ChesapeakeTechie
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2007
- Messages
- 138
We're currently at WDW until Thursday so this will be updated throughout the week. Cast of characters:
Dad - 31
Mom - 30
Son - 3
Twin1 - 1
Twin2 - 1
Maybe we should have known from the start this trip wasn't going to go exactly as planned.
Having purchased membership in DVC,
we made our first reservation for this week, and started planning last May. Airline was booked, and we were ready to go, or so we thought. About a month ago, the airline called to tell us they had canceled our direct flight and our assigned seats, and booked us on a layover which got into Orlando @ 11:30 pm. Having 3 kids (3 & twin 1 year olds) this wasn't going to to work so well. We ended up getting our money back and decided we'd make the 14 hour drive in 2 days.
The drive down started fine, then we got stuck in traffic on 95 south of DC for 2 hours on Friday night! The kids were handling it pretty well, with a full compliment of McDonalds keeping everyone busy and happy for the time being. We stopped for a quick late bite at the Cracker Barrel in northern VA (excellent!!) and were on the road again. The twins took turns serenading us for the next few hours, while our 3 year old enjoyed reading lips trying to watch Cars and Thomas the Tank Engine with some Scooby Doo thrown in for some variety. We stopped for the night in Florence, SC with the kids dozing in the car. By the time we got up to the room, of course, everyone was wide awake and ready to play. With the girls in their pack and play's and our son in the bed with us, we were ready for some sleep - after the girls spent the next 20 minutes waking up everyone else in the hotel!
The following day after a nice complementary breakfast by Marriott, we hit the road! We made it down to Savannah before everyone decided they needed another break. We went to the Mall of Savannah for lunch, and walked around Outdoor World. They have a nice waterfall and fish display in the store. The kids got a real kick out of it. We stopped near Daytona at a Florida Citrus Center and picked up some goodies, and tried some free samples of oranges and lemons. Yum! On I-4 towards Orlando, we stopped at Target near Deltona because we'd forgotten Dad's bathing suit. Target didn't have any in stock at the moment, so we figured we'd just pick one up in Orlando.
At last we reached Orlando! Turning from the I-4 exit onto the local road, we saw a gift shop to grab a bathing suit. Making a U-turn into the parking lot, the van started to make a strange ticking noise, and a smell started coming from the engine compartment. Uh-Oh!! Turning the van off and back on, same sound, same smell. Some fluid was also leaking onto the ground. Called AAA and Honda, and with the van being under warranty it needed to go to the dealership. The local dealer was very helpful. Just as I was going to call a taxi, my wife flagged down a mini-van taxi. We transferred ALL of our stuff including 3 car seats, a lot of luggage and vacation items into the cab and my wife and kids went to our hotel for the night, the Lake Buena Vista Resort & Spa (our DVC didn't start until Sunday). I stayed with the van and the flatbed came about 30 minutes later and dropped me off at the hotel, again a very nice gesture. In the meantime, my wife had to strategize how to get all of our stuff + 3 kids up to the room. She said some very nice folks helped her out. including the cab driver. I finally made it to the room, we ordered up some pizza and called it a night.
We got up on Sunday morning and called the same taxi that had picked us up the day before. We noticed our younger twin was very cranky and there was a little spit up when she got up. The taxi showed up within 10 minutes and we repacked everything into the van and headed for Saratoga Springs. Check in was easy, even with some friends staying with us who needed to check in later. The bellhop helped us load ALL of our stuff onto his enlarged golf-cart, including strollers, luggage, car seats and the 80 other things that come with 3 kids! By the time we got all unpacked, our friends had arrived so we went to the Carriage House to wait for them. By the time we got to the Carriage House, they were already back at our room - so we browsed around until they made it back up for lunch. Lunch was 4 kids meals - 1 Mac and Cheese for the twins (important point), 1 Mac and Cheese for Mom, 1 Hot Dog for Dad, 1 Chicken Nugget Meal for 3 year old son. Also splurged for the $13 all-you-can-drink-from-a-refillable-mug which seemed smaller than I remember from a few years ago. I haven't yet calculated the ROI since I don't know if this cup compares to a small, med or large drink (anyone?)
Next, it's off to the Magic Kingdom! Stay tuned...
Dad - 31
Mom - 30
Son - 3
Twin1 - 1
Twin2 - 1
Maybe we should have known from the start this trip wasn't going to go exactly as planned.
