"To Disney & Beyond" ~ Road Trip 2010 ~ Final Drive & Final Thoughts

[jc040404]

Wow! This sounds like such a fun trip and I love your title!! Jumping in to read along!!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Hey your first stop is in my neck of the woods. If you get a chance eat breakfast or lunch at the Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg...I especially love their sandwiches...the dutch diplomat is my favorite. It really is a great place to eat & next to one of the candy kitchens where they make taffy, caramel apples etc.

Interesting trip stops.....can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Hi Lynne!! I am excited to hear about you and your hubby's driving adventure! I would LOVE to plan out a trip like this. It's a perfect combo of destinations and what a great way to get Disney stuck in there too!! I wish DH and I would have traveled more before we had kids, but I guess all of our trips will just have to include them! I hope you survive the summer heat in WDW!! Looking forward to hearing about more of all of your plans!!!
~Beth

 

[Sweetpeamd]

Subbing! I'm loving your PTR so far. I can't wait to read about your trip!

 

[Spartangirl]

Quick Life Update...

Hey Everyone! I do plan on posting another update before we leave on Saturday.......however, my focus hasn't been on our trip the last couple of days. My grandma passed away unexpectedly Friday night, so Chris and I have had a couple of tough days. We were very close with my grandma and the news has been very rough and hard to take. The next few days I'll be with all of my family, but I should be on later in the week...

 

[momof2TNboys]

I am so sorry about your grandmother. My prayers are with you. Hang in there.

I love your plans for the trip. I live very close to Gatlinburg and went to Myrtle beach every year of my life until I went to college. I am either going back on Labor Day or we are going back to WDW.

 

[GaRain]

I am excited to read your TR, especially since you spell your name correctly (LOL, my middle name and I have an "E" at the end too!)
I am sorry to hear of your loss. Take your time, we will be here when you are ready to return.

 

[Disneygrl36]

So, so sorry for your loss.

 

[ashleighbass06]

Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss!

 

[Shannon84]

I had found your TR report randomly and started to follow along...I am sorry to hear of your loss

 

[ReneeDisney]

Sorry for your loss....

 

[bukosluvswdw]

Sorry for your loss. I pray for God's grace and comfort on you and your family.

 

[disneydusted]

I just followed you over from Michelle's TR... looking forward to hearing about your trip! I'm sorry about your grandma, such a hard time.

 

[redsox721]

Just found your TR from another one.

So sorry to hear of your loss. Prayers for you and your fmaily.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[cdotla]

So sorry to hear this news. Thinking about you!

 

[Spartangirl]

Wow! This sounds like such a fun trip and I love your title!! Jumping in to read along!!

So glad you're here! I can't believe I leave on Saturday!

Hey your first stop is in my neck of the woods. If you get a chance eat breakfast or lunch at the Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg...I especially love their sandwiches...the dutch diplomat is my favorite. It really is a great place to eat & next to one of the candy kitchens where they make taffy, caramel apples etc.

Interesting trip stops.....can't wait to hear all about it.

Thanks for the input! This is not the 1st that I've heard of the Pancake Pantry.......I think we better try to make it there...it sounds fantastic! What is on the Dutch Diplomat? The trip is getting closer...

Hi Lynne!! I am excited to hear about you and your hubby's driving adventure! I would LOVE to plan out a trip like this. It's a perfect combo of destinations and what a great way to get Disney stuck in there too!! I wish DH and I would have traveled more before we had kids, but I guess all of our trips will just have to include them! I hope you survive the summer heat in WDW!! Looking forward to hearing about more of all of your plans!!!
~Beth

Hi, Beth! Thanks so much for joining in! I'm really looking forward to going to all of the destinations we have planned, especially Disney! I think that it's wonderful that you include your kids in all of your travels......what special memories all of you will make! I hope we survive the heat too...........I'm not so worried about myself.........but, Chris is going to be another story! He's not a complainer AT ALL except when it comes to the sun and heat. So, this should be interesting!!!

Subbing! I'm loving your PTR so far. I can't wait to read about your trip!

Thanks so much for coming onboard!!! I can't wait to tell you all about my trip!

 

[Spartangirl]

I am so sorry about your grandmother. My prayers are with you. Hang in there.

Thanks so much for the prayers...

I love your plans for the trip. I live very close to Gatlinburg and went to Myrtle beach every year of my life until I went to college. I am either going back on Labor Day or we are going back to WDW.

Very cool! I haven't been to Gatlinburg in many years, so it feels "almost brand new" to me! Neither Chris or I have been to Myrtle Beach so we are really excited to check it out! Wow...Myrtle Beach or WDW....sounds like you have a tough decision....but, it will be a good/fun vacation regardless!

I am excited to read your TR, especially since you spell your name correctly (LOL, my middle name and I have an "E" at the end too!)

Thanks so much for joining in! YAY! It's so hard to find the spelling with an "E!" I never liked it growing up, because everyone spelled my name wrong. However, now I cherish having it different!

I am sorry to hear of your loss. Take your time, we will be here when you are ready to return.

Thank you so much...it's been a very tough road these past few days...but, I'm so ready to "take a break" and start thinking about my trip. I think the time away will do some good for both Chris and I.

So, so sorry for your loss.

Thanks so much, Melanie!

Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss!

Thank you, Ashleigh!

I had found your TR report randomly and started to follow along...I am sorry to hear of your loss

Welcome and thanks for joining in! Thank you...

