Cheese Ball Yak Attack: 2 kids, 2 dogs, 1200 miles - The Sequel

[Disney Commando]

You just gave me my next van project! I'm going to install Ludicrous Speed!
We could shave about 20 hours off that 21 hour drive!

You also would need a I Brake For No One! bumper sticker

 

[stopher1]

This is the first Trip Report i'm reading. Don't let me down. I need pointers when I write my next January.
Secondly,
"I was born somewhere in the Ford Galaxy."
"Flyin' through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops, boy! You could fly right through a star or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick."

First off - DON'T delay or take too long between updates as the one, nay two who shall remain nameless have done - because that will certainly just leave you open to hijackers

Second - awesome quote additions.

Some more...

Yogurt, the wise.
Yogurt, the all-powerful.
Yogurt, the magnificent.

Please, please, don't make a fuss. I'm just plain Yogurt.




Otherwise, relax, have some fun and whatever you do, don't approach it thinking you won't be razzed, because you will - all in fun of course, but you will.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Taggage.....

Mmmmm....Cheesey Poofs

For some reason, I see you riding around your office on a trike with your mirrored aviator glasses, yelling "respect my authoritay!"

Everything went great! We could have had better weather a couple of days, but all in all it was awesome. I am really working on husband to take us back this year. maybe for halloween. And I need to be put in the Dis hall of shame for not starting a TR yet.

Good to hear and congratulations! Get him reading my TR, they have magical powers that make you all tingly. Or maybe its indigestion.
And don't get worried about not starting a TR in 3 months. If "Emmas's Dad" ever pops over here, feel free to razz him about finishing his. He's been "working" on it since May!

Usually only when the door is left open entirely too long... but in some cases, it's just plain fun to see what can be done before another update gets posted.

I'll probably have update tomorrow morning. Have fun with the next 12 hours!

This is the first Trip Report i'm reading. Don't let me down. I need pointers when I write my next January.
Secondly,
"I was born somewhere in the Ford Galaxy."
"Flyin' through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops, boy! You could fly right through a star or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick."

Welcome! But I should let you know - I don't respond well to pressure.

And how come no one has quoted Chewbacca yet? "Aaaaaarrrrr rhhhnnn gggggrrrrr"

 

[DisneyFed]

For some reason, I see you riding around your office on a trike with your mirrored aviator glasses, yelling "respect my authoritay!"

WHEN DID YOU INSTALL A CAMERA IN MY OFFICE??????

"What's the matter Colonel Sanders? CHICKEN?"

 

[stopher1]

I'll probably have update tomorrow morning. Have fun with the next 12 hours!

Buckle up back there, we're going into hyperactive!

 

[Disney Commando]

Sorry Sir, I didn't see you playing with your dolls again.

 

[middlepat]

Sandurz, Sandurz. You got to help me. I don't know what to do. I can't make decisions. I'm a president!

(Sorry, I can't remember if this is from Spaceballs, or Washington DC)

 

[Disney Commando]

Sandurz, Sandurz. You got to help me. I don't know what to do. I can't make decisions. I'm a president!

(Sorry, I can't remember if this is from Spaceballs, or Washington DC)

 

[stopher1]

Sandurz, Sandurz. You got to help me. I don't know what to do. I can't make decisions. I'm a president!

(Sorry, I can't remember if this is from Spaceballs, or Washington DC)

Your powers are weak, old man.

 

[Disney Commando]

Who are you? I'm the bearded fat lady

 

[stopher1]

Well, if it isn't Lone Star and his sidekick, Puke.

That's Barf.

 

[itJeff]

Hey Barry - awesome start to your TR!

I can't wait to see what other fun and exciting events happen on your trip. I may not be posting, but I'll try to keep up!

Some friends of ours left today, headed to The World for a week. I was jealous. The temperature here in AR was in the 60s today. Saturday we're supposed to get some snow. I wish I was in FL.

And, since I can't think of a star wars or spaceballs quote...

The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a red zone.

 

[Dugette]

Welcome and thanks for posting! It's nice to know that people are enjoying this mindless dribble that I come up with while I'm supposed to be working. Where in WI are you from?

You do good "work" at work

I was born in Madison, but moved to MN as a baby. However, I returned to go to college at UW-Madison, but now I'm back in MN. I still get out to Madison to visit my grandma, though. Probably headed out there again sometime this spring.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Hey Barry - awesome start to your TR!

