Where Pixie-Dusted Birthday Dreams Come True! A July Trip Report! PTR Link! Pg. 116

[Dancegrl624]

9 stops! That seems like quite a lot. We just drove from Buffalo to Annapolis last week (7.5 hour trip) and only stopped twice! Once for gas and once to pull over and eat lunch. Growing up, my parents never wanted to stop while on a car trip. My sisters and I would have to beg them to stop so we could use the bathroom!!! Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love all the pcitures from Chelsea! I like Connor's happy dance. Can't wait to see where your room was located although I did see a sneak peak of your view. Looking forward to seeing what you do later in the day!

Thanks! We had lots of fun once we found our room and dragged all of our stuff to it.

Yay!!!! You're there!!! I love all of Chelsea's pictures along the way and her demands of being kept in the conversation in the car!!

She was killing us with her comments about not hearing. We started ignoring her after awhile!

Yes I did notice and was looking for Charles' pillow!!
How I would love to get to Disney in 8 or so hours

He never travels without it. LOL!

It is nice being close enough to drive to Disney.

Is there a story behind the Polish chicken? Just wondering why he is Polish?! I always enjoy your Mom's gifts

Tracy

It's the type of chicken that it is. Google pictures of Polish chickens and you will see the similarities.

YAY you have arrived at Disney!!!! Loved the Connor's welcome dance WOOT!!! So much fun!!!

When Connor started doing it, it made me think of you and your Disney dances. LOL!

I have to agree with you the Welcome to Disney sign is also my favorite!!

It always makes me a little teary-eyed.

Chelsea's pictures LOL Can't wait to see more!

Lots more of them coming up!

Yippee - we're at Disney! Love the pictures - Connor is too cute dancing!

Thanks!

I did, in fact, know that McDonald's coffee drinks are good - and high in calories!!!

La, la, la -- I don't want to know.

I don't think we stop 9 times driving from Minnesota!!! And in 8 hours??? Someone has issues.

Charles -- he can't help himself. LOL!

Glad you all made it safely - now I'm curious what you should have listened to the kids about?

We're heading out in the morning - don't update too much in the next week or so, okay?

Have a great time! I'll try not to update too, too much!

Yum is right! Guess who is making homemade waffles for breakfast tomorrow because I'm easily swayed by the power of suggestion?

LOL!

You and me both! Sarah insisted on a two layer cake this year for her birthday. It didn't turn out so great, as evidenced below.

It's lovely! You just needed to toss some sprinkles on the top.

Sarah got the same camera for Christmas, and she loves it!

I like that it is smaller than ours.

Ugh, my girls do that, too. It drives me crazy!

Uh oh...what should you have listened to the kids about?

We kept telling Chelsea just to move up if she wanted to be able to hear.

So Jackie, I don't imagine that many of those 9 stops were yours....

Nope, not mine at all. LOL!

Charles didn't sleep?
This was a change of events for him!!!

I know -- I am telling you, certain aspects of this trip were like we were in some sort of Bizarro World.

Speaking a certain CD, do I need to burn someone a copy?

Oh, yes, please!!!

9 stops......yikes. I bet you thought you were never going to get there! Went back and read the pre-trippie. Loved it!!! Going...not going...going....not going.... of course since you are writing a Trip Report, I knew the outcome, but still. Glad everything worked out. For anyone else who hasn't read it, it is a quick read using the chapter links, and it is great!

Ah, thanks!!! Yes, this past year of trip planning was a bit suspenseful!

Great update!

It's good to see she was making good use of her birthday present already

Thanks! Yes, Chelsea was in love with her new toy.

Oh Jackie, don't feel bad about all those stops. On our way back from Disney in December we stopped 5 times in what is a 3 1/2 - 4 hour ride. We stopped at EVERY rest stop on our stretch of the turnpike! Of course, we left WDW at midnight and just kept stopping for coffee or ice to crunch on to keep us awake.

Yep, that was pretty much us -- I felt like Charles didn't see an exit he didn't like. LOL!

I love Connor's happy Disney dance!!

It perfectly captured how we were all feeling!

Can't wait to hear about CBR, we stayed there in 2003 just me and Ramon (and Miren in my belly) but haven't been back since. I booked us there for October with the bounceback we got last month at POP, but dates might change and we are thinking we might go back to POP, as well. Decisions, decisions...

