wicket2005
<font color=deeppink><marquee behavior=alternate>H
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
Wicket2005 Day One 16/7/05
Are We There Yet? Sea World
DH Driver
ME Navigator
DS16 Back Seat Driver
DS14 Passenger
Got my revenge on those pesky birds this morning, I woke them up for a change
. Not a creature was stirring as we set off to Newcastle Airport at 3.30 am.
The car was filled with my rendition of Were Going To Florida (sung to the tune of Lets Here It For Hollywood). Now anyone who knows me would not encourage me to sing perhaps this is why the family are sitting there with their aeroplane ear plugs firmly in place. Who cares I am excited.
We arrive at the long stay car park and play search for the spare place, surely they cannot have all gone. We find one and carefully make a note of where we are parked, Disney training stepping in here. The cases are unloaded and the kids come in handy to pull them along, it is good having two big strapping sons.
Trundling along we decide to walk to the airport as it isnt far, passing a group of sorry looking individuals waiting for the bus. Perhaps they are getting in training for the waiting around in lines that is part and parcel of an Orlando holiday. You can see the doubt crossing their faces as we pass by and sure enough , as soon as, we pass they decide to walk too, must be the herding instinct coming in.
First stop, after checking in, was to purchase my copy of the new Harry Potter book just like every other passenger. We pass the time spotting how many HP readers we can see. People look over shoulders to see how far that reader has got compared to themselves.
I am glad my HP book isnt part of my luggage allowance, it weighs a ton or at least feels like it does. We head off to the departure lounge but have to pass by security first. Our assortment of bags are put through the xray machine whilst we walk through the metal detector machine.
A security man and woman are frisking people so as soon as I deposit my bag I jump out in front of the woman to be frisked with my arms outstretched. She totally ignores me. My DS16 laughingly whispers you only get frisked if you beep! Oh yeah, thats right, forgot nice when your kids know what to do.
We grab something to eat and try to spot the plane, we are not plane spotters I hasten to add. It is nowhere in sight but its running on time. A couple of beer gutted men walk passed clutching pints. Time please. It is only 5.30 am. I try to figure out whether they are continuing from the night before or are just starting for the day, as they jet off to Ibiza.
Still no sign of the plane, I slip away to spend a penny on my return the family usher me to the gate. Low and behold the plane is sitting there, relief all round.
There is a mad scramble
when Monarch have loaded the needy and premium passengers because everyone can board. There is a general rush to go as if the plane will leave before you get on or you wont have a seat. In 20 minutes time everyone will be wishing they could walk around instead of being cooped up in a seat for 9 hours.
I am pleasantly surprised to find I am sitting next to a couple of OAPs whom I figure will not cause me any trouble, I had not counted on their desire to go to the toilet every hour though, but still it gave me a good excuse to stretch my legs.
The journey was pretty uneventful, I spent the time reading, doing Sudoku
puzzles and Ipoding. The Pacifier was one of the films which was a good no brainer type of film.
We touched down 10 minutes early and my OAPs start to tell me stories of their past flights that went wrong not exactly the right time and place I think to myself. Steam starts to come in through the roof, the lady OAP starts to ask what the smoke is.
Smoke! I thought it was steam! Thank goodness I am not the nervous type steam it was.
The plane taxis to where ever it is supposed to be, then there is another mad scramble for bags and for people to stand there waiting for the starters pistol to go off but this time it is different. The Captains voice comes across the tannoy asking for passengers to go back to their seats because we are not where we should be.
Everyone duly sits down, the plane doesnt move but then someone spots several police cars outside. Suddenly 4 strapping policemen stride down the aisle. There is a deathly silence who have they come for
? I bet there were quite a few worried people who should have got a visa sitting there thinking their nightmare was going to come true. You could almost see a Mexican wave :thewave: as the police officers passed row after row but at some point behind us they stopped. A man, woman and two children were marched to the cockpit where a heated discussion took place. Unfortunately, I do not know the outcome but felt desperately sorry for the kiddies if they didnt make it to Disney.
