Road Trip! Family of 7 - It's Only 1600 Miles - June 2016 TR (completed)

[KnK]

I'm loving all the happy smiling faces.

 

[pkondz]

Cute pic.

Older kids usually ask for stuff not on the menu, they always ask for something they like and "Yeah, we can make that."

Impressive.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Around the World

After dinner we make our way around the World Showcase. First stop: Photo's with Donald

Next stop, always a must, is for goodies in Germany. DD was talking to the lady making the goodies, she gave her a chocolate covered marshmallow.

SQUIRREL

Ok, back on track now.


Doesn't this look like a good photo spot?

We finish off the showcase...if it wasn't so HOT outside..that UK beer cart would have kept me company for a while....back to Nemo ride again and more time in the Seas

MINE! MINE! MINE!

We wrap up the evening w/ our FP+ on Soarin and head back to the resort. We didn't go on Spaceship Earth (<20 min wait) or Test Track (60-90 min wait)...always another day.

 

[pkondz]

Love her expression. "I'm doing this out of a sense of duty only."

Nice family pic!

Next stop, always a must, is for goodies in Germany.

Yes. Oh, yes. Definitely yes.

Save the children! (Or at least the treats.)

Doesn't this look like a good photo spot?

We wrap up the evening w/ our FP+ on Soarin

How was the new Soarin'?

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

How was the new Soarin'?

Just like Disneyland

Very nice.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

I Scream!

The two oldest DD's are out wandering about...trying to recall if they went to MK or just wandering around the resort. It was a good time for me to take the mini-DD's for a treat. We walk down to the food court....

 

[kmoore7]

Climb Aboard, Get Ready to Explore
Started loading up Rocket. Wondering if I forgot something as I have more room...maybe I'm getting better at packing.

12 days of clothes for 7 including:

• Beach bag with blanket and beach towels.
• Bag of food/snacks for when at WDW.
• Food bag and Cooler for the trip down - we eat out of the trunk! No dining out, no fast food.
• There is a bag with the extra gatorade, water, and juice boxes.
• There is a bag with road-side emergency stuff as well.
• Soft-side cooler goes at feet up front.
• Each kid gets a travel activity bag/bin.
• DVD's go in small CD holders that fit nicely in the center console.
• Up front, the doors hold stuff too and usually get misc items put in there.

Some things I learned:

• Use duffel bags and not suit cases. Most suit cases have a lot of wasted space, thick padding, bulky wheels..etc, and do not compress in size. So use soft-side bags.
• Use low-profile plastic totes. My 14yo and 16yo daughters have all their clothes in those totes.
• Organize everything else in nice neat bags. Mamaduck is a 31-bag fanatic and it pays off. Everything goes in a bag!
• Keep your on-the-road clothes one one bag so you are not unloading anything but the cooler and one bag.
• Pack little kids clothes as outfits in 1 gallon ziplock bags.
• Bring it all down and load like a jig-saw puzzle, but keeping what you need out as you travel on top and easily accessible.
• Bring plastic grocery bags for garbage. Do not let it pile up around the car, floor, drink holders, cubbies...pass it all up and put in a bag the toss when getting gas, at destination, or when getting home.

Nice job packing. Our family of seven has made the drive four times,1100 miles, so I speak from experience

 

[pkondz]

We walk down to the food court....

Now you're talking.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Chapter 4: Magic Kingdom

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Mainstreet USA
Day 2 of our on-site adventure and we will make way to MK. We get up late...not exactly a morning person. We eat food from the room (oatmeal, poptarts) and I think one or two went to the food court to grab some things. I went down before everyone was up to get Mamaduck some coffee. It's about 10:30am when we finally get through the gates and into MK. First thing...some pics on Mainstreet.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Wishing you were here.

With the passing on my father, I wanted to drop a coin in to the Wishing Well.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

The East Side

We spend most of the day in Tomorrow Land, Toontown Fair, and Fantasyland. We go on Stich's Great Excape and head over to use our FP+ for Space Mountain and a couple jump on the Teacups. No more tea cups for me or Mamaduck (she has Vertigo issues).

We use our next FP+ for some pictures with Arial. In out 2014 vist, Child#4 slept through it.

Off to Dumbo!

We went on Voyage of the Little Mermaid twice, Mickey's Philharmagic, Barnstormer, and finished off with a ride on the railroad back to the main street station.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Never again in June

I said it once, now I've said it twice - Never again in June! IT'S HOT OUTSIDE....why again did I think this was a good idea? We spend a good amount of time "Shopping" in Big Top Souvenirs.

 

[pkondz]

We get up late...not exactly a morning person.

Meh. You're on vacation. Do whatever the heck you want.

I went down before everyone was up to get Mamaduck some coffee.

Ah yes. I am familiar with this routine.

With the passing on my father, I wanted to drop a coin in to the Wishing Well.

That's a nice sentiment. Must've been pretty tough, though.

No more tea cups for me or Mamaduck (she has Vertigo issues).

<sigh> I told that to my DD.... she made me go on anyway.

We use our next FP+ for some pictures with Arial.

Best princess of all.

I said it once, now I've said it twice - Never again in June! IT'S HOT OUTSIDE....

Just a head's up. August ain't much better!

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

That's a nice sentiment. Must've been pretty tough, though.

Yeah, it was....sunglasses aren't just for the bright light. Smells and things I see bring back memories that made Sunday and Monday pretty tough.

Just a head's up. August ain't much better!

So I have heard. I think I'll stick to February and October.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Poly

We have ADR's at Kona Cafe at 5pm but get there by 4pm as we are overheating.

We grab a few drinks while waiting for 5pm to roll around. Victorious, host for Ohana was trying to sell us hard to cancel our Kona reservation and come eat at Ohana. I told him I'll look for later in the week.

Few minutes to 5 and our table is ready (opens at 5pm).
Kona dinner is good as always. Chef pays me a visit for my Gluten Free meel.

After dinner...I notice this...in the Poly Atrium, it almost looks like a Mickey.

After dinner, we take the Monrail back to MK, but the 4yo and 5yo are tired so we take the bus back to the resort to rest and get in a swim....the Pool is so hot, I bet the water is 90+ Degrees. Not very refreshing.

 

[pkondz]

the Pool is so hot, I bet the water is 90+ Degrees. Not very refreshing.

Our pool is set to 87... but then again, it's usually cool enough that you want warmth.
But if I'm overheated, I want to cool down, not cook.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Our pool is set to 87... but then again, it's usually cool enough that you want warmth.
But if I'm overheated, I want to cool down, not cook.

Our pool is 76-78. Put the solar cover on 2 days ago as the temps dropped in to 50's at night. I don't like the temp once it gets past 85 degrees and >90 is not nice.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Sleepy Dwarf

Looks like I missed a few... The 4yo crashed on the way back...set her in the stroller once we get off the bus.

Some cards in the room from the head mouse and his spouse.

Rooms are clean, beds are made...and the babies are tucked in.

Dumbo looks a little suspicious...

 

[buteraa]

Super review so far. What an adorable family you have!

 

[pkondz]

I don't like the temp once it gets past 85 degrees and >90 is not nice.

The first year, the DDs thought they could put the temp to whatever they wanted.
I came out to check and..... 95!!!!
Even at 87 they say it's cold.
This from kids who used to go to the beach and spend hours in water that was probably around 40.

Awwww...

I remember how they'd arrange our DD's stuffies, etc.