Day 17 Fantasia Gardens, Rainforest Café, Homewood Bound and Final Thoughts
Who we are:
Have you read the other 16 episodes, if so you know and don't care, and if not go back and read them!!
Pre Trip Report Saturday 16th December 2006 - Monday 1st January 2007
Day 1 Sat 16th Dec Are we nearly there?
Day 2 Sun 17th Dec AK and Boma.
Day 3 Mon 18th Dec EPCOT and Le Cellier
Day 4 Tues 19th Dec MK and Narcossees
Day 5 Weds 20th Dec MGM and Spoodles
Day 6 Thurs 21st Dec AK (or Golf!) and Kona Cafe
Day 7 Fri 22nd Dec EPCOT, Le Cellier and Candlelight Processional
Day 8 Sat 23rd Dec Shopping, Chilling & TGI Fridays
Day 9 Sun 24th Dec Swimming/Golf, Celebration and Joe’s Crab Shack
Day 10 Mon 25th Dec Christmas Day and Dinner at GF 1900 Park Fare
Day 11 Tues 26th Dec Golf and Magic Kingdom for “Holiday” Parades
Day 12 Weds 27th Dec Shopping, Orange City and Olive Garden
Day 13 Thurs 28th Dec Meeting with friends, TGI Fridays and MGM for Fantasmic
Day 14 Fri 29th Dec Golf, Pioneer Museum and Outback Steakhouse
Day 15 Sat 30th Dec Move to Dolphin and NYE in EPCOT a day early!!
Day 16 Sun 31st Dec 06 Golf, Dolphin Pool and Cape May Café and celebrating NYE on the Boardwalk (not under it!)
Day 17 New Year’s Day Monday 1st January 2007
We awoke earlyish, not even suffering too much from “the morning after the night before”. First things first, I was on the phone to request late check out but no such luck. The weather is fairly overcast so we packed and check out, it’s nice that the fountain is going in the lobby now. I did spot about half a dozen calls to Mexico on my bill, and managed to get them removed…….so check bills it does happen!! We loaded up the car and the long drive to Fantasia Gardens (sic!!) passed without event.
This is another first for us. We had great fun, it was very scenic but I am competitive and was annoyed to lose by 5 strokes to Steve, not that I ever play golf and he plays all the time, I think that’s a handicap on this course (ha ha!!)
I think the Mouse is telling them off!!
It’s getting a bit more overcast and drizzling a bit, we have to pass up playing the other course which was a shame, but we really wanted to go to Downtown Disney to eat before the sad drive back up to Orlando International.
As may be expected it was still busy, probably not that many people looking for the hair of the dog at Disney. We managed to park in the wrong car park for Rain Forest Café and hiked passed Raglan Road (looks a bit like home, I don’t want cottage pie on holiday!!) We hit the RFC and found a 45 minute wait, right on our limit for the timings to get back to the airport. Now I am not one for wasting time laying about, we like to get to airport, check in, get on plane and go. So much so there have been a couple of times where it has been very fine, planes and ferries. These occasions running through my mind, we wait. A little visit to the World of Memories (busman’s holiday!) and we were just giving it “five more minutes” and we were called, we sat down exactly 45 minutes after arriving, the risk has paid off. We ate an Awesome Appetiser (that word again) and shared a Steak and Shrimp Combo, Pasta, the most stunning Cobb Salad and a terrible wrap. Overall very good as usual and the waiter was just right in pushing the food through as we had outlined our time dilemma!! Still wondering if we had left it a little late we waddle back to the car (or carefully Heeley as the case may be.)
Goodbye WDW, or was it?
We then had one of those “toddler” sessions, the ones you think left you behind when the youngest was about five. One of the girls needed the “restroom” “why the ******* did you not go when dad was paying?” So off she goes with a map as there is one “just round the corner” She comes back 5 minutes later and then another one wants to go and Steve has pulled up in the no parking zone for us to leap in. He is rather cross with me, visions of the Storm trooping Disney Police evicting us and banning for life (although Steve wouldn’t mind that) for unheard of violation of a Disney Bye law, and missing the plane to boot.
Finally we were all in the car, no time for disasters. It was all rather boring after that, a damp grey day, we found the right terminal and didn’t miss the car return. OMG, it’s still 2 hours to go until we fly, there was no need to rush at all. We check in quickly, security was scandalously scanty, for the 6.30pm United flight to Washington.
They only had one Harley spare, so it looked as if it was United We Go and no "Easy Riding!!"
