wendy*darling
08-03-2001, 02:37 PM
OK guys- this is it- my last report from a wonderful trip. I wish the trip could have lasted longer, but here is...
Day NINE, July 1, 2001
Reveille came for the last time at 6:00AM. We slowly dragged ourselves out of our tents, dressed and began packing our last minute items and breaking down camp. We had our last cold breakfast and offered the remaining fruit and milk, etc. to a new scout troop that had moved in the day before. But they were leaving today also.
I double-checked that the vans would be allowed into the campground to pick us up. That whole ordeal took about 6 phones calls to get straightened out yesterday... between Guest Services at FW and the towncar company... we finally did it. The cars are not allowed into the campground for security reasons. A very good plan I think. BUT, for the 30 of us to get ourselves AND gear up to the Main Building- well... it would have been completely impossible!! So they came back to the same place they dropped us off- the bus stop for Creek side Meadow. And we were all ready to go, we had moved everything up to the bus stop in stages and it was loaded on the vans without a problem.
The drive back to the airport was solemn. We talked quietly about the week.
We were dropped off at the curb and a friendly Spirit airlines valet cheerfully checked in all 59 of our bags http://www.intercot.com/boards/eek.gif, gave us our claim tickets and we entered the airport. We had about 1 hour til departure. A lot of us really didn’t eat much (if anything) for breakfast and chose to wait til we got here. We swarmed McDonald's and a few other stands and got eggs and muffins, coffee, juice and more. We chatted and got ready for the flight.
We boarded about 20 minutes before take-off, found our seats and took off right on time. The flight was uneventful and we landed in Atlantic City at about 12:30pm to the happy faces of family members we hadn't seen in a week.
Most of our luggage was out on the carousel in minutes. But my youngest son's bag was missing as was one of our adult's bag. Unfortunately, HE had packed his car keys in the bag and couldn't leave the airport without the bag!! Spirit told him it would arrive on the next flight- in 7 hours http://www.intercot.com/boards/eek.gif We are tired and weary and glad to be almost home. I don't think I can hang out here much longer. Well, everyone was leaving and one family had arranged to wait to see the outcome of our lost luggage story. Our adult traveler was making out the lost luggage claim form and trying to arrange to be given a rental car so he could go home and come back when his bag arrived, without disrupting too many other people with the chauffeuring detail. Lo and behold!- they found the missing bags http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif. Both my son's and the chaperone's bags were "hidden" away somewhere and finally were found. Whew! We don’t have to come back and we have ALL our stuff!
We live about 45 minutes from the Atlantic City Airport and although Philly is about half the distance in miles, it's about the same time-wise to Philly or AC. But we can park at AC for FREE for the whole week and there is sooo much less traffic and people hassle. It's quite a pleasant experience. We will now be flying Spirit for all our Orlando trips!
We arrive home and unloaded the truck. http://www.intercot.com/boards/blue.gif
Wow... I know you ALL know how depressing it is to be back at home and realize the vacation you had been planning for so long is really and truly over.
But I was so very PROUD that I had actually pulled this off. From the first very resistant committee meeting when I explained my idea, through all the plans, tickets and merit badge work, right through the programs, meals and fun free time in Disney World! We all had a fantastic time, no one got sick or hurt, and I'm even hearing whisperings of "when should we do this again?!" And I'll be there in a heartbeat- after all, I know all the ropes now- the next trip will be a snap http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif
We were only back 2 or 3 days when my husband & I picked the dates for our next family trip!! The same week in June next year. My ressies are already made for a 2 bedroom unit at the Wilderness Lodge Villas- this will be our first trip "home" as DVC members and my parents are joining us! I am relieved I didn’t have to go too long without another trip in the works http://www.intercot.com/boards/wink.gif
Thank you to everyone at Intercot for reading and commenting on my reports. It was fun to write them (although I wish I could have had them done a little sooner).
Everyone else- keep writing trip reports- I love to read yours as well http://www.intercot.com/boards/ksmile.gif
------------------
Linda aka: wendy*darling
Intercot Staff: Disney & Orlando Dining
[email protected]
DVC owners at the Wilderness Lodge Villas
WDW:
4/92 (MK day trip only); 9/93 (Poly); 10/96 (DL & BC); 6/98 (YC); 2/00 (Contemporary); 12/00 (BWI); 6/01(FW tent camping with the Boy Scouts!!)
