Sunday, June 19 Driving, driving, and more driving
The Cast:
Me,
the Disney-fanatic
DH, Craig, who puts up with my Disney obsession
DD, Jessica, age 10, part fish, goes with the flow for just about anything
DS, Ryan, age 6, also part fish, would prefer to always have his way
This would be our first time driving from PA to Florida. With plans for 3 different stops (Disney, Universal, and Sanibel Island), we wanted to be able to pack what we wanted and have our own car.
Our plan was to drive at least to South Carolina on Sunday. We would leave as soon as Ryans last regular season hockey game was over. This got us on the road around 1:30. The kids did a great job entertaining themselves with new movies in the DVD player and a backpack full of books and travel games. We had some fun with a game called Rubberneckers, but found that the tinted windows on the van make it impossible for the kids to do the cards where you try to get passengers in other cars to wave or gesture back to you. I think we could have fun with that.
We managed to drive without stopping until 6:30, when we stopped in Virginia to eat at the most upscale Arbys weve ever seen. This place was like a Wilderness Lodge knock-off, complete with timber roof and totem pole, and Disney pricing! It cost us $30 for a dinner of roast beef sandwiches and rotisserie chicken.
Back on the road, we realized wed be stopping for the night somewhere at least halfway through South Carolina, so I broke out the AAA books and made us a reservation at what was listed as a Best Western in the book. Between the hotel persons accent and bad phone reception, I couldnt understand a word he said, but I was pretty sure I had a reservation, anyway. When we got to exit 77 around 12:30am, there was no Best Western in sight. I called the number again and found out what the guy was trying to tell me on the phone the hotel is now a Country Hearth Inn & Suites, and we were sitting in their parking lot. The room there was nicely-sized and clean, but the beds were like rocks. But it was good to get a few hours sleep.
Monday, June 20 Even more driving, and a soggy night in EPCOT
We dragged our sore bodies out of bed around 7 and went to grab breakfast at McDonalds. We practiced our line-waiting here since there was only one person taking orders and at least 10 people in line. They moved us through with surprising efficiency though. A few pancakes and McMuffins later, we were back on the road. We stopped at the Florida welcome center for our free OJ.
We finally pulled into the Beach Club shortly after 2PM. Total time on the road: 17 hours (if you subtract time for the meal/gas/potty stops, about 15 and a half hours of drive time) for just over 1000 miles. No breakdowns, no major traffic jams, and not even much bickering from the back seat. This driving thing isnt too bad.
We piled out of the car (ah, Florida humidity in June!) and unloaded the bags. We sent the car away with the valet. We didnt want to see a car for a few days. Our room was already ready, so we were able to go straight to our room and get unpacked. Our room was way down at the EPCOT end of the resort, near the quiet pool. So it was a bit of a walk to the main lobby and big pool, but it was great for walking into EPCOT or the Boardwalk. The plan was to head straight for the pool (room or no room), so we got changed and headed down.
We could spend days just in the Beach Club pool, I think. That sand bottom feels wonderful on the feet. Both kids checked out the big slide and took a couple of trips down. We explored the entire pool, including the lazy river and whirlpool. After relaxing a few hours in the pool, we headed up to change for dinner. We were going to try for a patio table at the Rose & Crown for Illuminations.
The skies were looking pretty threatening when we got to EPCOT. By the time we got to England, it was beginning to drizzle, so we killed some time in the shops while we waited to see if the British Invasion was still going to play. The rain was light, so we pulled on some ponchos and got ourselves a bench near the gazebo to watch the show. The band came out
, and naturally opened with Here Comes the Sun.
Unfortunately, that plan didnt work.
It started to rain buckets.
The band gave up after the one song and ran off to find cover. We took shelter near the shops for a while, and then decided to brave it and slosh down to Canada and see the film. We got soaked on the way anywhere the ponchos didnt cover. It would take 2 days for our sneakers to dry out. This was apparently a memorable moment, because one of the first stories Ryan tells when he is asked about his vacation is how the Beatles sang Here Comes the Sun and made it rain harder. It was very funny.
We did get to see the film in Canada, and we teased Jessica about the last time we tried to see this movie, when she was 3, and we had to leave because she was screaming that the floor was moving.
After the film it was still raining, so we went back to England to see about getting seated early, and now preferably inside! But the patio was closed due to the rain which put them already behind schedule for PSs, so our chances of getting seated were early were nil. The kids were dying of hunger, so we decided to abandon our plans for the Rose & Crown and search out some counter service.
We went to the Land pavilion to check out the new Sunshine Seasons food court. Craig and I both had Rotisserie Beef Flatbread with Wild Greens and Tabbouleh. Im not even sure what Tabbouleh is, but we both liked it. The beef was very tender. Ryan had the kids drumstick meal and inhaled everything on his plate. It seems we forgot lunch today. Jessica had a kids mac n cheese.
We stopped for a few McDs fries for dessert (its vacation, right?) and caught the end of Off Kilter. The rain had stopped, so the bands were back. We went back to England where we were able to see a full set by the British Invasion. Ryan is a Beatles fan, so he enjoyed this and asked to see them again later in the week.
It was 8:30 and looked like the rain was going to stay away long enough for Illuminations, so we planted ourselves near the bridge. While Craig and the kids held down a spot, I dashed over to France for some real dessert. I got a Napoleon, a chocolate éclair, and a big cookie for us all to share. We enjoyed our desserts, but couldnt finish them. We found this to be a good viewing spot for Illuminations, but we were downwind so we were sprinkled with fallout and surrounded by smoke at the end.
