April 6, 2008 - 4-night Spring Break Cruise - Anyone else going?

[MommyMinnie]

That sounds great!




From Atlanta, you still have 7 to 8 hours to get to WDW. You'd either want to get to south metro Atlanta or maybe drive further south to the Macon area. I'm familiar with the motels in the Tifton area, but that's probably further than you'd want to drive on Day 1!! Sorry I'm not much help!

I'm thinking Macon or Tifton would be the best bet. Probably Macon If it's a late start. I can't think of anyplace just south of Atlanta I'd like to spend the night.

PS My folks live in Tifton and DD is there at Grandma camp right now.

Stone Mountain would be fun. We haven't been since we moved to this side of town, about 3 years ago! Coordinating our schedules might be the tricky part, but let's try!

Very tricky! I'm thinking after the end of July but before Aug 13. Either that or in October and setting KY Irish up with a room at the park.

 

[RachelTori]

I'm thinking Macon or Tifton would be the best bet. Probably Macon If it's a late start. I can't think of anyplace just south of Atlanta I'd like to spend the night.

PS My folks live in Tifton and DD is there at Grandma camp right now.

Very tricky! I'm thinking after the end of July but before Aug 13. Either that or in October and setting KY Irish up with a room at the park.

I like Tifton.

Tori and I will be at WDW 7/27-8/4. Maybe we can shoot for that last week before school starts - 8/5-12? (not a whole lot of time, is it?!!!)

I don't know if Stone Mountain in October would work for KYIrish's family. If they're not leaving until after school, how many hours from Louisville to Stone Mountain? Wouldn't be any fun if they'll get there late & tired. Then they'll still have the 7 to 8 hour drive to Orlando the next day. Plus, I think they'll be on the other side of Atlanta anyway!

KYIrish, you come down I-75 right? Then Stone Mountain Park wouldn't be convenient at all. (Sorry, we don't mean to be planning your vacation for you!! )

 

[MommyMinnie]

I like Tifton.

Tori and I will be at WDW 7/27-8/4. Maybe we can shoot for that last week before school starts - 8/5-12? (not a whole lot of time, is it?!!!)

I don't know if Stone Mountain in October would work for KYIrish's family. If they're not leaving until after school, how many hours from Louisville to Stone Mountain? Wouldn't be any fun if they'll get there late & tired. Then they'll still have the 7 to 8 hour drive to Orlando the next day. Plus, I think they'll be on the other side of Atlanta anyway!

KYIrish, you come down I-75 right? Then Stone Mountain Park wouldn't be convenient at all. (Sorry, we don't mean to be planning your vacation for you!! )

Actually it won't be convenient for them at all. I just wanted them to be invited. (Even if they do like Notre Dame)

 

[kyirish25]

I like Tifton.

Tori and I will be at WDW 7/27-8/4. Maybe we can shoot for that last week before school starts - 8/5-12? (not a whole lot of time, is it?!!!)

I don't know if Stone Mountain in October would work for KYIrish's family. If they're not leaving until after school, how many hours from Louisville to Stone Mountain? Wouldn't be any fun if they'll get there late & tired. Then they'll still have the 7 to 8 hour drive to Orlando the next day. Plus, I think they'll be on the other side of Atlanta anyway!

KYIrish, you come down I-75 right? Then Stone Mountain Park wouldn't be convenient at all. (Sorry, we don't mean to be planning your vacation for you!! )

Plan away! You have already been more help than DH. It is a straight shot down I-75. But we are looking evening hours by the time we hit Atlanta so I don't think Stone Mountain would work out regardless (thanks for including me though).

I think I might have looked into Tifton. Is there a Best Western on the Hill or something like that? Either way I will look back into it.

 

[RachelTori]

Actually it won't be convenient for them at all. I just wanted them to be invited. (Even if they do like Notre Dame)

You're right - we won't hold that against them!!

Plan away! You have already been more help than DH. It is a straight shot down I-75. But we are looking evening hours by the time we hit Atlanta so I don't think Stone Mountain would work out regardless (thanks for including me though).

