Any of you still with me this far may be relieved to hear this is the end of the holiday! 
So our last full morning dawned hot and sunny
. Great! Maybe we can chill by the pool this afternoon before packing.
Back to Epcot in time for opening, crowds light, sun shining - what could be better? Hit the first showing of "Honey I shrunk the Audience" (only 3-D Christian was a bit nervous of - that snake and lion are a bit intense!) then moved on to Kodak and the Figment ride, send e-mail home to my Mum with a picture of us all. Tried out some of the sodas in Ice Station Zero (DH and Josef tried the Italian one - perhaps I should have warned them
). Christian wouldn't try any but loved the snowmobile
Took the boat across to the World Showcase to look at some of the tings we missed last time because of the rain. Explored Morocco (and saw Genie and Jafar),
watched the film about France (suddenly homesick for Europe and culture) and went round the Japenese Tin Toy exhibition again - we could see much better without all the crowds and Josef pointed out that a couple of the toys looked like early incarnations of Thunderbirds vehicles - so that's where Gerry Anderson got his inspiration!)
As we approached Norway it started to rain - big fat warm drops, not really unpleasant as it was so hot - so we queued up for Maelstrom again. When we came out it was pelting down, so out with the raingear (my trusty pink Walmart brolly proved inadequate for this downpour!
)
Scuttled over to Mexico to do the ride again - the boys could not be tempted by the restaurant menu, though I'm sure if we'd looked properly we could have found something. Oh well, one for the future. Still pouring when we came out, so we trudged back to do Spaceship Earth again. By the time we came out it had stopped raining but was very windy. Caught the bus back to the hotel to dump our stuff (the buggy ended in the trash - Epcot had finished it off!) and drove to Downtown Disney as I had never managed to get there. Looked round the shops - when we got back my DS told me that there was a free limited edition lithograph if you spent over a certain ammount in World of Disney - wish I'd known, I'd have added the recipe book to the photo frames we bought for our mums
. Decided to eat at Rainforest Cafe as it was our last night - at 5.10 we were told there was a 2 1/2 hour wait for a table, so we left. Drove to Crossroads and ate at Jungle Jims. As we went in a woman was storming out complaining she had waited too long to be served. Maybe that sharpened them up but we had no problems and the food was excellent 
. Then back to the hotel to pack while the kids finished their journals. We had to throw away the old trainers we were wearing as they were saturated - and two weeks of Disney had taken their toll. Even though we had bought an extra suitcase it was very hard to fit everything in - the refillable mugs, Andy's poncho, one Virgin kids pack (and all the eyemasks, socks etc.) and a couple of books were left behind, plus a huge pile of carrier bags (I salvaged a few WDW ones to use for kids presents but wish I'd put more in - just not enough space!). I walked over to Reception to settle the bill, collect our tickets and passports from the safe and take a few pics of the resort at night. When I got back the kids were in bed and we followed.
Last morning
Easter Sunday, but unfortunately no time for the boys to join the candy scramble.
Packed the last few things and ate the remaining doughnuts before heading to Downtown Disney for the Virgin check-in. Hardly anyone there (9.30) although the trucks had quite a few cases in already - its amazing how they pack them in right to the roof! These blokes are strong!!! Very hot and sunny (you can tell we're going home) so all wore shorts with long trousers in a bag with the jumpers to change before the flight. Headed straight to the Contemporary Resort for our Chef Mickey brunch - lucky we left plenty of time as we got a bit tied up at the entrance. If you're going there and want the CR rather than Magic Kingdom, make sure you use the far right ticket booth or you won't be able to take the turning and will end up being funnelled to MK (Also keep your room key available on your last day as you can still use it for free parking everywhere on WDW). Anyway, once around the block and back through the turnstiles and were soon being directed to a space in the CR carpark.
When it was first built it must have been amazing - sadly, CR is now showing its age (and could do with a Peter Jones-type refurb). However, blissful A/C inside and lots of comfy sofas. We were rather early for our PS, so we checked in and then walked around the shops (must say we didn't find one hotel shop which beat the CSR shop for variety and quality of merchandise, plus space and logical layout!). Then sat on lovely squashy leather sofas, kids watching the huge TV, while we waited to be called - exactly on time.
Well, sorry Mickey
but we did not really enjoy ourselves. We had a table over by the wall (where the monorail comes in) and kids form a table nearer the centre kept runing over and standing on tiptoe to see out of the window (lovely view...of the loading bay!). They were quite big kids and noisy, and in the end DH had to ask them please to stop. They did for a few minutes - then continued (but a bit further down!). We were starving, but I didn't want to leave cameras unattended so sent DH and Josef off to fill up first while I tried to get Christian to decide what he wanted (he had been complaining he was hungry). When we went up, he decided on biscuits with butter - then proceeded to leave most of it. I had a selection of breakfasty and lunchy things - all quite nice, but nothing to write home about. Character interaction was poor. No sign of Donald, Goofy was in the lobby when we arrived then disappeared never to be seen again. We were visited by Mickey (Christian decided to wear his grumpy face - Mickey just stood behind him til he thought I'd had long enough and off he went -no tickle or pat or anything).
