Part 16
Sniff, sniff, It's our last day - Sunday December 14, 2003
We're up at 7:00.
Everyone is tired, but I think we're all secretly ready to be going home. We're not happy about it, but it is time.
This has been an absolutely fantastic trip, but reality is starting to catch up with us. No more parks, no more strollers, no more shopping, no more Tea Cups...
I'm sure its a sign - its pouring outside this morning!
Not just raining - but pouring. I'm concerned about a possible flight delay from MCO, but in the back of my mind afraid of a good winter storm waiting for us in Minneapolis en route to Winnipeg.
CNN is showing Sadam's capture - as is every other station except the Disney channels - that's good - DS needs some diversion this morning. He's playing and watching TV, while we all get ready and pack, and try to find all the receipts and bits of information we might possibly need for Customs back into Canada.
Auntie K is not bringing any produce or wildlife with her this time
I try not to get soaked as I run to the foodcourt for the final refills of coffee and hot chocolate - figures that its taken me all week to finally get the mix of cream and sugar just right...
Back at the room its a bee-hive of activity with alot of packing and repacking of suitcases to make everything fit. Even with a 2nd suitcase it still seems hard to fit it all in. Even Auntie K and her enormous box-car of a case is having difficulty fitting all the purchases in.
DS's stuff is hard to pack too, as it won't all fit in the backpack for playing with on the plane.
I realize it won't be possible to take Rex back home - how do you pack a balloon animal in a suitcase without damage?
Why do I have to break the news to him?
He understands, but of course it makes him cry that he won't be able to take a one-of-a-kind Disney World souvenir home. He asks me to take a picture of him and Rex so he can remember what he looked like. Smart boy... So I do.
He wants me to leave a note with Rex for whoever finds him, and begins to dictate. I write something more concise:
My name is Rex. Please give me to a good home with kids, as I couldn't go home with my friend Riley...
It's 8:20 and we're ready to try getting to the car.
The hotel bill is on the door handle - you gotta love credit card express check-out!!
It's really coming down out there! We haul the luggage to the elevators and down and out to the end of bldg 7. I dash for the car and bring it closer. We run like crazy and try to stuff it all in without getting wet - we fail miserably! I'm glad we're heading home and not to MK EMH today!
We're all a bit flustered - it's always such a rush to leave. I'm not exactly sure of the best route to the airport, and DW is trying her best to navigate, but with the rain and me trying to find the right exits the stress level is building.
This isn't the way I wanted to leave the most Magical Place on Earth...
Traffic is light as it's Sunday, and we make good time to the airport dispite the rainstorm. As we closer to MCO the traffic volume is more substantial, and I almost miss the turnoff for the Terminal B Rental Car lots. My mind is still back in the parks Im not ready to go home Cant we stay? Awww
Navigating to the National area is not as easy as I would like - it might be quite tame, but today's situation just makes it seem tougher.
We get the car checked back in, and lug the bags back toward the terminal - I can't see a luggage cart anywhere! I feel like a mule!
I can really feel the stress building as we naviagte the terminal for the NorthWest counter.
Why is it always soo far away?
There are alot of people in here this morning! Wow!
We use the computer E-ticket check-in very smooth- except that you need to place the bags on the service counter, get them tagged, and then haul them around to security. Again probably not a big deal in reality - just seems like it today...
Auntie K gets her bag tagged and is a little ways behind us in line. Again...
Hope she ditched the produce this time!
The checked bags get screened quickly - we move like cattle into lines for carry-on x-ray - Auntie K scrambles to get her film out of her carry-on just in time! I swear she's going to have a nervous breakdown! At least she's not cursing!
Some people are removing their shoes - is this what flyig has become after 9/11? We go through without any problems. Now its time to find a snack and some gum - DW is certain its going to be rough taking off.
DS and I stay on the bench while Auntie K and DW get muffins.
10:15 we head for Gate 36, and find seats while Auntie K finds a washroom again - can you say small bladder?
All the TV's in the waiting areas are tuned to CNN and Sadam's capture. Reality hits us hard. We haven't seen real news (other than the Times Guides) all week - its been heaven!
We board by 10:45 and the plane if full. Its still coming down hard outside. The Pilot gets us out and taxiing down the runway - then cuts the engines!
Oh no!
