Road Trip! Family of 7 - It's Only 1600 Miles - June 2016 TR (completed)

[jchurch0409]

So sorry for your loss. Prayers to you and your family!

 

[debjk4]

Really love reading your trip report!

My condolences to you and your family.

 

[smga1]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[cypresstxmouse]

Sorry for you loss!
Prayers are with you and your family.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Belay That

Nay, belay that. Let her run straight and true!

Well, through very little sleep and lots of planning and discussions with my two older siblings, the decision is made to continue sailing south. I had all intentions of turning right back around, but around 9:30 am, our adventure will continue. Oldest told me numerous times "Do not come home, there is nothing you can do. Dad would have wanted you to keep going...." Not sure how I feel about this yet, but the distraction will be good, and they are right. This is turning out to be the craziest road trip ever.


Getting close!

 

[pkondz]

Oldest told me numerous times "Do not come home, there is nothing you can do. Dad would have wanted you to keep going...."

Oldest is right, I would suspect.

This is turning out to be the craziest road trip ever.

On top of your tragic news? Oy!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I'm so glad you are going through with your plans!!

 

[agavegirl1]

Following along. I am sorry for your family's loss. Always listen to the oldest sibling. I have made this trip from a few hundred miles north of the 45th parallel in a Dodge Safari van. Only had two kiddos for Florida but have gone to Albuquerque with all four in said van. Packing and set up are very important to keep the "crabbies away" (DD's saying at the time).

Sail on Captain...our thoughts are with you.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Land Ho!

What be on the horizon? That's right! We are sailing in to port. Prepare to drop sails and set anchor. We have made it! All hands ashore. Sign the log and unload the cargo.

We arrive and Check-In. They have (2) joining rooms in the 90's...90's! Yeah, it's in the 90's. It's fricken HOT outside. I'm from Minnesota, can we get 50's or 60's? A phone call and they have a joining room for us in the 50's - life is good. 3rd floor, just around from the elevator. Close walk from the parking lot. Close walk to the pool. Close walk to the buses. They were not done cleaning one of the rooms yet, but we could get in 1 room right away.

​

 

[Donald Duck888]

Want to start out bay saying I am so sorry to hear about your Dad.

Also want to say I have enjoyed reading your trip report. I too have made a similar length road trip to Disney many a time (from NH though) although lately most trips have been by air. Road trips are always interesting though, i must say.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Want to start out bay saying I am so sorry to hear about your Dad.

Thanks.

Also want to say I have enjoyed reading your trip report. I too have made a similar length road trip to Disney many a time (from NH though) although lately most trips have been by air. Road trips are always interesting though, i must say.

We have not flown as a family since our 2014 WDW trip...only 2 or 3 of us flying. Last year, 1 year ago, our road trip was 13 days, 9 states, over 5000 miles, more than 80 hours in the suburban, 300 gallons of gas, and a new transmission!

 

[pkondz]

What be on the horizon? That's right! We are sailing in to port.

You made it!

They have (2) joining rooms in the 90's...90's!

My God. Isn't that over in Georgia?

A phone call and they have a joining room for us in the 50's - life is good.

Niiiice.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

My God. Isn't that over in Georgia?

I think further than that.

 

[ratt1345]

I just skimmed through the four pages so far. Having tire issues is never a good thing!!! My wife is from Duluth MN and my in-laws just moved here to northern FL from Andover MN.

 

[rlahansler]

Favorite Rocket Ship
My family is renting your kind of car for our trip at the end of the month. We are a family of four with 2 more ( my kids friends). 2 16 yr olds boys and 2 13yr olds girls.
Looks like you had a lot of room in the car which we are looking for. We live in south suburbs of Chicago so not as long of a trip as yours. We have always flown to Disney in the past, this is our 3rd trip. We are driving straight (15 hours) to Valdosta GA , luckily we have 2 drivers. I am planning on leaving at 12m so hopefully the roads will be less crowded...

Every road trip needs a rocket ship, right?

Of course it does! This is our Rocket Ship! Fits the 7 of us very nicely. Not only does it hold a group of circus clowns, but also a ton of gear and a ton of fuel. We surprisingly get very good gas mileage when fully loaded. The 7 of us and all our stuff easily adds 1200 pounds of weight. Most trips I'm over 20 mpg but less than 22 mpg. Once you get above 65-70 mph, the mpg exponentially drops.

Nicest Road-Trip Features:

• Satellite Radio
• Dual-Screen DVD

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

My family is renting...

Chicago to Valdosta should be an easy 15 hour drive (depending on how many stops). We had a Honday Odyssey before - minivans have a lot of room too. Our minivan made many road trips as well.

We spent the night in Valdosta. <4 hours from there to the World. I think it took us 3.5 hours because of the Tolls (we do not have the SunPass - FL's EZPass). Be sure to bring $5 in Quarters. Most booths have an operator, but exit ramps did not. Also easier to give $1.50 vs. $2 or $5 and wait for change.

Have fun!

 

[rlahansler]

Chicago to Valdosta should be an easy 15 hour drive (depending on how many stops). We had a Honday Odyssey before - minivans have a lot of room too. Our minivan made many road trips as well.

We spent the night in Valdosta. <4 hours from there to the World. I think it took us 3.5 hours because of the Tolls (we do not have the SunPass - FL's EZPass). Be sure to bring $5 in Quarters. Most booths have an operator, but exit ramps did not. Also easier to give $1.50 vs. $2 or $5 and wait for change.

Have fun!

Thanks. Trip tik AAA says its only 3 hours, I guess we shall see. We do not have sun pass either so I will make sure to bring a roll of quarters with us.

 

[bjscheel]

Following! We were there 6/11-17.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

I am so sorry for you and your family's loss. On May 19 my father passed away too. We could not have his services until Monday. My uncle and aunt were leaveing for WDW after the service and over the weekend before the service they made my Mom pack her bags, and since they were taking their motor home this time, they hauled her down there with them! Something like a trip can be so helpful at times in giving your mind and heart something else to focus on for a bit. And, my brother and sister and I told her the same thing, that that would be what our Dad would have wanted for her to do. Hugs, and other than the bad news, good trip report!

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

Chapter 3: Epcot

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Dinner Time
We left the day up in the air of what to do today, so we decided to go to Epcot. We take the bus, get through security and the gate...not very busy.

Hey, it's Daisy Duck!

Our first WDW 2016 Character Family photo!

On to Finding Nemo:

The kids are getting hungry, so I dig out my phone, launch MDE and see what's open....well, one of the Kids favorite, San Angel Inn is available when it opens...book for the 7 of us and make our way over. We check in and hop on the ride.

Dinner time!

Mamaduck and I share a meal, we fill up on chips and salsa as usual. Food is always good. Older kids usually ask for stuff not on the menu, they always ask for something they like and "Yeah, we can make that."