TR so Far.

[Csaks]

Well it's 9:30 at night and we are at Quality Inn in Hardeeville SC. So far it has been 18hrs on the road and the best part is gas is cheap down here!

We filled up at 1.63 a gallon in Columbia SC :eek: and the other was 1.99 a gallon in Flatwoods WV.

Other than two single car wipeouts it has been uneventful. The first had us held up from Moorsville to Charlotte for over an hour:sad2: and the second we just missed by a few minutes, tow truck but no police. I can't figure out why they ended up were they did but it didn't look like anyone got hurt.

I have a bunch of pics but this connection is to slow to download them.

P.S. It's raining horses and cows down here right now.

Rest stop in PA.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Thedrivedown08004.jpg

Tunnel entrance.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Thedrivedown08013.jpg

Just before the NC boarder.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Thedrivedown08019.jpg

Five percent downgrade with a oh no rescue ramp.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Thedrivedown08031.jpg
I'll be pulling in sometime tomorrow.:cool1: :banana:

[Ham Ham]

Travel safe.
Sounds like you took either 79/77 or 81/77.

GTA is forecast to get a messy storm Sunday evening/Monday morning.
Amount of snow depends on if we stay above or below.

Think of us when you're sitting in the hot tub at your hotel.

[Csaks]

79/77 route Ham Ham. Not to many State Troopers either compared to last years trip, not one on US19:confused3 .

If this is the storm on it's way to Ont. you better hope it stays warm! I can't believe the amount of water coming down right now. Reminds me of the one we had a few summers ago that flooded everything.

[glenpreece]

those truck ramps freaked me out when we drove in '05

[BitsnBearsMom]

Drive safe..... I hope the water is getting wrung out of the clouds down there so we don't get it too bad!!
May you find sunny skies in Florida!!

[dis_guy]

Thanks for the pics! Being an Albertan, we really don't have the choice of driving down (unless you have lots of time) and it's not a part of the US I've ever seen. How long was the tunnel?

[cslittle999]

There are two tunnels on I77. The Big Walker Mountain Tunnel is 1288 m and the East River Mountain Tunnel is 1649 m.

[grantclaire]

Keep the Reports coming! We are thinking of driving of driving down next year. Have never done it. When did you leave Ont ?

[cslittle999]

The drive from the Toronto area is about 21 hours on the I79/77 route. We like to leave around 5 AM and stop around Charlotte (either just North or just South). That's around 13 hours. That lets us get into WDW mid/late afternoon the next day.

[MinnieMommy]

Safe journey. :goodvibes
Can't wait for more! :surfweb:

[Csaks]

Keep the Reports coming! We are thinking of driving of driving down next year. Have never done it. When did you leave Ont ?

We left at 3am and stopped at 9pm at SC/ GA border.

Sunday afternoon was WET. Tornado warnings south of Orlando.:scared1: :scared1: We went to the MK but it was a MVMCP night so we decided to go to Epcot by way of monorail. Tried out the new Spaceship Earth, it was pretty good. Did I ever tell you how much I hate flash photos:mad: :mad: . Had something to eat at the place near Mouse Gear and came up with the DUMB idea to walk to DHS EMH, somewhere on here I read it's not a long walk from the Boardwalk, Balderdash!!! I am not going to live that one down for a long while. Spent the night at DHS, even with EMH it wasn't to bad. The only thing in the whole park with a wait was Toy Story 90 mins.

I gotta go the boss is ready, finally:woohoo: .Oh I'm gonna pay for that one.

I'll post some more pics tonight.

[SaskDisNut]

Glad to here you made it safe and sound. So how is the weather forecast looking? And how is CSR?

[Csaks]

Glad to here you made it safe and sound. So how is the weather forecast looking? And how is CSR?


Sunny and cool, mid teens.
How is CSR, well let's just say it is a great resort but is not for us. I can't seem to figure out what it is, El Centro has everything you could need. We have visited the bar, restaurant and Pepper Market. The few times we took the buses they were not much of a wait. This place is vast, maybe that is one of the things that is bugging me. Our room is the best view we have ever had but we don't go to the main lobby unless there is a reason, we are in 8B facing the lake but it's a nice hike to the front. The Ranchos in the next area have some great landscaping around them and are beautiful but I could not imagine staying in them, talk about the boonies. We are missing POR and AB section it seemed more intimate and cosy.
Like I said great place but not for us.

I'll try and put some pics up later.

[Ham Ham]

Enjoy your time in FLA

The country may be a little different when you return.


The Tragically Hip will lead a coalition government, Celine Dion will become Governor General and our new national anthem will be the Rodeo Song.

Please return to you holiday.

http://www.hss.edu/files/Hip_picture.jpg

[SaskDisNut]

Sunny and cool, mid teens.
How is CSR, well let's just say it is a great resort but is not for us. I can't seem to figure out what it is, El Centro has everything you could need. We have visited the bar, restaurant and Pepper Market. The few times we took the buses they were not much of a wait. This place is vast, maybe that is one of the things that is bugging me. Our room is the best view we have ever had but we don't go to the main lobby unless there is a reason, we are in 8B facing the lake but it's a nice hike to the front. The Ranchos in the next area have some great landscaping around them and are beautiful but I could not imagine staying in them, talk about the boonies. We are missing POR and AB section it seemed more intimate and cosy.
Like I said great place but not for us.

