Excuse me, you'll need to see security. What has Mickeystoontown done? Update 3/25x2

[Angies1274]

Hi Lisa!

Great updates!

Aww...your pictures of the Crystal Palace really make me want to go back! Yum!! Too funny about the bread!

Great pictures of MSEP! Although, I have to admit that I prefer Spectromagic and really wish they would bring it back.

Beautiful night time pictures of the castle!! Ugh! I know what you mean about not wanting to leave and trying to soak up every last moment especially at MK.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I know this TR is soon coming to a conclusion so when does the pre-trip start for your May trip? I just really like the way you keep us involved in WDW year around.

Will we see irons, will we get sea sick, will Lisa show a picture of her in a bathing suit or will Hunter eat only Pizza? You will have to stay tuned!

I'm hoping to wrap this baby up this week and start on the pre-trip report. Lots and lots of stuff to talk about in it.

You've hit the nail on the head with all of those "key points"!

We went to Disney's Hilton Head Island resort for our spring break trip this year. I think I will do a TR, and combine it with our October 2012 WDW trip (better late than never, right?). Hopefully I can start soon!
Just a sneak preview - it was WONDERFUL! I definitely will be going back!

I'm one who often misses when trip reports have started so please be sure and let me know so I can read along.

Hi Lisa!

Great updates!

Aww...your pictures of the Crystal Palace really make me want to go back! Yum!! Too funny about the bread!

Great pictures of MSEP! Although, I have to admit that I prefer Spectromagic and really wish they would bring it back.

Beautiful night time pictures of the castle!! Ugh! I know what you mean about not wanting to leave and trying to soak up every last moment especially at MK.

I like both nighttime parades but I think that Spectro wins out by a hair.

I can not stand leaving the park for the last time knowing that it will be a whole year before we are back.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Let me take one more picture! Just one more! Okay! So two more! Two more!


The day of departure had arrived and all too soon in my opinion! Why does it seem as if it takes forever and a day for your vacation to start but the vacation itself goes way too quickly?

We finished getting dressed, teeth brushed, last minute packing up, etc. and I went outside to take just one more picture of our view:

Okay! So two more! Two more!

Lacey and Jesse didnt have as much stuff as we had so they were ready to go before we were. They also had to turn in the rental car by a certain time so they needed to get on the road. We exchanged teary eyed hugs because we knew that we wouldnt see them until Thanksgiving, possibly, Christmas. Six to seven long months!

John walked down with them and pulled the SCAR around to the circle drive and I stopped taking pictures to help load the luggage. Well, I stopped taking pictures for a minute but still was able to juggle the camera while pulling along a suitcase and carrying a tote:

After a couple of trips to and from the room, we had it all loaded in and it was time to do the did you get everything? Anybody gotta pee? call.

Just as we shut the room door, I remembered to take pictures of our room numbers.

We couldnt take putting it off any longer, it was time to go. We loaded ourselves into the SCAR and were leaving the Caribbean Beach Resort after our 9th stay. Bye Bye Caribbean Beach!

Our SCAR had been parked in the lot the entire time we were in Walt Disney World and we were happy to note that, after the good washing they received, the afghans did not smell nor did the luggage after being aired out. That was a huge relief! Not wanting to stop for gas in Kissimmee or on the stretch of highway towards Clermont, we decided to stop at the Hess station which was still on Disney property. Look who we saw shopping there:

They were so cute! Gas tank topped off, we were ready (as ready as you can be when leaving Disney) to head home. Goodbye Tower of Terror:

Dont I wish!

**Up next: Life is a highway! Were gonna drive it all flippin' day long!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Leaving is never fun, but those ducks at the Hess station were adorable!

 

[KatMark]

I HATE goodbyes...they stink! But those ducks sure would have made me smile after my teary exit from Disney property. We have found the Hess on property to be cheaper than the stations right off property. Who would have thought that?

 

[MEK]

Lisa - I can't believe your trip has come to a end. *Sniff sniff* You mean you won't keep writing about it right up until the time you leave again in May?

I know I have said this before, but your pictures of CBR make me wish I could stay there again sometime soon. I know it won't happen with DVC, but boy I just love that seriously tropical vibe.

Loved your TR and can't wait to hear about your 2013 plans!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Leaving is never fun, but those ducks at the Hess station were adorable!

Weren't they!

I HATE goodbyes...they stink! But those ducks sure would have made me smile after my teary exit from Disney property. We have found the Hess on property to be cheaper than the stations right off property. Who would have thought that?

They did make me smile! I sure wouldn't have thought that gas would be cheaper onsite since they know that most will be filling up their tanks before heading home.

Lisa - I can't believe your trip has come to a end. *Sniff sniff* You mean you won't keep writing about it right up until the time you leave again in May?

I know I have said this before, but your pictures of CBR make me wish I could stay there again sometime soon. I know it won't happen with DVC, but boy I just love that seriously tropical vibe.

