“Help Me Move to Florida… You Can Go to Disney!” A June 2013 PTR-Update!! 6/15

[amandaw]

First and foremost.....please be careful on the Ramp of Death!!

Your plans are really coming together quite nicely! I think they're full of the important stuff without being unreasonable.

I don't think I would try to put a TS on the DHS day. It may be nice just to do what y'all want at a leisurely pace.

[Zuzu03]

Got my Florida Driver's License today!!!! It's official! I'm now a Florida resident!

The minute I got it, I wanted to drive up to Disney! hahahaha! Poor DH didn't have all of his stuff with him (they wanted my social security card, passport and Vermont license - he didn't have is social security card) so we had to come back and get it before he could get his license and register his car. It took ages the second time because their computer kept pooping out. But it's all done and it was really strange pulling off the Vermont license plates and putting on the Florida Sunshine State plate on! It's feeling more and more real! Then we bopped over to the Parks and Rec office to pick up our beach sticker for our car.

DH works evenings so I'm trying to figure out the best day to go up to WDW - looking for when the weather is good both here and there, maybe Wednesday!

[CluelessDisFan]

Joining in! I love your beautiful little lake. I grew up on Lake Erie, and just love the life on the lake! Also I'm 6' tall and can understand the aspect of sticking out in a crowd, it's a great thing most days. Sure does make shopping a challenge though.

[Zuzu03]

Originally Posted by CluelessDisFan

Joining in! I love your beautiful little lake. I grew up on Lake Erie, and just love the life on the lake! Also I'm 6' tall and can understand the aspect of sticking out in a crowd, it's a great thing most days. Sure does make shopping a challenge though.

We love Lake Erie too! DH's family has a cottage on Lake Erie in Sand Beach and we LOVE spending time there in the summer! AND going to Cedar Point!

[emma212010]

Originally Posted by emilyindisney

Have you thought about jumping in line for TSMM right after you get your FPs? We did that on our trip and only had to wait 15-20 minutes for both our regular line ride and FP ride later.

Love that you're resort hopping! I really want to do that on my next trip!

Seems like your plan is fairly relaxed which is probably good for a newbie. Can't wait to hear more!

Both 50s Prime Time and Sci-Fi drive in have a pretty fun theme. However, if you're looking for a decent QS we ate at Backlot Express and liked it a lot. Actually- we ended up coming back a second time, haha! The food is pretty standard food but its good and there's lots of seating.

Yes, but I am literally obsessed with ToT, so I really want to make sure we get to ride!! It might end up happening that we can do that, but I definitely want to make sure we get ToT in!

I love resort hopping! It's my favorite non-park thing to do! I love taking pictures at the different resorts because they are all so photogenic!

We've never eaten at Backlot Express before...hmmm, might be a good option! I think it will be one of those what we feel like moments.

I am really excited about our plans!! Ahh! I just wanna go now!!!!

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Nah, she'll be thrilled to see you!

How long is your visit for? Have fun and enjoy the sun!

That does look like the ramp of death!

What about a late lunch on Sunday instead? I don't see breakfast on your agenda but you could get something fabulous from Starring Rolls or the Writers Stop (carrot cake cookie!) and then doing a late lunch at Beaches and Cream if you can get in, or ESPN? They are right there by your hotel, or I've heard great things about Fountain, which is at your hotel. You can always do Hurricane Hannah's and sit outside and enjoy the beach club ambiance as well.

Just an idea

the plans look lovely!

She'll be gone all this week and returning this weekend. She has February break at school right now! Lucky! She said it's absolutely beautiful down there!! She made the trip up to WDW today and is in Epcot as I type! I am getting text updates!

That's a good idea! We ate at the Fountain back in 2010, and we loved it! It's definitely something Troy would like. I'd love to get into Beaches and Cream!! I've never been there!

Originally Posted by hstrickland

Know what you mean about being busy!! Grad school is killin' me! Don't wait until your 40 to get a master's degree...do it while you're young and have don't have kids.

Your plans look fabulous!!! Park commando style I like it. You probably don't want restaurant advice from me....you know I'm a TS kinda girl 50's would be nice for a break...and the atmosphere is so fun. Or Sci-Fi...love that, too. Either would be lots of entertainment. And if your BF is like you and your mom (always up for a little Disney fun), he would have a blast at either.

Bill and I were just looking at your 'snow' pics! Holy cow!!! Most definitely different than our weather in South Georgia You probably get sick of it, but it is really beautiful. When we went snow skiing up in Vermont, I fell in love with the winter landscape.

