THE COLONEL
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2002
- Messages
- 74
So we are setting off to stay with my father who lives half an hour from Gatwick and affords us the opportunity to limit the stress by taking advantage of Twilight checkin. As we head up the M4 I note that my wife and daughter seem excited and have stopped calling me obsessed and a Florida anorak. Perhaps they now see the merit of the hours spent on the net planning THEIR holiday? Time alone will tell (they havent received their itinerary sheets yet!!!!!!!!)
As we arrive at my fathers we hear reports of the army presence at Heathrow and an increased security presence at Stansted and Manchester. Now if I was a would be terrorist and saw the same bulletins my attention would turn to Gatwick. Why no announcement about security at Gatwick? Wife and Father agree I'm paranoid.
Set off for Twilight check in and arrive at adesk at 4pm. One other family in front of us and back in the car within 30 minutes. Seats as pre arranged and child meals confirmed. I throughly recommend it.
Arrive on D Day at 9am to catch 11.15 flight and smile as we pass the check in queues but smiles soon fade as we see the huge non moving mass tailed back from the Departure gates. Take an hour to travel 50 yards but we are through and heading for our gate. Pause to put on flight socks and struggle in the process. How do women manage with tights? Note to self not to try tranvesitism in any form. Quite uncomfortable but at 6'1'' and travelling economy DVT has been a concern. Now with my super flight socks and awash with aspirin I am ready for the fray (spent all of the previous week tracking down flight socks on the net only for my wife to announce they were on sale in the chemist at the bottom of our road!!!!!)
Amazed at people complaining because the flight is boarding in row order only. Why stay on a plane any longer than neccessary particularly if its not in the air?
Board plane (daughters first flight and shes a little disappointed not to see that nice Mr Branson). Pleasantly surprised by leg room and glad I didnt upgrade. Decent enough food on flight which passes without incident.
Impressed with efficiency and appearence of Orlando airport and after a short struggle with a rogue trolley we are quickly heading to the Dollar desk. Reluctantly agree an upgrade but are glad we did in terms of boot space.
For this trip wife be pilot, I be navigator and after 10 minutes we are lost. In my defence I will say that I was amazed in the differences between maps. Also as I found out the Virgin hotel directions do not mention the new junction numbers on I4. My excuse and I 'm sticking to it. Wife and daughter delight in winding me up not knowing that revenge would be mine in 24 hours time.
Eventually arrive at Amerihost and we are all a little disappointed. I had heard some bad reports so was expecting problems. In truth it was not that bad just a bit frayed around the edges but then again better than most UK budget accom and only really a sleeping base for us. In no way did it spoil our enjoyment.
Head off that night to the nearest Golden Coral. Daughter mightily impressed at variety of buffet. Its ok but American deserts in particular do nothing for me. If there is reincarnation I'm coming back as an American Dentist. They must rake it in!!!!!
On way back to the car we are chased by a raccoon.
Retire early ready for our first full day
MAGIC KINGDOM
Not my choice but a 6 year old daughter would not accept any other destination on Day 1. Arrive nice and early and the short but entertaining opening routine gets us all in the Disney spirit. Huge smile on daughters face and was that a tear in the corner of disney sceptic wifes eye? Surely not?
Get on train and head for Frontierland. Walk straight on Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain . Photo call with Hook and Smee and Daughter notices other kids with autograph books. I am despatched to buy one and a 10 day autograph hunt begins. Well worth the time and effort. Spend a magical day with very manageable crowd levels (this being the Friday before Presidents Day)Do all we want to do with no hassle at all. Cinderellas Surprise is pure magic as is the Celebration parade and tired but contented we head home at 9pm.
Reach car and revenge is mine. My pilot has left the headlights on all day and battery is dead. Brief argument that is ended when we realise that daughter is distressed and worried we will be murdered because the car wont start and its dark.Manage to flag down a passing Security van who is extremely helpful. A very very very nice man and extremely gentle in suggesting that perhaps the lights were left on all day. He said it was a common occurrence and carried a tailor made battery booster. If this happens to you do not panic.
