On a horse with no name!

[princesslibby]

And a little more magic dust, and a little more magic dust…. That’s for any of you Dr. Demento’s Twisted Christmas fans.

Now that we just spent $900 on five pieces of paper, we set our sights on the Holiday Inn Nikki Bird. I haven’t heard anymore about this place since May. Does anyone know if it went to a rent-by-the-hour kind of place? It really is in a perfect location. (not for rent-by –the-hour, I mean in relation to Disney) Back on topic, BOT: We left this magical Wally-World about 8:00 PM and our side of 192 was virtually empty. Heck, it was almost safe enough for P9 to drive. I’ll take this opportunity to explain P9’s method of automobile operation. My DH cannot multi-task. If his head turns, his hand turns. This leads to frequent unplanned lane changes, FULC, and danger for mailboxes and innocent by-standers. In other words, all of the over stimulated, sunburned, tired tourists were heading towards the flashy neon Vegas strip-like Celebration area. As we know, I also like neon flashy things, but I’m not into sharing air space with over stimulated sunburned tired tourists. So why they heck are we going to Disney? Because it’s the Happiest Place on Earth!

One light past World Drive, we turn left into home sweet Nikki Bird. Our humble abode for the next 5 nights. There is still a think cloud of pixie dust following us because we immediately find a parking spot and when we hop on in the lobby, we find….anyone, anyone?....you guessed it…no line! I send D9 and kidlets off to explore while I check in. I asked the over-worked-as-evident-by-her-dark-circles-and-glowing-brow front desk clerk (in my most politest mannerful way) if there were any upgrades for Priority Club members. As in, can I get one of them there youngin’-sweets? Cletus, Billy Bob, and Silly Sue sure would luv them bunkered beds seeing’s how dis is thur first trip to Floreeda. Front desk clerk: no problem, let me check to see if any are available. We do, but it’s on the backside of the building. Me: what’s wrong with the backside of the building? FDC: it faces the parking lot. Me: you mean we would be that much closer to our room when we drag our over stimulated sunburned tired souls back from Disney? FDC: yes ma’am. Me: Sign my up, quick! I had just noticed the newly formed line going out the door of…. Everyone, say it with me, “over stimulated sunburned tired tourists” who do not have OCDPD and are looking for a room. FDC: here’s your key ma’am enjoy your stay. Me: Is my rate the same? FDC: yes ma’am. Me: Woo Hoo, quick, out the door, before she changes her mind! We pile back into the minivan, map in hand, on a quest for the backside of the building. Exactly how many speed bumps does a parking lot need? Isn’t there some sort of law for distancing these things? It was like the 15th hole of the local Putt-Putt…you hope you don’t get stuck between the humps. BTW, nobody but me knows about the kid-suite! More Pixies!

Up next: Our Adventures in Parking!
You’ve got to be kidding! Are you seriously going to write an entire trippie chapter about parking? You will just have to see…..

Did I just dedicate one entire chapter to a two-mile stretch of 192? Oh no she didn’t!

There were SO many things,in this last TR chapter, that made me !
But I was just too lazy to quote parts. There ya go.

 

[MickeyNicki]

This is the funniest report ever, I have tears streaming down my face and my sides hurt from laughing so hard!!!!

 

[sorul82?]

This is the funniest report ever, I have tears streaming down my face and my sides hurt from laughing so hard!!!!

OMG MickeyNicki! Thank you!!

 

[sorul82?]

There were SO many things,in this last TR chapter, that made me !
But I was just too lazy to quote parts. There ya go.

You are too funny!

 

[sorul82?]

There wasn’t any…remember I am the one who is driving. The funny thing is that I didn’t think I had enough of the good stuff for a one page trippie. Now it is taking longer to read about the parking lot, than it took to drive through it. I wonder if I am the first person to write a trippie on the subdivided asphalt expanse of the HINB?

