Canadave
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 1999
- Messages
- 891
The CAST: DD1 (Brittany, 15 yrs. old), DD2 (Emily, 11 yrs. old), DW (Marylynn, let's just say early 40's) and myself (Dave,same)
Monday, January 26, 2004
Just a prologue to our trip: this is our third trip since 2000. (First trip was to be our one and only ). We just decided to go again in September, pending our Christmas season at our business. As of Christmas day, we had only a mediocre season, so we decided to postpone our trip (much to the disappointment of our DD's, not to mention us too). But some pixie dust must have been in the air, and we made 3 very good sales between Christmas and New Years, so we decided it must be fate, and the trip was back on. By the way, were leaving from Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada (near Toronto)
We had booked Pop Century for 10 nights back in October (I wasn't going to cancel until the last minute, always optomistic). Originally we were planning to stay at ASMo, but at that time, there was no discount (CAA) available. So the CM talked me into PC. We are glad she did. We eventually changed our ressies to use the special coded rate of $55. US / night!!!
We decided to drive down again (weather conditions helped us to decide on the I75 route). Our Windstar has over 200,000 kms., so we decided to rent a van. Last time we were at WDW we had brake problems and caused a great deal of stress for our whole trip. After searching around our area, I found that it was going to cost me (after accounting for milage, insurance, taxes,etc.) at least $1500 . I did some further research and found that Avis in Oshawa (a 1 1/4 hour drive from our place) could give me a van for under $700 (unlimited milage and insurance included!!!). I really don't understand how there can be such a difference. Needless to say, we jumped all over it.
We purchased 4 6-day hopper plus tickets from Paramount in the U.S.. They were the best price around AND included a free breakfast with each ticket (Thank you Hockey mom) I was concerned about ordering like this, but I can now say that the service was great and I'd recommend them to anyone.
Anyhow, with no snow days to delay DD1's exams, we were ready to head out on Monday, January 26. The plan was for DW and I to pick up the van and then pick up DD1 from school at 10 after her last exam, go home and pack the van, and be on the road for noon. First major dilemma - we arrived to pick up the van, we had requested captain's chairs for the back seats and 'hopefully' a DVD player (we were prepared to take our portable TV/VCR, but the inboard would be nice). Unfortunately, 2 vans that were supposed to be back at the dealership that morning had not arrived. The vehicle they had for us had a bench seat and no DVD player. They must have sensed our utter disappointment and dismay, because he called the Avis in Pickering (or Ajax) and they had just received a Grand Caravan with a DVD player in that morning. I can't say enough about the service at Avis, that's Avis...A V I S. Well they certainly made my day.
The weather forecast for southern Ontario for the next few days - 'the biggest snow storm of the year' As luck would have it, the storm was coming in a little slower than anticipated, so we were hoping for a little more pixie dust and a safe drive.
We got off on time and the driving was great...until Milton...right into a wall of snow. The driving was pretty slow, but we thought that as long as we just plug away, every moment we are getting closer to the "Land of the Mouse" (side note: 3 of us were going to 'Walt Disney World', DD1, the teenager, was going to 'Florida' ). The weather was quite funny, because when we hit Kitchener, it was just blowing snow, and we were able to drive near the speed limit the rest of the way to the border. We stopped for a quick bite near London (DD2 was in heaven because she got to have a French Vanilla Cappichino (sp?) at Tim Horton's before we were into the land of Uncle Sam (and very few Tim's).
Going over the Ambassador Bridge was probably the scariest part of our whole trip. There was a lot of slush, a lot of trucks, lanes that were hardly the width of a truck, and everyone seemed to be in a great rush. We made it to the border guard, who, while he was 'friendlyish', just didn't know how to smile. Anyway, we showed him our driver's licences and the kid's birth certificates. He asked us the usual questions and then wanted us to open the side door of the van. He asked our DD's who we were and then said thanks and sent us on our way.
The trip through Michigan was uneventful, but God, I wish they would pave the I75 through that state. It has to be the bumpiest ride!!!! We had a bit of ice rain through Ohio. The roads seemed OK, but there were a lot of cars in ditches and a transport truck that had went off the road and crossed the barrier onto the north bound traffic. I didn't see any other vehicles involved in that accident, but it sure puts a scare into you. We were really hoping to get past Cincinnati that night so that we wouldn't have to drive through it at morning rush hour. We got over the Kentucky border around 11:00 and the fog was thicker than pea soup. Thankfully we had Dave Hunter's I75 book to help us find a hotel. (side note - buy the book if your travelling I75!!! I especially liked the notes about speed traps - VERY accurate). The fog was so thick that we had no idea where the hotels were. Visibility was as far as the end of each driveway, no more. We found a gas station and, although they looked at us like we were nuts, they told us exactly which driveway to turn on to get to the closest hotel. Although it was an Econo Lodge, it was clean and the beds were comfortable. Needless to say, after that drive, and a good stiff drink, I had a very good sleep
End of day 1...
