4 people, 3 weeks, 2 resorts and 1 Kingdom! - Last day!

[BONZO]

SATURDAY 2nd JUNE 2001

Cast list: -

Me (Shaun) - Wallet opener, chauffeur and bag carrier
DW (Alison) - Chief planner, navigator and mother
DD # 1 (Alexandra 7) - Cautious, shy and parking lot number guru
DD # 2 (Laura 5) - Daredevil, chatterbox and sleeper


We woke up very early this morning and immediately felt very sad to be going - but hey ho, all good things must come to an end I suppose, but it doesn't make things any better. Finished off the packing and left a HUGE pile of rubbish in the room - but we did place most of it in the recycling facilities, all those bottles - LOL

DDs had great fun waving to all the nice people in the Red T-shirts on the ferries going to MK. We've never had such a response from folks on the boats like that before.

I moved the car to the car park closest to TTC and the room. Instead of calling Bell Services we just moved everything ourselves, or rather I did. Gee it's hot again and I'm sweating buckets so I get DW to drape a towel over my shoulders. (I'm sure I can feel that "Rocky" music in my ears) - LOL

Over to Captain Cooks for the last breakfast and filled up on sausages, hash browns, bacon, toast etc - this is more like it!

Over to the Great Ceremonial House to check out and settle up - Gulp! How Much?????

Ok, so here we are and it's the last day - what do we do? Parks, pool or shopping?……drinking?

We ask DDs what they fancied and they said that they were a bit "parked out" so we decide to hang around the pool for a couple of hours rather than head for a park as we'd originally planned.

What luck, we had kept our cossies in our hand luggage just in case and used the Poly towels to dry off.

We spent a lovely couple of hours chilling out by the pool with a few drinks and reflecting on the last three weeks.

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So, what about all the hype of the Gay Day disruption?

Well, we didn't go to any of the parks, so can't comment on anything there, but Disney did Early Entry in all their parks today to compensate for the crowds! Don't think that happens very often!

The 'Gay Day' events etc didn't bother our family at all and we would have no hesitation in going back at this time again. Our girls understand that not all couples are male/female and so didn't bat an eyelid at anything else they saw.

Here are a few comments/observations: -


1. lovely green toe nail varnish

2. women wearing t-shirts "It just takes love to make a family"

3. "Oh Thomas you're such a *****" was one funny comment overheard at the bar

4. 2 male octogenarians walking hand in hand

5. Very busy and crowded everywhere

…..but lots of happy smiling faces.
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We went to Kona Café for a bite to eat for lunch - excellent food although it was packed in here and the poor waiting staff were rushed off their feet.

We had a final swim, showered and got dressed ready to head off to the airport.

I really, really do not want to leave!

Ok I'll admit it - I cried harder than I've ever cried before when leaving any resort. I was just numb and quiet all the way back to the car pound…….I couldn't talk to anyone……ok……macho man image back on.

We took our luggage out of the car but it took us another 15 minutes to empty all of the rubbish and debris from the car!

We caught the shuttle to the airport, checked in and went around the shops. We managed to pick up some cool swimming goggles for the DDs with holograms of sharks on and tons of Harry Potter stuff from the Warner Brothers store.

We took our polystyrene cooler with us to the airport with ***as and packed pots of Pringles. This helped us out a lot with DDs pestering us for food and drink and avoided the airport prices. When we were about to head to the gate, we dumped it.

Onto the flight and feeling sad once more about leaving WDW and everything after a brilliant time - thank you America…..we'll be back!

On the way home, Laura slept for about 5 hours, Alexandra about 1 hour and we had none! This was fairly deliberate as we wanted to avoid too much jet lag, and both of us feel worse after 2 hours sleep than none at all for some reason!

The flight on that way back was only about 8 and a half hours back to the cold and damp!

Oh well, back home now and I'm missing WDW already………now to start back in planning mode!



A big THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to read and respond to these reports - I've really enjoyed putting them together and it's been a good record of our holiday.

 

[pumba]

I hate it when a trip comes to an end.......Hope you are home planning the next one as we type.......thanks again

 

[Tartan Tigger]

Thanks Shaun (and Alison) for sharing your holiday with us.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all your reports. Thanks again

 

[Debz]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write your report. I really needed it considering my disney vacation was cancelled due to the terrorist attacks. We were just one day away from Disney. While I'm so sorry for the victims and their families, I'm also so sad that our vacation that we planned for a year didn't happen. At least we're safe at home. You're reports were excellent. It really sounds like you had a trip of a lifetime. I'm glad you got to stay at the Poly. It's always been a dream of mine to stay there. Maybe next year! I hope you have many more trips in the future and I look forward to reading more of your reports.

 

[BONZO]

Debz,

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

I'm really sad for you that you've had to cancel your trip at such short notice, but the main thing is that you are safe and sound.

If possible, I'd try and stay at the Poly even if only for a couple of nights, you will not regret it!

Our thoughts and prayers are with all your countrymen at this difficult time.

 

[Beanie]

How bittersweet! I loved reading your trip reports, Shaun and Allison, but I hate to see them come to an end as well!! You are such a talented writer and I very much enjoyed all of them!! I am definitely looking forward to your next trip, so I can read those wonderful reports!!!


Thanks for all the laughs!!

 

[dreamflight99]

Hi Bonzo!! So wonderful to read your reports...and sad to see it all come to a finish. What fun and lasting memories you have to keep with you...and help you plan your next holiday. I have been home for 7 weeks, and have already booked a resort and 7-night W.C. Cruise for next July! My Birnbaum's guide arrived today (Barnes & Noble)...and I'm pouring over the pages again (even if most are the same every year, I'm a die-hard believer in the magic-all of it!). I felt terrible returning from our 5 week adventure,(okay..the bills awaiting me had something to do with my attitude). I LOVE being "In the Magic" of Disney...it's an escape in the purest sense of the word. Life is fresh, clean and new. Views are truly childlike...and the reality of the REAL WORLD is a galaxy away. When I travel to WDW...I truly leave the world behind. Now, I'm back--acclimated to my familiar surroundings (all pets are alive and well...plants healthy--Sister did a wonderful job!) and busy planning Summer 2002. Have you ever heard the song "Dreamer's Holiday" by Perry Como? I was placed on hold by Delta Airlines, and it was the song playing on the system. I went to Amazon, typed in Perry Como--and found it!(Perry Como-The Golden Hits) What a wonderful vacation song...and one to keep you in the mood all year long! Thanks for the laughs Bonzo, glad you're all home safe... & please keep us apprised of your future travel. inkbounc

 

[Debz]

Shaun,

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. I only pray that someday soon there will be an end to this madness around the world and we can all feel safe to travel again.

I'm having terrible Disney withdrawls! The trip reports are helping a little bit, yours especially. I've begun planning a trip for this May. I'm not going to let terrorism keep me from doing the things I love. The Poly will definately be part of this trip.

Thanks again for the wonderful detail and humor in your reports. It was just what I needed.

Deb

 

[SeaSpray]

Bonzo:


Just read this final page of your trip report, I will immediately go find the rest and start at the beginning. I am so glad you all had a wonderful trip! When are you going back? And which resort will you stay at? DH and I are staying at the Wilderness Lodge in December and then a possible family trip back next year to the Polynesian.

 

[BONZO]

Hi Seaspray,

Nice to see you about - I did see the pics you posted a while back.

We may be back in 2003, and that's all down to money nothing else.

Wilderness Lodge then the Poly....mmmmmm, my favourite places.