We loved CBR! It is really in a great location and so pretty!

WOW! That's a lot of stops. Think of how much faster you could have been there without all of the stops. On our trips when the driver (me) stops for gas the passnegers refresh their drinks and use the restroom. Any other stops are if the driver needs coffee, so we stop about every three to four hours and usually drive 12 to 14 hours per day. (Although our last trip to MI we drove 20, with Dh and I switching off about every seven.)

Sadly, we did that, but then Charles would finish his drink and want another one.

I love Connor's happy dance, that's exactly the way I feel when we get to Disney.

Me too!!! If I wasn't so busy trying to get inside, I would have been dancing in the streets, too! LOL!

Sometimes it's hard to admit when we should have listened to the kids.

Especially when they keep telling us we should have listened to them.

 

[buzz for boys]

Yay you have arrived !!!

I think you deserve a medal for driving for 8 hours especially if hubby insisted on staying awake

Cant wait for more . . .

 

[Charleston Princess]

I, like your other readers, am appalled at the number of stops! I demand to know who was behind such foolishness!

Charles.

It was all his fault.

I love the pictures along the way! I can't get over it...... 9 stops

I'm a bit jealous that you actually made it with only 9. If we ever drove the potty queen (me) would have Joe stopping every freaking hour!

Charles is definitely our potty queen! LOL!

Loving the TR through the eyes of Chelsea's new camera!!

It was great having a second person taking pictures.

I always was of the mind that once I got in the car, I only stopped every 5-6 hours but my hubby can't go more than 2 (that nasty cycle of... stop to get a drink, stop to empty bladder and purchace next drink, repeat!) It used to bother me but I have adjusted to the slower pace.

I did pretty good keeping my irritation in check. I could still see that we were doing okay on time.

McCafe is the best!!!

Yes, I agree!

Hooray for arrival, love Connor's happy dance

Connor was so happy to finally be there and out of the car!

Okay! That does it! I will definitely be utilizing my preteen/teen one day for my TRS!!! taking all these pictures along the way!! I felt like I was with you at all those random car stops!!!!!!!!

It was great knowing someone else was documenting the trip, so I didn't have to pull out my camera.

MCD's does have good coffee drinks, says DH, but I like their breakfast burritos!

I actually had the breakfast burrito for the first time on this trip. I was so surprised about the coffee drinks -- we normally do the Starbucks thing, and I never would have imagined that McDonald's could make a good one. This could turn out dangerous for me. LOL!

I LOVE how Chelsea insisted on sitting in the back only to recognize she couldn't participate!!! FUNNY!!!

She was killing us! I can only repeat myself so many times before I lose all patience.

I also loved how Charles was awake and talking about flying the whole time... THAT was too funny also!

I kept asking him if it was his naptime yet. LOL!

Now I am really curious where you ended up, and what Chelsea thought of the resort!!! Can't wait!!!

That's a lot of stops! But it's also a long drive. So, it balances out.
Would you ever consider flying to Orlando?

It does balance out, and we still made it in eight hours.

I personally don't want to fly to Orlando. I like being able to pack water, drinks, and snacks for the room, and not have to worry about leaving room in the suitcases for souvenirs.

Great update!! It cracks me up that Charles did not sleep this time. Has the world turned upside down? Love the pics of the purple signs. I just love them so much!!

It was Bizarro World at times! Just wait until some other moments in the trip. LOL!

I really enjoyed the "on the way" pictures! I personally think that the journey to the destination is also a fun part of vacationing! Love all the pit stop shots! And WOW, CB looks beautiful already and we haven't even gotten checked in!!

Charles kept telling me the journey was part of the fun and not to worry about all the stops. CBR was absolutely gorgeous! Just wait until you see some of the other pictures.

Joining in... we are planning two weeks next July. But DH is worried about the heat. We have been in the summer before but the older we get it seems the harder it is to deal with the heat.

Though this summer we are getting a taste of Disney right here in RI.

Welcome! We normally go the first full week of June, but this year opted for July since Chelsea was turning thirteen. I will tell you that I vowed several times to NEVER travel in July again, but we did manage to make the best of the heat and the crowds. Really, if it meant going in July or not at all, I would do July again.