I'll try and put some pics up later.

Thanks for the update. We've got lots of warm stuff packed for the cool evenings. It is -15C with a -25C windchill :eek: around here right now so anything will feel better than this!

CSR sounds great but ya this size of the resort might be a bit much. We'll see for ourselves in a few days.

[Csaks]

Enjoy your time in FLA

The country may be a little different when you return.


The Tragically Hip and will lead a coalition government, Celine Dion will become Governor General and our new national anthem will be the Rodeo Song.

Please return to you holiday.

http://www.hss.edu/files/Hip_picture.jpg

I heard about all that just before we left, whether a Mickey Mouse government (pun intended) or a new election, our country doesn't need this right now.

Thanks for the update. We've got lots of warm stuff packed for the cool evenings. It is -15C with a -25C windchill :eek: around here right now so anything will feel better than this!

CSR sounds great but ya this size of the resort might be a bit much. We'll see for ourselves in a few days.

-25 windchill:scared1: , I had to remind myself of that when it was cool the last few days. Haven't worn shorts yet but tomorrow looks promising.

This trucker was a Batman freak. Stuff all over the truck.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12007.jpg

Our view from our room.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12022.jpg

This is a castle shot.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12061.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12148.jpg

I got a good hologram shot, no flash needed.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12094.jpg

We went to the Space centre on Tuesday, I loved it but Amy was bored to tears:laughing: This was the pad where the three astronauts died in their ship during a test, I believe Applo 1. They launched one mission from here after the accident and then turned it into a historic site. The burn marks are still on the ground from the one launch.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney3115.jpg

That is Amy walking under the Saturn 5 rocket, it is massive, I could stand up inside the motor:eek: .It was as long as the building,if you can see the end. It is one of the rockets they were going to fly but the moon program was cancelled and all efforts were put towards the Space Shuttle program and this one and it's lunar lander are on display inside the Centre. It is truly amazing what people could do with so little, the computer had the power of a modern calculator. I wonder why they can't do something like this today:confused3 .
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney3155.jpg

[Remmy]

Great trip report thus far.

I love the pictures. The castle always looks so pretty. I would love to see it with all the lights on it.

[Csaks]

Well the Disney marketing machine deserves a pat on the shoulder, it is busy here no matter where you go. I would say it is about as busy as our April/ May trips. 60 minute wait times for all the big rides. Here is a sample crowd shot. I was thinking of you guys and gals when I took it, Amy was wondering what the heck I was shooting.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney7008.jpg

Yesterday we went to DS and Epcot. Did I say it was busy here this time! Here are some shots.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney6124.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney6112.jpg
Indy at night.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney6101.jpg

We have never seen these fiber optics. A shot Amy never knew I took.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney6180.jpg

Toy Story, worth the wait.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney6005.jpg

Back to Epcot for Candle Light. If you have never done it, it is worth doing once.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney7030.jpg

Waiting in line to get in.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney7030.jpg

I just love the Warriors in China.I would love to see the real thing someday.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney7016.jpg

Some good and bad. No big deal but some things we have noticed.

Bad - The crowds are huge compared to last year at this time.
- Le Cellier was very disappointing this year, very ho hum.
- The cleanliness is not what we have come to expect from
Disney, mostly in the parks.
- The flushing toilets, but if we got up with everyone else I guess we
wouldn't notice.:rotfl:
- Amy is having serious problems with her left knee. Never had it before!
- Rained two nights so far, but we were prepared.

Good -The Italian restaurant in Epcot was great, the food and service were
top notch.
-Candle Light was a nice thing to experience.
-Cast members in general have been great.
- MVMCP was much better when it is not raining. Will never pre-buy
the tickets again. I don't care how much is saved.
-Coronado has amazing facilities, but I wish it wasn't so big.
-Buses, when we have taken them they have been pretty good.
-Walmart has some great deals on Disney stuff at a quarter of the
price, just 5 miles away
-Did I mention the Cast Members here at Coronado have been great,
gave us directions to Walmart to get a knee brace for Amy. Instead of
showing us to their store.

That's it for now, going to bed soon.

[Csaks]

Well it's the last day before we leave for the real world and it is only fitting it ends the way it started, pouring rain:confused3 .

Here's one for the train fans, I've loved them since I was a kid.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney910075.jpg

A day time castle shot.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney910112.jpg

This has to be one of the coolest pictures I have ever taken. It was from the walkway to our room. The sun was setting on Everest, timing is every thing.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney910116.jpg

Si-Fi was a neat place to have lunch.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney8007.jpg

Amy gave me a new camera last Christmas and I just love it. I like AK, it's like a zoo on steriods. Here are some shots.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney11009.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney11014.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney11019.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney11030.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney11060.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney11156.jpg

I think we are Disney'ed out, I didn't think that could happen but we also have seen all the stage shows we never took the time to see before. They are just amazing, Lion King, Nemo, Beauty & The Beast, the Little Mermaid and the Candlelight. Well worth the time.

