Florida
- Days 1 and 2
Friday 24th & Saturday 25th October 2025
Participants: Tam, Kev, India, Georgia and Charlie
This trip has been planned since our last holiday in Florida three and a half years ago. The itinerary was discussed at length and we all agreed that we wanted to return to Anna Maria Island for a few days as well as going to Disney. Charlie and Georgia also wanted to go somewhere different so compomises were made and we ended up with the following:
Me, Tam and
India fly to Orlando and spend 5 nights in St Augustine while
Georgia and Charlie fly to Mexico City for 5 nights.
Georgia and Charlie fly into Orlando and we pick them up on the
way to Anna Maria Island for 4 nights.
11 nights in WDW staying at Boardwalk Villas. Actually Georgia
and Charlie are only staying for 8 nights as they originally had
to get back for a friend's wedding. The wedding date changed, but
too late for them to rearrange.
We are also meeting old friends Sharon and Evan for the first 4
days at WDW.
Friday 24th October
Tam and I catch the train from Kemble, which is late and then our onward train from Reading is cancelled as well, so we wait around for 50 minutes before setting out to Gatwick. At least we manage to get a seat as it's pretty full by the time it leaves.
We had tried to check in online this
morning, but the website was not playing ball, so on arrival at
Gatwick Tam and I go straight to the BA desks where a nice lady
helps us out. We also mention that our daughter will be joining
us later and she says that she will allocate her a seat as the
flight is overbooked!
Tam and I get the train across to the Premier Inn and get into
our room eventually as the first card doesn't open the door. We'd
told India to go the BA desk to get checked in and she does so
before joining us at the hotel. The three of us are staying in
one room. Technically you're not suppoed to do this, only
children can be the third person in the room, but India is our
child so that's ok.
First stop is at the bar for a drinky. It's busy as it's the start of half term, but we manage to find a seat. Time to eat. Tam and I booked the meal deal which gives you an evening meal and breakfast. We split a starter, we all have the curry and we split a dessert. Another drink at the bar and it's time to head off to bed.
Saturday 25th October
Restless night but we're all up at 7am. We have the all you can eat cooked breakfast in the hotel, which is quite good, before heading over to terminal for bag drop. We work our way through the snake of people until we reach the front where the BA lady says 'Oh, you've got an upgrade'. Woohoo! Unfortunately she quickly follows this up by saying that it's only India. Boo! She has an upgrade to World traveller plus and she was very excited as she's only ever flown economy before.
Tam spends an inordinate amount of time
sniffing perfumes in Duty free before finally settling on one.
She takes so long that Ind who's gone ahead rings to ask where we
are. We wander around for a bit before the gate is
called. Boarding is prompt and by the time we get on board
Ind has settled in her comfy seat with a glass of fizz looking
suitably smug.
She sends us a photo of her food menu.
I'm not having her show us up like that and so I send her a photo of our own menu.
Yes, I am that childish.
The Captain says we will be flying south
to avoid weather and should have a shorter than normal
flight, but probably wouldn't be able to take off till nearer 11
rather than 10.40. We watch Lilo and Stitich live action
which was good and Mission Impossible version 327 or whatever it
is now. Lunch is shepherd's pie and red wine and the
afternoon snack is bbq chicken pasty. The only problem with
the flight is that it's really cold in the middle row of seats
and everyone has their blankets wrapped around them.
We land about 20 minutes early and park up in terminal C which is
very light and airy. It doesn't take long for luggage to
come through and we use the MPC lane which you can get from an
app. It's supposed to speed things up a little rather than
waiting in the general line and I guess it helps a bit. Although
it's quite a short queue it doesn't seem to move for a while but
then speeds up and the non MPC lane is still long and
winding. Straight to the Alamo garage and pick up a silver
Ford Explorer. All very easy and Ind sits up front to help
me navigate although we have a sat nav that had been mailed to us
at home from Florida Car Hire.
It's good to be back in sunny Florida with rock music on the radio driving to our first stop St Augustine.
We arrive just before 7pm and find our accommodation easily. It's on Francis Street just a short 10 minute walk into the historic district. We're on the 2nd floor of a 4 apartment condo with 2 bedrooms. Drop luggage then out. When unloading the car we can hear cicadas and music playing just down the street. Together with the style of the houses and Spanish moss it feels like I imagine New Orleans would be. Head to the colonial area. It's quite busy as it's a Saturday night and lots of people are in Halloween costumes. There are loads of old craft shops, restaurants and bars.
We go upstairs in the Mill Top Tavern. Ind and Tam have the Red Rose red ale and then we all share a fried pickle basket, medium buffalo wings with blue cheese sauce and beef brisket nachos. All very yummy and there is live music. It's a great atmosphere and a fun first night intro to night life in St Augustine.
Go to St George tavern for a Red Rose IPA then to Bridge of Lions and one final stop at Casa Reina Taqueria for a margarita.
This is the famous Bridge of Lions.
Stroll home and bed. It's been a nice start to the holiday and we already feel comfortable in St Augustine.