A Road Trip Engagement...The End...Updated 1/31!

[Jennifer48]

I bought my car in April 2008, new. It made sense for us to drive to Florida during the high gas price days. You remember those. Up to $4.00/gal in some places? Insanity. So we estimated driving down and compared it to flying. It was a no brainer. $200+ we’d save and again, that’s using the estimate of $4.00/gal. When we actually took the drive, prices had dropped to under $2.00/gal.

I forgot to mention where we’d be driving from. Massachusetts. 1300 miles. And I hate car rides. I don’t know how I made it alive.

2778.0 miles I put on my new car. I got an oil change right before we left and I’ll have to get another one soon.

Now for the introductions:
Jennifer48-Jennifer-Jen-Jenny, me! I'm 28 yrs old. First trip to WDW was 2000 for Spring Break. Most college students to go Cancun for Spring Break, not me! I wanted to go to Disney so bad and convinced one of my friends to go too. It was then that the obsession started.

Squall55-Daniel-Dan, DBF. He's 35 yrs old. His first WDW trip was when he was 1 yr old but of course he doesn’t remember it so we consider his first trip a family trip for his high school graduation back in 1991. They drove as well. He likes to drive and doesn’t mind it so he’ll be the main driver of this trip.

Our plan of attack was to leave early Sunday November 31st and drive as far as possible, hoping to be in Savannah, GA that night and find a spot to sleep. When I say early, I mean early. 2am early. We wanted to be past NYC/NJ before morning rush hour and we knew there would be returning Thanksgiving traffic.

So make sure your seats and tray tables are in the upright position and your seat belt is safely fastened. It’s going to be an exciting ride from the start. BIG SURPRISE Monday for those that stick around!

 

[Jennifer48]

Sunday November 31, 2008

My alarm went off at the obscene hour of 1am. I don’t know why I even bothered going to bed. I actually prepared myself though and Friday night went to bed late and got up at 5am so I’d be tired enough to go to bed early Saturday night. Which I did. I think I was in bed by 8pm.

I didn’t crawl out of bed until about 1:30a. I showered the night before and had my comfy clothes out and ready to go. All I had to do was pack my toiletries bag and pick up Dan. He only lives about ¼ mi down the road.

After dressing, I ran outside to start my car and pack it up. It was 30°F out and my car had frost. Gross. I couldn’t wait to get to Florida. It wouldn’t be hot but it would be warmer than home!

My brave parents got up to see me out, kissed me good-bye and off I went! Dan was ready when I got there. We double checked his house to make sure everything was unplugged, loaded the car and began our journey 5 minutes off schedule. It was 2:05am when we left!

We packed lots of food, drinks and things to keep us occupied. Dan was the primary driver so I just had to be his waitress and get him things as needed. I didn’t mind. Like I said, I hate driving. I’d much rather do that and keep him occupied and awake!

To keep myself occupied, I watched the 2004 ALCS Game 4. Red Sox vs. Yankees. I watched this for 2 reasons. 1) I didn’t watch it back in 2004 because the Sox were down 3 games and if the Yankees won, Sox were out of the playoffs and I couldn’t bear to watch. And 2) it was over 4 hours long because it went into extra innings. I figured that would help kill time.

We made it through NYC by 5:30a and traffic was light, which we were banking on. But once we hit NJ for our first pit stop, it was snowing! The first snowfall of the year and it was on our trek to FL. Not just snow though, sleet and freezing rain as well. Yucky. It eventually turned to rain once we hit DE and rained pretty much straight through to GA. The only snag we hit was in VA. Lots and lots of traffic. Holiday travelers making their way home, Redskins fans trying to get to the game, rain slowing everyone down, and the reason, a tree down on 95 that blocked 2 lanes of the highway. Once we past that, we were good to go.

Scary moment of the drive was in NJ. We were travelling in the center lane when 2 cars on either side of us were racing down the highway. I’m talking 90+MPH. They went by so fast, the wake jiggled our car. I have a Ford Edge, that’s not a small vehicle so you can imagine how fast they were going, in the sleet! I said a quick prayer for them and the other drivers that they wouldn’t crash and kill someone, including them.

