The Kings do Disney days 1 and 2

tc

<font color=blue>Miracles are amazing!<br><font co
Joined
Mar 23, 2000
Messages
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Cast: Me, Kelli, just turned 40, Disney nut and major planner.
DH, Stephen, also 40, puts up with my Disney obsession, loves it almost as much (just won’t admit it.)

I have had a hard time getting this posted because my computer at home has not been working. I have only had computer access at work since September 9. However, Qwest finally got my DSL working at home, so here's my report. I hope you enjoy it, even though it's a little late.

Days 1 and 2; September 14 and 15.

It’s finally Friday. Most people look forward to Fridays, but not quite to the same extent as we were, on this particular Friday. Today we take off on our cross-country trek to the World. Our vacation was to start on Thursday, but due to the terrible tragedy on September 11, flights were canceled. We decided to go anyway, but, instead of waiting for a flight, we decided to drive.

We both had to go to work today. I took Stephen to work (it’s insane to be at work at 6:00 a.m., but that was when I had to take him.) I get off work on Fridays at noon, so the plan was for me to finish packing the suitcases with minor incidentals, finish packing the my little Vapor (baby blue) New Beetle, filling the cooler, etc., and I’d pick up Stephen at 2:00. I also planned on cleaning my entire house, washing the sheets, cleaning the refrigerator and watering all the plants. I was only five minutes late, not bad.

I picked up Stephen at 2:05, and then we stopped by the daycare where my 18 year old, Kimmi, works to say goodbye. She’s having a tough time with us going with all that’s happened. But she’s staying at a friends house, and has a Matchbox 20 concert to go to while we’re gone, so she’ll be okay.

We roll out of town about 2:30. Destination Manhattan, KS. Why Manhattan? Well, it’s not because of the many things to do there, or the beautiful scenery. It’s due to the simple fact that our other child is going to school there. Sarah is a junior at Manhattan Christian College, and we plan to spend the night with her.

About 30 miles out of Longmont, we decide that a Route 44 from Sonic is what we need to start off this trip. If you’ve never had a vanilla Dr. Pepper from Sonic, you are really missing something. We swing through the drive through, and Stephen promptly spills all 44 oz in his lap, the seat and the floor board. I hope this isn’t an omen as to what’s in store the for rest of the trip. We begin frantically cleaning, and a very nice employee comes out with wet cloths to help. Then she gives Stephen a fresh vanilla diet Coke, and we’re off.

No other mishaps and we arrive in Manhattan around 11:30 p.m. We enjoy visiting Sarah and her boyfriend, and then it’s off to bed. We plan to leave Manhattan at 5:30 a.m., but I had serious doubts it would happen.

After staying up till after midnight visiting with Sarah and all her friends, 5:30 seemed a little early. However, I had showered the night before, and we were planning on eating bagels and such in the car. As amazing as it sounds, we departed at 5:20 a.m. We gassed up in Topeka (gas prices weren’t bad at all this entire trip) and then I settled down for a nap. I tend to sleep a lot in the car, but Stephen doesn’t mind, he’s rather drive and listen to his music.

Lunch was at a Bob Evans in Fairview Heights, IL. I had heard a past Dis poster state how much they love Bob Evans, so we decided to take a chance. I really liked it. We split a turkey sandwich, and each got a drink. The total was $10.43. Due to a major intestinal problem, I should eat every few hours. I try to eat small amounts 5-6 times a day. So a few hours later I was in need of food. We stopped at a fast food place and got a barbeque sandwich. I have yet to figure out how Stephen, who is 6'4" and over 200 pounds, can eat ½ of a turkey sandwich and be fine until dinner, and I am absolutely starving in just a few hours, but this will become the theme of this vacation.

Anyway, we stop for gas in Nashville, and eat dinner at Hardies in Chattanooga. Finding a hotel was the most stressful part of this trip. I decided not to make reservations, because we were unsure how far we would get. Sometime near Atlanta, we decided it’s time to stop. We go through Atlanta so we don’t have to deal with morning traffic (even though it would be Sunday) and try to find a hotel room south of there. Fat chance. There is some kind of car show going on, and there are no rooms. We go from hotel to hotel, and finally find one in Forsyth at a Best Western for $50. It was the worst room I’d ever stayed in. We had to take a smoking room because that was all that was available, so I expected it to smell bad, but this was horrible. There were cigarette ashes on the bathroom floor, the sink and bathtub were dirty, and, after I looked for extra pillows in the dresser, found packages of ramen noodles, and an old bag from McDonalds. We knew this was the only room available, and were so tired, that we just crashed. I did, however, fill out the comment card and mail it to complain about the state of the room. Upon returning home, I had a letter from the hotel apologizing for the mess, and stating that the room in question should not have been rented because it had a week long tenant who had left a day early, and the room had not been deep cleaned. They offered us a free room at that hotel, I just need to bring the letter. I thought that was nice, however, I don’t plan on being in Forsyth, GA any time soon.

So, this is the beginning, the start, the inception of this big adventure. More to come.
 
It sounds like the drive there wasn't bad at all. That hotel in GA sounds awful!! You must have been really, really tired to sleep there! :) Looking forward to day 3...

Beth
 
Oh, I feel for you and your room. All you want is a semi-decent room after a day of driving. I've had a similar experience and it gave me a bad taste for chains.
 

You can only get the free room in Forsythe, GA? That room sounds like it wasn't cleaned at all much less deep cleaned.

Good beginning though. I'm looking forward to reading about your time in the parks.

Katholyn
 














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