Introduction

My wife and I left from Glasgow rail station on Saturday 7th September 1996, bound for Manchester. On arriving at Manchester we caught the courtesy bus to our hotel - the Forte Crest (which I won't recommend to anyone!). The next day (Sunday 8th) we caught the 10:00am Virgin Atlantic flight direct to Orlando. On checking in at the airport desk we did request the exit seats, and were told they were still available. "Great", we both thought, "lots of leg room". Alas, we must have misunderstood, or the check-in desk attendent was a numpty! 'cos we were 1 aisle across and to the back of the exit seats! Nevertheless, the 7 and a half hour flight was great. There were 6 different movies to watch, 7 (I think) TV channels, an assortment of radio channels and load of Nintendo games to choose from. Virgin Atlantic flights have those great little TV screens set into the back of the seat in front so you can choose to watch what you want when you want. I watched "Mission: Impossible" and then played Super Las Vegas on the Nintendo system, watched some TV, ate and drank (!) and then it was time to land. Never once did the flight feel a drag.

Arriving in Orlando, rental car and hotel

All-in-all, a good flight, with all the women passengers cheering at the landing at Orlando because the pilot was female! Filed off the plane, stood in line at the US Immigrations department, collected our luggage (very quick onto and off the luggage carousel), and then promptly got lost trying to find the Dollar Car Rental desk, but got a nice tour of the airport concourse! Dollar rep. tried to offer us a free upgrade toa mini-van, but we declined. Just as well as someone told us it only does 15 miles to the gallon. Collected our car, a nice 4-door, bnght red, Expresso (what make is was I don't know). Getting our priorities right, we immediately re-tuned the car radio to KOOL 105.9 THE GOOD TIME OLDIES STATION (not that we listen to it a lot!). Took the south exit from the airport on the toll road (2 x $1 booths to Disney, Kissimmee etc.) and eventually arrived at our hotel - the Port Orleans (PO) at the Disney Village Marketplace resort area ...... with a flat! The Disney cast member on duty rushed out, unloaded our luggage, told us to check in and he would change the flat. It took us about 10 minutes to check in and by that time the tyre was changed! How about that for service? On checking in were were given maps, newsletters, brochures and, more importantly, our Length of Stay pass. This was a yellow credit-card style and enabled us full use of boats, bikes, entry to all parks and to charge items to our hotel room. After returning the car to Dollar and getting a replacement, we returned to PO and found our room. It was a courtyard room on the 2nd floor and had a wonderful view. The room had two double-beds, two sinks/wash-hand basins (his and hers?), a large double-wardrobe and a large bath/shower. Loads and loads of Disney shampoo and soap - so we "took" a few as souvenirs!

So as not to bore you with too much text on the one page and make it easier for me to update, I have decided to split the report into days and what we did on each day. Select from the links below:

Day 1 - Welcome Meeting, mini-golf & Shopping

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom & "Keys to the Kingdom" Tour & "Whispering Canyon" at night for eats

Day 3 - Sea World and "Rain Forest Cafe" at night for more eats

Day 4 - Disney Character breakfast (nearly all morning) & Shopping ("Marketplace" & "Boardwalk")

Day 5 - MGM Studios

Day 6 - EPCOT & Fireworks and Laser Show at night

Day 7 - Typhoon Lagoon & Pleasure Island at night for eats

Day 8 - Drive to Key Largo (phew!)

Day 9 - Swim with the Dolphins, return Orlando & "King Henry's Feast" at night (double-phew!)

Day 10 - Typhoon Lagoon, Shopping & "Planet Hollywood" for eats

Day 11 - Disney Institute, Disney Institute (so good I said it twice!)

Day 12 - Busch Gardens

Day 13 - Typhoon Lagoon & Shopping

Day 14 - Last minute Shopping, drive to airport for 17:10 flight home (boo! hoo!)

to be continued (and hopefully completed) very soon .....