Showing as on time, the plane turned up at 6.15 and we flew at 7.15pm., definitely more of a bus operation, but we are still ok for our connection to Heathrow. This was a very very bumpy ride though at low level, never been on a flight like this before. As we were getting off a poor child threw up all over the lady in front, boy was I glad we were standing behind.
No luggage collection this time, we shoot straight through to our departure gate (panicking we will miss it) and they hold the plane for everyone else to amble on from planes all over. We all had seats together this time (5 across the middle, leg room is bad in the back, no upgrade this time!) and were an hour late taking off but a flight time of only 6 hours 5 minutes. I watched “The Queen” and we had dinner (perfectly OK) couple of hours dozing and the normal ¾ an hour stack at Heathrow meant we only landed 5 minutes early. Immigration as miserable as ever, 30 minute wait for the bus and a flat battery on the car. We are nearly home. Good run home up the M4, Tescos, pick up the dog, you know the routine. Back to school and work on the 2nd......
The question is will the scrapbook ever get done this time, at least the trip report has!!
Final Thoughts
This holiday was a bit of a compromise, we couldn’t run to a more adventurous holiday, and as you may have gathered DH is not that keen on Disney Cheese. So with a combination of me spotting the pretty good flight prices in June (£2 400 for 4 adults one child and fully comp car for 17 days over Christmas, thanks Charter Travel!!) and making sure we built the holiday around everyone it was a success. I would happily go indirect again with good flight times, getting to Heathrow is so much easier than Gatwick so no time difference really, unless something goes wrong with connections I suppose. Squashing into one room onsite to have the dining plan, I booked direct with Disney with a code from Mousesavers ($2 600 for 5 nights POR, 5 adult 10-day base tickets and 5 nights adult DDP). One room worked when the parks were quiet and we were out a lot, but more than 5 days would not have been a good idea, nor if the weather had been bad! Angela’s Villa had the space to spread out when we relaxed more over Christmas, and a splurge on location at the Dolphin ($600 for 2 nights but top category view) for New Year was the icing on the cake.
What was great was the children being much older, so they could go off in pairs or all together, or to the pool without us. Great “runners” to get refills on mugs, fastpasses etc
We had never been to the 192 area before on our previous 2 trips, the restaurants were fine inside but I do find it all rather tacky and a bit depressing driving around. Give me onsite at Disney or Universal anyday, but the villa idea is more sensible with older children.
We did miss going to Universal and Seaworld, but realistically the cost of the tickets together with potential crowds without being onsite was not worth it. Especially as I had to nurse the old knee round (the knee is now gone, I had a knee replacement in September, hence having a bit of down time to finish these reports!)
Food was mixed. I was disappointed that Disney food seemed much more ordinary this time, but we ate in some great places too at Disney (Narcossees, Le Cellier and the Flame Tree Barbecue in AK). I think the DDP was too much food (even though it was still worth having) and the “food formula” showed. I would not have let my children eat the rubbish on the children’s menu, so it was a good job they were older. On previous visits we always found sharing adult meals for children so much better than c**p they are served for every meal, OK some meals but not every meal. We were much better at finding the better offsite meals, although we still haven’t been to Brahma Breeze, Lobster Feast or Café TuTu Tango. Outback, Olive Garden and Joe’s Crab Shack were all good.
Next time? Well, who knows. I suspect it will be just Sally, Laura and I, either October (Kate will be off to Uni. then) or February half term, if we could ever find a cheap enough flight & All Stars in School Holidays. I have just priced up October half term next year and flights are over £100 more than I paid at Christmas. We are in a depressing 9-year run of a child doing exams every year (GCSE, A1 or A2 and then the next one starts) as they are all at secondary school now, so no flexing holiday dates. However, I would always take them out for the 2-3 day block before Christmas, as they NEVER do anything then. We were shocked to find Kate had module exams in early January, and she nearly missed a revision day scheduled for the last day of the school holidays (we made sure we were back for the first day of term). Nobody tells you that when they are doing their GCSEs and you are trying to find a time of year that doesn’t interfere with school. :angry:
However, there is hope, Steve will go back, but it would be a golfing based holiday and possibly just Sea World and/or Universal. However, the Harry Potter Park will have to be open and Aquatica looks great too. Perhaps that’s the appeal of Orlando, there is something for nearly everyone with a bit of assiduous planning!!
Well, if the scrapbook never gets done at least I have a trip report to read, especially when boiling the sprouts this year, I am just bringing them to the boil in anticipation!!
Thanks for reading my drivel, really it was for my own sake.