 

[Spartangirl]

Sorry for your loss....

Thanks, Renee!

Sorry for your loss. I pray for God's grace and comfort on you and your family.

Thank you so much for the prayers...

I just followed you over from Michelle's TR... looking forward to hearing about your trip! I'm sorry about your grandma, such a hard time.

Welcome and so happy to have you reading! I appreciate your kind words...

Just found your TR from another one.

So sorry to hear of your loss. Prayers for you and your fmaily.

Thanks for coming over! I appreciate the prayers...

I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you so much...

So sorry to hear this news. Thinking about you!

Thank you, Trish!

 

[Spartangirl]

Our BIG Road Trip Plans

Whenever we travel, Chris and I love to seek out adventure and fun!
Quick Example: We took this small float plane to an island in search of bear feeding on salmon. It was just the two of us, along with our guide...and MANY BLACK BEAR!!! Kind of creepy, knowing that no one was anywhere around us, but cool at the same time...

We also make the best of every situation and sometimes tend to act a little goofy along the way.

Just wanted to give you a "heads-up" about what you're getting yourself into if you read my report!!! You never know what we're going to "bring to the table!"

Here is a "rough copy" of what's in store for us!!! Forgive me now.......I tend to make plans, change plans, revise them again, and sometimes even change them on the trip! We're going to try to see most of the things on this list, but they may change in-between now and when we return home.

July 24 - 27 ~ Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Originally, we wanted to do a white-water rafting trip (We've done it before and it's a blast!). However, I soon learned that you can only raft on certain days during the week. Unfortunately, those days didn't correspond with the days that we would be there, so I had to alter my plans from the get-go!
July 24 ~ Travel Day ~ Michigan to Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Some of our plans include:
~Smokey Mountains ~ Visitor Center, Cataract Falls, Laurel Falls, Clingman's Dome ~ LOTS of hiking!!!
~Sky Lift (Gatlinburg)
~Hollywood Wax Museum (Gatlinburg)
~ Since white -water rafting was out of the plan, I still wanted to do some sort of an adventure while in the mountains. So, I chose something off the beaten-path. Get ready for this...We are doing a Llama Trek/Camel Ride Adventure .....3 miles of hiking through the mountains with a llama and then an hour camel ride. Should be interesting!

July 27 - August 1 ~ Walt Disney World
When we first agreed to book WDW as part of our road trip, I wanted to do the Dining Plan, of course! I love planning our ADRs..........however, Chris suggested that we try the Quick Service Dining Plan this time around since we're not going to be in WDW for a huge amount of time. Since he agreed to make Disney one of our stops, I decided not to argue with him on this one. So, quick service it is and this is a first for us! I'm looking forward to enjoying some of the quick service locations that we often overlook! Believe it or not, I'm actually planning ahead for some of these meals so that we get a nice variety!
July 27 ~ Travel Day ~ Gatlinburg to Orlando & Downtown Disney after arrival!
Resort : Port Orleans French Quarter (This is a 1st for us too!)
Being July, we know the parks are going to be crowded, but we're not too worried about that since we usually travel during New Years Eve/New Years Day. However, we do know that it's going to be HOT. We may take swim breaks during the day, but we're not sure! So, we have a park scheduled for each day............but, not the activities!!! We have our favorites that we want to hit, but we're going to play it by ear .............this is so UNLIKE us. We usually do full on COMMANDO TOURING, so this too, will be a change!
July 28 ~ Magic Kingdom
Must Dos: Main Street Electrical Parade ( I am SO EXCITED that this is going to be here!!!) & Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular
July 29 ~ Hollywood Studios
Must Do: Toy Story Mania (Can you believe we've never done this?!?)
July 30 ~ Animal Kingdom & Downtown Disney
July 31 ~ Epcot
Must Do: IllumiNations (one of our favorites)
May check out the "Beginnings Band" at the American Gardens Theatre

August 1 - 4 ~ Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
August 1 ~ Travel Day ~ WDW to Myrtle Beach
Some of our plans include:
~Broadway at the Beach
~Barefoot Landing
~Beach Time
~T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station??? I don't want to get my hopes up too much for this tour...we're booked, but there have to be enough participants for it to be a GO...15, I think! I won't know until a couple of days before the tour is scheduled. Anyhow, this is a "Behind the Scenes, Hands-On, Animal Tour. We will be up-close and personal with an elephant, monkeys, baby tigers, etc. I REALLY hope it's a GO...please keep your fingers crossed for us! It truly would be a once in a lifetime experience! Chris and I both love animals!!!

August 4 - 7 ~ Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
August 4 ~ Travel Day ~ Myrtle Beach to Gettysburg
Some of our plans include:
~SegTour of the Battlefield (Should be interesting...we've never been on Segways!)
~Night Ghost Tour (Spooky...)
~Museum & Visitor's Center at the Battlefield
~Shriver House Museum

August 7 ~ Travel Day ~ Gettysburg to Michigan

So...we have A LOT in store for us! I'm super excited and can't wait for our trip. Once we return from our trip, I'll give details/pictures about the hotels that we're staying at and some of the good EATS I have planned! I promise TONS of pictures upon our return and maybe even some video clips. Thanks in advance for following along with us! I hope you enjoy reading about our trip and "come along with us" for the ride TO DISNEY & BEYOND ~ ROAD TRIP 2010!!!