We Be Trippin': The Great DIS-nee Road Trip

[Disneymommom]

Thanks DisGeeks for the Sesame Place update! We'll be catching that helicopter and going to Hershey Park on Monday for anyone interested!

DisneyMomMom -- yeah! you are here! I really want to know what's in Dry Prong, LA. I've been to Shreveport and New Orleans and Emerald Hills, LA.

Hey Marshay and everyone! I took a side trip to NJ and won't be home for about 5 more days so you have to slow up so I can get you into Louisiana via Vickesburg, MS and on through Monroe, LA and work our way down to Dry Prong!

 

[Circusgirl]

I'm very excited about the Hershey Park adventure!
And Dutch Wonderland brings back great memories - glad to know it still
exists.
Alabama traveling is beautiful...glad to be rolling on the bus.

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Keep me in the loop, too! Kings Dominion isn't that far from me either...DIS Meet anyone???

That's a go for the Fleagles! We'll meet you all there!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

OK folks, sorry for the EXTENDED delay!!! BTM and KigerKat made Atlanta look so appealing that I had to actually take a real trip there.

To get us all back in the mood, let me start of with a little travelling music ... On the Road Again!

As we finally wave goodbye to BTM and KigerKat and the wonderful state of Georgia, let me welcome the Disnee family to the State of Alabama!!

Yay! We're on the road again! (Welcome back, madbrad!)

The DIS-nee Family 'Copter has made its way to Alabama and conveniently landed on the Party Bus roof. (I hope that's legal... Come to think of it, people keep giving us some mighty strange looks. )

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Here is the in-laws lake castle...err, I wish. They have a modest lake cabin there we frequent during the summer months.

WOW!!!! Let's go!

Oooooh! Pretty! (I'm with you, Marshay!)

 

[madbrad76]

We are heading to Smith Lake this weekend MadBrad, so now GA is visiting AL. I promise we weren't following you.

BTM - Although it has been a while since my last visit to Smith Lake, I can remember it as being a great place to spend some time out on the water.

::cop: Have a safe and fun trip. Let me caution you to make sure you observe the posted speed limit while in the state of Alabama. The State troopers will have a Memorial Day weekend enforcement blitz to catch speeders and people not using their seatbelts. Read this article for a little more info ... Alabama troopers start Memorial Day enforcement blitz. ::cop:

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Oh, and my kids are 10 and 12 now, but we LOVED Sesame Place just a mere few years ago! They loved the climbing nets and the water rides especially!

On another note, I went to Carowinds (now a Cedar Fair park) on Saturday.....so NOT Disney but close enough to visit more often. Anyway, we didn't have the best time, rides down among many other things and I called to let them know that I just didn't think this was our year for a season pass and would like my money back.

Anyway, the manager was so apologetic and sincere and understanding that he offered to refund my money OR if I wanted, I could have PREMIUM passes..........so Fleagles, I am coming your way and going to Kings Dominion.....and 3GUYS, is there one by you too, right??

Again, not Disney, but as a real ride rider that was an awfully nice jesture for the manager to make! Just sayin'

Have a great night everyone!

'Bummer about your bad experience at Carowinds! (It sounds like they tried to make amends, though.)

It was totally cool of the manager to offer you premium passes! (In fact, I'm thinking that's one smart guy! 'Better to woo your patrons with a second chance at a positive experience (where they'll hopefully purchase food, drinks and park merchandise ) than to leave them disillusioned and unlikely to return.

Your experience inspired me to check the rain policy for Sesame Place. (I thought I'd read about it somewhere...) 'Come to find out the Park has a "Sunny Day Guarantee" in place.

According to the Sesame Place web site:

"If it rains continuously on the day of your visit for an hour or more, Sesame Place will give you* - a free ticket* to come back to the park another day during the current operating season."

* Chaperone and complimentary admissions are excluded from this offer.

That's good to know! (Fortunately, I'm not crying over my ignorance. 'Turns out my family probably didn't qualify for the replacement tickets, since we used complimentary passes (our bib numbers) from the Sesame Place Classic. ... At least, that's what I keep telling myself! )

One more time for good measure: "'Just sayin!"

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Keep me in the loop, too! Kings Dominion isn't that far from me either...DIS Meet anyone???

