GrammieMame
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- Joined
- Jan 6, 2000
- Messages
- 640
We Are: Myself, Mother of Lynn and proud Grammie of Wade (just turned 8) and Tyler (just turned 5).
Disney World March, 2002
Friday March 22: Left Columbia about 1:45 and got to St. Marys at 5:45 (Country Inn). It was right off Exit 3, just a few miles north of the Florida border. A good area to stay the night lots of restaurants within walking distance. An easy four hour drive, which would probably be 3 ½ or less if it wasnt for construction barrels for miles after leaving Savannah. Good decision to stop overnight I really wouldnt have wanted to go another 5 hours to Tampa tonight.
Saturday, 23: I killed as much time as possible in the morning, since the kids werent arriving in Tampa until 7:00 that evening. Took my time, read a magazine and had in-room coffee, then went down for the continental breakfast. I left about 10:30, getting antsy and ready to hit the road. Lots of construction between St. Marys and Jacksonville. The traffic was pretty much crawling and I was glad to cut off on #10 and cut across on #301. 301 proved to be a rather pokey road with several small towns where traffic was backed up. It didnt bother me much, though, since I wasnt in a hurry. Hooked up with I-75 at Gainesville and the rest was a piece of cake, although I saw a lot more of Gainesville than I really cared to. The road went all the way through the city to hit the interstate on the other side and I kept on thinking I must have missed it. I-75 gave me a new insight into why people might want to live in Florida. The east coast seems to me to be very unattractive, I-95 is boring, and the beaches I have been to have been dirty and lined wall-to-wall with high rises. But this drive down the western part was lovely. Lots of green fields with beautiful trees and scatterings of horses and cattle. Some parts of it reminded me of the English countryside (without the hedgerows) and I was amazed to find myself going up and down several small hills.
Got into Tampa about 3:30 and easily found the Amerisuites near the airport. I spent a couple of hours relaxing and took the shuttle to the airport to pick up the kids. I was hoping to be able to get a gate pass, but they were pretty strict and wouldnt let me have one. So I waited at the point where all passengers have to pass to get to baggage claim and they soon came in. By the time we got back to the hotel it was 8:00 or so. Went and got a quick supper at Houlihans right across the street and went to bed early.
Sunday 24: DWD, Here We Come: We had planned to spend the morning shopping in Tampa (Lynn has mall yearnings) but since it was Sunday, they didnt open until noon. We didnt want to waste our time waiting for malls to open, so we decided to go to Orlando right away, check in and get rid of our baggage, and then go malling until check in time at 4:00. The drive took 1 1/2 hours. Must have been our lucky day, since our room was ready when we checked in at 1:00. We bagged the shopping trip once again, since the kids were really ready for the pool. Lynn took them to the pool while I went to Publix and completed my grocery shopping. Our Netgrocer order was ready and waiting upon arrival and was immediately delivered to our room. Only way to go. Finding Publix was easy (Im finally getting to know my way around the immediate vicinity of WDW) but it was arranged somewhat differently than the one at home, plus being really crowded. So it took me 1 ½ hours to hunt down everything I was looking for and get out of the store. Then I got turned around coming out of the parking lot and soon realized that nothing looked familiar and I was on the wrong road. I had to back track and finally got back to the WLV. Really felt like home sweet home by that time.
Our room (3517) couldnt have been more perfect. Right next to the elevator, with a pool view (as requested) and a nice glimpse of the bay where we could watch the boats come and go from our balcony. Also just out the door to the bus stop. This is the area I will be asking for every time we come. I am so pleased with WLV, and Lynn loved it. The decor, which I thought would be off-putting, seems very appropriate to the environment, and somehow they have managed to make all those prints and plaids work together without giving you a headache. And the bathroom is to die for. I love the little touches like the leaf carvings on the laundry room door, and the moose and pine tree tiles in the bedroom. It just couldnt be better (well, maybe if they put a VCR in the master BR) and I am so pleased with my decision to buy here and to know that I can enjoy it for years to come.
