PRE
TRIP REPORT
JUNE 2004
Right then, as has become traditional (at least with me) with under 2 weeks to go, I am ready to launch head first into the pre-trip report for our latest foray into darkest Florida. Armed with only a rather basic imagination and rusty keyboard, I shall plumb the dark and dirty recesses of my feeble brain and lay before you the plan for a fortnight of wild abandon and happy excess.
Or I could tell you what we are going to do.
You should know us all by now. If not, where have you been for my previous 5 trip reports? I’m afraid that ignorance is no excuse. Although in this case ignorance really is bliss. Still, you found your way here eventually, so I’ll forgive you.
Who’s a goin’?
Me, Kev, 46. I
know, I know, you’re thinking ‘He’s going to
ramble on about himself for ages again’. And you’d be
right! It is, after all, my favourite subject.
I still work for the same company, but have recently been
promoted to Quality Manager. So, if you have a pile of quality
around that requires managing, I’m your man.
STILL playing football. Perhaps ‘playing’ is taking it
a little too far. Ambling out on to the pitch and wandering
around aimlessly before retiring to the bar to discuss where it
all went wrong would be closer to the truth. At least it helps
keep me young and virile.
I must admit that one of my less attractive habits is the ability
to sulk when things don’t go my way. I could probably sulk
for England. In fact, if I entered the World Sulking
Championships I would probably win the gold medal. But then there
would be the endless round of chat shows, award ceremonies, being
greeted by celebrities and politicians, being voted Sulking
Personality of the Year and ending with a knighthood from the
Queen for services to sulking.
It just seems too much like hard work. I’ll just have to
remain an amateur.
Tam, my wife
40. Yes, that’s right 40. The woman is 40.
You may have gathered that she has recently passed this
particular landmark, much to the pleasure of the author who found
plenty of opportunity to tease and ridicule.
She’s actually wearing reasonably well. Sure, I have to
touch her up now and again and scrape a few barnacles off her
bottom, but not too bad all in all.
Did I mention that she’s 40? Perhaps I’ve gone too far.
Let’s hope she doesn’t know what happened to John Wayne
Bobbitt.
India, eldest
daughter, 13. Since last year she seems to have grown a foot and
developed an unhealthy interest in the opposite sex. This is not
to be encouraged. I distinctly remember telling her on several
occasions that she is not allowed to grow up. Those boys are
nasty, foul creatures. I should know, I was amongst the foulest.
Tam would say I still am.
India has also acquired a rather dubious taste in music. She
loves Robbie Williams, but doesn’t like Ryan Adams. Where
did it all go wrong?
Georgia, little
squitty child, 10. She’s my little baba. Unfortunately I
seem to have passed on the sulking gene to Georgia. Obviously,
she hasn’t attained my high standard yet, but that’s
not for the want of trying.
Give the child credit though, she is getting braver where rides
are concerned. She tried Space Mountain for the first time last
year and loved it and is now itching to try Rock ‘n Roller
Coaster. Shame we aren’t going to the Studios this year!
Now, we have quite a large and varied group along at various times in our adventure this year.
Firstly we have
the Return of the Mothers. Remember Return of the Mummy? Well,
it’s like that except more frightening.
Both my mum and Tam’s mum came with us in November 2001 and
enjoyed themselves, so we thought we would invite them again this
year. I know, I’m a saint.
My mum,
Dorothy, 79. Those of you that read the 2001 report will know
that my mum is no ordinary 79 year old. Walking? Not a problem.
Bike riding? Easy peasy. Kyaking? Well, I’m not sure on this
one, but we may give it a go!
Every time we ask her to come with us she asks if we really want
her to come along, are we sure she won’t get in the way. You
have to be joking mother. I can foresee the day when she will be
pushing me around WDW in my wheelchair.
Tam’s mum,
Julia. (age withheld due to SIL’s generous nature and good
manners). I think Julia would say that she is looking forward to
a return to Captiva more than the WDW portion of our holiday,
although we had fun there too on the last trip.
Awww… now I’ve gone and spoiled the surprise that we
are returning to Captiva. Never mind.
Also joining us at various times during our WDW week:
Sharon and
Evan. We met Sharon in WDW in 2001 after corresponding for a
couple of years. Last year she and Evan came over to the UK for a
holiday and spent a week with us in the West Country.
Sharon got married to Jerry in January and, along with
Jerry’s daughters Marissa and Gabby, they are meeting up
with us as often as possible during the week we are in WDW.
I’m really looking forward to meeting Jerry and seeing Evan
again as this trip is becoming decidedly female heavy. (Am I
allowed to say female and heavy in the same sentence without
attracting a clip round the ear?)
A man can only take so much talk of shopping and chocolate before
he hankers for the refuge of a discussion on sport, beer and the
relative merits of Jordan’s bosom versus J Lo’s bottom.
Deep thinkers we men.
Thought I’d finished with attendees for this years funtasmic trip, didn’t you? Well, no I haven’t.
Just after
Christmas I received an e-mail from a lady in Tulsa called Susan.
Susan had read my trip reports and wrote to say how much she had
enjoyed them. After questioning the woman’s sanity, I wrote
back and so started a regular correspondence, with Susan keeping
me informed on the latest goings on in the world of Disney.
On my side of things, I introduced Susan to UK Sunday night chat
on the DIS Boards. One night during chat I mentioned our up
coming trip and asked Susan if she could make it down to Florida
at the same time as us. After a quick check round, she determined
that she could and would be bringing her friend, Lu Beth, along
with her.
Now, I am given to understand that Lu Beth is partial to a beer
now and then, so things are looking up as regards a drinking
partner.
All this is very well, but at a quick count I make this 10
females to 3 males. And when Evan and Jerry aren’t around, 7
females against little old me. Be gentle with me girls. I bruise
easily.
