"Where did y'all get those shirts?" Fried, Tie-Dyed, and Places Mickey Hides.

[wannago2disney]

subscribing! be back to read later!!

 

[dvczerfs]

tip for going thru jacksonville on int95. stay in the left lane, and dont look back!!! the blueish,redish shield looking signs say 95 on it for a reason. i always assumed that was the speed limit! i must say, tiny did a heck of a good job loading the van! hes a natural!

 

[Wherem I Now]

Lovin the report so far. I am jealous that packing your car takes up so little space. Must be the difference between having boys vs. girls.

Loved the National Lampoon Vacation reference! I can see this happening as well.

The only thing worse than driving that far when "It's raining Poodles and Dogs" is driving there in January with sleet and freezing rain on I-95. Glad you got there quickly and safe.

Can't wait for more... (Oops, were those elipses?)

 

[GoHerd1028]

Great Job on the trip report so far buddy!!! It is like a godo book that you cant put down cause you want to see what happens next...complete with pictures!!

 

[jmskinner]

Lovin' your TR so far. And your Poodle comments. Actually I couldn't even count them as Cats, I like cats too much.

And that scene from National Lampoon's Vacation.

 

[LaniesMom]

Hi Nate,
I'm here and I'm tuned in! Great job so far!! Our trip is coming up and reading this is making me even more excited!

On a side note, sorry about your FIL. I am a nurse and I know how difficult it is to take care of your elders who have lost their memory to illness. Bless you all for being such caring people and opening your home. My grandfather was sick for most of my childhood and I know how it is from a kid's persective too. Your boys are troopers, as are you & your wife.

What a great trip for all of you to have! Ready for more when you have it.

 

[dwsandy]

this is getting good. Can't wait for the next installment

 

[M & E love WDW]

It's about 3 Hours in...we reach Columbia I finally start seeing a little traffic on my side of the road. My Family is gone . And I start having visions of the Griswald's you know where they pan through the car and everyone is asleep including Clark. I often tell people I can't sleep in a car when someone else is driving... (Think about it...)


As a child, we would always leave S FL in the middle of the night to head N for family visits. My Dad said the same thing. Thankfully, he had spent some time working nights and never killed us. BTW, childhood DOG was a poodle and she was a dog!!!!!

Enjoying the trip report. Thanks for sharing.

Sorry to hear about your FIL also. I refer to my "growing-up" home as hospice house because my grandma, aunt and Mom all spent the last of their days with cancer in the same home. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way but completely understood why my Dad was ready to sell shortly after Mom's death.

 

[emcreative]

 

[trennr]

Yeahy you have arrived, I am currently bedridden with swine flu - and catching up with trip reports to keep me going!

I came home with a case of something...Goofy Pnemonia...Mickey Mouse Flu... ...still coughing...but I'm over the worst of it.

We were close to you since we stayed in Cabanas 9B! I could be found in the fitness center in the morning and then walking on the path around the lake afterward as I waited for my wife to wake up so we could go to the parks.

We kept late hours in those parks...did good to get my crew up by 10AM most mornings.

subscribing! be back to read later!!

okiee-doakiee

tip for going thru jacksonville on int95. stay in the left lane, and dont look back!!! the blueish,redish shield looking signs say 95 on it for a reason. i always assumed that was the speed limit! i must say, tiny did a heck of a good job loading the van! hes a natural!

Yeah...those Red White and Blue signs help...but they seem to change lanes an awful lot. Tiny and Boy are both great helpers.

Lovin the report so far. I am jealous that packing your car takes up so little space. Must be the difference between having boys vs. girls.
...Can't wait for more... (Oops, were those elipses?)

Boys do seem to be low maint. when it come to packing.
Here' some Ellipses ... ... ... ... ...

Great Job on the trip report so far buddy!!! It is like a godo book that you cant put down cause you want to see what happens next...complete with pictures!!

Looking for my Bestseller rank form the New York Times.

Lovin' your TR so far. And your Poodle comments. Actually I couldn't even count them as Cats, I like cats too much.:rotfl:

Hi Nate,
I'm here and I'm tuned in! Great job so far!! Our trip is coming up and reading this is making me even more excited!

