DAY 19 - MONDAY
Awake at 07.30 today - quite excited at the prospect of another day in the parks.
Blimey! - Is it really 19 days ago that we left home? I know I said that I wished we could come for 3 weeks but I never thought that we would!
I phone Travel City Direct's office and - bad news - there are definitely no flights today. They have no aircraft in Sanford yet - they have to come over from the UK first and they still haven't got clearance to take off as yet. The good news is that the parks are open today so - we can use our last day on our 10 day Disney tickets.
I run down to the check in desk to book us in for one more night - actually - that's a bit of an exaggeration - I can't run anymore - too many crisps, sweets, ice creams, cookies, chocolate, Twinkies, Zingers, Talcum powder donuts, little pineapple cheesecakes with white chocolate bases etc etc. I couldnt' run very well before coming out here but now - I recon I have gained about 10 pounds over the last two weeks. I don't care though - I'm on holiday so I'll worry about it when I get back home.
Another night in the Animal kingdom Lodge is confirmed at the desk - no charge - TCD are picking up the bill - YEEHAA!
We do a DIY breakfast in the Mara - toast and coffee (it's free in those refillable mugs you know!). Then we trudge over to the car park to see if "Happy" has managed to tread water over the last 48 hours. He seems OK - no fish leap out when I open the door! We drive over to the Travelodge to pick up DS1 & DGF. Their hotel transport is not up and running yet so we offer to drive them up to Universal Studios and while they are there we go for a spot of retail therapy on International Drive.
There are not really many signs of hurricane damage - we got off very lightly around here.
We drop them off at the Universal gates and arrange to pick them up at 3.30pm.
Belz is mostly open but again we don't find anything that takes our fancy. T J Maxx is in a bit of trouble - the whole roof felt is hanging over the front of the building and as we take a closer look we can see staff inside with mops and buckets! I bet there will be some bargains to be had in there in a couple of days time!
Bed Bath and Beyond is our destination again and we grab a few goodies from here. We have a wander around a few more outlets before driving down to the Lake Buena Vista Factory shops. Unfortunately a lot of these are closed - including the Disney shop which DD in particular wanted to go to. Oh well. We lunch at McDonald's (I know - AGAIN!) and then drive back up to Universal to pick up DS1 & DGF. I'm a bit worried that they will not have had enough time in there today but as we pull up - they are just coming out and are delighted to report that the park was very quiet and they have done all the big rides - Mummy, Jaws, Back to the Future, Men in Black, Shrek 4D etc etc.
We drive back to the Travelodge via International Drive South and there is quite a bit of damage along the more exposed parts - trees down - roofs off - and power cables down.
After dropping off DS1 & DGF we head straight to Magic kingdom. We park "Happy" in a goofy space! And catch the "rocket powered golf buggy" to the TTC. Guess who's driving? Yup - it's Pedro again! He recognises me instantly (!) and starts to speak in Mexicaneese again! His side-kick Gonzales is also chipping in with some Latin-American banter but who knows what they are on about! I nod and thank him for his kind words as we depart and he reciprocates with a nonchalant wave of his arm. He seemed to be reminding me of the fact that we need to put two fingers in the machine at the entrance! Yeah Thanks .I Know. I show him my two finger so that he knows that I understood! Nice bloke but needs to work on his English.
We decide to get the Monorail there and will come back on the boat. Just as we get to the platform - a train pulls in and I suddenly remember the tip about asking if we can sit with the driver. "Sure you can Sir" says the young lady who is directing the passengers on board. WOW! RESULT! We get a spectacular view as we go to the park - I would thoroughly recommend trying this - it's great. As we depart - the driver gives us each a little credit card sized ticket as a memento.
The park was eerily quiet - this is Labour Day - it's supposed to be one of the busiest days of the year and yet the park is deserted. FANTASTIC!'
Every ride is a walk on. Splash, BTMR, Country Bears, Magic Carpet, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear. We are on a roll now and can't stop. We pause for some soup and fries in Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe before the next leg - Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's Filmharmagic, Snow White, The Teacups (first time on these - it's usually packed!), and finally Goofy's Barnstormer. Wow - what an evening and what a fantastic way to end the holiday!
We stroll back down Mainstreet through the shops. The kids have one last cookies and cream ice cream. Wistfully we look back up the street to the castle and say a sad farewell. Today has been a real "bonus" that we were never expecting but it's still horrible to think we are actually going home tomorrow. Animal Kingdom Lodge has really become "home" to us now and it's going to be very difficult to leave......Oh blimey....here we go......change the subject quick before I start to blub!
We catch the boat back to the TTC and then stop at the dock to watch Wishes for the last time. There is a great view from here - it's not the same atmosphere as being in the park but the view of the fireworks over the castle is brilliant. There is also the added advantage of being ahead of the "throng" and we are out of the car park in "Happy" before you can say something long winded and boring! (What do you mean "Makes a change"?)
Back at AKL I don the mugs and get the coffee's in (did I mention that they are free?) and we get to bed after DW has packed most of the room away in the suitcases.
The Bay News Nine Bloke is now bragging about hurricane Ivan being a massive storm - breaking all records and a big problem for Florida again! Don't they have anything else to talk about?
