mickeymom629
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2002
- Messages
- 2,558
We (DH, DS's 15, 13, and 9, DD 11 and myself) started driving at noonish on Friday, 6/27 from MD and had horrible traffic in VA. Stopped for dinner at McD's in Florence, SC (we had been looking for a Taco Bell, but finally settled for McD). Took dinner to go at 7:30 and went back on 95 which was under construction in that area and only had one lane! Thought a helicopter was landing on our van until we realized we had a flat tire! DH pulled us onto a TINY shoulder and we could feel the one lane of traffic blowing our van as each vehicle passed. DH changed the tire, but informed us that our rear radiator hose had a leak and we wouldn't last long. Pulled onto the next exit (luckily I had brought my terrorism supply of water and he poured that into the radiator hose). Made it to the next exit (THERE was the Taco Bell!) and parked in the Taco Bell parking lot to call for some repair shop that would be open at 8:30 on a Friday night! (Meanwhile, a fight was breaking out between two guys in two separate cars in the parking lot and a Taco Bell employee (female). I told one of my sons to get the video out--I was terrified that we were going to see someone shooting!
Finally found one that would be open until 9:00, but we got lost looking for it and overheated in an industrial area. It was dark now and hot. An alarm sounded from a building nearby and when it finally turned off, we were just sitting in the middle of the road wondering what to do. A cop came to investigate the alarm and noticed us on his way out. He said we were in a bad part of town and that if we could move our car to the parking lot of the building, he would call for backup. A second cop car came and they told us to get just what we needed for the night and so my kids got into one cop car and DH and I got into another.
our first adventure ride! I was in the back where criminals sit. No air conditioning and hard seats. They drove us 80 miles an hour to the nearest Comfort Inn. My DH got out to ask if there were any vacancies and the lady at the desk says, "You didn't just get out of the cop car, did you?" We thanked the cops (Comfort Inn had two rooms). I was actually looking for my camera, but in the commotion I couldn't locate it. I knew my husband would think I was nuts, but this would hopefully be a once in a lifetime experience. Oh well, no camera. I just thanked the cops and we went to bed. It was the kind of thing where I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I laughed. Thank goodness it was seeming to work out okay.
Next morning, DH walked three miles in his flip flops (shoes were in the van) and managed to get the van to one of the repair shops he had seen along his walk. Believe it or not, he found a place that had the tire we needed and could help us do something with the leaky radiator. We were on the road at 9:00 a.m.! We were just two hours behind my schedule because I had had reservations in Ridgeland, S.C.
We were in WDW by 5 p.m. on Sat. and checking into the CBR. Two adjoining rooms. Wonderful! Enjoyed the pool and the food court, shopped and got us a Pal Mickey (loved him!) and saw the Epcot fireworks from the pool area while enjoying a drink and a swim.
Next morning, we went to the food court for breakfast (I couldn't believe it was so crowded at 9:00). Shopped. Packed and checked into OKW as DVC owners on Sunday.
Had two bedroom villa by Turtle Pond, 2nd floor. Big, but slightly smaller and different than our last OKW villa which was located near the main pool. Couldn't be accomodated for that request this time.
Went to Epcot (it was my birthday and luckily my family wanted to go to my favorite park, too!). It was cloudy, hot and humid. Went to SE while DH got fp for TT. I had told the kids that there was new things because I thought that was what I had read on these boards, but we didn't notice anything new in Spaceship Earth. Bonus fp (included a fp for Honey I Shrunk . . Innovations had new things, but we only spent a little time here. Went to HISTA after TT and saw the Jammitors! I was so happy; we had never seen them before.
Over to WS and saw Chinese acrobats (wonderful!) My kids got the rest of their passports signed and stamped (leftover from last trip) in the countries they needed. Saw Italian "statue", but when DS9 went to pose for a picture, no pranks were done on him. Saw Miyuki, the candy maker lady in Japan and she was great. We were one of the first people there, but she kept making the candy for other children. My DS9 wanted one and finally my DS13 and I were almost obnoxious trying to ask for one for him. He got one
. Over to France and ate at the Patisserie for the first time ever. Yum! I enjoyed a wine and croissant and the others got a Napolean, chocolate mousse and croissant.
Saw chair balancing in France. Pal Mickey as telling lots of jokes and interesting info. UK for last passport stamp and Eeyore came into the shop. He's my DD11's favorite, so she posed for a picture. Back to TT and saw a trolley full of characters right past Canada! Quick pose with Geppetto and Turk (only two with no lines) and we were being rushed by the others in our group.
