Lots of Characters, Lots of Firsts but Lots of Drama: Why We Say NEVER AGAIN!! 3/21

[Charlefours]

I now have a craving for some Cracker Barrel. Thanks, Steph!

My sister sounds a lot like your dad. She has some issues with our SIL and she tends to go on and on about it. It gets really old and I wish she would just shut up about it sometimes so I completely understand where you're coming from!

I like all the pictures you took of the different skylines. I'm used to two skylines: NYC and Philly since I live close to both. I have no idea what some other cities look like lol.

Almost to Disney!

Just doing my job supporting the economy Jenny! Now go get some Cracker Barrel. I'm glad you can relate to my feelings about my Dad. It just gets frustrating.

I liked taking pictures of the skylines too, just something different than normal for me. I always seem to take some pictures when we are on long car trips.

 

[Charlefours]

Joining in! We went with four adults and six kids in 2007-- never again! I can't wait to read the adventures with your family! Hope the drama wasn't too bad!

to my TR! Glad to have you here. That's a lot of people too!! You would not think it would be difficult traveling with so many people but if your trip is like mine, NEVER AGAIN!

 

[Charlefours]

Great update Stephanie! I like hearing about the drive to Florida when people take road trips, we hope to do that someday! Lilian is doing awesome on the ride!! Love the pics of her and your dad sleeping!! It seems like you timed the drive just perfectly!! I am glad there weren't any traffic issues for you guys!! Looking forward to more!!!

Thanks Beth!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

More! More!

I love that picture of her on the bench not wanting to get back in the van! I can't wait for more!

 

[nocomment711]

She's adorable!

I remember when my family used to drive to Disney and I thought we had a long drive. I could never do that.

Subbed!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

I'm not sure how to comment on this response. Getting to Disney is part of our trip, so I've included it.

Oh I'm sorry After re-reading that it didn't come out the way I intended. Let me try again!

I am thoroughly enjoying reading about your trip. It is a long drive for you & your ability to get up & moving is commendable We don't have as far to drive as you but only 1 state down it is still a loooong way down to Orlando. So reading about your driving it recalls to my memory how tiring (yet rewarding) that drive can be, that's what I meant & I do apologize my first post came off otherwise

Your dad's comments about how you should almost be to such & such a city had me laughing out loud ANd the goody bags for your daughter was a great way to break up the trip for her. I am looking forward to hearing more

 

[Charlefours]

I left you when we went to bed at Valdosta, GA. I decided to wake up early, to shower and study a bit this morning. I woke up at 5:30 (hey, it was sleeping in compared to the last two mornings ) and I was up into the shower at 5:45. I woke up Allyn about 6:15 so he could get cleaned up. After he was finished we got Lilian up to get cleaned up about 7:00. Here she is first thing this morning:

After a bit of tickling, Lilian was excited to go.

We went ahead and took out what we brought in the night before to the van before we ate (to me it would save us time). We were out to the hotel breakfast at 7:30 but I was just too excited to eat much at all. Lilian was bouncing off the walls too this morning. DH managed to eat just fine. With breakfast finished, we went to the gas station to fill up. Cost: $48

We were off on our journey to Orlando finally at 8:15. We had to make a potty stop at the Gainesville rest area, which was about 10:30. I have to say that on our way, we past the exits that lead to the University of Florida’s stadium—the traffic was backed up for miles.

Minor Drama Moment 1

Those of you would live in the South are probably use to the idea of snakes. We have snakes in Michigan, but not like you all do. They are not my favorite thing but I just know where not to walk. There is a sign posted watch for poisonous snakes. DMIL freaked! OMG, I was not sure if I should laugh or not. She would go nuts if Lilian got within an inch of the grassy area. Poor Lilian could not understand why she could not run around like she had at the other rest areas. Mind you, the areas she wanted to go were in full fledge sun, no rocks or anything else for a snake to hide under. We just shook our head and hurried along there.

We continued onto Orlando, it was not long before we started seeing the signs for Disney World.

Drama Incident 2

DH started to get shaky and wanted to stop for lunch. At this point, I could taste Disney and did not want to stop. I admit I was only thinking of myself at this point and just wanted to be at Disney. I finally gave in but I was so grumpy stopping within 15 minutes of Disney. Not my finest moment I admit and I finally shook myself out of it this funk—why was I acting like such a B-I-T-C-H?! My family needed to eat, Disney was not going anywhere. See I told you I was going to be honest—I could have easily not admitted my drama moment. We pulled off in Winter Gardens at a McDonald’s. We had:

DH: Nuggets, fries and tea
Lily: Nuggets, apples and chocolate milk
Me: Grilled Chicken Ranch Snack Wrap, a few fries from DH and tea
Total cost: $15

After filling our tummies, we were off again. It was not long before we saw this lovely sign:

And a close up of part of it:

It did not take long before we saw these next signs:

After turning into Coronado Springs Resort, we were stopped at the gate house and were told to proceed forward to El Centro.

After driving up, we saw the short term parking area so we pulled off. We were finally here!!

