Tuesday was our last day in Orlando, but we had an afternoon flight, so we were able to take it easy and have more fun before we left. We had set an alarm for 7 am to get up and run before it got horribly hot, but we woke up at 6:20. We made two loops around the lake that Caribbean Beach and Riviera sit on. When we hit the Riviera on our second lap, we stopped in for coffee.

Back at the hotel we took showers and packed. We had originally made reservations for breakfast at the Polynesian, but after our experience at O’Hana a few nights before, we decided not to go back. Instead, we just ordered ahead on the app at Centertown Market, the quick service restaurant in the main area of our resort. It was too cool to sit by the pool or get in the hot tub (out of it, really), so we decided to go to Disney Springs.

We made reservations at The Boathouse, which Ellie and Francesca had gone to last summer and recommended. We finished packing and checked our luggage with bell services, then hopped a bus to Disney Springs. While we were waiting for people to get on, the bus driver told everyone on the bus about a SpaceX rocket launch happening that afternoon at Cape Canaveral. That sounded interesting, and it was on the late side of when we would want to leave for the airport, but still within a comfortable window.

We arrived at Disney Springs when the crowds were low, walked a lot, and did some shopping. We had some drinks along the way. Andy found a really nice hat. We were mostly done and still had some time to kill before our reservation, so we stopped at a bourbon bar called The Polite Pig. It turned out it was a sister restaurant to the Ravenous Pig, the restaurant where we had our 25th anniversary dinner last June! I got a Dozen Roses flight, and Andrew got a rye flight. Both the bourbons and the service were terrific. If you’re in the Orlando area, visit the Pig locations!

After a little more shopping it was time for lunch. Our lunch restaurant was really neat. It sat right on the water, and our table was on the deck right by the water. Our server was really sharp, and I got a tuna poke that was so fresh! They had a chocolate cake for two on the dessert menu, which sounded good, so I ordered it. When it arrived, it was big enough for about eight people. I know this because, once Andy and I cut off big pieces for ourselves, we sent the cake over to the table next to us — two couples maybe ten years older than us who commented on the size of the cake — and when they sent it back there was still enough cake for two more people. It was tasty, but the size was ridiculous.

After lunch we took the bus back to Caribbean Beach and found a nice place, on the island in the middle of the lake, to watch the rocket launch. We knew generally which way to look, and when the contrail (do you use that term with rockets or just planes?) started to show, it was very obvious. And cool. I’d always wanted to watch a launch, and even though I’d still like to see one from closer some day, that was at least something. Sometimes I’m just amazed at the things we people can do when we put our minds to it.

Immediately after the launch we retrieved our bags and took a Lyft to the airport. The flight home was uneventful, but unfortunately we had a two-hour drive home. Andy got really tired, so we switched drivers about 45 minutes in, and I drove the rest of the way home. It was good to be home, but it was also really nice to have had a weekend to ourselves.