Tartan Tigger
<font color=purple>I fixed my PC MYSELF!!!!!!!!<br
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2000
- Messages
- 1,847
Day 1
Woke up at 5am, toss and turn dreaming of Jack and Victor from Still Game (Scottish comedy). Get up at 6.25am. Leave the house at 7.30am, flight isnt until 12 noon but I am informed we must leave this early to beat the traffic!!!
Arrive at the airport at 8.15am, we beat the traffic. Unload the car, say bye to my dad and then drag the luggage into the main building to check the screens to see where we need to check in. I find the flight first and declare that my contact lenses are the best thing I have ever bought. Our check in desk is the new Terminal 2 building. It used to be called the St. Andrews building and it doesnt look any different to me so Im not sure how it became a terminal, but hey what do I know!
I went to find a trolley because it was too far away to drag the luggage and once again the trolley that only turns left jumped right out in front of me. Put luggage on and then battled our way to check in with a trolley that wanted to go round in a circle.
Check in was really busy but we only had to wait 15 minutes before we checked in by Iain. Once we had our boarding cards in hand Tricia went over to the exchange bureau. When she got her money changed the smallest note she got was a $50 and she wanted smaller. The man debated giving her $10s worth of $1 notes because it was all he had left but eventually decided that once there were done they were done and gave them to her but asked us not to tell anyone. We promised we wouldnt.
Trekked back to the main building and went to have a look round the shops. Did the Scotland shop, the one that only tourists would pay the prices, Dixons, Dorothy Perkins and then went to the new Rangers shop (there is a Celtic one too). They were showing video clips of old games on the TV in the Rangers shop which I stopped to watch. When Rangers almost scored I shouted, Ohhhhhh. The man in the shop looked at me like I was crazy so we left. Went to Starbucks and bought two cups of tea and two cookies which came to £4.
After our tea and cookie we decided to go through security because there was no queue, the queue had been huge when we were in Starbucks. We got through security very quickly and without any searches. Went into Duty Free and found some perfume to spray, soon had so many on it was impossible to identify the smell. Into WH Smiths next to buy sweets, crisps, juice and water and a newspaper. Departures was absolutely heaving so we went to the gate. It was only 10.30am and the flight wasnt until 12 noon. Arrived at the gate approx 15 minutes later. Once again we were at the furthest away gate Glasgow airport has, its always the same!!! Found a seat by the window and made ourselves comfortable, we were going to be here for a while.
At 11.45am the screens are saying that our flight has started to board, despite the fact that there is no plane there. At 11.55am they make an announcement that the plane will be delayed for an hour as the plane is on its way from Manchester (must have dropped of their earlier that morning). When it does arrive we discover that it is an Air Atlanta plane. We had booked our flights through Dialaflight and they told us it was a Thomas Cook charter plane. We had phoned Thomas Cook about baggage allowance and they told us that it was an Air Atlanta flight so we had contacted them and they had said it would be Excel, so we really didnt have a clue who we would be flying with. But now we knew it was definitely Air Atlanta. The crew were already on board when the plane landed so we got to board straight away. We were one of the last to board and we boarded at 12.45pm. We eventually take off at 1.45pm, 1 hour and 45 minutes late.
The cabin crew were all very helpful and very friendly. The legroom was okay too, we were flying cupboard class (economy). The in flight entertainment wasnt that great. They showed an episode of Friends then a cartoon then The Cat in the Hat movie. Before we landed they showed an advertising video for Seaworld, Discovery Cove, Universal and Busch Gardens. It was interesting the first time and good the second time but by the fourth time the showed it I could have played a part in it. The other problem was that where we were sitting you really didnt get a good view of the screen. The only had one large screen at the front of our cabin.
The lunch was quite nice. I had Potato and Leek pie which was okay, Tricia had Chicken bake which she said was nice and the man next to me had Sausage and mash which smelt great and he said was nice. The snack before we got off the plane was 4 very small sandwiches but each had a different filling, they were good.
