2004 VAN TRIP - part 8 ... the End

[VAN]

Me – 49, Disney nut
DH – 49 (almost 50), “enjoys” WDW
DD – 18, Disney nut
DF – 18, hasn’t been in a few years

Thursday, April 8, 2004 – LAST DAY AT WDW (Boo-hoo)

This was our last day at WDW. At this point, DH and I had been there almost 2 weeks and the girls 1 week. Morning ritual of breakfast and paper. With DF still sleeping, DD and I decided to make a final trip to the grocery store and fill up on gas for the trip home.

Rachel got a cappuccino while at the gas station and then we headed to Winn-Dixie.

Back at the campsite we put things away – then headed off to join DD and DF at the pool for some sun. Lunch, clean-up and then we drove over to Caribbean Beach Resort to look around. I was able to get the camera to take a couple of pictures and then it wouldn’t focus again. Darn!!! From there we headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge because DF had never seen it. We got caught in a scattered thundershower. Back in the van and to the campsite.

Throughout the day, we had begun to put things away to make breaking camp easier in the morning since we would be doing it in the dark! We did some advanced “packing” and then settled in for Bloody Mary’s w/ olives. The girls, of course, had “Virgin” ones. We finished off the olives … packed up the rest of what we could and then headed for our traditional last night at Crockett’s Tavern (Pizza, Nachos, Quesadilla, Virgin Daiquiri & Pina Colada) = $48 w/ tip.

Good Friday, April 9, 2004 – WE LEAVE WDW

We left at 6:23 am and arrived at the Hampton Inn in Elizabethtown, KY at 8:00 pm. The girls took a quick swim while I ordered pizza and then off to bed.

Saturday, April 10, 2004 – ARRIVAL HOME

We got up early and had a free continental breakfast and then gassed up and hit the road at 6:50 am. We pulled in about 1:00 pm.

Once home, DD drove DF home and the rest of us unpacked. DS did fine except for he left the house kind of messy (he was at work when we arrived home). The next day was Easter and DH’s 50th birthday.

POST TRIP

After returning home and obtaining a replacement, DD got her license in the mail (4 weeks after getting home) from Downtown Disney. Not sure why it took so long for them to send it as her address was right on the license, but at least we know where it went!!!

I took the camera to a local shop and they suggested I try to dry it out over the next three weeks. They confirmed that the automatic focus was not working and that most people had luck with it just sitting out. This did the trick and 2 weeks later we were able to use the camera and declared it fixed.

Transportation Stats
1,265 miles each way
344 miles while we were down there
21 hrs going down & 19.5 hrs coming back
Averaged 16.86/mpg and paid an average of $1.86/gal for premium/mid-grade (sounds cheap now!!)

Expenses = $3,146
$427.03 Transportation
$1,036.90 Lodging
$838.42 Food
$615.41 Recreation (golf, park tickets, boats)
$228.68 Souvenirs/Misc

THE END

 

[pumba]

reading it all.......thanks so much for your report......

 

[VAN]

Pumba - I appreciate your comments ... we did have fun and are planning another trip next year. Since both kids will be in college (separate ones with back-to-back spring break weeks) we are planning to drive down again for 2 weeks and then fly my DS down for his break and then my DD for her's ... they'll have a couple days overlap, so will save the O'Hana dinner for when they are both there.

We are fortunate that our kids have always enjoyed vacations that include amusement parks, museums, lounging, national parks, hiking, etc. The best vacations are those where you can do a mix and they've always been great to travel with.

 

[TinkerChelle]

Thanks for the great reports. I enjoyed them!

 

[lynn71092]

So has DF become a Disney Nut also?

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip report. Again, I really enjoyed reading it!

 

[I Intrigue You]

Great trip report! I only wish my family would realize we don't have to be in one of the parks everyday to enjoy WDW.

 

[Minniespal]

Great report ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[VAN]

DF is a hard one to read. She is so laid back that you hardly ever see her cut loose. She does seem to appreciate our family's rather outrageous humor which is good, because we can really be wild in close quarters [example: my DH and 4 yr old nephew had a belching contest at our local state campgroup last summer ... everyone in surrounding sites were looking and pointing at us all!! Nephew won!!].

No, I don't think she appreciates Disney like we do, but do think she had a "nice" time on the trip.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! I have never read a Fort Wilderness report. I don't read all of them though. Since our Nov trip I have not been able to make myself read any reports. It just was too depressing knowing I wasn't going back for a few years. But it is fun to read others enjoying their trips and crying on the last day too. Why does Disney time go faster? Enjoyed going RVing with your family!! Thanks!

 

[Credit Man]

Enjoyed your report. Thanks for posting.

 

[BigTigg'r]

Thank you for taking the time to share your trip with us. I have wondered what it would be like to camp.