This part of the journey’s breakdown
Total miles today from Valdosta, GA to Coronado Springs Resort: 209 miles
Total Miles Traveled: 1326 miles
Total Money Spent on Food: $15
Total Money Spent on Gas: $48

Up Next: Checking In at Coronado Springs Resort

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Yay, you made it!!!!

I think if Joe wanted to stop 15 minutes before we hit Disney I would have pitched him in the back seat and told him to hold on so that I could drive like the wind and get us there first. I probably would have told him that he could go to the CS place at the resort while I checked in. Yup, I would have been thinking of only myself by that time.

 

[Charlefours]

More! More!

I love that picture of her on the bench not wanting to get back in the van! I can't wait for more!

So do I Karen! It is so completely who she is at the moment. Sometimes sweet angel, other times stubborn as heck!

 

[KatMark]

I can't believe your MIL was worried about Lillian finding a snake. It's not like you weren't there watching her.

Hooray...you have arrived at CSR. And, I have to tell you, if Mark said to me he was hungry and he wanted to stop 15 minutes from Disney, I would have bopped him one and told him he could wait 20 minutes and get a muffin while I checked us in. So you were entitled to "that moment."

 

[Charlefours]

She's adorable!

I remember when my family used to drive to Disney and I thought we had a long drive. I could never do that.

Subbed!

Kim to my TR. Where did you drive from growing up?

 

[Charlefours]

Oh I'm sorry After re-reading that it didn't come out the way I intended. Let me try again!

I am thoroughly enjoying reading about your trip. It is a long drive for you & your ability to get up & moving is commendable We don't have as far to drive as you but only 1 state down it is still a loooong way down to Orlando. So reading about your driving it recalls to my memory how tiring (yet rewarding) that drive can be, that's what I meant & I do apologize my first post came off otherwise

Your dad's comments about how you should almost be to such & such a city had me laughing out loud ANd the goody bags for your daughter was a great way to break up the trip for her. I am looking forward to hearing more

Sorry for needing the clarification, I just could not really grasp what you where getting at in the previous post. It could be just me at the time I was reading it.

Hope you will be willing to stick around for the long haul.

 

[Charlefours]

Yay, you made it!!!!

I think if Joe wanted to stop 15 minutes before we hit Disney I would have pitched him in the back seat and told him to hold on so that I could drive like the wind and get us there first. I probably would have told him that he could go to the CS place at the resort while I checked in. Yup, I would have been thinking of only myself by that time.

Thanks Sophia for making me laugh. I'm glad I am not the only one who admits that they wanted to get to Disney NOW.

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

yay you finally made it. I was seriously cracking up picturing your MIL freaking out about the snakes. I was laughing even harder because I would probably be the same way. I live in the city where we never see snakes. So that would have been a culture shock for me.

Dont feel bad about being a B**** I threw a temper tantrum or two on our trip too. Everyone gets over it.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Sorry for needing the clarification, I just could not really grasp what you where getting at in the previous post. It could be just me at the time I was reading it.

Hope you will be willing to stick around for the long haul.

Thank-you and thanks for letting me clarify I'm glad to have it cleared up, I just learned the love of reading trip reports & I am looking forward to reading more!

My cousin always liked the road trip part of our family trips I like family time too but that long in a car is more family time than necessary in my book I just want to get there!

Last time we drove (1,000 miles for us) we tried getting book "cassettes" from the library thinking a good mystery would keep it interesting but we found it made us drowsy instead

You did good going along with the family wanting to stop for food & I'm sure it was cheaper than Pepper's Market but that would've been a test of patience for me too

 

[lexmas]

All caught up! That sounds like a LONG drive, but it sounds like you handled it well. I would probably have been the one freaking out about snakes, but I know nothing about snakes! I read here on the dis that people have found them in their hotel rooms and I tried to convince DH not to stay on the ground floor (it didn't work. DH is in no way afraid of snakes.)

I completely understand not wanting to stop so close to Disney. Really, it's great that you let them stop and eat. I am not sure I would have been so kind!

I almost cried when I saw pictures of the hotel. SO wonderful to be there! I can't imagine what it felt like driving through the gates!!!

 

[jenny105]

Yay, you're there! CSR looks absolutely beautiful. I love the colors!

I would've reacted the same way you did if we were that close to Disney and someone wanted to stop. No worries!

 

[Daisy_74]

I'm late but I'm in

 

[irish dancer]

YAY, you made it!

I have to agree with many others that I would have had the exact same response to stopping 15min before WDW to eat.

DMIL was funny about the snakes, while snakes freak me out a little I'm very laid back and would have laughed thinking she was kidding.

Can't wait to hear about CSR, we stayed there once around 12yrs ago.

 

[MaryAz]

Whooo hooo, you made it! I had to LOL about the snakes. *** for the need for food 15 min before Disney, I'm with Sophia, I would have tossed him in the back with an uncrustable and said, "take outta tide you over till we get there" You get big kudos from me!! Great pics of the sign and CSR