August 2016 coming quickly....

[jbrostek]

Peg - Hope the rest of the trip goes better. We just cannot do the no AC route so Genset or campground is the only way for us to be comfortable. Or at least tonight plan to be plugged in and get a good solid sleep.

We left Thursday close to the desired time about 7:15, the drive to Petersburg, VA was smooth sailing. We stayed at South Forty Campground, and it is pretty much a hole in the wall place and a little overpriced for what it was. I could not care and got to sleep pretty quickly. Friday morning came and I forgot to turn off my work week alarm that went off at 5:15 in the morning. I managed to get some more rest but I was up by 6:15 and started my morning ritual. We had breakfast and made it on the road around 8:45, which was within the 8am hour goal. From there it was smooth sailing the whole day, we stopped for lunch and fuel in Florance, SC around 1:30, and one more stop at the GA rest area. That rest area is under construction and parking is a mess for towing, but there are areas to pull out of the way FYI. We continued on 1.5 hours to St. Mary's KOA. This is definitely on my list, clean, friendly, good power and water pressure.

We plan to hit the road around 9 and Disney is only 3 or so hours away!!! So with arrival time being 12-1pm and I am setup for early check in and we have a plan. The plan is we will take care of our golf cart and the kids and Caren can go explore while I wait with the pups in the truck AC. Once my site is ready we will get setup and then heading to Downtown Disney for dinner and some walking. Then off to Beaches and Cream for a kitchen sink!!!!!

I will post up where we are at once we get settled in. Safe travels and those already there have a great time! We cannot wait to get there!!!!

 

[tiggerdad]

Steady as she goes men.

 

[Teamubr]

Well 1st day of travels didn't go quite as planned.

Well... Good news is, you're closer to the Fort than you planned for day 1. Bad news is, make sure you get some sleep so you make it in safe and feel like enjoying the Fort when you get there.

j

 

[jeffrey1966]

We continued on 1.5 hours to St. Mary's KOA. This is definitely on my list, clean, friendly, good power and water pressure.

We really like the St. Mary's KOA too. It's such an easy on/off the highway campground and very clean. Did you guys have the free waffle breakfast before you got back on the road the next morning?

 

[peg110]

So the short version (until I fire up my laptop) we are at the fort. Got here about 645pm. They put us in 343. Yup. No way! Site is big enough but road and angles won't work. So now we are in 536 for the night and going to have to move in the AM. On my way to see about a grab and go. Never had it so we will see. Dw and dd getting cleaned up. More details and some pics to follow.

 

[Teamubr]

Welcome Home, Paul!

Glad you made it in after last nights ordeal. Hopefully moving tomorrow won't be too much of an inconvenience.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

Glad you made it in safe. Hate the site was a bad angle but at least you got something else.

Take some time to prop the old feet up and rest.

Oh, and speaking of propping the ole feet up. How about some shots for the pics from Trails End porch thread that has gone neglected

 

[jeffrey1966]

It's good to hear you made it Paul! Looking forward to seeing a pic of that new rig once you're set up in the 300 loop tomorrow.

 

[bama_ed]

So the short version (until I fire up my laptop) we are at the fort. Got here about 645pm. They put us in 343. Yup. No way! Site is big enough but road and angles won't work. So now we are in 536 for the night and going to have to move in the AM. On my way to see about a grab and go. Never had it so we will see. Dw and dd getting cleaned up. More details and some pics to follow.

Elvis is IN the house.

 

[peg110]

It's good to hear you made it Paul! Looking forward to seeing a pic of that new rig once you're set up in the 300 loop tomorrow.

No... No 300 Loop. Premium Loop.