Ditto! (Great idea, Marshay!) The DISgeeks family probably could swing a day-trip to Kings Dominion, too!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Before you leave us for the day we have a little parting gift for you.

It's a DisBoard Adventurosity Club Colonial Hat to remind you of your time here with the Fleagles! Enjoy!

Thanks for coming over and we hope you enjoyed your stay!

'Love it! (...especially the use of a lime-green Mickey Head (LGMH)!) Nicely done!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

I hope Ann won't mind if we make a quick stop on her part of the tour!! DH and I were married just north of Charlotte in High Point, NC this past September (yes, still newlyweds!!). If you don't mind, I'd like to pop over to the Inn where we got married at an re-live a few moments:

*reminiscing* Ahhhhh......

And for those of you who might want to see more:

Slideshow

Congratulations, KigerKat!

What a great slide show! (Your photographer did an excellent job telling the story of your big day! 'Nice use of Queen's "You're My Best Friend"! ) And, I absolutely love sunflowers! 'Terrific choice for your bouquets!

 

[KigerKat]

Congratulations, KigerKat!

What a great slide show! (Your photographer did an excellent job telling the story of your big day! 'Nice use of Queen's "You're My Best Friend"! ) And, I absolutely love sunflowers! 'Terrific choice for your bouquets!

Thank you! We had such a great time that day, everything was so perfect!!

Sunflowers are my favorite - I just knew I had to have them all over. We were able to find viking pom-poms that looked like tiny sunflowers to put on the cake and the bouts for the guys. (They probably would have looked pretty funny with a giant sunflower sticking out of their lapels!! )

And while just about everything we did was budget, I didn't want to skimp on the photographer and videographer. They both did such a wonderful job. It's just too bad I don't live up in NC and could refer more people to them. Hey Ann!! If you ever need a photographer or videographer, let me know!!

DH and I have a fun sense for music, and that's why we chose that song. Our wedding party was introduced to Ozzy Osbourne's Crazytown and DH and I came out to the Austin Powers theme. For favors, we made a compilation cd of some of our favorite songs. We still have some left if anyone wants one!! Believe me, it took MONTHS to finalize the song selections!!

I really need to find a way to upload the music video our videographers did for you guys. That one still brings tears to my eyes!!

 

[madbrad76]

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway is a motor sports complex located two miles east of the city of Lincoln within Talladega County, Alabama. It was constructed in the 1960s in place of abandoned airport runways by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by NASCAR's founding France family along with Daytona International Speedway and several other racetracks. At 2.66 miles long, Talladega is the largest (and most steeply banked) oval track in the Sprint Cup Series and has seating provisions for over 175,000 patrons.

Speeds well in excess of 200 mph were commonplace at Talladega. Talladega Superspeedway has the record for the fastest recorded time by a NASCAR stock car in a closed oval course, with the record of 216.309 mph set by Rusty Wallace on June 9, 2004. Wallace circled the 2.66-mile trioval in 44.270 seconds, which surpassed the previous record held by Bill Elliott (212.809 mph) set in 1987, but doesn't replace the record due to the fact it was practice.

Talladega hosts two Sprint Cup Series races and one Nationwide Series race annually. Both of the Sprint Cup Series races are 500.08 miles (188 laps) in length. The names by which the races are called now vary due to the purchase of naming rights, with the spring Sprint Cup Series race since spring 2002 being referred to as the Aaron's 499 after the Atlanta-based rent-to-own chain. The Nationwide Series race has historically been a 500 kilometer race (117 laps) since its 1992 inception, but was cut to 300 miles (483 km – 113 laps) in 1998 because of a spectator's letter questioning the metric distance, but restored to 500 kilometers by its current sponsor. The Craftsman Truck Series race is 250 miles (94 laps) and the ARCA race, once a 500 kilometer affair, was shortened to 300 miles in 1998, and to 250 miles in 2006 when it was moved to Friday.

The Aaron's 499, then sponsored by Winston, was known as one of the sport's four legs of the traditional "Winston Million", with the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500 being the other three. With the demise of the Southern 500 by a lawsuit, there are only three majors remaining. (From 1985 until 1997, a driver who won three of the four majors won a one million dollar bonus.)


