DAY 20 TUESDAY
Wake at 8.00am - very subdued - TCD flight is confirmed for 19.00pm today.
Well - the day I've been dreading has finally arrived - HOME!
I suppose my mum would say "All good things must come to an end" but quite frankly - my question is - WHY MUST THEY? If they are that good then surely they should simply continue. Why should I go back to the "hum-drum" life back in the UK when this "fantasy" continues for others in my absence? What am I talking about? I don't know! All I know is that I would love to stay here a bit longer - sure - we would probably get bored after a while (maybe a year or two!) but I get bored at home so what's the difference? I suppose it boils down to money (as usual) or should I say - the lack of it! Never mind - there's always next year!
DW is packing like a demon so I do the decent thing and leave her to get on with it! No - seriously - it's for the best you know. Anyway - I go and get the refillable mugs refilled (did I mention......yes I think I probably did!). It feels like moving house now - we've been here so long I have really become attached to the AKL. The music - the smell - the atmosphere - the four of us all crammed into one room (well - maybe not that bit!).
After checking the room and then re-checking and then DW checking properly (because of course - when I check I do it in the dark with a blindfold on dont I?) we agree that we have everything packed and ready to go.
One last refillable coffee - I told you we would get our moneys worth out of these!
We struggle down to the lobby with our clobber and go to the desk to check out. The nice lady behind the desk wishes us well for our onward journey and invites us to come back soon. "How about tonight?" I enquire - "Is that soon enough?" - Once again - my English humour is lost on this Trans-Atlantic cousin!
The charge left on the bill to pay is a grand total of $16.50 (or phone calls).
$16.50 for four extra nights in a first class hotel - now THATS what I call a bargain!
We clamber into "Happy" and drive through the AKL gates for the last time. Our destination is the Travelodge to drop off all the food and drink we have left over to our DS1 & DGF. Unfortunately they are not there and we have to leave a note under their door and leave the bags at reception for them. They have gone to Busch Gardens today - lucky people!
We decide to hit the $1.99 shops to rid ourselves of all the loose change that we have accumulated over the last 19 days. I purchase some fake aftershave (for when I have a fake shave I suppose!) and the obligatory pens, key rings and postcards. Then it's the "last supper" at IHOP - LOVELY! - $34.00 including drinks and tip - stunning value.
We set off for Sanford at about 1.30pm (for our 19.00pm flight! - well we don't want to be late do we?). It takes about an hour to get there but we are met at the entrance by a security guard who asks "What time is your flight". "19.00" I say in my most apologetic voice! We are turned away - the airport is just too busy. I guess that the world and his wife are there today trying to get home. I wish the world would leave his wife at home on occasions like this!
We drive on past the airport and find a few shops. After a browse of a couple of supermarkets and a coffee in Burger King (they refused to fill my refillable mugs - how rude!) we make back for Sanford. This time we are let in and drive up to the Dollar Rental station. We unpack and have to say a sad goodbye to "Happy". He has done well for us - especially as the load he lugged around has increased on a daily basis! "FAREWELL HAPPY"
The queue in side the airport is a scrum! Eventually we are moving and swapping hurricane stories with our fellow Brits. It soon becomes apparent that we were very lucky to be where we were. There are numerous "horror stories" and accounts of people who had to move hotels - were kicked out of villas and generally had a nightmare during the last four days.
Through to the departure lounge and are forced to pay for more coffee! We are called to board at about 18.45 and the plane takes off at 19.40. The flight is pretty uneventful and is a very swift 7.45 hours. The films are - actually - I can't remember them at all! Oh well - must be the old age or something!
The usual fight at Gatwick ensues to try to collect our suitcases.
WHINGE ALERT!
Why Oh Why - do the whole family have to stand around the carousel in order to get the cases? Wouldn't it be more sensible for one or two of the strongest members to go and collect the bags while the others stand back and wait? But - Oh no! The wife, kids, grandparents and assorted pets all gather around like some demented contestants on the Generation Game - perhaps they think that they have to memorise all of the items going past them - that must be really difficult - "a suitcase - another suitcase - another one - another one - another one" As you probably have gathered - this drives me crazy! When you do manage to spot your case through the masses then you almost have to fight your way to the conveyor belt with various "Tut"'s and "well really"'s as you excuse yourself to the point of distraction! (moaning session concluded!)
We board the train back home and phone the "outlaws" to cadge a lift home from the station.
Back to their house first for a much needed cup of tea. "Just put one in here for later please" I ask - handing over my refillable mug. "On your Bike!" comes the polite reply! Oh well - good to be back!
Well dear readers - if you have struggled through all of this "drivel" then you are certainly made of stern stuff and I thank you from the bottom of my refillable mug!
I hope to be able to post these reports on our brand new website - www.dodisney.info which should be up and running in the New Year (2005) if my DS pulls his finger out and can stop playing games on his new laptop and do something useful for a change! Just kidding - he has done a great job with the site and hopefully it will become another useful tool for us "planners" who are addicted to all things Disney. We will try to host various trip reports and information for people and - who knows - maybe in a few years - we may be able to rival the Dis and the Dibb!
I hope you enjoyed my somewhat lengthy accounts of our holiday and if you want more of the same then - we are stating all over again in August 2005 - but this time - the in-laws are coming that should make for some interesting reading! (See trip reports 2002)
Good luck with your trips - and if you see "Happy" - say Hi to him for me!
Until the next time -
Foot note 1 x more to go .
Wake at 8.00am - very subdued - TCD flight is confirmed for 19.00pm today.
Well - the day I've been dreading has finally arrived - HOME!