We turn around and off the runway - I was afraid of this...
Looking out my window I'm watching other planes taxi out and taking off behind us?!?
The pilot gets on the P.A. to say:
"I know you're wondering why we're parked while other planes are taking off - but if you'll look down the runway, you'll see the storm has closed in and blocked the end of the runway. I'm from Orlando, as is the co-pilot, and we know these storms. Give it 4-5 minutes and it'll clear and we'll try it again. I don't know if you noticed when you boarded, but I've got some grey in my hair and I'm old school - I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air than being in the air wishing I was on the ground! We'll wait this out and then take off and give you the best possible flight we can."
All-righty then!
True to his word, the storm moves, the runway clears, and we take off- its still pouring out, but no problems lifting off. We get rerouted slightly to avoid the storm- and I get to fulfil a dream, as we fly directly over the Magic Kingdom! and I've got a window seat!
Ds and DW settle in for the turbulence, and we get bumped around a fair bit - and have to fly more easterly to avoid the storm - over Atlanta and Chicago a bit before heading to MSP.
Ds tries to sleep, but he can't. He and I read his 'I Spy' books for most of the flight. They run out of meals for purchase on our flight today by the time they get to us, so we have our pretzels and juice/ Pepsi and arrive in MSP 15 - 20 minutes behind schedule. Deplane into Gate F12.
Our next flight leaves from C20 - thats a good 20 minutes on the people mover to the B/C side of the terminal. We stop at the food court and try some A+W and Godfather's Pizza. A+W not the same here as in Canada - burgers are called differently, and we have better fries (IMHO) While Auntie goes to find gum at the bookstore, I get a picture of DS and his best friends!
Another 5 minutes of people movers and we arrive at our gate.
I'm tired!! And I haven't really been walking!!
We sit across form our gate as its packed full, and the attendant where we sit asks us if we're flying to Bimidji. We inform him of our destination and helets us know they are offering incentives for people to give up their seats on our flight to Winnipeg - as its overbooked!!
Yikes! It's a SMALL plane to begin with!
And I mean small - a SAAB 340 Turbo - seats 30.
They don't make 'em any smaller - unless you're flying bush planes...
DW and DS sit together in 7c+D, Auntie K is in 8A, while I'm in 8C (window - thank God!) beside DoD Maj. Mark Black from Panama City, FL, who is flying into Canada for the first time. He was at the Pentagon for 4 yrs, originally from Montgomery AL. We had a nice chat during the flight.
The Turbo is a loud flight - but not too bad. DS and DW are colouring in his notebook, and about a half hour from Winnipeg, DS starts to lose it!
He's writing a story to go along with the pictures he's drawn, and he's asking Mom how to spell some words as he prints them on the page. "How do you spell 'DIS'?" he asks - and no he's not taklking about the lime-green wearing folk of this fame - he means 'T-H-I-S' but he's pronouncing it 'dis'!
Mom tells him it's "T-H-I-S" but he doesn't like what shes saying!
It should be "D-I-S" etc and KABOOM!!
He loses his mind! He's angry and frustrated and hot and cramped in this tiny plane, and he's not hearing anything she's telling him.
He's on full boil now, and he's hell-bent on being heard!
Mom is trying to get him to quiet down -without causing too much of a scene - it's pst that I'm afarid - everyone has been looking back - remember there's only 30 of us in here...
It was comical at first, but he kept going! It was embarrasing for DW - she couldn't do anything! Then he gets angry because he didn't get to see the Winnipeg lights as we flew in!!
Yeah, Roger Houston - We've got a serious need for some Pixie Dust here? Love ya, mean it DS!!
We deplane onto the tarmack, its -4*C (29*F) as we head into the terminal to clear customs. No problems - except DS being so tired and still pushing the issues!
Our bestest neighbor Laura meets us, we get our luggage and head up to the main floor. People are staring at me and I realize I've still got my Santa Mickey hat on!!
I don't think we're in Disney any more, Toto...
Then its outside to the curb where Laura's husband (bestest neighbour as well) has our van waiting, squeeze evrything in and head home.
Its been a long, long day. We're exhausted, physically and mentally, but still feelin' the Magic inside!
I can't wait to go back!
********
P.S.
I've got one more report left in me for now - a final look back and reflections, stay tuned...
