The Williams tour of Florida restrooms - Sponsored by VISA - Day One Prequel - The DIS Discussion Forums

mkingdon · 09-03-2003, 04:35 AM

Cast

Me - Craig, only just 33. Rucksack carrier and stroller pusher.
Louise - Wife, 34, slowly becoming addicted to WDW.
Emily - Aged 8. Moody, full of attitude and daddy’s girl.
Rebecca - Aged 6. Comedian, Olympic eater and worrier.

The Williams tour of Florida restrooms, sponsored by VISA.

Day One - Thursday 14th August – Last day of work….that lasted a week

Arrived at work at 8.15, just glad to be out of the house, which was full of cases, excited children and animals. Louise had to take Henry (Neurotic Cocker Spaniel), Marmalade (huge orange cat) and Pumpkin (small devil spawn of a cat) to the kennels today. Her day also included a million other jobs, and last minute shopping, so a day in the office seemed the better option.

I’ve been talking about this holiday for 2 years, from the day we got back from our last trip. I have been talking about it a lot for 13 months, since we booked, and I have been driving the entire family mad for the last 8 months as I got really excited.

So the kids were sick of hearing about Disney. However, as they could now almost taste the airport, they were VERY excited, if not hyper.

As of 8.15 on this day I had my work life all in order. I was very up to date, my team fully briefed on what to do in my absence, so I felt quite smug as I sat at my desk browsing the DIS, sorry I mean, ploughing through my enormous workload.

However, a couple of phone calls later and I have two major emergencies to be sorted. So after a stressful last day, the clock found it’s way to 5.30. Well, to be honest 5.25. I did a runner five minutes early just to beat the traffic!!! It made all the difference.

I arrived home at 6.05. Kids waiting on the drive, smiles as big as mine, cases in the hall. One final dash around the house to unplug everything, and then we got the cases in the car. Amazingly we are travelling quite light this time. We have one medium case (not full) and the kids have a small pull along thing each, with their own stuff in them. Of course we have the obligatory rucksack as hand luggage, which will feature later during our yomp around the parks. Incredibly, we don’t forget anything, and don’t have to turn around five minutes later to drive back home, and have the “it was your fault” row to start the holiday.

Drove to Manchester Airport. Found Bewleys Hotel with no problem. Checked in, sorted the car parking out for the fortnight, and went to our room. Quite nice to be honest. Usual stuff, two double beds, TV, coffe/tea making, decent bathroom. £89 for the room and 15 days parking, not bad I thought.

Decided to head over to the buzzing metropolis that is Manchester Airport. Caught the courtesy bus from the hotel to Terminal 1. From my childhood, I always remember the airport as an exciting, busy place, full of great shops and restaurants. It was shut!!

All the shops had closed or were doing so. So we bought a drink from the ever so authentic Boddingtons pub (done up to look like a Northern back street pub). One pint of lager, one red wine and two cokes. Best part of a tenner. Now I don’t go to the pub very often to be honest, but the last time I did, I could get drunk on a tenner, get a kebab and a taxi home and still have enough change to lose down the back seat of the taxi.

Sat at a table near the window to watch the planes. Once we were bored of that we left five minutes later.

Headed back to the hotel, but had to wait about half an hour for the courtesy bus to arrive. Back to the room and tried to get the kids to sleep. No chance. Initial plan was for the girls to sleep in the same bed. After an hour of giggling, fighting and messing about (and the girls weren’t much better) I swapped with Emily and had to sleep with Rebecca, the snorer.

Eventually we all drifted off to sleep…until about 1.50am, when a jumbo jet decided to play the game of, let’s see if we can run our wheels down the roof of Bewley’s Hotel. I am not kidding, this plane must have been inches from our roof. Louise being a very nervous flyer anyway, was then awake all night listening for more planes to join us in bed.

I struggled for many seconds to get back to sleep.

Tomorrow, the start of the journey.