If I could drive to Disney in 8 hours with 9 stops I would be the happiest person alive! I would go 4X a year. Fly? Heck - why??????

Exactly! I like having the space to pack whatever we want.

I love all Chelsea's pictures. I can see who is going to be the photographer this trip. Nice job, Chelsea.

She had lots of fun taking pictures on this trip!

Disney Happy Dance - that was so cute!

Connor hasn't lost his sense of fun, yet! I tried to get Chelsea to dance, too, but she was too cool for that.

The arrival and first few minutes of the trip are so exciting, so surreal, so fabulous!!! Definitely dance-worthy!

I agree! Finally being there is such a wonderful feeling!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I still in a bit of awe over the 9 stops. I don't think we made 9 stops the year we drove down from Connecticut and that takes about 24 hours if you were to drive straight. I guess my family is a bit commando when it comes to the drive to Florida.

I love Connors happy dance. I always feel like doing one of those when I get to Disney too.

 

[Charleston Princess]

9 stops, huh? . Sounds like me!!!

Connor is so cute doing his dance & Chelsea is taking some great pictures!!

Thanks, Katie! It seemed like everytime we accelerated on the highway, and I got a good cruising speed, we were stopping.

Charles stayed AWAKE?!

I find it pretty funny that he finally realizes how long the drive is (now that he's AWAKE during it!) and commented about how you guys should fly next time!

I know, right?

The McCafe drinks are very good!! Back in MN we had one right down the road from us - and not many dining options in our town - I frequented the McDonalds so Henry could play there. A fruit & yogurt parfait + a vanilla latte = yummy!

Yum! That sounds very good!

Connor's happy dance is so great!!!

There was definitely a sense of excitement and relief that we had finally arrived.

Looking forward to finding out where your room is, if it's ready and what you should have listened to the kids about!

Oh, oh! I forgot to tell you...last night Joe and I went shopping (for the September trip! ), we were in the Queens Mall and ate at the food court. About 3 tables away was a kid who looked EXACTLY like Connor, so much so that I did a double take!!!

Too funny! I will have to tell Connor he has a twin out there somewhere.

I was going to say, you made quite good time considering nine stops! I love Connor's happy dance and am at Chelsea from the back seat.

You are there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's all that matters

We really did make good time -- many of those stops were very quick ones.

Chelsea was driving us nuts from the back seat!

We were so happy to finally be there! I practically skipped into the Customs House.

9 stops! That seems like quite a lot. We just drove from Buffalo to Annapolis last week (7.5 hour trip) and only stopped twice! Once for gas and once to pull over and eat lunch. Growing up, my parents never wanted to stop while on a car trip. My sisters and I would have to beg them to stop so we could use the bathroom!!! Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

Wow! I would love to make a trip with only two stops!!!

Yay you have arrived !!!

I think you deserve a medal for driving for 8 hours especially if hubby insisted on staying awake

Cant wait for more . . .

Thanks! It was so exciting to finally be there!

Oh, I like to be the driver. I have a hard time sitting still in the car, so driving gives me something to do.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I still in a bit of awe over the 9 stops. I don't think we made 9 stops the year we drove down from Connecticut and that takes about 24 hours if you were to drive straight. I guess my family is a bit commando when it comes to the drive to Florida.

I love Connors happy dance. I always feel like doing one of those when I get to Disney too.

I can only wish my family would let me be commando on the drive down.

I felt like doing a happy dance, too, by the time we were finally out of that car!

 

[Lady Lallie]

It was interesting -- both kids wanted to wear their tennis shoes to the parks every day; Charles wore his everywhere all the time; I alternated between my Tevas and my tennis shoes. I had to laugh because the kids were always complaining that I never let them wear flip flops to the parks beofre the trip, but once we were there, they insisted on wearing their tennis shoes.

Maybe they were afraid of blisters? Oh, wait. That's me!! So did your Tevas work well in the parks? I'm still nervous about wearing mine.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Ok... with all your now I really am dying to hear what you should have listened to the kids about and what Chelsea thought of the resort! You sure know how to build suspense!

On the driving, I'm with you. Would much rather be "in control" behind the wheel. Next time slip some benadryl in Charles' gas station cold drink and you'll cut the stops in half!

