Dimplenose
Stranger from the outside
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2002
- Messages
- 5,956
Libbys Trip Day 1 Virgin Flight and Windsor Palms Villa
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Thursday August 11th
The alarm goes off at 5am. At 5:30 we crawl out of bed and wake the kids. Ive already checked in online but my worry of getting to the airport late means I plan to get to Gatwick 3 hours early anyway. All our bags are waiting in the hall so its just a matter of getting dressed and leaving. Were planning on eating at the airport food court and watching the planes. DH turns off the gas boiler and the water, a final check that everything else is switched off and we lock up and leave for Gatwick.
Were booked into the summer special car-park. We liked the fact that they park the car for you, having spent some rather nerve wracking time trying to find a parking space in the regular long term car-park one year we felt that this would be less stressful.
It takes us about 45 minutes to get to Gatwick, and we only get lost once trying to find the car-park which seems a long way from South Terminal. (We actually pass Le Meridian on our way.) Were quickly booked in and then its only a 5 minute wait for the bus.
Once at South Terminal we look for the Virgin On-line check in desk. We cant see it immediately so I leave the family in the regular queue while I have another look. It then took no time to find it once I realised that the DIY check in desk was the one I wanted. I haul the family out of the queue and we walk straight up to DIY check in, my husband was impressed with this. Our passports were checked and suitcases weighed and we were allocated the seats in rows 62 and 63 that we had requested. Our hand luggage was never even looked at.
We then went off to find the food court where we have had breakfast every time weve been to Gatwick. We walk round twice and then realise that there is no food court it seems to be boarded up with internet access terminals in front of it. We decided to go to McDonalds. We ate our cardboard breakfast while we looked at a very long queue to get into departures. After breakfast we wandered around the shops and bought some magazines from Smiths.
When we eventually got to departures there was no queue but once through security the place was heaving with people. It was really unpleasant. I was hoping to see Tony64 who was travelling the same day but no hope in that crush. We decided to head out for the spur that Virgin use. Another change here we had to walk! Im sure there used to be a little train. Once at the spur we chose a vacant gate and sat peacefully while the kids played or read for half an hour. Nearer our boarding time we went to our gate. The crew were still waiting to board themselves. Being near the back we were boarded quite soon. The flight (VS027) left 30 minutes late but the pilot expected to make up that time. Our route would be out over Lands End and then over Bermuda (I think) to Orlando.
We liked the seats as they were in 2s but DH had a few problems with people leaning over him as the people behind shared our lockers. We were close to the toilets, but not too close. Also being at the back we had full choice at mealtimes. The films were a disappointing choice for DS, everything he wanted to see was on the return journey. But at least I was able to introduce him to Father Ted which he really enjoyed.
As the pilot had hoped we landed ahead of schedule but being at the back we were one of the last families off the plane. However, joining the right hand queue at immigration worked like a dream. The immigration officer was really cheerful and friendly. Photos and finger prints for the over 12s were very quick and then over to collect our bags that were there almost immediately. I cant believe how smoothly things are going today. There is no queue for customs so we are soon dropping off our cases again. Straight onto a train. No more than 5 minutes wait for our bags to reappear and then down to Dollars Virgin desk. Here we did have to wait, but only because I didnt realise there was a preferential queue for Frequent Virgins (which we were).
We were allocated a cruiser pt. We werent asked for a credit card because we had platinum insurance and the paper part of my driving license wasnt required. The car boot was quite small. We had 2 largish suitcases and we had to take the parcel shelf out to get them in.
DH spent a bit of time familiarising himself with the car and then we headed out to find our villa. The journey wasnt too bad and we got to Windsor Palms quite smoothly. We even spotted the purple wizard before our turning. We were shocked to see quite how close the road building is to the entrance gate - maybe 30 yards, but it was no bother to us durung our stay. The security man on the gate was very nice and took our details then issued us with a permit to get into the resort for the next two weeks.
We found the villa and the lock box number worked (on second attempt!) and we were in the villa. It was a typical Florida villa with open plan kitchen, living room and dining area. The kids chose their rooms (wed booked a 4 bed villa) and we went to our room where we found we had a safe very useful.
We all changed clothes and slopped on some sun block and headed out to the Formosa Gardens shopping center. Wed hoped to get a meal, but we were all very tired and stroppy so after wed had a row in the car park we went and bought pizza and breakfast stuff from the supermarket and headed back to the villa for tea and bed.
