DAY 2 - THE DAY AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
We wake - totally refreshed (not!) - excited at the prospect of being in Orlando by tonight and apprehensive about the flight.
After dragging ourselves and our luggage down to the front of the hotel - we catch the hotel bus to the airport.
The breakfast at the airport was the usual faire (McDonald's again!) And after a long queue for the baggage check in we finally get through to the departure lounge. We take turns to browse the duty free shops and purchase coffee until finally the call come for us to board the plane Air Atlanta Flight CC858.
The seats are a little disappointing as I thought that we were going to get extra leg room on this plane no such luck I think the 34 inch pitch was a misprint! Oh well! The adrenaline is still flowing fast so hopefully the excitement will get me through.
Im 64 so its not easy to sleep with a small rhinoceros jumping up and down in the seat in front of you.
Do you remember when you were a kid at school? And the teacher said that by the time you were grown up we would all be travelling around in our own personal jet cars and we would be able to beam ourselves Star-Trek-like across continents instead of using airplanes? Bloody teachers! Always smoking that funny smelling tobacco!
Just before takeoff time the Captain announces that some Muppet has loaded the cargo incorrectly and its all got to be taken off and re-loaded again - so we miss our slot and have to wait for two hours on the tarmac.
I have my own theory as to the real reason behind this delay I reckon that after the baggage vandalers (as I like to call them) had finished playing football - using my suitcases as goalposts and then rifled through all my belongings they must have come across an un-ironed T Shirt!
Well you can imagine the shock. Questions would have to be asked. Calls would be made to the Governor of Florida to see if he would accept such a slovenly housewife into his wonderful country. I believe that an emergency meeting of the Civil Aviation Authority would be arranged to determine the aerodynamic effect of an un-ironed T Shirt on a Boeing 747.
Luckily for us the Arch Bishop of Canterbury was called in to make a ruling and decided that the said T Shirt was packed on a Sunday the day of rest and was therefore exempt from ironing.
Eventually we are under way ..!
There were a couple of films during the flight Shrek 2 which was brilliant. Me and DD could not stop laughing at the bit where the donkey keeps making that popping noise in the back of the wagon. It reminded us of DS in the car!
Then there was a film starring Jim Carey - I think that someone must have put something in my coffee either that or the chicken & mushroom pie that I had for dinner was actually made with magic mushrooms because I didnt understand any of this bewildering film!
I will have to try to watch it when I don't have to crane my neck to see past a five year old acrobat with ants in his pants and the rhinoceros with a weak bladder!
I manage to finally doze off just as we begin our final approach to Sanford!
I think I must have missed an important announcement by the Captain while I was asleep because suddenly a family from the back surges through - barging past us - and makes their way to the exits. I could have sworn he said stay in your seats until the plane comes to a complete full stop. This family had obviously paid the extra £99 for the Priority Express Disembarkation and were clearly a cut above the rest of us "Plebs". (Not!)
I also discovered a new queuing rule whilst away this year apparently it is good form to rush ahead of others who are queuing in an orderly fashion and then proceed to call all of your family members through to join you!
I also discovered a cure for this new fad invite the bugger back to his family behind you or he gets a slap! Nuff said!
Eventually after queuing to get off the plane, queuing to get through Passport Control queuing to get our bags queuing to get them all x-rayed again and queuing to get our car . we finally find the Happy Bus. A metallic blue Dodge Town & Country Caravan Lovely!
And were off ..
Unfortunately the flight delay has meant that we are now driving to an unknown destination in the dark which makes navigation twice as hard for DW and after a 21 hour day it is all a bit tense. Luckily my extra sensory perception is working well today and I manage to take a few correct turnings and get us to Bahama Bay in just under an hour. I thought DD was asleep during this car journey but it later tuned out that she had picked up a smattering of new phrases along the Florida Greenway. Unfortunately I only realised this a week later while we were feeding the birds at Discovery Cove when she spotted a large black stork type bird with red rings and piped up Dad is that one of those Red Neck B s that you kept shouting at on the way from the airport? opps!
