Day 10...our final morning at AKL-
We slept in again (at least by theme park time) and after one final check of our rooms we headed up for our final breakfast in the AKL concierge lounge.
The food was once again filling and good. The views were stunning and the club staff was wonderful.
However, this next encounter has me scratching my head.
One of the CMs who staffed the desk came over with a package for us (it was in a Disney bag) and I thought it must have been something we had sent back from one of the parks earlier in the week. The CM told me she had gotten it back from bell services when they asked her if we had checked out yet that morning. As I said, I was under the impression that it was a package we had sent back from the parks...so when she started going on and on about how nice it was of the lady to leave us a package, I was a bit lost. I kept thinking, yes, but it is her job to bring my purchase to me.
Finally she handed me the package and went back over to her desk. I set the package on the table and finished my breakfast.
Finally we were done eating but not quite ready to move from the lounge yet. It was such a calm, peaceful time, we didn't want it to end. I ended up going over and having a great visit with the concierge CM. I told her we would be sure to be back...and I mean it. AKL is already calling my name so loudly that my ears are ringing!
One of the last things she said to me was how sweet it was that the package was left for me. Again, I smiled and agreed but in my head I was thinking, UH...okay, this CM must really like the other CM.
I was so clueless.
For what would be the last time on this trip we walked out of AKL and made our way to our packed van. *Packed might have been an understated way of putting it at that point* When we climbed in, I handed the package back to "Aladdin" and asked him to find somewhere to stash it. "Aladdin" is obviously more observant then I am...within about 20 seconds of handing him the bag he said "Who is it from?" and handed me a note. DING DING DING DING DING..the light started to dawn for me...this was not a package from the parks. Instead, as I read the note, it all became clear, it was a gift from a very dear sweet DISer. LindaBabe had left us a package of SUPER COOL glowing necklaces, leis and sticks. Now, you must once again remember my delight at things that glow (delight/obsession...either one fits). When I saw a package of glowing goodies, I was smiling from ear to ear. It was a GREAT upper to the downer of leaving AKL, however, I was so sad that it hadn't gotten to me in time for me to find Linda in person and thank her for her kindness. I would have had dh turn the van around, but I knew they were set to depart on Sunday morning as well, and I didn't want to turn back on just the chance that they had not already departed. Which I was pretty sure they had (it was late morning by the time we finally left the lounge).
So...right here...right now...
THANK YOU LINDABABE! You made us all so very happy!!! Just a bit of kindness and thoughtfulness brought us huge smiles and tons of joy!
Finally it made sense to me, the fuss the CM was making over the nice woman who had brought the bag...she had meant LINDA...not the CM!
Following that happy surprise we were back into "trick mode". Dh and I asked the boys if they would mind leaving for home a bit later then we normally would.
As if they were going to mind!! We told them we thought that we might play a round of mini golf and check out a resort or two (to help us make a decision on where to stay next time we came to WDW) before we got on the road.
This surprise in and of itself would have made our boys beyond happy. An extra few hours of soaking up the magic...they were all over that!
Our first stop was at Disney's Winter Summerland Mini Golf. Upon arrival we were all very impressed with the theming!
After a short debate, we decided to go on the winter course. It was a great choice. We had so much fun! On the very first hole, I got a hole in one! I was so excited!
Here are some assorted photos from the very fun course!
Notice the Mickey gingerbread cookie.
I would have taken way more pictures but it was HOT! The course was a ton of fun and makes the must do list for our family, however, I would try to end up there on an overcast day if at all possible. The sun was baking us on the snow.
But the fun we had was worth the heat. Everyone in our group scored a hole in one on at least one hole. "Aladdin" and I both made a hole in one on the secret hole of the day. When you finish the course, you bring your scorecard up to the club return area and they check your score. If you have a hole in one on the secret hole, you get a free fountain drink. That REALLY hit the spot! And everyone got a candy cane. Strange to be sucking on a candy cane in the middle of September in the Florida heat, but oddly fitting as well.
After our golf adventure we asked the boys which two resorts they would like to check out before we took off for home. "Aladdin" picked the Grand Floridian (what would we have done if he hadn't?!) and both "Stitch" and "Goofy" said they wanted to check out the Wilderness Lodge. So...to the Wilderness Lodge we went.
We only have one photo from our exploration there because we ran out of room on our memory stick and the spare ones were packed away in the mounds of luggage in the back of the van. We did, however, have a nice time looking around the "other" WDW lodge.
We also stopped for lunch. We still had a bunch of remaining counter service meals so we used up another meal's worth of them. Dh was happy that the WL had an ice cream machine(why didn't AKL have one of these?). We all enjoyed our lunch there.
Finally, it was time to leave the WL and head over to the Grand Floridian. As we drove, dh whispered to me that we had better tell the kids because the guard would most likely mention it as we drove up. Turns out we had not thought about that. So...dh pulled over (we were still in the WL parking lot at this point) and we let the boys in on our plans for the next week.
The unveiling went something like this:
DH: So do you boys want to bother checking out the GF?
BOYS: YES! YES!! YESSSSSSSSS!
ME: What if we did something different instead?
BOYS: But we really want to see it. And you said we would be able to take ride on the monorail before we left.
ME: Well...okay, I guess we should head over there.
DH: I think I might be too tired to drive home if we stop and visit another place before leaving.
BOYS: Awwww...okay. We understand (what good boys!!). Let's make it the first place we go next time.
ME: I promise. We will make the GF the first stop of our next WDW stay.
DH: (Looking at me) What do you say we make that next stay right now?!
ME: (Looking at the boys) Sure, what do you guys say? Are you up for another week at WDW? This time staying at the Grand Floridian?!
BOYS: Are you joking?
DH and I BOTH: NO!!!
BOYS: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then many whoops and hollers and shrieks of joy. Followed up by a few more "Are you jokings" and more then a few "thank yous" and "I love yous".
Here is the one picture I got (I had to delete another picture on the memory card to even be able to get this one).
Up next...To the GF we go!!
To be continued...
Can't wait to hear about the boys' reactions! Discovery Cove sounds really cool!
Such lucky boys to have a Disney-holic Mommy!! 
What a fantastic surprise......I can't wait to hear about your boy's reactions! It sounds like you've had a magical vacation so far, and it just keeps getting better! 
That surprise was full of chocolaty goodness...at least the few bites I was able to snatch before my family devoured it all. 
That little smiley sort of shows the reaction...except their eyes were not poppin' out from fear but from excited happiness.Can't wait to read about it
! Keep it coming, can't wait to hear of the boys reaction.....one more week, wow!!!
I am usually the one that spills the beans early about everything. If you tell me a secret, I can keep it without a hitch...UNLESS that secret involves a surprise/gift/party of some sort. Then I start to burst at the seams. So this surprise for our boys REALLY tested my ability to keep my mouth shut. 
I was so excited to have the room I had been hoping on getting for months. Once the bags were brought up to the room, we wanted to head out and explore our home for the rest of vacation. On our way out we stopped in the lounge for a quick afternoon snack. Now, the lounge at AKL was one of our favorite spots there...I cannot say the same for the Sugarloaf lounge. It was nice. Sort of homey. Almost like a bed and breakfast. But it was far from filled with the ambiance that defines the Grand Floridian. So, while we enjoyed our time there, it was not a place that drew us to linger. Below you see a picture of dh and the boys snacking while I ran up to grab our other memory card.
