Claire L
<font color=blue>Enjoys a good broadway show<br><f
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2002
- Messages
- 10,782
Right so how did the October 2007 trip come about?
We decided in April 2006 that we wanted to go away for New Year and what better place to this than WDW. So we got a package deal with VH for 11 nights at POFQ. We had a wonderful New Year and as we had annual passes for WDW and USF the plan was to go back in October 2007. As much as we loved POFQ there was one thing missing, the deluxe facilities such as a balcony. Initially we thought we would go back to POFQ but as the months passed and the US $ got to near $2 to the £1, my mind wandered. I had joked a few years before if the US$ ever got to be $2 to the £1 I would consider a villa. Well a villa was out of reach but thoughts turned to other real estate in Florida. Initially my thoughts were for SSR but Nathan pointed out we loved AKL in 2004 when we visited there and as there was now going to be DVC at AKV then that would be a good place. Plus what we would of spent on a room at POFQ would go towards the payment. So in July I got in contact with DVC and spoke to a guide some friends already had and before we knew it we were owners of 200 AKV points
Oh and we had double developer points, which we would finish using on our May 2008 trip. Now as it was mid August I quickly arranged 2 weeks at SSR in a studio, one night had to be waitlisted but that came through by the end of August so we were all set.
So October 2008 was to be our first trip home
Wednesday October 10th 2007
Today was the start of our first trip home and the first of many to come
The alarm went off at just after 5.30am and once again I had to find the travel insurance documents that I suddenly woke in the night remembering we needed to pack! By 6.20am DMIL had arrived and the car was packed and off we went. The journey to Gatwick was good and we arrived just before 8am and proceeded to bag drop as I had checked in online the night before. As we entered the terminal and went towards the VA zone a huge queue met us, it was for security into the departure lounge
After checking the luggage in we headed off to collect the remaining $ from Travelex and the queue looked horrendous. So on Nathans advice we headed to the Village, as soon as we got there I recalled the upstairs security and after wandering around the Village we found it and were through in about 5mins :thumb: This was great as we exited onto the corridor to the Clubhouse Lounge so immediately went in there First priority was to book a treatment and we both went for the head, back and shoulder massage at 10.30am and 10.45am. After this breakfast beckoned so I went for the usual of salmon and scrambled egg with champagne while Nathan had the bacon sandwich and orange juice.
The lounge was getting quite busy but not overly packed. The weather was improving and the view as always was great.
Feeling more awake we went to shop in duty free and also get enrolled on the IRIS scan for when returning and bypassing the main immigration queue. We went towards gate 90 and found the enrolment room and I was surprised how small it was I thought there would have been more people wanting to register, but we were greeted by two staff who appeared to be lacking customers! Soon we were enrolled and went back to the Clubhouse. A further sandwich was ordered for both of us and I then headed off for my massage and was told we could both be treated at the same time. By now the lounge had emptied out and we chilled for a while before finally heading to the gate at about 12pm.
As soon as we got to the gate boarding started so we made our way to our seats. Take off was nearly on time and the flight was very smooth.
First we had drinks.
Then it was the main meal, chicken Korma and rice, which tasted quite nice. Nathan opted for no main meal.
After lunch I had a Baileys and nodded for a bit as did Nathan. But we woke for ice cream Soon we were over Canada.
Then time seemed to drag and Florida seemed so far off! About an hour and a half before landing we had afternoon tea, which was quite nice, the sandwiches had good flavour and the cookie was very tasty
As we approached Florida we were warned that there were storms in the area which we would avoid. I can see why from this piccie!
