June 23, 2009: Day One, Part One Welcome to Florida!
We woke up at around 9:00 AM, it was so nice to actually sleep in a bed. The most sleep we had gotten was that 90 minute snooze at that rest area in Indiana at 2:00 in the morning the previous daythis time we had about a full 9 hours!
Since breakfast was being served until 10:00 or so, we decided it best to get a move on. I think we had cereal, muffins, and bananas. I never really eat a big breakfast, so it was all we needed.
After breakfast, we went back to room to pack upwhich was incredibly easy since I stuffed everything we needed for our overnighter in a backpack. We checked out using Express Check-out, loaded our car, and got some gas at the next door gas station.
While DH was pumping gas, I remembered that I wanted a picture of me with a palm tree. You see, we are kind of obsessed with all things Florida/tropical, I honestly dont know why we just dont move out there. We are so obsessed with Florida that we decorated our house accordingly. I will have to get this house cleaned and take some pictures of it. Okay, enough off topic-ness...
Anyways, the day before, when we checked in to the Country Inn & Suites, I saw our first palm tree of the vacation, this was a very big deal, so big that we called DHs mom to tell her, since she shares in our all things Florida/tropical obsession. It wasnt until the gas station the next morning that I remembered that we needed to take a picture of this ever so beautiful tree. Unfortunately, this gas station didnt have any palms, just some scraggily bushes, but luckily there was walkway from the gas station to our hotel that we just checked out of. Justin, being the wonderful husband that he is, asked if I would like to walk back so I could get my palm tree picture, of course, I led the way.
Now this was taken right in front of building, facing traffic, I can only imagine how much we looked like tourists at this point.
Now content with my palm tree picture, we walked back to our car and headed back on I-75.
It was less than 30 minutes, and we were graced with the Welcome to Florida sign!! Squeals of joy erupted from the passenger side of car. Of course, we stopped at the first Florida Welcome Center because they advertise for free orange juice, we do this every year, we are people who strive on routine.
While we sipped our freshly squeezed juice we browsed and took brochures, mostly Disney ones, but some for Naples, Florida as well since that would be part 2 of our honeymoon. After a quick bathroom break, we were back on the road. Next stop, WALT DISNEY WORLD!
I think it was at this point that I started playing Disney tunes. We played the Splash Mountain theme song, The Pirates Theme Song, and Spectromagic, among many other favorites, all of which I sing along to. I think at the same time we were still reading that Disney trivia book. Oh yes, we were sweating the Disney out of us now, because we were so close, we could just taste it!
When we reached the Florida Turnpike, more squeals of joy erupted from the passenger side of the car since we all know, Florida Turnpike = about 1 hour away from the magic.
We were making really good time, and with check in not being until 3:00, we knew we would be pretty early- it was about 1:15 by the time we got on the turnpike.
With every minute that passed, I got more and more excited and anxious. I couldnt wait to see the castle, stay on property, and wear those bridal ears with pride! I gripped our Map Quest, Google, or Yahoo (I cant remember which we used) directions tightly in our hand and navigated DH to the correct exit.
Exit 267A for FL-429, which has tolls. Yes, this was sounding familiar. Now keep in mind, we had never gone straight from Turnpike to Disney Property before because we would always rent a house in Celebration, which would divert us from true Disney property. That is why I made sure to get directions to the Grand Floridians address:
4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
DH asked what he was taking this to. I told him Exit 19, which is also the date we got married, so I was all excited about it. We exited on number 19, which was Country Highway 535/Winter Garden Vineland Road. No, this wasnt sounding nor looking so familiar. Where are those purple Disney signs? Where are the Disney busses?
Instead of following our gut instinct to turn around, we decided that it be best to keep to Mapquest/Google/Yahoos directions, because we all know they are ALWAYS right. (Note Sarcasm)
We stay on Winter Garden Vineland for what seems an eternity, we are right in the middle of a suburb, not Disney obviously. I tell DH we are looking for a couple other streets and ultimately Reams Road, which will lead us to Center Drive, which will take us right to Floridian Way, which is what should be our hotel.
We finally find Reams Road, we are literally in what looks like a forest of trees. At this point we are just laughing because leave to us to make it this close and get lost. We have made so many turns we dont know what direction we are facing and where the highway is. I have the huge Atlas spread across my lap as I am trying to find where we are. I find Reams Road and tell DH, Um, we are behind the Magic Kingdom.
As I am saying those words, we pass Center Street and see a sign that says, Disney Cast Member Parking Only. We both started laughing even harder now.
So you can visualize where we were...
Can see the huge Cast Member parking lot?
Obviously, our directions were a little confused, seeing that we are not Cast Members, however, they were not wrong because that would take us right to our hotel, had we been allowed access.
We joked about just parking our car on the side of the road, and walking through all the trees to get to the Magic Kingdom, because you know, I am sure it is just that easy.
Lost, laughing, and longing to begin our vacation we continued on our trek to find the correct, GUEST entrance to WDW.
UP NEXT: Will these two newlyweds ever find the right way or will they pitch a tent and say they officially stayed on Disney property??
Great pics so far, love TR's with tons of pictures
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
There are so many great honeymoony things to do at Disney, so many, we didn't get to do them all. Oh well, that is what anniversary trips are for. 
Thanks for reading!