Sniff, sniff, It's our last day - Sunday December 14, 2003
We're up at 7:00.
Everyone is tired, but I think we're all secretly ready to be going home. We're not happy about it, but it is time.
This has been an absolutely fantastic trip, but reality is starting to catch up with us. No more parks, no more strollers, no more shopping, no more Tea Cups...
I'm sure its a sign - its pouring outside this morning!
Not just raining - but pouring. I'm concerned about a possible flight delay from MCO, but in the back of my mind afraid of a good winter storm waiting for us in Minneapolis en route to Winnipeg.
CNN is showing Sadam's capture - as is every other station except the Disney channels - that's good - DS needs some diversion this morning. He's playing and watching TV, while we all get ready and pack, and try to find all the receipts and bits of information we might possibly need for Customs back into Canada.
Auntie K is not bringing any produce or wildlife with her this time
I try not to get soaked as I run to the foodcourt for the final refills of coffee and hot chocolate - figures that its taken me all week to finally get the mix of cream and sugar just right...
Back at the room its a bee-hive of activity with alot of packing and repacking of suitcases to make everything fit. Even with a 2nd suitcase it still seems hard to fit it all in. Even Auntie K and her enormous box-car of a case is having difficulty fitting all the purchases in.
DS's stuff is hard to pack too, as it won't all fit in the backpack for playing with on the plane.
I realize it won't be possible to take Rex back home - how do you pack a balloon animal in a suitcase without damage?
Why do I have to break the news to him?
He understands, but of course it makes him cry that he won't be able to take a one-of-a-kind Disney World souvenir home. He asks me to take a picture of him and Rex so he can remember what he looked like. Smart boy... So I do.
He wants me to leave a note with Rex for whoever finds him, and begins to dictate. I write something more concise:
My name is Rex. Please give me to a good home with kids, as I couldn't go home with my friend Riley...
It's 8:20 and we're ready to try getting to the car.
The hotel bill is on the door handle - you gotta love credit card express check-out!!
It's really coming down out there! We haul the luggage to the elevators and down and out to the end of bldg 7. I dash for the car and bring it closer. We run like crazy and try to stuff it all in without getting wet - we fail miserably! I'm glad we're heading home and not to MK EMH today!
We're all a bit flustered - it's always such a rush to leave. I'm not exactly sure of the best route to the airport, and DW is trying her best to navigate, but with the rain and me trying to find the right exits the stress level is building.
This isn't the way I wanted to leave the most Magical Place on Earth...
Traffic is light as it's Sunday, and we make good time to the airport dispite the rainstorm. As we closer to MCO the traffic volume is more substantial, and I almost miss the turnoff for the Terminal B Rental Car lots. My mind is still back in the parks Im not ready to go home Cant we stay? Awww
Navigating to the National area is not as easy as I would like - it might be quite tame, but today's situation just makes it seem tougher.
We get the car checked back in, and lug the bags back toward the terminal - I can't see a luggage cart anywhere! I feel like a mule!
I can really feel the stress building as we naviagte the terminal for the NorthWest counter.
Why is it always soo far away?
There are alot of people in here this morning! Wow!
We use the computer E-ticket check-in very smooth- except that you need to place the bags on the service counter, get them tagged, and then haul them around to security. Again probably not a big deal in reality - just seems like it today...
Auntie K gets her bag tagged and is a little ways behind us in line. Again...
Hope she ditched the produce this time!The checked bags get screened quickly - we move like cattle into lines for carry-on x-ray - Auntie K scrambles to get her film out of her carry-on just in time! I swear she's going to have a nervous breakdown! At least she's not cursing!
Some people are removing their shoes - is this what flyig has become after 9/11? We go through without any problems. Now its time to find a snack and some gum - DW is certain its going to be rough taking off.
DS and I stay on the bench while Auntie K and DW get muffins.
10:15 we head for Gate 36, and find seats while Auntie K finds a washroom again - can you say small bladder?
All the TV's in the waiting areas are tuned to CNN and Sadam's capture. Reality hits us hard. We haven't seen real news (other than the Times Guides
) all week - its been heaven!We board by 10:45 and the plane if full. Its still coming down hard outside. The Pilot gets us out and taxiing down the runway - then cuts the engines!
Oh no!
