Mel's Pre-trip Report: Interactive Version

[Muffinygood]

Hey Guys! I thought that I'd try something new with this Pre-trip report. What do you think? Feeling brave? This is going to be an experiment in trip planning madness.

First (before the madness) we'll give you the facts. Just the facts! This trip will be in June. Specific dates withheld to protect the innocent. We will be visiting the Boardwalk Villas. (Well, that's what the DVC Member Services tells me....We're still on hold for the Beach Club) We will be staying as DVC guests for the FIRST TIME!!! Whoo Hoo! This trip will be from Sunday to Sunday. The accomodations are the one bedroom villa.

Key Players:
ME....(MEL) I am 36 years old. I have two great kids, a great DH and live in Michigan. Originally, I hail from Massachusetts. But, that was a LONG time ago. Frankly, I don't think that you'd ever know I'd even LIVED there if you met me. Contrary to popular belief, we don't ALL sound like the Kennedy's.
Anyhow, I digress. I love DISNEY! The first time I went was on my honeymoon in October of 1992. We've gone (at least!) once a year for the last 6 years. My kids actually try to convince us to go OTHER places on our trips, but I veto them every time. Being married to the "travel king" has it's benefits. He pretty much lets me pick wherever I want to go. And then he does the hard work (earning the money to pay, driving if required and then putting up with me as I freak out when things go awry...)

DH: This guy is the bomb. Really. Some people don't think their husbands are so great. I do. He's 40, handsome and smart. And that's all he'll let me share about him here. Ok. You'll get the picture later anyway....

DS15-Goofy for arguments sake: He's a typical 15 yr. old boy. Lazy. Loves video games. Lives to disagree. I like his friends, he gets good grades and he is really really funny. You'll get the picture on him too.

DS10-N to those of you who read my last TR-Gus(the mouse from Cinderella) for sake of arguments: He's smart! Really Really REALLY smart. Sometimes too smart. He is a thrill seeker. The faster, scarier, more disturbing a ride is the more he likes it. He also gets good grades but he doesn't disagree with me. He's the good one. With the exception of his constant thrill-seeking, he is the easy one.


Our first day is scheduled like this:
1. Drive from Charlotte, NC (we're spending a couple of days here before WDW)
2. Drive out for groceries later after we are checked in to our room.


So here's where the NEW and INTERESTING way of doing my Pre-trippie comes in. It's INTERACTIVE. Yup. You heard me. That means you get to input your opinions....like I could stop you......and we'll have some fun. So, for the first interaction...please post with your stories or comments about Charlotte. Or adventures getting groceries in the world. Or driving to FL. The crazier the better! Step right up. Don't be shy.

What?!


You don't wanna?!


Well, too bad. We're waiting....


This is going to be GREAT!!!!


Hellooo? IS this thing on?????

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hey Mel!

Neat idea about making this report "interactive".

I don't have any stories about Charlotte but my family did drive from Virginia Beach to WDW back in 1997 with stops along the way including Charleston, Savannah, St Augustine, Cape Canavarel, Miami, Florida Keys, Naples and WDW of course. All that in two weeks , only 5 days were spent at WDW. It was a fun trip, very tiring though. I bought a lot of Beanie Babies on that trip, they were super popular back then so I was always on the lookout for special ones as I ran a "business" auctioning them off. I made some pretty good money for a 14 year old doing that.

As for buying groceries, pretty uneventful for us, we simply used the Goodings store at Crossroads as we did not want to wander too far from Disney.

 

[JKMJ441724]

We will be visiting the Boardwalk Villas. (Well, that's what the DVC Member Services tells me....We're still on hold for the Beach Club) We will be staying as DVC guests for the FIRST TIME!!!

Welcome Home!! We are making our first visit as OWNERS in October. We have several people going with us as our guests, so we are all getting studios. Our first choice was Boardwalk, but it was FULL for our travel dates. I think you would love it!!! Of course, I am still sending a little for your first choice.

I love DISNEY! We've gone (at least!) once a year for the last 6 years.

So jealous.

Some people don't think their husbands are so great. I do. He's 40, handsome and smart. And that's all he'll let me share about him here.

Mine, too. Plus, he cleans the toilets.

He's the good one. With the exception of his constant thrill-seeking, he is the easy one.

Glad to see that I'm not the only parent with POLAR-OPPOSITE children.

What?!


You don't wanna?!


Well, too bad. We're waiting....


This is going to be GREAT!!!!


Hellooo? IS this thing on?????

Oh, I wanna. I just don't have anything post worthy to say.
Are we there, yet?

 

[KatGarcia]

Okies I'm in!!!

