keswick1uk
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2004
- Messages
- 222
The gang:
Me, Kes (or Kerry) :36.
Andy, 35
Katie,7
Tom, 6
The background:
It seemed a long time away from that night in 93 when, while watching the fireworks over Cinderellas Castle, we vowed to bring our children back one day and experience it with them.
Sunday 7th March
I had finished packing yesterday so we were free today. I had booked sunday lunch so I didnt have to work too hard at the start of my holiday.
I went for an easy long run with my friend, Karen, as we yapped constantly about the plans we had made and how I was going to fit 8 runs into it (not as it turned out: what a surprise!) When I got home Andy mentioned Kate had been sick after dropping off the cat at the cattery and we put it down to excitement, or sadness at leaving Candy for a couple of weeks.
Our lunch went well, although Kate ate little, and after a few beers I slept a bit in the afternoon. The others made off to bed early at 7 and I surfed a bit; posting that Kate had been unwell. Someone mentioned taking every potion I could lay my hands on, and so I disconnected the computer, and went off to have a look in the cupboard and see if we had anything here that might be of use. Then it started .
Kate came downstairs. Mum, I feel sick. Well, three times that night she was very ill and I added to my pile of medication an ice cream container, and worried about the 5 hour taxi trip to Gatwick, and a 9 hour flight. She and I stayed up all night talking about the holiday, quietly, and hoping this didnt last. Anyway, as it turned out, 11 oclock was the last incident.
It was lucky we had stayed up as the alarm for 1 oclock went off on low volume! So, Kate and I woke Andy. We decided on doing this with Its a small world ..but he carried on sleeping so we tried the well tested wakey wakey.
Monday 8th March
The taxi arrived just a few minutes earlier than the early morning 2 oclock agreed hour. We quickly packed the car up and took off for the airport. It was an expensive luxury at £240 but it normally costs about £180 for a hotel, parking, petrol and food so this was a treat to enable us to not have the long journey home driving after a transatlantic night flight. The trip went well and time flew. We were dropped at the entrance with our bags and were amongst the first to check-in.
We then went off to pick up a light breakfast for those that were hungry. Afterwards we took a look at the shops, played in the well hidden soft play area and then went through to the gate early to hopefully catch the others we knew that were flying at the same time.
My phone was constantly bleeping with good wishes texts, and time passed quickly.
We boarded on time and Kate and Tom were amused the whole way with the IFE, virgin amenity and kids packs, and the Disney colouring packs I had put together for them. Tom loved the TV. If he got to a good bit he would take his headphones out and plug them into my socket and say 'Listen Mum..this bits good'! Suffice to say I gave up on the long stuff and saw more of the kids channels, skymap, and listened to the radio more than anything else. (to be fair I dont watch hardly any TV or films anyway)
The flight crew soon came around with drinks and pretzels. They also asked if we could all refrain from eating nut products as there was a passenger with a high allergy to them.
The childrens main meal was pizza, chips, roll. Smartie yoghurt. Fruit gums. Water and a soft drink. We had a choice of Beef Cobbler Vegetable Curry or Sausage and Mash. I went for the Beef and it came with Greek salad, Roll, Flake chocolate mousse, Cheese and biscuits, Tea/Coffee, Mint, Water and wine!! Wey hey, start as you mean to go I say.
We had no turbulence at all, it was a very smooth flight and we arrived 35 minutes early at 3.05. We did have to have seatbelts on for a while as the captain had a reason to have the lights switched back on. This happened at a time of no turbulence and lasted from just before Washington DC to just after.
Great flight. I even ate my dinner; I wasn't needed to help the pilot at all this time
Kate was, I am pleased to say, fine throughout the whole trip.
We picked up the rental car documents first, paid for a trolley with a five dollar bill to get 2 dollars change for tolls, then picked up our bags before returning to the car lot. I went to tip the dollar car man (I had asked a virgin rep as I had nothing smaller than a 10 and was told yes I ought to tip him and that he would have change) and, what a surprise, all he had was 5 dollar notes. Oh, and a few coins which he rustled but never checked as to value. I said Oh I am sorry about that and didn't leave anything. I might have been wrong, but felt I was on the end of a con there.
We arrived at the hotel at 4.30 with no problems finding it. I was amazed how easy it was to locate.
The hotel was only built in late 2001 so everything was clean and felt new still. Its a 3.5 star and well worth every one of them. Im very surprised its not a 4; its probably a bureaucracy thing-not wide enough parking spaces or something.
I was, at first, disappointed with the location of our room. I had asked for a high floor, which we got, but also for a quiet location. Although a little way away we were right by the 535! I have to say if it had been a balcony room it would have mattered but it was not noisy at all.
Ill do a separate report on the hotel and put it in that section as it is really is ideal in all respects for first timers, especially those with young children.
We had a small kitchen area and so we went to Publix which was a 3 minute drive to buy a few snacks and something for tonights tea. We ate tea and the children fell fast asleep.
We were turning in at about 8 and there was a funny sound coming from outside. We went across to the window to investigate. It was Wishes! We could see the high fireworks from between the Days Inn and the Hyatt at DTD!
We watched, as the kiddies slept, and looked forward to tomorrow ..