We turn around and off the runway - I was afraid of this...
Looking out my window I'm watching other planes taxi out and taking off behind us?!?
The pilot gets on the P.A. to say:
"I know you're wondering why we're parked while other planes are taking off - but if you'll look down the runway, you'll see the storm has closed in and blocked the end of the runway. I'm from Orlando, as is the co-pilot, and we know these storms. Give it 4-5 minutes and it'll clear and we'll try it again. I don't know if you noticed when you boarded, but I've got some grey in my hair and I'm old school - I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air than being in the air wishing I was on the ground! We'll wait this out and then take off and give you the best possible flight we can."
All-righty then!
True to his word, the storm moves, the runway clears, and we take off- its still pouring out, but no problems lifting off. We get rerouted slightly to avoid the storm- and I get to fulfil a dream, as we fly directly over the Magic Kingdom! and I've got a window seat!
Ds and DW settle in for the turbulence, and we get bumped around a fair bit - and have to fly more easterly to avoid the storm - over Atlanta and Chicago a bit before heading to MSP.
Ds tries to sleep, but he can't. He and I read his 'I Spy' books for most of the flight. They run out of meals for purchase on our flight today by the time they get to us, so we have our pretzels and juice/ Pepsi and arrive in MSP 15 - 20 minutes behind schedule. Deplane into Gate F12.
Our next flight leaves from C20 - thats a good 20 minutes on the people mover to the B/C side of the terminal. We stop at the food court and try some A+W and Godfather's Pizza. A+W not the same here as in Canada - burgers are called differently, and we have better fries (IMHO) While Auntie goes to find gum at the bookstore, I get a picture of DS and his best friends!
Another 5 minutes of people movers and we arrive at our gate.
I'm tired!! And I haven't really been walking!!
We sit across form our gate as its packed full, and the attendant where we sit asks us if we're flying to Bimidji. We inform him of our destination and helets us know they are offering incentives for people to give up their seats on our flight to Winnipeg - as its overbooked!!
Yikes! It's a SMALL plane to begin with!
And I mean small - a SAAB 340 Turbo - seats 30.
They don't make 'em any smaller - unless you're flying bush planes...
DW and DS sit together in 7c+D, Auntie K is in 8A, while I'm in 8C (window - thank God!) beside DoD Maj. Mark Black from Panama City, FL, who is flying into Canada for the first time. He was at the Pentagon for 4 yrs, originally from Montgomery AL. We had a nice chat during the flight.
The Turbo is a loud flight - but not too bad. DS and DW are colouring in his notebook, and about a half hour from Winnipeg, DS starts to lose it!
He's writing a story to go along with the pictures he's drawn, and he's asking Mom how to spell some words as he prints them on the page. "How do you spell 'DIS'?" he asks - and no he's not taklking about the lime-green wearing folk of this fame - he means 'T-H-I-S' but he's pronouncing it 'dis'!
Mom tells him it's "T-H-I-S" but he doesn't like what shes saying!
It should be "D-I-S" etc and KABOOM!!
He loses his mind! He's angry and frustrated and hot and cramped in this tiny plane, and he's not hearing anything she's telling him.
He's on full boil now, and he's hell-bent on being heard!
Mom is trying to get him to quiet down -without causing too much of a scene - it's pst that I'm afarid - everyone has been looking back - remember there's only 30 of us in here...
It was comical at first, but he kept going! It was embarrasing for DW - she couldn't do anything! Then he gets angry because he didn't get to see the Winnipeg lights as we flew in!!
Yeah, Roger Houston - We've got a serious need for some Pixie Dust here? Love ya, mean it DS!!
We deplane onto the tarmack, its -4*C (29*F) as we head into the terminal to clear customs. No problems - except DS being so tired and still pushing the issues!
Our bestest neighbor Laura meets us, we get our luggage and head up to the main floor. People are staring at me and I realize I've still got my Santa Mickey hat on!!
I don't think we're in Disney any more, Toto...
Then its outside to the curb where Laura's husband (bestest neighbour as well) has our van waiting, squeeze evrything in and head home.
Its been a long, long day. We're exhausted, physically and mentally, but still feelin' the Magic inside!
I can't wait to go back!
********
P.S.
I've got one more report left in me for now - a final look back and reflections, stay tuned...