Stay warm!
Heather

Thank you! I know, I would love to do a TS that day, but I really don't want to waste park time. If only we had more time! I haven't eaten at Sci-Fi in the LONGEST time! It would be nice to eat there again.

OMG, we are getting another huge storm right now! Classes have been cancelled for the day because of winter storm Rocky coming through! It's pretty for the first couple minutes until you realize how much snow is going to be left to clean up! Then it just gets annoying! Luckily, this is mom's last winter! Lucky duck!

Originally Posted by amandaw

First and foremost.....please be careful on the Ramp of Death!!

Your plans are really coming together quite nicely! I think they're full of the important stuff without being unreasonable.

I don't think I would try to put a TS on the DHS day. It may be nice just to do what y'all want at a leisurely pace.

Oh, we have our YakTrax and they work really well for gripping! It's just dealing with it and the cold is just awful!!

Thnk you! I hope it's a good taste of everything important and he wants to see more!

I agree! I think it will depend on what we're feeling like that day. I'm sure we'll be pretty tired,so it will be nice to not be super structured!

Originally Posted by Zuzu03

Got my Florida Driver's License today!!!! It's official! I'm now a Florida resident!

The minute I got it, I wanted to drive up to Disney! hahahaha! Poor DH didn't have all of his stuff with him (they wanted my social security card, passport and Vermont license - he didn't have is social security card) so we had to come back and get it before he could get his license and register his car. It took ages the second time because their computer kept pooping out. But it's all done and it was really strange pulling off the Vermont license plates and putting on the Florida Sunshine State plate on! It's feeling more and more real! Then we bopped over to the Parks and Rec office to pick up our beach sticker for our car.

DH works evenings so I'm trying to figure out the best day to go up to WDW - looking for when the weather is good both here and there, maybe Wednesday!

And now you have your AP and are in Epcot right now!!!

Originally Posted by CluelessDisFan

Joining in! I love your beautiful little lake. I grew up on Lake Erie, and just love the life on the lake! Also I'm 6' tall and can understand the aspect of sticking out in a crowd, it's a great thing most days. Sure does make shopping a challenge though.

Welcome!! Thank you! We love it too! It's a great location when it's warm!! Isn't it hard to find pants, dresses, skirts, ANYTHING long enough?? It's pretty frustrating, but you're right- sticking out in a crowd can be a good thing!

[emma212010]

Hi everyone! As you may know, Mom is currently visiting Step Dad in Naples, and she has been updating me through texts and pictures. This place is gorgeous!!! I am so excited to see it!!! Here are some of the pictures she sent me.

The gates that look like ToT!



Driving into the wealthy part of Naples.









It’s for sale!!







How gorgeous!!





Perfection!



During the day:








Dog Park! It’s called City Bark! How cute!





There’s Jolie! <3



Today Mom got her Florida resident AP!! She is using it in Epcot as we speak!!



GAH! She rode Soarin’ and ate at Sunshine Seasons for breakfast!



She said she rode the new TT, and she said it was amazing!! I can’t wait!!

She is planning to go to MK at 12:30pm and leave at 6:30pm to get back at a decent hour. She’s flying back home this weekend, so hopefully I’ll get some more pictures in the next couple of days!

[Julie*]

Originally Posted by emma212010

Welcome fellow Vermonter!!!

Thanks so much!

Julie

[marDgreen88]

Naples looks beautiful! Your mom is so lucky to be at Disney today! (Or... WAS in Disney today. )

[amandaw]

WOW! Naples looks very pretty! What a nice place to move to!

And to get to Disney for the day?!?

[hstrickland]

Naples is beautiful, isn't it?!! Love the beach pics! Glad the AP has been purchased Maybe yall can get a really great discount on resorts. Can't wait to see more pics of FL.

Hope you're staying warm up north. It's a beautiful day here, just a little windy and a bit cool (for me). The boys went over to the coast to fish today...Faith and I are doing absolutely nothing! Guess it's time I motivate myself to fold clothes.

Heather

[emma212010]

Originally Posted by marDgreen88

Naples looks beautiful! Your mom is so lucky to be at Disney today! (Or... WAS in Disney today. )

I know!! I can't wait to visit!!

Originally Posted by amandaw

WOW! Naples looks very pretty! What a nice place to move to!

And to get to Disney for the day?!?

I'm so jealous! It seemed so nice!! The pictures are gorgeous!

