DAY 17
FRI 27th OCT 2000
& SUMMARY
Everyone
wakes up at 8:00 but nobody wants to get out of bed. The journey
home is never pleasant. We have breakfast and are packed by
10:00.
We are trying something different this year. In an attempt to
extend the holiday until the last possible second we are spending
our last hour and a half by the pool. Bell services pick up our
luggage and store it for us while we go and relax. The girls go
for a swim and I ponder on why we always feel so depressed on
returning home from WDW.
I think it is because Disney creates a magical fantasy world,
bright exciting and vibrant. We experience battles between good
and evil, spectacular parades and shows, resorts of luxury and
opulence, beauty, happiness and an assault on the senses that is
amazing. All of this creates an 'other worldliness' that makes a
return to our everyday lives more difficult because of the
extreme contrast between normality and Disney.
Probably a load of rubbish but it works for me.
After swimming for an hour or so we go to the health club to
shower and change. Lunch is supposed to be a sandwich from the
Boardwalk Bakery but there are none ready. When we ask how long
they will be we are told about half an hour. This is cutting it a
bit fine so we opt for the ESPN club instead. Ironic really as
this is the place we had lunch after our DVC tour in January. You
could say we have come full circle.
Tam and I share a burger which is excellent and the girls share a
kids chicken fingers meal. Along with a last beer for this trip
(snivel) sodas and tip, the cost is $38.
The rest is boring. Load up the car, drive to the airport, get
the plane to Cincinnati, get the plane to Gatwick, drive home.
YEUK!
Sorry this last part is a bit downbeat but that's the way I feel.
SUMMARY
A ha. Caught you. Just when you were breathing a huge sigh of
relief and thinking that it was all finally over, I sneak in with
a summary at the end. Fiendish but effective!
Weather - As I'm British this had to come first. I would
definitely recommend this time of the year. We had large amounts
of sunshine and no real rain to speak of. With daytime
temperatures in the mid 80's and evenings around 70 it was as
close to perfect as you can get.
Crowds - In the parks we noticed a considerable difference
between this time and our last trip in January. There were
definitely more people around this time although I wouldn't say
that the crowds were in any way unmanageable.
The Boardwalk Villas - Wonderful. A beautiful place that has
everything I want in a resort. It can be loud, quiet, exciting,
tranquil, just about anything you want it to be really.
The valet parking is a real boon, something that I did not think
I would use very much but ended up taking advantage of all the
time.
You get a better class of person at the Boardwalk, at least you
did until we arrived. None of your All Star riffraff here. I'm
only joking, I spent many a happy time at the All Star resorts,
I'm just feeling a bit smug and superior now I've got into the
DVC.
Vero Beach - Quiet, laid back, relaxed and very pretty, this is
the perfect place to unwind and take things slowly. There is not
a huge amount to do at night and nothing within walking distance
outside of the resort.
Everything is based around the pool and the beach but it never
seems that crowded. There are plenty of sun beds and seating
areas, of course it still helps to get there early if you want
the prime spots. (Early means pre 10:00).
We enjoyed eating at the Riverside Cafe (in Vero Beach), Captain
Hirams (in Sebastian) and Shutters (on site).
I had read a lot about how friendly the staff are supposed to be
at Vero and I have to say that I agree with them. I think the
relaxed atmosphere must rub off on them too!
Both DVC resorts are staggeringly well thought out, being both
beautiful and luxurious. We will probably never stay anywhere
better.
This was a slightly strange trip for us in that we spent only 4
days in theme parks. It is likely that this will be the way that
we will approach our holidays here in the future. Relaxed rather
than hectic.
Well, I hope you have found this trip report interesting even if
you haven't agreed with everything within. This is because you
are wrong and I'm right. Stringer rule No.47a - I am always right
even when I'm wrong.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to comment
on my reports either by posting or via e-mail. It is very much
appreciated and it helps to know that there is someone out there
prepared to slog their way through my endless drivel.
See you in November 2001.