Claire L · 09-03-2003, 07:37 AM

Craig,
What a busy pre flight day. Ideal hotel for a plane spotter!!!
Claire

KayleeUK · 09-03-2003, 12:26 PM

Great start

Tartan Tigger · 09-03-2003, 02:47 PM

Love your style of writing, I think I'm going to enjoy your reports.

squitty · 09-03-2003, 10:45 PM

Nice start:D

Looking forward to the rest

Mrs Dazzle · 09-04-2003, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tartan Tigger
Love your style of writing, I think I'm going to enjoy your reports.

Me too:D
Pumpkin - I think we may have the sister cat

RobinMarie · 09-04-2003, 06:01 AM

I can tell I'm going to enjoy this report! Thanks in advance!

Minniespal · 09-05-2003, 03:05 AM

Wonderful start!!!!

disney daft dad · 09-06-2003, 04:18 AM

Craig

Love your sense of humour, can't wait to go on and read the rest...once I wipe the tears from my face

Disney Daft Mum

Val
xx

AlisonB · 09-08-2003, 12:27 PM

Great start - off for part 2 now.

Astrid · 09-25-2003, 06:13 AM

I've been recommended to read your trip reports and if Day One is anything to go by it's a good recommendation!

Astrid

09-03-2003, 04:35 AM	#1
mkingdon Obsessed...and admits it!! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 408	The Williams tour of Florida restrooms - Sponsored by VISA - Day One Prequel Cast Me - Craig, only just 33. Rucksack carrier and stroller pusher. Louise - Wife, 34, slowly becoming addicted to WDW. Emily - Aged 8. Moody, full of attitude and daddy’s girl. Rebecca - Aged 6. Comedian, Olympic eater and worrier. The Williams tour of Florida restrooms, sponsored by VISA. Day One - Thursday 14th August – Last day of work….that lasted a week Arrived at work at 8.15, just glad to be out of the house, which was full of cases, excited children and animals. Louise had to take Henry (Neurotic Cocker Spaniel), Marmalade (huge orange cat) and Pumpkin (small devil spawn of a cat) to the kennels today. Her day also included a million other jobs, and last minute shopping, so a day in the office seemed the better option. I’ve been talking about this holiday for 2 years, from the day we got back from our last trip. I have been talking about it a lot for 13 months, since we booked, and I have been driving the entire family mad for the last 8 months as I got really excited. So the kids were sick of hearing about Disney. However, as they could now almost taste the airport, they were VERY excited, if not hyper. As of 8.15 on this day I had my work life all in order. I was very up to date, my team fully briefed on what to do in my absence, so I felt quite smug as I sat at my desk browsing the DIS, sorry I mean, ploughing through my enormous workload. However, a couple of phone calls later and I have two major emergencies to be sorted. So after a stressful last day, the clock found it’s way to 5.30. Well, to be honest 5.25. I did a runner five minutes early just to beat the traffic!!! It made all the difference. I arrived home at 6.05. Kids waiting on the drive, smiles as big as mine, cases in the hall. One final dash around the house to unplug everything, and then we got the cases in the car. Amazingly we are travelling quite light this time. We have one medium case (not full) and the kids have a small pull along thing each, with their own stuff in them. Of course we have the obligatory rucksack as hand luggage, which will feature later during our yomp around the parks. Incredibly, we don’t forget anything, and don’t have to turn around five minutes later to drive back home, and have the “it was your fault” row to start the holiday. Drove to Manchester Airport. Found Bewleys Hotel with no problem. Checked in, sorted the car parking out for the fortnight, and went to our room. Quite nice to be honest. Usual stuff, two double beds, TV, coffe/tea making, decent bathroom. £89 for the room and 15 days parking, not bad I thought. Decided to head over to the buzzing metropolis that is Manchester Airport. Caught the courtesy bus from the hotel to Terminal 1. From my childhood, I always remember the airport as an exciting, busy place, full of great shops and restaurants. It was shut!! All the shops had closed or were doing so. So we bought a drink from the ever so authentic Boddingtons pub (done up to look like a Northern back street pub). One pint of lager, one red wine and two cokes. Best part of a tenner. Now I don’t go to the pub very often to be honest, but the last time I did, I could get drunk on a tenner, get a kebab and a taxi home and still have enough change to lose down the back seat of the taxi. Sat at a table near the window to watch the planes. Once we were bored of that we left five minutes later. Headed back to the hotel, but had to wait about half an hour for the courtesy bus to arrive. Back to the room and tried to get the kids to sleep. No chance. Initial plan was for the girls to sleep in the same bed. After an hour of giggling, fighting and messing about (and the girls weren’t much better) I swapped with Emily and had to sleep with Rebecca, the snorer. Eventually we all drifted off to sleep…until about 1.50am, when a jumbo jet decided to play the game of, let’s see if we can run our wheels down the roof of Bewley’s Hotel. I am not kidding, this plane must have been inches from our roof. Louise being a very nervous flyer anyway, was then awake all night listening for more planes to join us in bed. I struggled for many seconds to get back to sleep. Tomorrow, the start of the journey. __________________ Off site x 6 between 1981 and 1993 All Star Music August 2001 Villa Southern Dunes August 2003 Cypress Pointe August 2004 Trip Report 2003 - The Williams Tour of Florida Restrooms Sponsored by VISA The Sunshine, Moonlight, Good Times & Boogie(board) Tour August 2007