Originally Posted by hstrickland

Naples is beautiful, isn't it?!! Love the beach pics! Glad the AP has been purchased Maybe yall can get a really great discount on resorts. Can't wait to see more pics of FL.

Hope you're staying warm up north. It's a beautiful day here, just a little windy and a bit cool (for me). The boys went over to the coast to fish today...Faith and I are doing absolutely nothing! Guess it's time I motivate myself to fold clothes.

Heather

It is!! I can't wait to visit!! It's such a beautiful area!

It's warming up!! 48 degrees today! I see spring on the horizon (maybe after a few more snow storms! )

[emma212010]

That's right folks! June 17, 2013 is 99 days away!!!!!!!!!!

DOUBLE DIGIT DANCE!!!!!



In 99 days we will be on our way to Florida!! And in 102 days we will be in Disney!!! How exciting!!!

[emma212010]

Mom's February Vacation Trip part II

Hi everyone! It is spring break for this girl! Woot! Woot! I just wanted to finish up and recap Moms trip in February. We compiled all of her photos and uploaded them to Photobucket. So, I left off on her Disney day when she was going to Magic Kingdom for the afternoon. Im just going to recap the whole day because I have more details!!

She left her apartment at 4:15am on her Disney day and arrived at Epcot at 7:40am. She parked right up close and went right to the ticket gate, showed her new drivers license and asked for a FL resident AP. Woohooo!!!! Then she stood in line to get in and was listening to all of the families talking about how many days they had left and their schedules. She was so happy that she didnt have to worry about that anymore! She could go whenever she wanted to! They were let in at 8:50am, and she walked in and headed straight to Soarin. She walked right on! After Soarin she had breakfast at Sunshine Seasons. I posted the pictures from this earlier.









She wandered over to TT, and rode it because it was only a ten minute wait in the single rider line. She said it was a lot of fun, but she liked the old one better.

Then she decided she wanted to look at the flowers that were being set up for Flower and Garden Festival. The Oz area was set up for kids to play in! How cute! We saw the movie yesterday, and we really liked it! It was so well done and very cute!













She was wasting time until WS opened, and she started in Canada and walked around. She didnt take many pictures because she has been having trouble with her battery life on her phone. She did take a lot of pictures of the topiaries.











She stopped at Tangerine Café where she had lunch.









Then she continued around the WS, and she wanted to try to charge her phone. She went to the Character Spot to try to charge her phone. She stayed there for about 30 minutes and then she left for MK.

[emma212010]

Mom's February Vacation Trip part III

She had rented a convertible for the week, so she loved cruising around with the top down on Disney property! I wish I was there!! It was super crowded at MK, so she parked really far away! She made a beeline for New Fantasyland.





She went into the big top tent first and looked around a lot.



There were a lot of people back there and it seemed very congested with the new walls up.

She was going to ride Little Mermaid, but the line was way too long. She just looked around and took pictures.













She decided to ride TTA, and she decided it was hot so she went to get a Dole Whip!



Then it was just too crowded, so she sat on the wall right there and chose to walk through the shops and headed to the exit. She wanted to get back before it was too dark because she wasn’t sure where exactly she was going. It was about 3:15pm when she left. After exactly three hours and beautiful orange groves, she arrived back at the apartment at about 6:20pm.

She was pretty tired because it had been a long day. It was really hard to do it all in one day. She thinks that it would be better if she was with someone else driving!

Then on Friday, she decided to explore and go shopping at Miromar Outlets in Estero. It was only 20 minutes from the apartment which was really nice! They had a Disney Outlet!!!!!



This place was so pretty! They had so many stores! It was huge!!!!!!





She had lunch at Bon Appetit which was a French Bistro. She said it was pretty yummy! It looks it!!





Here are some more pictures of the Naples area. It looks so beautiful! Everything is so clean and polished! I mean look at these streets!!





There are so many beautiful houses! Like what?!











She was disappointed to come back to the snow and cold, but she will be back in April for her spring break. I really am so excited to see it!! It looks so pretty!!!!!

In other news we are contemplating the autotrain in place of driving the 16,000 miles and 28 hours! If it is worth it, we would drive to Virginia (9 hours away) on Monday by 4:00pm where we would pick up the train and travel to Sanford, FL and arrive by Tuesday morning. Then we would drive the four-ish hours to Naples! This would save a ton of driving time, hotel expenses, and wear and tear on the car! We are still pricing everything out, so it is still only an option. It might be an adventure!!!

[marDgreen88]

Looks like it was a really fun day for your mom! Naples looks like a beautiful town.