Calling all Chicago DISers #3

[disneygal922]

Leigh ~ It appears we will definitely be overlapping. What are your plans looking like and how long will you be there? This is where we will be just for your info! I'll have a LGMH dangling from my khaki purse with pins on it!

Sunday - DHS until the late afternoon then EMH at MK
Monday - AK all day
Tuesday - Resort day then Epcot in the afternoon
Wednesday - still undecided. Probably MK
Thursday - we leave so we will probably be at DTD in the morning then who knows!

 

[Becky2005]

Becky - I "saw" you on the 2000mi thread too! We're driving for the first time. Do you take 57 through IL? We're debating between that and 65. DSis just did the 57 route on Fri and said gas/food was scarce. What do you do?

We take 47-74-57 and then 57-24-75. Last time we went was in 2005 though. I know we stop at PILOT gas station but haven't got a clue where. It's the first PILOT station we see. Other than that, I don't recall it being all that difficult. We pack our lunch though and then waited to have dinner when we got to the hotel. We leave at some unheard of hour of something like 4 AM though. Anyway, I know last time we stopped before Atlanta (near the Air Force Base in GA - possibly Marietta?) and I felt it was just too long of a drive for us. I have no idea why it took us forever (probably because the kids were much younger so lots more stops) but it was practically midnight when we were at the hotel and we had a hard time finding it. Of course, there is the time change in there too. Then we weren't even sure we would be able to get food but we found a place that was still open to deliver pizza.

I just remember researching hotels that had an indoor pool and then it wasn't even needed because by the time we got there the pool was closed. .

We stayed in Chattanooga on the way back and I liked that better so we are stopping near there this time around both ways. DD wants to visit Vanderbilt University anyway on the way back home so it will work out.

 

[Crissup]

Do you take 57 through IL? We're debating between that and 65. DSis just did the 57 route on Fri and said gas/food was scarce. What do you do?

When I was driving it every year, a couple of times, twice a year, I always took I-55 - IL113 - cut through Kankakee to I-57 - I-24 - I-75 - Florida Turnpike - US27 - 192 and entered WDW property at the exit of AK.

I like I-57 because there's not a lot down that route, meaning less traffic, and the traffic that is there is trying to get somewhere, so a lot less congestion and dawdling.

That said, I usually grab a tank of gas in Kankakee, another in Mt. Vernon, then another in KY. That usually tides me over until somewhere in TN. Manchester, TN, (between Nashville & Chattanooga) is my half way point. I would often leave around 4pm and hit Manchester in 8 hours and grab a quick room for the night. If I was really pushing it, then I would try and make it through Atlanta before stopping for the night.

I judge my drowsiness by reading the bill boards along the way. When I have to start looking twice at the smaller print along the bottoms of the billboards, then I know my vision is getting fuzzy, meaning drowsiness is setting in and it's time to stop for the night.

I've done the trip home non-stop twice, but it's a real killer. Both times, I'd stop in Mt. Vernon on the way home for gas, assess how I'm feeling and decide to make the final run home on that last tank of fuel. However, both times, I could just feel my body suddenly start shutting down between Effingham and Mattoon. It's just amazing how quickly it would hit me, and in the same spot. Both times, I made it only because I carry a bottle of Excedrin in my truck and I would start popping those just for the shot of caffeine they have in them.

 

[Crissup]

I know we stop at PILOT gas station but haven't got a clue where. It's the first PILOT station we see.

Probably that huge Pilot Truck Stop in Ft. Campbell, KY, just before you hit the TN state line.

Of course, it can be fun to give the kids a quick ride through Metropolis and let them see the "Home of Superman". They've got a huge Superman statue and have the big Superman festival every year.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Leigh ~ It appears we will definitely be overlapping. What are your plans looking like and how long will you be there? This is where we will be just for your info! I'll have a LGMH dangling from my khaki purse with pins on it!