Next trip: June 2002 (ASMovies and VWL)
Day NINE, July 1, 2001
Reveille came for the last time at 6:00AM. We slowly dragged ourselves out of our tents, dressed and began packing our last minute items and breaking down camp. We had our last cold breakfast and offered the remaining fruit and milk, etc. to a new scout troop that had moved in the day before. But they were leaving today also.
I double-checked that the vans would be allowed into the campground to pick us up. That whole ordeal took about 6 phones calls to get straightened out yesterday... between Guest Services at FW and the towncar company... we finally did it. The cars are not allowed into the campground for security reasons. A very good plan I think. BUT, for the 30 of us to get ourselves AND gear up to the Main Building- well... it would have been completely impossible!! So they came back to the same place they dropped us off- the bus stop for Creek side Meadow. And we were all ready to go, we had moved everything up to the bus stop in stages and it was loaded on the vans without a problem.
The drive back to the airport was solemn. We talked quietly about the week.
We were dropped off at the curb and a friendly Spirit airlines valet cheerfully checked in all 59 of our bags http://www.intercot.com/boards/eek.gif, gave us our claim tickets and we entered the airport. We had about 1 hour til departure. A lot of us really didn’t eat much (if anything) for breakfast and chose to wait til we got here. We swarmed McDonald's and a few other stands and got eggs and muffins, coffee, juice and more. We chatted and got ready for the flight.
We boarded about 20 minutes before take-off, found our seats and took off right on time. The flight was uneventful and we landed in Atlantic City at about 12:30pm to the happy faces of family members we hadn't seen in a week.
Most of our luggage was out on the carousel in minutes. But my youngest son's bag was missing as was one of our adult's bag. Unfortunately, HE had packed his car keys in the bag and couldn't leave the airport without the bag!! Spirit told him it would arrive on the next flight- in 7 hours http://www.intercot.com/boards/eek.gif We are tired and weary and glad to be almost home. I don't think I can hang out here much longer. Well, everyone was leaving and one family had arranged to wait to see the outcome of our lost luggage story. Our adult traveler was making out the lost luggage claim form and trying to arrange to be given a rental car so he could go home and come back when his bag arrived, without disrupting too many other people with the chauffeuring detail. Lo and behold!- they found the missing bags http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif. Both my son's and the chaperone's bags were "hidden" away somewhere and finally were found. Whew! We don’t have to come back and we have ALL our stuff!
We live about 45 minutes from the Atlantic City Airport and although Philly is about half the distance in miles, it's about the same time-wise to Philly or AC. But we can park at AC for FREE for the whole week and there is sooo much less traffic and people hassle. It's quite a pleasant experience. We will now be flying Spirit for all our Orlando trips!
We arrive home and unloaded the truck. http://www.intercot.com/boards/blue.gif
Wow... I know you ALL know how depressing it is to be back at home and realize the vacation you had been planning for so long is really and truly over.
But I was so very PROUD that I had actually pulled this off. From the first very resistant committee meeting when I explained my idea, through all the plans, tickets and merit badge work, right through the programs, meals and fun free time in Disney World! We all had a fantastic time, no one got sick or hurt, and I'm even hearing whisperings of "when should we do this again?!" And I'll be there in a heartbeat- after all, I know all the ropes now- the next trip will be a snap http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif
We were only back 2 or 3 days when my husband & I picked the dates for our next family trip!! The same week in June next year. My ressies are already made for a 2 bedroom unit at the Wilderness Lodge Villas- this will be our first trip "home" as DVC members and my parents are joining us! I am relieved I didn’t have to go too long without another trip in the works http://www.intercot.com/boards/wink.gif
Thank you to everyone at Intercot for reading and commenting on my reports. It was fun to write them (although I wish I could have had them done a little sooner).
Everyone else- keep writing trip reports- I love to read yours as well http://www.intercot.com/boards/ksmile.gif
------------------
Linda aka: wendy*darling
Intercot Staff: Disney & Orlando Dining
[email protected]
DVC owners at the Wilderness Lodge Villas
WDW:
4/92 (MK day trip only); 9/93 (Poly); 10/96 (DL & BC); 6/98 (YC); 2/00 (Contemporary); 12/00 (BWI); 6/01(FW tent camping with the Boy Scouts!!)
Next trip: June 2002 (ASMovies and VWL)