Again the mad scramble was on, I felt like it was a competition to see who could be first off. The Florida heat hit you as if you were walking into an oven but still we were all right, we had changed into shorts and teeshirts on the flight whilst being fastened into our seats. Zip off trousers exposed lily white legs blinding all those around us. We were ready now just to get through immigration.
This was a relatively quick process, plenty of desks were open and we were herded together in our family groups. Our officer made us laugh which wasnt what I was expecting.
The luggage took longer than expected to arrive and had not been tampered with. We then had to line up for customs to get the bags xrayed again for food. Just as we lined up, the line was closed and everyone else just had their white customs form taken off them. Another flight had just landed so they were clearing the decks. Tough luck for the country if someone was carrying meat/fruit in their luggage.
We trundled along to Alamo picked up this enormous car called The Gazelle but that is not what DH called it and we headed off.
Chief Navigator (me) managed to get us to the hotel with no detours this time, I figured we had been 3 times before so best take the most direct route for a change.
As we approached I Drive you could see The Rosen Centre towering above. Beautiful fountains cascaded at the entrance, the hotel was massive and very impressive. It even had its own versions of the Tower of Terror with its express lifts. Press for the 22nd floor, look at the numbers 1,2, 16, 22. Wow! The only lifts I have been in that make my ears pop.
The luggage was quickly dumped, valuables stashed and we were back out. Sea World was our first port of call as it was only 5 minutes away.
We couldnt quite believe we were back after 5 years but yes we were
. We fed the lovable vacuum cleaners (stingrays) and viewed various other creatures. The kids favourites were the penguins who could be seen just about in the dimly winter light of the encounter.
As we leave the encounter it starts to rain which was a welcome relief from the sheering heat as we watched the Blue Horizons show. Been there, done that, wouldnt buy the teeshirt. Next to face my Challenge No 1 The Kraken (Challenge No 2 Dr Doom, Challenge No 3 Sheirka).
You know that bride in the Haunted Mansion that has her heart beating out well that was me 
. My heart didnt need a work out it was getting one just waiting to go on the ride and what a meaty looking one it was. You basically just sit on a seat with nothing above/below you as you are swung around and dropped. No going back as I am securely tied in dont you just hate that feeling?
A few minutes later and it was all over and I loved it, in fact, we all did, one definitely to do again
. I have never been a fan of rollercoasters after going on the Grand Prix at Blackpool where you felt like you were going to be flung out after every bump, but in 2000 decided it was waste to go to IoA without going on the rollercoasters so I tried them again. I found them greatly improved.
I love the way the designers fling you up left, right and centre then you get off thinking its all over only to have to negotiate zig zaggy paths to the exit. I defy anyone to be able to walk straight.
Time for a meal break after the rush of The Kraken, we head off to a café near Shamus Stadium and have a well earned rest. Tortillas are the order of the day and once consumed we head off to the Arctic Adventure. We opt for the walk through option as we dont fancy seeing our tea again.
The refreshingly cool air hits us as we enter. Our favourite the walruses are doing their circuit of the pool, smiley Belugas are swimming around and the poor mad polar bear we saw last time is not to be seen. Another couple of bears are out instead. The single polar bear is out somewhere else probably head banging in private.
The sticky hot night air hits us as we head off to the Shark Encounter. It is empty so we spend quite a while viewing the fishes before going in the underwater tube through the shark tank. I am glad there is glass separating me from those teeth that film (Jaws) has a lot to answer for.
Time to leave, a quick stop off at a supermarket for scissors so we can cut off the cable ties off the suitcases then back to the hotel.
It is 10 pm (3 am GB time) a full 24 hours we have been up. I snuggle down to the sounds of the kids negotiating the bed space. Night! Night!
Crash! I jump up and a breathless DH jumps into bed, muttering something about a glowing red man in the bathroom. He had caught sight of himself in the mirror, his image was red because of a on light socket from the hair dryer next to it. One heart attack later for DH
and one chuckling session from me 
, we snuggle down again. Night all.
