tazdev3225
<font color=darkorchid>I sucked my thumb up with t
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2008
Introductions and Day 1
Welcome aboard. Pull up a deck chair and relax. Sorry trying to be in the cruise mood. Seriously join in and have some fun while I take you on a trip aboard the Disney Magic.
First lets start with the mundane formalities, the who and the why.
The Who is easy. There is me Lorrie, Mom, Grandmom, Hey You, Sis, I pretty much answer to any of them when I hear my name,
I love Disney. When we go to the Happy Place my favorites vary by park but my favorite character is Grumpy. My family wishes I would change that since they think I identify with him to closely. What can I say, I think he is just misunderstood.
My sailing partner for the cruise was my DH Jim, Poppie, Dad, Sheriff etc. Just some of the names he goes by. His only real favorite Disney anything is Donald Duck and he does a fairly good impression.
Here he is with our oldest DD, his Princess, at her wedding last summer
Normally we go to Disney World for our big vacation but our last few trips together have been less than magical. Jim was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a few years ago. The plus side was he lost 100 pounds in the last 3 years or so. This has caused a positive effect on his health as far as his blood pressure goes and he manages his sugars with minimal medication. The down side is he developed a nasty diabetic ulcer on his one toe. It makes the walking in the parks very difficult as the ulcer ALWAYS flairs up and creates problems. He wont use an ECV since I need one so we wind up barely speaking for a day or two. Not a magical vacation for either of us.
Jim is a really hard worker. Hell tell you he works 7 days a week. I say he works 5 and the other 2 days he flirts with the co-eds. He is a Deputy Sheriff during the week and works Security at a local University on the weekends. Really hard work smiling at the pretty girls. Seriously he is close to retirement and is working really hard so that we can travel when he retires. I want him to keep the security job for my sanity. The reason for this information is it brings us to the Why!
Jim works hard and I watch our grandkids so both stressful lifestyles. I love my grandkids dearly but I need a break from them on occasion. I like to pick something that is a days drive and fun. Florida is a days drive to him and he doesnt like to fly. Disney was out; he didnt want to go back again til we took grandkids with us. What to do?? I had been mulling cruising and almost booked one a few years ago when Disney sailed out of New York. I started pricing and looking at itineraries. When I had a good idea of what I wanted I gave him the info and facts. He looked at me like I had 2 heads and after a few minutes said OK!
We decided on the week before Thanksgiving and a 7 day Western Caribbean. No trying a 3 day cruise for the first one we jumped in with both feet. Now I had to decide how to book. Disney trips I usually do myself but this was new territory. I investigated Dreams Unlimited and decided to request a quote from them. I liked the option of using a travel agent plus they gave a $100 on board credit plus I got another $50 using the Disney Visa. Sweet!!! I paid my deposit and we were set. (Next cruise I will probably use my friend the TA.)
Then I started worrying about all the unknowns. I decided to join a Facebook group for our cruise. I got to know some of the people through there. They started a Fish Extender group. I joined in on that next. I only had 9 or 10 months to go so it helped pass the time. I even joined a second Fish Extender group since they needed a few extra bodies to fill the group and I had so much fun making the gifts.
I paid off the cruise in full in August and then started planning excursions. OK I had been looking at them for several months but finally decided exactly what I wanted. I booked excursions. Dining would be 2nd seating with a couple I met in the Facebook group, a really great decision as they were so much fun.
Of course no vacation EVER starts without some issues. My High School reunion date changed to the night before the cruise. It was originally set for a month earlier and changed last minute. We looked at flying but airfare was outrageous at this point so I missed it.
Since we were driving I took the car in to be checked, that was a $1500 fix. All the potholes from the last winter killed my suspension. Costly but better than a bad accident and I would have needed the work anyway so I was OK with it. The worst thing to happen was finding out my Dad had cancer about a month before we sailed. Thankfully it was caught early and they are very optimistic he will be fine, however it is the type that can and normally does recur. Still not bad because they will monitor him closely.
Ok all the background and bad stuff out of the way we are Vacation -1 Day. It was an easy day for the most part. I had the grandkids but got my laundry done and the final packing out of the way. We ordered dinner from a local steak shop so I had no clean up afterwards. Our son came over on his way home from work to pick up our puppy.
She was staying with his family for the week. My DD was coming over to check on the cats and bring in my mail. I actually was able to go to bed early with no worries.
Day 1 November 15
I wanted to be up and on the road at 4 AM. I dont know why I plan for that as it never happens. We left closer to 5 AM. Stopped at a new WAWA to get gas and coffee. I was very happy as the store had just opened the day before and they had a grand opening special any size coffee FREE!!!! I was a happy woman. 24oz of hot caffeine for free. Even better we were leaving frigid temperatures
We drove to Virginia before we switched drivers. I take the first shift and Jim drives from there. We got gas where we stopped; according to my notes it was Thornburg VA. Gas was $2.56 a gallon and we had driven 226 miles. We could have gone further but we paid $2.85 in Philly; that was a great price to us. We also stopped at the McDonalds for something to eat. We both had Egg McMuffins, I got a Dr. Pepper and Jim got an OJ.