We turn the corner to the backside of the HINB. Creeping slowly watching all directions with our eagle eyes. I’m watching for unpainted speed bumps, DS9 is counting room numbers, Felony is searching this new landscape for anything pink, and Mr. Clean is hollerin’ out B-I-N-G-O. Oh, I forgot to tell you that I forced everyone to play license plate bingo all through Georgia. Finally, I see a space, speed up squeal tires and whip in it like it’s the only available space in the mall parking lot on the day after Thanksgiving! I have been about the bust for the past two minutes because I have a surprise. Now, you know me: and my family: I hop out grab some bags, sprint off to the room, and look back to see that my family is still sitting in the car. What in the pure-T heck is going on over there? For the love of Pete sake! Get your fanny buns out of the car! Get a move on people, the night is young, we have to unload the car, get something to eat, go to DTD, and, and, and ….as if my schedule can be salvaged! Tell me, how one child can lose her shoes in the time it takes us to drive from the lobby to the back of the hotel? Anyhow, I impatiently wait for everyone to get to the door before I stick in the card. In goes the card, the light blinks, and I threw open the door, and what to my wondering eyes should appear? Only the most coolest bestest hot diggity awesome motel room ever….at least that is what all four kidlets were bellowing. Cha-ching…..mama has hit the jackpot of kid love! I’m not sure how, but some pixie dust had penetrated the bubble surrounding the world, floated across 192, and landed right here at the hotel formerly known as the HINB. Just minutes earlier, the troops were just about to keel over, but one good whiff, and they are raring to go! We dropped the bags, used up our WRTA, and headed to get some grub! Seeing’s how I researched all things Nikki Bird, I knew that kids ate free, and they had Pizza Hut pizza. I had a club sandwich, kids: pizza x 3, and P9 had something with onion rings….awesome onion rings! Again, more lovin for the mama! I gave everyone Disney maps and pens and told them to circle what looked fun. Side thought: this reminded me of childhood when my dad would hand me the Sears catalog and a pen and he told me to circle what I wanted for Christmas. BOT…We all skipped back to our room, full of food and happies, and we laughed and chatted about SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY.

Coming soon: Ghost town parking lot.

 

[proudmomof4]

Have you seen that commercial for the new Scrubbing Bubbbles self cleaning shower thingy?

That shower thing REALLY does work.

 

[proudmomof4]

This is beginning to sound like an ACC reunion, my DS20 was in the marching band at FSU, DH is a HUGE Miami 'Canes fan and now DS18 is leaving for Ga Tech in 2 weeks and then there are all of you UNC and NC State alum and fans out there.

 

[sorul82?]

This is beginning to sound like an ACC reunion, my DS20 was in the marching band at FSU, DH is a HUGE Miami 'Canes fan and now DS18 is leaving for Ga Tech in 2 weeks and then there are all of you UNC and NC State alum and fans out there.

We do love a party!

 

[proudmomof4]

However, I had to lower my OCDPD brain capacity allotment to focus more processing power on driving. For some reason, we missed the normal people exit for I4, but instead we found ourselves on the all idiots expressway. The signs said I4, but it was an evil trick. It was actually the gateway to the idiot superhighway, and every crazed lunatic, psycho driver’s ed flunky in America had an invitation. This alterhighway had no rules, no speed limit, no lane lines, and obviously what we call a shoulder was really a passing lane. The road ragers were amuck and were really starting to tick me off. As some of us Southerners say, they were making me so ill (pronounced more like eel with two syllables and a southern draw: eeul). No, not sick, we use “ill” to mean angry. Say it with me: “they were making me so ill!” Don't these people know that I have precious (and prissy and princess) cargo in here? I am just trying to get my family safely to their first ever visit to Disney. Are all of these people heading to the happiest place on earth?

Welcome to driving in FL, don't you feel bad for those of us who have to drive on I4 all the time? and believe me, I4 is like that all the time. You should try driving it all the way to Tampa some time, you get double of all the stuff you described above.

 

[sorul82?]

