11/05/2013: DONT MAKE ME GO HOME!
Tanya woke up early this morning she was going to head to MK to watch the ceremony where Merida was going to be crowned as a Disney Princess. Is that an 'inauguration'? We had discussed this the previous night as it was happening this morning only and I had every intention of going with Tanya and her friends. However, Id had a sleepless night worrying about uni stuff and getting back into the work on returning home and I truly felt terrible this morning. I couldnt keep my eyes open and my head was all fuzzy I decided Id leave it and have a bit of a lie in. I was also conscious that I would be driving back to South Wales from Gatwick after the flight home and thought I should get as much sleep as possible. This was one of my biggest regrets as it sounded amazing when Tanya told us about her on her return the photos looked great and I would have loved to have experienced it! AND TO HAVE SEEN SOFIA GRACE AND ROSIE TOO (as made famous on the Ellen show)!
Instead, I got up at about 9am and showered and got ready whilst helping Jo and Emma with their packing. My case was now even heavier this morning than it was last night
how was that possible?
I had even removed stuff from my case to put in my hand luggage, and when that was full, I put some stuff in Emmas case too?! The mind boggles!
We then lazed around for a bit waiting for Tanya to return, flicking through the pictures of the holiday and watching some TV. I blame this time for my new addiction to the TLC channel. That morning I watched some shows about the worlds worse tattoos and something about Amish people moving to the city. Whats not to love? Since returning home, the TLC channel has also brought me the delights of Honey Boo Boo for which I will be eternally greatful! Tanya arrived back at around 11:00 and I rang for bell services to come and pick us and our luggage up in a cart. They arrived at around 11:40 and we said goodbye to the room *Sob*
Bye 5514...
Whilst Emma, Jo and Is ME was scheduled at 1:50, Tanya was scheduled for 12:20. She checked her bags in at the resort check in (lucky girl we would be lugging ours with us) and we waited with her at the front for her bus.
The saddest check-in
It was now 12:25 and there was still no bus; in the mean time however, we had watched numerous ME busses pull in, dropping new guests off at the resort, and we also watched a
DCL bus fill up too I so want to do a
Disney Cruise! I envied them something chronic! One day, one day
It soon arrived though, and we said our goodbyes to Tanya.
See ya' real soon Tanya!
There was lots of hugging, and before we knew it, Tanyas bus had pulled away. We hoped it wouldnt be two years until we saw her again, and she informed us that she would be saving for a trip to the UK next. We cant wait for that its certainly no Disney, but weve already been making lists of where we want to take her!
The three of us were now really hungry and so we grabbed some lunch from Goods To Go. I had the tuna sandwich with fries as my dessert (best idea ever I might start doing that over here!); they were easily the best fries of the entire holiday! They were so hot and crunchy and perfectly seasoned. These alone would make me sad to leave WDW!
I got a bottle of water with my meal but also managed to guzzle one of the huge bottles of the strawberry lemon gatorade that I had bought on that epic trip to Walgreens the other day haha! It was a shame to waste it, and the girls werent interested! Its so good I really wish we could get Gatorade over here, its far better than Powerade! I used to live on the stuff whilst I worked outside in the Honey I Shrunk The Kids Playground!
We had 7QS credits remaining after this and with 0 TS/snacks. I think we had done pretty well! We could have bought another groups meals there and then I suppose, but we were looking out and nobody looked very nice. They were all half naked (because of the pool, people in OKW generally dont walk around half naked for the fun of it) and very roudy. We were right grumps haha!
Soon it was 1:40 so I went to pick up our bags from Bell Services. Somebody had passed out on the floor outside too she was surrounded by managers. She was OK now, but it was definitely another hot one today! The bus then arrived at around 1:55.
The last thing that any of us wanted to see!
As I mentioned in the last post, only Emma and I were on the ME paperwork but front desk just told us that Jo would still be able to get on the bus with it. We explained the situation to the driver and he wasnt having any of it:
Miss, if your names not on this sheet then you are not getting on my bus. Oh OK, bye then Jo!
Just joking
I was getting a bit flustered now and eventually one of the CMs from the Bell desk came up to us and offered to help us out. He went to see front desk whilst the three of us stood next to the bus like naughty school children. He emerged around 10 minutes later, chatted to the driver for a bit and then waved us on.
Everyone else on the bus including Emma and I (flying with British Airways) would be flying from Terminal B. Jo was now the only one on the bus who was flying from Terminal A (Virgin Atlantic). Because Jo originally wasnt on the paperwork for some reason, the driver had just scheduled a stop for Terminal B. None of us realised this on arriving at the airport but when we pulled up to Terminal B, the driver listed the airlines flying from here and everyone proceeded to get off the bus
everyone except Jo. It was so funny to see her sitting on an entire bus by herself
the driver then offered to take her around to Terminal A, but she decided to get off with us and just walk there through the airport.