09-03-2003, 07:37 AM	#2
Claire L Enjoys a good broadway show Likes a nice cold glass of White Zinfandel Has been known to have a blonde moment now and then Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Too far from the Magic in Eastbourne, England Posts: 10,768	Craig, What a busy pre flight day. Ideal hotel for a plane spotter!!! Claire __________________ x Claire x Aug 90 to Mar 98 - 6 visits to US and 20 states visited, inc 2 trips to WDW and 2 trips to DL Jun 01 - WDW Grosvenor DTD 2wks + TIG St Pete Beach 1wk Jun 02 - WDW WL 2wks Feb 03 - NY 4nts Jun 03 - West Coast 3wks SF to LA & DL for 3 days Oct 04 - WDW AKL 10nts + RPR 2nts Jun 05 - WDW YC 10nts + HRH 4nts + TIG St Pete Beach 1wk! Jun 06 - SF to LV inc Lake Tahoe, Yosemite + the Grand Canyon 3wks Dec 06 - NYE at WDW POFQ 11nts inc RPR 1nt Oct 07 - WDW SSR 2wks inc 1nt at PBH May 08 - WDW AKV 15nts inc PBH 1nt + VB 4nts Feb 09 - WDW SSR 1wk + BWI 1wk Jun 09 - Washington DC for 1wk Dec 09 - New York for 6nts Oct 10 - Miami 3nts & WDW AKV 13nts Jun 11 - LA to Seattle for 3wks inc 3 days at DLC Oct 12 - WDW AKV KV 2wks

09-03-2003, 12:26 PM	#3
KayleeUK Still here..... Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 23,526	Great start __________________

09-03-2003, 02:47 PM	#4
Tartan Tigger I fixed my PC MYSELF!!!!!!!! I need all the help I can get Sends little flat people around the world I tossed my cookies for Dixie Amos Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Scotland U.K Posts: 3,688	Love your style of writing, I think I'm going to enjoy your reports. __________________ http://www.findmadeleine.com

09-03-2003, 10:45 PM	#5
squitty With a little bit of Pixie Dust Finds it hard to type with her eyes closed Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North East Posts: 5,604	Nice start:D Looking forward to the rest __________________ Michelle

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09-04-2003, 06:01 AM	#7
RobinMarie ^5 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,893	I can tell I'm going to enjoy this report! Thanks in advance!

09-05-2003, 03:05 AM	#8
Minniespal The Original 'Free Spirit' Who's Next?? Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 52,304	Wonderful start!!!!

