Mad Dogs and Englishmen - Day 13 Time to go home

[BONZO]

Day 13 - Sunday 31st August 2003


Cast list:

Shaun - 40 something 'If it's not alcoholic I won't drink it'
Alison - 30 something 'If it spins I won't even look at it'
Alexandra - 10 'If it goes upside down I'LL LOVE IT!'
Laura - 8 'If it's not pizza I won't eat it'


Boo Hoo – last day
Ah – but wait! – what was the phone call about last night?
Had I won the lottery? family member ill ? Flights cancelled or delayed?

Ok – waiting over – the call was from Christian in security asking if we could contact him as they had a bag but wanted to clarify the description. I mean, how else could you describe a Mickey Mouse head shaped bag?

The only trouble was that his shift finished at 10pm and didn’t start again until late afternoon the following day. However, he did mention that the phones would be manned and that we should call in the morning.

I told everyone not to get their hopes up and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Ok – back on track – day 13 proper starts here!
Woke up in the morning and had breakfast (same food as yesterday) in the Club Lounge.
We went back to the room and made the call to security. I tried my best to describe the bag (easy as I had one in front of me), and they didn’t sound convinced. In the end they said they’d send someone up to the room for a positive ID.

Not long after a man came up holding a MICKEY HEAD BAG! – YAHOO!
Yes, this was it and it still had Laura’s Lanyard and pins inside. Where had it been? Had someone handed it in? Was it lost in storage ? – we’ve no idea but real happy to get it back.

We just stared at each other in stony silence for a while and then burst out laughing.

The upshot of all this was that we have a mountain of pins, several lanyards and 2 bags! At least the girls weren’t complaining although I did consider taking the other bag to the shop. That was an expensive day or so that it was missing!

We checked out, handed the luggage over to Bell Services to look after (yes, I know - we're gluttons for punishment!) and headed over to IOA for the last time.

The park was really packed by this time (understandably) but Alexandra wanted to ride the Hulk for the last time but even the Express Pass line was going nowhere fast so with tears (Alexandra’s, not mine), we left the queue. Similarly, the queue for Ptenanadon Flyers was massive so Laura wasn’t best pleased either. (We ended up promising the girls that we'd take them to Thorpe Park when we got home in the few days before they went back to school).
We ended up doing the Flying Unicorn and all the rides in Suess Landing before going back to the hotel for a last swim in the pool to freshen up and to take some pictures around the hotel.

We called for the luggage, examined the number of bags VERY carefully , hopped in the car and drive to the airport by various toll booths as the rain started. Car handover was very smooth at the airport.

As we queued up to check in we saw a large notice next to the queue line. The notice went something like this: -

Dear Passenger,

This flight has been overbooked and therefore we need to reduce the number of people on this flight. For those of you that are flexible in your travel plans we can offer you the following package: -

Remain at the airport until 4pm when we will transfer you to a local hotel.

In the morning you will fly from Orlando to Atlanta airport where you pick up a connecting flight back to Gatwick.

BA will pay the following: -

Accommodation charges
Transfer charges
Compensation of $400 per adult and $200 per child paid in cash.
Please enquire at the check-in desk.

Blimey! – that’s good – another day in the parks and $1200 cash!

We ran up and tried to bite their hands off but unfortunately they'd already had enough offers by the time we asked – but hey ho. That'll teach us to check in a bit earlier next time!

The flight went really quickly for a change - it's usually the worst bit of the holiday. We watched some films (including Holes which was excellent). The only downside was that we hit turbulence and tried going under and over it but no luck. The seatbelt sign came on and the captain said that this would go on for 90 MINUTES! – it was like a never ending ride on the Hulk! You should have seen the rush for the loos by the time it finished and we were allowed to get up!

As per normal, Laura fell asleep for a couple of hours at least and Alexandra fell asleep as we were about to land - she had about 3 minutes max! We landed at 6.45 - more or less on time.
Arrived at airport, got taxi and arrived back home by 8.15am safe, sound and skint!

Thanks for reading and only about 7 months until the next batch.

[KayleeUK]

Thank you for sharing Shaun, Alison, Alexandra and Laura

Wonderful reports.

[Minniespal]

Wonderful reports ~ Thanx for sharing.

[Mrs Dazzle]

Aw - so pleased the bag turned up.

Thank you everyone - I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all about this trip.

Looking forward to 7 months time:D

[billybluenose]

Thanks for sharing your excellent trip report.

So glad that the bag turned up on the last day. The girls must have been delighted with their haul of pins.

Come to think of it .......






Are you sure they never hid it ??

[Astrid]

Thanks you guys for all the reports - sounds like you had a fantastic time.

Hooray for the bag!!

Astrid

[Mike Jones]

...thanks for entertaining us for the last few days, and for all the hard work collating the report. Glad about the bag! Roll on December. Mike

[UKAnnie]

Made great reading - thanks so much. Brought back loads of good memories.

I particularly enjoyed hearing of places where you had eaten off-site - thanks for doing the spade work (well someone's got to do it). By the way - where is Race Rock located? Also nearest Chilli's and Golden Corral? We haven't been to any of them. We will be located in the north end of I-Drive in December, very near Universal entrance. Any help would be appreciated.

Ann.

[La_brer_bear]

Great report. We were one of the few yanks in the parks towards the end of your trip.

[BONZO]

Hi folks,

Eating eh? - yes, tough job but someone has to do it! - LOL

Race Rock is at 8986 I-Drive

Race Rock





Chilis one is at 7021 I-Drive


Chilis





Golden Corral one is at 8023 I-Drive


Golden Coral






Will this lot keep you going?

[BONZO]

La_brer_bear


Just wanted to - glad that you enjoyed the reports.

[UKAnnie]

Thanks for the links. Can't wait to try them. We went to Chili's 5/6 years ago on our trip out west. Friends took us and recommended the chicken fried steak? It was the most disgusting thing I've ever tried and I was ill for days after it. I've steered away from Chili's ever since. But I think I just chose the wrong thing, so will give them another try this time - but I just won't be making the same menu selection!

Ann.

[WebmasterPenny]

Fantastic reports - thank you!

So glad the bag turned up in the end too - and a big fat doh! that you couldn't get the extra day from BA afterall.