Team Renfroe's 2nd Trip Report - 1,500 pictures, dining reviews, and DISmeets!

[HG_MOM]

I lurked through your last report...but I am on board for this one!
We got home from Disney the week before you left, so I am anxious to see how the weeks compared!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

I'm here!!!!!!!

Hi Kathy! Welcome aboard!

I'm here for another exciting trip report read!!!

Cool! Glad to have you along.

yay I'm onboard

Yay! disneyhockeymad is here! Good to see you!

Remember the scene where they are lost and he asks for directions and the guy says something like "you don't want to ask me because I'm not even from here"? Well, we got turned around in Mobile, Alabama and after driving around for a half hour, I decided to stop at a gas station and get directions. I told my husband if the person behind the counter says "you don't want to ask me because I'm not even from here", I was gonna scream. You'll never guess what she said. Yep, "I'm not from here". It was too funny!

The only way I can keep from having post vacation blues is to book another WDW trip and posting on the Disboards.

I LOVE that scene! We were talking about that scene on this trip! We were talking about when Clark first pulls up to the guys to ask for directions and says, "Hey, what it is, homes?" hahahaha! I love it when the guy tells him, "Okay, you see down there that sign where it says rib tips? Well, f that, you don't wanna go that way." LOVE THAT! And finally, the guy confesses, "Man, I ain't even from here...I'm from Buffalo!" (One of my absolute favorite movies of all TIME!)

subbed! great start!

YAY!! inkedupmomma is here!

Yeah--I am so glad you've started the report. Love the family photo. Your son looks so much older this year.

Aww, thanks. Doesn't DS look a LOT older this year? He acts a lot differently also. Last year, we had this mild-mannered, well-behaved 11-yr-old. This year, we have a pre-pubescent hormonal pre-teen who hates us!

I'm in-great to meet you!

Hi Mary! It was great to meet you and your DH. Wish you guys could have joined us at the R&C for a Guiness.

I'm here too! Can't wait to hear about your adventures.

We have adventures o' plenty!

Although the rain was horrible, it did not really effect our park touring plans. It did however, effect our night time plans. For example, we cancelled our California Grill reservations on Wed and dined at the Yachtsman at our hotel. This was our 2nd meal there on the trip. We also cancelled our Rose and Crown dinner for the Cape May Cafe in the BC. We did this because we were staying at the YC and therefore we could walk without getting rained on again. All in all we had a great time but felt dissapointed that there was simply so much rain. On a scale of 1-10 we would rate our trip an 8, but it would be a 10 without the rain.

I hear ya. It only interfered with our plans on one day...but I don't want to get ahead of myself.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Subbing and reading

Hi Rosie! Welcome aboard!

Wow- Has a whole year passed since you got back last time?

oh mi gawd--

I loved your trip report last time-- cant wait to hear about this one

Can you believe it? Yep, it has been a whole year. To us, it has seemed like FOREVAH! Thanks for joining us!

Hi Alan,

Subscribing!!

Wonderful photo at your first post. Said it before, say it now; You have a beautiful family!

Regards,

Luis

Yay! Glad you are here, Luis! Thanks for the comments about my family. I think they are pretty special.

I'm here! Let the partay begin!!!!!

Yay! Kara is here!!! Glad you found my report.

I can't wait to read all about your Disney adventure this year!

Your last TR was the very first one I read when I first started lurking on the Dis boards, and one of the best I've ever come across. So excited for another!

Cool! Welcome aboard, LuckyDuck.

I lurked through your last report...but I am on board for this one!
We got home from Disney the week before you left, so I am anxious to see how the weeks compared!!

Yay! No more lurky-loo! Feel free to make comments along the way. With 1,500 pictures, this report is going to take a while!

Chapter 1 is on the way.

Alan

 

[karajeboo]

Yay! Kara is here!!! Glad you found my report.

Alan

How could I NOT find it? I saw it plastered on billboards the whole way up I-4 on my way home!!!!

 

[clomahony]

Hi Alan & Family,

It was great meeting you at the Dis meet at Epcot. I'm the mom who was traveling with two pre-schoolers so generally found behind the double stroller. It was wonderful finally meeting so many Diser's in real life.

I'm looking forward to reading your trip report especially since your last one was fantastic.

 

[alan_renfroe]

DAY 1 - DEPARTURE DAY

On the Thursday night before we departed, we packed up everything in our Honda Odyssey and went to bed relatively early so we could get up early on Friday and take off as soon as possible. Orlando is about a 10 1/2 hour drive from our home in Jacksonville, Alabama.

We had to spend a little extra time with our dog, Truman. We would not be seeing him for 8 days!!

Before going to bed, we dressed the children in clothes that would be comfortable to sleep in, but that they could also wear to travel in on Friday.

Fortunately, I was able to go to sleep pretty early. However, I woke up at 3am....and was too excited to go back to sleep! I turned on the TV for a while, watched the news and the weather, then finally about 4am, I decided to wake everyone up and get going! Maybe we could beat the morning rush hour in Atlanta!