Loved your TR and can't wait to hear about your 2013 plans!

I have extended this trip report almost past the point of no return. But, never fear, the pre-trip report is near!

 

[shan23877]

Noooooo! I don't want it to end! Great pictures on the way out though.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Life is a highway! We’re gonna drive it all flippin' day long!

All too soon, we were off Disney property and on our way home which is over 800 miles away from Disney. On the way to Disney, we break the driving down into two days. On the way home? We drive straight through stopping for pee, food and gas breaks although not necessarily in that order.

Before we left, John’s boss was laughing about his trips to Florida as a kid and the hotels being called motor lodges and advertised air conditioning, swimming pools and colored television. As we drove through a couple of small towns, we noticed a hotel that did, in fact, still have the old signage that has similar advertising. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a good picture to take back to him:

Nice bus with lot of air conditioning that the citrus pickers use:

I forgot to mention that Hunter was in charge of the camera for most of the journey home thus the reason you’ll notice a lot of pictures with the dash in them. I guess he was taking pictures of our view which was just trees and highway/interstate:

How ‘bout an upside down view :

I’m not 100% positive but I am pretty sure that the two men in my life a/k/a John and Hunter had fallen asleep thus the camera being back in my possession.

How far are we from Pensacola? 151 miles! Oh bother!

Is that a river we are passing:

151 miles later, I pulled into the rest area in Pensacola. It was a nice day and we decided to get out, walk around and stretch our legs. Despite the fact that we still had a few snacks in our tote, we still bought something from the vending machines :

There were some picnic tables outside so we took our snacks over and sat down for a while and enjoyed the fresh air. Warm air but fresh air.

Our view:

It was nice to get our of the SCAR for a while but we had traveling to do and lots of miles ahead. Hunter took control of the camera again:

Look how close this idiot in the red car was to us when he changed lanes:

It would not do for me to live in or around a big city. I don’t get road rage but I’m a horn honker and am proud of it. John makes fun of me for using the horn so much and says that he has only blown his horn a total of a dozen times the whole time he’s owned his truck. If they didn’t want me to use my horn, then they shouldn’t have installed them in my vehicle.

The following pictures were taken between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama:

**Continued in next post

 

[mickeystoontown]

Traffic was starting to pick up and I realized that it was close to 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday night:

Tunnel in Mobile:

Look at the time and temp. We still had 6+ hours of driving ahead of us:

The last blurry picture of The Watermelon Patch complete with giant watermelon in their drive:

Thankfully, the rest of the drive was uneventful and we pulled into our driveway very very late. The first thing that we did was go let Oddball out of his pen so he could give us a proper welcome home. We were as happy to see him as he was to see us. We let him run around while we brought a few bags in the house. Then, we put him up, sorted through the stack of mail and hit the sack!

**Up next: The Agony & The Ecstasy!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Noooooo! I don't want it to end! Great pictures on the way out though.

I didn't want it to end either!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Traffic looked good for your drive. Lots of good pictures too.

 

[KatMark]

I have to say my favorite picture is the upside down one. Your son just cracks me up.

I hated that long drive home...and, of course, our ride was a heck of a lot longer. And that is why we fly now (even though I hate flying).

It's always good to get out and stretch the legs...even if only for a few minutes.

 

[MHTeacher]

Only you could make interstate/rest stop pictures and details be fun, Lisa!

I can't believe it's the end. I've enjoyed reading your report. Look forward to reading your PTR!

 

[jenseib]

Ugh, I hate this being over. Thank goodness in only a few short months you will be back

 

[cheekypoppins]

omg Lisa i had to laugh so much at your "horn honker" comment because....... way back in 1902,well when the dinosaurs roamed the earth ...okay not really but a very long time ago when hubby n I were first dating there was this promotion where the burgers were 35 cents so we used to go with all our friends all the time and hubby would get annoyed because he would always end up with crappy fries n mine were always really good he used to say his "how come u get all the nice ones n I always end up with a box full of horn honkers" because his were so hard n crispy that he could honk the car horn with them . I had forgotten about that until I read this so thanks for the chuckle

 

[Millie12591]

I don't think there is anything more sad than the day you leave Disney world, EXCEPT! The end of a TR.

I love every bit of your TR, thank you for sharing your beautiful family and trip with us.

 

[pktbMouse]

great trip report Lisa...we usually do the drive from Houston and somehow it always seems longer on the way home! This year we have decided to fly as my 4 yr old is desperate to fly in a plane. I cant say I wont miss the 1000 mile drive AT ALL!! Cant wait for your next trip report. You have me all excited for CBR now looking at your pictures, thank you so much.

 

[lovethattink]

So sad that your Disney stay is over, but it's great that you get to go back soon. It will be May before you know it.

 

[ronnmel]

The only thing that makes this update not as sad is that your next trip is just around the corner.