Confessions of a serial tweaker - May 2010 at the Boardwalk CL-*Day 8* Completed

[ClareH37]

Wow - now you are a celebrity!! I would love to meet Deb Willis sometime. You really had a relaxing day even with all that you got accomplished. That Dole Whip looks yummy - I could barely finish mine when I first tried it. I think next time I'd rather try an Orange slushie or something with orange ice cream.

Your bed at BWI looks so inviting!

LOl - if I'd known I was going to appear online I would have put some make up on

I was quite disappointed in the dole whip, an orange slushie sounds a good alternative!

 

[ClareH37]

I woke at 7.00 am and with that horrible sinking feeling in my stomach remembered I was going home today.

By time I got up and showered/dressed it was 8.00 am and I took the short walk over to the lounge for breakfast, the usual affair of gluten free muffin (chocolate this morning), orange juice and chamomile tea followed. I had checked in online the evening before with Virgin Atlantic so no need to go to DownTown Disney to check in.

I was meeting the same Dis ladies as last night for an early lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe so didn't really have a lot of time to hit the parks, with that in mind I started thinking a manicure would be nice, the lovely Lorenzo at the InnKeepers Club contacted the Grand Floridian spa and I was all set for a manicure at 10 am.

I went back to my room to call bell services to collect my luggage and hold it until my town car came at 2 pm, and said goodbye to my wonderful room with a view.

One last stroll outside on the Boardwalk and a very nice gentleman asked if I wanted my photo taken as I was taking a photo of the view.

I hopped in a taxi over to the Grand Floridian Spa, this was my first visit here, it was beautiful.

I was shown into the waiting room, a lounge with dimmed lighting and fruit/beverages, certainly beats a lot of so called spas in the UK (!), I didn't bother changing into one of the fluffy robes as I was only having a manicure and I was wearing a t-shirt. Promptly at 10 am I was collected by my therapist, Chanel (appropriate name lol) and taken into the manicure room, unfortunately no photos permitted here. This was the most thorough (and gentle) manicure I have ever experienced and it all took place with me relaxing in a huge massage chair that sent me to sleep! The manicure took 1 ½ hours as I opted for a citrus paraffin wax treatment too - I'm definitely returning here next year!

Following the treatment I took the short walk back to the Grand Floridian where I was meeting my friends for lunch.

The ladies still had a couple of days left, I on the other hand would be leaving shortly after lunch, how depressing and I was of course feeling downright miserable.

Here's the 3 of us

I really like the Grand Floridian Cafe and the food didn't disappoint. To start I had a caesar salad and for my main I chose the Cobb salad - the bowl is deceiving, it's actually deep and the salad was huge, I didn't even manage half of it.

The ladies had chosen desserts but I had to get back to the Boardwalk to say goodbye to my CM friends before they went on their lunch break, so I said my goodbyes to the ladies and caught a taxi back to the Boardwalk.

It was so sad to say goodbye, the guys at the Boardwalk Inn are very 'special', they are the sort of people who make everyone feel like long lost friends and brightens their day.

With heavy heart I went downstairs to meet my town car and to say goodbye to the Boardwalk Inn.

I was so miserable I didn't even really appreciate what turned up instead of a towncar, and didn't take any photos, but a huge Mercedes limo van 'thing' for just little old me, it had beautiful black leather and walnut interior with 2 huge plasma screens, I sat watching the countdown to the launch of the shuttle and as it took off my driver suddenly wound down the glass partition between us both and told me to look straight ahead and what did I see ..... the shuttle!!! This perked me up no end and I started to snap away (excuse the reflection in the glass - that's from the plasma TV). The magic started to return, what better way to end a holiday then en route to the airport and seeing the shuttle!

The drive didn't take long and I was soon at MCO being greeted with a shambles at check-in, I was travelling Upper Class but instead of a seemlessly smooth check-in, everything ground to a halt, other passengers were in the wrong line and it was basicallya mess. However, 20 minutes later I had deposited my bags, got my boarding pass/lounge invite and was on my way through security. Security also had huge lines but I bypassed them by using the 'expert' traveller line and was soon ensconsed in a comfortable arm chair in the Delta Air Lounge, again plugged into my ipod and accessing the free wi-fi using my iphone. A gin and tonic helped me relax

The flight was full, 454 passengers and 14 crew, nothing really to report on the flight, I was in my 'usual' seat 12A, I didn't really fancy anything off the menu for dinner so had a bowl of cornflakes and a glass of champagne, quite a rough flight with lots of turbulance but a strong tail wind meant we landed early and the flight was only about 7 1/2 hours long (excellent result!), although we did take a strange route right up towards Iceland where *that* volcano was still erupting.

Landed safely and through passport control with no wait at all, luggage was also on the baggage carousel so no wait there either.

Last year was a tough year so this trip had special meaning to me, it was something I had to do, but I had a wonderful time, this trip exceeded all my expectations and any apprehensiveness I had about travelling solo soon went out the window, it was one of the best trips, if not the best, I have ever taken and I can't wait to return next year. However, and a big however, I have decided not to return to the Boardwalk Inn as I really do not think anything can replicate this year's trip and I don't want to be disappointed, particularly if I didn't get such a superb view.