We made our way into the airport and the three of us just looked at each other, not wanting to say goodbye to Jo. Then all of a sudden, Jo just burst into tears, bless her. We all got a bit emotional after this amazing holiday, and after lots more hugging and planning when we would catch up with each other when we arrived home, we went our separate ways
Emma and I joined the huge line at the BA desks. Something I forgot to mention yesterday: I totally forgot about online check-in when it opened yesterday! By the time I remembered later in the evening, I checked us in and there was literally only one set of two seats together left. They were the middle and the aisle seat of a window set of three, around three rows from the back of the plane. Not ideal, but at least we could sit together. We finally dropped our bags and we were now free to explore. The restrooms had to be the first stop I was jumping around like I was dancing on hot coals. I was absolutely busting after all I had drank at lunch. I also wanted to have a browse in the shops in this area, but Emma said shed feel more comfortable if we were airside and so we made our way through security. My first body scan wooooooo! And no body seach this time, unlike in Gatwick. I was looking forward to another free massage as well haha
never mind!
We got some seats next to the window at Gate 80 and I read whilst Emma went to have a look at the shops and snacks available. As I waited, I watched the BA plane pull in it was like the weather was set on a sensor or something, but literally, as soon as the plane stopped outside the window, the heavens opened and it poured down. Yep, the plane had brought the British weather with it! Although I was not looking forward to how much turbulence this would cause
Can we hitch a lift?
Emma returned and I left my bag with her so I could go and have a look around. I checked out the perfumes and picked one to buy when I returned home: Prada DIris. Its lovely and fresh. I had about $30 dollars left on my FairFx card and a few more in my purse and decided Id just spend them here to get rid of them. I bought a few snacks and American candy in the newsagent shop to bring home for my brother. I also popped across to Starbucks and treated myself to an iced tea with lemonade, a pack of the lime and hibiscus Refresher drinks that you can make at home, and an apple/cinammon scone. My last successful shopping trip in the USA
I was back at the gate around 4:30 and we didnt have to wait too long before they started to board the plane. It was another full flight.
The flight home was OK, although I've had better! The turbulence was not to my liking is it ever to anyones though?
Im not a fan of flying, and there were a few occasions where wed suddenly hit an airpocket or a bumpy patch and things on the trays would go crazy! I had never felt anything like it before and there were so many thoughts going through my mind! I could feel tears in my eyes, my stomach was in my mouth and I just grabbed Emmas arm! She commented on how grey I suddenly looked, but told me to get over it and to drink another wine hahaha! Sound advice!
A lady from Edinburgh was sitting in the window seat next to us and we soon got chatting. She was with her daughter, who worked for cabin crew for BA, and who was sitting two rows behind us. She was explaining the situation about free flights and working for the business nice incentives! They had both booked some annual leave, and saw that they could go on an available flight to Florida and so just jumped on it last minute! They werent planning on returning home for another couple of days yet, but seeing as there were two seats available on this flight they returned home now instead of being on standby. I thought that maybe I had gone into the wrong career
The food was also OK, nothing to write home about, but plane food never is, is it? It was however, more than edible and was quite tasty we had a beef curry type of thing. As the crew were making their way up the aisle, we could hear them offering
pasta or beef. When they got to our row however, they announced that they had now run out of pasta and that the remaining four rows would have to have beef. Well, the gentleman in the family behind us was not happy with that. First he claimed that his children didnt want beef. When the hostess asked the children was it because they didnt like beef, they replied
no, we actually want beef! Ha!
The man then announced that he didnt want beef. He was giving the hostess a hard time and she asked if he had asked for a vegetarian meal on his booking. "
No", he announced, "
Im not vegetarian, I just dont want beef this evening!" He was making such a scene and there was really no need for it. You can never guarantee that youre going to like whats offered on the plane but thats not the crews fault You should ensure you eat something beforehand just in case you decide to act up and be and annoying passenger like this! He kept demanding something else until the hostess caved in and said shed check if there was something left over from Club level. I have so much respect for the crew and how they keep their cool I would have poured the beef curry over this guys head!
This wasnt the last we heard from this man though...
The lady who sat in the window seat next to us needed to pop to the bathroom; we got up and let her through. As she returned, there was an empty aisle seat in front of this gentleman and she just sat down in it as she said she didnt want to disturb us so soon again (we really didnt mind though, bless her). As soon as she sat down, the man behind her, yes the horrible beef man, asked if shed not sit there. He claimed as soon as she sat down the seat in front of us was now touching his knees. Umm
excuse me?! Youre flying in economy, deal with it! The lady said that she was just sitting there for 20 minutes or so whilst she watched a show and stretched her legs, for which he then proceeded to kick the back of the seat constantly. She had enough, got up and came back to our row. We all gave him an evil stare!
Youd think hed be bored by now. But no...
Now the crew were making their way up the aisle with the trolley. This man stuck his leg out into the aisle on purpose, just so the crew would have to stop. The hostess was wheeling the trolley looking either side so that she wouldnt hit something. She obviously saw his leg and stopped just short. No way did the trolley touch him but all of a sudden he screamed:
Owwwwwwwww, my leg. Oh my god, you hit my leg, owwwwwwwwwwww!. Are you freakin kidding me?! The poor hostess apologised profusely believing that she had hurt this man, and he was absolutely loving it going all
oh dont worry, its only my knee cap, what do I need my leg for?. Its times like this that you really wished they installed ejector seats on these planes!
