June 2010: A Tribute To All Nations, But Mostly America - Update 8/22 MK FotD

[Wiloughby1]

You know what I do as I collect stuff? I break out the laundry baskets! All that stuff that I buy that needs to be packed or stashed goes into a basket on the floor in my closet- otherwise all the plastic packaging causes a landslide off my dresser...or DS steals stuff, but your kids are old enough to know better!

I've enjoyed following your PTR!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

I can't believe I just made massive changes to my vacation plans. I'm one week out! I NEVER do this!! AAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!

Don't panic - Disney is still exactly the way it was. It's the post-Disney plans that got all shook up. But it's all part of the trip, so forgive me for sharing here.

If you've looked at our original plans, you know we intended to spend the 25th through the 1st at Disney. On the 1st of July, we were going to leave super early and drive 13 hours to the Outer Banks. We would check in that evening so we could get an early start on a full beach day on July 2nd. Then, on the 3rd, we'd drive 5 hours and start our three days in Washington DC.

Well, I kept coming back to two problems with that itinerary. First, who the heck wants to drive 13 hours the first day after a Disney vacation? Second, the hotel in OBX was going to cost us $340 a night and we were paying for two nights, but only getting one beach day out of it. So it was basically a $680 beach day.

Meanwhile, the resorts on Clearwater Beach are completely deserted because everyone's afraid of the oil spill. The Hilton resort on Clearwater was practically giving away rooms for $160 a night. Our kids have never been to the Gulf of Mexico, and the hotel looks just fabulous:

Plus, Clearwater is only 90 minutes from Disney, and we have friends who live there. And one of my favorite restaurants in the entire world is there as well.

If we stayed at the Hilton Clearwater Resort and moved our beach day to July 1st, we could then drive about 10 hours on July 2nd (shaving off 3 hours of drive time) and stay in Aberdeen, NC at a nice Hampton Inn near a great stadium seating theater. We could use the 3 hours we gained to see a couple of movies (Toy Story 3, The Karate Kid, The A-Team) and then pick up our plan with the same 5 hour drive to Washington DC. And the North Carolina hotel was even cheaper than the Clearwater hotel.

With the second plan, we'd end up saving about $360, saving 3 hours of drive time, getting to take the kids somewhere they've never been (Clearwater) instead of back to OBX, and if it rains, we have WAY more options for fun in Clearwater/Tampa than we would at OBX.

I love the Outer Banks. I really do. But this seemed like a no-brainer. So we switched plans. One week before we leave. I am NOT a spontaneous planner. I really hope I made the right decision!!!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

I usually don't pile up things before we go, but I always make about 20 different versions of my packing list to make sure I don't forget anything I need, and leave stuff I don't need at home so I have room in my bags for souvenirs!

Your playlist sounds great

I found an online radio station that streams the music from the Disney parks and I've been addicted to listening to it at work.

DH has been listening to DIS Radio at work, too. We try to keep our packing to a minimum, but we keep adding things we might need. Just went out today and got iPod chargers for the car, for example.

We're going to be down there about the same time! We're going the 21-28th. Maybe we'll see you there! It's not long now!

Cool! It's so hard to wait these last few days, isn't it??

You know what I do as I collect stuff? I break out the laundry baskets! All that stuff that I buy that needs to be packed or stashed goes into a basket on the floor in my closet- otherwise all the plastic packaging causes a landslide off my dresser...or DS steals stuff, but your kids are old enough to know better!

I've enjoyed following your PTR!

Great idea! I was just saying we should take a laundry basket anyway. It's my cats that like to knock things off my dresser. Also, you'd THINK my kids were old enough to know better, but I know for a fact my daughter stole one of the new toothbrush cases for a sleepover last night. And she's going into high school!

Glad you're enjoying the report! I'm having fun writing it!

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I can't believe I just made massive changes to my vacation plans. I'm one week out! I NEVER do this!! AAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!

Don't panic - Disney is still exactly the way it was. It's the post-Disney plans that got all shook up. But it's all part of the trip, so forgive me for sharing here.