I counted 45 South of the Border signs. I know there were more because a lot of the billboards didn’t have lights so I couldn’t make them out. No we didn’t stop. I would like to go one day though, as well to the Carolinas. Maybe one summer vacation.

There were a lot of RVs that were travelling south from Quebec. Maybe they were getting away for the winter as well.

By the time we hit the GA border, we were finished. The traffic in VA took 2 hours of our time that we couldn’t get back and we were bushed. We knew we wanted to stay in Savannah so to keep ourselves occupied, we played the Alphabet Game. We tried to name as many animals that began with each letter. Then we started with food chains. Told you it was a long ride.

18 hours later and 1040 miles, we stopped for gas and found a Hampton Inn in GA. We made it there right around 9pm. I couldn’t wait to sleep in a bed. A real bed. At a real hotel. That’s why we stayed there and not Joe’s Motel even though it would have been $50 cheaper. And let me tell you, it was the 2nd best bed I’ve ever slept in. Number 1 being the bed on the DCL. Those are like little clouds.

Sorry for the lack of photos this day but I’ll make up for it the rest of the report, believe me!

 

[Kimberly815]

Yippee!! It's finally started!

I am not a fan of road trips either. I would prefer to fly if at all possible. I can do them. But I have to prepare myself to be in the right frame of mind.

Good thinking with the Sox game. That must have helped kill quite a few hours.

I am suprised you don't have any pictures. I would have been taking pictures of the driving, the scenery, the fallen tree that blocked two lanes of traffic. But I guess I am just dorky that way! (Wait, scratch that. I may have taken the pictures, but I don't know that I would want to post them for all to see. Well, at least not the ones with me in them- I am certainly not pretty after sitting in the car for a million hours!)

 

[Jennifer48]

I am suprised you don't have any pictures. I would have been taking pictures of the driving, the scenery, the fallen tree that blocked two lanes of traffic. But I guess I am just dorky that way! (Wait, scratch that. I may have taken the pictures, but I don't know that I would want to post them for all to see. Well, at least not the ones with me in them- I am certainly not pretty after sitting in the car for a million hours!)

Thanks for stopping by!!

I'm surprised I didn't either but the majority of our trip was in the dark so maybe that's my reason....ya that's it, it was too dark

 

[Pugsly]

Looking forward to more, Jen!

 

[OhMari]

Did you post your ages correctly.
You have Dan as 55 and graduated h.s. in 1991.
I'm just checkin, LOL.
If it makes you feel any better, I hate long car rides too.

 

[Jennifer48]

Looking forward to more, Jen!

Thanks for reading Sharon. I feel bad not posting photos so I'm going to start another update soon!

Did you post your ages correctly.
You have Dan as 55 and graduated h.s. in 1991.
I'm just checkin, LOL.
If it makes you feel any better, I hate long car rides too.

LOL...those are our screen names, not our ages. I'm 28 and Dan is 35.

 

[Jennifer48]

Monday December 1, 2008

We wanted to get on the road by 8am so we could be at Animal Kingdom Lodge for check-in around noon. We woke at 6:30 and headed down to the free continental breakfast. Neither of us eats breakfast that early so we grabbed a few small things and were back on the road at 8am.

We were super excited to get to WDW to see all the decorations so when we hit the FL border, it felt like FOREVER before we saw the first signage! I could barely sit still!

Proof of my car on Disney property

We made it to AKL around 1pm and our room was ready! When I was checking in and they were showing us our room on the map I realized that we had been upgraded to Savannah view! How wonderful!

The lobby

We were in the Zebra Trail room 4532. It was a looooooooooooooooong walk from the lobby let me tell you. It was the very, last, door.

The room was small. I felt a tad bit claustrophobic. I was also deceived. We had a Savannah view and I was expecting a view. I was disappointed.

Our "savannah" view

The animals on said savannah

Enough being sad, we are at WDW and I want to get to the Magic Kingdom!

