SuperDuperBounce
The guy with the big camera bag
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2004
- Messages
- 252
In the days of DVD and Game Boy, you can still pull one over on the kids.
Were a week back from three-nights at DVC Hilton Head followed by a surprise four-night visit to WL. It started off with taking advantage of the $99 two-bedroom suite offer from Disney VISA. That trip grew to taking DWs folks along since the suite slept eight. After looking at the map for a few weeks, we decided the extra 300 miles from HH to WDW wasnt that much and that this would be a golden opportunity to get the kids and Grandparents to WDW together. The plot was laid to turn south vice north leaving Hilton Head and to not tell the kids DS 4, DD 6, and DD 10. BTW, arrival day at WL was DD 6s birthday (now DD 7).
We left HH around 0800 hours and made the turn south feeding new DVDs into the DVD player. Hitting the GA/FL state line, we flipped down the sun visors to help block the view of overhead road signs and perhaps some billboards. We found a generic fast-food restaurant south of Jacksonville and successfully made it in and out despite the Florida Discount coupon books within. On I-4, we stopped for gas just north of Goose Lake again without the kids detecting the fact we were deep into FL.
The DVDs ran out (or the older kids lost interest) the deeper into Orlando we got. Somehow, we made it onto Osceola Parkway again without detection having decided not to try and sneak into WL the back way. Heading onto World Drive, DS 4 was the first to start catching on asking what this sign and that sign says (he can read several words and Disney is sure one of them). He said something about needing to turn off the DVD player because were going somewhere. We can never get him to turn it off when we pull into our driveway.
DD 10 had lost interest in the movie and was reading some fact book. DW was keeping her and DD 7 distracted with a constant stream of questions from the fact book. She had apparently found a section on the Zodiac and was telling everyone what their signs were. On World Drive, we made it past the WDW gateway signs and even past MGM/Studies and the TOT. Once we got up past the entrance to Epcot parallel to the monorail tracks, I could see DD 7 glancing back and fourth at the tracks with a very puzzled look on her face. Next thing you know, were passing through the gates to the MK and on to WL. DS 4 and DD7 are screaming in joy and DD 10 is still focused on reading someones Zodiac. It didnt take her much longer to catch on.
It helped that when we came through NC on the way to HH, the roadside was littered with all kinds of discount WDW billboards. On the way back, the same Florida Discount coupon books were in the same brand of fast food restaurant. DD 7 later admitted to thinking we were in NC. We travel with the kids quite a bit and know that when the DVD player is on, they dont have any interest in anything outside the van.
Were a week back from three-nights at DVC Hilton Head followed by a surprise four-night visit to WL. It started off with taking advantage of the $99 two-bedroom suite offer from Disney VISA. That trip grew to taking DWs folks along since the suite slept eight. After looking at the map for a few weeks, we decided the extra 300 miles from HH to WDW wasnt that much and that this would be a golden opportunity to get the kids and Grandparents to WDW together. The plot was laid to turn south vice north leaving Hilton Head and to not tell the kids DS 4, DD 6, and DD 10. BTW, arrival day at WL was DD 6s birthday (now DD 7).
We left HH around 0800 hours and made the turn south feeding new DVDs into the DVD player. Hitting the GA/FL state line, we flipped down the sun visors to help block the view of overhead road signs and perhaps some billboards. We found a generic fast-food restaurant south of Jacksonville and successfully made it in and out despite the Florida Discount coupon books within. On I-4, we stopped for gas just north of Goose Lake again without the kids detecting the fact we were deep into FL.
The DVDs ran out (or the older kids lost interest) the deeper into Orlando we got. Somehow, we made it onto Osceola Parkway again without detection having decided not to try and sneak into WL the back way. Heading onto World Drive, DS 4 was the first to start catching on asking what this sign and that sign says (he can read several words and Disney is sure one of them). He said something about needing to turn off the DVD player because were going somewhere. We can never get him to turn it off when we pull into our driveway.
DD 10 had lost interest in the movie and was reading some fact book. DW was keeping her and DD 7 distracted with a constant stream of questions from the fact book. She had apparently found a section on the Zodiac and was telling everyone what their signs were. On World Drive, we made it past the WDW gateway signs and even past MGM/Studies and the TOT. Once we got up past the entrance to Epcot parallel to the monorail tracks, I could see DD 7 glancing back and fourth at the tracks with a very puzzled look on her face. Next thing you know, were passing through the gates to the MK and on to WL. DS 4 and DD7 are screaming in joy and DD 10 is still focused on reading someones Zodiac. It didnt take her much longer to catch on.
It helped that when we came through NC on the way to HH, the roadside was littered with all kinds of discount WDW billboards. On the way back, the same Florida Discount coupon books were in the same brand of fast food restaurant. DD 7 later admitted to thinking we were in NC. We travel with the kids quite a bit and know that when the DVD player is on, they dont have any interest in anything outside the van.
Wish me luck.