On a side note, sorry about your FIL. I am a nurse and I know how difficult it is to take care of your elders who have lost their memory to illness. Bless you all for being such caring people and opening your home. My grandfather was sick for most of my childhood and I know how it is from a kid's persective too. Your boys are troopers, as are you & your wife.

What a great trip for all of you to have! Ready for more when you have it.

Yep the Kids are troopers too!

this is getting good. Can't wait for the next installment

BTW, childhood DOG was a poodle and she was a dog!!!!!

I'm certain there are exceptions to every breed.

 

[DisneyFed]

Ok, I'm following you along

By the way, I was a State Trooper on the section of I 26 outside of Spartanburg, SC...many moons ago!!

Now, my Office is in Brunswick, GA (Exit 38--at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center).....I drive across that bridge on regular occasion.....

Annnddd...I live in Saint Mary's, GA (just on the Florida line--GA Exit 1) and my wife works in Jacksonville...The bridge in Jacksonville is the Buckman Bridge (not fun at rush hour...LOL)

There's another prettty impressive Suspension Bridge in Charleston, SC (my hometown).....

Looking forward to the "rest of the story"...LOL

 

[porknbeans]

Great TR, trennr. I'm tuned in and ready for more.

 

[trennr]

Ok, I'm following you along

By the way, I was a State Trooper on the section of I 26 outside of Spartanburg, SC...many moons ago!!

Now, my Office is in Brunswick, GA (Exit 38--at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center).....I drive across that bridge on regular occasion.....

Annnddd...I live in Saint Mary's, GA (just on the Florida line--GA Exit 1) and my wife works in Jacksonville...The bridge in Jacksonville is the Buckman Bridge (not fun at rush hour...LOL)

There's another prettty impressive Suspension Bridge in Charleston, SC (my hometown).....

Looking forward to the "rest of the story"...LOL

State Trooper...
I maintained the posted speed limit sir!

Love the Sidney Lanier Bridge...a work of art...I'd probably wreck driving across it...as I'd be admiring it.

My wife and I stopped at the Shoney's there at Exit 1 in St. Mary (or was it Exit 3?)...for our first offiical Breakfast as Husband and Wife.

Buckman Bridge...hard to beleive that this is going across the St. Johns River...looks more like a lake or a bay.

I miss Paul Harvey...

Great TR, trennr. I'm tuned in and ready for more.

Welcome aboard!

 

[jezaduck24]

Hi there! I just followed your link over from the Coronado and see you are from Jonesborough. I was born and raised over in the big metropolis of Johnson City and we are the same age. Bet our paths have crossed at some point growing up!
Anyway, great start! Love those Big Orange Mickey shirts! I'll be interested to hear more about your impressions of Coronado - we are staying there in October.

 

[trennr]

Before I continue...this is my 400th post!!!!

WOW this is a nice Lobby!

I get to the counter with now wait...and of course I can't remember the nice ladies name that checked me in...and for some reason I am so nervous?

Guess it was all the planning and waiting I'd done...and the realization that it was all about to start...it just got to me?

I had faxed in a request 3 days prior... requesting the Cabanas 8A or 8B...We got 8B...Room 8561. We got our Keys to the Kingdom...and information packet...and we were set!!! WDW the Clampets have arrived...weeedoggie!

First we go down to the Pepper Market to grab our mugs as part of our Quick Service Dining Plan...and we loved our QSDP.

This one is mine...it was Black...Tiny got Yellow...Mel and Boy got Red...only the lid and handle colors change...the rest looks just like this...and this seemed to be the same mug used at all the other resorts we visited.

Then we stop at Cafe Rix to fill them up.

Then to Panchitos...for our first offical Gift shop.

Me and Burrito

Let me say this is one really nice gift shop...about the best of any we saw at any other resort....Mel loves to shop and I don't think a day went by without her visiting Panchitos...usually to pick up her purchases from the parks the previous day...I think she had her own shelf at the pick-up desk.

Me and Tiny go out to the Lobby area and wait on Mel and Boy to get done in Panchitos...(Tiny is Daddy's boy...Boy tends to hang with Mom more...Tiny also loves having his picture taken...while Boy runs away.)

The Dome above the Fountain...

Tiny thought these guys looked like the Jonas Brother Cupids in "Night at the Museum 2"...

