Shall we go, or not? A last minute trip! Pre-travel and travel day

[Lizzim]

21 Feb

This morning was our last day working (from home) before our trip started. I got up at 0600 and put on the first load of washing before having breakfast.

We started work at around 7 and managed to get everything (including a couple more loads of washing) done by 1300. Then before we could leave we cleaned the house, did all of the ironing and then packed our bags.

We left the house around 1730 and made good time on our drive to Gatwick. We parked in the Long Stay car park and took the bus to the terminal.

We did Twilight Check in before buying some food (I got a sandwich and Rob a pasty) before going across to the Hilton (paid for using points) for the night.

22 Feb

This morning we woke up about 0700 and showered etc. We checked out of our room and headed across to North terminal. Security was fast but the terminal was really busy. In the end we got breakfast from somewhere completely unremarkable (can’t remember the name and forgot photos). We should have just got a sandwich from Pret as even the coffee was pretty rubbish.

We boarded just after 0900 and it took an age to actually take off. The flight time was scheduled to take 9hr36 and it took every minute of that time The food and entertainment was fine, we got a ‘randoms’ ice lolly instead of the fab which has been the trend.

We arrived in Orlando at almost the exact time as the Manchester flight (which happened to be the Falcon) and were held for a couple of minutes as a passenger needed medical attention.

We got into the hall ahead of most of the Manchester flight but immigration still took around an hour

Weirdly, our immigration officer didn’t ask us any questions – just took our photos, stamped our passports and let us through.

Thankfully our bags were waiting for us and having skipped the Alamo queue we literally walked across to the garage and drove straight out.

It was an easy drive to the hotel (Rosen Shingle Creek) where we checked in and then headed straight across the road to NYPD pizza for dinner.

We also got a few drinks and snacks for the room from Publix before going to bed at around 2100.