I suppose my mum would say "All good things must come to an end" but quite frankly - my question is - WHY MUST THEY? If they are that good then surely they should simply continue. Why should I go back to the "hum-drum" life back in the UK when this "fantasy" continues for others in my absence? What am I talking about? I don't know! All I know is that I would love to stay here a bit longer - sure - we would probably get bored after a while (maybe a year or two!) but I get bored at home so what's the difference? I suppose it boils down to money (as usual) or should I say - the lack of it! Never mind - there's always next year!
DW is packing like a demon so I do the decent thing and leave her to get on with it! No - seriously - it's for the best you know. Anyway - I go and get the refillable mugs refilled (did I mention......yes I think I probably did!). It feels like moving house now - we've been here so long I have really become attached to the AKL. The music - the smell - the atmosphere - the four of us all crammed into one room (well - maybe not that bit!).
After checking the room and then re-checking and then DW checking properly (because of course - when I check I do it in the dark with a blindfold on dont I?) we agree that we have everything packed and ready to go.
One last refillable coffee - I told you we would get our moneys worth out of these!
We struggle down to the lobby with our clobber and go to the desk to check out. The nice lady behind the desk wishes us well for our onward journey and invites us to come back soon. "How about tonight?" I enquire - "Is that soon enough?" - Once again - my English humour is lost on this Trans-Atlantic cousin!
The charge left on the bill to pay is a grand total of $16.50 (or phone calls).
$16.50 for four extra nights in a first class hotel - now THATS what I call a bargain!
We clamber into "Happy" and drive through the AKL gates for the last time. Our destination is the Travelodge to drop off all the food and drink we have left over to our DS1 & DGF. Unfortunately they are not there and we have to leave a note under their door and leave the bags at reception for them. They have gone to Busch Gardens today - lucky people!
We decide to hit the $1.99 shops to rid ourselves of all the loose change that we have accumulated over the last 19 days. I purchase some fake aftershave (for when I have a fake shave I suppose!) and the obligatory pens, key rings and postcards. Then it's the "last supper" at IHOP - LOVELY! - $34.00 including drinks and tip - stunning value.
We set off for Sanford at about 1.30pm (for our 19.00pm flight! - well we don't want to be late do we?). It takes about an hour to get there but we are met at the entrance by a security guard who asks "What time is your flight". "19.00" I say in my most apologetic voice! We are turned away - the airport is just too busy. I guess that the world and his wife are there today trying to get home. I wish the world would leave his wife at home on occasions like this!
We drive on past the airport and find a few shops. After a browse of a couple of supermarkets and a coffee in Burger King (they refused to fill my refillable mugs - how rude!) we make back for Sanford. This time we are let in and drive up to the Dollar Rental station. We unpack and have to say a sad goodbye to "Happy". He has done well for us - especially as the load he lugged around has increased on a daily basis! "FAREWELL HAPPY"
The queue in side the airport is a scrum! Eventually we are moving and swapping hurricane stories with our fellow Brits. It soon becomes apparent that we were very lucky to be where we were. There are numerous "horror stories" and accounts of people who had to move hotels - were kicked out of villas and generally had a nightmare during the last four days.
Through to the departure lounge and are forced to pay for more coffee! We are called to board at about 18.45 and the plane takes off at 19.40. The flight is pretty uneventful and is a very swift 7.45 hours. The films are - actually - I can't remember them at all! Oh well - must be the old age or something!
The usual fight at Gatwick ensues to try to collect our suitcases.
WHINGE ALERT!
Why Oh Why - do the whole family have to stand around the carousel in order to get the cases? Wouldn't it be more sensible for one or two of the strongest members to go and collect the bags while the others stand back and wait? But - Oh no! The wife, kids, grandparents and assorted pets all gather around like some demented contestants on the Generation Game - perhaps they think that they have to memorise all of the items going past them - that must be really difficult - "a suitcase - another suitcase - another one - another one - another one" As you probably have gathered - this drives me crazy! When you do manage to spot your case through the masses then you almost have to fight your way to the conveyor belt with various "Tut"'s and "well really"'s as you excuse yourself to the point of distraction! (moaning session concluded!)
We board the train back home and phone the "outlaws" to cadge a lift home from the station.
Back to their house first for a much needed cup of tea. "Just put one in here for later please" I ask - handing over my refillable mug. "On your Bike!" comes the polite reply! Oh well - good to be back!
Well dear readers - if you have struggled through all of this "drivel" then you are certainly made of stern stuff and I thank you from the bottom of my refillable mug!
I hope to be able to post these reports on our brand new website - www.dodisney.info which should be up and running in the New Year (2005) if my DS pulls his finger out and can stop playing games on his new laptop and do something useful for a change! Just kidding - he has done a great job with the site and hopefully it will become another useful tool for us "planners" who are addicted to all things Disney. We will try to host various trip reports and information for people and - who knows - maybe in a few years - we may be able to rival the Dis and the Dibb!
I hope you enjoyed my somewhat lengthy accounts of our holiday and if you want more of the same then - we are stating all over again in August 2005 - but this time - the in-laws are coming that should make for some interesting reading! (See trip reports 2002)
Good luck with your trips - and if you see "Happy" - say Hi to him for me!
Until the next time -
Foot note 1 x more to go .
I think that many would be interested in your take on the hurricane(s).
reports. I will enjoy reading through your first visit. I ran off your second reports for the family to read, shocked at how many pages it took so abandoned desire to keep the kids entertained on the flight, need room for clothes. 
So made a special file for trip reports for them to read, I need to get someone else excited about going back, I mean it is only 2 months and 2 weeks till we go back you know.