Check-in at Bahama Bay is easy and we are directed to our building up two flights of stairs (no lift!) to our apartment.
Well all of the stress and strain of the day just melts away when we open the door what a fantastic place not only are we the first tenants to rent this brand new unit but we have been up-graded from a two bed "Silver" apartment to one of the three bed Gold top of the range jobbies. Wow! Its huge. The "Master Suite" is gigantic with an en-suite bathroom of biblical proportions. The walk-in shower could double as another bedroom in itself.
DS has a king size double bedroom with 24 inch TV all to himself and DD has the choice of beds in the twin bedroom with a bathroom accessed between the two rooms. 3 x TVs DVD Stereo 3 x balconies all overlooking the lake and pool I preen and nail rub for the next hour making noises like see I knew this was a great idea of mine etc etc. Eventually I am told to "shut up!" and I sulk while catching up with the Weather Channel.
DW unpacks DS videos the apartment in detail with a running commentary on dimensions, colours, aspects etc DD watches TV and I sit on my "Master" balcony off my "Master" bedroom and purvey my kingdom before me (all an old family tradition you know). What is all the fuss about packing and unpacking? I simply throw what I need into a suitcase and when I get there - I unzip the case and tip its contents into a drawer - job done!
Tomorrow The Plan kicks in and thats when the serious bit of enjoying ourselves starts in earnest.
Magic Kingdom beckons.
The weather forecast for tomorrow - according to Mr.Dopplar - is 95 degrees - hot and sunny with possible showers in the afternoon.
We sleep like two small logs in a bed the size of Hertfordshire that would easily accommodate a small rainforest!
I dream of being mugged by a group of vicious baggage handlers and pushy tourists and then -
BLISSSSSSZZZZZZZZ .
We wake - totally refreshed (not!) - excited at the prospect of being in Orlando by tonight and apprehensive about the flight.
After dragging ourselves and our luggage down to the front of the hotel - we catch the hotel bus to the airport.
The breakfast at the airport was the usual faire (McDonald's again!) And after a long queue for the baggage check in we finally get through to the departure lounge. We take turns to browse the duty free shops and purchase coffee until finally the call come for us to board the plane Air Atlanta Flight CC858.
The seats are a little disappointing as I thought that we were going to get extra leg room on this plane no such luck I think the 34 inch pitch was a misprint! Oh well! The adrenaline is still flowing fast so hopefully the excitement will get me through.
Im 64 so its not easy to sleep with a small rhinoceros jumping up and down in the seat in front of you.
Do you remember when you were a kid at school? And the teacher said that by the time you were grown up we would all be travelling around in our own personal jet cars and we would be able to beam ourselves Star-Trek-like across continents instead of using airplanes? Bloody teachers! Always smoking that funny smelling tobacco!
Just before takeoff time the Captain announces that some Muppet has loaded the cargo incorrectly and its all got to be taken off and re-loaded again - so we miss our slot and have to wait for two hours on the tarmac.
I have my own theory as to the real reason behind this delay I reckon that after the baggage vandalers (as I like to call them) had finished playing football - using my suitcases as goalposts and then rifled through all my belongings they must have come across an un-ironed T Shirt!
Well you can imagine the shock. Questions would have to be asked. Calls would be made to the Governor of Florida to see if he would accept such a slovenly housewife into his wonderful country. I believe that an emergency meeting of the Civil Aviation Authority would be arranged to determine the aerodynamic effect of an un-ironed T Shirt on a Boeing 747.
Luckily for us the Arch Bishop of Canterbury was called in to make a ruling and decided that the said T Shirt was packed on a Sunday the day of rest and was therefore exempt from ironing.
Eventually we are under way ..!