Sunday - DHS until the late afternoon then EMH at MK
Monday - AK all day
Tuesday - Resort day then Epcot in the afternoon
Wednesday - still undecided. Probably MK
Thursday - we leave so we will probably be at DTD in the morning then who knows!

We don't have a lot of plans yet. I'm not sure if I can get anything nailed down before we leave, but I can try. The only things I know are that we're doing MK on the Sunday I get there (when you'll be there for EMH), and Chef Mickey's for breakfast at 7am on one of the mornings. Can't remember which one. I think it's either Tues, Wed, or Thurs. I'm thinking maybe Tuesday? My friend made the reservation. I can find out from her.

I have a purple backpack with a LGMH hanging off of it. Maybe we can try to find some way to meet up? I need to talk to my friend to see if we can decide on any days. We're thinking we're doing 3 MK days and one day for each of the other parks, although I'm not positive I've convinced her to do Epcot. (I want to do Epcot, though! )

You realize we worked right across the river from each other for years and never met up, and now we're trying to meet up in Florida, right?

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Morning everyone! Nice to see the same friends back here again. Good luck to those beginning the all important high school years with their kids.
Have fun, to all those planning their upcoming trips.
RE: driving. We drove this past end of November. We took 65 down and then Crissup's way from TN on. Drove straight through on the way down-did not intend that, but just sort of kept going and ended up in AKL parking lot. Returned 57 due to weather reports saying IN was being socked in with snow. Both ways didn't seem all that bad, but we left and returned on a weekend, and that may make all the difference.
Kids are on spring break here-tried to convince them to return to FL for the week, but my DS said "I am not doing that drive again!" Guess it was a bit much for him. So we are hoping to do some things Downtown and maybe go to Brookfield Zoo. All depends on the weather. Too cold to do much of anything outdoors for me.
For all those who are feeling ill, hope you are soon better and on your feet again.
And yes, Slo and Bunchkin are on Facebook. They would love you to friend them there.

 

[piglet too]

Hi! We are driving to Florida during our Spring Break at the end of April We won't be going to WDW though, just to the Tampa area to visit a couple of colleges and the Dolphin Research Center in Sarasota. Kevin was able to get a meeting with the director there through his contacts at the Brookfield Zoo. I think taking 57 would be nice, just to avoid having to go through the congestion getting to 65.

 

[momto1]

Happy Monday! It is so good to see so many friends on here again! And so many trips being planned! YEA!! We do the drive down on 57 stopping just before we leave IL, usually staying overnight near Nashville and arriving in WDW at 4pm. It all depends on the time of day we leave to determine where we stay. Coming home we get to Mt. Vernon, I think, and stay in a Fairfield Suites we like and order pizza from some local pizza delivery place.

DS went to hs for his game today at 8:30. Dh and are getting ready to leave for the 10 am game and he calls and says it is moved to a double header at 11. Then he calls and says it is now a single game at 1. This cold weather is interferring!! He is soooooo nervous since this is his first high school game.

I think we are going to downtown Chicago this week to use some gift certificates I won at a raffle at a golf outing. We are going to The Grafton one day and The Fireplace Inn another day. I am making the best of this "staycation".

Have a great day!
Lori

 

[geffric]

Hi to all..

nice to see everyone.. I have seen SLO on Facebook..

Just to ketchup with us..

I am still working at Senior Center 30 hours/week and TDS for another 5 or 10 hours.. depends on the week..
Eric is a senior at high school/ having his Eagle ceremony this weekend.. Geoff is still at Cornell and planning on taking a class or two at Circle this summer.. Eric is off to U of Ill this fall..
We are on the Wonder this summer to Alaska and DH an I are going on the Dream later on..

Another driver.. we do the way everyone has mentioned.. only we leave about 3 am and drive past Atlanta to Valdosto.. it is past Macon almost at the FL line.. on the way back , we leave WDW at 6 pm and we stop in Adele?? just before Macon and then drive stright thru the next day..