Landed at 4.40pm local time and were one of the first off the plane. There were only 4 groups in front of us at immigration and we were the first people out. It was really weird walking into baggage reclaim and being the only people there apart from the airport officials. Collected our luggage and then asked a few questions by a Customs officer, where we would be staying, planning to visit etc Our luggage wasnt sent through the x-ray machines. Outside and found the man from Quicksilver, didnt catch his name. He was very quietly spoken and a man of few words. Saw children who I used to look after at work just I was getting into the Quicksilver mans car, they must have been on my flight. Checked watch as the driver started the engine and discovered it was 5.10pm. 30 minutes to get through the airport is a record for us. I must add we flew into Sanford and not Orlando International.
We had a quick grocery stop at Publix for water, Powerade and snacks. The shop worker was all set to pack the bags when Tricia produces 3 Tesco bags for life and asks her to use these instead. It was hard to work out if the woman was confused, offended or both but by using the Tesco bags were knew that we wouldnt be wasting valuable minutes picking everything up when it went through the bottom of the spit through bags Publix have.
We pulled up at Port Orleans Riverside at 6.30pm. Mr Quiet from Quicksilver unloads our luggage and Bells Services man puts it onto a trolley, I was embarrassed at the amount of carrier bags we had (our 3 Tesco bags for life hadnt been enough). We pay Mr Quiet and he speaks to confirm that he will collect us at 2pm on July 19th at the Wilderness Lodge. While we are paying a Mears coach turns up and almost removes the side of a van. Myself, Tricia, Mr Quiet and Mr Bells Service all gasp and say, Did you see that!.
We make our way into guest services to check in. Only had to wait a few minutes before a CM became available. Gave our name and confirmation number and he confirmed that we had paid for the room in advance. We had paid the room in full before switching to the Wilderness Lodge for the last 4 nights so we had extra money on the room account which we could use for charging back. He said if there was any money left on the account when we checked out it would be charged back to the credit card. Merrie from Dreams Unlimited had contacted POR to request a room in the Mansions for us and not the ground floor. I figure that if snakes are going to get it they are more likely to go into a room a the ground floor that an upstairs one (crazy I know but this is how my terrified mind works). We are given a Room 8911 in Magnolia Terrace. Never asked to see our Annual Passes, we had AP discount on the room. Went out to Bells Services and a nice mad fetches our luggage and then drives us over to our room, pointing different things out to us as we go and tells us that the East Depot bus stop is closest to our room. In room and unpacked within 15 minutes. Fell in love with our building immediately, it was beautiful. Also searched the room high and low for the TV control but couldnt find it anywhere. Catch sight of myself in mirror and cringe. I have only been in Florida for a couple of hours and my humidity hair has kicked in already.
Decide to go to Downtown Disney to collect our Premium Annual Passes. We had a copy of the VISA bill with us to prove we had paid for them because when Tricia phoned to order them the CM didnt seem to have a clue what he was doing, couldnt understand anything she said and when he asked for an e-mail address he asked her to spell co.uk.
Tied her up and put on baseball hat then walked over to food court to buy refillable mug then got bus to Downtown Disney. Got to Guest Relations and explained we were collecting PAPs. CM asked for name and found us on the computer! WOW, things were looking good. She took ages to type info into computer and she put Scotland in as our state and asked was that in the UK. She also told us that we would need photo ID when we activated them at a park the first time. We were planning on going to Typhoon Lagoon in the morning and didnt want to take passports with us so we decided to go to Magic Kingdom just now to activate them and watch Wishes which we havent seen.
Got on a bus to Pop Century (it was the first resort bus to turn up). I decided to take my contact lenses out as they had been in for approx 20 hours and I thought that might be too long seeing and I had visions of them getting stuck. Once at Pop Century we went and sat on bench and got on a bus to Magic Kingdom within 5 minutes.
When we got to Magic Kingdom we found a quiet turnstile and explained to the CM that we were using our PAPs for the first time. She told us to stick two fingers into the machine and squeeze them, lights went out and we were in. We didnt need any photo ID. Watched Wishes from the end of Main Street and I was absolutely speechless. Words do not do these fireworks justice, they were amazing!!!
Left Magic Kingdom after Wishes and returned to Port Orleans Riverside. Went to bed at 11.15pm which was 4.15am (UK time). Room was freezing due to air conditioning but we soon fell asleep.