I can't wait to see what other fun and exciting events happen on your trip. I may not be posting, but I'll try to keep up!

Some friends of ours left today, headed to The World for a week. I was jealous. The temperature here in AR was in the 60s today. Saturday we're supposed to get some snow. I wish I was in FL.

And, since I can't think of a star wars or spaceballs quote...

The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a red zone.

Welcome! I'm glad you found a little time to pop in between classes, work and your own planning. Whenever you need to waste some time, you know where to find me!

This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.
A hospital? What is it?
It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now.

You do good "work" at work

I was born in Madison, but moved to MN as a baby. However, I returned to go to college at UW-Madison, but now I'm back in MN. I still get out to Madison to visit my grandma, though. Probably headed out there again sometime this spring.

So in keeping with what has devolved into a Star Wars theme around here, you were born in the light side of the force, were immediately taken to the dark side, came back to the light, then returned to the dark side. Well, there's still hope for you. Embrace your inner Cheesehead!

I went to college in La Crosse, so I was friends with lots of Minny-sotans. (For those of you not familiar with the Midwestern Dialect, that is the correct phonetical spelling) Packer/Viking weeks got very interesting back in those days.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

And how come no one has quoted Chewbacca yet? "Aaaaaarrrrr rhhhnnn gggggrrrrr"

That Chewie...so quotable...

Wow, we have 3 different movies going on in here. That's pressure. It's getting harder to keep up.

"The combination to the airlock is...1...2...3...4...5."

"No, the red zone is for loading and unloading only. There is no parking in the white zone."

"Chewie, take the Professor in the back and plug him into the hyperdrive."

 

[trennr]

oooh...I wonder what I did with my Spaceballs Flame-Thrower????

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Before I get into our Saturday events, I thought I'd get into a few details about the drive down. There is usually a lot of debate on the Transportation board regarding the cost of flying vs. driving.
For us, we would have to buy 4 plane tickets. With some research and work, you can find flights from Milwaukee to Orlando for around $1200. Plus we would have to pay someone to watch the dogs. A professional boarder was around $200. With Bambi's parents down there, we wouldn't have to rent a car so that cost was never factored in. However, our van seats all 6 of us, neither of their cars have that much capacity, so every time we would go some where, it would be in two vehicles. I just realized there are like 4 comas in that last sentence and all of you English major are gnashing your teeth. But I'm too lazy to go back and fix it.
Since we drive like lunatics straight through the night, we don't have a hotel cost. We pack a picnic lunch and breakfast items. Things like Bagelfuls and Uncrustable sandwiches travel well in a cooler. Plus string cheese and beef snack sticks. Yeah, big surprise - the Wisconsinites brought cheese and sausage. Stop the presses. So really, or only cost was gas and one meal. And scented baby wipes and Fabreeze, but we'll remember to pack our own next time.
Total driving cost for the way down:$157.74 (Gas) + $24.14 (Steak n Shake, Lakeland, FL) + $8.79 (Yak supplies) = $190.67.
So financially, we come out ahead. Whether the value of the time it takes is worth the additional cost is up to you.

So, on with Saturday! The two times we've driven down, we always plan our first full day there as a relaxing day with no schedule bearing down on us. The kids get to just hang out and play with their grandparents, whom they haven't seen in quite a while

We started out with a nice, nutritious breakfast.

Hey - they have palm trees around the sign. It must be a classy place! Plus it was in the same parking lot at the hotel that bills itself as the spring training home of the Detroit Tigers. Just think, I could have clogged my arteries on butter soaked waffles in the same booth that Jim Leyland chain smokes in!

We then drove around Lakeland a little bit and looked at the lakes on our way to a park called Common Ground. This is a very nice playground with a lot of money and time spent in putting it together. I wish I would have taken a few broad overview pictures, but you can get an idea of how cool it is by this aerial picture from the City of Lakeland's website:

Rolling down the hill

I've got too many swirling around in my head to come up with a clear, concise (and funny as hell) caption for this one, so we'll have a caption contest. Please post your caption(s). A winner will be selected and awarded absolutely nothing.

Belly Slide!

After playing for a while, we headed back to Grandma & Grandpa's house to decorate some cupcakes. They had bought a Princess & The Frog cookbook and this idea was in there. Grandma had baked the cupcakes the day before so everything was ready for the kids.

