Another 3 weeks at Bonnet Creek-Live TR

Day 21 - Bowling, Aquatica & Carrabba's
So our last full day. We have such a fantastic time but this morning I woke up with that end of holiday sinking feeling. I definitely didn't want to ruin last day by being sad about going home so got up and went for my usual walk. The boys met me by the pool and we had a great time playing volleyball, lazy river, jacuzzi etc. Henry really loves bowling so we went and were there just after 11. Only $12 before midday. Place was empty. I got my first ever Turkey, three strikes in a row. I have to admit that I am a pretty good bowler, David and Henry never come close to beating me. We got 4 games in and my total was 558. More than 200 ahead of my boys!! David said it's soul destroying playing against me. Anyway it was still fun for everyone.
Then back to BC. Sat by the pool till 2 listening to book then we went to Aquatica. Bit of a tradition on our last day. It was looking pretty gloomy and I was worried the thunder would start before we got in lazy river. We were lucky and it held off. Place was really quiet and we had a ball. Just so nice to be together in a place like this. We have had 12 holidays here starting when Henry was 5. He's 15 now and I know this won't go on forever so I am making the most of every minute. We have been so lucky to have so many great holidays, not just Florida.
We stayed till close and for first time was able to even have a shower as no long queues.
Went straight to Carrabba's as we hadn't had lunch. They gave a special deal on Mondays called Amour Mondays. You have to ask for it. Great menu.$60 Bill.
We were going to go premium outlets after but just too full and couldn't face it. So back to BC just to relax. No swimming unfortunately as amazing lightening storm going on. No rain. So just going to relax and watch a film and get an early night and a long sleep to set ourselves up for tomorrow. Going to be a long day!

Safe trip home have enjoyed all your reports

Where do you bowl?

DD wants to this time but there is one at Cabana bay so will go there - just seen it is kids price $9 for everyone weekday afternoons

dixonsontour said:

Safe trip home have enjoyed all your reports

Where do you bowl?

DD wants to this time but there is one at Cabana bay so will go there - just seen it is kids price $9 for everyone weekday afternoons

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At DTD. You get 75 minutes if there are three if you. Really nice bowling place. Expensive in the evening though.

What a great 3 weeks. Have a good journey home

Day 22 - Final day
Our final day was was finally here. This really has felt like the longest holiday I have ever been on. We have had such a great time.
Requested a 11 am instead of 10am check out, no problem. Wide awake at 6.45 which wasn't good. Were all packed the night before. So went for a nice swim and walk as always. Let Henry sleep late and we left our room at exactly 11. Our flight was at 6.15 so time to kill. We decided to use the DTD check in. Have used in the past by I kind of begrudge having to pay the $30 fee when we are in Premium Economy. However didn't fancy having to drive back to collect bags from BC later so had to grin and bear it. No one there when we got there so it was a ten minute process. Then went off to Premium Outlets to pick up the Levi's. It was so hot there, way too hot to be walking around from shop to shop so headed off to the Sea Life place at I360 as still had unused tickets. It was a nice way to spend an hour but not sure I would have wanted to actually pay for tickets, we got them free with legoland tickets. So then headed to Shake Shack in same complex. Had only recently opened. Nice burgers but two burgers, one hot dog, one fries and two milkshakes cost over $30 and not as nice as Steak and Shake and was counter service. So won't go back but was handy. Then popped to Walgreens to pick up some Ghiradelli's. Anyone who hasn't tried them should, great chocolates, not cheap but delicious.
We were taking car back to Sixt which is offsite and as I had never driven back there before I was a little worried about getting lost. We took the 528 and got off junction 9. It was so easier, far easier than going to the actual airport. Was there in no time at all and the shuttle took us straight to airport, no one else on it. Really impressed with their service both ways. Hope they are cheapest again next year as I found the whole process a lot easier than renting at the actual airport.
We're at the airport a little early but relieved to see out flight in time. Glad I wasn't flying BA as their flights had long delays. Got ont the plane first, had back row of PE downstairs. Good flights, nice food. Good films but again had seen 90% of them so watched three repeats and a couple of episodes of Better Call Saul and this got us all the way to the gate at Gatwick. First off the plane, no queue at immigration at all (MCO please take note!!)
From time we landed till time we were back home in Reigate, 45 minutes.
So that's it, really glad I stuck to writing this as will be nice to look back. Been on so many Orlando holidays that they tend to blur into one. Will have a go at highs and lows although will struggle with lows, can only think of blinding myself with sun cream as a low at the moment!
Thanks for reading along.

