Orlando Florida Day 0 - Outbound Travel

2022 was the year we spoilt ourselves and the kids with a once in a lifetime family holiday to Orlando, Florida. We had been planning this holiday for many years and with me being made redundant back in 2020 we decided to set aside some of the money to pay for this holiday. So this one has been building for sometime and we were all pretty excited in the lead up.

We booked the flights, accommodation and car hire all through BA and our outbound flight was at a sensible time of 1:30pm meaning we didn't need a super early start to travel to Heathrow. On the 9+ hour flight we were slightly split up being a family of 5, 3 of us in row 33 and 2 of us in row 34. So Holly and Tina sat together and then me and the boys sat together.

Despite all the recent horror stories of super long queues, the security, passport control and baggage handling at both ends was amazingly quick. We landed in Orlando at around 6pm and in no time at all picked up our big silver Toyota Sienna hire car and headed off to our accommodation in the Bahama Bay Resort in Davenport. The hire car looked pig ugly externally, but inside was amazing with individual captains chairs, tons of space, cup holders and loads of gadgets. It had a hybrid engine which gave us slightly better fuel economy plus all the electric car benefits of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping etc.etc.

The accommodation was about 40 mins from the airport and I suppose we arrived around 9pm US time in the end. We was checked in to apartment 309 which was on the top floor with rear balcony's looking over the gardens and pool. The apartment was super spacious with 3 bedrooms, 2 double beds, 2 single beds, 2 bathrooms, large kitchen area and living area. We had a dish washer, kettle toaster, coffee maker, washing machine, tumble dryer, smart TV and a big American fridge with water and ice dispenser. So everything we needed really.

We was all very tired after the long journey so we quickly threw in the luggage and then headed out to a local Wallmart to get some supplies for snacks and drinks etc in the room. Then it was off to bed ready for a busy first full day which we had planned at Disney's Magic Kingdom.

Us Brit's all packed up and ready to head US bound. Second time for Josh this year after skiing earlier this year.

5 suit cases all ready and waiting for our shuttle to Heathrow.

No real delays at the airport and we were soon boarding or BA flight to Orlando.

Tina and Holly were next to each other in row 34.

Me and the boys were one row back in row 33.

Holly trying to get comfy and have a nap on the flight.

My two ladies excited for the coming holiday.

Our hire car was a Toyota Sienna which didn't look bad from the front.

But the back looked ugly.

40 mins after landing getting our hire car and we are at Bahama Bay Resort.

We had apartment 309 on the top floor of this block.

Loads of thick American grass and palm trees surrounded out hotel block.

The master bedroom was huge, the picture really doesn't show how enormous this bed was.

Ensuite shower with triangular bath.

Dual his and hers sinks in the bathroom.

More of the master bedroom.

The lounge area which for day 1 was missing a big TV on the wall.

View looking from the lounge down in to the kitchen and dining area.

The second bedroom with another double bed. Josh had this for week 1 and then swapped so Brandon had it in week 2.

Second ensuite bathroom servicing the two smaller bedrooms.

The main hallway in to the apartment with very high and spacious ceilings.