We were making good time until we got to Atlanta. (We live in the Central Time Zone, so we lose an hour when we travel to Georgia and Florida.) We were just getting to the outskirts of Atlanta at sunrise.

(By the way, the above pictures are courtesy of our dear daughter, Juliana! She asked for a digital camera this year for Christmas, so she could take her OWN pictures at WDW this year. So, at least half of the pictures you'll see in this trip report are from our 9-year-old! She's quite a photographer!)

So we get almost to Atlanta when the traffic starts getting heavy....then heavier...then heavier...and eventually standstill traffic. An accident was blocking five lanes of traffic on one of the main Interstates coming into the city. We sat in gridlock for over an hour.

Finally, things were cleared up and we were once again on our way. We completely bypassed breakfast because of the traffic...and just ate some snacks we had packed for the trip. However, by noon, we were all starving. We stopped in Tifton, Georgia at a Chick-Fil-A.

(This will be the LAST meal I mention without having pictures of the food! Lots and lots of yummy food pictures!)

Anyway, we got a full tank of gas and got back on the Interstate. Soon, we were in the state of Florida!

Coming up in the next chapter: we arrive at Disney World and check in at Coronado Springs Resort!

 

[MaryAz]

Originally Posted by MaryAz
I'm in-great to meet you!

Hi Mary! It was great to meet you and your DH. Wish you guys could have joined us at the R&C for a Guiness.

We were there-outside. Did not realize that everyone was inside until we left. Oh well.

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

I'm jumping in for the ride. Sounds like this'll be a very interesting trip.

 

[kschafer]

Ooh ooh...I can't believe I found this so quickly. I lurked around on last years TR and I'm looking forward to tons more pics of your lovely family and of course the food porn!

 

[Luis Rodriguez]

DAY 1 - DEPARTURE DAY

We had to spend a little extra time with our dog, Truman. We would not be seeing him for 8 days!!

Well, as a dog belonging to a family that label themselves as "The Griswolds", I'm pretty sure he was very glad about staying at home!!

 

[ckdsnynt]

Hi Griswolds! I always say that we are the Griswolds too. We have driven to WDW 13 times (811 miles one way) and every time, there are lots of references to Rusty, Audrey, Ellen and Clark. Just gotta love those classic movies.

I often say trip reports and pictures are what keep me sane until our next WDW vacation. So, thanks for your contribution to my sanity.

I couldn't agree with you more about the pictures! I have never done a trip report but enjoy reading everyone elses. But my pictures do help me make it to the next WDW trip!

 

[ckdsnynt]

Alan:
I'm in!
My favorite parts so far:
the pictures
the report itself
seeing the names of the people I meet at the May Meet and having a face to put with their names!
Love it all!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hurrah! You started!! And a great start it is!

Your kids look adorably sleepy with just the right amount of excitement at 4am!

to the accident blocking five lanes of traffic! Oy vey!!

Julianna is quite a photographer- looking forward to more of her photos and to "Rusty's" food reviews!

Very relieved to see in some of your replies that rain didn't interfere too badly.

Can't wait for more.

 

[dizneeat]

Okay, I made it over here and it's only page 3! Relief!!!

I will sit patiently here and wait for your next installment! It's been fun so far!

 

[Bibbidi]

Alan, what kind of dog do you have? He is soooo cute.

Too bad about the traffic holdup in Atlanta. When we drive we have to go through there as well, but usually we hit Atlanta in the middle of the day since we are coming from Cincinnati. My DH has made sure though that I can reroute us off highways when there are traffic jams due to accidents. I am his personal GPS since he won't just buy one of his own.

 

[englishrose47]

Morning Alan !!! Last night I folded my MMM shirt after washing it and just stood there reading all the names and remembering ! When the time comes to all who don't know I am the Tiara wearing ol' gal!!
I have also started my TR, but so far no pix othr than one from last year ! Once my friend helps me I too will have lots of FOOD pix ! I a anxiously waiting the next update !!

 

[Ellwood]

Hi Alan, Glad to see that you started your trip report. I lurked on your previous reports and enjoyed them very much!! Figured I would bite the bullet, and actually post on this one We were there about the same time that you were. The 16th to the 25th. Had a great time, despite the rain..

 

[Mirb1214]

I was SO excited to see you were starting a new trip report. Yours from last year was the first ever report I read on the DIS. I remembered you being from AL in your last report but I just realized you're from Jacksonville. I live in White Plains; we're practically neighbors. I can't wait to read more of your trip. We're heading down June 8-12 and again Oct 10-17 so I will be looking for some good tips.

 

[karajeboo]

Great start Alan! Hoping to beat rush hour in Atlanta??? Even minimal traffic in Atlanta is heavy!!!!! Silly man!

 

[CRdisMom]

my silly sister lives in Atlanta. She says it takes her 1 and half to get to work every morning. That just crossing town. Yikes! Sorry about the delay. Love the pictures too!