 

[disneygal922]

Happy Monday Everyone!! I GOT THE JOB!!!!!! I was really nervous when i went for my third interview today, then about an hour after i got home I got the call! So I went back, filled out my W2 and other forms, got my training info, then stopped at the Disney Store on my way home to change my availability. I feel bad I can no longer work Monday, Wednesday and Thursday there but they knew I was looking for a full time job so they shouldn't be too surprised! I'm very excited!

I'm also very excited this thread has been revived. I was wondering how everyone is doing? I am friends with SLO, Bunchy, and Paint on facebook so if any of you want to PM your name I'm happy to friend you on facebook too!

Leigh ~ I find it funny as well that we worked so close and never met up! I don't know why though. I tended to eat at my desk a lot!

Lots to do tomorrow, breakfast with Gram for her bday, then a doc's appointment, then i work at tds 4-10. When I get home I'm going to try and stay up as late as possible and get up early on Wednesday so I can get to bed early Wednesday as we need to leave the Orland area around 330am. Our flight is at 625am out of O'hare. Do you guys think that 3 hours will be enough time to get from Orland to O'hare, park the car with the valet dudes and get through security and what not? Should we leave at 3?

ok... i need to get my booty in gear. Glad to hear everyone is doing well!

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Happy Monday Everyone!! I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!

Congrats! What kind of job is it?

Leigh ~ I find it funny as well that we worked so close and never met up! I don't know why though. I tended to eat at my desk a lot!

Me, too. I always intended to plan something, but I just never did it, and then you weren't there anymore.

I can't get my friend to decide on a day for any park except MK for the first day. But maybe we could see each other that night. Do you want to PM me your number or something? I could give you mine.

I just booked the "off-road" Segway tour at the Campground for my last day there. I did the tour at Cali Adventure and it was really fun.

Still not sure if we'll go to Epcot. What makes it harder is that they didn't get Hoppers. (They could always add them on if they really want to, but it's just sooo much extra money.) So we're still thinking about it. But I want to ask the people at the Land some questions about my little plant that I bought there last time , so I think if they don't want to go, I'll hop over there one day while they're at MK and ask my question and ride SSE and maybe a couple of other rides, and try to see some topiaries.

as we need to leave the Orland area around 330am. Our flight is at 625am out of O'hare. Do you guys think that 3 hours will be enough time to get from Orland to O'hare, park the car with the valet dudes and get through security and what not? Should we leave at 3?

I have no idea, but my flight is at 6:10am on Sunday. I usually leave about 3 hours before my flight. (I'm going out of Midway.)

 

[DisneyDork1969]

So here's the story...

I had already planned to take my 8yo nephew on his 1st WDW trip in July...I was orignally booked for 4 nights at ASMovies, becuz my nephew loves Toy Story...we were going Monday to Friday...

Then last week, I got a discount 'pin' in the mail...for free dinning...so I made a call or two...

After looking into my options, this is what I'm doing now...

Now we are booked at Pop Century for 5 nights, Sunday thru Friday, since the free dining plan offer was not availble at ASMovies anymore...and since we went from a preferred room at ASMovies to a regular room at Pop, the savings was ALOT...this then let me add an extra day at the beginning of the trip...this gives us a day to relax and unwind from traveling...we are doing 5-day non-hop tixs...I don't want to drag my nephew all over the World...one park per day should be fine...I might add another day as we get closer, I'm not sure yet...however the dining plan is for 6 days...

So with the discount pin I saved about $120 by switching resorts and going an extra day...VERY COOL!!!

I'm sure the day we arrive, we'll check in, get some lunch, head over to ASMovies by bus, unless I rent a car at the last minute, go take a bunch of pics of the resort and get some pics of my nephew posing with all the Toy Story statues...he'll love that!!!