8 hours and $150 in gas... if I were you I think I'd drive too. No matter how interminable the hours seem to be. And I don't even want to think about the drive home.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Maybe they were afraid of blisters? Oh, wait. That's me!! So did your Tevas work well in the parks? I'm still nervous about wearing mine.

You are too funny, LL! Um, I wasn't crazy about wearing my flip flops in the park because Chelsea was always stepping on the back of them. It drove me nuts. Also, I don't think flip flops gave me the support I needed for my ankles. However, that's just me -- Charles sang praises about wearing his flip flops the whole time.

Ok... with all your now I really am dying to hear what you should have listened to the kids about and what Chelsea thought of the resort! You sure know how to build suspense!

I may have built up too much suspense.

On the driving, I'm with you. Would much rather be "in control" behind the wheel. Next time slip some benadryl in Charles' gas station cold drink and you'll cut the stops in half!

Good idea!

8 hours and $150 in gas... if I were you I think I'd drive too. No matter how interminable the hours seem to be. And I don't even want to think about the drive home.

We won't even discuss the drive home yet.

 

[Lady Lallie]

You are too funny, LL! Um, I wasn't crazy about wearing my flip flops in the park because Chelsea was always stepping on the back of them. It drove me nuts. Also, I don't think flip flops gave me the support I needed for my ankles. However, that's just me -- Charles sang praises about wearing his flip flops the whole time.

Oh no, I didn't even think of people stepping on the back of them. Now I have a new fear.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh no, I didn't even think of people stepping on the back of them. Now I have a new fear.

Well, no one except my own flesh and blood did it to me if that makes you feel any better , and remember it won't be nearly as crowded down there when you go.

 

[Lynn5700]

Oh boy. I cannot wait to see what your next update is all about, lol! How did you like CB? We stayed there years ago and liked it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh boy. I cannot wait to see what your next update is all about, lol! How did you like CB? We stayed there years ago and liked it.

We loved CBR! It was so pretty and very relaxing!

 

[jenjolt]

One of these trips we'll have to meet up and Connor and I can do some crazy dances LOL!! He's a great kid!!

LOL...so the kids aren't letting you live down something...hmmm this is going to make for an interesting update!! I can't wait!!! (This means you should update soon LOL)!!

Teva Mushies...oh how I love thee...the greatest pair of flip flops Leslie ever introduced me too. I will be breaking in a new pair for my next trip...as long as the weather cooperates in January!

 

[mousescrapper]

I'm here! Taking a break from cleaning my house.

By the way where is your Mickey bar?

that was what I was thinking too....


so I am caught up...I got a bit freaked when I saw Heidi type in update on 56 I thought that was page ok so it wasn't that far...


love all the Birthday fun and excitment...Bekah is back to her old ways of sleeping in since home from camp after complaining how will I wake up w/ out seeing the sunrise I keep reminding everyone (and myself ) less than a month people and you'll be a tschool at 8 am...not waking up...

Great job on the cake..yes the double layer is a tricky feat! looks like she ahd a great day...good call on the gift

OMG...9 stops...you must all like getting out of the car... but you made it. love crossing under that sign too...

I'd be doing a happy DANCE to w/ Connor

can't wait for more

 

[moparop]

looks like Chelsea had a wonderful birthday. I have to say that I am a fan of sprinkles too so that cake looks great to me!I love Connor's little chicken! How thoughtful that grandma does a little something for the non birthday kid! I love that Chelsea taped her birthday song too!

we stayed at CBR on our last trip. I am curious to read about your impressions!

 

[pooh'smate]

I love all of Chelsea's pictures she did a good job documenting your drive down. I love Connor's dance. I will feel like dancing too when I get off the ME bus at POP (in exactly 4 months). I forgot to add last time that I too adore Connor's little polish chicken so cute. Your mom is so thoughtful.

 

[Poolrat]

Speaking a certain CD, do I need to burn someone a copy?

I know I looked too and did not find a MSEP CD. Anita what do you have that we proabably all want?

I will get to look again in Sept and Oct

 

[MeMom]

I know I looked too and did not find a MSEP CD. Anita what do you have that we proabably all want?

I will get to look again in Sept and Oct

I missed that. Wigd has it?
I looked and never saw a MSEP CD.

Part of it is on one of my other Disney CD's, though.