If you've looked at our original plans, you know we intended to spend the 25th through the 1st at Disney. On the 1st of July, we were going to leave super early and drive 13 hours to the Outer Banks. We would check in that evening so we could get an early start on a full beach day on July 2nd. Then, on the 3rd, we'd drive 5 hours and start our three days in Washington DC.

Well, I kept coming back to two problems with that itinerary. First, who the heck wants to drive 13 hours the first day after a Disney vacation? Second, the hotel in OBX was going to cost us $340 a night and we were paying for two nights, but only getting one beach day out of it. So it was basically a $680 beach day.

Meanwhile, the resorts on Clearwater Beach are completely deserted because everyone's afraid of the oil spill. The Hilton resort on Clearwater was practically giving away rooms for $160 a night. Our kids have never been to the Gulf of Mexico, and the hotel looks just fabulous:

Plus, Clearwater is only 90 minutes from Disney, and we have friends who live there. And one of my favorite restaurants in the entire world is there as well.

If we stayed at the Hilton Clearwater Resort and moved our beach day to July 1st, we could then drive about 10 hours on July 2nd (shaving off 3 hours of drive time) and stay in Aberdeen, NC at a nice Hampton Inn near a great stadium seating theater. We could use the 3 hours we gained to see a couple of movies (Toy Story 3, The Karate Kid, The A-Team) and then pick up our plan with the same 5 hour drive to Washington DC. And the North Carolina hotel was even cheaper than the Clearwater hotel.

With the second plan, we'd end up saving about $360, saving 3 hours of drive time, getting to take the kids somewhere they've never been (Clearwater) instead of back to OBX, and if it rains, we have WAY more options for fun in Clearwater/Tampa than we would at OBX.

I love the Outer Banks. I really do. But this seemed like a no-brainer. So we switched plans. One week before we leave. I am NOT a spontaneous planner. I really hope I made the right decision!!!

That resort looks really nice....even if you can't go in the Gulf (not sure if the oil spread that way yet), that pool looks very relaxing! I'm jealous of your DC side trip. Even though I only live a couple of hours from it, I have never actually been to it, just driven around the outskirts of it on the way to Disney when I was a kid! I just talked to my fiance about it, and I think we'll go down for a day or two in the next year.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

I really wanted a waterproof camera for this trip. But I just couldn't justify the price tag. I have a practically new digital camera, and our discretionary vacation fund keeps getting depleted by stupid little purchases (like a beach umbrella. And goggles. And more sunscreen. And... on and on...)

So I resigned myself to getting a disposable waterproof camera and having it developed and put on a CD when we got home. At least I'd get SOME pictures at Typhoon Lagoon. But when we went to Target today, right next to the disposable cameras was this little digital:

It was only $24. I'll grant you, it doesn't take stellar pictures. It doesn't even have an LCD screen. But I have gone the disposable/developing/CD route before, and those pictures aren't exactly stellar either.

So I bought it, took it home, and dragged everyone over to the community pool to try it out. (It didn't take much dragging. It's pretty hot here today.)

This is about as big as the pictures can be and still look almost halfway passable. But it can hold up to 50 pictures at this resolution. And it cost about as much as 2 disposables that hold 27 pictures (not counting processing). So I'm happy.

Well, as happy as possible when we still have to wait 5 days to leave!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

That resort looks really nice....even if you can't go in the Gulf (not sure if the oil spread that way yet), that pool looks very relaxing! I'm jealous of your DC side trip. Even though I only live a couple of hours from it, I have never actually been to it, just driven around the outskirts of it on the way to Disney when I was a kid! I just talked to my fiance about it, and I think we'll go down for a day or two in the next year.

According to the resort and the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, the Florida beaches are still pristine. Here's hoping!

The more we talk about the DC portion, the more we realize we need more time there! We want to see 4 of the Smithsonian Museums, the National Zoo, the Independence Day Parade, Capitol Fourth, and go paddleboating on the Tidal Basin. Don't know how we're going to fit it all in! Plus, the folklife festival is going on while we are there. We may have to go down for a day or two later in the year, too.