We landed about 10 minutes late and then took an age to get to the gate but considering the size of the airport no surprise. Once off we were soon through immigration but the belt for PE/UC luggage started to play up and stopped, so economy were getting their luggage before we did. Luckily the belt soon started working and we were off through Customs, bag scan as usual. Then time to leave the luggage again as you can only take one piece per person on the shuttle. Once in claim B we got our luggage and went to collect the car. It was now 6.10pm but as we stepped outside to go across to the car the heat hit us! Soon the car was packed and we were off. The temp on the car was reading 91f
We decided in April 2006 that we wanted to go away for New Year and what better place to this than WDW. So we got a package deal with VH for 11 nights at POFQ. We had a wonderful New Year and as we had annual passes for WDW and USF the plan was to go back in October 2007. As much as we loved POFQ there was one thing missing, the deluxe facilities such as a balcony. Initially we thought we would go back to POFQ but as the months passed and the US $ got to near $2 to the £1, my mind wandered. I had joked a few years before if the US$ ever got to be $2 to the £1 I would consider a villa. Well a villa was out of reach but thoughts turned to other real estate in Florida. Initially my thoughts were for SSR but Nathan pointed out we loved AKL in 2004 when we visited there and as there was now going to be DVC at AKV then that would be a good place. Plus what we would of spent on a room at POFQ would go towards the payment. So in July I got in contact with DVC and spoke to a guide some friends already had and before we knew it we were owners of 200 AKV points
Oh and we had double developer points, which we would finish using on our May 2008 trip. Now as it was mid August I quickly arranged 2 weeks at SSR in a studio, one night had to be waitlisted but that came through by the end of August so we were all set.So October 2008 was to be our first trip home
Wednesday October 10th 2007
Today was the start of our first trip home and the first of many to come
The alarm went off at just after 5.30am and once again I had to find the travel insurance documents that I suddenly woke in the night remembering we needed to pack! By 6.20am DMIL had arrived and the car was packed and off we went. The journey to Gatwick was good and we arrived just before 8am and proceeded to bag drop as I had checked in online the night before. As we entered the terminal and went towards the VA zone a huge queue met us, it was for security into the departure lounge
After checking the luggage in we headed off to collect the remaining $ from Travelex and the queue looked horrendous. So on Nathans advice we headed to the Village, as soon as we got there I recalled the upstairs security and after wandering around the Village we found it and were through in about 5mins :thumb: This was great as we exited onto the corridor to the Clubhouse Lounge so immediately went in there First priority was to book a treatment and we both went for the head, back and shoulder massage at 10.30am and 10.45am. After this breakfast beckoned so I went for the usual of salmon and scrambled egg with champagne while Nathan had the bacon sandwich and orange juice.
The lounge was getting quite busy but not overly packed. The weather was improving and the view as always was great.
Feeling more awake we went to shop in duty free and also get enrolled on the IRIS scan for when returning and bypassing the main immigration queue. We went towards gate 90 and found the enrolment room and I was surprised how small it was I thought there would have been more people wanting to register, but we were greeted by two staff who appeared to be lacking customers! Soon we were enrolled and went back to the Clubhouse. A further sandwich was ordered for both of us and I then headed off for my massage and was told we could both be treated at the same time. By now the lounge had emptied out and we chilled for a while before finally heading to the gate at about 12pm.
As soon as we got to the gate boarding started so we made our way to our seats. Take off was nearly on time and the flight was very smooth.
First we had drinks.
Then it was the main meal, chicken Korma and rice, which tasted quite nice. Nathan opted for no main meal.
After lunch I had a Baileys and nodded for a bit as did Nathan. But we woke for ice cream
Soon we were over Canada.
Then time seemed to drag and Florida seemed so far off! About an hour and a half before landing we had afternoon tea, which was quite nice, the sandwiches had good flavour and the cookie was very tasty
As we approached Florida we were warned that there were storms in the area which we would avoid. I can see why from this piccie!
We landed about 10 minutes late and then took an age to get to the gate but considering the size of the airport no surprise. Once off we were soon through immigration but the belt for PE/UC luggage started to play up and stopped, so economy were getting their luggage before we did. Luckily the belt soon started working and we were off through Customs, bag scan as usual. Then time to leave the luggage again as you can only take one piece per person on the shuttle. Once in claim B we got our luggage and went to collect the car. It was now 6.10pm but as we stepped outside to go across to the car the heat hit us! Soon the car was packed and we were off. The temp on the car was reading 91f
As the Turf Club Grill was so busy and we only wanted appetizers we sat in the bar area 
another Trippie ! fab