I think I might have looked into Tifton. Is there a Best Western on the Hill or something like that? Either way I will look back into it.

I know there are a number of motels around mile markers 61 - 63. (about an hour from the Florida Welcome Center!! ) We've stayed at the Microtel and that was fine. I know there's also a Holiday Inn, and I'd be willing to bet there's probably a Best Western too! Tifton is my Starbucks stop along I-75!!! (it's next door to the Holiday Inn and there's a Chick Fil-A across the street!) I'm sure MommyMinnie knows the area much better than I do!

If you'll be coming through Atlanta in the evening, you may not want to drive all the way to Tifton. The Macon area might be better.

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

We just made our Radisson Reservations. Thanks for that link.

We leave in 12 days for WDW! I can't wait!!!!

 

[RachelTori]

We just made our Radisson Reservations. Thanks for that link.

AWESOME!! and.....

We leave in 12 days for WDW! I can't wait!!!!

EVEN MORE AWESOME!!

 

[MommyMinnie]

In Tifton there's a Hamton Inn and a Courtyard by Mariott that are both quite reliable and close to restaurants.

I don't know the exit # but they are easy to find, somewhere in the low 60's.

 

[kyirish25]

We just made our Radisson Reservations. Thanks for that link.

We leave in 12 days for WDW! I can't wait!!!!

Have a magical vacation!

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

Thanks, guys. I am so excited to be going so soon. I just got done looking at the July thread. People leaving at the same time as me have already started packing. That's just wrong. I mean, my DD10 hasn't even gotten back from Girl Scout Camp yet! I guess they don't have 3 kids....

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Have a magical vacation!

Thanks! We just made our reservation for our rest stop on the trip down. We should be able to make the trip without stopping, but for some reason the drive always takes longer than we expect.

So, we're shooting for Atlanta to Lake City, FL for the first leg of the drive. We'll make it the rest of the way the next day and relax at the pool at the WL before we kick off the trip with our traditional first night dinner at Chef Mickey's.

11 DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE, AND COUNTING DOWN!

 

[RachelTori]

Thanks! We just made our reservation for our rest stop on the trip down. We should be able to make the trip without stopping, but for some reason the drive always takes longer than we expect.

So, we're shooting for Atlanta to Lake City, FL for the first leg of the drive. We'll make it the rest of the way the next day and relax at the pool at the WL before we kick off the trip with our traditional first night dinner at Chef Mickey's.

11 DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE, AND COUNTING DOWN!

If we leave by 4:30 a.m., we'll make the WDW drive in one day. Otherwise........ we're stopping!! And we only hear one voice asking "are we almost there yet? when are we gonna get there?" from the backseat, you have 3!!!! Actually, Tori doesn't do that anymore. Now she likes to torture us with "pick a #; 1 to 200" (higher/lower) for most of the drive!!!!

You'll be single-digit dancing very soon!

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

If we leave by 4:30 a.m., we'll make the WDW drive in one day. Otherwise........ we're stopping!! And we only hear one voice asking "are we almost there yet? when are we gonna get there?" from the backseat, you have 3!!!! Actually, Tori doesn't do that anymore. Now she likes to torture us with "pick a #; 1 to 200" (higher/lower) for most of the drive!!!!

You'll be single-digit dancing very soon!

Tomorrow starts the single-digit countdown to departure. We'll be heading out on the 10th.

Our last trip we were stopping about every 45 minutes along the route for a break for DD7, so, when your are spending a quarter of every hour of the drive in rest rooms, it takes just a bit longer... She has promised that she will do her best to make it at least 1.25 hours between bathroom breaks this time around. It's not really a big deal, and it actually gives us a chance to arrive not too late in the day on the 11th, hang out at the WL pool, and chill out until our rooms are ready.

I'm taking a few minutes out from household chores this morning. DW is out, and we were supposed to meet her. But, she left me and the kids stranded without car seats. Could that have been planned? Hmmm. Oh well, I'm getting us ahead of the afternoon cleaning and .