For those of you who would like to see some of the amazing crashes that have occured at Talladega, check out the following videos. Keep in mind that these crashes all happened at speeds over 200 mph and not one driver was seriously injured. As a matter of fact, they were all able to walk away.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2005 Fall Talladega Wreck
Kyle Busch - Talladega - AMAZING Wreck
Ken Schrader Flips at Talladega (1/4), July 1995
Ricky Craven's 1996 Talladega Crash


If you've ever wanted the rush of driving a real Sprint Cup NASCAR on one of today's top NASCAR race tracks, there are several Racing Schools at Talladega that will give you that opportunity. Check out these links for more details ...
Dale Jarrett Racing School
Richard Petty Driving Experience
Racing Experience, Inc
Jeff Gordon Racing School



International Motorsports Hall of Fame

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer. Although people of many nationalities have been inducted (including racing legends such as Fangio, Moss, Senna) the main focus is on Americans who competed in domestic series – particularly NASCAR.

It was founded in 1982 by Bill France, Sr., the founder of NASCAR, and is currently located in Talladega, Alabama, adjacent to Talladega Superspeedway.

To be nominated, the person must be retired from their specialty in motorsports for at least five years unless approved on special means (age or worthy of special early induction). They are voted on by a 150-member panel from the worldwide auto racing media.


For more info on the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and to see a list of the inductees, check out the following links ...
Kings of the Road
List of inductees


This concludes our first part of the trip. I hope everyone has enjoyed our short tour of Talladega and the surrounding areas, especially you Ann! Our next stop is Birmingham, AL. Look out, here we come!

 

[catotigger]

Talladega Superspeedway

MadBrad! Hey - you know what would make this REALLY neat?

If they had a professional bicycle race there!

But of course NOT at the SAME time as the cars are racing!

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Um, Cat....how long have you been green? Have you been green all along and I've missed it? Am I losing my mind?

 

[catotigger]

Um, Cat....how long have you been green? Have you been green all along and I've missed it? Am I losing my mind?

Nope! Just been green since you made your Dramamine post on the other thread!

On a side note - Don't you think it makes me look like the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I've been to a race at Talladega!! It was SO much fun!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

DH and I have a fun sense for music, and that's why we chose that song. Our wedding party was introduced to Ozzy Osbourne's Crazytown and DH and I came out to the Austin Powers theme. For favors, we made a compilation cd of some of our favorite songs. We still have some left if anyone wants one!! Believe me, it took MONTHS to finalize the song selections!!

I really need to find a way to upload the music video our videographers did for you guys. That one still brings tears to my eyes!!

Fun! And, if you're serious about the wedding-favor CD compilations, I'd love one. (I have fairly eclectic taste in music, so I like to think I'm pretty easy to please...)

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Um, Cat....how long have you been green? Have you been green all along and I've missed it? Am I losing my mind?

Nope! Just been green since you made your Dramamine post on the other thread!

On a side note - Don't you think it makes me look like the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz?

HA! I love it, Cat! (My DD just walked up to the computer and asked, "Why is she flashing green?")

 

[KigerKat]

Fun! And, if you're serious about the wedding-favor CD compilations, I'd love one. (I have fairly eclectic taste in music, so I like to think I'm pretty easy to please...)

Here's the track list:

1. Beautiful Day - U2
2. Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry
3. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
4. Sweet Caroline - Dave Mathews (My real name is Caroline, after the Neil Diamond song)
5. Love Will Keep Us Alive - Eagles
6. Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung
7. Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
8. Crazy Love - Van Morrison
9. Have A Little Faith - Jewel
10. Sweetest Thing - U2
11. You're My Best Friend - Queen
12. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
13. Not Myself - John Mayer
14. St. Patrick's Day - John Mayer
15. Man and Wife - Michelle Featherstone
16. The Honeymoon Song - Everclear

Let me know if anyone wants one! Just PM me your address if you're not already on the mailing list.

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

For those of you who would like to see some of the amazing crashes that have occured at Talladega, check out the following videos. Keep in mind that these crashes all happened at speeds over 200 mph and not one driver was seriously injured. As a matter of fact, they were all able to walk away.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2005 Fall Talladega Wreck
Kyle Busch - Talladega - AMAZING Wreck
Ken Schrader Flips at Talladega (1/4), July 1995
Ricky Craven's 1996 Talladega Crash

Yikes! (That's pretty impressive!)

My colleague (at the time) attended the Daytona 500, where Dale Earnhardt, Sr., died.