Still a good end to our first day.
The Cast:
Me,
the Disney-fanaticDH, Craig, who puts up with my Disney obsession
DD, Jessica, age 10, part fish, goes with the flow for just about anything
DS, Ryan, age 6, also part fish, would prefer to always have his way
This would be our first time driving from PA to Florida. With plans for 3 different stops (Disney, Universal, and Sanibel Island), we wanted to be able to pack what we wanted and have our own car.
Our plan was to drive at least to South Carolina on Sunday. We would leave as soon as Ryans last regular season hockey game was over. This got us on the road around 1:30. The kids did a great job entertaining themselves with new movies in the DVD player and a backpack full of books and travel games. We had some fun with a game called Rubberneckers, but found that the tinted windows on the van make it impossible for the kids to do the cards where you try to get passengers in other cars to wave or gesture back to you. I think we could have fun with that.
We managed to drive without stopping until 6:30, when we stopped in Virginia to eat at the most upscale Arbys weve ever seen. This place was like a Wilderness Lodge knock-off, complete with timber roof and totem pole, and Disney pricing! It cost us $30 for a dinner of roast beef sandwiches and rotisserie chicken.
Back on the road, we realized wed be stopping for the night somewhere at least halfway through South Carolina, so I broke out the AAA books and made us a reservation at what was listed as a Best Western in the book. Between the hotel persons accent and bad phone reception, I couldnt understand a word he said, but I was pretty sure I had a reservation, anyway. When we got to exit 77 around 12:30am, there was no Best Western in sight. I called the number again and found out what the guy was trying to tell me on the phone the hotel is now a Country Hearth Inn & Suites, and we were sitting in their parking lot. The room there was nicely-sized and clean, but the beds were like rocks. But it was good to get a few hours sleep.
Monday, June 20 Even more driving, and a soggy night in EPCOT
We dragged our sore bodies out of bed around 7 and went to grab breakfast at McDonalds. We practiced our line-waiting here since there was only one person taking orders and at least 10 people in line. They moved us through with surprising efficiency though. A few pancakes and McMuffins later, we were back on the road. We stopped at the Florida welcome center for our free OJ.
We finally pulled into the Beach Club shortly after 2PM. Total time on the road: 17 hours (if you subtract time for the meal/gas/potty stops, about 15 and a half hours of drive time) for just over 1000 miles. No breakdowns, no major traffic jams, and not even much bickering from the back seat. This driving thing isnt too bad.
We piled out of the car (ah, Florida humidity in June!) and unloaded the bags. We sent the car away with the valet. We didnt want to see a car for a few days. Our room was already ready, so we were able to go straight to our room and get unpacked. Our room was way down at the EPCOT end of the resort, near the quiet pool. So it was a bit of a walk to the main lobby and big pool, but it was great for walking into EPCOT or the Boardwalk. The plan was to head straight for the pool (room or no room), so we got changed and headed down.
We could spend days just in the Beach Club pool, I think. That sand bottom feels wonderful on the feet. Both kids checked out the big slide and took a couple of trips down. We explored the entire pool, including the lazy river and whirlpool. After relaxing a few hours in the pool, we headed up to change for dinner. We were going to try for a patio table at the Rose & Crown for Illuminations.
The skies were looking pretty threatening when we got to EPCOT. By the time we got to England, it was beginning to drizzle, so we killed some time in the shops while we waited to see if the British Invasion was still going to play. The rain was light, so we pulled on some ponchos and got ourselves a bench near the gazebo to watch the show. The band came out
, and naturally opened with Here Comes the Sun.
Unfortunately, that plan didnt work.
It started to rain buckets.
The band gave up after the one song and ran off to find cover. We took shelter near the shops for a while, and then decided to brave it and slosh down to Canada and see the film. We got soaked on the way anywhere the ponchos didnt cover. It would take 2 days for our sneakers to dry out. This was apparently a memorable moment, because one of the first stories Ryan tells when he is asked about his vacation is how the Beatles sang Here Comes the Sun and made it rain harder. It was very funny.
We did get to see the film in Canada, and we teased Jessica about the last time we tried to see this movie, when she was 3, and we had to leave because she was screaming that the floor was moving.
After the film it was still raining, so we went back to England to see about getting seated early, and now preferably inside! But the patio was closed due to the rain which put them already behind schedule for PSs, so our chances of getting seated were early were nil. The kids were dying of hunger, so we decided to abandon our plans for the Rose & Crown and search out some counter service.
We went to the Land pavilion to check out the new Sunshine Seasons food court. Craig and I both had Rotisserie Beef Flatbread with Wild Greens and Tabbouleh. Im not even sure what Tabbouleh is, but we both liked it. The beef was very tender. Ryan had the kids drumstick meal and inhaled everything on his plate. It seems we forgot lunch today. Jessica had a kids mac n cheese.
We stopped for a few McDs fries for dessert (its vacation, right?) and caught the end of Off Kilter. The rain had stopped, so the bands were back. We went back to England where we were able to see a full set by the British Invasion. Ryan is a Beatles fan, so he enjoyed this and asked to see them again later in the week.
It was 8:30 and looked like the rain was going to stay away long enough for Illuminations, so we planted ourselves near the bridge. While Craig and the kids held down a spot, I dashed over to France for some real dessert. I got a Napoleon, a chocolate éclair, and a big cookie for us all to share. We enjoyed our desserts, but couldnt finish them. We found this to be a good viewing spot for Illuminations, but we were downwind so we were sprinkled with fallout and surrounded by smoke at the end.
Still a good end to our first day.