Who we are:
Have you read the other 16 episodes, if so you know and don't care, and if not go back and read them!!
Pre Trip Report Saturday 16th December 2006 - Monday 1st January 2007
Day 1 Sat 16th Dec Are we nearly there?
Day 2 Sun 17th Dec AK and Boma.
Day 3 Mon 18th Dec EPCOT and Le Cellier
Day 4 Tues 19th Dec MK and Narcossees
Day 5 Weds 20th Dec MGM and Spoodles
Day 6 Thurs 21st Dec AK (or Golf!) and Kona Cafe
Day 7 Fri 22nd Dec EPCOT, Le Cellier and Candlelight Processional
Day 8 Sat 23rd Dec Shopping, Chilling & TGI Fridays
Day 9 Sun 24th Dec Swimming/Golf, Celebration and Joe’s Crab Shack
Day 10 Mon 25th Dec Christmas Day and Dinner at GF 1900 Park Fare
Day 11 Tues 26th Dec Golf and Magic Kingdom for “Holiday” Parades
Day 12 Weds 27th Dec Shopping, Orange City and Olive Garden
Day 13 Thurs 28th Dec Meeting with friends, TGI Fridays and MGM for Fantasmic
Day 14 Fri 29th Dec Golf, Pioneer Museum and Outback Steakhouse
Day 15 Sat 30th Dec Move to Dolphin and NYE in EPCOT a day early!!
Day 16 Sun 31st Dec 06 Golf, Dolphin Pool and Cape May Café and celebrating NYE on the Boardwalk (not under it!)
Day 17 New Year’s Day Monday 1st January 2007
We awoke earlyish, not even suffering too much from “the morning after the night before”. First things first, I was on the phone to request late check out but no such luck. The weather is fairly overcast so we packed and check out, it’s nice that the fountain is going in the lobby now. I did spot about half a dozen calls to Mexico on my bill, and managed to get them removed…….so check bills it does happen!! We loaded up the car and the long drive to Fantasia Gardens (sic!!) passed without event.
This is another first for us. We had great fun, it was very scenic but I am competitive and was annoyed to lose by 5 strokes to Steve, not that I ever play golf and he plays all the time, I think that’s a handicap on this course (ha ha!!)
I think the Mouse is telling them off!!
It’s getting a bit more overcast and drizzling a bit, we have to pass up playing the other course which was a shame, but we really wanted to go to Downtown Disney to eat before the sad drive back up to Orlando International.
As may be expected it was still busy, probably not that many people looking for the hair of the dog at Disney. We managed to park in the wrong car park for Rain Forest Café and hiked passed Raglan Road (looks a bit like home, I don’t want cottage pie on holiday!!) We hit the RFC and found a 45 minute wait, right on our limit for the timings to get back to the airport. Now I am not one for wasting time laying about, we like to get to airport, check in, get on plane and go. So much so there have been a couple of times where it has been very fine, planes and ferries. These occasions running through my mind, we wait. A little visit to the World of Memories (busman’s holiday!) and we were just giving it “five more minutes” and we were called, we sat down exactly 45 minutes after arriving, the risk has paid off. We ate an Awesome Appetiser (that word again) and shared a Steak and Shrimp Combo, Pasta, the most stunning Cobb Salad and a terrible wrap. Overall very good as usual and the waiter was just right in pushing the food through as we had outlined our time dilemma!! Still wondering if we had left it a little late we waddle back to the car (or carefully Heeley as the case may be.)
Goodbye WDW, or was it?
We then had one of those “toddler” sessions, the ones you think left you behind when the youngest was about five. One of the girls needed the “restroom” “why the ******* did you not go when dad was paying?” So off she goes with a map as there is one “just round the corner” She comes back 5 minutes later and then another one wants to go and Steve has pulled up in the no parking zone for us to leap in. He is rather cross with me, visions of the Storm trooping Disney Police evicting us and banning for life (although Steve wouldn’t mind that) for unheard of violation of a Disney Bye law, and missing the plane to boot.
Finally we were all in the car, no time for disasters. It was all rather boring after that, a damp grey day, we found the right terminal and didn’t miss the car return. OMG, it’s still 2 hours to go until we fly, there was no need to rush at all. We check in quickly, security was scandalously scanty, for the 6.30pm United flight to Washington.
They only had one Harley spare, so it looked as if it was United We Go and no "Easy Riding!!"
Showing as on time, the plane turned up at 6.15 and we flew at 7.15pm., definitely more of a bus operation, but we are still ok for our connection to Heathrow. This was a very very bumpy ride though at low level, never been on a flight like this before. As we were getting off a poor child threw up all over the lady in front, boy was I glad we were standing behind.
