When Hate and Love Collide You Get MAGIC? 2 updates! 3/10

[Fastpaks]

I debated if I was going to post this part of the trip here, but after meeting some Dissers on my cruise I was encouraged to share my story here. I hope you enjoy the ride.

My Original PTR is here

Thin line tween Love and Hate Disney/Halloween TR Western Oct 30-Nov 6

I encourage you to read the the last few as those moments more and more lead up to this part of the trip. This part of the trip wasn't supposed to happen. The vacation was supposed to be a family just trying out Disney Cruise Lines (DCL) Magic on a Western Cruise. THEN Disney got involved with the GAD promotion and I saw a chance to fulfill a promise I made to my son.

About 3 years ago, I went on a secret honeymoon. I say secret cause my wife and I had been married for 1 1/2 years previous to that. We had just told my parents before the official announcement a couple months later. As such my wife and I went to FL and D* was one of those stops.

The promise was simple. My wife and I had met Woody and Buzz at HS. When my DS found out he was livid. Well, as much as a lived 4 year old can be. How dare we? We didn't take him!! you get the picture. We told him over the years that money has been hard to come by. Looking back, although I make decent cash, there were some really tough times. Anyway, one day he received a bank from my sister looks something like this

He proceeds to tell me that if he fills the bank, that he will pay for our trip to Florida. I told it was a deal and that he needed to save a lot of change. I love the way that even though to an adult that would seem nearly impossible for a child to pay for a trip... they (the children) don't seem to be disturbed by this. If they can believe it, then it could happen. (we could all learn a lesson in this sometimes.)

So then why the Hate? When I grew up in Florida, I wasn't a huge fan of the parks. In fact, I really didn't like going to them at all. Long lines, pushy people, HOT HOT HOT days. There was no such thing as Fast Pass and let's admit the other two things have their moments still. As a kid, I was raised on all things Disney. I could only watch their cable channel or movies. My family, although we weren't poor, never could afford to go there. I was in the room when parents wanted to take us there and it just wasn't feasible. As a result, I began to resent the place that so many enjoyed. Add I was in my teenage years and before too long... Disney just wasn't that ... well.. manly. I was into sports and not cute characters. The hate began to grow and soon I was no longer a fan. You could almost call it like the "Grinch Complex" and my hear grew 3 sizes too small.

But my experience with my wife on our honeymoon really opened my eyes to what D* does right. I worked for Six Flags at one time and have been on the other side. I understand what CMs go through, though I have never been one. That said, I respect them. So, when I went with my wife on our "late" honeymoon I was floored at the greatness that is D*. I promised myself I would stay neutral on the next trip, but I sure as hell wasn't going to punch out my Man Card.

I did want to see what this Magic that happens (supposedly), if it really would. If it did then all the better and I become a believer. If it doesn't then I lost nothing cause I got to have that vacation with my wife and child that I always wanted. There are things that I know I'm leaving out. Some of which are in the PTR. You may see some of them again. I can tell you this... what happened on this trip was... WHOA WHOA WHOA... you are just going to have to read.

Chapter 1
The Alarm and the Cast
Life is a Highway
Chapter 2
The All Important Red Folder and Hidden Mickey at Sea World
Spooktacular and Tradition No More
Chapter 3
Pixie Dust Explained
A Hotel...finally
Chapter 4
Epcot: Signatures and Cars
Epcot: A World's Character
Epcot: Furture World the Sequel
Chapter 5
3 star to 5 star
Ahhh Rest... Ring Ring Ring
Chapter 6
The Thin Line: begins...Mnnshp
Even Black Hearts Beat Red
Even Blacks Heart Beat RED Part 2
Chapter 7
The Palace and Some Mountains
When Jacuzzi Attack and Mountains Redux
Chapter 8
1/2 at the Sudios
The Unsung Hero's
Chapter 9
His Fault!
Working Hardly on the Railroad

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I am really lookiong forward to hearing all about your trip ... please don't keep me in suspense for too long!

 

[nenner1]

As I expected a great start to the parks portion of your adventure!

 

[verygfy]

, great start!! I just had to jump on over and read!!! Can't wait to hear how "magic"al your trip was!!!

