We were by now into a well worked holiday routine. A lovely morning by the pool before heading off out later after an early lunch. Except this morning I decided to have a quick dash to Walmart before anybody else ventured out of bed to look for a particular Christmas present.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Walmart store on Lake Wilson Road. In the past it has been chaotic, busy and poorly stocked. Whether it is now under new management but it wasn’t any of those things, not that I could find what I was looking for. I returned just with some special golf tees I had been searching for.
We all enjoyed our chill time by the pool before all heading out at 1.15pm. We decided to have one final attempt at gaining access to a Disney hotel in the car by driving to Fort Wilderness but were turned away again much to Karen’s annoyance. Instead, we headed back to Celebration, using a road we had never driven before and passing a whole row of shops we never knew existed.
Celebration Town Centre was quiet. We all had a drink in Starbucks watching the world go by, before wandering along and popping in a couple of shops on Main Street. After another wander around the Lake, we went back to the villa to sadly start our packing for the trip home. Both of our cases are much fuller than when we came and we are both starting to worry if we will be able to close them.
I used Skype to call the management company and requested a late check out from the villa tomorrow as nobody has it booked for a few days. They were happy to be able to accommodate us which means we can have a relaxed morning before leaving to go straight from here to the airport at 2pm.
We also completed our online check in for our flights home. Karen was not happy we were allocated a middle and aisle sit in a 3 configuration but if we are not prepared to pay out to pre-book then we get what we are given. A note did pop up on the screen saying the flight is very oversold and that they are already looking for volunteers to offload to a later flight. Neil though wants to get home and get sorted for work back on Monday.
For our final dinner we went to the nearby Longhorn where the service was good as was the food. Whilst eating we reflected upon the trip and gave it all a massive thumbs up. We had done everything we had planned to do and more. We had been so lucky with the weather as well. It had been everything we needed and wanted and more. For me, the only thing that could have improved it would have been to have had Barry & Ellie with us.
We drove for the final time to Disney Springs where we parked in the orange garage and had a lovely slow meandering stroll. Neil insisted on showing me the ‘scummy’ shirts in the Pele shop. They even had the Ed Sheeran designed pink 3rd shirt which I wiped my hands on.
I bought a cookie from the new Cookie shop for us to share. It was a poor substitute for one from Gideons.
For a Thursday night in November, Disney Springs was still extremely busy. The Disney shop was a heaving mass of humanity with people carrying armfuls of overpriced merchandise to the tills. Disney themed clothing and hats look great whilst you are here but would you wear them on a cold wet Tuesday evening in Stoke?
Whilst on the subject of clothing there was still a strange mixture of clothing being worn. Some people were almost dressed for winter wearing jeans, sweatshirts and jackets whilst others were walking around in beachwear. Neither were appropriate for here on what we would call in the UK a lovely warm summer evening. We have lived in T shirts and shorts and not had to resort to any other layers at all at anytime.
We stood and watched a couple of the different bands playing at the various stages. One was a far too aggressive heavy band for Disney whilst the other was so mellow I swear some of the people watching were sound asleep.
As ever Neil complained as we walked past the STK restaurant that we have never eaten there. With prices for steaks around $100 each – we never will.
At the Salt & Straw outlet, Neil got himself a speciality ice cream that he sat and enjoyed before we walked back to the car. This time in the car park I remembered to put on the car lights before pulling away.
Back at the villa I finished the wine whilst Karen had one of the last beers whilst watching our last Shark Tank for a while. Foodwise, we have judged it not too bad with it look like there will be not too wasted. We did judge the number of snacks needed wrongly and will be trying to take them home with us.
And so off to bed for the last time this trip. The villa has been so good we have booked it again for this time next year. Just need to sort out the free flights to get here when they are released.