Welcome to driving in FL, don't you feel bad for those of us who have to drive on I4 all the time? and believe me, I4 is like that all the time. You should try driving it all the way to Tampa some time, you get double of all the stuff you described above.

Doesn't it make you so ill?

 

[proudmomof4]

Doesn't it make you so ill?

Yes, it does make me ill. I will avoid I4 whenever possible, except for going to WDW. We have an interchange here that is so bad they call it "malfunction junction", it is where I4 and I275 meet........avoid this at all costs.

 

[princesslibby]

This was funny:

There wasn’t any…remember I am the one who is driving. The funny thing is that I didn’t think I had enough of the good stuff for a one page trippie. Now it is taking longer to read about the parking lot, than it took to drive through it. I wonder if I am the first person to write a trippie on the subdivided asphalt expanse of the HINB?

And this:

Mr. Clean is hollerin’ out B-I-N-G-O.

This

Finally, I see a space, speed up squeal tires and whip in it like it’s the only available space in the mall parking lot on the day after Thanksgiving!

This:

Now, you know me: and my family: I hop out grab some bags, sprint off to the room, and look back to see that my family is still sitting in the car.

Fanny buns

What in the pure-T heck is going on over there? For the love of Pete sake! Get your fanny buns out of the car!

And this:

Get a move on people, the night is young, we have to unload the car, get something to eat, go to DTD, and, and, and ….as if my schedule can be salvaged!

Yep this too. I have three children that can do that.

Tell me, how one child can lose her shoes in the time it takes us to drive from the lobby to the back of the hotel? Anyhow, I impatiently wait for everyone to get to the door before I stick in the card.

See. I made up for my lazyness earlier.

 

[sorul82?]

Princess Libby:

I haven't figured out how to multi-quote!

Your laughing at me is making me laugh at you laughing at me.

 

[MomPlanner22]

I love this report (and Twinkie and Utah's too)! I am leaving tomorrow for a week's vacation and DH is banning the laptop!!! That means I have to go a whole week without any Disney info or my trip report fix. I wonder if there is some sort of support group for withdrawal symptoms....need to check the phone book when we get there!

Looking forward to being up to date from all you ladies when I return!!! Thanks for sharing and entertaining the rest of us who are still eagerly awaiting our trips!

 

[spokanemom]

WHOO-HOO!!!

Another good one to read. It is really nice to see *someone* posting their TR more than once every 2 months!

Now, quit the chit-chat and get back to work. We have parking lots to read about.

 

[UtahMama]

6 pages and you're NOT EVEN IN A PARK YET... Hmmmm?

Love it Love it! You have a HUGE fan club now! Look at you go, girl!!

 

[TwinkieMama]

6 pages and you're NOT EVEN IN A PARK YET... Hmmmm?

Umm, Pot -this is the Kettle convention, we have an urgent messsage for you at the front desk.

 

[sorul82?]

Umm, Pot -this is the Kettle convention, we have an urgent messsage for you at the front desk.

I just peed in my pants!

 

[MyTalula]

I have just read your entire TR so far this morning, and OMG I'm I couldn't begin to quote all the things that had me rolling. But I have to say that after driving from Maine to FL 8 or 9 times in the last several years, I'm so with ya on the Pedro sings and the juice at the Florida welcome center. We always get that "we're so close but so far away" feeling at both SOB and FWC.

My DH actaully says each time we get to SOB... one of these years we're going to stop there! I'm like drive on!!

Excellent TR I'll be waiting on your next installment!!

 

[sorul82?]