 

[podsnel]

Looking forward to reading it after hearing all about it on the cruise!

 

[dawnbu40]

Looking forward to hearing all about, what I hope was a very magical vacation!

 

[Fastpaks]

We started packing about 7 days prior to the trip. The idea was the night before we leave, we will just pack the last few details, I can pack the van, and in the morning we are off. I wanted to leave by noon. I figured we could drive straight through to Orlando, get into to the Florida border by 3am, sleep for about 4 hours, and then off to Sea World. That was the plan. We all know that the plan never fails!

When I plan out something big, I know where all my paperwork is for hotels, the cruise, Sea World, and Disney are at all the time. I have a red folder for all of it. On Friday, since we were going to do the trip in cash, I called one of the hotels from the folder to check for room deposit. $50 no problem! On with packing!

The night before I pack up all the suitcases in the van and remarkably we all make it to bed around 11pm. My son had a football game in the morning around 10:30. I knew that we had just enough time if we got up around 7:30 to finish the last minute stuff and then run out the door. We would be leaving from his football game and practice at 9:30. (AND yes I am a coach too) I set the alarm for 7:30 and retired to bed.

Saturday Morning:

Shhhhhhhh. It was 7:30am. SO much excitement to leave. SO much desire to run out the door. You could here pin drops in the house. My son was quiet this early morning. It would be time to go soon. My dog was even really silent! A hush had settled on the house like no other. This was a house ready to go to Walt Disney and a Dcl Cruise!!

Shhhhhhhh. It was 8:00am. SO much excitement to leave. SO much desire to run out the door. You could here pin drops in the house. My son was quiet this early morning. It would be time to go soon. My dog was even really silent! A hush had settled on the house like no other. This was a house ready to go to Walt Disney and a Dcl Cruise!!

Shhhhhhhh. It was 8:30am. SO much excitement to leave. SO much desire to run out the door. You could here pin drops in the house. My son was quiet this early morning. It would be time to go soon. My dog was even really silent! A hush had settled on the house like no other. This was a house ready to go to Walt Disney and a Dcl Cruise!!

Shhhhhhhh. It was 9:00am. SO much excitement to leave. SO much desire to run out the door. You could here pin drops in the house. My son was quiet this early morning. It would be time to go soon. My dog was even really silent! A hush had settled on the house like no other. This was a house ready to go to Walt Disney and a Dcl Cruise!!

I felt like I had rested for days. It was the longest rest I had gotten in several weeks. Except this was the day, I wasn't supposed to get rest. 9:15 read on my clock like a huge NEON sign. I shook my wife and calmly yelled, " We are late!" Everything seemed like a wirl wind. One thought was to go to the game and then come back. Another was to just pack and leave. Which we would do the latter. My wife asked,"how did this happen?" Then I looked on the alarm and realized what I did. I have a Mon-Friday setting and the weekends were not set. Its hard to wake someone up when the alarm is set on the wrong days!!

We rushed around the house grabbing last minute things and the all important cash, Birth Certificates, and the RED FOLDER!!!!We knew we would be late to the game, but it was important to not forget anything. A couple last run throughs of the house and we were off! On time at 10:45! oops.

He won his game, said bye to friends, packed up the family, then left town!NOPE! My sister had just had her baby 5 days prior to our trip. We would need to see the nephew one more time. Then leave town! NOPE! We had to run to the grocery store for a couple of grab bag items and then finally leave town promptly at 2:00pm. oh well

Driving thru Downtown

All of us haven't ever seen Peter Pan. So the first movie of the trip was Peter Pan. Being such both my wife and child were glued to it.

We drove for about 2 1/2 hours till we decided that a break was needed. My son wanted to shoot the camara that way his mom and dad could be in pics too. This was the shot he finally got after about 10 with Rend Lake in the background.

It wasn't long till we got to our first stop. Population: 3000 A small little town called..

[

Then I saw the GPS on my phone say this and I thought that is cool.

Let me introduce the cast:

First, he is a whopping 48" tall weighing in at a mere 46lbs, the man, the Myth, he is the reason for this this trip. DS7 Adam. He is a health nut (I'm not joking!) Loves what most kids do.. and believes everything I told him.