 

[jcc0621]

I'm in Mel, I have no stories to share at this point as we have never been to Charlotte and we never have stopped for groceries.

 

[Muffinygood]

I'm in Mel, I have no stories to share at this point as we have never been to Charlotte and we never have stopped for groceries.

You've never bought groceries....OH Janet! Your poor family! Ha! I'm so glad you're here! Next day's itinerary should help you out as it includes Artist's Point! I hope that this format helps to give me ideas!

Okies I'm in!!!

HI KAT! Glad you're here! So, have you ever driven to FL? If you haven't, then what is the first thing you'd buy at the grocery store when you got there? I'm thinking wine....

Welcome Home!! We are making our first visit as OWNERS in October. We have several people going with us as our guests, so we are all getting studios. Our first choice was Boardwalk, but it was FULL for our travel dates. I think you would love it!!! Of course, I am still sending a little for your first choice.

Welcome!! And I'm so happy you like BWV! The magic wishes could help though!


So jealous.

Don't be!

Mine, too. Plus, he cleans the toilets.
Mine does the shower, and that's my least favorite chore so he rules!



Glad to see that I'm not the only parent with POLAR-OPPOSITE children.
Ok, that makes me laugh! My kids could not be more different!


Oh, I wanna. I just don't have anything post worthy to say.
Are we there, yet?
You do too! You can tell me if you pulled out the sleeper sofa in the studios...was it comfortable? I'm a bit worried about this!

Hey Mel!
HI Lessa!!!!

Neat idea about making this report "interactive".
Thanks!!!

I don't have any stories about Charlotte but my family did drive from Virginia Beach to WDW back in 1997 with stops along the way including Charleston, Savannah, St Augustine, Cape Canavarel, Miami, Florida Keys, Naples and WDW of course. All that in two weeks , only 5 days were spent at WDW. It was a fun trip, very tiring though. I bought a lot of Beanie Babies on that trip, they were super popular back then so I was always on the lookout for special ones as I ran a "business" auctioning them off. I made some pretty good money for a 14 year old doing that.
Wow! That's a drive! Did you like Savannah? It looks gorgeous!! And, I too sold beanie babies on Ebay. I made alot of money. BUT, I wasn't 14!

As for buying groceries, pretty uneventful for us, we simply used the Goodings store at Crossroads as we did not want to wander too far from Disney.
I like the Publix up on 192. I don't mind driving to the store. I have to have a larger store because N and I have milk allergies...

 

[Muffinygood]

Oh, and MADJACKSMOM, what should we call you? You're new to me....I don't think I've seen you around!
Glad you're here!

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm on board!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wow! That's a drive! Did you like Savannah? It looks gorgeous!! And, I too sold beanie babies on Ebay. I made alot of money. BUT, I wasn't 14!

Savannah was beautiful! I can't wait to visit again sometime, I will make sure to go in the spring though so I can see all the flowers in bloom.

I also sold anime stuff, I used Yahoo auctions though as it was free. It was ridiculous how much money some people woud pay for stuff that I got for $5 at the local comic book store. I still have some Beanie Babies that I just couldn't sell. An English friend of my parents sent me a Brittania Bearm remember how those were going for $400 or more! I wish I had sold it now but it didn't feel right as it was a gift. Of course now they are worth nothing.

I like the Publix up on 192. I don't mind driving to the store. I have to have a larger store because N and I have milk allergies..

I would have gone there as I hear they are much cheaper but we did not want to get lost. Maybe in 2010 I'll find my way there as I will be more comfortable with the area by then.

 

[kykatt2]

Depending on how early you are Bugging out of Charlotte...

You could swing by the speedway and see if they will let you take the van out for a spin. HA HA !!!

Grab an early Lunch at "On the border" or go and play at Chuch E Cheese
Be sure NOT TO GET STUCK IN THE TUBES... It takes them nearly an hour to get them things apart.. which can be uncomfortable if you happen to be upside down, on your back... ( Not that I know this personally)

Need some new duds... Concord Mills baby... Nuff said...

Lets See... Carowinds ????... Nah.. who wants tired rides... we're going to DISNEY BABY.... !!!
Groceries ????... lets wait till we get closer to Florida.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Oh, and MADJACKSMOM, what should we call you? You're new to me....I don't think I've seen you around!
Glad you're here!

Thanks for having me. I should have brought a hostess gift of some sort.

MadJacksMom is OK. That's for both of my kids, not just one who is always mad. My name is Kim. Nevery Kimmy, if you expect me to respond.

I signed up for this website years ago, when my DisSis twisted my arm. I did not take the time to come up with a cutsie screen name. Now I regret it.

