A Picture a Day (sorta...) to Keep the Disney Blues Away -- Updated 12/6!!

[ddstratton]

Continuing on with the Picture(s) of the Day, from our October 2008 Scrapbook:

 

[ddstratton]

After reading some of the notes on these scrapbook pages, I have no idea why I referred to myself in the third person... Especially in the last line on the last page here... "Darla caught up my notes..." Sheesh. I didn't proof-read that at all, did I???

 

[shalom]

We stay in condos, but when we're on the road we use those coupon magazines all the time; often they've for a brand new or just refurbished place, which is nice. Although sometimes they've just for someplace cheap, but hubby's got a good feel for when he needs to check the room first. Once in a while we're so tired we just go for the clean cheap place with small rooms and beds, though.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

found your new pre trip report

 

[ddstratton]

We stay in condos, but when we're on the road we use those coupon magazines all the time; often they've for a brand new or just refurbished place, which is nice. Although sometimes they've just for someplace cheap, but hubby's got a good feel for when he needs to check the room first. Once in a while we're so tired we just go for the clean cheap place with small rooms and beds, though.

This is actually the first time we've used a coupon out of one of these books. I've usually already got a room reserved. I did this time, too, but this hotel just looked nicer.

found your new pre trip report

Welcome!! Glad to have you along for the ride.

 

[ddstratton]

Finally -- a new update. I've been away from the boards for a bit. As for this particular trip, I'm not sure if it's going to happen. Well, let me rephrase that. I know it's going to happen. I'm just not sure when. Financially, I'm not entirely sure I can swing this trip for October 2013. I am going to keep going with the Pre-TR as though we are. Worst case -- I have to change the dates. Not a biggie. I make so many changes on my trips that changing the date would hardly be noticed!!!

For today's Picture of the Day... (we'll do a couple, since I've been away for a bit.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Jumping in for the fun. Wow, I remember that 2008 report. 4 years ago! We're getting old.

 

[shalom]

As for this particular trip, I'm not sure if it's going to happen. Well, let me rephrase that. I know it's going to happen. I'm just not sure when.

I know this story. Although we now have reservations, and it's a rental so we can't cancel, so I'm thinking we're going in January for sure. I know we're not going to get everything down I want to do, so I already have plans for the next trip, but when that'll be I haven't a clue. Planning it anyhow.

 

[ddstratton]

I know this story. Although we now have reservations, and it's a rental so we can't cancel, so I'm thinking we're going in January for sure. I know we're not going to get everything down I want to do, so I already have plans for the next trip, but when that'll be I haven't a clue. Planning it anyhow.

Yup. I LOVE to plan a trip. I have this October trip pretty well all planned out. It's just that I'm not sure if I can swing it financially yet. If not, it may get pushed back to a May 2014 trip... That wouldn't be bad, though. Our anniversary is in May. 2014 will be 23 years for us. We usually take our trips in either May (anniversary) or October (both of our birthdays). One or the other will happen!

 

[ddstratton]

Jumping in for the fun. Wow, I remember that 2008 report. 4 years ago! We're getting old.

Hi there! It's hard to believe that our first trip to Disney World was four years ago.... Looking back at these pictures is so much fun for me. Especially the pics of DD. She is officially taller than I am now. Not by much, but she is. And she's still growing.

 

[ddstratton]

Now for today's Pictures of the Day...

I think it was about this point in the trip when we almost had an accident on I-95. The semi-truck in front of us either lost a recap or ran over one. It popped up in the road right in front of us. Semi was in front of us and traffic all around. We hit it straight on in a mini-van. Luckily, we drove straight over it. It didn't cause us to swerve or anything. In the mirror, we could see that it hit the front of the car behind us, then bounced off the road. We pulled off the next exit and into that gas station so DH could check for any damage under the vehicle. There was none.

I still remember DD's comment about the billboard on the bottom --
"Why on Earth would anyone want to look at b**bs while they were eating??" The rest of us were laughing so hard we could barely breath. Somehow DH kept the van on the road...

 

[tazdev3225]

That sounds like a scary couple of minutes. Glad you were all OK. We had a similar incident coming home in august. It will be in my TR but we found out that the truck tires were retreads when one fell apart on 95 in NC at 10 PM. A very dark stretch of road.

I would have been laughing at your DD's comments also.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Wow Darla, I don't remember that from the TR. Scary stuff, too close of a call.

 

[shalom]

Yikes! I've seen a couple of retreads break loose, but it was always at a nice distance. Must be pretty terrifying to have it happen that close! Glad you guys didn't sustain any damage.

Our anniversary is in May. 2014 will be 23 years for us.

Ours is in May, too, 25 years. Discovered a while back that another couple at church got married the same day, same year, next state over! We were living halfway across the country at the time, and they were based elsewhere as well, but of course we all settled quite close to our respective wedding churches. So I tell my kids to "be careful where you get married; might set the pattern for your life."