Night all -
I dream of coming back here next year maybe- if theres anything left!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Awake at 07.30 today - quite excited at the prospect of another day in the parks.
Blimey! - Is it really 19 days ago that we left home? I know I said that I wished we could come for 3 weeks but I never thought that we would!
I phone Travel City Direct's office and - bad news - there are definitely no flights today. They have no aircraft in Sanford yet - they have to come over from the UK first and they still haven't got clearance to take off as yet. The good news is that the parks are open today so - we can use our last day on our 10 day Disney tickets.
I run down to the check in desk to book us in for one more night - actually - that's a bit of an exaggeration - I can't run anymore - too many crisps, sweets, ice creams, cookies, chocolate, Twinkies, Zingers, Talcum powder donuts, little pineapple cheesecakes with white chocolate bases etc etc. I couldnt' run very well before coming out here but now - I recon I have gained about 10 pounds over the last two weeks. I don't care though - I'm on holiday so I'll worry about it when I get back home.
Another night in the Animal kingdom Lodge is confirmed at the desk - no charge - TCD are picking up the bill - YEEHAA!
We do a DIY breakfast in the Mara - toast and coffee (it's free in those refillable mugs you know!). Then we trudge over to the car park to see if "Happy" has managed to tread water over the last 48 hours. He seems OK - no fish leap out when I open the door! We drive over to the Travelodge to pick up DS1 & DGF. Their hotel transport is not up and running yet so we offer to drive them up to Universal Studios and while they are there we go for a spot of retail therapy on International Drive.
There are not really many signs of hurricane damage - we got off very lightly around here.
We drop them off at the Universal gates and arrange to pick them up at 3.30pm.
Belz is mostly open but again we don't find anything that takes our fancy. T J Maxx is in a bit of trouble - the whole roof felt is hanging over the front of the building and as we take a closer look we can see staff inside with mops and buckets! I bet there will be some bargains to be had in there in a couple of days time!
Bed Bath and Beyond is our destination again and we grab a few goodies from here. We have a wander around a few more outlets before driving down to the Lake Buena Vista Factory shops. Unfortunately a lot of these are closed - including the Disney shop which DD in particular wanted to go to. Oh well. We lunch at McDonald's (I know - AGAIN!) and then drive back up to Universal to pick up DS1 & DGF. I'm a bit worried that they will not have had enough time in there today but as we pull up - they are just coming out and are delighted to report that the park was very quiet and they have done all the big rides - Mummy, Jaws, Back to the Future, Men in Black, Shrek 4D etc etc.
We drive back to the Travelodge via International Drive South and there is quite a bit of damage along the more exposed parts - trees down - roofs off - and power cables down.
After dropping off DS1 & DGF we head straight to Magic kingdom. We park "Happy" in a goofy space! And catch the "rocket powered golf buggy" to the TTC. Guess who's driving? Yup - it's Pedro again! He recognises me instantly (!) and starts to speak in Mexicaneese again! His side-kick Gonzales is also chipping in with some Latin-American banter but who knows what they are on about! I nod and thank him for his kind words as we depart and he reciprocates with a nonchalant wave of his arm. He seemed to be reminding me of the fact that we need to put two fingers in the machine at the entrance! Yeah Thanks .I Know. I show him my two finger so that he knows that I understood! Nice bloke but needs to work on his English.
We decide to get the Monorail there and will come back on the boat. Just as we get to the platform - a train pulls in and I suddenly remember the tip about asking if we can sit with the driver. "Sure you can Sir" says the young lady who is directing the passengers on board. WOW! RESULT! We get a spectacular view as we go to the park - I would thoroughly recommend trying this - it's great. As we depart - the driver gives us each a little credit card sized ticket as a memento.
The park was eerily quiet - this is Labour Day - it's supposed to be one of the busiest days of the year and yet the park is deserted. FANTASTIC!'
Every ride is a walk on. Splash, BTMR, Country Bears, Magic Carpet, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear. We are on a roll now and can't stop. We pause for some soup and fries in Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe before the next leg - Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's Filmharmagic, Snow White, The Teacups (first time on these - it's usually packed!), and finally Goofy's Barnstormer. Wow - what an evening and what a fantastic way to end the holiday!
We stroll back down Mainstreet through the shops. The kids have one last cookies and cream ice cream. Wistfully we look back up the street to the castle and say a sad farewell. Today has been a real "bonus" that we were never expecting but it's still horrible to think we are actually going home tomorrow. Animal Kingdom Lodge has really become "home" to us now and it's going to be very difficult to leave......Oh blimey....here we go......change the subject quick before I start to blub!
We catch the boat back to the TTC and then stop at the dock to watch Wishes for the last time. There is a great view from here - it's not the same atmosphere as being in the park but the view of the fireworks over the castle is brilliant. There is also the added advantage of being ahead of the "throng" and we are out of the car park in "Happy" before you can say something long winded and boring! (What do you mean "Makes a change"?)
Back at AKL I don the mugs and get the coffee's in (did I mention that they are free?) and we get to bed after DW has packed most of the room away in the suitcases.
The Bay News Nine Bloke is now bragging about hurricane Ivan being a massive storm - breaking all records and a big problem for Florida again! Don't they have anything else to talk about?
Night all -
I dream of coming back here next year maybe- if theres anything left!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