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

Tomorrow starts the single-digit countdown to departure. We'll be heading out on the 10th.

Our last trip we were stopping about every 45 minutes along the route for a break for DD7, so, when your are spending a quarter of every hour of the drive in rest rooms, it takes just a bit longer... She has promised that she will do her best to make it at least 1.25 hours between bathroom breaks this time around. It's not really a big deal, and it actually gives us a chance to arrive not too late in the day on the 11th, hang out at the WL pool, and chill out until our rooms are ready.

I'm taking a few minutes out from household chores this morning. DW is out, and we were supposed to meet her. But, she left me and the kids stranded without car seats. Could that have been planned? Hmmm. Oh well, I'm getting us ahead of the afternoon cleaning and .

I did not do it on purpose, really!

 

[MommyMinnie]

Thanks, guys. I am so excited to be going so soon. I just got done looking at the July thread. People leaving at the same time as me have already started packing. That's just wrong. I mean, my DD10 hasn't even gotten back from Girl Scout Camp yet! I guess they don't have 3 kids....

It tickles me when people pack early for a vacation. I am usually wearing my clothes and using the shampoo/hair stuff/toothpaste till the last minute. I don't pack till sundown the night before.

But then...dis people are a little obsessive!


PS I think you need extra carseats!

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

I think you need extra carseats!

DD7 will hopefully not need one much longer (she's pretty tiny though). Then hers will be our extra. I'm at that stage where I can't bring myself to buy more stuff like that. It's so cool that we're down to two boosters as it is!

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

If we leave by 4:30 a.m., we'll make the WDW drive in one day. Otherwise........ we're stopping!! And we only hear one voice asking "are we almost there yet? when are we gonna get there?" from the backseat, you have 3!!!! Actually, Tori doesn't do that anymore. Now she likes to torture us with "pick a #; 1 to 200" (higher/lower) for most of the drive!!!!

You'll be single-digit dancing very soon!

Actually DD10 starts asking the minute we leave, knowing that it will drive us nuts. Ahh...entering the pre-teen years...

 

[kyirish25]

I just booked our room at the Radisson for the Saturday before the cruise Just couldn't resist a nice pool and free parking with shuttles.

 

[RachelTori]

I just booked our room at the Radisson for the Saturday before the cruise Just couldn't resist a nice pool and free parking with shuttles.

AWESOME!!! We'll have a DisMeet by the pool!

 

[MommyMinnie]

Happy pre 4th!
Here's some helpful tips for driving in Atlanta for all my ATL buddies and my one buddy who passes through on the way to DIS!.

For those of you that have never driven in ATL, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 are
absolutely true, except for the part about being shot in #6 and #11, but
be careful, that COULD happen too!!

HOW TO DRIVE IN Atlanta:

1. You must first learn to pronounce the city name, it is Et'lanna.

2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00am to noon. The evening rush hour
is from noon to 7:00pm. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. Anything
less is considered "Wussy".(which is why I drive 90)

4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Atlanta has its own
version of traffic rules. For example, cars or trucks with the loudest
muffler go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires
go second. However, in Roswell & Alpharetta, SUV-driving, cell
phone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.

5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended,
cussed out, and possibly shot.

6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's another offense that
can get you shot.

7. Road construction is permanent and continuous in all of Atlanta and
surrounding counties. Detour barrels are moved around for your
entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next
day's driving a bit more exciting.

8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, skunks, dogs, cats,
barrels, cones, celebs, rubberneckers, shredded tires, cell phoners,
deer and other road kill, and the buzzards feeding on any of these
items.

9. MapQuest does not work here. None of the roads are where they say
they are or go where they say they do and all the freeway off and on
ramps are moved each night.

10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the
shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally
activated."

11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph
zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped off"
accordingly. If you return the flip, you'll be shot.

12. Do not try to estimate travel time, just leave Monday afternoon for
Tuesday appointments, by noon Thursday for Friday and right after church
on Sunday for anything on Monday morning.

13. Above all else, enjoy your driving experience, because if you
actually get where you are going on time, everybody else will be late.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE