I Know There's A Hanna-Barbera Land Around Here Somewhere! **New and Completed 7/11**

[Bridora]

“I Know There’s A Hanna-Barbera Land Around Here Somewhere!”

While we were in Animal Kingdom this past May, my DH Davis actually heard someone say that exact phrase. Poor guy, he probably never did find that place...

Welcome to our Trip Report! If you happened to see this Pre-Trip Report on the boards earlier this year; we’re finally here for the real deal! Writing this Trip Report is going to be a real challenge for two main reasons:

1. I did not take notes this year!
   
2. We got home from Disney World waaaaaaaaaaaay back at the beginning of June and specific details are a bit fuzzy.
   
3. I failed to organize our pictures when loading them onto the computer. Trying to organize them by day almost two months later is hard.

Ok, so three main reasons.

Before I go any further, let’s have some introductions, shall we?

Me. Bridget. In the car and on the way...

(Reading that back reminded me of the note Piglet wrote in “Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day”. It said, Help, Piglet (me); or close to that anyway.)

I’m 31. I work in the office of a small business that sells all kinds of things Monday – Thursday, work in my husband’s office on Fridays, and am about to start my last year of school to finish up my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. My first trip to Disney World was in 2003.

My DH, Davis. Showing off the spoils from the Star Wars Weekends merchandise store.

He’s 41 and stays busy with his security business and his toys. Sunday we will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary. He went to Disney World for the first time with his parents and brother in 1986.

Our DD, Allison.

Allison is 11. She’s been going to Disney World since she was 3 years old. Her favorite thing to do while we’re in Disney World is to get ice cream at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street. (That’s one of mine, too!)

Our DS, Luke.

Luke is 9. His first trip to Disney World was also in 2003 when he was only 1 year, 5 months old. He says that his favorite thing to do are the Kim Possible missions.
Our trip dates were May 26 – June 4. We left a couple days early (May 24) for more leisurely travel and actually left a couple days late (June 6). But we’ll get to that part later.

Our original plans were to check in at the Boardwalk Villas (Studio) on Thursday, May 26 and check out on Sunday, May 29 in order to move over to the Beach Club Villas (One Bedroom) that day and stay until check-out on June 4.

I’m glad to finally be starting this trip report, and hope you will enjoy reading about our adventures!




Here are the links to each installment:
Departure Day!
Travel Day
Check-in Day!
Downtown (Disney) everything's waiting for you!
Embarrassing the Kids!
Our room is ready! Let's go swim.
More Balcony Shots...
Day 1-Epcot
O Canada!
Saving the World
Behind the Seeds Tour
Time to Change
Night Photos
Star Wars Weekends
Via Napoli
We've Moved to the Beach Club Villas!
Magic Kingdom + Evening Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom, Continued
Continued, continued
Hollywood Studios
Back to Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom - with a touring plan!
Dinner & Mini-Golf
It's Like Ra-eaaain on Your Pool Day!
Universal - Islands of Adventure
Universal - Islands of Adventure, post Harry Potter
Friday, last park day.
An unexpected trip
Saratoga Springs

 

[tinkgurl]

I'm in!

 

[Bridora]

I'm in!

Yay! I'm glad you are here!

 

[Bridora]

Departure Day – Tuesday, May 24, 2011.


Normally we take off driving the morning before our Disney check-in day. We live approximately 900 miles from Disney, so we stop overnight. The last three or so trips, we’ve stayed that first night in Ocala, FL, which is pretty close to Disney. By driving all the way to Ocala that first day, our drive is super-short on our Disney check-in day, making time for lunch at Downtown Disney and then some swimming or mini-golf afterwards. Last year we left the afternoon before that and stayed with my sister-in-law in a Memphis suburb. When we left the next morning, we were around 3 hours ahead of our usual time. Davis enjoyed arriving in Ocala at a more reasonable hour so much that we decided to do something similar again this year.

Davis had taken the day off work. I had planned to work a normal day (I get off work at 3:00) since the kids were still in school. Instead, I took off at lunch to help finish up packing and loading the car. You all know how hard it is to be at work on the day you leave for Disney, so I’m sure you can understand!