The flight time seemed to drag coming home I had been hoping to get some sleep in preparation for my four hour drive home! However, I didnt get much luck I was hoping I could get a window seat so that Id have something to lean against but unfortunately we were just enjoying ourselves far to much in MK yesterday to remember about checking in online! Also, I think the fact that I was constantly thinking about needing to sleep would have kept me awake by itself.. funny how it works like that isnt it!
Again, I made my way through the comedy selection on the IFE and I think we landed pretty much on time, just after 6am. We were pretty much the last people to get off the plane and it was lovely not to have any line at passport control! The last time I had been at Gatwick was on a flight back from Barcelona it was an evening flight I think, and immigration was doing a very good impression of that in Orlando International. We had waited for well over an hour back then and I was half expecting it to be the same this morning but luckily I was wrong. We then headed to collect our luggage
whereas our bags were waiting for us when we arrived at Orlando two weeks ago, we seemed to have waited for ages for them now to arrive in Gatwick! I hate that panicky feeling you get when you end up being some of the handful people that are still waiting for bags whilst everyone else has left! Apologies, I must sound like such a compulsive worrier! Anyhow, they of course did eventually come around and we headed out.
As we headed into the Arrivals area, Emmas Dad was already waiting and welcomed us back to the UK with a big hug
no offence Tony, as nice as that was, Id rather still be in OKW right now! I hugged Emma goodbye and arranged to meet up with her next weekend! Its really weird
I was with these girls constantly for two weeks, and now it was going to return to just seeing them whenever we all had free weekends and not whenever we wanted to. This always makes me sad thinking about this, but what I do love is that when we do all catch up its like we havent been apart. We just need to work on getting Tanya to the UK now
I headed to the bus stop and only had to wait a matter of seconds before the car park shuttle turned up. It was now much harder to do all these kind of things like get tickets and get the car back when its just one of you with the cases! Getting my car back was a breeze and luckily it wasnt parked very far from the reception desk. Thank god, because now with all the extra weight in the case, the wheels had a mind of their own, steering it everywhere!
The drive home was quiet what with it being a Sunday morning and I breezed along the motorway. I stopped off in a service station as a McDonalds breakfast was calling me I hadnt felt like eating on the plane, plus I needed something to help and try to keep me awake now. Of all the service stations we could have stopped at, I joined the line and realised I was standing behind Emma. She just couldnt get rid of me haha! We got our orders and waved goodbye for the second time!
I made good time getting home and unpacked as soon as I got in. My brother was eagerly awaiting his sunglasses and so whilst I dished out the presents, I thought that I may as well start putting the washing loads in! This truly has to be the worse part about returning home from any holiday! I really did my utmost to stay awake today and so I settled down to sort through my thousands of photos. And it worked until I got to about 7pm I gave in then. My cases and bags were completely empty by this point in the evening, and it meant that the holiday was well and truly over
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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And so, I guess thats it! As I think I mentioned in a previous post somewhere, I reckon the next time Ill realistically get to return to WDW is in 2015. And that time Id like to take my parents, and hopefully my brother and his girlfriend will be able to come too. My family has been before, last in 2009, and they absolutely loved it there
however, my parents are not terribly adventurous and everytime I mention that they should book to go again they always come up with some excuse! I think the only way to do it is for me to book something for us all and then make out that its non-refundable and now they have to come! Mwah ha haaaaa!
In terms of plans for next year, I'm planning on going to Brazil! It'll be myself, Emma and also Heather, who is another friend of ours who we met at Disney but who was unable to get time off work this year to come to Florida (her and Emma are also going to Bali in September). Our plan is to go in February to catch the carnival and to spend a few days at Iguassu Falls before returning home; around a 10 day trip in total.
Of course, Im graduating and moving to Liverpool next month to start my first doctor job and so Im sure the time will fly by! We cant book it yet as I need to make sure I can take that much annual leave off at any one time during my first year, plus the girls need to pay off their Bali trip first, but its a pretty set decision! Lets just hope its not full of tour groups
For those of you have read along with this, well, I hope you have enjoyed it! I certainly enjoyed writing it and referring back to my journal and flicking through all the photos it was a great way to get over the Disney Blues and I urge anyone coming back from a trip to give writing a TR a go for that very reason! I appreciate that Im a waffler and that I can (and have) drone on a bit, but I just wanted to get everything down! We had the most amazing two weeks and I just wanted to share that! Thank you also for all the lovely comments that you have left it means a lot to know that people are enjoying reading along, and its nice to see people getting some new ideas of things to do like heading to Paradiso 37, doing Dine With Shamu etc, etc.
However, this is just
almost over! Before I finish for sure, Ill do another post with my overall highs and lows and another post with some of our favourite Photopass pictures. Then I promise to leave you all alone!