Are We There Yet? Sea World
DH Driver
ME Navigator
DS16 Back Seat Driver
DS14 Passenger
Got my revenge on those pesky birds this morning, I woke them up for a change
. Not a creature was stirring as we set off to Newcastle Airport at 3.30 am.The car was filled with my rendition of Were Going To Florida (sung to the tune of Lets Here It For Hollywood). Now anyone who knows me would not encourage me to sing perhaps this is why the family are sitting there with their aeroplane ear plugs firmly in place. Who cares I am excited.
We arrive at the long stay car park and play search for the spare place, surely they cannot have all gone. We find one and carefully make a note of where we are parked, Disney training stepping in here. The cases are unloaded and the kids come in handy to pull them along, it is good having two big strapping sons.
Trundling along we decide to walk to the airport as it isnt far, passing a group of sorry looking individuals waiting for the bus. Perhaps they are getting in training for the waiting around in lines that is part and parcel of an Orlando holiday. You can see the doubt crossing their faces as we pass by and sure enough , as soon as, we pass they decide to walk too, must be the herding instinct coming in.
First stop, after checking in, was to purchase my copy of the new Harry Potter book just like every other passenger. We pass the time spotting how many HP readers we can see. People look over shoulders to see how far that reader has got compared to themselves.
I am glad my HP book isnt part of my luggage allowance, it weighs a ton or at least feels like it does. We head off to the departure lounge but have to pass by security first. Our assortment of bags are put through the xray machine whilst we walk through the metal detector machine.
A security man and woman are frisking people so as soon as I deposit my bag I jump out in front of the woman to be frisked with my arms outstretched. She totally ignores me. My DS16 laughingly whispers you only get frisked if you beep! Oh yeah, thats right, forgot nice when your kids know what to do.
We grab something to eat and try to spot the plane, we are not plane spotters I hasten to add. It is nowhere in sight but its running on time. A couple of beer gutted men walk passed clutching pints. Time please. It is only 5.30 am. I try to figure out whether they are continuing from the night before or are just starting for the day, as they jet off to Ibiza.
Still no sign of the plane, I slip away to spend a penny on my return the family usher me to the gate. Low and behold the plane is sitting there, relief all round.
There is a mad scramble
when Monarch have loaded the needy and premium passengers because everyone can board. There is a general rush to go as if the plane will leave before you get on or you wont have a seat. In 20 minutes time everyone will be wishing they could walk around instead of being cooped up in a seat for 9 hours.I am pleasantly surprised to find I am sitting next to a couple of OAPs whom I figure will not cause me any trouble, I had not counted on their desire to go to the toilet every hour though, but still it gave me a good excuse to stretch my legs.
The journey was pretty uneventful, I spent the time reading, doing Sudoku
puzzles and Ipoding. The Pacifier was one of the films which was a good no brainer type of film.We touched down 10 minutes early and my OAPs start to tell me stories of their past flights that went wrong not exactly the right time and place I think to myself. Steam starts to come in through the roof, the lady OAP starts to ask what the smoke is.
Smoke! I thought it was steam! Thank goodness I am not the nervous type steam it was.The plane taxis to where ever it is supposed to be, then there is another mad scramble for bags and for people to stand there waiting for the starters pistol to go off but this time it is different. The Captains voice comes across the tannoy asking for passengers to go back to their seats because we are not where we should be.
Everyone duly sits down, the plane doesnt move but then someone spots several police cars outside. Suddenly 4 strapping policemen stride down the aisle. There is a deathly silence who have they come for
? I bet there were quite a few worried people who should have got a visa sitting there thinking their nightmare was going to come true. You could almost see a Mexican wave :thewave: as the police officers passed row after row but at some point behind us they stopped. A man, woman and two children were marched to the cockpit where a heated discussion took place. Unfortunately, I do not know the outcome but felt desperately sorry for the kiddies if they didnt make it to Disney. Again the mad scramble was on, I felt like it was a competition to see who could be first off. The Florida heat hit you as if you were walking into an oven but still we were all right, we had changed into shorts and teeshirts on the flight whilst being fastened into our seats. Zip off trousers exposed lily white legs blinding all those around us. We were ready now just to get through immigration.