When we picked the kids up from school we were ready to hit the road. Well, after we stopped back by my office to unload their backpacks and everything else the kids brought home with them on their last day of school!

On the road!

The road awaits!

Goodbye Hank's Furniture!

And that’s when I took the first picture of myself! How else would I have proof that I was there? It's also the picture I just used in my intro.



If you’ll remember, there was quite a bit of rain and flooding earlier this year, especially along the Mississippi.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/07/national/main20060801.shtml



Several places along our way to Memphis were also affected.
http://youtu.be/zXiZTmi-szE



Davis had been in the area we were driving through earlier in the month for work and had seen a lot of flooding. I was curious to see if and how much the waters had gone down.

These next few pictures were taken somewhere between Bald Knob and Augusta, AR. It's hard to remember exactly where I took them! The water was still way up.

This was also right after the date believed by Harold Camping to be the beginning of the “end times”. I’m not getting into that here, but the billboards were still up all over the place. I finally managed to get an unclear picture of one. I was not the one driving, by the way!

When we arrived in New Albany, MS I also managed to get an unclear picture of the welcome sign:

We checked in to the Hampton Inn (we stayed here on the way home from FL last year) and found a McAlister’s Deli close by where we had dinner. It was then that we realized we had stopped at this same McAlister’s at some point along the way in another Disney trip.

I think we had to make a quick stop at Wal-Mart, but I can’t remember now what we needed. The kids were dying to swim, so we took them to the pool when we got back from dinner.

The pool was indoor and the water was very warm. It was probably warmer than a comfortable bath, more like a hot tub, even. I swam with the kids and had to get out a few times just because it was so hot! I even made them get out for a bit. When we were finished swimming, we rinsed off under a little shower we found and headed back up to the room to get ready for bed.

We were glad to be well on our way and thankful that we’d had an uneventful journey so far!

 

[tinkgurl]

I love that intro pic of you! Very cute hat and shades.

That's so funny you guys realized you had eaten at that same place on another trip!

 

[RachelNinja]

Ahhh, I know I'm going to be sharing any and all Star Wars stuff with Howard! We're hoping SWW will be during our Disneymoon. Okay, let me rephrase that. HE'S hoping SWW will be during our Disneymoon (I'm hoping a little too just because I told him that it most likely will be, and he's so excited!). Anyway, I also think it's hilarious that the pic of your DH is with the Star Wars Vinylmation that Howard wants AND he has the same Tron shirt! HAHA.

Departure day is always so much fun! The start of a trip ... so exciting! Warm pools, on the other hand, aren't as exciting, haha.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Joining in!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm joining. I love the fact that you live in the castle beyond the goblin city. Would David Bowie happen to live with you?

 

[TeaForTulips]

subbing!

I'm always amazed at the things I hear at Disney. I feel bad for the people that are really that lost or confused.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'm in.

Growing up, I remember the amusement parks close to home (Cincinnati Coney Island and Kings Island) both had Hanna Barbera Lands. At the time, the two parks were owned by Taft Broadcasting who also owned Hanna Barbera studios.

In fact, legend has it that the Banana Splits actually lived in Coney Island. The opening and closing credits were all shot at Coney Island.

I know it's not true. They never lived at Coney.

They actually lived at Kings Island.

 

[Slatas]

im following along

 

[Bridora]

I love that intro pic of you! Very cute hat and shades.

That's so funny you guys realized you had eaten at that same place on another trip!

Thanks! Sadly, the glasses would break just two days later at Downtown Disney... At least they were cheap ones!

It was funny that we'd been there before...I mean, what are the chances?

Ahhh, I know I'm going to be sharing any and all Star Wars stuff with Howard! We're hoping SWW will be during our Disneymoon. Okay, let me rephrase that. HE'S hoping SWW will be during our Disneymoon (I'm hoping a little too just because I told him that it most likely will be, and he's so excited!). Anyway, I also think it's hilarious that the pic of your DH is with the Star Wars Vinylmation that Howard wants AND he has the same Tron shirt! HAHA.

Departure day is always so much fun! The start of a trip ... so exciting! Warm pools, on the other hand, aren't as exciting, haha.

