tia 33
23-06-2005, 01:02
Friday 27th May
12.30pm straight onto the Virgin website to do the online check in. Not very amused because our seats have been changed. Having been booked for nearly 12 months, spend afternoon on phone to far away Virgin call centre trying to ascertain what they mean by ‘changed due operational reasons’. Resolve to go to Twilight Check in at Gatwick to sort. Otherwise online check in is great.
Pick up the boys from school – they are actually displaying some signs of excitement – yippee! :D
Car loaded and we’re off to Gatwick via the A303 thanks to the advice of forum members. It is very hot, hope the weather is good in Florida – who am I kidding? It is always great….. Fortunately we have a dvd player in the car and I am feeling very self satisfied having invested in Scooby Doo 2 so that the boys are happily oblivious to the car park surrounding us, otherwise known as the M25. Finally reach the Gatwick Hilton. Have arranged for the car to be picked up from the hotel and taken to a car park. Somewhat concerned at handing over the car to a complete stranger, and hubby’s face is a picture when the first thing she does is stalls it! No female driver jokes please!
Have booked a family room which turns out to be vast and very comfortable, so happily dump bags and go straight to Twilight check in. Huge queue, but very helpful Virgin lady kindly allocates 3 + 1 seats so we get a window seat – which I secretly covet as I love flying!
Return to Hilton for grim, overpriced meal at American themed restaurant in hotel. But who cares I am in holiday mood! Roll on tomorrow! [8D]
Saturday 28th May
Gatwick is heaving – everyone I deal with happily tells us it is the busiest day of the year – best I don’t pick this date to travel again. Off for a quick bit of retail therapy whilst males of the family plane spot. Return to a seating conspiracy which has robbed me of even being near the window – yes I am the one stuck in the central seats – still there is always the flight home…..!
Great flight and we are finally back in Florida. Woohooooooooooooooooooo! [clap][clap][clap][clap][clap][clap]Everyone is really excited. Explained to the boys the feeling of the airport exit doors opening and feeling the warm rush of Florida air – they soon realise what I mean! Picked the car up from Dollar – we have a Dodge Town & Country, and off to navigate to the villa in Calabay Parc. Marvel at all the sights and sounds en route. Hubby, being the proud owner of a shiny, new crotch rocket is dismayed at the number of sports bikes with riders attired in only shorts and t-shirt. No helmet! Amazed at the Americans driving habits – no lane discipline, no indicating, but absolutely no horn beeping and road rage – how nice!
Arrive after straightforward journey. Wow! The villa was fantastic; a credit to its owners who thought of every conceivable amenity and to the management company whose upkeep of it was superb.
It takes precisely 3 minutes and 26 seconds from opening the door to when the boys enter the swimming pool. I think it is finally dawning on them why their mother has been acting like a raving lunatic with excitement for the past months!
Quick wash and brush up and off to Red Lobster on the 192 where I am sure there will be a large hot fudge sundae with my name on it! Fantastic meal despite the comatose state of son no 2 (just managed to stop his face from falling full on into his dinner). Son no 2 has a glazed look (a sure sign of impending sleep) so wolf down beautiful snow crab legs, coconut prawns etc and head back to the villa.
Sunday 29th May
Had been told to expect the boys to up around 5am – spot on – No 1 appearing at 4.46am and No 2 at 5.10am. It is a glorious morning and we go to Golden Corral for breakfast. It is a real eye opener to see people drinking coke and tucking into very large slices of cake at 8am, but this is the good old U S of A, home of all you can eat buffets and gargantuan portions! The boys thought they had died and gone to heaven when they saw waffles, muffins & pancakes for breakfast!
Proceed to Epcot
12.30pm straight onto the Virgin website to do the online check in. Not very amused because our seats have been changed. Having been booked for nearly 12 months, spend afternoon on phone to far away Virgin call centre trying to ascertain what they mean by ‘changed due operational reasons’. Resolve to go to Twilight Check in at Gatwick to sort. Otherwise online check in is great.
Pick up the boys from school – they are actually displaying some signs of excitement – yippee! :D
Car loaded and we’re off to Gatwick via the A303 thanks to the advice of forum members. It is very hot, hope the weather is good in Florida – who am I kidding? It is always great….. Fortunately we have a dvd player in the car and I am feeling very self satisfied having invested in Scooby Doo 2 so that the boys are happily oblivious to the car park surrounding us, otherwise known as the M25. Finally reach the Gatwick Hilton. Have arranged for the car to be picked up from the hotel and taken to a car park. Somewhat concerned at handing over the car to a complete stranger, and hubby’s face is a picture when the first thing she does is stalls it! No female driver jokes please!
Have booked a family room which turns out to be vast and very comfortable, so happily dump bags and go straight to Twilight check in. Huge queue, but very helpful Virgin lady kindly allocates 3 + 1 seats so we get a window seat – which I secretly covet as I love flying!
Return to Hilton for grim, overpriced meal at American themed restaurant in hotel. But who cares I am in holiday mood! Roll on tomorrow! [8D]
Saturday 28th May
Gatwick is heaving – everyone I deal with happily tells us it is the busiest day of the year – best I don’t pick this date to travel again. Off for a quick bit of retail therapy whilst males of the family plane spot. Return to a seating conspiracy which has robbed me of even being near the window – yes I am the one stuck in the central seats – still there is always the flight home…..!
Great flight and we are finally back in Florida. Woohooooooooooooooooooo! [clap][clap][clap][clap][clap][clap]Everyone is really excited. Explained to the boys the feeling of the airport exit doors opening and feeling the warm rush of Florida air – they soon realise what I mean! Picked the car up from Dollar – we have a Dodge Town & Country, and off to navigate to the villa in Calabay Parc. Marvel at all the sights and sounds en route. Hubby, being the proud owner of a shiny, new crotch rocket is dismayed at the number of sports bikes with riders attired in only shorts and t-shirt. No helmet! Amazed at the Americans driving habits – no lane discipline, no indicating, but absolutely no horn beeping and road rage – how nice!
Arrive after straightforward journey. Wow! The villa was fantastic; a credit to its owners who thought of every conceivable amenity and to the management company whose upkeep of it was superb.
It takes precisely 3 minutes and 26 seconds from opening the door to when the boys enter the swimming pool. I think it is finally dawning on them why their mother has been acting like a raving lunatic with excitement for the past months!
Quick wash and brush up and off to Red Lobster on the 192 where I am sure there will be a large hot fudge sundae with my name on it! Fantastic meal despite the comatose state of son no 2 (just managed to stop his face from falling full on into his dinner). Son no 2 has a glazed look (a sure sign of impending sleep) so wolf down beautiful snow crab legs, coconut prawns etc and head back to the villa.
Sunday 29th May
Had been told to expect the boys to up around 5am – spot on – No 1 appearing at 4.46am and No 2 at 5.10am. It is a glorious morning and we go to Golden Corral for breakfast. It is a real eye opener to see people drinking coke and tucking into very large slices of cake at 8am, but this is the good old U S of A, home of all you can eat buffets and gargantuan portions! The boys thought they had died and gone to heaven when they saw waffles, muffins & pancakes for breakfast!
Proceed to Epcot