Having purchased membership in DVC, we made our first reservation for this week, and started planning last May. Airline was booked, and we were ready to go, or so we thought. About a month ago, the airline called to tell us they had canceled our direct flight and our assigned seats, and booked us on a layover which got into Orlando @ 11:30 pm. Having 3 kids (3 & twin 1 year olds) this wasn't going to to work so well. We ended up getting our money back and decided we'd make the 14 hour drive in 2 days. The drive down started fine, then we got stuck in traffic on 95 south of DC for 2 hours on Friday night! The kids were handling it pretty well, with a full compliment of McDonalds keeping everyone busy and happy for the time being. We stopped for a quick late bite at the Cracker Barrel in northern VA (excellent!!) and were on the road again. The twins took turns serenading us for the next few hours, while our 3 year old enjoyed reading lips trying to watch Cars and Thomas the Tank Engine with some Scooby Doo thrown in for some variety. We stopped for the night in Florence, SC with the kids dozing in the car. By the time we got up to the room, of course, everyone was wide awake and ready to play. With the girls in their pack and play's and our son in the bed with us, we were ready for some sleep - after the girls spent the next 20 minutes waking up everyone else in the hotel!
The following day after a nice complementary breakfast by Marriott, we hit the road! We made it down to Savannah before everyone decided they needed another break. We went to the Mall of Savannah for lunch, and walked around Outdoor World. They have a nice waterfall and fish display in the store. The kids got a real kick out of it. We stopped near Daytona at a Florida Citrus Center and picked up some goodies, and tried some free samples of oranges and lemons. Yum! On I-4 towards Orlando, we stopped at Target near Deltona because we'd forgotten Dad's bathing suit. Target didn't have any in stock at the moment, so we figured we'd just pick one up in Orlando.
At last we reached Orlando! Turning from the I-4 exit onto the local road, we saw a gift shop to grab a bathing suit. Making a U-turn into the parking lot, the van started to make a strange ticking noise, and a smell started coming from the engine compartment. Uh-Oh!! Turning the van off and back on, same sound, same smell. Some fluid was also leaking onto the ground. Called AAA and Honda, and with the van being under warranty it needed to go to the dealership. The local dealer was very helpful. Just as I was going to call a taxi, my wife flagged down a mini-van taxi. We transferred ALL of our stuff including 3 car seats, a lot of luggage and vacation items into the cab and my wife and kids went to our hotel for the night, the Lake Buena Vista Resort & Spa (our DVC didn't start until Sunday). I stayed with the van and the flatbed came about 30 minutes later and dropped me off at the hotel, again a very nice gesture. In the meantime, my wife had to strategize how to get all of our stuff + 3 kids up to the room. She said some very nice folks helped her out. including the cab driver. I finally made it to the room, we ordered up some pizza and called it a night.
We got up on Sunday morning and called the same taxi that had picked us up the day before. We noticed our younger twin was very cranky and there was a little spit up when she got up. The taxi showed up within 10 minutes and we repacked everything into the van and headed for Saratoga Springs. Check in was easy, even with some friends staying with us who needed to check in later. The bellhop helped us load ALL of our stuff onto his enlarged golf-cart, including strollers, luggage, car seats and the 80 other things that come with 3 kids! By the time we got all unpacked, our friends had arrived so we went to the Carriage House to wait for them. By the time we got to the Carriage House, they were already back at our room - so we browsed around until they made it back up for lunch. Lunch was 4 kids meals - 1 Mac and Cheese for the twins (important point), 1 Mac and Cheese for Mom, 1 Hot Dog for Dad, 1 Chicken Nugget Meal for 3 year old son. Also splurged for the $13 all-you-can-drink-from-a-refillable-mug which seemed smaller than I remember from a few years ago. I haven't yet calculated the ROI since I don't know if this cup compares to a small, med or large drink (anyone?)
Next, it's off to the Magic Kingdom! Stay tuned...
After a clean up session, we're heading in! As we arrive, the main street parade is starting. Everyone enjoyed it, but our 3 year old wasn't quite ready for the characters up so close yet and got a bit upset We enjoyed MK for the rest of the day, with our 3 yo getting a bit scared when It's A Small World got backed up for a few minutes, and during the storm in Pooh's adventures. The twins seemed to enjoy them just fine! We headed back to SSR that night ready to hit the parks again the next day (Monday). Stay tuned!