It's not too bad, sharing your husband with Star Wars, I mean...sharing Star Wars stuff with your husband! I've become a pretty big fan it of myself over the years. I hope your Disneymoon will coincide with SWW, too! I know you'd both enjoy it! Yes, the Star Wars Vinylmation...there is more to that story...later.

Yay Tron shirts!

Joining in!

I'm glad you are here!

I'm joining. I love the fact that you live in the castle beyond the goblin city. Would David Bowie happen to live with you?

Welcome aboard! If you saw pictures of my DH from the 80's you might possibly say that David Bowie lives here too!

subbing!

I'm always amazed at the things I hear at Disney. I feel bad for the people that are really that lost or confused.

Glad to have you reading!
You can overhear some pretty crazy things, can't you? I'm sure I've said plenty for others to laugh about in the past myself!

I'm in.

Growing up, I remember the amusement parks close to home (Cincinnati Coney Island and Kings Island) both had Hanna Barbera Lands. At the time, the two parks were owned by Taft Broadcasting who also owned Hanna Barbera studios.

In fact, legend has it that the Banana Splits actually lived in Coney Island. The opening and closing credits were all shot at Coney Island.

I know it's not true. They never lived at Coney.

They actually lived at Kings Island.

Ah, the Banana Splits, I never did watch that one much...
Possibly the guy had them confused, either that or he grew up around there too and just expected that every theme park had a Hanna Barbera Land!

In AR we used to have Dogpatch, USA, based off the comic strip. We went there a lot as kids. It's not open anymore, but a lot of the things are still there. Some time ago some people managed to get in and take pictures of the place. Pretty sad...

im following along

Welcome! I hope you enjoy!

 

[Bridora]

Travel day! Wednesday, May 25, 2011.

This is the day we’d told the kids would be all day in the car. Not looking much forward to that, other than by the end of the day we’d be in Ocala, FL with Disney in the near future!

The Hampton Inn had a nice little beverage station in the lobby, apart from the breakfast area, which I visited for a cup of tea on our way out that morning. We enjoyed continental breakfast first, though. We did not, however, enjoy the Weather Channel’s story of more deadly tornados that had visited Arkansas overnight. We had a pretty rough tornado season this year. We don’t live that far from Vilonia, which was hit hard at the end of April.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/apr/26/update-death-toll-arkansas-storms-5/

There were just some severe thunderstorms in our area, though. Thankful that our loved ones were safe, we hit the road.

Tea in tow.

What’s a road trip without some construction zones?

And what’s a road trip without one of these?

I only allow myself to get these on vacation. Otherwise, I’d just drink way too many! Oh, and you’ll be happy to know, especially if you read last year’s trip report, that I remembered to check the expiration date on this one!

After a while, we hit Florida!

This year, we were heading for I-10.

I’m not really sure what this next picture is supposed to be. Maybe a Welcome Center?

And I’m pretty sure this next series was excitement over something! Maybe this was when we actually got on I-10?

We stopped at a gas station somewhere along the way and saw this sign. I thought it was so cute, but missed taking it’s photo, so Davis graciously circled around so that I could have another attempt at it.

Woo hoo! But I can’t read the sign in the above picture. It had to have been significant, though, right?

Thanks for the ride I-10, and hello I-75, it’s so good to see you again!

I can’t remember where we had lunch that day, but I think it was probably a Burger King. For dinner, we stopped at a Ruby Tuesday.

Ruby Tuesday will always remind me of 4th of July in Newport, RI. It’s a long story, but basically, we wound up eating there (also my first time to eat at a Ruby Tuesday) and missed a great fireworks display. But it did make for a cute memory, right Davis?

Soon, we were in Ocala. Unless that’s where the Ruby Tuesday was. If so, soon, we were checking into the Comfort Suites and ready for it to be Thursday already!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm the same as you! No road trip is complete without some frappuchinos! And I also don't allow myself to have them in my everyday life, because I would just consume far too many on a regular basis.

 

[RachelNinja]

HAHA, once I saw that frappuccino picture, I was thinking ... wasn't there something weird with last years bottle? Ahh, the expiration date! Phew, good thing you checked this year or it would've been disappointing!

 

[tinkgurl]

Thanks! Sadly, the glasses would break just two days later at Downtown Disney... At least they were cheap ones!

