DAY
16 - SATURDAY 6TH JUNE
& SUMMARY
Let’s face
it nobody likes getting up on going home day. Still, it has to be
done and packing is carried out as swiftly as possible.
By 10.30am we’re done and we take the luggage down to the
Boardwalk entrance where Tam and I are going to pick up the car
from the Dolphin, leaving Ind, Georgia and Grandma with the
luggage.
Susan has an
afternoon flight to Tulsa and is going into Epcot to meet up with
Sharon and Evan for a couple of hours, so we are bidding her
farewell here.
She says something along the lines of ‘Fate brought us
together and I cherish the day you all came into my life’. I
can see she has tears welling up in her eyes and look around to
see Grandma starting to cry as well. Oh lord, Tam and the girls
are at it as well now! Susan, being the sensible lady she is,
recognises that things will just get worse from here and makes a
swift exit to prevent a full blown crying session.
It’s been a pleasure to have Susan along with us again
(Sharon and Evan as well), I think Grandma has particularly
benefited from having a room mate.
Tam and I walk to the Dolphin where we pick up our 7 seater van for the drive to Tampa airport. This is a simple and painless process; we go to the Alamo counter next to Guest Services and they give us a slip of paper to give to valet parking who then fetch the vehicle for us. I’d have no trouble using Alamo at the Dolphin again.
I drive back to the Boardwalk and we pack up the van for the start of the long journey home. First we have to make a stop at Downtown Disney where Georgia is hoping to find a pair of Nightmare Before Christmas pyjamas she saw earlier in the holiday in the Villains shop. We eventually track these down in the Christmas shop resulting in one happy daughter. We also have one happy father as we clamber back into the van just as the heavens open again.
We drive along the I4 to a shopping complex called Posner Park where we drop into the Envy hairstyling studio to meet Jana, Vernon’s wife. They have just opened this new business, so if you are thinking about DVC next time you are in Florida, contact Big Vern and he’ll arrange a tour for you and a hair cut afterwards.
I’ve spied a sports goods store, so we head there briefly to buy some golf balls, a glove and some tees. We’ve also spotted a Perkins just down the road and stop there for an early lunch, as India has not had pancakes this holiday. Lots of eggy, pancakey things later we continue to Tampa airport.
The Alamo car
return at Tampa is off site, but this is not really a problem as
the shuttle bus drops us off right outside the BA check-in desk.
Check-in is easy and we have a drink in the Chilli’s in the
departure lounge before we board.
We are sat
together this time immediately in front of a bulkhead. The lady
in front of me reclines as soon as we are airborne. I know there
is a lot of debate about reclining of seats, those who are in
favour say if everybody were to recline the space would be the
same. Well, this is not strictly true. When a seat is reclined
the sitting part of the seat stays in the same position while the
area around the documents pouch moves back with the reclining
seat. This leaves less leg room and my knees are touching the
seat in front. I’m sure this would be rather uncomfortable
for anyone 6 foot plus. This is not meant as a criticism for
those who recline, just an observation.
By the way, the flight attendants are excellent in asking the
recliners in front of us to put their seats upright when the food
comes round.
I watch a
couple of films – Taken (pretty average) and Cinderella Man.
I have been meaning to watch this for ages, but never got round
to it. It’s the true story of James J Braddock a down and
out boxer at the time of the Great Depression in the US.
It may sound like a film for the boys, but it’s much more
than that, an uplifting, feel-good film starring Russell Crowe
and Rene Zellweger.
Generally the trip home is fine and we arrive back to a ton of washing. I guess the ‘we’ part gives me a little too much credit in the washing department, Tam being the primary person involved in this particular process. Still, I’m sure she appreciated the occasional encouraging word from me as I sat in the chair enjoying an après trip beer.
This was the
first time for many years that we actually spent 2 weeks on-site.
With Grandma there we wanted to do as much as we could for her
sake.
Next year will be spent somewhere else in the world, we
won’t have any DVC points available until 2011 at the
earliest and I suspect that this is not entirely a bad thing. A
break will make it all seem fresher next time we go.
I also suspect that we will be unlikely to spend a full two weeks
on-site again in the near future. Hilton Head, Vero Beach,
Captiva, or even California are bound to feature in our next
trips to the States.
I guess we were both lucky and unlucky with the weather. We certainly saw an awful lot of rain, especially in the first week. That being said, it was even worse the week before we arrived and we were incredibly fortunate that we seemed to miss the really heavy downpours, being indoors whenever they occurred. You might say that is hardly surprising given the amount of eating and drinking we did, but that would make you a very rude person and I would have to pour scorn and derision upon you.
I’m sure
she enjoyed this trip more than any of us. I’m equally sure
that she looked upon this as her last trip to WDW and many times
I caught her just staring at the scenery and mentally storing up
memories. Never say never, I recall her thinking that it would be
her last trip in 2000, who knows what the future may bring?
I think she pleased herself with how well her body held up to the
rigours of theme park attendance, as you all know, you walk many
miles every day in the parks and Grandma was with us every step
of the way.
She never complained, never stopped smiling and enjoyed
everything she did with a spirit and unrestrained happiness that
we all could learn from. My mother is a very special lady.
Once again we
had the privilege to enjoy and share our holiday with friends old
and new. Susan, Sharon & Evan, Vernon, Rob & family,
Mandy & Martin, all enhanced our holiday. Thank you to all of
them.
We also missed our good friends Deb and Matt. In happier times
they would have been with us. Doubtless we’ll be together in
WDW again at some point in the future.
The Swan was a
very nice hotel and I certainly had no problem with its lack of
Disney feel. The pools are nice and there is certainly no lack of
eating establishments. I did miss having a balcony and it does
feel a little corporate, but I would stay there again if the rate
were good.
The Boardwalk is our home resort and I love the feel to the
place. Obviously the location is its biggest attraction, but the
Boardwalk view is lovely and I still get a kick out of sitting on
the balcony watching the comings and goings.
I know there has been some discussion about the state of the
rooms, but apart from a couple of minor faults, our room was
clean and tidy. The furniture is a little old fashioned now and
could do with updating. Probably the worst thing I saw was the
carpet in the hallways. It looked old and tired and needs
replacing.
Well, I guess
that’s the end of another holiday and another report.
Who knows when and where the next holiday will take place. Much
depends on money. If anybody would like to employ me on a highly
exorbitant salary for doing not very much, I will consider your
offer carefully. I can tie my own shoelaces and only need help
getting to the toilet on bad days.
Finally, thanks for reading and for all the comments on my latest report. I hope you all enjoy your next trip to Florida, whenever it may be.
Cheers
Kev