lucky978
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2003
- Messages
- 1,687
December 3, 2004
The alarm rang at 3am. What was I thinking scheduling our flights for 6:30am? Hey, it sounded like a great idea at the time. I got myself up, got dressed and washed up. The limo was to arrive at 4am. I started to get the girls up at 3:30am. All their clothes were ready and my DDs were only half awake and saying, Gotta get dressed quick. If I could only get them to move like that before school.
We were ready and waiting for the limo when it arrived at 4am. DH helped us out with our luggage (can you say over-packed?) and we said our good-byes. This is the first time weve ever been apart like this and I know its going to be harder for him. Plus, his dads in the hospital and not doing well, so that is not helping either. Anyways, we were off to get my mom who only lives 5 min. down the road. Get her and her luggage into the limo and were on the highway by 4:30am!!! We get about half way there and we see another limo on the highway as well. I called my cousin on her cell phone and sure enough, its them. Theyre all excited, too!!! We end up getting to the airport at the same time and checking our luggage with the SkyCap for JetBlue.
Off through security, which was a little nerve-wracking for my Mom who had never been on a plane before. Off with the shoes and everything this time. We all made it through okay and we were at the terminal by 5:45am. It feels like it should be noon-time by now!!! As were sitting at the gate, my 15 y.o. cousin announces that he lost his spending money going through security. He must have forgot his wallet over there, I think to myself. Nope. He had $210 in cash stuck in his sock and now its gone. Are you kidding me??? In your sock??? Back to security they go and they do not have it. Not a great way to start the trip.
I notice that my mom is doing very well for someone who has some anxiety, cloustraphobia and has never been on a plane before.
Did you take something to relax?, I ask.
Nope, she says.
Wow, Im impressed.
The plane boards right on-time and we arrive in Orlando at 9:45am. My mom, my cousin and her daughter all did excellent for their first flight. My daughters certainly kept us on our toes. Both had to go to the bathroom twice and I think they switched seats with everyone in our party at least once. My mom did have a Bloody Mary on the plane, but I think it was more of a celebratory drink than a drink to relax her. Afterall, we were already in the air.
Once in Orlando we take the monorail to get our luggage. I notice a SkyCap hanging out by the turnstile and ask him where I could get one of the carts to carry all the bags. I had two suitcases and my mom had one. My cousins group had 4! I knew it would be easier with one of the carts. He told us he would help us out. I knew that meant tipping, but I didnt care. We got the luggage and he went outside with my cousins boyfriend to bring the luggage to the car rental location while me and my cousin got our cars. Come to find out he tipped the SkyCap, then the SkyCap came to me looking for his tip. He ended up getting $10 from each of us. Whatever.
Off to find the house in Kissimmee with no problems. Unloaded the cars and off to Wendys for a quick lunch and Publix for some grocery shopping. Spent around $160! What the heck? We didnt even buy much. Went back to the house and unloaded the groceries. So far, this does not seem like a vacation to me. Seems just like home. There were a few problems with the house, though. Not as clean as I would have liked it. The people who rented before us had left a bunch of food and stuff in the refrigerator, and the cleaners didnt clean it out. And it was HOT in there. I dont think the A/C was working. I called the management company and they sent someone over to clean out the fridge and look at the A/C. Unfortunately, the only options on the A/C unit are on and off. You are not allowed to set the temperature to your liking. I didnt care for that. They also fixed the pool heater, which was not working. Im paying for pool heat and the pool was freezing. I wasnt very happy.
We got ready for dinner, the Hoop-De-Doo-Revue which was fantastic as usual. My mom loved it. We had a great table for 8 right on the floor real close to the stage. The kids got a kick out of Six-pence and ended up having their picture taken with him after the show. My mom loved the blond girls laugh. It was a great time! After dinner we went back to the house and crashed. My cousin and her boyfriend had to go back to the airport at midnight to pick up his daughter and her husband. We werent getting up well just meet them in the morning.