Oh boo. Sounds like my luck!

 

[Bridora]

I'm the same as you! No road trip is complete without some frappuchinos! And I also don't allow myself to have them in my everyday life, because I would just consume far too many on a regular basis.

Do you drink them really fast, too? They are sooo good; I just want to keep drinking and drinking until it's gone! I have to use all my willpower to make them last longer than 5 minutes!

HAHA, once I saw that frappuccino picture, I was thinking ... wasn't there something weird with last years bottle? Ahh, the expiration date! Phew, good thing you checked this year or it would've been disappointing!

Yes, you remembered! Last year I had one that tasted a little funny, and it would have been very disappointing if it had happened again!

Oh boo. Sounds like my luck!

For some reason, I just can't keep sunglasses for very long. The one time I let my DH buy me some "real" ones from the Sunglasses Hut, they lasted about a year, which is a long time for me. They ended up in the ocean, though...I'm sure there is a shark out there somewhere loving his sunglasses!

 

[Bridora]

Check-in Day! Thursday, May 26, 2011

Hooray!

After getting everyone awake and ready, we put our things back into the two-night bag and headed downstairs for some breakfast. I forgot to mention earlier that we had prepared such a bag just for our two nights on the road. We packed just enough for those two nights and the following days into one bag to save loading/unloading hassle.

The kids and I love continental breakfast. I think Davis would just rather go to McDonald’s for some pancakes or a sausage McGriddle, but he lets us have our continental breakfast anyway. The kids love to make their own plates (especially the waffles!) and I don’t see why you would pay for breakfast when you’d be walking by a perfectly good, free breakfast on the way out!

Once we had finished breakfast, gathered our belongings, and returned our keys to the front desk, we piled into the car to begin our short trip to Disney World.

We hit the turnpike in no time!

Just ignore the windshield streaks!


Any guesses on what is in these next two pictures?

It’s our bag of chocolate covered peanuts! I’ll have to remember next time that those don’t mix well with summer road trips and eat them faster!

Once we hit the turnpike, my title becomes “Toll Manager”.



We attended the Pirate & Princess Party back in 2008 (I think it was 2008). They handed out these cute loot bags you could fill with “treasure” at each of the specified treasure locations in the Magic Kingdom. I kept one and keep it in the car. We stock it with quarters to pay the tolls when we head to Disney World. The rest of the year it holds my latte money. My favorite drive-thru coffee booth here in town only takes cash or check, so I try to put a dollar or two here and there in my bag so I can treat myself every once in a while.

Prepared for the first toll!

Driving up to the toll plaza.

Getting closer…

And closer….

Hmmm, I only took three pictures of that?! Davis must have been needing the money about then, so I must have had to stop taking pictures to take care of my Manager duties!

I remember how exciting it was to be looking at what’s in this next picture on my phone:

I wish it would say that every day. It could if we’d just move to Florida, right?


It wasn’t much longer and we were in sight of this Magical gateway:

Davis and I decided that it was the first time we had gone under that gate. Don’t ask me specifically which one it was, but it seems like every year, or at least the past two or three, we’ve missed our first exit off of I-4. The past two or so years there’s been construction around it and we’ve just zipped right on by. We usually take the next one and can see Universal Studios from the car. Well not this year buddy! We exited as instructed and were just following the road when all of a sudden out or the trees Disney appeared!

Love those palm trees!

While we waited at a stoplight (Disney stoplights are so much better than ordinary ones) I saw some flowers that I really liked. I took these pictures to find out later what there are and if they will grow in our area. I haven’t done that yet. Does anyone know what they are?

Aren’t they pretty?


If my phone can't say I am 2.6 miles from Disney World every day, maybe it could say I am 0.3 miles from Epcot Resorts?

That would be nice.


And so concluded our short drive from Ocala to the Boardwalk!


We pulled up to the entrance booth, got our parking pass, and made our way to the lobby for check-in!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Had no idea you had started this! I'm going back to read and will be back to post again.

 

[Bridora]

Had no idea you had started this! I'm going back to read and will be back to post again.

I guess I was still reading your TR when you posted this! Don't worry, when you go back and read yours you will see that I finally remembered to tell you I had started mine!