Our final
morning we had to check out and be at the Magical Express pick up by 8 am for an
11:30 flight from Orlando. We packed,
checked out, dropped off our luggage at Magical Express and grabbed breakfast
at Everything Pop. We ended our trip
still having two counter service meals but hey, you can only eat what you can
eat.
We flew down
on Airtran and back on Southwest.
Technically they are the same company but the merger was still in the
process and because of this the transfer wasn’t working and we had to check our
own luggage. It really wasn’t a big deal
to us. We took the bus back to Orlando
airport and checked our luggage then headed to our gate. We didn’t have to wait long before we began
boarding. I don’t like that Southwest
doesn’t have assigned seating. We ended
split up but the girls were able to sit together and hubby and I sat
together. The majority of the people on
the plane were going home from Disney.
It was kind of cool. The girls
watched a movie during the flight. I
held hubby’s hand and tried not to feel sick.
I told the guy on the other side of me I might hold his hand too. He laughed.
We arrived home,
gathered our luggage and went to the pickup area. Our friend was there and got out of
her car, put on a chauffeur hat and held up a sign with our name on it. It was cute and a fun way to be welcomed home.
So we were
home from a week at Disney, tired and happy.
Here is the
bad and the good. Let us start with the
bad and leave it on a happy note with the good.
The bad:
I have never
gone to Disney without a park hopper option before but we had no time to park
hop on this trip. We were very scheduled
and in the future I want less of that.
We never had time to enjoy our resort.
We always felt like we were in a hurry to get here or there. Future trips will need to be slower. The husband and I are just getting to old to
power through amusement parks. We are in
the age of slowing down and enjoying the sights. The girls really could have taken off and
ridden rides without us, but they are awesome young women who wanted to spend
time with us. (The girls are a good thing)
I had trouble
with the My Disney Experience on my android tablet. I could not directly load the app because it
was not supported. I would have to
access My Disney Experience through the internet on my tablet and it was still
very fussy. This was the biggest source
of frustration on the whole trip. We did
bring a lap top along though, and in the evenings I would have to make changes
on My Disney Experience with the laptop.
It was a good thing we brought it.
I was taken
aback by the whole refrigerator for the insulin issue. There was a breakdown in communication
somewhere. I can excuse that. The comment of “we will get to it when we get
to it” by a Disney cast member blew my mind.
I understand
that people can have a bad day or just a bad moment. I had my own little meltdown at Tusker
House. (I did apologize to the Hostess
and the girls.) I know we are going to
run into rude, mean, entitled people no matter where we go, even at Disney but I don't like it. I heard a lot of people complaining at bus
stops about people in EVC’s and assuming that the people using them were able
bodied, just lazy and/or fat. Not all
disabilities are obvious. Some people
can transfer with no problems but the long walking or long waiting is the issue
and therefore need mobility assistance. I witnessed men unwilling to give up
their seats on a bus for women holding infants.
I heard people say cruel things about others near them. I saw one guy trip people as they walked by
him and laugh about it. I am happy to
say that my girls, myself and my husband with spina bifida always gave up our
seats to women with infants and the elderly without being asked. A few folks even gave their seats to my
husband and sometimes he took them up on it.
I just wish that people would be less entitled, and judgmental, and instead
spread kindness, compassion, and understanding, especially at Disney. In the words of Wil Wheaton, king of the
geeks, “Don’t be a dick”.
The good:
The girls! They are kind, compassionate and caring. They
used manners, helped me with hubby and the wheel chair, took care of each
other, were friendly to cast members and other guests and even entertained a
few younger kids in lines. I am very
proud of both of them and they continue to impress me as they grow into
wonderful young women.
I loved the
Photopass Plus. It was especially nice
since my camera broke on the first day and we had to use the tablet and cell
phones to take photos. It was also nice
to have all of us in the photos. I will
do this again.
I loved
Disney dinning. We had never purchased
it before but we went to a character meal every day of this trip and we would
never have been able to afford it without the dinning plan. When our daughter was younger I did not see
the value in it. Now I think it is
completely worth it and would not go for an extended trip without it.
I love the
magic bands. After a few hours we all
forgot it was on. I wore mine loose,
more like a bracelet and it didn’t bother me at all. I didn’t get into the bling, but I like that
they offer it. I like how easy it was to
use for everything…opening our room door, dinning reservations, park tickets
and purchasing. It was a little too easy
to use for purchasing.
Overall, we
had a fantastic trip and we loved going and having the experience. We have booked another Disney trip for our
daughters sweet 16 in May. I am looking
forward to going again!
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