Portugal1000 said:

no queue at immigration at all (MCO please take note!!)

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What was the line like for non EU passport holders? We flew via Dublin, for us we were straight thru but the non EU line looked very long & slow, just like for us arriving at MCO.
On arrival at Manchester we got straight off the plane and thru a door into the baggage area, felt strange not going thru immigration line.

wayneg said:

What was the line like for non EU passport holders? We flew via Dublin, for us we were straight thru but the non EU line looked very long & slow, just like for us arriving at MCO.
On arrival at Manchester we got straight off the plane and thru a door into the baggage area, felt strange not going thru immigration line.

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Literally no one there atall. There were non EU people next to us and they walked straight through.

Well they didn't walk straight through, were being interrogated but no one else in the queue.

Thank you for your trip report, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it each day .

It's nice to have an insight on what others do whilst out there.

Tash87 said:

Thank you for your trip report, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it each day .

It's nice to have an insight on what others do whilst out there.

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Thank you, I enjoyed writing it.

Made fatal mistake of looking at flight prices for 1st July next year was surprised to see Flying Club Mile fares available. We have so many Virgin Miles that I have enough to book two PE flights and one miles with money. Unfortunately I wont know if I can get cover at work until atleast January. If I did I would have booked and paid for three weeks today! Already want to go back

Shame you can't book for next year yet. Have enjoyed all your updates.

I have really enjoyed reading along. Thanks for sharing

I also enjoy the live reports, its been great to follow along, thank you. I try to do one every visit but I knew this time would not be easy, with so many hotel changes, plus a week on the cruise with limited internet access.

Great LTR, I aspire to do a similar one myself!

This sounds like it was a very fun, relaxing trip. I think if we go again we will try to spend more time relaxing and less on the go. Bonnet Creek sounds like a lovely place to stay. It's a shame you couldn't book next years flights yet - fingers crossed you get the time off you want.

Jon84 said:

Great LTR, I aspire to do a similar one myself!

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Thank you. Look forward to reading it.

jothp said:

This sounds like it was a very fun, relaxing trip. I think if we go again we will try to spend more time relaxing and less on the go. Bonnet Creek sounds like a lovely place to stay. It's a shame you couldn't book next years flights yet - fingers crossed you get the time off you want.

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Really cant recommend BC enough and the guys we books with are great, 8 trips and not a single issue. Every year I worry a little that we have had so many trips, 12 to Orlando since 2005, and nothing ever gone wrong. Law of averages and all that. The very first year we went to BC, there was a massive protest going on outside the gates about timeshare miss selling and we thought "oh no, what have we done" but we never go to timeshare presentation and no intention of ever buying one so not an issue for us.

wayneg said:

I also enjoy the live reports, its been great to follow along, thank you. I try to do one every visit but I knew this time would not be easy, with so many hotel changes, plus a week on the cruise with limited internet access.

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Thanks. If I had done a trip like yours I would never have been able to. I would love to do what you did but the one big problem I have is I have really lost my nerve driving on the freeways over there. So many trucks and last year the most terrible storm I have ever been in whilst I was on I4 and couldn't see anything. Terrified. Would love to drive down to the keys. Thinking of maybe going direct to Miami and getting a car from there. Assume smaller roads so shouldn't be as scary.
We loved the beach last year but was just too worried about driving again this year as I knew the whole time I was there I would be thinking about the drive back. I'll have to figure a way around it.

I am the opposite, enjoy driving over there more and more every trip. The trip we did at Easter covered 2,065 miles thru 8 States, even a pleasure driving into the cities (Memphis, Nashville etc)

Portugal1000 said:

Really cant recommend BC enough and the guys we books with are great, 8 trips and not a single issue. Every year I worry a little that we have had so many trips, 12 to Orlando since 2005, and nothing ever gone wrong. Law of averages and all that. The very first year we went to BC, there was a massive protest going on outside the gates about timeshare miss selling and we thought "oh no, what have we done" but we never go to timeshare presentation and no intention of ever buying one so not an issue for us.

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Really enjoyed reading your trip report!! thanks for taking the time to share your holiday with us!

you mention that you like the guys you book WBC with. Is it not directly with WBC itself?