I actually am looking forward to going home and seeing our furry kids.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/PlayingaroundApr08019.jpg

[DearDaisyinDurham]

your pictures are so good! Safe trip home!!!!

[MinnieMommy]

Have a safe trip home. :goodvibes

Thanks for sharing, your photos have been wonderful (as always). That sunset Everest shot really is spectacular! :thumbsup2

[grantclaire]

Thanks for the great report! How was the drive back? Did you miss the bad weather?

[Csaks]

Thanks for the great report! How was the drive back? Did you miss the bad weather?

Thank you grantclaire and all others for your compliments. I can't spin an interesting story so I let the pictures do the talking.

The drive back was better than the drive there :confused3, for me. Driving down sucked the life out of me for some reason, it didn't last year so I don't know what changed.

We hit some snowstorms in the Virginia's late Friday night. I don't mind driving in it so it was no big deal, plus we had the truck which I am way more comfortable driving in bad weather. US 19 was the worst part at times visiblity maybe 100ft and going down the hills on the north part of that was interesting to say the least. That part is very empty of anything. All I could think was if I wiped out I would hear the sound of banjo's and some dude with a hunting rifle would pop out of the bush to see what's going on.:lmao:

The weirdest part was you would go from hardly being able to see to totally clear and back in the space of a few miles. I actually love driving the Virginia's and North Carolina part of the trip through the mountains, it keeps you on your toes and the miles seem to fly by. The parts above and below that are mind numbing, set the cruise and try and stay awake.

There was a rolled over tractor trailer on the south bound side of 77 or 79 ( can't remember off the top of my head) in the Virginia's that night, blocking the highway and backing up the other side for 10 miles. From what I could see he lost it coming down a hill in a set of S bends, probably going too fast and put her on her passenger side. I drive a Tri-axle dump truck once and a while, so I have an idea what driving a big truck feels like. Some of the guys down there are nuts and I'm surprized more of them don't end up on there sides.:sad2:

The trip on Sat. was uneventful. We had stopped at The Knights Inn in Bridgeville PA the night before. I wanted to stop at the Holiday Inn up the street but Noooooo the boss said it was too much. A couple of times a year I actually am right about something and this was one of them.:rotfl: This place was interesting for the lack of a better word, in need of a remodeling first came to mind.:lmao: So after Amy stripped the bed checking for ????????? I was finally able to go to sleep. After all those klm's I was almost in an accident on the 407 near Kennedy Rd. I was minding my own business doing 115klm in the middle lane, I was coming up on a car in the right lane. It started to drift into my lane just as I am starting to pass. No big deal right, wrong, at that moment in time there was someone passing me on the left and a guy right up my butt. I couldn't go left and I couldn't slam on the brakes, thankfully they noticed the big black chunk of steel getting closer and closer to their window while using their CrackBerry:mad: . Wouldn't that figure, after all those klm's getting into an accident an half an hour from home.

[Csaks]

Here are some picture's from the last day.

This is how it started.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12003.jpg

But it cleared enough to go out one last time.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12006.jpg

Tried to get the boat moon and castle clearly, this was the best one.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12015.jpg

One last run on one of my favorities.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12030.jpg

Guess where this one came from?
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12033.jpg

One look back.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12044.jpg

Last look from the ferry on the way to the TTC.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/lowerider/Disney12054.jpg

All in all it was a good trip. The first week was busy, crowd wise, but nothing serious. We will not be going back for at least two years, to much of a good thing I suppose.

[iluvwesties]

Excellent trip report, Chris :thumbsup2

I was there from Nov 29 to Dec 7th (flew down with WestJet)

I got drenched waiting for the Nov 30th Candlelight Processional, BUT the show was AWESOME! I have some pics of John O'Hurley as the narrator, but wasn't sure if there is any restriction in posting celebrity shots here:confused3

I thought the crowds were heavier also this time (for early December) but having said that I still managed to see everything I wanted to.

Did you see any Dream Teams?

I was in the parks for 5 out of 8 days and never saw them once! ( I was at park opening 3 out of 5 days)

Glad to hear you made it home safely :)

iluvwesties (aka Carol from Whitby) :wave:

[Csaks]

Excellent trip report, Chris :thumbsup2

I was there from Nov 29 to Dec 7th (flew down with WestJet)

I got drenched waiting for the Nov 30th Candlelight Processional, BUT the show was AWESOME! I have some pics of John O'Hurley as the narrator, but wasn't sure if there is any restriction in posting celebrity shots here:confused3

I thought the crowds were heavier also this time (for early December) but having said that I still managed to see everything I wanted to.

Did you see any Dream Teams?

I was in the parks for 5 out of 8 days and never saw them once! ( I was at park opening 3 out of 5 days)

Glad to hear you made it home safely :)

iluvwesties (aka Carol from Whitby) :wave:

Never once did we see any teams, last year we saw one almost everyday. People where walking around with the FastPass cards though, so they were around. An American I was talking to in a smoking area said the crowds were heavier the first week because their Thanksgiving is a week later than most years. Don't know what or how it effects things but it was busier that week.