bengunn
Pirate Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2001
- Messages
- 375
Prequel
The Cast:
Richard (bengunn): Chief planner
Kathy : DW, just wants to go on holiday
Josie : DD 20, at Reading University, Assistant Planner, not very good at getting up
Sam : DS 17, just done AS exams, can get up very quickly when he wants to
Background
This is our second trip to Florida, last time was 10 years ago and the children were 9 and 7. We have been to DLP a couple of times in the interim but decided last year that we would go to Florida this year as it will probably be the last holiday when DD and DS come with us (they have not both come with us for the last 2 years). The villas and car hire were booked in July 2001 and the flights in October 2001 so the holiday has been a long time coming; everything was booked with Something Special as they offered us very good deals on Dollar car hire and Virgin flights.
We had bought all of our tickets a while ago to spread the cost of the holiday. We had 5 day Park Hopper Plus tickets with 4 plus options for WDW, 3 day 2 park tickets for Universal Studios and IOA, Fun passes for Busch Gardens, and free Seaworld entry as we had booked to go to Discovery Cove.
I should add a disclaimer that all views expressed in these trips reports are relevant to our family and may also apply to other families with children of similar ages (so don't get too upset if we don't like your favourite ride/show/etc.).
Wednesday 14th August
Kathy and I started packing in the evening having done a few last minute jobs like cleaning the filter of our goldfish pond; Josie and Sam were both out with friends; Sam had got his clothes out ready but Josie was packing the next day (she had been working at her holiday job all day).
Totally failed to find the travel iron; concluded that Josie had borrowed it and had left it at her house in Reading Oh well the villas will probably have one (they did). We ended up packing until 12:20 am on Thursday. Why does that always happen?
Thursday 15th August
Kathy and I both went to work in the morning, leaving dire threats to DD and DS about being packed by the time we came home.
I left work at 13:30 instead of the planned 14:30, as I had finished everything that I needed to do.
Needless to say, Josie and Sam had not finished packing although it was in progress
. At 14:50, I took Sam to get his AS results (as he goes to a 6th Form college, AS results were not officially available until the Friday so they could deal with all the A level results). Results collected at 15:05; very good; two As, a B and a C. 
Returned home to finish packing; Kathy now home and we managed to get finished and leave home at 17:00. This was not bad as I had set a target of 16:30 knowing that we would be at least 30 minutes late.
We had an easy drive to Gatwick and arrived at 18:20. There was no queue at Twilight Check-in but before we were allowed to go to the desk, there were lots of security questions asked and they searched one of our cases (Sams). At this point Josie realised that she had packed a razor in her hand luggage but they were fine about that and let her repack it in the case that they had opened to search. We then checked in and got the seats that we had pre-requested. We were just over an hour from parking to leaving the airport (so we had to pay for 2 hours parking
).
Drove to Cumberland House Hotel (less than 5 minutes drive). The rooms were very nice but hot, as it had been a very hot day (for the UK). The cost for one double and one twin room, including full English breakfast, plus 3 weeks car parking was £165, which seems excellent value to me.
We walked to the recommended pub along the road (The Six Bells). The pub was heaving; we got the last table in the garden; it took us 45 minutes to order our food and another 45 minutes until we got it but it was certainly worth the wait. Deserts took about another 45 minutes by which time it was time to go back to the hotel for bed.
Food was 2 off Hunters Chicken, Sirloin Pepper Steak, Seabass, 2 off Profiteroles, Apple Pie and two rounds of drinks; total cost £64.60 plus tip not a bad price for some excellent food.
Tomorrow: The trip to Orlando
More details have been added as of 12/09/02 by popular request.
The Cast:
Richard (bengunn): Chief planner
Kathy : DW, just wants to go on holiday
Josie : DD 20, at Reading University, Assistant Planner, not very good at getting up
Sam : DS 17, just done AS exams, can get up very quickly when he wants to
Background
This is our second trip to Florida, last time was 10 years ago and the children were 9 and 7. We have been to DLP a couple of times in the interim but decided last year that we would go to Florida this year as it will probably be the last holiday when DD and DS come with us (they have not both come with us for the last 2 years). The villas and car hire were booked in July 2001 and the flights in October 2001 so the holiday has been a long time coming; everything was booked with Something Special as they offered us very good deals on Dollar car hire and Virgin flights.
We had bought all of our tickets a while ago to spread the cost of the holiday. We had 5 day Park Hopper Plus tickets with 4 plus options for WDW, 3 day 2 park tickets for Universal Studios and IOA, Fun passes for Busch Gardens, and free Seaworld entry as we had booked to go to Discovery Cove.
I should add a disclaimer that all views expressed in these trips reports are relevant to our family and may also apply to other families with children of similar ages (so don't get too upset if we don't like your favourite ride/show/etc.).
Wednesday 14th August
Kathy and I started packing in the evening having done a few last minute jobs like cleaning the filter of our goldfish pond; Josie and Sam were both out with friends; Sam had got his clothes out ready but Josie was packing the next day (she had been working at her holiday job all day).
Totally failed to find the travel iron; concluded that Josie had borrowed it and had left it at her house in Reading Oh well the villas will probably have one (they did). We ended up packing until 12:20 am on Thursday. Why does that always happen?
Thursday 15th August
Kathy and I both went to work in the morning, leaving dire threats to DD and DS about being packed by the time we came home.
I left work at 13:30 instead of the planned 14:30, as I had finished everything that I needed to do.
Needless to say, Josie and Sam had not finished packing although it was in progress
. At 14:50, I took Sam to get his AS results (as he goes to a 6th Form college, AS results were not officially available until the Friday so they could deal with all the A level results). Results collected at 15:05; very good; two As, a B and a C. Returned home to finish packing; Kathy now home and we managed to get finished and leave home at 17:00. This was not bad as I had set a target of 16:30 knowing that we would be at least 30 minutes late.
We had an easy drive to Gatwick and arrived at 18:20. There was no queue at Twilight Check-in but before we were allowed to go to the desk, there were lots of security questions asked and they searched one of our cases (Sams). At this point Josie realised that she had packed a razor in her hand luggage but they were fine about that and let her repack it in the case that they had opened to search. We then checked in and got the seats that we had pre-requested. We were just over an hour from parking to leaving the airport (so we had to pay for 2 hours parking
).Drove to Cumberland House Hotel (less than 5 minutes drive). The rooms were very nice but hot, as it had been a very hot day (for the UK). The cost for one double and one twin room, including full English breakfast, plus 3 weeks car parking was £165, which seems excellent value to me.
We walked to the recommended pub along the road (The Six Bells). The pub was heaving; we got the last table in the garden; it took us 45 minutes to order our food and another 45 minutes until we got it but it was certainly worth the wait. Deserts took about another 45 minutes by which time it was time to go back to the hotel for bed.
Food was 2 off Hunters Chicken, Sirloin Pepper Steak, Seabass, 2 off Profiteroles, Apple Pie and two rounds of drinks; total cost £64.60 plus tip not a bad price for some excellent food.
Tomorrow: The trip to Orlando
More details have been added as of 12/09/02 by popular request.