(Ill post the hotel pictures in the hotel report)
Me, Kes (or Kerry) :36.
Andy, 35
Katie,7
Tom, 6
The background:
It seemed a long time away from that night in 93 when, while watching the fireworks over Cinderellas Castle, we vowed to bring our children back one day and experience it with them.
Sunday 7th March
I had finished packing yesterday so we were free today. I had booked sunday lunch so I didnt have to work too hard at the start of my holiday.
I went for an easy long run with my friend, Karen, as we yapped constantly about the plans we had made and how I was going to fit 8 runs into it (not as it turned out: what a surprise!) When I got home Andy mentioned Kate had been sick after dropping off the cat at the cattery and we put it down to excitement, or sadness at leaving Candy for a couple of weeks.
Our lunch went well, although Kate ate little, and after a few beers I slept a bit in the afternoon. The others made off to bed early at 7 and I surfed a bit; posting that Kate had been unwell. Someone mentioned taking every potion I could lay my hands on, and so I disconnected the computer, and went off to have a look in the cupboard and see if we had anything here that might be of use. Then it started .
Kate came downstairs. Mum, I feel sick. Well, three times that night she was very ill and I added to my pile of medication an ice cream container, and worried about the 5 hour taxi trip to Gatwick, and a 9 hour flight. She and I stayed up all night talking about the holiday, quietly, and hoping this didnt last. Anyway, as it turned out, 11 oclock was the last incident.
It was lucky we had stayed up as the alarm for 1 oclock went off on low volume! So, Kate and I woke Andy. We decided on doing this with Its a small world ..but he carried on sleeping so we tried the well tested wakey wakey.
Monday 8th March
The taxi arrived just a few minutes earlier than the early morning 2 oclock agreed hour. We quickly packed the car up and took off for the airport. It was an expensive luxury at £240 but it normally costs about £180 for a hotel, parking, petrol and food so this was a treat to enable us to not have the long journey home driving after a transatlantic night flight. The trip went well and time flew. We were dropped at the entrance with our bags and were amongst the first to check-in.
We then went off to pick up a light breakfast for those that were hungry. Afterwards we took a look at the shops, played in the well hidden soft play area and then went through to the gate early to hopefully catch the others we knew that were flying at the same time.
My phone was constantly bleeping with good wishes texts, and time passed quickly.
We boarded on time and Kate and Tom were amused the whole way with the IFE, virgin amenity and kids packs, and the Disney colouring packs I had put together for them. Tom loved the TV. If he got to a good bit he would take his headphones out and plug them into my socket and say 'Listen Mum..this bits good'! Suffice to say I gave up on the long stuff and saw more of the kids channels, skymap, and listened to the radio more than anything else. (to be fair I dont watch hardly any TV or films anyway)
The flight crew soon came around with drinks and pretzels. They also asked if we could all refrain from eating nut products as there was a passenger with a high allergy to them.
The childrens main meal was pizza, chips, roll. Smartie yoghurt. Fruit gums. Water and a soft drink. We had a choice of Beef Cobbler Vegetable Curry or Sausage and Mash. I went for the Beef and it came with Greek salad, Roll, Flake chocolate mousse, Cheese and biscuits, Tea/Coffee, Mint, Water and wine!! Wey hey, start as you mean to go I say.
We had no turbulence at all, it was a very smooth flight and we arrived 35 minutes early at 3.05. We did have to have seatbelts on for a while as the captain had a reason to have the lights switched back on. This happened at a time of no turbulence and lasted from just before Washington DC to just after.
Great flight. I even ate my dinner; I wasn't needed to help the pilot at all this time
Kate was, I am pleased to say, fine throughout the whole trip.
We picked up the rental car documents first, paid for a trolley with a five dollar bill to get 2 dollars change for tolls, then picked up our bags before returning to the car lot. I went to tip the dollar car man (I had asked a virgin rep as I had nothing smaller than a 10 and was told yes I ought to tip him and that he would have change) and, what a surprise, all he had was 5 dollar notes. Oh, and a few coins which he rustled but never checked as to value. I said Oh I am sorry about that and didn't leave anything. I might have been wrong, but felt I was on the end of a con there.
We arrived at the hotel at 4.30 with no problems finding it. I was amazed how easy it was to locate.
The hotel was only built in late 2001 so everything was clean and felt new still. Its a 3.5 star and well worth every one of them. Im very surprised its not a 4; its probably a bureaucracy thing-not wide enough parking spaces or something.
I was, at first, disappointed with the location of our room. I had asked for a high floor, which we got, but also for a quiet location. Although a little way away we were right by the 535! I have to say if it had been a balcony room it would have mattered but it was not noisy at all.
Ill do a separate report on the hotel and put it in that section as it is really is ideal in all respects for first timers, especially those with young children.
We had a small kitchen area and so we went to Publix which was a 3 minute drive to buy a few snacks and something for tonights tea. We ate tea and the children fell fast asleep.
We were turning in at about 8 and there was a funny sound coming from outside. We went across to the window to investigate. It was Wishes! We could see the high fireworks from between the Days Inn and the Hyatt at DTD!
We watched, as the kiddies slept, and looked forward to tomorrow ..
(Ill post the hotel pictures in the hotel report)
I am glad she was better on the flight. Great reports 