Libby
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Thursday August 11th
The alarm goes off at 5am. At 5:30 we crawl out of bed and wake the kids. Ive already checked in online but my worry of getting to the airport late means I plan to get to Gatwick 3 hours early anyway. All our bags are waiting in the hall so its just a matter of getting dressed and leaving. Were planning on eating at the airport food court and watching the planes. DH turns off the gas boiler and the water, a final check that everything else is switched off and we lock up and leave for Gatwick.
Were booked into the summer special car-park. We liked the fact that they park the car for you, having spent some rather nerve wracking time trying to find a parking space in the regular long term car-park one year we felt that this would be less stressful.
It takes us about 45 minutes to get to Gatwick, and we only get lost once trying to find the car-park which seems a long way from South Terminal. (We actually pass Le Meridian on our way.) Were quickly booked in and then its only a 5 minute wait for the bus.
Once at South Terminal we look for the Virgin On-line check in desk. We cant see it immediately so I leave the family in the regular queue while I have another look. It then took no time to find it once I realised that the DIY check in desk was the one I wanted. I haul the family out of the queue and we walk straight up to DIY check in, my husband was impressed with this. Our passports were checked and suitcases weighed and we were allocated the seats in rows 62 and 63 that we had requested. Our hand luggage was never even looked at.
We then went off to find the food court where we have had breakfast every time weve been to Gatwick. We walk round twice and then realise that there is no food court it seems to be boarded up with internet access terminals in front of it. We decided to go to McDonalds. We ate our cardboard breakfast while we looked at a very long queue to get into departures. After breakfast we wandered around the shops and bought some magazines from Smiths.
When we eventually got to departures there was no queue but once through security the place was heaving with people. It was really unpleasant. I was hoping to see Tony64 who was travelling the same day but no hope in that crush. We decided to head out for the spur that Virgin use. Another change here we had to walk! Im sure there used to be a little train. Once at the spur we chose a vacant gate and sat peacefully while the kids played or read for half an hour. Nearer our boarding time we went to our gate. The crew were still waiting to board themselves. Being near the back we were boarded quite soon. The flight (VS027) left 30 minutes late but the pilot expected to make up that time. Our route would be out over Lands End and then over Bermuda (I think) to Orlando.
We liked the seats as they were in 2s but DH had a few problems with people leaning over him as the people behind shared our lockers. We were close to the toilets, but not too close. Also being at the back we had full choice at mealtimes. The films were a disappointing choice for DS, everything he wanted to see was on the return journey. But at least I was able to introduce him to Father Ted which he really enjoyed.
As the pilot had hoped we landed ahead of schedule but being at the back we were one of the last families off the plane. However, joining the right hand queue at immigration worked like a dream. The immigration officer was really cheerful and friendly. Photos and finger prints for the over 12s were very quick and then over to collect our bags that were there almost immediately. I cant believe how smoothly things are going today. There is no queue for customs so we are soon dropping off our cases again. Straight onto a train. No more than 5 minutes wait for our bags to reappear and then down to Dollars Virgin desk. Here we did have to wait, but only because I didnt realise there was a preferential queue for Frequent Virgins (which we were).
We were allocated a cruiser pt. We werent asked for a credit card because we had platinum insurance and the paper part of my driving license wasnt required. The car boot was quite small. We had 2 largish suitcases and we had to take the parcel shelf out to get them in.
DH spent a bit of time familiarising himself with the car and then we headed out to find our villa. The journey wasnt too bad and we got to Windsor Palms quite smoothly. We even spotted the purple wizard before our turning. We were shocked to see quite how close the road building is to the entrance gate - maybe 30 yards, but it was no bother to us durung our stay. The security man on the gate was very nice and took our details then issued us with a permit to get into the resort for the next two weeks.
We found the villa and the lock box number worked (on second attempt!) and we were in the villa. It was a typical Florida villa with open plan kitchen, living room and dining area. The kids chose their rooms (wed booked a 4 bed villa) and we went to our room where we found we had a safe very useful.
We all changed clothes and slopped on some sun block and headed out to the Formosa Gardens shopping center. Wed hoped to get a meal, but we were all very tired and stroppy so after wed had a row in the car park we went and bought pizza and breakfast stuff from the supermarket and headed back to the villa for tea and bed.
Libby