Arrive back at hotel and collapse on bed. Miss dinner as we catch up on sleep.
As we arrive at my fathers we hear reports of the army presence at Heathrow and an increased security presence at Stansted and Manchester. Now if I was a would be terrorist and saw the same bulletins my attention would turn to Gatwick. Why no announcement about security at Gatwick? Wife and Father agree I'm paranoid.
Set off for Twilight check in and arrive at adesk at 4pm. One other family in front of us and back in the car within 30 minutes. Seats as pre arranged and child meals confirmed. I throughly recommend it.
Arrive on D Day at 9am to catch 11.15 flight and smile as we pass the check in queues but smiles soon fade as we see the huge non moving mass tailed back from the Departure gates. Take an hour to travel 50 yards but we are through and heading for our gate. Pause to put on flight socks and struggle in the process. How do women manage with tights? Note to self not to try tranvesitism in any form. Quite uncomfortable but at 6'1'' and travelling economy DVT has been a concern. Now with my super flight socks and awash with aspirin I am ready for the fray (spent all of the previous week tracking down flight socks on the net only for my wife to announce they were on sale in the chemist at the bottom of our road!!!!!)
Amazed at people complaining because the flight is boarding in row order only. Why stay on a plane any longer than neccessary particularly if its not in the air?
Board plane (daughters first flight and shes a little disappointed not to see that nice Mr Branson). Pleasantly surprised by leg room and glad I didnt upgrade. Decent enough food on flight which passes without incident.
Impressed with efficiency and appearence of Orlando airport and after a short struggle with a rogue trolley we are quickly heading to the Dollar desk. Reluctantly agree an upgrade but are glad we did in terms of boot space.
For this trip wife be pilot, I be navigator and after 10 minutes we are lost. In my defence I will say that I was amazed in the differences between maps. Also as I found out the Virgin hotel directions do not mention the new junction numbers on I4. My excuse and I 'm sticking to it. Wife and daughter delight in winding me up not knowing that revenge would be mine in 24 hours time.
Eventually arrive at Amerihost and we are all a little disappointed. I had heard some bad reports so was expecting problems. In truth it was not that bad just a bit frayed around the edges but then again better than most UK budget accom and only really a sleeping base for us. In no way did it spoil our enjoyment.
Head off that night to the nearest Golden Coral. Daughter mightily impressed at variety of buffet. Its ok but American deserts in particular do nothing for me. If there is reincarnation I'm coming back as an American Dentist. They must rake it in!!!!!
On way back to the car we are chased by a raccoon.
Retire early ready for our first full day
MAGIC KINGDOM
Not my choice but a 6 year old daughter would not accept any other destination on Day 1. Arrive nice and early and the short but entertaining opening routine gets us all in the Disney spirit. Huge smile on daughters face and was that a tear in the corner of disney sceptic wifes eye? Surely not?
Get on train and head for Frontierland. Walk straight on Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain . Photo call with Hook and Smee and Daughter notices other kids with autograph books. I am despatched to buy one and a 10 day autograph hunt begins. Well worth the time and effort. Spend a magical day with very manageable crowd levels (this being the Friday before Presidents Day)Do all we want to do with no hassle at all. Cinderellas Surprise is pure magic as is the Celebration parade and tired but contented we head home at 9pm.
Reach car and revenge is mine. My pilot has left the headlights on all day and battery is dead. Brief argument that is ended when we realise that daughter is distressed and worried we will be murdered because the car wont start and its dark.Manage to flag down a passing Security van who is extremely helpful. A very very very nice man and extremely gentle in suggesting that perhaps the lights were left on all day. He said it was a common occurrence and carried a tailor made battery booster. If this happens to you do not panic.
Arrive back at hotel and collapse on bed. Miss dinner as we catch up on sleep.
