After months of preparation and anticipation our journey is about to begin. Everything has been done, flights booked journey planned and Park tickets bought.
These days although Birmingham is our closest airport we tend to fly from Manchester with Virgin Atlantic. Our flight is usually about 10. 30am and although we could book an overnight stay at an airport hotel and also leave our car there we would have to be up early to check our bags in so we prefer to drive up, the journey usually takes about an hour and a half. I always make sure there is a supply of boiled sweets and bottles of water in the car. With an early start the girls often nod off for an hours sleep.
We always book our car in for Meet and Greet parking and the last time with did this with Air Parks we got a great service. On previous trips we used to have to wait for someone to collect our car and have waited about 20 minutes in the early morning cold. Last time we were directed straight to a specific Valet parking area by the main terminal. We simply gave our keys and paperwork to the guy in the kiosk and walked straight into the terminal.
We book in on line for our flight the night before and then simply have to go to the baggage drop off desk at Virgin before heading through security to the air side of the terminal.
My Father now likes to sit and have a coffee before venturing into Duty Free so we find a table in one of the food outlets and leave our carry on luggage with him whilst we go and shop. These days the girls are older so they usually go off together to mooch around Claire’s, Monsoon and Accessorize whilst Mother and I go to WH Smiths. We always buy several daily newspapers and lots of magazines. The latter can be read on the plane but are also useful light reading matter at our villa during the holiday. We also buy a few packets of various mints as these can be useful on the journey from Orlando airport to the villa.
What we have to eat at the airport varies. Some may have a breakfast but often we just opt for a sandwich and juice as lunch is usually served in just over an hour into our flight. One of the girls really does not like plane food so we often make chicken sandwiches to take with us for her.
We have a supply of books and games to play on the flight and of course the seat back TVs are a great help. My Mother is not a film fan and hardly ever watches them but on a trip last year watched Mama Mia three times on the outward flight!
When we arrive in Orlando and have been through Immigration and Customs my Father goes ahead to the Car Hire Desks whilst we collect our cases. All this done we get in the hire car for the final bit of the journey to our villa.
These days although Birmingham is our closest airport we tend to fly from Manchester with Virgin Atlantic. Our flight is usually about 10. 30am and although we could book an overnight stay at an airport hotel and also leave our car there we would have to be up early to check our bags in so we prefer to drive up, the journey usually takes about an hour and a half. I always make sure there is a supply of boiled sweets and bottles of water in the car. With an early start the girls often nod off for an hours sleep.
We always book our car in for Meet and Greet parking and the last time with did this with Air Parks we got a great service. On previous trips we used to have to wait for someone to collect our car and have waited about 20 minutes in the early morning cold. Last time we were directed straight to a specific Valet parking area by the main terminal. We simply gave our keys and paperwork to the guy in the kiosk and walked straight into the terminal.
We book in on line for our flight the night before and then simply have to go to the baggage drop off desk at Virgin before heading through security to the air side of the terminal.
My Father now likes to sit and have a coffee before venturing into Duty Free so we find a table in one of the food outlets and leave our carry on luggage with him whilst we go and shop. These days the girls are older so they usually go off together to mooch around Claire’s, Monsoon and Accessorize whilst Mother and I go to WH Smiths. We always buy several daily newspapers and lots of magazines. The latter can be read on the plane but are also useful light reading matter at our villa during the holiday. We also buy a few packets of various mints as these can be useful on the journey from Orlando airport to the villa.
What we have to eat at the airport varies. Some may have a breakfast but often we just opt for a sandwich and juice as lunch is usually served in just over an hour into our flight. One of the girls really does not like plane food so we often make chicken sandwiches to take with us for her.
We have a supply of books and games to play on the flight and of course the seat back TVs are a great help. My Mother is not a film fan and hardly ever watches them but on a trip last year watched Mama Mia three times on the outward flight!
When we arrive in Orlando and have been through Immigration and Customs my Father goes ahead to the Car Hire Desks whilst we collect our cases. All this done we get in the hire car for the final bit of the journey to our villa.