I fell asleep by NC which is why I dont drive longer. I actually woke up about 17 miles from South of the Border and stayed awake for the rest of the drive. We stopped in Santee SC for gas. When we pulled off of I95 there was a 5 car pile-up and several were out of state cars. A little scary as it looked like there were some injuries. Gas was $2.71 a gallon and we had driven a total of 630 miles. Probably could have gone further but Jim likes to fill up when we get close to a ¼ tank. We also stopped at the Wendys for 2 Strawberry Iced Teas and split a 6 piece Spicy Nuggets.
Back on the road we made really fantastic time. Jim didnt stop unless we needed a bio break or if we needed gas. Somewhere around GA or FL I saw this truck
I was getting tired because I thought it was a tanker full of coffee. It actually was a fuel truck advertising coffee. LOL
We made it to the Best Western we were staying at overnight around 8 PM so we made really great time. From our house to the hotel was about 1000 miles and we made it in 15 hours, slightly better than getting to Disney World which usually averages 16 ½ hours for only an additional 50 miles.
Check in was a breeze and the people were very friendly. There was a restaurant attached to the property and you got a 10% discount as guests of the hotel so we just went there for dinner. The restaurant was called The Backwoods. It reminded me of Texas Roadhouse around us. Jim got Steak and Ribs which was not entitled to the discount and while the streak was good the ribs were inedible. Jim refused to complain which annoys me at times. I had a filet which was perfection. Both meals also came with a soup or salad. I had the Baked Potato soup which was very good. He got the salad which was salad but the Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing could have been a meal in itself it was VERY GOOD!!!! We actually shared the soup and salad and were of the same opinion there.
We headed back to the room and I was smart this trip, I had what we needed overnight in a backpack so it made things so easy that night. Jim tried to find football on the television and I was asleep in minutes.
The room was very nice and the bed was comfy. I would heartily recommend the hotel for a pre-cruise stay.
There will be many more pictures in future updates. Seriously how many pictures can you take of moving vehicles on an interstate?
Welcome aboard. Pull up a deck chair and relax. Sorry trying to be in the cruise mood. Seriously join in and have some fun while I take you on a trip aboard the Disney Magic.
First lets start with the mundane formalities, the who and the why.
The Who is easy. There is me Lorrie, Mom, Grandmom, Hey You, Sis, I pretty much answer to any of them when I hear my name,
I love Disney. When we go to the Happy Place my favorites vary by park but my favorite character is Grumpy. My family wishes I would change that since they think I identify with him to closely. What can I say, I think he is just misunderstood.
My sailing partner for the cruise was my DH Jim, Poppie, Dad, Sheriff etc. Just some of the names he goes by. His only real favorite Disney anything is Donald Duck and he does a fairly good impression.
Here he is with our oldest DD, his Princess, at her wedding last summer
Normally we go to Disney World for our big vacation but our last few trips together have been less than magical. Jim was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a few years ago. The plus side was he lost 100 pounds in the last 3 years or so. This has caused a positive effect on his health as far as his blood pressure goes and he manages his sugars with minimal medication. The down side is he developed a nasty diabetic ulcer on his one toe. It makes the walking in the parks very difficult as the ulcer ALWAYS flairs up and creates problems. He wont use an ECV since I need one so we wind up barely speaking for a day or two. Not a magical vacation for either of us.
Jim is a really hard worker. Hell tell you he works 7 days a week. I say he works 5 and the other 2 days he flirts with the co-eds. He is a Deputy Sheriff during the week and works Security at a local University on the weekends. Really hard work smiling at the pretty girls. Seriously he is close to retirement and is working really hard so that we can travel when he retires. I want him to keep the security job for my sanity. The reason for this information is it brings us to the Why!
Jim works hard and I watch our grandkids so both stressful lifestyles. I love my grandkids dearly but I need a break from them on occasion. I like to pick something that is a days drive and fun. Florida is a days drive to him and he doesnt like to fly. Disney was out; he didnt want to go back again til we took grandkids with us. What to do?? I had been mulling cruising and almost booked one a few years ago when Disney sailed out of New York. I started pricing and looking at itineraries. When I had a good idea of what I wanted I gave him the info and facts. He looked at me like I had 2 heads and after a few minutes said OK!