Day to coming soon our first park day, Animal Kingdom!
The alarm rang at 3am. What was I thinking scheduling our flights for 6:30am? Hey, it sounded like a great idea at the time. I got myself up, got dressed and washed up. The limo was to arrive at 4am. I started to get the girls up at 3:30am. All their clothes were ready and my DDs were only half awake and saying, Gotta get dressed quick. If I could only get them to move like that before school.
We were ready and waiting for the limo when it arrived at 4am. DH helped us out with our luggage (can you say over-packed?) and we said our good-byes. This is the first time weve ever been apart like this and I know its going to be harder for him. Plus, his dads in the hospital and not doing well, so that is not helping either. Anyways, we were off to get my mom who only lives 5 min. down the road. Get her and her luggage into the limo and were on the highway by 4:30am!!! We get about half way there and we see another limo on the highway as well. I called my cousin on her cell phone and sure enough, its them. Theyre all excited, too!!! We end up getting to the airport at the same time and checking our luggage with the SkyCap for JetBlue.
Off through security, which was a little nerve-wracking for my Mom who had never been on a plane before. Off with the shoes and everything this time. We all made it through okay and we were at the terminal by 5:45am. It feels like it should be noon-time by now!!! As were sitting at the gate, my 15 y.o. cousin announces that he lost his spending money going through security. He must have forgot his wallet over there, I think to myself. Nope. He had $210 in cash stuck in his sock and now its gone. Are you kidding me??? In your sock??? Back to security they go and they do not have it. Not a great way to start the trip.
I notice that my mom is doing very well for someone who has some anxiety, cloustraphobia and has never been on a plane before.
Did you take something to relax?, I ask.
Nope, she says.
Wow, Im impressed.
The plane boards right on-time and we arrive in Orlando at 9:45am. My mom, my cousin and her daughter all did excellent for their first flight. My daughters certainly kept us on our toes. Both had to go to the bathroom twice and I think they switched seats with everyone in our party at least once. My mom did have a Bloody Mary on the plane, but I think it was more of a celebratory drink than a drink to relax her. Afterall, we were already in the air.
Once in Orlando we take the monorail to get our luggage. I notice a SkyCap hanging out by the turnstile and ask him where I could get one of the carts to carry all the bags. I had two suitcases and my mom had one. My cousins group had 4! I knew it would be easier with one of the carts. He told us he would help us out. I knew that meant tipping, but I didnt care. We got the luggage and he went outside with my cousins boyfriend to bring the luggage to the car rental location while me and my cousin got our cars. Come to find out he tipped the SkyCap, then the SkyCap came to me looking for his tip. He ended up getting $10 from each of us. Whatever.
Off to find the house in Kissimmee with no problems. Unloaded the cars and off to Wendys for a quick lunch and Publix for some grocery shopping. Spent around $160! What the heck? We didnt even buy much. Went back to the house and unloaded the groceries. So far, this does not seem like a vacation to me. Seems just like home. There were a few problems with the house, though. Not as clean as I would have liked it. The people who rented before us had left a bunch of food and stuff in the refrigerator, and the cleaners didnt clean it out. And it was HOT in there. I dont think the A/C was working. I called the management company and they sent someone over to clean out the fridge and look at the A/C. Unfortunately, the only options on the A/C unit are on and off. You are not allowed to set the temperature to your liking. I didnt care for that. They also fixed the pool heater, which was not working. Im paying for pool heat and the pool was freezing. I wasnt very happy.
We got ready for dinner, the Hoop-De-Doo-Revue which was fantastic as usual. My mom loved it. We had a great table for 8 right on the floor real close to the stage. The kids got a kick out of Six-pence and ended up having their picture taken with him after the show. My mom loved the blond girls laugh. It was a great time! After dinner we went back to the house and crashed. My cousin and her boyfriend had to go back to the airport at midnight to pick up his daughter and her husband. We werent getting up well just meet them in the morning.
Day to coming soon our first park day, Animal Kingdom!