Tomorrow : According to Plan we are going to Typhoon Laggon (AM) Animal Kingdom (PM) and MGM (evening)
Woke up at 5am, toss and turn dreaming of Jack and Victor from Still Game (Scottish comedy). Get up at 6.25am. Leave the house at 7.30am, flight isnt until 12 noon but I am informed we must leave this early to beat the traffic!!!
Arrive at the airport at 8.15am, we beat the traffic. Unload the car, say bye to my dad and then drag the luggage into the main building to check the screens to see where we need to check in. I find the flight first and declare that my contact lenses are the best thing I have ever bought. Our check in desk is the new Terminal 2 building. It used to be called the St. Andrews building and it doesnt look any different to me so Im not sure how it became a terminal, but hey what do I know!
I went to find a trolley because it was too far away to drag the luggage and once again the trolley that only turns left jumped right out in front of me. Put luggage on and then battled our way to check in with a trolley that wanted to go round in a circle.
Check in was really busy but we only had to wait 15 minutes before we checked in by Iain. Once we had our boarding cards in hand Tricia went over to the exchange bureau. When she got her money changed the smallest note she got was a $50 and she wanted smaller. The man debated giving her $10s worth of $1 notes because it was all he had left but eventually decided that once there were done they were done and gave them to her but asked us not to tell anyone. We promised we wouldnt.
Trekked back to the main building and went to have a look round the shops. Did the Scotland shop, the one that only tourists would pay the prices, Dixons, Dorothy Perkins and then went to the new Rangers shop (there is a Celtic one too). They were showing video clips of old games on the TV in the Rangers shop which I stopped to watch. When Rangers almost scored I shouted, Ohhhhhh. The man in the shop looked at me like I was crazy so we left. Went to Starbucks and bought two cups of tea and two cookies which came to £4.
After our tea and cookie we decided to go through security because there was no queue, the queue had been huge when we were in Starbucks. We got through security very quickly and without any searches. Went into Duty Free and found some perfume to spray, soon had so many on it was impossible to identify the smell. Into WH Smiths next to buy sweets, crisps, juice and water and a newspaper. Departures was absolutely heaving so we went to the gate. It was only 10.30am and the flight wasnt until 12 noon. Arrived at the gate approx 15 minutes later. Once again we were at the furthest away gate Glasgow airport has, its always the same!!! Found a seat by the window and made ourselves comfortable, we were going to be here for a while.
At 11.45am the screens are saying that our flight has started to board, despite the fact that there is no plane there. At 11.55am they make an announcement that the plane will be delayed for an hour as the plane is on its way from Manchester (must have dropped of their earlier that morning). When it does arrive we discover that it is an Air Atlanta plane. We had booked our flights through Dialaflight and they told us it was a Thomas Cook charter plane. We had phoned Thomas Cook about baggage allowance and they told us that it was an Air Atlanta flight so we had contacted them and they had said it would be Excel, so we really didnt have a clue who we would be flying with. But now we knew it was definitely Air Atlanta. The crew were already on board when the plane landed so we got to board straight away. We were one of the last to board and we boarded at 12.45pm. We eventually take off at 1.45pm, 1 hour and 45 minutes late.
The cabin crew were all very helpful and very friendly. The legroom was okay too, we were flying cupboard class (economy). The in flight entertainment wasnt that great. They showed an episode of Friends then a cartoon then The Cat in the Hat movie. Before we landed they showed an advertising video for Seaworld, Discovery Cove, Universal and Busch Gardens. It was interesting the first time and good the second time but by the fourth time the showed it I could have played a part in it. The other problem was that where we were sitting you really didnt get a good view of the screen. The only had one large screen at the front of our cabin.
The lunch was quite nice. I had Potato and Leek pie which was okay, Tricia had Chicken bake which she said was nice and the man next to me had Sausage and mash which smelt great and he said was nice. The snack before we got off the plane was 4 very small sandwiches but each had a different filling, they were good.