We decided on the week before Thanksgiving and a 7 day Western Caribbean. No trying a 3 day cruise for the first one we jumped in with both feet. Now I had to decide how to book. Disney trips I usually do myself but this was new territory. I investigated Dreams Unlimited and decided to request a quote from them. I liked the option of using a travel agent plus they gave a $100 on board credit plus I got another $50 using the Disney Visa. Sweet!!! I paid my deposit and we were set. (Next cruise I will probably use my friend the TA.)
Then I started worrying about all the unknowns. I decided to join a Facebook group for our cruise. I got to know some of the people through there. They started a Fish Extender group. I joined in on that next. I only had 9 or 10 months to go so it helped pass the time. I even joined a second Fish Extender group since they needed a few extra bodies to fill the group and I had so much fun making the gifts.
I paid off the cruise in full in August and then started planning excursions. OK I had been looking at them for several months but finally decided exactly what I wanted. I booked excursions. Dining would be 2nd seating with a couple I met in the Facebook group, a really great decision as they were so much fun.
Of course no vacation EVER starts without some issues. My High School reunion date changed to the night before the cruise. It was originally set for a month earlier and changed last minute. We looked at flying but airfare was outrageous at this point so I missed it.
Since we were driving I took the car in to be checked, that was a $1500 fix. All the potholes from the last winter killed my suspension. Costly but better than a bad accident and I would have needed the work anyway so I was OK with it. The worst thing to happen was finding out my Dad had cancer about a month before we sailed. Thankfully it was caught early and they are very optimistic he will be fine, however it is the type that can and normally does recur. Still not bad because they will monitor him closely.Ok all the background and bad stuff out of the way we are Vacation -1 Day. It was an easy day for the most part. I had the grandkids but got my laundry done and the final packing out of the way. We ordered dinner from a local steak shop so I had no clean up afterwards. Our son came over on his way home from work to pick up our puppy.
She was staying with his family for the week. My DD was coming over to check on the cats and bring in my mail. I actually was able to go to bed early with no worries.
Day 1 November 15
I wanted to be up and on the road at 4 AM. I dont know why I plan for that as it never happens. We left closer to 5 AM. Stopped at a new WAWA to get gas and coffee. I was very happy as the store had just opened the day before and they had a grand opening special any size coffee FREE!!!! I was a happy woman. 24oz of hot caffeine for free. Even better we were leaving frigid temperatures
We drove to Virginia before we switched drivers. I take the first shift and Jim drives from there. We got gas where we stopped; according to my notes it was Thornburg VA. Gas was $2.56 a gallon and we had driven 226 miles. We could have gone further but we paid $2.85 in Philly; that was a great price to us. We also stopped at the McDonalds for something to eat. We both had Egg McMuffins, I got a Dr. Pepper and Jim got an OJ.
I fell asleep by NC which is why I dont drive longer. I actually woke up about 17 miles from South of the Border and stayed awake for the rest of the drive. We stopped in Santee SC for gas. When we pulled off of I95 there was a 5 car pile-up and several were out of state cars. A little scary as it looked like there were some injuries. Gas was $2.71 a gallon and we had driven a total of 630 miles. Probably could have gone further but Jim likes to fill up when we get close to a ¼ tank. We also stopped at the Wendys for 2 Strawberry Iced Teas and split a 6 piece Spicy Nuggets.
Back on the road we made really fantastic time. Jim didnt stop unless we needed a bio break or if we needed gas. Somewhere around GA or FL I saw this truck
I was getting tired because I thought it was a tanker full of coffee. It actually was a fuel truck advertising coffee. LOL
We made it to the Best Western we were staying at overnight around 8 PM so we made really great time. From our house to the hotel was about 1000 miles and we made it in 15 hours, slightly better than getting to Disney World which usually averages 16 ½ hours for only an additional 50 miles.
Check in was a breeze and the people were very friendly. There was a restaurant attached to the property and you got a 10% discount as guests of the hotel so we just went there for dinner. The restaurant was called The Backwoods. It reminded me of Texas Roadhouse around us. Jim got Steak and Ribs which was not entitled to the discount and while the streak was good the ribs were inedible. Jim refused to complain which annoys me at times. I had a filet which was perfection. Both meals also came with a soup or salad. I had the Baked Potato soup which was very good. He got the salad which was salad but the Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing could have been a meal in itself it was VERY GOOD!!!! We actually shared the soup and salad and were of the same opinion there.
We headed back to the room and I was smart this trip, I had what we needed overnight in a backpack so it made things so easy that night. Jim tried to find football on the television and I was asleep in minutes.
The room was very nice and the bed was comfy. I would heartily recommend the hotel for a pre-cruise stay.
There will be many more pictures in future updates. Seriously how many pictures can you take of moving vehicles on an interstate?
I am following
Thanks for joining in. I would move to Florida to get away rom the cold but my DH is insane. He LOVES snow and frigid temps.