We weren't supposed to be her today. Our adventure was to be a mid point where we pulled over to sleep. The "Cooling" plan just didn't work and it was way too hot. I was just barely asleep and DW woke me as she was way too hot. So we worked on a temporary solution, but, now I lie awake sweating like crazy and WIDE awake. Well, if I am going to be wide awake, we might as well drive, right? So we did. Meanwhile DW tried calling hotels to see availability. Turns out every hotel along the corridor is booked on Fridays and Saturdays. The couple we did find with some availability wanted close to $200. I said NO WAY was I going to pay that much just to get a couple hours of sleep. So about 4 AM (Still driving) I pulled over for Petrol. There was a cracker Barrel there, so we slept in the parking lot until breakfast at 6 am. We slept in the TRUCK with the AC going. It was great but it was something. Alarm at 6 AM was most UNWELCOME. Anyway we ate, and pressed on As it got lighter out, I got my second or fourth wind.... Meanwhile DW called ahead to the fort to see if they could get us in an extra day early. They could but said they only had Preferred. We didn't care as long as the rig fit.

Long story short, it didn't fit (The site it would fit, but no shoe horn big enough to be able to maneuver the corners without hitting something). Went back to the front, they offered us a cabin for the night or we could have 536 for the night but would have to relocate in the AM. DW wanted the cabin, but, while I thought it would be cool (no extra cost by the way), we would have to park the rig in the overflow. The rig, with ALL of our stuff that we would need. I just didn't feel like dropping it all and the trying to take what we might need... Ack... Too much of a headache, so I won that one. Still, it would have been cool to have the cabin for a night.

So we got to our temporary home. I got her parked no issues. Didn't even unhitch her. Just put the stablizers down and raised the tongue so that all the weight wasn't on the truck. While DW and DD got showers, I walked over to TE to get a giddy up and go bag and a pizza. (DD isn't much into fried chicken). Well, let me say that I was (pleasantly) surprised at how much food was in there. I don't know why I thought the chicken parts would be small, but the food was packed in there, and there was no way for DW and I to eat it all. DD11 had some pizza and DW and I split a piece, but there is tons of both GAG and Pizza left over.

While waiting for my food, I was going to get a shot on the rockers, but too many folks monopolizing the chairs waiting either for TE or the HDDMR. I figured, I have other days. I was also going to try and track someone down about the availability fo the HDDMR but again, they were too busy, so maybe on Tuesday when we go for show.

So I am now showered, and ready for lights out. AC is working in the Rig. I guess it's time to get a Genny so I don't have those Boondock issues going forward. (We were in a truck stop with all the Rigs Idling so I don't think a relatively quiet Honda Generator would have made a bit of difference.)

Anyway, that's all for tonight. Maybe I will get a chance to bump into @TheRustyScupper and say hello as well as @jbrostek. I didn't but my disboard marker out yet.... Tomorrow when we get our new home.

 

[jbrostek]

Peg - Glad you made it down here safe and sound!!!!

Jeffery - Yes, it is a new top pick on our list!!! Caren's kids and I partook on breakfast, Caren opted not to.

Saturday we shoved off around 9am for Disney!!! We where making great time heading in, with about an hours drive left we had a blow out!!! I pulled over on I4 which does not have a very wide shoulder and assessed the situation. The tire was completely blown out and shreded but the location was far from safe to change it. So I limped along .5 miles to an exit where it was much safer to change the tire. We got the spare on and I noticed it was low, check the pressure and it was down to 45#. So the next adventure was finding a location off I4 big enough to air up the tire, we finally find a place though it was difficult to get out of, we finally managed.



We had planned to arrive at Disney around 12:30, but due to the delay we got here at 2:30. Once I got here we where at check-in, while dealing with that we ran into an issue of getting assigned to a non pet loop even through we told them pet loop. I told them my concern with that since my minpin is definitely likes to bark and I was concerned with complaints. After some great work and help with from the staff and manager they found me a site in the 400 loop for the entire stay with no need to move. I had to laugh we are in site 414, right next to 416 where I was in February! This site works great, was very easy for Caren to spot me into and get nice and setup.

Once we got setup and settled we went to Disney Springs for Earl of Sandwich. Everyone loved their food and we where nice and full.



After that we walked the massing crowds in DTD, we hopped a bus to Beach Club for a visit to Beaches and cream for a nice Kitchen Sink! We where all stuffed and wired on sugar!! After that it was straight back to RV and in bed after the pups got walked.



