Friday, December 7, 2018

2 weeks with the family... are we crazy?! Going Home

13 Oct into 14

This morning we woke up about 0830 and as we hadn’t unpacked we just had to put our last few bits and pieces into our bags. 

We used up some of our remaining bread to have toast and coffee for breakfast.





Kev, Sharna, Leona and Charlie went to the Magic Kingdom early to ride Space Mountain (70 min SB) while we stayed in the room for a bit longer (we were repeatedly bothered by housekeeping which was annoying.)

We called down and got Bell Services to collect our many bags before leaving the room just before 1100. I’m pretty sure we returned the second car to the Car Care Centre at this point. 

We headed into the Magic Kingdom (obviously) and met the others and then we did a couple of last rides: Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain using our FP. 











I’m sure there was also some last minute shopping as we left the park, we dropped off the stroller at Bell Services as we had arranged to pass it on to another family via facebook.

We then headed to the marina for Kev, Sharna and the kids to go out on a pontoon boat, then Dad decided to take a Searaycer out. Rob, mum and I stayed to watch them and so we got some snacks (I had a Mickey Bar, Rob had fries) and then Dad reappeared having got soaked by the wake of another boat!





The others got off and we grabbed a few snacks for the kids and then dropped them back at Bay Lake to catch the Magical Express. We got our bags and headed off towards the airport on our own. 





We got there at about 1530, dropped off the car and checked in with Thomas Cook and realised that we had left Rob’s magickeeper on the car keys. He went back to the garage but the car was already gone 

Security was ridiculous - it was so busy that there were signs up saying that you couldn’t enter the line until 2 hours before departure. At this stage the wait was posted as 33-37 mins. 

I got changed into jeans  and we waited for a little bit before going through and the wait had dropped to 22-26 minutes! There were also massive lines for food on the other side  

We got Burger King which was ok but not exactly exciting then waited in departure lounge (the rest turned up when we were at burger king.) Our flight was due to leave at 1840 but delayed till 1920 and we actually departed about 2000. 



The flight was ok, only one meal option which was chicken. I decided to just have the tray without the chicken which was cheese and biscuits, bread roll and some form of cake. 

I watched Solo before trying to sleep which I managed for a few hours although oddly the Premium seats seemed slightly uncomfortable for sleeping in. 

I woke up around breakfast time but didn’t have any – I’m not even sure what they were serving! We landed just after 0830 and for once didn’t have a huge line at passport control! It still took me 2 attempts to get through the electronic gate though. 

The bags took a little longer (although not as long as on the other side) and once we were through we met the taxi driver and took the bags to the car with the rest of the group. 

We knew there was a train due any minute so we speed walked to the station and managed to catch a train which was actually running late and got us to Clapham Junction just after 1000.

As we now had some time until our train we grabbed some drinks (flat white and tea) and breakfast (sausage roll and bacon and cheese puff) while waiting for the train which was 3 mins late at 1025. 

We arrived back at home around 1230, it was of course raining  and we hadn’t brought coats with us. But mum and dad had come down to drive us home (20 min walk) after getting back slightly earlier than us 

We then had a 2 hour nap before collecting our dog from kennels at 4pm. In an effort to avoid jet lag we then watched some tv and had pizza for dinner!

2 weeks with the family... are we crazy?! Day 13

12 Oct

This morning we got up at around 0800 and started packing up our things as we were moving across to Bay Lake Tower for our final night in a Grand Villa!

Rob and I were packed by about 1030 and we left the villa at 1130 with a few of the bags for the rest of the group. They were planning to relax for a bit and join us when the room was ready. 

We checked in and left our bags with Bell Services before getting lunch at the Contempo CafĂ© (I had a child’s turkey sandwich meal and Rob had a flatbread and fries) and we got drinks with our refillable mugs (which were still active from our earlier stay). 




We popped across to the Magic Kingdom for a little while and I finally got to ride The Haunted Mansion using a FP, I also did a little bit of shopping in Memento Mori where I got a cushion and some coasters 

I hadn’t booked any other FP in advance but we had a look and picked one up for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh…! So we did that and then decided to leave the park and check back on the room. 

We got back to the Contemporary and got some more drinks and soaked up the atmosphere for a while before getting an email telling us the room was ready.

We got into the room at about 1530 and the rest of the group arrived just as we were heading upstairs. I took loads of photos  Our lake view turned out to be amazing as we could also see the park from our 4 balconies!
















Most of us stayed at the room for a little while (I loved sitting out on the balcony listening to the train with the Magic Kingdom in the background) whilst Kev, Sharna, Blake and Leona went to the Animal Kingdom for a little while.

The arrived back and we went and got dinner got from the contempo cafe to eat in room, making use of our large table 




As we had a fantastic view we watched Hallowishes from our balcony and then the Electrical Light Parade from the stairwell as the floats didn’t come as far around as our room.



2 weeks with the family... are we crazy?! Day 12

11 Oct

Today we had another later start, followed by a trip across to Mall at Millenia with Mum and Dad. I think the others went to Old Town Kissimmee for a little while. 

We did a bit more shopping – Rob got shoes and a new watch strap, I got a Vera Bradley bag, and we got some kitchen bits at Williams Sonoma  

We had a late lunch in Cheesecake Factory – I had pasta and Rob had a burger which were good as always. I also got a slice of red velvet cake to go as I had learned my lesson from last year (always get cheesecake even if you have to take it away with you!) 





We dropped off our bags and then headed across to Animal Kingdom for 1700 leaving just enough time to ride Navi River with our first FP. 

The others had arrived at the park just before us and we met them just outside the ride and then we all headed over to Dinoland. Here we took a ride on Dinosaur with our second and then the others went to grab some food. The 4 of us (Rob, Mum, Dad and I) decided we would endure a spin on Primeval Whirl as it had a 25 min wait posted – it actually took 10 minutes which wasn’t too bad. 

Oh and we saw these super cute Dinos!





When they got back from eating Kev, Sharna, Blake and Leona went on Primeval Whirl but they had a slightly longer wait. 

We then headed over to the Rivers of Light FP area - I didn’t want to go in so early as I find it really uncomfortable and stuffy so decided to stay out. Having seen the show before I didn’t mind missing out if I couldn’t get in. I wandered around for a little while and got a photo taken with one of the lanterns.



I did eventually head in about 5 minutes before the start and found a seat at the end of a row which was good. I got a few nice pictures from where I was seated.









The odd thing was after the show our stroller (which had been ‘valet parked’) was really far away…not an issue for us but very weird. 

We all walked back to the parking lot and headed home where I then had my cheesecake with some Batman ice cream before bed!