When are we a goin’ and what are we a doin’?
Thursday May 27th we leave work at lunchtime and catch a coach up to Gatwick for an overnight stay at the Hilton. I think we have tried just about every different form of transport it is possible to use when making our way to the airport. We have been by car, taxi, train and now coach. We decided on this because it is cheaper and hopefully will mean less movement of luggage. With 6 of us it would take 2 cars.
Friday May 28th
we clamber aboard the 1:30pm Virgin flight to Orlando. Just the
standard sardine class for us I’m afraid, we can’t all
afford the luxury of Premium Economy. (Looking towards you and
Matt with envious eyes at this point Deb).
I suppose it will be the usual mix of boredom and excitement. I
have looked at the Virgin web site and the films for May look
pants with a capital p! Let’s hope the web site is wrong.
On arrival in Orlando we pick up our 8 seater van and head off to
the All Star Music for one night. The thinking behind this is
that we will be arriving relatively late (I estimate 7:30pm) and
wanted to be somewhere we could just relax. The girls can have a
swim, we can grab a bite from the food court and a beer from the
bar.
Saturday May 29th.
Doubtless we will be up at the crack of dawn. That’s not
strictly true. I will probably be up pre the crack of dawn.
Still, if you have to see dawn crack, there are few better places
than Florida.
Getting up so early means we are unsure as to where to eat
breakfast. We’ve done Ponderosa a few times in the past, but
may give somewhere else a go this time. Then it’s time to
jump in the van and start our drive down to Captiva.
Now, we have driven straight down the Interstate before as well
as taking our time and going down the coast road. As we are in no
hurry, we are contemplating driving across country. I realise
this may take a fair while, but at least we will see a bit of
Florida previously unknown to us.
The intention is to arrive at Naples around lunchtime to have a
look around as I’ve heard it’s a very nice town. Then
it’s on to Captiva and our villa on Wightman Road.
Sunday May 30th
to Saturday 5th
June. Just relaxing in Captiva. There are not too many firm plans
at the moment, we will just take it as it comes.
Certainly we will take a boat trip one day, possibly to Useppa
Island as it looks very pretty. Tam is keen to go kayaking again
and I am keen to discover the joys of the local hostelries.
The girls will be only too happy splashing about in either the
sea or our pool. Although it’s only small (the pool not the
sea) it will be the first time that we have had a villa with a
pool, so it will something of a novelty for us.
I’m sure Julia will be itching to get out on one of the
bikes provided with the villa and I’m sure we can find
plenty of things to keep my mother busy as well. There’s the
washing up, making the beds, cleaning the house, fetching the
shopping etc. You didn’t think we brought her along to enjoy
herself, did you?
Saturday 5th
June. Return to Orlando and check into the Boardwalk Villas. Now
this was a tough decision. We really enjoyed staying at the Beach
Club Villas last year and would happily have returned there, but
we noticed you can get a Boardwalk view for the same number of
DVC points and the lure of waking up, sitting on the balcony and
enjoying the sights was just too much for us.
In the evening we have PS’s for ‘Ohana where we will
meet Susan and Lu Beth for the first time. Boy are they going to
be disappointed! They will be expecting a cross between Orlando
Bloom and Johnny Depp. What they will actually get is a slightly
puny and dull Englishman.
After the meal we will retire to the Poly beach to watch the
water pageant and Wishes.
Sunday 6th
June. Into Epcot for the last day of the Flower and Garden
Festival. We chose this as I know that Julia will particularly
enjoy all the floral displays.
Now, here comes a big problem for me. I REALLY want to go on
Mission Space, but spinning things and I do not mix well. The tea
cups are a real no-no for me. I know that I have to ride it at
least once, so the plan is to go on first thing in the morning.
This way, if I am sick, I still have the rest of the day to
recover and be ok for the evening. See, told you I am puny.
Hopefully, this will be the first time that the entire Stringer
Tour Group will be together as Sharon and her clan will be
joining the rest of us for the evening to watch Reflections of
Earth.
Monday 7th
June. We may do Boggy Creek Airboat Rides today. The ladies also
may want to fit in a spot of shopping. You should all be well
aware of my aversion to this particular activity by now, but I
feel I have to let the females off the leash at some point in the
holiday. Two weeks without shopping builds up a particular
hormone in women that makes them aggressive towards the poor
downtrodden male. It has been proven scientifically.
The evening provides one of the highlights of our holiday. Tam,
India, Evan and I are off to the Hard Rock Live to watch The
Darkness. This is going to be LOUD. It won’t be subtle, but
it will be fun. Tam isn’t too sure about this, but I have
assured her that we will find a nice rug for her legs and park
her in the corner with some ear plugs and a mug of cocoa.
Tuesday 8th
June. A quiet day, either around the pool or possibly pool
hopping. In the evening we are going with Susan and Lu Beth to
see Cirque de Soleil. Now, this has never really appealed to me,
but everyone says it is wonderful, so we are giving it a go.
After the show we have PS’s at House of Blues, another first
for us.
Wednesday 9th
June. All day at the Magic Kingdom. It is the anniversary of the
day Jerry proposed to Sharon in front of the castle, so we are
all getting together to celebrate. How many years have you got to
be married before you stop celebrating and start commiserating?
Another first for us will be Mickey’s Philarmagic. I’m
really looking forward to this.
Thursday 10th June. Our last full day. We intend to go to the Animal Kingdom for a while before heading back to Epcot for our last evening. For us, there could never be anywhere but Epcot for our last night.
I’m not even going to mention Friday and the start of our journey home. It’s not going to happen. I’m going to take the best day of our holiday and turn it into Groundhog Day.
So that’s it for now. In some ways this is the very best part of the holiday. It is all yet to come and the anticipation is wonderful.