Minnie was kidnapped by the next table then her handler dragged her off for the "Celebration" (napkin waving) promising to bring her back to us - yup, never seen again. Chip and Pluto did come over, Dale never made it. Christian went to have a look at the desserts, declined to queue for icecream, tried to get me to have a slice of creamy chocolate cake (because it had chocolate Mickey heads on it) then asked for an apple and a banana. I picked them up and a pain au chocolate for me and went back. As soon as we sat down he decided he was full up, so i put them away for later (As soon as we left he asked for them - I think it was just too noisy for him to be hungry!)
Left Chef Mickeys and took the monorail to Magic Kingdom - huge queues outside as expected - then the boat across to the Polynesian. A definite possible for next time (despite the cost) - lovely themeing and beautifully positioned. Then monorail to grand Floridian - just for a nose, no intention of staying. It was very grand, light and airy, but I couldn't see myself staying there (any hotel which has a shop selling bright green trousers embroidered with golfers - a snip at $250! - big no-no!). The guests did seem to be older and golfier generally, but it did look like a nice place for afternoon tea. Then monorail back to Contemporay, collected the car and set of for Animal Kingdom Lodge.
This was lovely - much bigger than it looks in the brochures - although it did seem a little dark inside.We were going to sit down for a nice cold beer, but the casual bar was not open and it looked like the restaurants were between shifts so we decided we might as well head to the airport and eat there.
Should have spent a little more time landside really, but always like to get the security thing over with. Had a very good burger at an Australian place ("Outback"?) with some lovely big beers as no-one was going to be driving for a time. Then found out our flight - already pushed back to 20.40 from 18.40 "because of the one hour time difference in the UK
" had been further delayed to 22.30. NOT happy bunnies. Spent the time reading, complaining we were bored and taking it in turns to walk about. Also visited Duty Free - only found out when we got home that the non-perfume make-up is duty paid so I could have bought more!! As it got nearer 22.00 Christian started to nod and I had to keep him awake - we couldn't carry him AND the hand luggage onto the plane.
Finally took off about 22.40, smooth flight home (Christian asleep before they turned off the seatbelt sign). Culdn't sleep very well as next to galley, but some excellent movies so didn't matter too much. Fairly quick through immigration, and our cases were among the first off (worth checking in early! As our cases were last to be pulled off the van also last to go on the plane!) and we were on our way out of the car park by 14.00 on Easter Monday. Uneventful drive home followed by...unpacking and washing!
So that's it. Trip of a life time over - time to save for another lifetime. Maybe for our Silver Wedding......
So our last full morning dawned hot and sunny
. Great! Maybe we can chill by the pool this afternoon before packing.Back to Epcot in time for opening, crowds light, sun shining - what could be better? Hit the first showing of "Honey I shrunk the Audience" (only 3-D Christian was a bit nervous of - that snake and lion are a bit intense!) then moved on to Kodak and the Figment ride, send e-mail home to my Mum with a picture of us all. Tried out some of the sodas in Ice Station Zero (DH and Josef tried the Italian one - perhaps I should have warned them
). Christian wouldn't try any but loved the snowmobile
Took the boat across to the World Showcase to look at some of the tings we missed last time because of the rain. Explored Morocco (and saw Genie and Jafar),
watched the film about France (suddenly homesick for Europe and culture) and went round the Japenese Tin Toy exhibition again - we could see much better without all the crowds and Josef pointed out that a couple of the toys looked like early incarnations of Thunderbirds vehicles - so that's where Gerry Anderson got his inspiration!)
As we approached Norway it started to rain - big fat warm drops, not really unpleasant as it was so hot - so we queued up for Maelstrom again. When we came out it was pelting down, so out with the raingear (my trusty pink Walmart brolly proved inadequate for this downpour!
)Scuttled over to Mexico to do the ride again - the boys could not be tempted by the restaurant menu, though I'm sure if we'd looked properly we could have found something. Oh well, one for the future. Still pouring when we came out, so we trudged back to do Spaceship Earth again. By the time we came out it had stopped raining but was very windy. Caught the bus back to the hotel to dump our stuff (the buggy ended in the trash - Epcot had finished it off!) and drove to Downtown Disney as I had never managed to get there. Looked round the shops - when we got back my DS told me that there was a free limited edition lithograph if you spent over a certain ammount in World of Disney - wish I'd known, I'd have added the recipe book to the photo frames we bought for our mums
. Decided to eat at Rainforest Cafe as it was our last night - at 5.10 we were told there was a 2 1/2 hour wait for a table, so we left. Drove to Crossroads and ate at Jungle Jims. As we went in a woman was storming out complaining she had waited too long to be served. Maybe that sharpened them up but we had no problems and the food was excellent . Then back to the hotel to pack while the kids finished their journals. We had to throw away the old trainers we were wearing as they were saturated - and two weeks of Disney had taken their toll. Even though we had bought an extra suitcase it was very hard to fit everything in - the refillable mugs, Andy's poncho, one Virgin kids pack (and all the eyemasks, socks etc.) and a couple of books were left behind, plus a huge pile of carrier bags (I salvaged a few WDW ones to use for kids presents but wish I'd put more in - just not enough space!). I walked over to Reception to settle the bill, collect our tickets and passports from the safe and take a few pics of the resort at night. When I got back the kids were in bed and we followed.Last morning
Easter Sunday, but unfortunately no time for the boys to join the candy scramble.