Landed at 4.40pm local time and were one of the first off the plane. There were only 4 groups in front of us at immigration and we were the first people out. It was really weird walking into baggage reclaim and being the only people there apart from the airport officials. Collected our luggage and then asked a few questions by a Customs officer, where we would be staying, planning to visit etc Our luggage wasnt sent through the x-ray machines. Outside and found the man from Quicksilver, didnt catch his name. He was very quietly spoken and a man of few words. Saw children who I used to look after at work just I was getting into the Quicksilver mans car, they must have been on my flight. Checked watch as the driver started the engine and discovered it was 5.10pm. 30 minutes to get through the airport is a record for us. I must add we flew into Sanford and not Orlando International.
We had a quick grocery stop at Publix for water, Powerade and snacks. The shop worker was all set to pack the bags when Tricia produces 3 Tesco bags for life and asks her to use these instead. It was hard to work out if the woman was confused, offended or both but by using the Tesco bags were knew that we wouldnt be wasting valuable minutes picking everything up when it went through the bottom of the spit through bags Publix have.
We pulled up at Port Orleans Riverside at 6.30pm. Mr Quiet from Quicksilver unloads our luggage and Bells Services man puts it onto a trolley, I was embarrassed at the amount of carrier bags we had (our 3 Tesco bags for life hadnt been enough). We pay Mr Quiet and he speaks to confirm that he will collect us at 2pm on July 19th at the Wilderness Lodge. While we are paying a Mears coach turns up and almost removes the side of a van. Myself, Tricia, Mr Quiet and Mr Bells Service all gasp and say, Did you see that!.
We make our way into guest services to check in. Only had to wait a few minutes before a CM became available. Gave our name and confirmation number and he confirmed that we had paid for the room in advance. We had paid the room in full before switching to the Wilderness Lodge for the last 4 nights so we had extra money on the room account which we could use for charging back. He said if there was any money left on the account when we checked out it would be charged back to the credit card. Merrie from Dreams Unlimited had contacted POR to request a room in the Mansions for us and not the ground floor. I figure that if snakes are going to get it they are more likely to go into a room a the ground floor that an upstairs one (crazy I know but this is how my terrified mind works). We are given a Room 8911 in Magnolia Terrace. Never asked to see our Annual Passes, we had AP discount on the room. Went out to Bells Services and a nice mad fetches our luggage and then drives us over to our room, pointing different things out to us as we go and tells us that the East Depot bus stop is closest to our room. In room and unpacked within 15 minutes. Fell in love with our building immediately, it was beautiful. Also searched the room high and low for the TV control but couldnt find it anywhere. Catch sight of myself in mirror and cringe. I have only been in Florida for a couple of hours and my humidity hair has kicked in already.
Decide to go to Downtown Disney to collect our Premium Annual Passes. We had a copy of the VISA bill with us to prove we had paid for them because when Tricia phoned to order them the CM didnt seem to have a clue what he was doing, couldnt understand anything she said and when he asked for an e-mail address he asked her to spell co.uk.
Tied her up and put on baseball hat then walked over to food court to buy refillable mug then got bus to Downtown Disney. Got to Guest Relations and explained we were collecting PAPs. CM asked for name and found us on the computer! WOW, things were looking good. She took ages to type info into computer and she put Scotland in as our state and asked was that in the UK. She also told us that we would need photo ID when we activated them at a park the first time. We were planning on going to Typhoon Lagoon in the morning and didnt want to take passports with us so we decided to go to Magic Kingdom just now to activate them and watch Wishes which we havent seen.
Got on a bus to Pop Century (it was the first resort bus to turn up). I decided to take my contact lenses out as they had been in for approx 20 hours and I thought that might be too long seeing and I had visions of them getting stuck. Once at Pop Century we went and sat on bench and got on a bus to Magic Kingdom within 5 minutes.
When we got to Magic Kingdom we found a quiet turnstile and explained to the CM that we were using our PAPs for the first time. She told us to stick two fingers into the machine and squeeze them, lights went out and we were in. We didnt need any photo ID. Watched Wishes from the end of Main Street and I was absolutely speechless. Words do not do these fireworks justice, they were amazing!!!
Left Magic Kingdom after Wishes and returned to Port Orleans Riverside. Went to bed at 11.15pm which was 4.15am (UK time). Room was freezing due to air conditioning but we soon fell asleep.
Tomorrow : According to Plan we are going to Typhoon Laggon (AM) Animal Kingdom (PM) and MGM (evening)