We last see the Loud Family skipping back to their quaint cottage nestled amongst the lush landscape of the poolside rooms and the chain link fence, weeds, and asphalt of the parking lot view rooms. Papa bear and I sorted out the sleeping schedule…no, we didn’t take turns sleeping. The spacious kid suite had three beds, each with its own unique qualities. The top bunk: cool, you get to go up the ladder, bottom bunk: like a mini hide away cave, other bed: I think had a speaker for the tv. Yes, the kid suite had a tv, vcr, and Nintendo. Yes sir re, it was 30 square feet of pure bliss. The kidlets were placed on a firm regimen of bed hopping. Sorry, I don’t remember who slept where the first night, or if the rotation was clockwise or counter clockwise. I just know I was surrounded by happiness. I was breathing a sigh of relief because I was unsure what we would find here at the HINB. I had read mixed reviews about this 2.5 star luxury resort, so P9 agreed that if it was a dump, we would find another hotel. Yet another reason to hit the road at 2:00 AM: to ensure acceptable sleeping quarters. Good thing for P9 that the HINB was fine, or I would have had to get medieval on his buttocks. Let me point out that I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. I, in my spoiled pouting display of perfect southern elegance, may not realize why everything isn’t going my way, but things always seem to work out for the best. So even though my schedule didn’t work out at all the way I dreamed, I was thankful to be at Disney’s doorstep with the love of my life and my family. Good thing for these people that the Tarheels were out of the NCAA tourney, or I would have a big choice to make! Anyhow, if I’m running late…ha, I said “if”…when I get stuck behind a Sunday driver, or I’m waiting for granny to balance her checkbook at the checkout at the grocery store, I always seem to find there was a reason. Perhaps, if I had not been stalled a couple of minutes, it would be us in that accident. If we checked in the HINB at 3:00 we may not be in this Kid Suite. So, here we are, kidlets in bed, I frantically search the tv for anything that remotely resembles the Disney resort info channel, and P9 begins overloading the backpack for my family’s first ever trip to the MK. Since we are determined to follow the best budget tips, we pack nabs, a few other snacks, ponchos, camera, autograph stuff, etc. In the AM, we will pack cold drinks. Oh yeah, our room had a medium size fridge, microwave, and a safe. Not too shabby for $52 per night. I would also like to point out that the room was clean, carpet looked new, sheets were snow white, and the bathroom was clean. We had plenty of drawer space for our clothes….this the first time I have ever used the drawers in a hotel room….well, I didn’t but everyone else did. It was easier to put clothes in drawers and consolidate the suitcases. Can someone tell me why those who drive even bother with suitcases? Why didn’t I just leave all the clothes in a laundry basket? We did take our collapsible basket and we just threw all of the dirties in it each day. Not that you all needed that info!

Up next…watch us sleep. Just kidding!

P9 set the alarm for 6:00AM. I’ll take this time to point out that I am NOT a morning person. (I like how I am always taking the time to point out things!) However, when it comes to Disney, I was up and raring to go. We have exactly three hours to get to the MK (we still don’t know just how close we are). Up, up, up…move it people! We all shower…no, not together! Even though P9 tried to give me some junk about conserving water. Cool it mister. Ok, I think by the time we all got showered, loaded the fanny packs (each kid packed a drink, two snacks, one Sharpie, and 5 disney dollars), put the cold water and gator aid in the backpack, downed some muffins, it was 7:45. LET’S GO PEOPLE! We have already wasted so much of our day! I yell at everyone to get in the van….put the van in reverse and floor it! Who needs Lights Motor Action when we have me? It takes longer to get out of the HINB parking lot that it does to drive to the MK. Wow, Bob was right, it is 5.33 minutes from HINB to MK! Who knew? We pay our $7, receive a coupon for a free pin, and proudly flash our AAA exclusive special parking lot privilege pass, and are directed on our way. I feel so dirty following the blue line for the handicapped parking, but we were told to go that way. Finally, we find the huge expanse of asphalt labeled AAA parking….but it was completely empty. Are we in the right place? Is Disney closed? Where is everyone? OH NO! It’s one hour before rope drop, shouldn’t this place be a rockin? Oh well, get a move on people, we need to hurry up so we can stand around and wait for an hour! At this point, we didn’t realize there was a tram stop about 5 rows back, so we lock up the van, and high tail it to the TTC.

Coming up: Us versus Disney….the Triple S Threat!