There were a couple of films during the flight Shrek 2 which was brilliant. Me and DD could not stop laughing at the bit where the donkey keeps making that popping noise in the back of the wagon. It reminded us of DS in the car!
Then there was a film starring Jim Carey - I think that someone must have put something in my coffee either that or the chicken & mushroom pie that I had for dinner was actually made with magic mushrooms because I didnt understand any of this bewildering film!
I will have to try to watch it when I don't have to crane my neck to see past a five year old acrobat with ants in his pants and the rhinoceros with a weak bladder!
I manage to finally doze off just as we begin our final approach to Sanford!
I think I must have missed an important announcement by the Captain while I was asleep because suddenly a family from the back surges through - barging past us - and makes their way to the exits. I could have sworn he said stay in your seats until the plane comes to a complete full stop. This family had obviously paid the extra £99 for the Priority Express Disembarkation and were clearly a cut above the rest of us "Plebs". (Not!)
I also discovered a new queuing rule whilst away this year apparently it is good form to rush ahead of others who are queuing in an orderly fashion and then proceed to call all of your family members through to join you!
I also discovered a cure for this new fad invite the bugger back to his family behind you or he gets a slap! Nuff said!
Eventually after queuing to get off the plane, queuing to get through Passport Control queuing to get our bags queuing to get them all x-rayed again and queuing to get our car . we finally find the Happy Bus. A metallic blue Dodge Town & Country Caravan Lovely!
And were off ..
Unfortunately the flight delay has meant that we are now driving to an unknown destination in the dark which makes navigation twice as hard for DW and after a 21 hour day it is all a bit tense. Luckily my extra sensory perception is working well today and I manage to take a few correct turnings and get us to Bahama Bay in just under an hour. I thought DD was asleep during this car journey but it later tuned out that she had picked up a smattering of new phrases along the Florida Greenway. Unfortunately I only realised this a week later while we were feeding the birds at Discovery Cove when she spotted a large black stork type bird with red rings and piped up Dad is that one of those Red Neck B s that you kept shouting at on the way from the airport? opps!
Check-in at Bahama Bay is easy and we are directed to our building up two flights of stairs (no lift!) to our apartment.
Well all of the stress and strain of the day just melts away when we open the door what a fantastic place not only are we the first tenants to rent this brand new unit but we have been up-graded from a two bed "Silver" apartment to one of the three bed Gold top of the range jobbies. Wow! Its huge. The "Master Suite" is gigantic with an en-suite bathroom of biblical proportions. The walk-in shower could double as another bedroom in itself.
DS has a king size double bedroom with 24 inch TV all to himself and DD has the choice of beds in the twin bedroom with a bathroom accessed between the two rooms. 3 x TVs DVD Stereo 3 x balconies all overlooking the lake and pool I preen and nail rub for the next hour making noises like see I knew this was a great idea of mine etc etc. Eventually I am told to "shut up!" and I sulk while catching up with the Weather Channel.
DW unpacks DS videos the apartment in detail with a running commentary on dimensions, colours, aspects etc DD watches TV and I sit on my "Master" balcony off my "Master" bedroom and purvey my kingdom before me (all an old family tradition you know). What is all the fuss about packing and unpacking? I simply throw what I need into a suitcase and when I get there - I unzip the case and tip its contents into a drawer - job done!
Tomorrow The Plan kicks in and thats when the serious bit of enjoying ourselves starts in earnest.
Magic Kingdom beckons.
The weather forecast for tomorrow - according to Mr.Dopplar - is 95 degrees - hot and sunny with possible showers in the afternoon.
We sleep like two small logs in a bed the size of Hertfordshire that would easily accommodate a small rainforest!
I dream of being mugged by a group of vicious baggage handlers and pushy tourists and then -
BLISSSSSSZZZZZZZZ .
LOL at the unironed t-shirt. What a pain having to wait on the blasted plane for the cargo to be properly loaded 
What are these people like 
