just lucky I guess but whenever I have stepped out of the plane I've always felt the sensation of walking into a wall of heat.

That's what makes us realise we have arrived, the heat as you step off the plane.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Actually no

Just lucky I guess but whenever I have stepped out of the plane I've always felt the sensation of walking into a wall of heat.

The closest we ever came to it raining when we arrived was when it started on the journey from MCO into Disney. By then we were in the car though and all the initial triggers had been set off

One time, we came into MCO and as we approached the airport, we could see this huge black rain cloud over the large lake at the end of the runway? we went through this with the lightening bouncing around, landed and as we go to the terminal, it was dark but no rain. The ground crew started to unload t5he bags and the rain came down in sheets!
when we got our bags, they were soaked as its policy that to save the ground crew from getting struck by lightening, they just abandon off/on loading and get under cover!
(that was an internal flight from Chicago with AA, I wonder if an international airline would have gone in through the rain storm?

 

[gilld]

I agree about stepping off the plane and the shuttle but the BIG factor for me is crossing the road to Dollar when the heat REALLY hits! Then driving onto the roads with DH saying "which way now?" Nothing like it anywhere.

 

[coinneach]

Same as Carol, stepping off the plane and feeling that 1st blast of warm air, we've arrived.
Also followed by picking up the rental car, doing our 1st shop at Publix, and our 1st nights meal at Denny's. All a major part of our enjoyment in Fla.

 

[JanElliott]

Having only ever arrived in the rain (twice) it's when I see the big hoardings advertising the park rides at the side of the road

 

[Red-Snapper]

All of the above - especially the anouncer on the airport train and the smell of the aircon as you walk down into the customs hall.

Been to Florida many many times and I can only remember it not raining when we arrived or were driving to the hotel about twice.

Got diverted to Miami for an hour once because of a large thunder storm over Orlando Int.

All part of the fun

 

[tim june and sam]

From a negative perspective, I know when I am in the queue (sorry, "line") for Customs when the sniffer dog comes around your ankles.

Me thinks that 27 open gates for US citizens and just 3 gates, all 50 people deep (I exagerrate) for the non-US is a bit disproportionate for a (generally) vacation airport.

Seriously, the comment about the wall of heat as you cross the road to collect your Dollar car is very evocative.

 

[musketeer]

Stepping off the plane and feeling that warm air, when we've made it through immigration, collecting the car

 

[disneyholic family]

Just a quick question for those of you who have gone more than once.
I know that I have arrived in my favourite state when I get on the mini tram from the sattelite to the main building at Orlando International Airport and the voice (of troy Macluer ) says "Plase stand clear of the doors, this shuttle will be leaving momentarily" when i hear that I go into relaxation mode and know I have weeks of fun ahead of me.

Whats the sound/sights/smell (yes US airconditioning does smell different!) that makes you feel you have arrived?

i have to agree with the tram...that's when it first dawns on me that i'm in orlando.....
the palm trees don't do it since i have a yard full of them, and the heat doesn't really do it either, since it's hotter where i live....but when we go out the door of the terminal to cross the street to pick up the rental car....right when those doors open and we hit the humidity...oh yeah....then we know for sure....we must be in orlando....

 

[jen_uk]

Same as Carol, when I get that firat blast of hot air and its always hotter than I remember! I usually feel a bit homesick when Im on the coach going to the hotel but when we pull up to the ASMO and I see how much bigger it is than I remembered then I know Im really know Im there!! Only 12 days to go! Woohoo!

 

[Soprano]

I agree as soon as you leave the airplane, you can feel the difference. The American posters, the airport staff... But I run on autopilot until the next morning and I have my first fresh cup of coffee. Then I look around and feel, yeah, my holiday has begun!

 

[Tink78]

For me, I like seeing the theme park signs along side of the road.
And arriving at the hotel (I have only ever stayed on site) and the friendly cast members who check you in.

And arriving in my room and putting on the Disney channel watching all the little clips of the theme parks and rides.

That normally gets me going.

I love waking up early on the first full day knowing that you are about to go to your first theme park of the holiday.

And getting the Disney bus...


oh .... I'm not very good at this... the list goes on and on.!!

 

[homerdog]

Seeing all the ground crew and baggage handlers wearing shorts, t-shirts and perma-tans always reminds me how hot it's going to be!

 

[UKDEB]

I agree - that first hit of Florida humidity as you exit the plane does it for me! Other triggers include:

Driving from the airports on roads that no longer feel weird, but feel like we've come home;
Passing under the 'Welcome to Walt Disney World' sign on Osceola Parkway (of late we take this route to our accommodation - invariably a villa on US192);
Slipping into the jacuzzi with a glass of wine having done the supermarket shop and unpacked;
My first sight of Spaceship Earth as we approach Epcot from the car on our first morning - guaranteed to bring a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye.

And for Matt:
Jon Boy and Billy (WHTQ) on the car stereo en-route to Epcot on our first morning;
Seeing those 'special' road signs - Hooters 50 yards next right ;
First cold beer;
Jacuzzi action (you can work that one out for yourselves!)