wendy & the Goof Troop- Day 9- we're goin' home ;-(

[wendy*darling]

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 , 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 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 . 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.
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

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

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


------------------
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)

[ChipDale]

Linda, I just want to let you know how much I have enjoyed your reports. I'm sure it was due to all your hard work and planning that made the trip such a success. Thanks for taking the time to share the experience with us!

------------------
Jane

[Hammer]

Linda,

Your reports were great! I really enjoyed reading them!!

I agree about the AC airport. You do not necessarily need to fly Spirit, though. USAirways flys shuttle flights to Philly from there. A lot of times you will see that USAirways will match Spirit's specials. Just go to travelocity.com (which is what I do). Many times you can get a cheaper rate than going directly from Philadelphia Intl. Airport!!

------------------
Christine ºoº

[This message has been edited by Hammer (edited August 03, 2001).]

[beth]

Linda thank you so much for sharing. I really loved your reports. I'm sorry to see them end, but I know I have more to look forward to next June!

------------------
beth
[email protected]
Intercot Staff Member

"Love and Mercy that's what you need tonight. So Love and Mercy to you and your friends tonight."

For more fun on all things Disney, check out our sister site, www.webdisney.com

For fun and info on the land that started it all check out our sister site: www.intercotwest.com

[TiggerRPh]

I'm going to miss the stories of Goof Troop!

Thanks Linda



------------------
...the most wonderful things about Tiggers, is I'm the only one.

Ray(aka TiggerRPh)
Intercot Staff : Disney & Orlando Dining; The Water Cooler

[shepherdgirl]

Thanks so much for the trip reports! They were all so good. What great planning on your part! I'm so glad everyone had a fun trip.

------------------
WDW Trips '76,'80, '81, '83, '91, '94, '95, '96, '97, '00, '01 with AP's!

[Beast_fanatic]

Good-bye Goof Troop reports!

You were great!

Thanks for sharing all the fun with us!

------------------
Rhonda

[PolyGirl40]

Linda,

When I read you had 59 pieces of baggage, my immediate thought was "How can they escape losing any?"..Lo and behold, some tried

I thoroughly enjoyed every word of your reenactment..I know what a blast it is to travel with 2 teen boys...I can not fathom the lunacy you must have encountered.. ..~LOL~.There must be a special merit badge for that alone!!

What an exhausting undertaking, and you pulled it off!..Kudos!

Your reports are always so fun to read, and these were a gem!!..Can't wait to read all about the Villa come next June!!

Thank you!


------------------
~Carol
"To get to the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain."

[Barbruka]

I truly enjoyed reading all your Goof Troop reports! I don't think anyone realizes how much thought, planning and work went into preparing for a trip like this! You must be an amazing person!!!

P.S. I made my husband (who is a Scoutmaster), sit down and read this whole trip report! He was amazed at how well you pulled it all off!

------------------
Barbruka 74,77,82,87,95, offsite
99 DXL
Next trip Sept. 2001 AKL & Poly

"I am there everyday in my heart and in my memories."

[Jillpie]

Why, oh why do these trips always have to end?? Thanks so much Linda, its so much appreciated all the time you took to type all of them!!! I loved them!

------------------
Mar.99-Dixie Landings
Mar.00-Dixie Landings
Apr.0l-Dixie Landings(I refuse to call it that other name)
Apr.02-Pop Century, l0 days!

[roadplayr]

Bravo

(standing ovation)

Nice job on ALL your reports!
So glad the troop did something nice for you too in return. I think you deserved it!

------------------
Chuckyroadplayr
Intercot Staff: Disney Camping
[email protected]

"....but I don't want to be a pirate!"

[ElenitaB]

Linda,

What great reports and what a great job you did organizing it all! And you even got some play time in for yourself! That's especially amazing!

Thanks for sharing!

------------------
Nov 00 - PO
May 01 - Contemporary (on a business trip)
Nov 01 - PO/FQ
2002 - maybe a quick trip
Jan 03 - WL? AKL? ½ Marathon, followed by Disney Cruise!

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles; it empties today of its strength"

[Pongo]

Your trip reports had a way of bringing tears to my eyes more times than I want to admit.

Thanks for taking the time to post all the details.

------------------
Lori (aka Pongo)
[email protected]
Intercot Staffisneyland

[honeybear]

Boy am i going to miss your reports, I thank you for sharing and congratulations on planning your next trip. Do you think you could tell me more about the programs you attended and who do you talk to about setting them up.

------------------
Everybody Wants to be a Cat --The Aristocats

[wendy*darling]

honeybear-
I'd be happy to share information about our programs. They are all available through the Disney Web site- type in Youth Educational Series and it will take you to a few options.
We did 10 of about 20+ offerings. That's a huge amount!

You have to have a group of 10 or more students (ages 5-21) and register that way. But it can be school, scouts, or other youth groups.

You can stay on-site or off. We certainly preferred on-site- I can't imagine having to have buses going in and out of the property every day. We'd have missed sooo much!

You can email me directly if you want specific information. I'd be happy to help.

Thanks for reading the reports- I had fun reliving the experience!

------------------
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)

[DisneyWizard]

It's over?

Thank you very much for these reports- very fun to read and I commend you for all of the hard work going into the trip and the reports as well!

------------------
-Casey
(Kc, Wizzy, DizWiz)

"...I say believe in the future. The world is getting better."
-Walt Disney