I still have to call a few tire places to take care of this blow out as I am not going on the road with no spare on the trailer. If the price is right, I may just get then all replaced. That is it for now, we need to get going to make our MK fast passes. After that we come back to the RV to relax for a bit, Caren and her daughter have a Spa appointment at 5:30, then its back to MK until our Dinner reservations at California Grill (her sons pick.)

Hope everyone is having a great day.

 

[amcc]

Hey Ed!!! We did have the chicken for dinner and loved it! For a family of 6 (2 small eaters) it worked especially since the heat makes it a bit hard to fill up.

Loop 2100 is open for business! It's shady although not private yet.

Epcot was surface of the sun hot yesterday and the crossing back and forth - frozen, test track- soarin, back to frozen - was exhausting. I am a Florida native but this humid heat had us beat (and we weren't able to ride Frozen).

All in all a camping trip with theme park visits was a success for us and the cost sealed the deal. My sister paid &220 for the dolphin a night, we paid $190 for three nights - no comparison.

Have a great trip everyone! We will be back for New Years!!!

 

[jeffrey1966]

@jbrostek, sorry to hear about that blowout on I4 but glad to hear that you guys made it and the vacation has started.

 

[tiggerdad]

Glad hat blowout didn't seem to do any body damage to the rig. Despite some Mishaps you guys seem to be doing well.

Glad everyone is getting in safe.

 

[jeffrey1966]

@peg110, that sounds like a rough night on the road! Now that the trip is behind you hopefully you can get set up in your final location and start to enjoy.

 

[Rland8228]

Glad everyone is having fun! We have 41 more days and we have stayed with taking the trailer. I just cant see with spending the extra money on a cabin. Sorry you guys have had some bumps but thats what makes the memories right?! Hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly!!!

 

[FtW Mike]

Peg101 and Jbosteck glad you both made it safely to The Fort despite the problems you each ran into. Aamc spent a lot more to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and while it was nice and we enjoyed looking out at the animals from our room (Despite the noted absence of the NSS) all my wife wanted to was get back to The Fort and her cabins Friendlier other guests and CM's alike and better ambiance

 

[peg110]

I pulled over on I4 which does not have a very wide shoulder and assessed the situation.

We came down I-4 In hurricane like weather, so there was no pulling over and "Assessing" anything for us. We did consider pulling over to wait it out because visibility was about 30 feet. I was in the second lane from the right so I really didn't want to try and change lanes to even try and find a place to pull over. It was quite scary actually. The wind, rain, lightening, thunder.... It was crazy. 5 MPH for about 20 minutes , alas it cleared up. You are right though, narrow shoulder and lots of construction to make it better.

We did make it though. A picture the DW took of me being a goof:


She Posted it on Facebook with the following caption:

"Super Paul. The accomplished feeling after pulling an RV to Florida and getting there in one piece despite idiot drivers and a rainstorm from HELL!!!"​

Now where's my Captain Morgan?

@peg110, that sounds like a rough night on the road! Now that the trip is behind you hopefully you can get set up in your final location and start to enjoy.

Still waiting to move to the final location. We know it's going to be 1007, but it's not quite ready yet. Ugh.. I wouldn't mind except I hear another storm thundering, and we have FP+ scheduled for 4:50 PM. We need to get to the park before then (obviously) but I need to convert our passes to APs as well. That way we can get the Memory maker going as well.....

It's always something, right? Oh well we are still at Disney
Here is our first Temporary Home. Nothing special on the setup.

Sorry you guys have had some bumps but thats what makes the memories right?!

Absolutely. I tell my DW and kids the same thing. The aggravating stuff is memorable but not what anyone wants, at least at that moment.

Did the morning pool thing today. Here is the DW with the "Hidden Mickey" she found.

 

[4077]

Glad you made it in safe. Hate the site was a bad angle but at least you got something else.

Take some time to prop the old feet up and rest.

Oh, and speaking of propping the ole feet up. How about some shots for the pics from Trails End porch thread that has gone neglected

Going to dinner there in an hour....gonna get my feet posted!!

 

[4077]

Enjoying a free soda (from one of those machines with ton of flavors) in the DVC member lounge above Figment in EPCOT before heading to TE dinner.