 

[Nermel9]

Your new plans look great, the hotel looks amazing! I hope the beaches stay clear for you!

Vacation playlists look great, especially the U2! I love them, I saw them at Giant's Stadium in September, but we sat SOOOO high up, the sound was awful and echo-y, so I was hoping to go again this summer, but Bono had to go and hurt himself! I hope they are going to reschedule!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Your new plans look great, the hotel looks amazing! I hope the beaches stay clear for you!

Vacation playlists look great, especially the U2! I love them, I saw them at Giant's Stadium in September, but we sat SOOOO high up, the sound was awful and echo-y, so I was hoping to go again this summer, but Bono had to go and hurt himself! I hope they are going to reschedule!

I hope so, too! (On the beaches and the rescheduling!)

We last saw U2 on the Vertigo tour, and we did the GA floor, wait in line since 5AM thing. So we were in the front row. We were hoping to duplicate the experience this time. I hope they reschedule for a day I can get off from work!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Okay, apparently I didn't plan as well as I thought.

Three days until we leave, four days until Disney. And I got nuthin'. Sorry, dear readers, the only words on my brain are:

CAN WE GO NOW??

(Well, that and some choice words for our band director, who has rescheduled Kai's band camps this week 4 times, including once at 7 this morning. But that's not Disney related. Or family friendly.)

 

[Overexcited]

Hope you have a great trip! Congrats on the weight loss, not an easy thing.
Where is cosmic rays? I focus on the TS that I am not sure where CS are, it is CS right?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Hope you have a great trip! Congrats on the weight loss, not an easy thing.
Where is cosmic rays? I focus on the TS that I am not sure where CS are, it is CS right?

Thanks!

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe is in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Why is time going SOOOOOOO slowly???

In addition to the three suitcases in the picture, we've partially packed our toiletries bag. (Cause we might need our toothbrushes and deodorant and such between now and Thursday, ya think? ) We also packed a backpack of stuff for the kids to have in the car (video games, iPods... how did the pioneers survive road trips?), and a bag to put in the front seat for the stuff that Scott and I will need on the trip (camera, iPods, directions...). Not to mention the boogie boards, laundry basket, beach umbrella, and folding chairs that will just get tossed in the trunk.

And Scott thinks we pack light.

 

[Nermel9]

Ugh the last few days before you leave drag, don't they!!! I don't know how I'm going to make it through the next 4 months and 3 weeks, by the time I'm down to 3 days I'm going to be going crazy!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

I hope I can find my magic when we get to Disney because the last minute stress is giving me a headache.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

We're leaving! We have a few last minute errands to run while Scott is at his last half day of work, and then we are gone.

When we get back, look for our trip report! Thanks for all your help and encouragement in our planning. See you July 6th!

 

[Nermel9]

Have a great trip!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

 

[FlightlessDuck]

It's the only one you are going to get, most likely.

Drove from noon until 11:30 PM with two breaks for a total of an hour. Made pretty bad time due to a torential downpour in Harrisburg and construction. In hindsight, it might have been smarter to just take I-95 through Washington, DC instead of going the "long way around".

But we are in Florence, SC for the night. We've gone 680 miles. About 470 left, give or take a few.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

I was upstairs dealing with a flood. Flushed the toilet. Once. Overflowed EVERYWHERE.

*sigh* Front desk clerk "cleaned" it by mopping it up with towels, and plunged the toilet. But now I don't want my bare feet on that bathroom floor, KWIM?

But hey, vacation's GOT to go UP from here, right??? Right??

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

We're back! Just gotta go get the dog, and get something resembling food for my house. Then I'll get to uploading and posting... although the lousy cheap waterproof digital I bought deleted all my pictures. But that's only Typhoon Lagoon - I have about 1500 pictures of everything else. We'll be moving this report from the pre-trip report board shortly. Look for it under the new title:

June 2010: A Tribute To All Nations, But Mostly America