So I can't wait...I kinda have my park days picked...I have three ADR's booked...I'm waiting for the window to open for the desert viewing party at MK so I can booked that...haven't decided if I'm doing the Fantasmic! dinner package yet...

So thats all for now...anyone else goin ing mid-July...???

 

[macraven]

too hot for me in july.

my trip will be the last week of sept thru columbus day.



sounds like you ended up with a very sweet deal!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just stopping by to say hello to lots of folks from the Chicagoland area. Marie was asking me over the weekend...'whatever happened to all the Chicago area folks we used to see at Chicago meets, two or three times a year.' I said, 'I don't know.' Seems like our little group, that, at one time for quite a few years, was quite large, has now disappeared. I recall meets from years back where we regularly had some of over 50 people, 20-30 was routine, and 2 or 3 times a year.

Anyway, I am still around, and hoping others are too, just lurking maybe. Hope everybody's spring, and soon summer, are on track. Hope everybody's health and all is good.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I'm here.

I had a good trip. I've just been busy at work since I got back so I haven't had time to post about it. But it was fun. But I will say that WDW with 4 kids under 11 is crazytown!

I'll try to post more soon.

 

[roseprincess]

Hi Dan!
Nice to see you here!
Hope you, Marie, and the rest of your family had a good Easter holiday yesterday! I wish everyone here on the Chicago DIS a belated Easter as well.

I haven't been on here that much on the DIS in general for many months. I only have time to check the DIS for like 2 minutes and then get off because my life in general is very busy. Very busy school yr for me this school yr, way too crazy!
My DD had open heart surgery at Children's Memorial in September, so my whole fall was just crazy.
And this past winter and now spring, been fighting the high school district to get my kids in the right high schools for DD and DS. My twins just turned 14 yrs old earlier this month and will be graduating jr. high in June.
DD will be in special ed classes at the school the district had requested, which will be a very good fit for my DD. We are in the process of an administrative transfer to the school my DS wants to go to and looks like we are winning(as parents)! It has been a long exhausting process.

I have a Facebook page, so I am on that here and there.

Seems like I was told here that SLO(Sandy) has been on FB quite a bit and doesn't post here anymore. Probably why there isn't much activity here as it used to be a few yrs ago.

It is great that you posted here!



Rosemarie

 

[donkortajr]

Belated Happy Easter to all!
Still here in the southwest burbs. I look around here at lunch but other times, 4 kids keep us sooo busy. Was at BLT back in January for a week, wishing I could be there now just for a couple of days.

 

[geffric]

Still here

Been busy with 4 part time jobs since I cant find a full time one..still at TDS.. update- Eric got his Eagle, graduating from HS , going to U of ILL,
Geoff is still at Cornell, going to circle this summer for arabic, hopes to graduate in May 2012..
DH and I will be empty nesters starting this fall.. all 4 of us are going on the Wonder to Alaska this summer and then DH and I are going on the Dream this fall..

 

[irish dancer]

Hi all! I'm still around too! Isn't it crazy how busy life can get these days??!!

Working PT at our library and teaching an Irish dance class for a friend that just had a baby. Only prob is the class is in Algonquin, quite a haul from Elmhurst. Oldest is graduating from 8th grade at the end of May, she's going to St. Ignatius in the fall. DD9 is busy with dance as it is competition season. DS10 will be heading to middle school next year. Have a trip "home" planned for early June, down to 39 days now.

geffric - congrats to DS on making Eagle, all my brothers were Eagle scouts too. Quite an accomplishment.

Well, off to Algonquin. Have a great night everyone!

 

[momto1]

I'm still here too! We are on the countdown for the end of ds freshman year of high school. We all survivied. He made the baseball team but they have had more than 1/2 of their games cancelled due to this crazy cold and wet weather we have had. That has been a bummer.

Counting down to our August trip! ADR's are made, flight is booked, accomdations are made but the rental car price is crazy!

Take care!
Lori