Monday (4/19):
After breakfast, we learned that we were departing for the airport with several other of our fellow Adventurers. It was very entertaining (and a little worrisome) to watch the driver try to figure out how he was going to fit himself, 8 passengers, and *all* of their luggage into a van that simply wasn’t large enough to handle that kind of load. I was shocked that he managed to do it and, during the entire ride from
Disneyland to LAX, I kept expecting the back doors of the van to pop open and for everyone’s luggage to go flying all over the highway.
Once we arrived at LAX, we quickly discovered the ramifications of flying out of LAX on a day when the President of the United States is scheduled to fly in…DOUBLE SECURITY! Twice the time! Twice the “fun.” With the additional scrutiny, TSA was quite perplexed by the bag of Disney pins in my carry on and decided I warranted a “pat down.” (That’s never happened to me before.) Don’t get me wrong – I want them to be very thorough. I was just surprised at the fact that we had to all go through it twice and that TSA at LAX didn’t recognize Disney pins from Disneyland.
Our flight home was uneventful. Our pups and cat were thrilled to see us when we came through the door. Even though I didn’t want it to end – I had to admit that it was good to be home.
And now for the
mushy part...
I'd like to dedicate the rest of my closing post to the following wonderful folks who went on this adventure with us: John and Kevin, Pete and Walter, Marilee (Corky441) and DH Dino, Kim (TickledTink33), Anna (Aspen37), Tracey (tmli) and Chris (Slapwhitey), Chris (columnwest), Jason (Menashacorp) and Susan (merriepoppins), Kathy (kab407), Lauren (stenogoddess) and Jeri, Dave (macman752) and DW Sally, Jason (JWren1234), Jennifer (TheTXTaylors5) and Bill (DisneyTaylors), Alissa (SpokaneMom), Katherine (Katscradle) and John (3guysandagal), Lynne (Carolinagal), Tonya (Tonya2426) and DM Carol, Tracy (winotracy)and DH Bill, Karen (Klam chowder), Matthew (MatthewT212) and DH Miguel, John and Micki (tardis1029), Heather (Circusgirl), Jim and Linda, Frank (skunkvette)and Cathy (Mrs. Skunkvette), Oscar Jr. and Oscar Sr., and Sharon (PrincessSharon).
Phillip and I knew all along that this would be a wonderful trip, tossing the words “experience of a lifetime” around quite frequently. We already knew about half of the folks above from the first Podcast Cruise, DIS-a-Palooza, or other DIS meets. My personal DIS BFF, Kathy, was going on the trip! Phillip doesn’t DIS or listen to the podcast, but he’s a Disney fanatic too and he’s always enjoyed the time we’ve spent with other DISers. He, by all means, understood how special it was going to be to get to see and do some of things we were going to experience. These were all obvious reasons to be excited beforehand.
The cost was admittedly steep, but we hoped that Disney would give us our money’s worth and we knew that the DIS and
Dreams Unlimited would "up the ante" since it’s been our personal experience that this organization “goes big.”
From the time we arrived to the time we departed, we felt that we were immersed in something really, really special. Partially because of
Adventures by Disney and how they handled things, partially because of the special surprises and experiences that we had (both from ABD and from the DIS), but mostly because of all of the people who had come on this “trip of a lifetime” with us. Kevin and John have already talked about it on the podcast briefly, but there was honestly no one in this group of 44 who wasn’t gung-ho, ready for anything, excited to be there, personable, willing to share, generous, and open. There were active board posters and those who are not – but that didn’t matter. No one was excluded. The quieter folks in the group were drawn out. If someone was doing something during the precious little free time we were allotted – everyone was invited and welcomed to join in.
I guess if you spend a week deeply involved in the kind of non-stop itinerary that ABD keeps you on, you are bound to bond with people, but I can’t help but think that this was something more than that. Perhaps it’s because you already have so much in common with others who love Disney enough to invest in something like this?
I feel that I *know* these people that we traveled with now. I mean, really *know* them. When I read their posts, I hear their voices and see their faces. I can’t help but remember little things about them from the trip.
I just know that Phillip and I had the time of our lives and the only thing that made that farewell dinner and the breakfast the following morning easier to take was knowing that we would see most of these people again in December on the Podcast Cruise. If that hadn’t been the case, I honestly think there would have been tears on my part.
If anyone ever comments again about how expensive the ABD trips are, I can honestly answer, “But it’s worth it.” The things we saw. The places we went. The meals we had. The things the guides did. How they went out of their way to make things as good as they could be. The way we were moved from place to place. All of this adds up to an “experience,” not just a “trip.”
Kevin, John, Pete, and Walter – thank you for hosting such a wonderful celebration and, most of all, thank you for taking this wonderful ride right along with us. It was made all the more special because we experienced it with you.