You see that stuff around Evan's lips? That's called "evidence"

A little fishing:

They were using this bucket as a live well for the ones that they caught

After cupcakes, the kids got the rest of their Christmas presents from Grandma & Grandpa. They has shipped a box of them up to us in December for the kids to open, but they wanted to be there when the kids opened most of them. I had no idea they would get this much of a haul. With every box, I cringed just a little more as I imagined myself trying to add that to our already packed-to-capacity van for the ride home.

When the presents were done, we decided to get a little bit of a Disney Fix and go ride the ponies at Fort Wilderness. Evan didn't feel like riding on this day, but each time we go Madison makes it a point to ride on all 3 or 4 ponies they have available. And Grandpa is certainly an enabler here, gladly forking over the $5 per ride. The neat thing about this is that a parent or other "responsible" adult leads the pony around a path of stables of other horses. They have the white ponies that pull Cinderella's coach. None were out for rides this day, but Madison did get to ride one a few trips ago.

Not really sure what's going on here, but it's in the bathroom at Fort Wilderness.

We wanted to get a late lunch/early dinner at Trails End buffet, but it was 3:00, and they were closed between 2 and 4:30 or so. Bummer. So we took the short drive over to the Sand Trap Bar & Grill at Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Club. Since it was 3:00, we had the dining room virtually to ourselves. There was a very nice view of the golf course, a pond and a fountain. Pictures of said beautiful view? Um...
The kids were able to entertain themselves with the stickers that they were given.

Outside, we found Mickey's Golf cart. As the kids were getting in for a picture, Evan hit the parking break, disengaged it, and the cart starting rolling down the hill. Grandpa was there quick enough to hop in and stop it, but it took some convincing for Madison to get back in for a picture.

Finally, it was on to Downtown Disney for a bit of Lego playing and shopping. (Madison needed a few more accessories for her Princess Tiana dress)

We spent almost $30 at Goofy's Candy Company. These little beauties were $50 a piece, so they stayed in their fancy display case.

So that's it for Saturday. We drove back home, snacked on leftovers and munchies for dinner (yay vacation!) and went to bed. Sunday we check into Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kinani Village for one night to burn up some extra DVC points.

Do I have a cliff hanger question to keep you interested? Will it pull at your heart strings or elicit some other emotional response? Are you going to be on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how any potential conflict is resolved?

 

[stopher1]

Great update Barry! I love the fishing in the pool pic. And way to go Evan, dislodging the brake and sending the cart on it's way...

While we're waiting for the next worthwhile installment...

Would you like something to read?

Do you have anything light?

Umm, how 'bout this leaflet: "Famous Jewish Sports Legends"?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Great update Barry!

Total driving cost for the way down:$157.74 (Gas) + $24.14 (Steak n Shake, Lakeland, FL) + $8.79 (Yak supplies) = $190.67.

Wow. Hard to argue with those numbers! I don't know if I could bring myself to drive through the night, though. I start to malfunction after 2 a.m. Wait, that was in college. Now, it's 11 p.m.

Hey - they have palm trees around the sign. It must be a classy place! Plus it was in the same parking lot at the hotel that bills itself as the spring training home of the Detroit Tigers. Just think, I could have clogged my arteries on butter soaked waffles in the same booth that Jim Leyland chain smokes in!

How is that guy still alive?

We then drove around Lakeland a little bit and looked at the lakes on our way to a park called Common Ground. This is a very nice playground with a lot of money and time spent in putting it together.

That park looks awesome! The kids look like they're having a blast. The big kids, too.

I've got too many swirling around in my head to come up with a clear, concise (and funny as hell) caption for this one, so we'll have a caption contest. Please post your caption(s). A winner will be selected and awarded absolutely nothing.

Hmm...I'll have to think about this one. That no-prize sounds pretty valuable.

With every box, I cringed just a little more as I imagined myself trying to add that to our already packed-to-capacity van for the ride home.

I know that feeling well! They probably had tons of small parts and made all sorts of racket, too.

Not really sure what's going on here, but it's in the bathroom at Fort Wilderness.

There's got to be a Blazing Saddles joke in here somewhere.

Do I have a cliff hanger question to keep you interested? Will it pull at your heart strings or elicit some other emotional response? Are you going to be on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how any potential conflict is resolved?

I don't know. Do you? DO YOU?!

 

[dvczerfs]

great up date barry!! that sliding board looks brutal!!! what else is there but cheese and pork? besides beef, i realy cant think of anything better!!