This was a relatively quick process, plenty of desks were open and we were herded together in our family groups. Our officer made us laugh which wasnt what I was expecting.
The luggage took longer than expected to arrive and had not been tampered with. We then had to line up for customs to get the bags xrayed again for food. Just as we lined up, the line was closed and everyone else just had their white customs form taken off them. Another flight had just landed so they were clearing the decks. Tough luck for the country if someone was carrying meat/fruit in their luggage.
We trundled along to Alamo picked up this enormous car called The Gazelle but that is not what DH called it and we headed off.
Chief Navigator (me) managed to get us to the hotel with no detours this time, I figured we had been 3 times before so best take the most direct route for a change.
As we approached I Drive you could see The Rosen Centre towering above. Beautiful fountains cascaded at the entrance, the hotel was massive and very impressive. It even had its own versions of the Tower of Terror with its express lifts. Press for the 22nd floor, look at the numbers 1,2, 16, 22. Wow! The only lifts I have been in that make my ears pop.
The luggage was quickly dumped, valuables stashed and we were back out. Sea World was our first port of call as it was only 5 minutes away.
We couldnt quite believe we were back after 5 years but yes we were
. We fed the lovable vacuum cleaners (stingrays) and viewed various other creatures. The kids favourites were the penguins who could be seen just about in the dimly winter light of the encounter.As we leave the encounter it starts to rain which was a welcome relief from the sheering heat as we watched the Blue Horizons show. Been there, done that, wouldnt buy the teeshirt. Next to face my Challenge No 1 The Kraken (Challenge No 2 Dr Doom, Challenge No 3 Sheirka).
You know that bride in the Haunted Mansion that has her heart beating out well that was me
. My heart didnt need a work out it was getting one just waiting to go on the ride and what a meaty looking one it was. You basically just sit on a seat with nothing above/below you as you are swung around and dropped. No going back as I am securely tied in dont you just hate that feeling?A few minutes later and it was all over and I loved it, in fact, we all did, one definitely to do again
. I have never been a fan of rollercoasters after going on the Grand Prix at Blackpool where you felt like you were going to be flung out after every bump, but in 2000 decided it was waste to go to IoA without going on the rollercoasters so I tried them again. I found them greatly improved.I love the way the designers fling you up left, right and centre then you get off thinking its all over only to have to negotiate zig zaggy paths to the exit. I defy anyone to be able to walk straight.
Time for a meal break after the rush of The Kraken, we head off to a café near Shamus Stadium and have a well earned rest. Tortillas are the order of the day and once consumed we head off to the Arctic Adventure. We opt for the walk through option as we dont fancy seeing our tea again.
The refreshingly cool air hits us as we enter. Our favourite the walruses are doing their circuit of the pool, smiley Belugas are swimming around and the poor mad polar bear we saw last time is not to be seen. Another couple of bears are out instead. The single polar bear is out somewhere else probably head banging in private.
The sticky hot night air hits us as we head off to the Shark Encounter. It is empty so we spend quite a while viewing the fishes before going in the underwater tube through the shark tank. I am glad there is glass separating me from those teeth that film (Jaws) has a lot to answer for.
Time to leave, a quick stop off at a supermarket for scissors so we can cut off the cable ties off the suitcases then back to the hotel.
It is 10 pm (3 am GB time) a full 24 hours we have been up. I snuggle down to the sounds of the kids negotiating the bed space. Night! Night!
Crash! I jump up and a breathless DH jumps into bed, muttering something about a glowing red man in the bathroom. He had caught sight of himself in the mirror, his image was red because of a on light socket from the hair dryer next to it. One heart attack later for DH
and one chuckling session from me , we snuggle down again. Night all.
aw:
at midnight on the day it was released and finished it 3 days later 
