Trip Report *COMPLETED* Hap-bee Holidays! 🐝

We're back! Okay, we have been back for weeks now but I am just getting around to starting this TR. "December was crazy, but January will be better," she told herself. Except, she didn't account for all the things she got behind on in December and now has to catch up on. And now she's going totally nuts, talking about herself in the third person. Enough excuses, let's get this party started!

Who: Me and M, with a few special guests (BOTH of our parents and brothers)
What: A Disney trip, of course! With a side of family time.
Where: The Swan (and Jacksonville)
When: December 26-January 4
Why: Because those Annual Passes aren't going to use themselves!
How: I'm still asking myself this.

Note: I almost called this "The One Where Everything Goes Wrong," because, well, A LOT went wrong. Illness, injury, family dramma, unfortunate planning (or lack thereof), travel changes, and probably more that I have conveniently "forgotten." But, despite multiple setbacks, we really did have a nice time and everything worked out in the end!

 

[bee]

Day 10: Saturday, January 4

When I first checked in at the Swan the CM offered me 1:00pm late checkout since I am a Marriott Gold Elite member, which I happily accepted as our flight wasn't until after 4:00 on our checkout day.

That said, we slept in and had breakfast in the room, then finished packing. We left the room right at 1:00 and went down to the lobby to call a Lyft.

Luis picked us up and soon we arrived at MCO. The Southwest bag check line was not short, but it wasn't terrible.

???

The checkin agent remarked on how unusual direct flights were to and from the northeast these day. We agreed and told her this might be our last Southwest flight because they stopped flying to Newark and have now eliminated direct flights from LGA to MCO.

After dropping our bag we still had a substantial amount of time until boarding. The food options in the Southwest terminal are limited and we really wanted a sit-down meal, so we decided to eat BEFORE security. It took us awhile to find it, but we ended up at Chili's pre-security.

Side salad plus rice and beans for me, and black bean burger for M

Once we finished lunch we were met with this lovely sight:

I don't remember the exact timing but it was an unusually long wait. At least we arrived at the airport very early and had already eaten! I guess the timing of the holidays (NYD on a Wednesday, lots of people taking Thursday and Friday off to extend it into a long weekend) made this an extra busy travel day.

Soon enough we were through security and boarding.

It was like my manicure had an expiration date because it suddenly started falling off this day! But honestly I'm amazed it lasted as long as it did!

We actually departed close to on time.

I may have mentioned that Chrisley Knows Best is a total guilty pleasure of mine. We don't have traditional TV at home but whenever we are on vacation and it's on I love watching it.

Up next: The End

 

[bee]

Day 10, cont.

Our flight continued uneventfully. We used drink coupons for some adult beverages.

I think these were Jack and Diet Coke?

And now, please enjoy a bunch of dark, blurry pics from the window.

SOMEHOW, we managed to land ON TIME after our evening flight to LaGuardia! We seem to always be delayed multiple hours when flying into LGA, especially in the evening, so we were SHOCKED!

We had to wait awhile to collect our bags and then we made the trek to the rideshare area to get a Lyft. Soon we were riding with Sadiq and we were home by 8:30pm.

And with that, our 10 day, multi-city, multi-holiday Florida trip was over. Though a lot of things went wrong, we still had a wonderful time and enjoyed some much-needed relaxation after a very busy semester and audition season.

I'm not sure if I will have any final thoughts to post, but we are planning to go back to WDW one last time with these APs this summer. This will almost certainly be our last year with APs as they have increased so much in price that they won't be worth it to us anymore. I'm sure we will still visit WDW once in awhile but we will definitely change how (and how often) we visit. We are also hoping to do some more international travelling within the next few years so more of our travel budget will be going to those trips. AND, we are hoping to buy a house/condo by the end of this year so almost all of our extra savings is going toward home ownership and all the expenses that it entails!

Thank you so much to everyone for reading and commenting! As always, it is more fun to relive a trip with friends!

 

[Swissmiss]

Thanks for another wonderful TR!

 

[Darstarr]

AND, we are hoping to buy a house/condo by the end of this year so almost all of our extra savings is going toward home ownership and all the expenses that it entails!

So responsible of you and M!
I have loved tagging along again!
I will be waiting for the next trip like

 

[fractal]

Thanks for sharing Bee!

sounds like a good plan you have going forward.

 

[MinnieM123]

Thank you for yet ANOTHER wonderful TR, bee!!!

 

[MickeyCB]

Loved following along and eagerly await your next TR!

 

[dizfan917]

I will miss following along on your frequent visits. Thanks for all the great reports!!

best of luck to you guys in your "adulting" adventures!

 

[bee]

Thanks for another wonderful TR!

Thank you for reading!

So responsible of you and M!
I have loved tagging along again!
I will be waiting for the next trip like

Thanks for WAGGING along! (Sorry not sorry)

Thanks for sharing Bee!

sounds like a good plan you have going forward.

Thanks for reading! Fingers crossed the plan works out!

Thank you for yet ANOTHER wonderful TR, bee!!!

Thank you and thanks for reading!

Loved following along and eagerly await your next TR!

Thank you for following along! Stay tunes for the last hurrah!

I will miss following along on your frequent visits. Thanks for all the great reports!!

best of luck to you guys in your "adulting" adventures!

Thank you! We're gonna need it! (PS love that you associate me with cheese and a rainbow flag )

 

[KellBelle]

Another successful trip in the books! I am not sure if I have mentioned this or not, but I ♥♥♥♥ all the pics you always include!

 

[bee]

Another successful trip in the books! I am not sure if I have mentioned this or not, but I ♥♥♥♥ all the pics you always include!

Thank you! I love taking flower photos!