I hadnt really planned to use a ticket today, since we would be getting to the park so late. But we decided to do it anyhow, speculating that this might be the least crowded day, and so we boated over to MK. Once again I appreciated how pleasant it is to go by boat, so relaxing and pretty. We got there about 6:30 when people were lining up for the 8:00 parade. I decided to test my strategy for fireworks viewing by nabbing a table at the Plaza Pavilion and waiting until the 9:00 fireworks. It sounds a lot worse then it is. I went and got a coke and some bread-stick appetizers and Lynn took the boys to try and get on Buzz. They were only in line for 15 minutes when Wade remembered that 3 people cant ride together, and so they went and did teacups instead. Lynn then switched off holding the table, and I took the boys to ride the Transportation Authority ride around tomorrowland. Figured it wouldnt be crowded and would keep them occupied. I thought they would be bored, but they really liked it. Especially the going through Space Mountain part. So they wanted to ride it again, and we did. Wade has had somewhat of a personality change since our last trip, when he was very daring. I thought he would be dying to get to TOT and RR, but he has gotten more careful and cautious, especially about trying new things. In a way, its a good thing, especially for a DVC member. He is quite happy to repeat past rides, and that leaves plenty of new things to do on our next trip. Its so nice to know that the next trip is right around the corner, and that everything doesnt have to be done this time.
We came back to the table and the boys wanted Lynn to go on the TA ride with them, so I sat and watched the parade go by from a distance. We were directly under the Tinkerbell cable and the view of the parade was actually pretty good. When they got back, we got a couple of grilled chicken salads for us and a pizza for the boys. I was trying to keep Tinkerbell flying as a surprise, but Wade spotted the cable and started asking questions and I finally gave up the surprise. Its always such a kick to watch that brave chick come down that wire, and the boys were very impressed, although 4 year old Tyler pointed out that it wasnt really Tinkerbell, it was only a girl dressed up as Tinkerbell. I guess being so close spilled the beans. Lynn had never seen it, but had thought that it was one of the anemetric (or whatever) figures, not a real person. Then we watched the fireworks; I had to hold Tylers ears because he likes the way they look, but not the noise. We went over to Buzz with a 25 minute wait, and I think we got in much much quicker. Wade & I scored about 25, 000, but Lynn racked up 90,000 on her score. She always does really well at this. Then we went on the raceway, which the boys really liked. I rode with Wade and he asked me to do the gas pedal and remarked that he understood now why driving a car was so hard. By that time, we were pretty wiped out. Got home about 10:30 and put the boys to bed, but the Academy Awards were on and Lynn & I started watching. I thought it would be over about 11:00, but it went on and on until 1:00 when we finally went to sleep.
Disney World March, 2002
Friday March 22: Left Columbia about 1:45 and got to St. Marys at 5:45 (Country Inn). It was right off Exit 3, just a few miles north of the Florida border. A good area to stay the night lots of restaurants within walking distance. An easy four hour drive, which would probably be 3 ½ or less if it wasnt for construction barrels for miles after leaving Savannah. Good decision to stop overnight I really wouldnt have wanted to go another 5 hours to Tampa tonight.
Saturday, 23: I killed as much time as possible in the morning, since the kids werent arriving in Tampa until 7:00 that evening. Took my time, read a magazine and had in-room coffee, then went down for the continental breakfast. I left about 10:30, getting antsy and ready to hit the road. Lots of construction between St. Marys and Jacksonville. The traffic was pretty much crawling and I was glad to cut off on #10 and cut across on #301. 301 proved to be a rather pokey road with several small towns where traffic was backed up. It didnt bother me much, though, since I wasnt in a hurry. Hooked up with I-75 at Gainesville and the rest was a piece of cake, although I saw a lot more of Gainesville than I really cared to. The road went all the way through the city to hit the interstate on the other side and I kept on thinking I must have missed it. I-75 gave me a new insight into why people might want to live in Florida. The east coast seems to me to be very unattractive, I-95 is boring, and the beaches I have been to have been dirty and lined wall-to-wall with high rises. But this drive down the western part was lovely. Lots of green fields with beautiful trees and scatterings of horses and cattle. Some parts of it reminded me of the English countryside (without the hedgerows) and I was amazed to find myself going up and down several small hills.
Got into Tampa about 3:30 and easily found the Amerisuites near the airport. I spent a couple of hours relaxing and took the shuttle to the airport to pick up the kids. I was hoping to be able to get a gate pass, but they were pretty strict and wouldnt let me have one. So I waited at the point where all passengers have to pass to get to baggage claim and they soon came in. By the time we got back to the hotel it was 8:00 or so. Went and got a quick supper at Houlihans right across the street and went to bed early.