Thank you for reading along and I hope you've enjoyed my adventure.

And a big thank you (again) to one special Dis'er (you know who you are!) for helping making this trip so special

*** The End ***​

 

[jackemail]

Thanks for the wonderful reports and photos, Clare....and we'll see about you not returning to the BWI, such a special place!

 

[nascargirl]

Like Jackemail said...I bet you will return. Way to go on your trip report.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Hi Clare it's Ruthie, I met you so sadly very briefly at the Dis Meet at the BCV
on the 11th (I'm on the right hand side in your pic..sitting on the rocks) I enjoyed reading your TR (sorry you had to go to the hospital and glad you're ok) your pics are wonderful. Please keep in touch and next time you come I would love to go to some of the parks with you

 

[ClareH37]

I have to say that although at this time I am planning on another trip .... well, you know how things can change

Hi Clare it's Ruthie, I met you so sadly very briefly at the Dis Meet at the BCV
on the 11th (I'm on the right hand side in your pic..sitting on the rocks) I enjoyed reading your TR (sorry you had to go to the hospital and glad you're ok) your pics are wonderful. Please keep in touch and next time you come I would love to go to some of the parks with you

Hi Ruthie I'm so glad you posted as I forgot your user name! I will most definitely keep in touch, my next trip isn't for ages (December 2011) but it'll be good to meet again.

 

[scottmel]

Oh clare I know that feeling of utter dread leaving....i remember last year being so depressed the day we got home but within a few days the old routine kicked in and disney was a distant memory, sadly!!! I haven't even starting PACKING yet for my trip in 2 weeks but am already fretting about coming home. such anticipation, such work, such excitement and then poof all gone....But i am really really looking forward to YC. your trip report helped clear me of BWI blues b/c the food offerings would not have gone over well here but I am so glad you enjoyed them!!!

Fantatic report!! You inspired me to do one when i get home!!
On our final day - we leave for Universal after breakfast - but we wanted to do a different breakfast on our last day. I have never had GrandFloridan Cafe or kona cafe....for any meal....Do you prefer one over the other? thanks! melissa

 

[ClareH37]

You must do a report Melissa, I'm so keen to know what you think of the YC CL as I've booked there for next year (that could of course change though lol)

I love the GF Cafe, the food has never disappointed - I can't comment on Kona as I've never made it there, I was all set to eat there for lunch this year but never made it.

LOL re. the BWI food offerings and glad that cleared your blues away

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks for the great TR Clare. I really enjoyed the food porn and seeing WDW from a single's perspective.

Keep in touch and I hope that we get to cross paths again sometime.

 

[lovesdumbo]

LOVED your TR!!!!

I have decided not to return to the Boardwalk Inn as I really do not think anything can replicate this year's trip and I don't want to be disappointed, particularly if I didn't get such a superb view.

Ha....I won't believe this until I read your next TR and see photos of a different resort.

 

[ClareH37]

Thanks for the great TR Clare. I really enjoyed the food porn and seeing WDW from a single's perspective.

Keep in touch and I hope that we get to cross paths again sometime.

Thanks - will keep in touch, it was great meeting

LOVED your TR!!!!

Ha....I won't believe this until I read your next TR and see photos of a different resort.

LOL - but seriously I really have paid my deposit for the YC CL in December 2011 (I book through Disney UK), now of course it's only a minimal deposit and there is always an opportunity to tweak ....

 

[nascargirl]

Now Clare you did that for this trip as well and we all know how that turned out don't we

 

[ClareH37]

Now Clare you did that for this trip as well and we all know how that turned out don't we

LOL - even my family are betting it's going to change

 

[Dizneydawn]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your reviews of BWI CL. Planning on staying in October and you have squelched any fears I had.

Great luck on the Illuminations cruise!!!

I too have been at the Celebration Hospital - My wait took forever and was brought by ambulance! I was also shocked by the procedure of seeing a doctor, then having to leave a private room and going to a second waiting room with everyone hooked up to IV's and such.

In Minnesota, once you have a private room you stay there till you are released!

Anyway - You also have sold me on trying the Flying Fish for the steak. I am not a seafood fan and love a good steak!

Fantastic pics and a thoroughly enjoyable TR!

 

[ClareH37]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your reviews of BWI CL. Planning on staying in October and you have squelched any fears I had.

Great luck on the Illuminations cruise!!!

I too have been at the Celebration Hospital - My wait took forever and was brought by ambulance! I was also shocked by the procedure of seeing a doctor, then having to leave a private room and going to a second waiting room with everyone hooked up to IV's and such.

In Minnesota, once you have a private room you stay there till you are released!

Anyway - You also have sold me on trying the Flying Fish for the steak. I am not a seafood fan and love a good steak!

Fantastic pics and a thoroughly enjoyable TR!

Thanks

I'm glad you're OK with the BWI CL now, it really is wonderful, I'm also glad you're trying FF - OMG, I just loved that place!

I was very shocked and surprised at that room at Celebration, there were only about 6 other people in then when I was moved there, but no privacy at all, and when the dr. came into give any news they saw the 'patient' on a seat behind a curtain in the room, unbelievable, especially for one poor lady who was informed she'd lost her baby!