Monday, January 26, 2004
Just a prologue to our trip: this is our third trip since 2000. (First trip was to be our one and only ). We just decided to go again in September, pending our Christmas season at our business. As of Christmas day, we had only a mediocre season, so we decided to postpone our trip (much to the disappointment of our DD's, not to mention us too). But some pixie dust must have been in the air, and we made 3 very good sales between Christmas and New Years, so we decided it must be fate, and the trip was back on. By the way, were leaving from Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada (near Toronto)
We had booked Pop Century for 10 nights back in October (I wasn't going to cancel until the last minute, always optomistic). Originally we were planning to stay at ASMo, but at that time, there was no discount (CAA) available. So the CM talked me into PC. We are glad she did. We eventually changed our ressies to use the special coded rate of $55. US / night!!!
We decided to drive down again (weather conditions helped us to decide on the I75 route). Our Windstar has over 200,000 kms., so we decided to rent a van. Last time we were at WDW we had brake problems and caused a great deal of stress for our whole trip. After searching around our area, I found that it was going to cost me (after accounting for milage, insurance, taxes,etc.) at least $1500 . I did some further research and found that Avis in Oshawa (a 1 1/4 hour drive from our place) could give me a van for under $700 (unlimited milage and insurance included!!!). I really don't understand how there can be such a difference. Needless to say, we jumped all over it.
We purchased 4 6-day hopper plus tickets from Paramount in the U.S.. They were the best price around AND included a free breakfast with each ticket (Thank you Hockey mom) I was concerned about ordering like this, but I can now say that the service was great and I'd recommend them to anyone.
Anyhow, with no snow days to delay DD1's exams, we were ready to head out on Monday, January 26. The plan was for DW and I to pick up the van and then pick up DD1 from school at 10 after her last exam, go home and pack the van, and be on the road for noon. First major dilemma - we arrived to pick up the van, we had requested captain's chairs for the back seats and 'hopefully' a DVD player (we were prepared to take our portable TV/VCR, but the inboard would be nice). Unfortunately, 2 vans that were supposed to be back at the dealership that morning had not arrived. The vehicle they had for us had a bench seat and no DVD player. They must have sensed our utter disappointment and dismay, because he called the Avis in Pickering (or Ajax) and they had just received a Grand Caravan with a DVD player in that morning. I can't say enough about the service at Avis, that's Avis...A V I S. Well they certainly made my day.
The weather forecast for southern Ontario for the next few days - 'the biggest snow storm of the year' As luck would have it, the storm was coming in a little slower than anticipated, so we were hoping for a little more pixie dust and a safe drive.
We got off on time and the driving was great...until Milton...right into a wall of snow. The driving was pretty slow, but we thought that as long as we just plug away, every moment we are getting closer to the "Land of the Mouse" (side note: 3 of us were going to 'Walt Disney World', DD1, the teenager, was going to 'Florida' ). The weather was quite funny, because when we hit Kitchener, it was just blowing snow, and we were able to drive near the speed limit the rest of the way to the border. We stopped for a quick bite near London (DD2 was in heaven because she got to have a French Vanilla Cappichino (sp?) at Tim Horton's before we were into the land of Uncle Sam (and very few Tim's).
Going over the Ambassador Bridge was probably the scariest part of our whole trip. There was a lot of slush, a lot of trucks, lanes that were hardly the width of a truck, and everyone seemed to be in a great rush. We made it to the border guard, who, while he was 'friendlyish', just didn't know how to smile. Anyway, we showed him our driver's licences and the kid's birth certificates. He asked us the usual questions and then wanted us to open the side door of the van. He asked our DD's who we were and then said thanks and sent us on our way.
The trip through Michigan was uneventful, but God, I wish they would pave the I75 through that state. It has to be the bumpiest ride!!!! We had a bit of ice rain through Ohio. The roads seemed OK, but there were a lot of cars in ditches and a transport truck that had went off the road and crossed the barrier onto the north bound traffic. I didn't see any other vehicles involved in that accident, but it sure puts a scare into you. We were really hoping to get past Cincinnati that night so that we wouldn't have to drive through it at morning rush hour. We got over the Kentucky border around 11:00 and the fog was thicker than pea soup. Thankfully we had Dave Hunter's I75 book to help us find a hotel. (side note - buy the book if your travelling I75!!! I especially liked the notes about speed traps - VERY accurate). The fog was so thick that we had no idea where the hotels were. Visibility was as far as the end of each driveway, no more. We found a gas station and, although they looked at us like we were nuts, they told us exactly which driveway to turn on to get to the closest hotel. Although it was an Econo Lodge, it was clean and the beds were comfortable. Needless to say, after that drive, and a good stiff drink, I had a very good sleep
End of day 1...
