Alligator Roadkill Was Just The Beginning!!! Updated 2nd May!!

[LuvindisCruiser]

Are you there yet ?

OMG, you have to be there !

Oh, I hope your there !

 

[Aussiesalad]

Seriously, still the most entertaining TR ever, and you're not even there yet. Bahahaha, I laughed at the meat tray and BINGO! It's still funny, even when not sleep-deprived.

I'm glad you found it funny even in a non sleep-deprived state!
We were such nutcases at that gas station!

Your caffeine meltdown sounds kind of terrible.. no wait, really terrible... and I never want to experience that!

It was awful!!! At least now I know my caffeine/no sleep limit!!

Can't wait for your next update, because this is quite a cliffhanger!

I know! I'm sorry! It was quite mean to leave the chapter like that but what happens next is so awful!

Hilarious update! I love the mental image (and illustration of course) of you guys in the heavenly truck stop! The meat tray line has to be my favorite!

It was such a beautiful truck stop, I still dream about it to this day
Yeah we are such dorks. Everyone loves a good raffle!

OMG what a scary reaction to the caffeine! I'm like you-consuming caffeinated drinks from morning to night-and nothing like that has ever come close to happening to me!

I know! Caffeine is one of my closest friends and level of betrayal I felt on that day is still upsetting!! I think the trick is to not try and drive 40ish hours on your own and you probably don't need a caffeinated drink EVERY time you stop...

So glad to hear that you were safely in Orlando, and I'm thinking that if the journey was this much fun to read about, then the WDW stuff is gonna be amazing. Can't wait to hear about all the tomfoolery you crazy kids got into.

I know!!! The dramatic drive from coast to coast was the perfect lead up to an absolutely ridiculous week!! I'm excited to share everything that happened!!

 

[Aussiesalad]

Are you there yet ?

OMG, you have to be there !

Oh, I hope your there !

ARGGHHHH I know!!!!

So close and yet.....and yet

 

[amazingact21]

A rest stop with showers where people call your number to use one??? I can't get over this. I could just imagine seeing various people sitting around tables with maybe a bottle of shampoo or some clothes, waiting for their lucky number to be announced.

Still not there?? Feels like you guys have been on the road forever. (By the way, I don't know how you managed to make it as long as you did on caffeine and adrenaline. I would've been GONE way long before then. )

 

[appleorchard]

Need a new update--please!!!!!

 

[Aussiesalad]

A rest stop with showers where people call your number to use one??? I can't get over this. I could just imagine seeing various people sitting around tables with maybe a bottle of shampoo or some clothes, waiting for their lucky number to be announced.

I know!! It was so impressive! Good work rest stop
Haha that is the scene EXACTLY! Clutching onto their lucky numbers, hoping to win a meat tray...I mean shower

Still not there?? Feels like you guys have been on the road forever. (By the way, I don't know how you managed to make it as long as you did on caffeine and adrenaline. I would've been GONE way long before then. )

Arggghhh I know! It really did feel like forever at this point!!!
I don't know either , at least now I know my limits?

 

[Aussiesalad]

Need a new update--please!!!!!

Eeek! I'm sorry!! It will be up tonight

 

[Aussiesalad]

Hi guys! Sorry for leaving you in such a cruel manner on a cliff hanger like that.
Not usually my style but life starting getting all crazy on me before I could post the next part. This week alone the kids at my work have had 3 massive gigs, 7 audition slots, 9 rehearsals and a CD recording that 500 children had to sing at. I also had to judge a massive talent quest which was super fun BUT took up most of my weekend. (Although this little boy and girl who were about 6 sang A Whole New World and it was the most adorable thing I have EVER seen!!!)
Ahhhh I am ready for another weekend after how busy it was! Hope everyone else's week has been good!

Chapter Seven

We Are Here!!!!! Or Are We??

This chapters notes are very scattered and nonsensical.
Mainly because my notes got smudged with all the free flowing tears that resulted from what happened next

So we left off last time as we pulled into the driveway of the holiday house we were renting.

I can't even begin to explain the feeling as we pulled in. The longest most painful drive in the world was over. We were free from our car jail and there was nothing between us and Disney at all now! It was a beautiful feeling! The killer moths, murderer encounters, dog smelling pillows and caffeine overloads were a thing of the past. No more smelly rest stops and ladies of the night. No more driving!!! WE HAD ARRIVED!!!!!

Here is the picture of our house on the website we got it off... So picture this, but in darkness. It's beautiful isn't it? And the most beautiful feature is that it wasn't a car!!! Hallelujah!!!

It was about 3 or 4am at that stage and we were sooooo thankful we had emailed and called them ahead of time to let them know we would arrive in the middle of the night. They let us know it wouldn't be a problem and the key would be waiting for us in the mail box.

Good thing we arranged that...

Right?

RIGHT??

Hmmmmm it seems the 'key leaver' had NOT got the message!!!!
There was NO KEY IN THE MAILBOX!!!!

Nothing!

Nada!

No key at all!!

WHAT!!!???

This actually topped everything we had come across so far. I would rather be interrogated for 10 hours by border patrol and sleep on a wet dog pillow for the rest of my life than go through this again. I would rather be stuck in an elevator with crazy serial killer man from Texas for my birthday AND christmas every year than have this happen!

There was just no key anywhere!!

There was no one in the reception area!!!

There was no emergency number!!

AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET INTO OUR HOUSE!!!

We all had slightly different reactions. Bek wept, Tim was just shocked, Josh was really mad and I was still in my post-mental-breakdown-overly-caffeinated state.
I screeched some weird yeti-ish noise and fell to my knees.

It was really the most upset/angry/hurt/mad/disappointed that I have ever felt!