Plans were to drive to the Poly because we had dinner later that evening at O’hana, and take the monorail to the MK from there. So we parked the car in the visitor’s lot and walked around the lobby enjoying the Christmas decorations.

Decorations over main Poly doors

Gingerbread Houses

So we headed to the monorail for our next stop...the Magic Kingdom!!

 

[DSNY4ever]

Oh the title has sucked me in , can't wait to see how this trip goes. And I hear ya about the Spring break thing...when I graduated college my husband and I (he was my boyfriend at the time) went on our first trip to WDW. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate!

 

[Kimberly815]

Hooray! You made it (and in one peice)!

I agree. You definitely didn't get the best Savannah view, but what did you origionally book? Standard or Pool?

The gingerbread houses at the Poly are too cute. I wish I could make one even half as adorable!

 

[Jennifer48]

Oh the title has sucked me in , can't wait to see how this trip goes. And I hear ya about the Spring break thing...when I graduated college my husband and I (he was my boyfriend at the time) went on our first trip to WDW. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate!

Thanks for getting sucked in DSNY4ever! Disney is way better than drunk people on spring break. You can do that at Disney too in a much better environment

Hooray! You made it (and in one peice)!

I agree. You definitely didn't get the best Savannah view, but what did you origionally book? Standard or Pool?

The gingerbread houses at the Poly are too cute. I wish I could make one even half as adorable!

We originally booked a Standard view. Guess no one wanted that tiny savannah room!

The gingerbread houses were great. We were hoping they'd make the Great Ceremonial House like they did on the Travel Channel special but no, only these. They were cute tho!

 

[meloneyb21]

Subscribing!

We're driving down from PA in May. I can't wait!

 

[squall55]

Even though that view was not the best view of the savanna and walking to the room was about a 1 mile walk. Right now, I would much rather be there than here, that's for sure.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Made it over from LL's report! Great start. Oh now I want to go to AKL at Christmas!!!

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Ohhhh I'm so glad u started a TR!!!! Sounds like you had a nice drive down. I would like to try to drive down someday! Can't wait to read more ohhhh and AKL looks beautiful!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I've made it over and I am all caught up!

I bow down to you for driving. Marc is forever trying to convince that driving is the way to go. I've done it twice and don't wish to repeat it. That being said, I am sure he will wear me down someday. Hehehe.

AKL looks so beautiful, I was never interested in staying there but lately I am very very intrigued by it.

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Ok, this sounds like fun. I'm definately subbing!

 

[Jennifer48]

Subscribing!

We're driving down from PA in May. I can't wait!

Thanks for reading meloneyb21! May will be a beautiful time to drive. You'll have more daylight hours than we did!

Even though that view was not the best view of the savanna and walking to the room was about a 1 mile walk. Right now, I would much rather be there than here, that's for sure.

I 100% agree honey!

Made it over from LL's report! Great start. Oh now I want to go to AKL at Christmas!!!

Thanks for reading! They definately decorated beautifully at AKL. The tree itself was breathtaking!

Ohhhh I'm so glad u started a TR!!!! Sounds like you had a nice drive down. I would like to try to drive down someday! Can't wait to read more ohhhh and AKL looks beautiful!

Thanks for coming over Cheryl! I think if I do a road trip to FL again, I would take my time and stop at different places on the way like the battlefields in VA and the beautiful Carolinas.

I've made it over and I am all caught up!

I bow down to you for driving. Marc is forever trying to convince that driving is the way to go. I've done it twice and don't wish to repeat it. That being said, I am sure he will wear me down someday. Hehehe.

AKL looks so beautiful, I was never interested in staying there but lately I am very very intrigued by it.

Glad you made it LL. Now I just have to impress you with the few light fixture pics I took

Ok, this sounds like fun. I'm definately subbing!

Thanks for reading! New update shortly. Sorry I wasn't around this weekend but I was a little under the weather on Saturday and Sunday is a day of rest

 

[Jennifer48]

We took the monorail over to MK. I was so happy to be there! I booked this trip last December. Dan and I wanted badly to see all of the holiday decorations after we watched those specials. You know the ones. Samantha Brown’s, the one hosted by Raven, yes, those.