TT with FP then a second ride in the single riders line. The three who did the second ride got in the same car! Another try at the single rider line and lightning began. They handed everyone purple tickets (better than fast passes). Waited for a long time in the gift shop for the storm to pass. Made it to Electric Umbrella before it started again and ate dinner (not exactly my choice for birthday dinner (I had p.s. at Ohana's that I cancelled earlier that day and I was hoping to try Olivia's).
Rushed to van when another storm came, so we couldn't go back to TT.
Relax, bed.
I'll continue more on another thread. Sorry this is so long. If you have any questions, please ask.
Finally found one that would be open until 9:00, but we got lost looking for it and overheated in an industrial area. It was dark now and hot. An alarm sounded from a building nearby and when it finally turned off, we were just sitting in the middle of the road wondering what to do. A cop came to investigate the alarm and noticed us on his way out. He said we were in a bad part of town and that if we could move our car to the parking lot of the building, he would call for backup. A second cop car came and they told us to get just what we needed for the night and so my kids got into one cop car and DH and I got into another.
our first adventure ride! I was in the back where criminals sit. No air conditioning and hard seats. They drove us 80 miles an hour to the nearest Comfort Inn. My DH got out to ask if there were any vacancies and the lady at the desk says, "You didn't just get out of the cop car, did you?" We thanked the cops (Comfort Inn had two rooms). I was actually looking for my camera, but in the commotion I couldn't locate it. I knew my husband would think I was nuts, but this would hopefully be a once in a lifetime experience. Oh well, no camera. I just thanked the cops and we went to bed. It was the kind of thing where I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I laughed. Thank goodness it was seeming to work out okay.Next morning, DH walked three miles in his flip flops (shoes were in the van) and managed to get the van to one of the repair shops he had seen along his walk. Believe it or not, he found a place that had the tire we needed and could help us do something with the leaky radiator. We were on the road at 9:00 a.m.! We were just two hours behind my schedule because I had had reservations in Ridgeland, S.C.
We were in WDW by 5 p.m. on Sat. and checking into the CBR. Two adjoining rooms. Wonderful! Enjoyed the pool and the food court, shopped and got us a Pal Mickey (loved him!) and saw the Epcot fireworks from the pool area while enjoying a drink and a swim.
Next morning, we went to the food court for breakfast (I couldn't believe it was so crowded at 9:00). Shopped. Packed and checked into OKW as DVC owners on Sunday.
Had two bedroom villa by Turtle Pond, 2nd floor. Big, but slightly smaller and different than our last OKW villa which was located near the main pool. Couldn't be accomodated for that request this time.
Went to Epcot (it was my birthday and luckily my family wanted to go to my favorite park, too!). It was cloudy, hot and humid. Went to SE while DH got fp for TT. I had told the kids that there was new things because I thought that was what I had read on these boards, but we didn't notice anything new in Spaceship Earth. Bonus fp (included a fp for Honey I Shrunk . . Innovations had new things, but we only spent a little time here. Went to HISTA after TT and saw the Jammitors! I was so happy; we had never seen them before.
Over to WS and saw Chinese acrobats (wonderful!) My kids got the rest of their passports signed and stamped (leftover from last trip) in the countries they needed. Saw Italian "statue", but when DS9 went to pose for a picture, no pranks were done on him. Saw Miyuki, the candy maker lady in Japan and she was great. We were one of the first people there, but she kept making the candy for other children. My DS9 wanted one and finally my DS13 and I were almost obnoxious trying to ask for one for him. He got one
. Over to France and ate at the Patisserie for the first time ever. Yum! I enjoyed a wine and croissant and the others got a Napolean, chocolate mousse and croissant. Saw chair balancing in France. Pal Mickey as telling lots of jokes and interesting info. UK for last passport stamp and Eeyore came into the shop. He's my DD11's favorite, so she posed for a picture. Back to TT and saw a trolley full of characters right past Canada! Quick pose with Geppetto and Turk (only two with no lines) and we were being rushed by the others in our group.
TT with FP then a second ride in the single riders line. The three who did the second ride got in the same car! Another try at the single rider line and lightning began. They handed everyone purple tickets (better than fast passes). Waited for a long time in the gift shop for the storm to pass. Made it to Electric Umbrella before it started again and ate dinner (not exactly my choice for birthday dinner (I had p.s. at Ohana's that I cancelled earlier that day and I was hoping to try Olivia's).
Rushed to van when another storm came, so we couldn't go back to TT.
Relax, bed.
I'll continue more on another thread. Sorry this is so long. If you have any questions, please ask.