We usually go in May, but usually much earlier. Never thought of celebrating our Anniversary there, but totally considering it now! Also want to go in October; no birthdays then, but it's when I wanted to get married (hubby didn't want to wait that long!). My favorite time of year; I figure the drive down we should hit some good autumn color somewhere, and I want to do the MNSSHP sometime. You pick good months.

 

[MEK]

Hi! Didn't realize that you had a PTR going. Yeah! October 2013I will be heading back to the world soon.

I'll have to catch up at home since I can't see a lot of pictures while I am here at work! Boo! (although I can see a few of yours )

Wait - I can see upir pictures and I love your scrap book pages. They are awesome! Such great details!

 

[ddstratton]

That sounds like a scary couple of minutes. Glad you were all OK. We had a similar incident coming home in august. It will be in my TR but we found out that the truck tires were retreads when one fell apart on 95 in NC at 10 PM. A very dark stretch of road.

I would have been laughing at your DD's comments also.

It was a scary moment, but it happened so fast, we didn't have time to be scared until after it happened. While looking at my old TR (see next note) I was reminded that you were the very first person to comment on my very first TR!

Wow Darla, I don't remember that from the TR. Scary stuff, too close of a call.

I had to go back and look at my first TR, to see if I had remembered to put that in! Yup, it was there, but just a small mention.

Ours is in May, too, 25 years. Discovered a while back that another couple at church got married the same day, same year, next state over! We were living halfway across the country at the time, and they were based elsewhere as well, but of course we all settled quite close to our respective wedding churches. So I tell my kids to "be careful where you get married; might set the pattern for your life."

We usually go in May, but usually much earlier. Never thought of celebrating our Anniversary there, but totally considering it now! Also want to go in October; no birthdays then, but it's when I wanted to get married (hubby didn't want to wait that long!). My favorite time of year; I figure the drive down we should hit some good autumn color somewhere, and I want to do the MNSSHP sometime. You pick good months.

Thanks! May and October are usually our vacation months, as we get to combine a vacation with a "special" day.

Hi! Didn't realize that you had a PTR going. Yeah! October 2013I will be heading back to the world soon.

I'll have to catch up at home since I can't see a lot of pictures while I am here at work! Boo! (although I can see a few of yours )

Wait - I can see upir pictures and I love your scrap book pages. They are awesome! Such great details!

Yuppers. Planning to go in October 2013. Still not totally sure that'll happen -- but it's the plan for now! And if it doesn't happen then, it will still happen sometime or another.

My pictures are hosted on Flickr, rather than Photobucket. Flickr is not blocked by a lot of places like Photobucket is. Don't know why, but that's what I've learned.

Thanks on the scrapbook pages. I love doing it, even though I don't get nearly as fancy as some people do with scrapbooking. And now - I do it digitally. When I get to our 2010 Trip -- those are all digital.

 

[ddstratton]

Back to some Pictures of the Day:

 

[GeminiAngel]

I would love to try Cici's. There's one here in Vegas, somewhere.

 

[ddstratton]

We had one. Well about 40 miles from us, but that's normal for the rural area we live in. It didn't even last a year, I think, before they closed. We finally get something good and they close?? I really don't understand why they closed -- they were always busy.

 

[ddstratton]

Hmm.... Changes already?? We are QUITE a ways away from our proposed trip, and it may be changing. Family members (mostly DD and Mom) are making noises about wanting to take a DIFFERENT vacation next year.

I know -- what's wrong with them???

Mom would really love a beach vacation. I had planned a few beach days into my Disney trip plans. In the Florida Keys, no less. She'd have been happy with that.

However, DD and Mom would both LOVE to visit the Smoky Mountains again. Well, actually.... So would I. For now, however, I am going to go along with my current plans for a Florida trip. I'm just mentioning this so that it's not a huge surprise when the dates for the Disney trip REALLY change. Because it won't be cancelled. Just possibly delayed ;P.

On to trip planning, then!

I had considered taking the AutoTrain down and back for this trip. Hmm... That's a little pricey. I am currently thinking of driving down and taking the AutoTrain home. See, we LOVE the AutoTrain. Nope - it doesn't take much to amuse us!

I would take a total of 2 1/2 days to go from our home in Upstate/Western NY to our destination in Florida.

My current plans have us leaving home early in the morning – around 6:00 am. We would stop for some fast-food breakfast and lunch along the way, stopping for the night at a Holiday Inn at Emporia, VA. We have stayed at this particular Holiday Inn at least twice before, on previous trips.

Day 2 of traveling would have us driving from Emporia, VA to St. Augustine, FL. Again, we will be spending the night at a hotel we have visited before – this time it is the Comfort Suites at St. Augustine (World Golf Village area).

Day 3 of traveling would have us driving from St. Augustine to Marathon. Marathon is a little town located about mid-way down the Florida Keys. We would be staying at a resort I learned about here on the DIS. DizneyDawn and her family stayed here, and her report/pictures sold me on the place. You stay in your own little bungalow, with private beach access. Prices aren’t bad, either.

Well, there you have it. The beginning plans for my October 2013 trip that may or may not happen in October 2013! But I do expect it to happen sometime, so the plans are still good.