SuAnne
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 9, 1999
- Messages
- 415
Our flight was at 12:15 so Jim from Golden was coming to pick us up at 10:00am. We had time to finish up our packing, say goodbye to our animal friends off the balcony and I made some popcorn for the girls for the plane.
Jim was out front to meet us at 9:45 and that limo ride back to the airport isnt nearly as exciting on the way back to the airport. Alli had yet another snooze.
Check in at the airport was quick and we were through security in no time. Stopped to have a look in the Duty Free store, but we were all shopped out.
The girls had a bite to eat since they wouldnt be getting a meal on the flight and then it was time to board. Our flight was right on time and again I had a lovely meal in business class salmon, while the girls had a feast on their popcorn back in Hospitality. We watched Shek2 on the way home, which made the time fly by.
Had a bit of a hassle at Canadian customs with an over zealous summer student customs agent who gave me the third degree about traveling alone with the girls. I had to show him my divorce certificate that states I have sole custody of Hayley ,as well as the letter of permission I had from my sister to travel with Alli. I was able to leave the country with the kids but coming back was the problem???? Thanks goodness I had all the documentaion I needed! After satisfying Mr. Officious that I wasnt a child snatcher we were on our way. We left Alli with my sister in Toronto and Hayley and I continued on with our connecting flight back to London and we were in the door by 5:30pm.
Final Thoughts
I will post a link to my pictures once I have them organized.
AKL was beautiful. The sights and smells just cant be beat and Ive never felt such a feeling of such complete relaxation when coming back to the hotel after visiting the parks. The savannas and the animals so serene and peaceful, the lobby breathtaking, the rooms warm and inviting. The smells that will leave a lasting memory are the smells of Boma, the smell of the wood fireplace at Jiko, the smell of the spa and the smell of the warm Florida morning out on the balcony.
I think we were spoiled with our upgrade to a savanna room. We really did spend a lot of time on our balcony just relaxing and watching the animals so I would definitely recommend a savanna view room if you are going to be spending time at the resort. Having said that though, there are many beautiful places around the hotel that you can watch the animals from.
The only thing that was a bit annoying were the number of people who were very loud when out on their balconies. I noticed this much more this year than last year. This wasnt excited kids either, it was adults talking loudly on cell phones, people mooing at the ankole cattle , and yelling at the animals to say cheese. I told the girls that the savanna was the home for these animals and we needed to be respectful of that when out on the balcony by being very quiet. It was really distracting to be out on the balcony enjoying the peace and serenity of watching the animals grazing , to have some buffoon come out on their balcony and start pounding on the balcony railing and yelling Say Cheese to the giraffes. Because the savannas are so quiet the sound really seemed to carry. Thankfully though ,those incidents were few and far between.
Well the summer is coming to an end and its back to school tomorrow for Hayley and back to work for me. Its always sad when a trip to Disney is over, but Ive now started to look at it that is isnt the end of a trip, but the start of planning for another trip.
Thanks for reading along, and again so many thanks to everyone on the DIS Boards for their sharing of information which has been invaluable in planning all of our trips over the past years.
I would like to dedicate this trip report to my Aunt Marjorie (CheeWee) was passed away peacefully last Wednesday after a 9 month battle with cancer , with my mom and my other aunt by her side. Although she was 70 years old, she was taken from us too soon. She was a lady who would always give you her last penny and her uniqueness and humor will live on in our hearts.
I would also like to send my heartfelt thought and prayers to everyone in Florida who has been impacted by hurricanes Charlie and Frances.
Special prayers to EmmasGrammy and their family for God to give them strength during this time of their unfathomable tragedy, and for a miracle for baby Sophie.
I feel so blessed that we have been able to experience the magic of a Disney vacation so many times with our loved ones. Each time we come home saying it was our best trip ever. It is truly is the most magical place on earth which creates memories that last a lifetime.
Jim was out front to meet us at 9:45 and that limo ride back to the airport isnt nearly as exciting on the way back to the airport. Alli had yet another snooze.
Check in at the airport was quick and we were through security in no time. Stopped to have a look in the Duty Free store, but we were all shopped out.
The girls had a bite to eat since they wouldnt be getting a meal on the flight and then it was time to board. Our flight was right on time and again I had a lovely meal in business class salmon, while the girls had a feast on their popcorn back in Hospitality. We watched Shek2 on the way home, which made the time fly by.
Had a bit of a hassle at Canadian customs with an over zealous summer student customs agent who gave me the third degree about traveling alone with the girls. I had to show him my divorce certificate that states I have sole custody of Hayley ,as well as the letter of permission I had from my sister to travel with Alli. I was able to leave the country with the kids but coming back was the problem???? Thanks goodness I had all the documentaion I needed! After satisfying Mr. Officious that I wasnt a child snatcher we were on our way. We left Alli with my sister in Toronto and Hayley and I continued on with our connecting flight back to London and we were in the door by 5:30pm.
Final Thoughts
I will post a link to my pictures once I have them organized.
AKL was beautiful. The sights and smells just cant be beat and Ive never felt such a feeling of such complete relaxation when coming back to the hotel after visiting the parks. The savannas and the animals so serene and peaceful, the lobby breathtaking, the rooms warm and inviting. The smells that will leave a lasting memory are the smells of Boma, the smell of the wood fireplace at Jiko, the smell of the spa and the smell of the warm Florida morning out on the balcony.
I think we were spoiled with our upgrade to a savanna room. We really did spend a lot of time on our balcony just relaxing and watching the animals so I would definitely recommend a savanna view room if you are going to be spending time at the resort. Having said that though, there are many beautiful places around the hotel that you can watch the animals from.
The only thing that was a bit annoying were the number of people who were very loud when out on their balconies. I noticed this much more this year than last year. This wasnt excited kids either, it was adults talking loudly on cell phones, people mooing at the ankole cattle , and yelling at the animals to say cheese. I told the girls that the savanna was the home for these animals and we needed to be respectful of that when out on the balcony by being very quiet. It was really distracting to be out on the balcony enjoying the peace and serenity of watching the animals grazing , to have some buffoon come out on their balcony and start pounding on the balcony railing and yelling Say Cheese to the giraffes. Because the savannas are so quiet the sound really seemed to carry. Thankfully though ,those incidents were few and far between.
Well the summer is coming to an end and its back to school tomorrow for Hayley and back to work for me. Its always sad when a trip to Disney is over, but Ive now started to look at it that is isnt the end of a trip, but the start of planning for another trip.
Thanks for reading along, and again so many thanks to everyone on the DIS Boards for their sharing of information which has been invaluable in planning all of our trips over the past years.
I would like to dedicate this trip report to my Aunt Marjorie (CheeWee) was passed away peacefully last Wednesday after a 9 month battle with cancer , with my mom and my other aunt by her side. Although she was 70 years old, she was taken from us too soon. She was a lady who would always give you her last penny and her uniqueness and humor will live on in our hearts.
I would also like to send my heartfelt thought and prayers to everyone in Florida who has been impacted by hurricanes Charlie and Frances.
Special prayers to EmmasGrammy and their family for God to give them strength during this time of their unfathomable tragedy, and for a miracle for baby Sophie.
I feel so blessed that we have been able to experience the magic of a Disney vacation so many times with our loved ones. Each time we come home saying it was our best trip ever. It is truly is the most magical place on earth which creates memories that last a lifetime.
