T
The Whitts
Guest
Cast Members of the Whittaker Escape Squad :
Graham (Dad) - Chief Financier & Planner
Lyn (Mum) - Chief Packer & Panic Expert
Clare (DD14) - Money Spender Extraordinaire
Phil (DS12) - Navigator (if only he knew
where too)
David (DS8) - DAVID!!!
Before I start I would first like to apologise to all of you who have read Spottydogs reports, I bow to his magnificence of text & humour.
Pre Holiday Happenings -
July 2000 - bad holiday in Salou with JMC, results in our bringing forward our next Disney trip by at least two years.
August 2000 - Book trip through Going Places and Airtours!
February 2001- notified that direct flight now changed to fly via Prestwick, managed to change flights to a later one same day but direct.
3/5/01-The Holiday commences
Taxi arrived at 9:45am to take us to Manchester Airport, upon arrival we hiked in convoy to the hidden away Airtours departure desks.
Smiles all round only four families in our queue, smile soon evaporate when 30 mins later still 3 families in queue, finally at 11:25 we reach check in desk.(beginning to worry having overheard lots of mumbling re seating!
Sure enough we are informed that Airtours have botched up all the prebooked seats,after some debate we are told that three of us have been upgraded to Premair Gold but the remaining two are both in different rows in the back of the plane.Not happy as two on their own for 9 hrs is a long/boring time.By now it is 11:45 and the desk informs us our flight is already being called, despite this decide to go over to Airtours desk to complain further, give the girl her due she did try but was ubable to help other than ensuring pre booked seats on return journey were sorted; she did however suggest we speak to the gate manager.
Well nothing ventured, nothing gained upon of arrival in the depature lounge I approached the gate manager who initially was unable to help?? however five minutes later the pixie dust started to fly, she called us back and confirmed we were all now upgraded to Premair Gold.
Half an hour delay and we were called for boarding, Wow!could'nt believe it imitation leather seats with legroom!! pillow,blanket, teddy bear plu flip flops waiting on seat and footrest under seat in front . Some apprehension at this point when fellow upgrades two rows in front are relegated to the back of the plane as paying PG'ers left without seats. Scare over plane takes off and for nine hours at least we are left in relative luxury- proper knives and forks, free drinks, viewing of Premair gold only channels, only disapointment plane not carrying promised games.
VIEW: Not totally convinced that extra cost would justify using PG in future (especially with family of 5)
Land Sanford 16:35, despite worries re Foot & Mouth we pass through immigration/customs in record time: by 17:15 we have collected our van from Dollar and are heading for I Drive via the I4
Left the I4 at jnc 29 and do the obligatory get lost tour via Sandlake (Phils fault again!!)
soon back on course again and arrive at Hawthorn Suites, Westwood Blvd. The receptionist gives us a choice of rooms (as per booking request-grd floor/pool facing etc) the grd floor one she said was smoking and if we did not like it she had a similar pool facing room on the 5th floor. We eventually chose 5th floor
VIEWPOINT- For the price this accomadation takes some beating
Decide to leave unpacking and go to Mickey D's I Drive / Sandlake meals for 5 costs 27USD (NOTE using vouchers from hotel future meals only cost 12 - 17 usd kids eat free)
Sorry for going on so long will continue with the real Disney magic soon
Graham (Dad) - Chief Financier & Planner
Lyn (Mum) - Chief Packer & Panic Expert
Clare (DD14) - Money Spender Extraordinaire
Phil (DS12) - Navigator (if only he knew
where too)
David (DS8) - DAVID!!!
Before I start I would first like to apologise to all of you who have read Spottydogs reports, I bow to his magnificence of text & humour.
Pre Holiday Happenings -
July 2000 - bad holiday in Salou with JMC, results in our bringing forward our next Disney trip by at least two years.
August 2000 - Book trip through Going Places and Airtours!
February 2001- notified that direct flight now changed to fly via Prestwick, managed to change flights to a later one same day but direct.
3/5/01-The Holiday commences
Taxi arrived at 9:45am to take us to Manchester Airport, upon arrival we hiked in convoy to the hidden away Airtours departure desks.
Smiles all round only four families in our queue, smile soon evaporate when 30 mins later still 3 families in queue, finally at 11:25 we reach check in desk.(beginning to worry having overheard lots of mumbling re seating!
Sure enough we are informed that Airtours have botched up all the prebooked seats,after some debate we are told that three of us have been upgraded to Premair Gold but the remaining two are both in different rows in the back of the plane.Not happy as two on their own for 9 hrs is a long/boring time.By now it is 11:45 and the desk informs us our flight is already being called, despite this decide to go over to Airtours desk to complain further, give the girl her due she did try but was ubable to help other than ensuring pre booked seats on return journey were sorted; she did however suggest we speak to the gate manager.
Well nothing ventured, nothing gained upon of arrival in the depature lounge I approached the gate manager who initially was unable to help?? however five minutes later the pixie dust started to fly, she called us back and confirmed we were all now upgraded to Premair Gold.
Half an hour delay and we were called for boarding, Wow!could'nt believe it imitation leather seats with legroom!! pillow,blanket, teddy bear plu flip flops waiting on seat and footrest under seat in front . Some apprehension at this point when fellow upgrades two rows in front are relegated to the back of the plane as paying PG'ers left without seats. Scare over plane takes off and for nine hours at least we are left in relative luxury- proper knives and forks, free drinks, viewing of Premair gold only channels, only disapointment plane not carrying promised games.
VIEW: Not totally convinced that extra cost would justify using PG in future (especially with family of 5)
Land Sanford 16:35, despite worries re Foot & Mouth we pass through immigration/customs in record time: by 17:15 we have collected our van from Dollar and are heading for I Drive via the I4
Left the I4 at jnc 29 and do the obligatory get lost tour via Sandlake (Phils fault again!!)
soon back on course again and arrive at Hawthorn Suites, Westwood Blvd. The receptionist gives us a choice of rooms (as per booking request-grd floor/pool facing etc) the grd floor one she said was smoking and if we did not like it she had a similar pool facing room on the 5th floor. We eventually chose 5th floor
VIEWPOINT- For the price this accomadation takes some beating
Decide to leave unpacking and go to Mickey D's I Drive / Sandlake meals for 5 costs 27USD (NOTE using vouchers from hotel future meals only cost 12 - 17 usd kids eat free)
Sorry for going on so long will continue with the real Disney magic soon