I have never had to pull out the sleeper sofa yet. Our first stay at DVC was Old Key West with two beds. Then we stayed at SSRS, just the husband and me. He was good to me the whole trip, therefore, never forced to sleep on the sofa. This year, it's back to okw. Not by choice, but by default.

 

[ncsjodi]

Hi MEL!

I'm in for this one too. Never been to Charlotte, although my dearest friend in college went to grad school in Greensboro while I was in grad school in Washington, DC, so I did make the drive down I-95 from DC to Greensboro once. Didn't make it any further south though.

I would also LOVE to go to Savannah in the spring. May have to look into that sometime for spring break...

We'll be staying at OKW in October. We've stayed at VWL in a one bedroom in Jan 2007 and our girls didn't have a problem sleeping on the sofabed. We're doing a one bedroom in October too and they'll have the sofabed again. We'll see how they do then.

This past December DH and I took an adults-only trip and split our stay between BCV and AKV. We stayed in a studio each place but I'm happy to say that no one had to sleep on the sofabed. We were celebrating our 10th anniversary.

As for groceries, I think we stopped at a SuperTarget in December on the way over from the airport. I don't remember the prices being much higher than here in Indy. We've also gone to the Publix on 192. It was much cheaper than the Goodings right near DTD.

Can't wait to read more (and respond more too!)!

Jodi

 

[carrieannie]

Hi Mel!!! Havent read anything yet,,but am going back to do that now!!

 

[carrieannie]

Hi MEL!

As for groceries, I think we stopped at a SuperTarget in December on the way over from the airport.

You went into the Super target?!! I saw that from the ME bus!! I got so excited,, I didnt know there was a Super Target till then!! (I dont leave RI much)

 

[carrieannie]

Our first day is scheduled like this:
1. Drive from Charlotte, NC (we're spending a couple of days here before WDW)
2. Drive out for groceries later after we are checked in to our room.

Are you driving down from MI? or flying and renting a car?

So here's where the NEW and INTERESTING way of doing my Pre-trippie comes in. It's INTERACTIVE. Yup. You heard me. That means you get to input your opinions....like I could stop you......and we'll have some fun. So, for the first interaction...please post with your stories or comments about Charlotte. Or adventures getting groceries in the world. Or driving to FL. The crazier the better! Step right up. Don't be shy.

I have never been to Charlotte NC,,
BUT! I have driven to FL, not WDW, Does it count?
I was 20, and engaged, he had just finished paramedic school in VT. His parents had retired in West Palm Beach,and he know he could get a paramedic job down there,, So we packed up my brand new car that my Mom had bought for me 6 Mos earlier and drove down. I`ll never forget the look on Moms face as we left the house.. It was a fun drive though! Think 20 YO in love moving to FL!! we stopped once in SC to sleep. I still smell Georgia paper mills, georgia was also my first palm tree sighting ever!!
We lived in a old people trailer park in his grandmothers trailer.. He ended up cracking up the new car and he made me use the $900 check my mother had given me for emergencies only! to buy an crappy used car..
I left 6 months later and met my husband 2 weeks after I got back home. its been 20 years (2 weeks ago) that I last saw him, I left for the auto train in the morning and he was still sleeping..
There is my driving to florida story,,boring,,but you asked!

 

[ncsjodi]

You went into the Super target?!! I saw that from the ME bus!! I got so excited,, I didnt know there was a Super Target till then!! (I dont leave RI much)

Wait a minute... don't you read my trippie? That was our first meal in Florida-- the pizza meal from the Super Target! We stopped there to pick up some groceries and saw the guy that looked like the Crabman from My Name is Earl!

We've actually got one about two miles from our house here. It's great, except some of their grocery prices are higher than other stores. They don't carry everything, but it's pretty good. Much cleaner than the Super Walmarts we have. The only other problem is that they have a smaller clothing section of the store, so I end up finding more clothes for the girls at non-Super Targets!

 

[carrieannie]

Yes I read your trippy! I started late though...

 

[ncsjodi]

Yes I read your trippy! I started late though...

That's okay. I forgive you!

I need to work on my next chapter tomorrow. Buzz is moving right along. He'll be home next week because of Linnie's surgery, so he might churn more out. I'd better get moving to get us those margaritas!

 

[carrieannie]

That's okay. I forgive you!

I need to work on my next chapter tomorrow. Buzz is moving right along. He'll be home next week because of Linnie's surgery, so he might churn more out. I'd better get moving to get us those margaritas!

Woo hoo!! Did you read my post on the ip dip thread?

 

[jcc0621]

You went into the Super target?!! I saw that from the ME bus!! I got so excited,, I didnt know there was a Super Target till then!! (I dont leave RI much)

Sorry Ed, byut this made me