Minnie2000's very late trip report - Dec 10-17

This trip report is very late, but better late than never! We came back on the 18th December, and I was so busy over Christmas that I didn't have time to write it.

There are 4 of us, me, DH, and DDs aged 12 and 9.

We drove to Gatwick on the 9th December, after DD's school Christmas play. We arrived at the Travelodge at about midnight. We were given the key to our room and went upstairs to find clothes in the room and the sound of splashing in the bathroom - good thing the lady there had shut the door! We went back to reception and were given another room.

Thursday December 10th

We flew from Gatwick to Orlando. We had planned to take the Magical Express for the first time, and were very pleased. It seemed very quick, getting through the airport and onto the bus.

We arrived at the Polynesian and were given a room in Fiji. We went there, and although there was nothing wrong with the room, we didn't like being that side of the resort (also there was a large tree in front of our balcony).
We have been 3 times before and always been in Tokelau or Tahiti and just like it over there. We went to the front desk to ask if they had any rooms there. We spoke to Tim, who was really helpful. I explained that we did not need to move, but would like to if it was possible. He found us a room in Tokelau, and showed our girls how to do magic tricks with a one dollar bill!

We moved our luggage to our new room, had a quick meal in Captain Cook's and headed back to the room for the night.

 

[Goofygirl07]

cant wait for more.

 

[ksr99]

Im so jealous you stayed at the POLY!!! I'm looking outside and the thermometer says 26 F!!!!!! Glad you had a great time!

 

[mouselvrmom]

Ooh, I'm so glad I found your trip report, minnie! I love all of your pictures! Can't wait to see what you do with them for your scrapbook!

 

[minnie2000]

Sorry for the delay - we've just spent a week in Austria - I will continue the TR asap!

 

[minnie2000]

Wednesday 16th December

We went to the MK by 9am, and were lucky enough to get a table at the Crystal Palace for breakfast.

This was my plate (well, my first plate)

Then we went on POTC, met Aladdin and Jasmine, and went on HM.

As we were walking through Frontierland, we were stopped by a CM and asked to take part in Princess Tiana's Jubilee. Not knowing what we were letting ourselves in for, we said OK, thinking that the girls would love it, although DH and I were not so keen!

We had to go on the paddle steamer, and take part in the parade. We had to wave handkerchiefs, wave musical notes and then wear gospel choir outfits and wave to the crowds. Unfortunately, we don't have photos of that part. The photopass people did take them, but we felt the photopasses were too expensive. After that, we were able to wander about the paddle steamer, and the girls got to meet Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen. The girls had a great time!

We then went on BTM and SM, and had lunch in the Columbia Harbour House, where we always enjoy the food.

We walked around Toontown, and then headed back to the Polynesian. We spent some time relaxing there, and had dinner at Ohana.

Mmm...

and more...

What a meal! We finally remembered to take photos of the food!

I decided to try a special drink at Ohana, but I can't remember what it was called. It was raspberry flavoured and delicious, but it had a creamy texture, and was quite thick - I think I would have preferred it thinner - but it was lovely!

The girls bought me a set of Mickey earrings and necklace between them.

We watched the Electrical Water Pageant on the beach, and then went to the Grand Floridian to see the Christmas decorations and to see the Gingerbread House.


We went back to our room and started packing to leave the next day.

 

[minnie2000]

Thursday 17th December

We finished packing and checked out. We had a lovely breakfast in the Kona Café. We asked the server if it was possible for DD to have chocolate chips in her pancake, like in the Crystal Palace. He said he would ask the chef, but did not know if they had any choc chips. They brought her pancake with chocolate chips inside it, and on the side of the plate. She was thrilled, and it was one of those little things that made the difference to our holiday.

We went into the MK for the morning. We went on the train. This is DH's favourite shot...

The girls wanted to see Tinkerbell and her fairies, as we had heard so much about it, but we were a little disappointed. Perhaps they were just too old for it.

We took the ME to the airport, did a little shopping and flew home.

At the airport we had a text from my father in law, saying that there might be snow in London the next day. We were excited - we love snow and we don't get much of it where we live. If only we knew what would happen the next day!

There were plenty of empty seats on the flight (never happened to us before), so we were able to stretch out.