Next to him, is the foundation of this house. The one that tells me, "NO we don't have that money!" when I want to get crazy with the cash. She normally likes to plan things, but I wanted her to just be able to chill out and have a great time. My wife of 4 years. Amy. in their heroic outfits of coarse!

Lastly, there is me. I'm a Fedex driver. I don't get to see my family except about 2 days out of the week. So this trip for 14 days was very important to me! Family is everything. And let's not forget my hero pose!

After the stop, we were on our way in to KY.

 

[Fastpaks]

I am really lookiong forward to hearing all about your trip ... please don't keep me in suspense for too long!

I'm going to try not to. There was so many memories on this trip. My wife and I have been trying to write all them down. The house should be caught up this weekend. So I hopefully, will crank them out as fast as I can.

As I expected a great start to the parks portion of your adventure!

Thanks! Its good to see ya here too!

, great start!! I just had to jump on over and read!!! Can't wait to hear how "magic"al your trip was!!!

There are some very cool moments here. I will say this.. the CM's are the difference in so many ways!

Looking forward to reading it after hearing all about it on the cruise!

Ellen, it was killer to meet you. Hopefully, I left some of it out so you can hear all the cool things that did happen. I still think about this trip and lemons and lemonade a lot.

Looking forward to hearing all about, what I hope was a very magical vacation!

Glad you could make it over! It really was magi... Hold on now.. I see what you Lovers of Disney are doing!! Trickery! I can't love Disney 'till the END of the TR.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Love those superman / woman poses. Your first day sounds a lot like most of ours ... leaving way later than planned! I can't actually believe that Metropolis is a real place !

 

[jedijill]

Great start...I've followed your PTR and loved it. Can't wait to hear the rest.

Jill in CO

 

[heaven2dc]

Fun trip already!! How cute that your DS saved up for the trip - am SO glad that you got to go (DCL and WDW?!! How awesome is that!!)

 

[nenner1]

OK you picked SuperWOMAN...! LMAO!!!!

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

I'm here!

I love the story about the piggy bank that is adorable!

Your DS Adam is adorable!

I love the pictures with the Superman cut outs!

Sounds like a great start to your vacation!

 

[dawnbu40]

Love the Superman/woman pics

 

[myelton01]

Awesome! I love your TR's! Glad you made it to the game. We usually set the alarm for pm when it doesn't go off... Most annoying thing in the world, EVER!

Can't wait for more!

 

[Disney_Jill]

I cannot wait to hear all about your trip!! I am hooked already. What an awesome huband and dad you are. I know there had to have been highs and lows on the trip, but 14 days with your family, no work, must have been awesome!!

 

[jc040404]

Everytime I see your TR title in the list, I get Def Leppard (When Love and Hate Collide) stuck in my head. Thank goodness my love for them used to border on obsession or you'd really be annoying me by now!

Subbing! I'm enjoying your TR so far. Love that you chose Super woman. Tooo funny! Hilarious about the alarm clock, even though I'm sure it really wasn't in the moment. We've done that more than a few times by switching the am/pm, but it was just on work days, never for anything important like WDW.

Can't wait to read more about your trip!

 

[Fastpaks]

Love those superman / woman poses. Your first day sounds a lot like most of ours ... leaving way later than planned! I can't actually believe that Metropolis is a real place !

Neither could I! I found it on a complete chance.

Great start...I've followed your PTR and loved it. Can't wait to hear the rest.

Jill in CO

Welcome, glad you could join in on the fun! Should be more soonish!

Fun trip already!! How cute that your DS saved up for the trip - am SO glad that you got to go (DCL and WDW?!! How awesome is that!!)

I was unbelievable at times. I keep thinking if I could do it again I would....

OK you picked SuperWOMAN...! LMAO!!!!

You should have seen the killer smile on my son.. priceless!

I'm here!

I love the story about the piggy bank that is adorable!

Your DS Adam is adorable!

I love the pictures with the Superman cut outs!

Sounds like a great start to your vacation!

Yeah, Adam is a ham in front of the camera. He could be completely moody and you say smile for a picture and would never know it.

