Libby's 2009 Trip - Day 15

[Dimplenose]

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14

Libby’s 2209 Trip

Day 15 – Monday August 10th

Well, I can’t believe it’s here. After all my planning and dreaming the holiday is very nearly over. I am ready to go home. (We only ever have two week holidays when we go to WDW so it does seem a long time since we were at home.) But I don’t want the reality of the holiday finishing and going home to DS A-level results, university acceptance and the beginning of a new phase for my little family.

Anyway we have nearly a full day to enjoy so we’ll make sure we don’t waste it.

I get everyone up and stuff our last remaining belongings into the suitcases and lock them.

Just as we are leaving for breakfast at the food court our express checkout details arrive, it’s nearly 8am. We’ve charged about £600 to our room which is about what we mentally totted up as we went along.



We’re only at the food court for half an hour – much quicker and quieter this early in the morning.

Just after we return to our room there is a tap on the door and it’s housekeeping checking if she can do our room. She’s happy to come back in half an hour and I’m happy that I’ve been tipping the maid daily as this isn’t Diana who has been doing our room for most of the fortnight.



We brought an extra empty holdall with us but now that it is full we have trouble getting the luggage into the boot. We wedge the holdall between the kids on the back seat and head off for DTD check-in.

It takes about 40 minutes to complete the check in. We’ve lugged all of our hand luggage with us too, but we needn’t have done as they are not interested in it and it never gets checked for size or weight here or at the airport.

Now that we are checked in we top up with $5 worth of petrol. We might have made it to the airport without but it is worth $5 for peace of mind.

Then we drive to the Magic Kingdom. It is very busy here and we have to wait for a third tram before se can get on one.





Once we’re in Main Street I just stand there trying to absorb all the sounds, smells and feelings that are impossible to capture on a photograph.
As we arrive a small parade starts from next to the Fire station. So we watch for a while before following it up Main Street.



It’s an odds and ends day today so we end up walking miles as we end up flitting around the park.

First of all we get fast passes for BTMRR. I’d love to go on Splash Mountain as it’s my favourite ride, but we got so wet last time that I can’t face travelling home in damp clothes, so I just watch it for a while instead.



Then we flit back to Snow White, back to BTMRR via Pirates of the Caribbean.





We have lunch (well 3 of us have lunch, DD is in her “I can’t eat before I fly” mode) at Colombia Harbour House. I love this place. The queues are usually busy but the seating area is like the TARDIS and seems to go on for ever. We sit upstairs at a nice large table. DS and I have fish and chips and I’m delighted to find vinegar available. DH has a tuna sandwich and DD just nibbles on a few chips.





The rest rooms were rather a squeeze though as there were only 3 cubicles in the ladies loo.



After lunch we ride on the railroad for a complete circuit of the park before getting off at Toontown Fair to see Mickey and Minnie’s houses.





Then we do some window shopping before tearfully (very tearfully) watching the parade.

Some random stripey foliage that took my fancy.



Then we rather reluctantly head off for the monorail. We’re leaving very early as we’re due on the later Virgin flight but I’m a great panicker and like to have plenty of time to get to airports.

This time the Satnav takes us quickly and directly to the airport. We are a bit alarmed at the lack of signage to get back to the rental car area but we just follow signs for the car park and are eventually guided back to Dollar.





Once we’ve returned the car we nip to the loos and change out of our shorts and into our travelling clothes. This is a very sad moment.

Then we have a look around the airport shops. If you were ever short of time you could land at MCO and get all your souvenirs and holiday snaps here without even leaving the airport. I took some pictures of DD with an Astronaut, with Snow White and with Goofy. I’m sure there were photo opportunities for Sea World and Universal Studios too.

We went to Borders and bought a couple of books before finding the food court for snacks and drinks.

As it get nearer to our leaving time we head for the gate. I pop into the toilet and as I am washing my hands notice another lady having a quiet sob. (I’m getting tearful as I write this.)

The flight home was uneventful. The dinner inedible and the breakfast just turned my stomach by its very smell.



Back at Gatwick we had a heart in mouth moment as our last bag was one of the final 6 to reach the collection point. But we eventually retrieved everything safely.

We had a little problem finding our bus back to the car park as they’d reverted back to their normal stop while we were away.

The car was all ready for us and our drive home (via Sainsbury’s) took less than an hour.

Once home we found that, despite our checks, we’d left the boiler on. Luckily everything was safe.

It was a very good holiday but it took days to get our bodies back to UK time (probably because I’m getting older LOL!!)

This isn’t my last report – I’ll post an epilogue in a day or two.

[suzycute]

I've really loved reading your reports - thanks for taking the time to do them.

It's always sad at the end of a WDW holiday but particularly if it might be the end of an era regarding your holidays as a family.

Looking forward to reading your epilogue - how did you DS do with his A level results?

[Ware Bears]

I've really enjoyed reading your reports and am looking forward to your epilogue.

I understand totally where you're coming from as my eldest DD is planning on going off to uni next autumn so our coming trip may well be our last WDW holiday as a complete family.

[Dimplenose]

Originally Posted by suzycute

I've really loved reading your reports - thanks for taking the time to do them.

It's always sad at the end of a WDW holiday but particularly if it might be the end of an era regarding your holidays as a family.

Looking forward to reading your epilogue - how did you DS do with his A level results?

He did well and got into the university he wanted. He's now studying Criminal Investigation with Psychology. We tease him that he's studying for a BA in CSI! (I do miss him lots and lots though.)