I was so happy we took our pic here today. This was in the main Hub where the flagpole was. This setup was gone the next day as they set up for the Christmas Day Parade that was scheduled to be filmed.

Once inside, we noticed everyone waiting for the 3:00 Parade of Dreams parade so we cut through the stores to make our way up Main Street. Our first priority was lunch since we hadn’t eaten a real meal in over 24 hours! We were going to just use counter service and I wanted to eat somewhere I hadn’t before so we made our way to Adventureland to El Pirata y el Perico for some taco salad. Well, there was a nice sign outside that said ‘El Pirata y el Perico is not serving today. Please enjoy food at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland.’ Seriously? I didn’t read that anywhere on the DIS or AllEars that it would be closed! The parade was starting in Frontierland too so we were stuck and ended up eating at Pecos Bill’s anyways. Hrumpf. By the way, we were on the Dining Plan also so I kept track of all the prices to see if 2 adults sans children made a difference. I’ll let you know at the end of the report.

I had a taco salad with chocolate chip cookie and Dan had the double cheeseburger and chocolate pudding. They didn't have the chocolate and peanut butter pie! We were shocked and appalled.

Leisure was our plan today. Enjoy the decorations, fill up our pre-purchased PhotoPass CD, fit in a ride/show here and there, and basically just enjoy each other at the Happiest Place on Earth before our dinner at O'hana. Everyone say awww...

We walked around back to Main Street since the parade was coming to an end, and scoped out photographers. **foreshadowing** While walking by Cinderella Castle, Dan said something that kinda made me think; “too bad there weren’t any photographers up by the well.” Why did that make me think? Because Dan just goes with the flow. He lets me plan, and he follows wherever with confidence in me and my fun abilities.

I suggested we head over to ride the TTA to let our lunch settle before doing anything more thrilling. This seems to be a new tradition. I love the TTA, its so relaxing.

On our way to the Tomorrowland entrance, I suggested we stop at the PhotoPass photographer at the Plaza Rose Garden. I made a mental note to come back at MVMCP to take a picture with the Castle all lit with its icicle lights.

After the last shot the photographer says “ok” and Dan replies with, “wait, just one more.”

My classy response “what do you mean ‘one more?’ Let’s go.” I had a park to see! Just then, he gets down on one knee and I LOST IT!

I don’t remember if I breathed at all but I do remember his words to me. Then he pulled out the ring box and asked to be his wife. Of course I said YES! We are in the moment and some fool yells “what did she say?!” I turn around…and say “I said yes!” and there was a gathering of, I’d guess, 15 people all of a sudden and they all broke out into applause.

We gained our composure, gathered our belongings, thanked the photographer profusely for taking as many photos as he could, and left our spot. One woman in line was even crying and her husband says to Dan, “great job!” as if he just made a presentation in front of the class or something .

Here's the ring!

We traveled on the rest of the day. We chatted about how nervous he was and we immediately started calling and texting family and friends. My head was so clouded that I didn’t know what to do! We just wandered around taking more photos and enjoying being an engaged couple for the first time.

I knew I wanted to purchase the Santa Mickey hat so we headed to the Emporium first while on the phone. It was such a strange feeling knowing this momentous occasion just occurred yet we blended in with the crowd that had no idea how special this day was to us. Almost Twilight Zone-esc. Does that make any sense?

This cute older CM was ringing up my purchases and she asked how our day was so far. I showed her the ring; she just about jumped for joy. She said that they have every other pin except for a ‘just engaged’ pin. I was so bummed. That was going to be my next stop, Town Hall. Wouldn’t you know it? When we got back I read on the DIS that they were coming out with new pins for 2009.

I had our stuff shipped back to AKL because we didn’t feel like lugging it around. We bought the hats and a mini monorail for Dan’s son.

Up next, our engagement dinner at O'hana.

 

[MickeyReeds]

Wow--how exciting! It didn't click with me when I read your title! How wonderful that he proposed with the photopass photographer there! You have some very awesome pictures!

Can't wait to read more!