No luggage collection this time, we shoot straight through to our departure gate (panicking we will miss it) and they hold the plane for everyone else to amble on from planes all over. We all had seats together this time (5 across the middle, leg room is bad in the back, no upgrade this time!) and were an hour late taking off but a flight time of only 6 hours 5 minutes. I watched “The Queen” and we had dinner (perfectly OK) couple of hours dozing and the normal ¾ an hour stack at Heathrow meant we only landed 5 minutes early. Immigration as miserable as ever, 30 minute wait for the bus and a flat battery on the car. We are nearly home. Good run home up the M4, Tescos, pick up the dog, you know the routine. Back to school and work on the 2nd......
The question is will the scrapbook ever get done this time, at least the trip report has!!
Final Thoughts
This holiday was a bit of a compromise, we couldn’t run to a more adventurous holiday, and as you may have gathered DH is not that keen on Disney Cheese. So with a combination of me spotting the pretty good flight prices in June (£2 400 for 4 adults one child and fully comp car for 17 days over Christmas, thanks Charter Travel!!) and making sure we built the holiday around everyone it was a success. I would happily go indirect again with good flight times, getting to Heathrow is so much easier than Gatwick so no time difference really, unless something goes wrong with connections I suppose. Squashing into one room onsite to have the dining plan, I booked direct with Disney with a code from Mousesavers ($2 600 for 5 nights POR, 5 adult 10-day base tickets and 5 nights adult DDP). One room worked when the parks were quiet and we were out a lot, but more than 5 days would not have been a good idea, nor if the weather had been bad! Angela’s Villa had the space to spread out when we relaxed more over Christmas, and a splurge on location at the Dolphin ($600 for 2 nights but top category view) for New Year was the icing on the cake.
What was great was the children being much older, so they could go off in pairs or all together, or to the pool without us. Great “runners” to get refills on mugs, fastpasses etc
We had never been to the 192 area before on our previous 2 trips, the restaurants were fine inside but I do find it all rather tacky and a bit depressing driving around. Give me onsite at Disney or Universal anyday, but the villa idea is more sensible with older children.
We did miss going to Universal and Seaworld, but realistically the cost of the tickets together with potential crowds without being onsite was not worth it. Especially as I had to nurse the old knee round (the knee is now gone, I had a knee replacement in September, hence having a bit of down time to finish these reports!)
Food was mixed. I was disappointed that Disney food seemed much more ordinary this time, but we ate in some great places too at Disney (Narcossees, Le Cellier and the Flame Tree Barbecue in AK). I think the DDP was too much food (even though it was still worth having) and the “food formula” showed. I would not have let my children eat the rubbish on the children’s menu, so it was a good job they were older. On previous visits we always found sharing adult meals for children so much better than c**p they are served for every meal, OK some meals but not every meal. We were much better at finding the better offsite meals, although we still haven’t been to Brahma Breeze, Lobster Feast or Café TuTu Tango. Outback, Olive Garden and Joe’s Crab Shack were all good.
Next time? Well, who knows. I suspect it will be just Sally, Laura and I, either October (Kate will be off to Uni. then) or February half term, if we could ever find a cheap enough flight & All Stars in School Holidays. I have just priced up October half term next year and flights are over £100 more than I paid at Christmas. We are in a depressing 9-year run of a child doing exams every year (GCSE, A1 or A2 and then the next one starts) as they are all at secondary school now, so no flexing holiday dates. However, I would always take them out for the 2-3 day block before Christmas, as they NEVER do anything then. We were shocked to find Kate had module exams in early January, and she nearly missed a revision day scheduled for the last day of the school holidays (we made sure we were back for the first day of term). Nobody tells you that when they are doing their GCSEs and you are trying to find a time of year that doesn’t interfere with school. :angry:
However, there is hope, Steve will go back, but it would be a golfing based holiday and possibly just Sea World and/or Universal. However, the Harry Potter Park will have to be open and Aquatica looks great too. Perhaps that’s the appeal of Orlando, there is something for nearly everyone with a bit of assiduous planning!!
Well, if the scrapbook never gets done at least I have a trip report to read, especially when boiling the sprouts this year, I am just bringing them to the boil in anticipation!!
Thanks for reading my drivel, really it was for my own sake.
again last week, so now it's back to work with a vengence, it will be 6-12 months before maximum results and total banishing of all pain!! Hence the little plan for October, if I can get over my fear of spooky things!!