09-06-2003, 04:18 AM	#9
disney daft dad Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: scotland Posts: 156	Craig Love your sense of humour, can't wait to go on and read the rest...once I wipe the tears from my face Disney Daft Mum Val xx __________________ '97 Off Site '01 ASMo '02 ASMo '03 Polynesian '04 ASMo <Script language='Javascript'>var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000);eval("var CDTDate" + rndNum + " = 'December 08,2003 4:30:00 AM EST';");document.writeln("<form name='CDTform" + rndNum + "' action='Javascript:void(0);'>");document.writeln(' <font size=2 color=darkblue>Countdown to 1st WDW Xmas!! Can`t wait </font><br>');document.writeln("<input type=text value='' size=40 name='WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII'>");document.writ eln("</form>");if (theFunction) theFunction += "var d = new Date();";else var theFunction = "var d = new Date();";theFunction += "var c = new Date('" + eval("CDTDate" + rndNum) + "');";theFunction += "var diff = (c - d)/1000;";theFunction += "var days = Math.floor(diff / 86400);";theFunction += "var rem = diff - (days * 86400);";theFunction += "var hours = Math.floor(rem / 3600);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (hours * 3600);";theFunction += "var minutes = Math.floor(rem / 60);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (minutes * 60);";theFunction += "var seconds = Math.floor(rem);";theFunction += "if ((days < 0) \| (hours < 0) \| (minutes < 0) \| (seconds < 0)) ";theFunction += "var out = 'On way 2 Mickeymouseland!';";theFunction += "else ";theFunction += "var out = ' ' + days + ' days ' + hours + ' hrs. ' + minutes + ' mins. ' + seconds + ' secs.';";theFunction += "document.forms.CDTform" + rndNum + ".elements.WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII.value = out;";setInterval(theFunction, 1000);</Script> <Script language='Javascript'>var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000);eval("var CDTDate" + rndNum + " = 'September 26, 2004 6:15:00 AM EST';");document.writeln("<form name='CDTform" + rndNum + "' action='Javascript:void(0);'>");document.writeln(' <font size=2 color=fuchsia>Back to the Magic and Taking friends for their 1st Visit </font><br>');document.writeln("<input type=text value='' size=40 name='WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII'>");document.writ eln("</form>");if (theFunction) theFunction += "var d = new Date();";else var theFunction = "var d = new Date();";theFunction += "var c = new Date('" + eval("CDTDate" + rndNum) + "');";theFunction += "var diff = (c - d)/1000;";theFunction += "var days = Math.floor(diff / 86400);";theFunction += "var rem = diff - (days * 86400);";theFunction += "var hours = Math.floor(rem / 3600);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (hours * 3600);";theFunction += "var minutes = Math.floor(rem / 60);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (minutes * 60);";theFunction += "var seconds = Math.floor(rem);";theFunction += "if ((days < 0) \| (hours < 0) \| (minutes < 0) \| (seconds < 0)) ";theFunction += "var out = 'Having Fun with Mickey';";theFunction += "else ";theFunction += "var out = ' ' + days + ' days ' + hours + ' hrs. ' + minutes + ' mins. ' + seconds + ' secs.';";theFunction += "document.forms.CDTform" + rndNum + ".elements.WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII.value = out;";setInterval(theFunction, 1000);</Script>

09-08-2003, 12:27 PM	#10
AlisonB Bonzo's DW!! The Tag Fairies visit EVERYWHERE, Alison! Just ask AngelUK :-) All Aboard! Now Leaving Twoterville!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kent,UK Posts: 874	Great start - off for part 2 now. __________________ 1979 - Contemporary 1988 - Contemporary 1989 - Offsite 1994 - EuroDisney 1999 - Offsite 2001 - CBR & Polynesian 2003 - Wilderness Lodge & Hard Rock 2004 - Pop, RPH, CSR, PBH, Contemporary 2006 - Disneyland Paris - Newport Bay Club 2007 - POR, HRH, Grand Floridian 2008 - ASSp, BCV, VB, RPR, VWL

09-25-2003, 06:13 AM	#11
Astrid Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: New Forest, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,251	I've been recommended to read your trip reports and if Day One is anything to go by it's a good recommendation! Astrid __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Astrid xx DLC - June '84 & Oct '94 WDW - Oct '89, Mar '99 & Mar '01 DLP - Dec '97 ASMu - Mar '02 Off Site & The Polynesian - May '03 Off Site & The Dolphin - Dec '03 The Dolphin/The Yacht Club & Sam's Wedding - May '04 HRH & Private Villa - Oct '05 Private Villa & Royal Pacific Resort - May '07

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