What should we do????

I honestly contemplated sleeping on the lawn... but the Florida bugs and extreme temperatures were kind of against me on that one. Because you know what I love more than sleeping on wet dog smelling pillows? Waking up with bugs in my ears and nose in a pile of sweat. Not an option.

We ended up backing out, turning around (ughghhhhhhh) and heading back down highway 27 until we saw this

We got a room and in we went like a pack of zombies.
Actually even a pack of zombies would be more lively.
We shuffled in very slowly, eyes burning, body aching, every part of us wanting sleeeeeeep!
I don't remember anything about the room.
Oh except the bed. It felt like heaven and happiness and was the softest most magical wondrous bed in the entire world!
Although at that stage, a concrete slab would have most likely felt the same way.
Once I was on the bed I was asleep straight away.
Tim fell on the other and was instantly gone too.
Josh and Bek showered first then we were all out like lights. Dead to the world.

We woke up at 8ish...checked out and drove back to our house.
We got the key from the reception area (too tired to give them a piece of our minds at this stage)and stumbled into the house and fell asleep again.

We woke up around 3pm and felt sooooo much more refreshed.
The excitement and hyperactivity had returned and we were in Disney spirits!
So a trip to Walmart was in order to stock up on snacks and enjoy the glorious Walmart culture That was the day we learnt you can never have too much denim on denim...even if it is 100 degrees outside

After we were all snacked up and up to date on the happenings with the colourful people of Walmart we went back and had a swim in our pool.
Ahhhh it was so lovely and relaxing and even our creepy watching neighbour couldn't ruin the mood

We then ate our weight in reese's pieces and Sweedish fish! Which is what happens when you live in Australia and miss all the good lollies!

Had another nap

Woke up for dinner and had an argument about whether something can be evil AND magical...

The answer, as you can see, is clearly yes!

Then it was an early night ready for our first Disney day!

Next up

Park Day One- Why Hello Disnepworld!!!

 

[Pyrate_Pryncess]

Oh my! Did they ever say why the key wasn't in the mailbox?????

That would have broken me!

I can't wait to read more!

 

[GaRain]

OMG - a very entertaining report and you aren't even to Disney yet!
I am just glad you didn't have to drive through Georgia - so many do and complain.....hey, I live here and deal with it daily!
Anyhoos - glad you finally got some rest - and hopefully an hour long shower!!

 

[amazingact21]

Oh man, I would've lost it too. Just. Lost. It. All that driving and all those crazy encounters and you finally make it to your home and you can see the inside of the house and can practically see the bed and you can't get past the front door.


At least you guys were finally able to rest up and finally relax. I bet all that sleep and pool time made you feel a million times better.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Oh. My. Goodness. Your drawing captured the horror of no key perfectly! I hope you had some very STRONG words with them later!

A day of sleeping, swimming, and Swedish fish sounds like a fine way to recuperate from the journey to Orlando!

I love the "magical and evil" discussion...Maleficent is Disney proof that it happens!

 

[Liberator]

I LOVE the no-key-reaction-drawing!!!
well, I love the whole story

 

[jedijill]

OMG, I would have PO'd if the key wasn't there! Someone would be issuing me one night's refund.

Is that unicorn pooping rainbows?

Jill in CO

 

[Nermel9]

Ughhhh I can't believe the key wasn't there!!! I would have probably died! Glad you guys decided to check into a hotel and not sleep on the grass! Can't wait for your first DISNEY DAY!!!

 

[glennbo123]

Oh my, that had to be the last straw....I'm glad no one died or brought about death as a result.

Evil and magical? Well of course! He-who-shall-not-be-named could be exhibit A, don't you think?

 

[ShortStuff]

Oh my!! I am a native Californian, transplanted to TX. As I read your trip report, I first thought, "wow, cool!" :. That was prior to you reaching the killer moths!!! (me digging one out of my mouth, out of sympathy)!

Then you get stopped by the border patrol?!, where they make your pillows and car smelly?!

Then you hit Texas! I'll just say that having lived here for over 5 years, I have never experienced any of the things you have. Sorry that you were not pleased by Texas and that you only got to experience the things you did.

Our first time traveling to WDW, our surreal moments were in Louisiana, near the Louisian/TX border and in Northern FL. We didn't deal with killer moths that trip, but with love bugs! I had never heard of them before or even seen one. It was so wierd though, as on the way home, we saw them until about 10 miles before the TX border, than they just poof, disappeared?!

Loved your hyper, laughing, bathroom mishap, trust fall end of the trip!! The ride there would have made me want to stay in Florida to avoid the ride back!

Looking very forward to more adventures! I am so happy you finally got some sleep!!!!!! Just reading this far made me feel Well, that and the fact that I worked all weekend, nights, have to work tomorrow and wedn. nights and we leave on our LONG drive Thursday!!!!!

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

Oh, I could just feel the horror of it all !

But, I am so glad you are there !

Yay! yay !

Let the fun begin, can't wait to hear bout the Disney adventures !

 

[marDgreen88]

That sounds like sheer horror. I am so sorry that yall went through that... ugh. I'm glad you had a day to sleep though. I bet that felt amazing!

Can't wait to hear about your first DISNEY DAY!!!!

P.S. That evil magical unicorn is hilarious.

 

[Mom&RN]

First of all you can definately be magical and evil at the same time. Without the bad magic creatures/people who would the good magic people/creatures fight?

Now that we have that out of the way. I can't believe there was no key there!!! You should have asked the house rental people to reimburse you the cost of your motel stay. But, I totally get why you didn't. When you are that tired there just isn't any fight left in you. Glad you finally got into your house and WalMart is always good for some humor .

ps - I LOVE Swedish Fish!!