 

[minnie2000]

Friday 18th December

We woke on the plane at about 5.30 UK time, and the captain informed us that there was snow at Gatwick, and the airport was shut. We didn't feel quite so excited about the snow at that point.

We were diverted to Manchester, and then landed and sat on the plane for 2 hours. We made it to the terminal building where we were given vouchers to buy food, but the only place was a little Spar shop in the airport. We were told to get on the bus outside, but there were lots of busses, and no-one knew which ones were the rights ones. It was chaos. We finally got on the right bus and made the 4 hour trip to Gatwick. Once there, we found our car, and made the 4 hour journey home. It was the longest trip back from Florida ever!

Even with the journey back, we had a great holiday. We were in Florida for a week, which was the shortest time ever for us. We found that a week was too short, when we considered how long it took to travel there and back, so when (not if!) we return to Florida, we will try to stay for 10 days or 2 weeks.

Thanks for reading - hope you enjoyed it!

 

[accord99cutie]

I'm so glad you finished this! I enjoyed reading it very much!! It gets me more excited for our trip in 20 days!!!

 

[blackthidot]

West SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE! :ROFLOL:

 

[WishIWasAtWDW]

sounds like a wonderful trip! i love your picture of the rhino from kilimanjaro safari and that mk train picture is awesome!! that stinks about the long journey home. i would love to stay at the poly in the near future. it sounds like its a great resort! thanks for sharing your trip report!

 

[minnie2000]

West SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE! :ROFLOL:

Sorry - don't understand?

 

[tiaragirl]

Sorry - don't understand?

Er, her hand gesture.. I'm sure it was an accident. Doesn't mean anything bad though, so no worries!


Picturse look great.. wish I was eating at Ohana tonight, ughh.

 

[blackthidot]

Sorry - don't understand?

yeah if you glance real quick it looks like she is throwing up the "W" sign...


Im just being silly thats all! :ROFLOL:

 

[tiaragirl]

yeah if you glance real quick it looks like she is throwing up the "W" sign...


Im just being silly thats all! :ROFLOL:

One (epic) time, my friend, my cousin, my aunt, and I had an *elevator* to ourselves on TOT.

Lisa threw the *west coast* sign.
Our picture got blocked.

Still an epic story.

 

[minnie2000]

oh OK - just never heard of the W sign - I must live a sheltered life :ROFLOL:

 

[Ghall]

Love all the pictures, great report. Christmas time at Disneyworld is great.

 

[blackthidot]

One (epic) time, my friend, my cousin, my aunt, and I had an *elevator* to ourselves on TOT.

Lisa threw the *west coast* sign.
Our picture got blocked.

Still an epic story.

That is really stupid...I can't believe they blocked that. It would have been your school or support or George Bush.

 

[blackthidot]

oh OK - just never heard of the W sign - I must live a sheltered life :ROFLOL:

I'm going to have to slightly agree...you live in UK so there is SOMEWHAT an excuse that you did not know what it was.


We still love you though!!! :wave:

 

[blackthidot]

Just so we are clear....here is the "West Side Sign"

 

[Princess Clayre]

Friday 18th December

We woke on the plane at about 5.30 UK time, and the captain informed us that there was snow at Gatwick, and the airport was shut. We didn't feel quite so excited about the snow at that point.

We were diverted to Manchester, and then landed and sat on the plane for 2 hours. We made it to the terminal building where we were given vouchers to buy food, but the only place was a little Spar shop in the airport. We were told to get on the bus outside, but there were lots of busses, and no-one knew which ones were the rights ones. It was chaos. We finally got on the right bus and made the 4 hour trip to Gatwick. Once there, we found our car, and made the 4 hour journey home. It was the longest trip back from Florida ever!

Even with the journey back, we had a great holiday. We were in Florida for a week, which was the shortest time ever for us. We found that a week was too short, when we considered how long it took to travel there and back, so when (not if!) we return to Florida, we will try to stay for 10 days or 2 weeks.

Thanks for reading - hope you enjoyed it!

Poor things. The Manchester - Gatwick - Wales part took as long as the flight from Orlando! It's a joke we can't deal with the snow better in this country.

Glad you had such a good trip.