Packed the last few things and ate the remaining doughnuts before heading to Downtown Disney for the Virgin check-in. Hardly anyone there (9.30) although the trucks had quite a few cases in already - its amazing how they pack them in right to the roof! These blokes are strong!!! Very hot and sunny (you can tell we're going home) so all wore shorts with long trousers in a bag with the jumpers to change before the flight. Headed straight to the Contemporary Resort for our Chef Mickey brunch - lucky we left plenty of time as we got a bit tied up at the entrance. If you're going there and want the CR rather than Magic Kingdom, make sure you use the far right ticket booth or you won't be able to take the turning and will end up being funnelled to MK (Also keep your room key available on your last day as you can still use it for free parking everywhere on WDW). Anyway, once around the block and back through the turnstiles and were soon being directed to a space in the CR carpark.
When it was first built it must have been amazing - sadly, CR is now showing its age (and could do with a Peter Jones-type refurb). However, blissful A/C inside and lots of comfy sofas. We were rather early for our PS, so we checked in and then walked around the shops (must say we didn't find one hotel shop which beat the CSR shop for variety and quality of merchandise, plus space and logical layout!). Then sat on lovely squashy leather sofas, kids watching the huge TV, while we waited to be called - exactly on time.
Well, sorry Mickey
but we did not really enjoy ourselves. We had a table over by the wall (where the monorail comes in) and kids form a table nearer the centre kept runing over and standing on tiptoe to see out of the window (lovely view...of the loading bay!). They were quite big kids and noisy, and in the end DH had to ask them please to stop. They did for a few minutes - then continued (but a bit further down!). We were starving, but I didn't want to leave cameras unattended so sent DH and Josef off to fill up first while I tried to get Christian to decide what he wanted (he had been complaining he was hungry). When we went up, he decided on biscuits with butter - then proceeded to leave most of it. I had a selection of breakfasty and lunchy things - all quite nice, but nothing to write home about. Character interaction was poor. No sign of Donald, Goofy was in the lobby when we arrived then disappeared never to be seen again. We were visited by Mickey (Christian decided to wear his grumpy face - Mickey just stood behind him til he thought I'd had long enough and off he went -no tickle or pat or anything).
Minnie was kidnapped by the next table then her handler dragged her off for the "Celebration" (napkin waving) promising to bring her back to us - yup, never seen again. Chip and Pluto did come over, Dale never made it. Christian went to have a look at the desserts, declined to queue for icecream, tried to get me to have a slice of creamy chocolate cake (because it had chocolate Mickey heads on it) then asked for an apple and a banana. I picked them up and a pain au chocolate for me and went back. As soon as we sat down he decided he was full up, so i put them away for later (As soon as we left he asked for them - I think it was just too noisy for him to be hungry!)
Left Chef Mickeys and took the monorail to Magic Kingdom - huge queues outside as expected - then the boat across to the Polynesian. A definite possible for next time (despite the cost) - lovely themeing and beautifully positioned. Then monorail to grand Floridian - just for a nose, no intention of staying. It was very grand, light and airy, but I couldn't see myself staying there (any hotel which has a shop selling bright green trousers embroidered with golfers - a snip at $250! - big no-no!). The guests did seem to be older and golfier generally, but it did look like a nice place for afternoon tea. Then monorail back to Contemporay, collected the car and set of for Animal Kingdom Lodge.
This was lovely - much bigger than it looks in the brochures - although it did seem a little dark inside.We were going to sit down for a nice cold beer, but the casual bar was not open and it looked like the restaurants were between shifts so we decided we might as well head to the airport and eat there.
Should have spent a little more time landside really, but always like to get the security thing over with. Had a very good burger at an Australian place ("Outback"?) with some lovely big beers as no-one was going to be driving for a time. Then found out our flight - already pushed back to 20.40 from 18.40 "because of the one hour time difference in the UK
" had been further delayed to 22.30. NOT happy bunnies. Spent the time reading, complaining we were bored and taking it in turns to walk about. Also visited Duty Free - only found out when we got home that the non-perfume make-up is duty paid so I could have bought more!! As it got nearer 22.00 Christian started to nod and I had to keep him awake - we couldn't carry him AND the hand luggage onto the plane.Finally took off about 22.40, smooth flight home (Christian asleep before they turned off the seatbelt sign). Culdn't sleep very well as next to galley, but some excellent movies so didn't matter too much. Fairly quick through immigration, and our cases were among the first off (worth checking in early! As our cases were last to be pulled off the van also last to go on the plane!) and we were on our way out of the car park by 14.00 on Easter Monday. Uneventful drive home followed by...unpacking and washing!
So that's it. Trip of a life time over - time to save for another lifetime. Maybe for our Silver Wedding......
