Libby's Trip 2009 - Epilogue

[Dimplenose]

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15

Libby’s 2009 Trip – Epilogue

Here are some random jottings and thoughts both good and bad (with some even more random photos!)

We had two interconnecting rooms at All Star Music. This worked brilliantly as we had two bathrooms and two TVs and a little more space than in previous years (apart from the year we had a villa and found out that we prefer hotels!)

DHS was mobbed each day we went there – should have tried on a day with no Fantasmic and no EMH.

We realised just how unimportant plans are once the heat of WDW in August takes over.

We were sad to find that the rides weren’t the best part of the holiday this time.

Due to tiredness and bad timing from mother nature for me and DD we never made it to a water park.

We ate at the food court more than we thought we would – maybe a dining package would have been good value for us.

I hated the sheer terror of driving off WDW property which was not alleviated by DHs reliance on (and belief in) the satnav. I was so, so scared and brethed a sigh of relief once we ere "home" again.

We absolutely loved visiting other resorts. Found out that size does matter! Wouldn’t have wanted to stay at Polynesian or Port Orleans but have fallen in love with the Beach Club.

The lack of quiet things to do in the evening was quite difficult to deal with. We ended up watching a fair amount of TV – having two teenagers with us didn’t help as they didn’t want to do anything after tea.

Rain, rain, rain. We had the longest rain storms of any of our holidays (all in August).

We were amazed by the huge dragonflies everywhere (including squashed on the walkways)

It was fun to dodge the sloshing and dripping water that was being used to wash down the walkways out side the All Star Rooms and then pouring down onto the walkway underneath..

We ate lots and lots of ice cream (mint choc chip, cookie dough and butter pecan.)

Staying one night at Universal Studios for FoTL access was brilliant.

It was funny to see the paper straws at Animal Kingdom were like blow football tubes. There were no straws at all at AK on our previous trips.

The slightly off-putting beige napkins were in use everywhere.

I didn't like seeing the vendors holding mixed balloons at Magic Kingdom. It was more impressive when they were all metallic.

We were all very sad that there is no longer a Virgin Megastore at DTD.

The feeling of disappointment when we realised that we’d done everything that we’d wanted to.

Knowing that if we do ever come back it will never be the same – but then no trip will ever be the same as our very first one in 1998.

The shock of how white the natural light is when we got back to the UK.

Thank you for reading my trip reports and a bigger thank you to anyone who left a comment.

 

[tony64]

Thanks for posting Libby
We have really enjoyed reading your report.
It's got us in the mood for ours.

 

[Dimplenose]

I wish I was going back soon, that feeling of anticipated excitement is almost better than the holiday itself.

 

[MacUK]

Libby, thanks for sharing your holiday with us. I have only skimmed though the previous days so can I ask why so scared about driving off WDW property?

I have followed a few trip reports lately and I am surprised how many people only have cars for a few days of a two week holiday, i had assumed that everyone used a car to get around but obviously not!

Mind you with the amount of shopping we do getting a bus is a not an option!!

 

[Dimplenose]

Libby, thanks for sharing your holiday with us. I have only skimmed though the previous days so can I ask why so scared about driving off WDW property?

It's probably irrational and totally out of proportion but I do get a knot in my stomach from fear. I think there are a number of things that have built up to this

1. I don't feel safe in America - on our first visit when we stayed with friends I was quite happy until one night they were talking about why they kept a gun in the house.

2. When we were dreaming of our first trip to WDW some British tourists were murdered in a Florida layby.

3. On our first visit we drove to Universal Studios along I-Drive and had a laser torch thing aimed at us.

4. When we do get lost it can take miles and miles before we can get right again.

5. It's so easy to get lost as the signs are often right at the junction you need to take.

6. I was hoping the satnav would help - but we got very lost with that too.

Being in WDW is like being in a different country entirely (I think this applies in part to theme parks the world over) as they have their own culture and etiquette and exist purely for the tourists.

I don't get these fears travelling in Europe - as I said probably irrational, but still very real to me.

 

[Ware Bears]

Thanks for sharing these last photos and your thoughts.

Apart from when we took a wrong turning on the way home from Busch Gardens on our first trip and ended up in a very undesirable neighbourhood, I feel safer at night in Florida than I do in daylight in a certain suburb of my hometown.

I think everyone can relate to 'getting lost' ~ on the same first trip we took over 1 1/2 hours to reach our hotel after leaving Magic Kingdom. Now, that I did find very scary ~ I would have flown home there and then if I could have!!

 

[MacUK]

Thanks Libby for your reasons, yes it can be confusing sometimes! Maybe that is why a lot of people use the buses which I have found out recently.

Hope it does not put you off going to the World!