Sunday 24: DWD, Here We Come: We had planned to spend the morning shopping in Tampa (Lynn has mall yearnings) but since it was Sunday, they didnt open until noon. We didnt want to waste our time waiting for malls to open, so we decided to go to Orlando right away, check in and get rid of our baggage, and then go malling until check in time at 4:00. The drive took 1 1/2 hours. Must have been our lucky day, since our room was ready when we checked in at 1:00. We bagged the shopping trip once again, since the kids were really ready for the pool. Lynn took them to the pool while I went to Publix and completed my grocery shopping. Our Netgrocer order was ready and waiting upon arrival and was immediately delivered to our room. Only way to go. Finding Publix was easy (Im finally getting to know my way around the immediate vicinity of WDW) but it was arranged somewhat differently than the one at home, plus being really crowded. So it took me 1 ½ hours to hunt down everything I was looking for and get out of the store. Then I got turned around coming out of the parking lot and soon realized that nothing looked familiar and I was on the wrong road. I had to back track and finally got back to the WLV. Really felt like home sweet home by that time.
Our room (3517) couldnt have been more perfect. Right next to the elevator, with a pool view (as requested) and a nice glimpse of the bay where we could watch the boats come and go from our balcony. Also just out the door to the bus stop. This is the area I will be asking for every time we come. I am so pleased with WLV, and Lynn loved it. The decor, which I thought would be off-putting, seems very appropriate to the environment, and somehow they have managed to make all those prints and plaids work together without giving you a headache. And the bathroom is to die for. I love the little touches like the leaf carvings on the laundry room door, and the moose and pine tree tiles in the bedroom. It just couldnt be better (well, maybe if they put a VCR in the master BR) and I am so pleased with my decision to buy here and to know that I can enjoy it for years to come.
I hadnt really planned to use a ticket today, since we would be getting to the park so late. But we decided to do it anyhow, speculating that this might be the least crowded day, and so we boated over to MK. Once again I appreciated how pleasant it is to go by boat, so relaxing and pretty. We got there about 6:30 when people were lining up for the 8:00 parade. I decided to test my strategy for fireworks viewing by nabbing a table at the Plaza Pavilion and waiting until the 9:00 fireworks. It sounds a lot worse then it is. I went and got a coke and some bread-stick appetizers and Lynn took the boys to try and get on Buzz. They were only in line for 15 minutes when Wade remembered that 3 people cant ride together, and so they went and did teacups instead. Lynn then switched off holding the table, and I took the boys to ride the Transportation Authority ride around tomorrowland. Figured it wouldnt be crowded and would keep them occupied. I thought they would be bored, but they really liked it. Especially the going through Space Mountain part. So they wanted to ride it again, and we did. Wade has had somewhat of a personality change since our last trip, when he was very daring. I thought he would be dying to get to TOT and RR, but he has gotten more careful and cautious, especially about trying new things. In a way, its a good thing, especially for a DVC member. He is quite happy to repeat past rides, and that leaves plenty of new things to do on our next trip. Its so nice to know that the next trip is right around the corner, and that everything doesnt have to be done this time.
We came back to the table and the boys wanted Lynn to go on the TA ride with them, so I sat and watched the parade go by from a distance. We were directly under the Tinkerbell cable and the view of the parade was actually pretty good. When they got back, we got a couple of grilled chicken salads for us and a pizza for the boys. I was trying to keep Tinkerbell flying as a surprise, but Wade spotted the cable and started asking questions and I finally gave up the surprise. Its always such a kick to watch that brave chick come down that wire, and the boys were very impressed, although 4 year old Tyler pointed out that it wasnt really Tinkerbell, it was only a girl dressed up as Tinkerbell. I guess being so close spilled the beans. Lynn had never seen it, but had thought that it was one of the anemetric (or whatever) figures, not a real person. Then we watched the fireworks; I had to hold Tylers ears because he likes the way they look, but not the noise. We went over to Buzz with a 25 minute wait, and I think we got in much much quicker. Wade & I scored about 25, 000, but Lynn racked up 90,000 on her score. She always does really well at this. Then we went on the raceway, which the boys really liked. I rode with Wade and he asked me to do the gas pedal and remarked that he understood now why driving a car was so hard. By that time, we were pretty wiped out. Got home about 10:30 and put the boys to bed, but the Academy Awards were on and Lynn & I started watching. I thought it would be over about 11:00, but it went on and on until 1:00 when we finally went to sleep.
