Live TR: Spring Vacation 2012

[KristinU]

I enjoyed Bama Ed's live TR last week, so here is the start of ours...
We are still en route, but I thought it might be nice to recap the trip down as well in case it interests anyone, especially those coming down from the north east.
Our cast of characters is me, DH, DS8, and our 10 month old lab pup. Since this is our pup's's first long road trip we decided to putter our way down over a few nights rather than just a single overnight half way.
We left the Hartford area around 3:00 pm on Thursday and went out 84 to 8181 and spent the night in West Virginia at a place called Falling Waters Campsite. Perfect place for an overnight...pretty much what they cater to, as they don't take reservations and you just call 24 hours in advance of arrival. Here is our rig on our site:

Second night was at the Smithfield Raleigh KOA. My SIL and BIL live in Raleigh, so they came our for a visit and dinner. They took us to a great little hole in the wall restaurant with a great freshly cooked buffet...akin to a spread at a southern family reunion. Best fried chicken I've ever had. And they have a massive dessert table, all homemade, wicked fresh, and to die for. Here's a pic:

That's it for now. We are staying just north of Jacksonville tonight, then off to the Fort in the morning!

 

[bama_ed]

KristinU, I'm in!

Those cakes and desserts look AMAZING.

Let me pull up a chair.....

Bama ED

 

[2goofycampers]

I'll join in.

 

[nmb1dsnefan]

So excited. Im in!!!

 

[KristinU]

Great overnight at the Jacksonville North KOA, and since it is technically in GA we got to add another sticker to our state map The folks here couldn't be nicer and the facilities are very nice. DS was thrilled that the pool was open:

This is a very convenient night-before stop. Exit 3 off of 95 has a Kmart, Publix, Winn Dixie, CVS etc. for those forgotten supplies or if your family is ripping through bananas and apples like mine is. Then the KOA is the next exit (exit 1).
Mean mom moment: I got DS for April Fools...looked at my phone like I was checking something and told him we had to turn around because Florida is closed. He bought it for a minute...clearly we haven't let him watch Vacation yet
Ok, next stop: DISNEY WORLD!

 

[wifeofjack]

keep it coming, enjoying this trip report so far. Hubby and I stayed at the Falling Waters Campground in West Virginia many years ago. It was the perfect, quiet, peaceful place for an overnight as we were traveling thru on our way home from the Smoky Mountains back to Connecticut.
We are planning for an extended trip in 2013, when I retire, and Fort Wilderness will be one of our stops on our bucket list.

 

[KristinU]

So, in real real time you guys can wait with us here:

Her are our obligatory "we're here!!!" pics:

 

[angelmom27]

woo hoo your here cant wait to read about your stay at the fort. sounds like you guys had a nice drive down.

 

[jonimce]

So wishing we were with you at the check in. Can't wait to read more. We are also from CT. Heading to the fort in Aug.

 

[thinktinkmom]

Great tr so far. We are headed down in October & planned on staying at the same koa for our overnight stop, glad to hear it's a good place to stop.

 

[railmail]

SOOOOOO jealous, wish we were in the check-in line too. Have a wonderful stay at the Fort, don't forget to take your four-legged pal to the dog park for a run.

 

[sbnewhampshire1]

Going back down in Dec! Waiting for more TR's from the Fort!

 

[Princess Bette]

Yea! Another TR! Can't wait to read more! LOVED those dessert pics!

 

[ksl5f123]

I'm in! It looks like you had a really nice trip down. That dessert buffet sure does look yummy!

Love the April Fool's joke!

Hooray for arrival day!

 

[FWRR3]

Welcome to summer in Florida! Did you bring some of those great desserts?

 

[KristinU]

We got our site assignment: 503, which I believe is preferred, even though we booked a full hookup site. The site is nice and I can see the appeal of the full concrete pad...we should stay pretty clean this week. I still put down our mat, especially since DK9 will want to lay on it.

After getting all set up in our site, DS did some looping on his bike and DK9 and I hit the dog park where he made some new friends and got tuckered out!

After a quick dinner at the camper, we decided to head over to Epcot for the evening.
I have been worrying about the crowds, but...fingers crossed...so far so good. The bus was all but empty, so I think we choose the right park for the evening!

We went on Mission Space, hit the Cool Station (or whatever it is currently called), the Sum of All Thrills, walked through some other Innoventions stuff, then decided to do some Kim Possible missions:

Amazing dragon in China for the Flower and Garden Festival:

During our missions we grabbed some lefse and school bread at Norway and hit Maelstrom and the Gran Fiesta Tour at Mexico...on the way out we checked the Test Track line. 20 minutes posted for single riders. We decided to split up and do it, but it ended up being longer than 20...but still fun! We wanted to beat the mass exodus, but cut it too close...so we snagged a can back to the Fort since DK9 was waiting for us for a final walk of the night. He and I listened to the EWP as we walked the loop!

 

[TOGA]

Great pics and it looks like you're having a good time. I'm in!

 

[marclichon]

I'm in I love a live trip report (my boss, not-so-much).

Would it be weird to ask for a streaming-video camera for your hat??

(... clearly I'm in need of a trip)

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

You had me at the dessert table. Ok, it wasn't Disney, but, wow....

 

[twoWDWfools]

Loving it!

Especially since we'll be seeing that check in sign in just 13 days!!