I promise the trip will get worse soon! hmmm that's a nice tease.. I think!

Love the Superman/woman pics

I'll do anything for a child's laugh!

Awesome! I love your TR's! Glad you made it to the game. We usually set the alarm for pm when it doesn't go off... Most annoying thing in the world, EVER!

Can't wait for more!

Being late became a thing we are not used to and it was my fault

I cannot wait to hear all about your trip!! I am hooked already. What an awesome huband and dad you are. I know there had to have been highs and lows on the trip, but 14 days with your family, no work, must have been awesome!!

Welcome! I'm trying. This trip was loooong over do!

Everytime I see your TR title in the list, I get Def Leppard (When Love and Hate Collide) stuck in my head. Thank goodness my love for them used to border on obsession or you'd really be annoying me by now!

Subbing! I'm enjoying your TR so far. Love that you chose Super woman. Tooo funny! Hilarious about the alarm clock, even though I'm sure it really wasn't in the moment. We've done that more than a few times by switching the am/pm, but it was just on work days, never for anything important like WDW.

Can't wait to read more about your trip!

Actually, I'm a fan of Def Leppard. Although, I only wish the title could come from that song. It would make me sound smarter.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm joining and looking forward to hearing more! I am a former Six Flags employee (six seasons, whew!), so I know what you mean about understanding how things work and it's part of the reason that I always hesitated about working in Disney. I didn't want to magic to be ruined, because honestly, I can't stand going to Six Flags anymore. Not that they're the same, but you get the idea.

 

[Fastpaks]

After our brief stop in the home of Superman, we decided we really needed to make up some time. Normally, when I drive down to Florida, I fuel in Padukah, KY. I didn't feel like stopping again 10 minutes after we got started, so rather than fuel we kept driving. This would prove to be an interesting choice.

As we approach middle KY, I had noticed that I was going to need some gas. At the beginning of the state, gas was $2.63. I figured at the next exit, I would pick some up. As we turn off the exit, there are 3 gas stations all saying $2.85. So I did what any tight wad would do. I got back on the Hwy. At the next exit, we didn't get off, but I noticed the sign for gas there was $2.69. Huh?! OK! Again, figuring the following exit would bring me a lower price, I turned off and it was $2.85! Weird. To make a long story short, we ended up fueling just before the KY/TN border.

Some people ask how do you drive 16 hours straight. Then answer is I really don't know. It was only about 7:00 and the drive from the border of TN to Nashville is easily one of the most boring drives ever. Trees line the middle of the highway which makes it dark and easy to fall asleep. I was never so happy to get to Nashville and by now my son was already starting on the 'let's eat now" phase.

Originally, Adam wanted to eat in the mountains at a rest stop just north of Chattanooga. I did too. Plus I knew if we could get there, we would not be far from the GA border. It was almost 9:30pm when we arrived. When we thought about stopping here as a family, we took into account that it would be bueatiful and fun to stop in Mount Eagle. Except one small detail! At 2100ft in the air, it is also a little bit colder than it is down below. We were greeted with about high 40 degree temps. I was wearing some shorts and a light jacket, my wife had here Mickey sweater/zip up jacket, and my son was wearing jogging pants and a hooded sweater. We packed all the drinks and food in coolers, so my poor wife had to keep getting her hands wet every time she needed more food for the sandwiches. Needless, to say it will be a memory, I'll never forget because it was so cold.

As we descended down the mountain, my wife began to tell me that she was becoming sick.Turns out, she is motion sick. Especially, in cars! I began to worry a little because in just about a week, we were going on a Disney Cruise. This would surely bring a huge damper to the trip. I turned on Alladin for my son and that would prove to be the movie that put the car to sleep except me.

From the moment I got on I-75, we had 3 lane roads all the way to Florida. Atlanta is a gorgeous city in the night hours. It seem to take forever to get to ATL, but I knew once I got there, it would be the City check off list, ATL, Macon, Tifton, Valdosta and the FL border. I drove for as long as I could, then just north of Valdosta, I pulled over and got about 2 hours sleep. When I awoke, I drove until I was greeted with a Sunrise and this picture:

3 hours from now I ll be having fun in Sea World. If I only knew....