Finally we get to go see our Room...we Drive around to the Cabanas...the Gate was Open and off we go.

Cabanas 8B from the Parking lot...

Bldg Sign

Sign to pointing me to our room...

View from just outside our room...

Room Number...

I go back and move the van to an easier location for us to unload...and then we get inside the room...WE LIKEY!!!
Queen Size Bed!!! (Big selling point for us to book at the CSR...as we are Pooh Sized People!!!)

Mickey on the Runner...

Mickey on the Pillow...

Mickey on the Mirror...

OK it's time to confess...I'm a Hidden Mickey Hunter...and that's where the "Places Mickey Hides" part of my title comes in...I didn't get Pictures of all the ones I found...but I felt I had a successful search.

We get some what unpacked and then we head out to the Van to goto DTD.

Have I mentioned that Mel loves to shop??? Our first order of business however...was to go eat at the Rainforest Cafe...all my picture here turned out too dark...so sorry.

Then we work our way through the Chirstmas Shop...Once Upon A Toy... Team Mickey...and The World of Disney.

Let me tell you...if you plan to Arrive on Saturday...DO NOT go to the World of Disney in the evening...

Typically you know your personal space will be limited at WDW...but the World of Disney on a Saturday night includes you and 25 other people. I quickly tell Mel I'm going to take Tiny over to the Lego Store and will meet her outside.

The Lego Store wasn't much better...but at least I can step on most of these people.

Tiny loves the Lego Star Wars stuff...he's mainly into the Mini-Figures...and we find him a few of the Mini-Keychains and get out with minimal people squishing...

We meet up with Mel and boy ...it's getting Dark...we've been up for 17 hours...so we go back to get in the shower and go to sleep.

Those Queen sized beds were so comfy!!!

Next Episode...(The Most Magical Place on Earth!)

 

[holz99]

Enjoying the report! I noticed that it only took you guys a little over 10 hours. We are in northwest Alabama and between mapquest and our gps, it has our trip taking almost 12 hours. It takes us a good 5 hours to get to the Smokies. I'm just trying to figure out if we are actually going to make better time than we are anticipating. Of course we will take different roads but it will be mostly interstate for us. I can't wait to read more about your trip! Keep 'em coming!!!!!!

 

[trennr]

Hi there! I just followed your link over from the Coronado and see you are from Jonesborough. I was born and raised over in the big metropolis of Johnson City and we are the same age. Bet our paths have crossed at some point growing up!
Anyway, great start! Love those Big Orange Mickey shirts! I'll be interested to hear more about your impressions of Coronado - we are staying there in October.

Howdy...probably did cross paths...I turn the big 4-0 next Month...did allot of cruising back in the day...You'll love the CSR -aka- Coronado.

Enjoying the report! I noticed that it only took you guys a little over 10 hours. We are in northwest Alabama and between mapquest and our gps, it has our trip taking almost 12 hours. It takes us a good 5 hours to get to the Smokies. I'm just trying to figure out if we are actually going to make better time than we are anticipating. Of course we will take different roads but it will be mostly interstate for us. I can't wait to read more about your trip! Keep 'em coming!!!!!!

The early start helps...when you can get about 1/3 of the trip down before Breakfast...that helps...also lack of traffic in those early hours helps too. I've had several electronic map programs tell me it would take 12-14 Hours. Jacksonville+Rain was my only true slowdown during the trip. I averaged 70mph...for that to be my average...well you know how math works...

 

[GoHerd1028]

Will the next episode be in ? You report is so entertaining! Keep it coming!

 

[that's nice]

There is something very relaxing when you walk into the lobby at CSR.

We are staying at POP in October and I'm not expecting getting that same feeling. I think POP will be busier and less relaxing than CSR. We are going for a short trip so we are trying to save a few $$$$.

Can't wait to hear about your 1st park day!

 

[wannago2disney]

found a few minutes to finally read through. Your pictures are great!! DH and I thought that we would like to stay at CS after our first trip, driving past so often while staying at ASMu. Perhaps when the kids are a bit older and my son's facination with the giant Big Wheel has passed

I got a new camera at Christmas that has a "stage" setting...takes pictues in semi dark places with no flash..it enhances the available light...it seems to work very well....can't wait to try it at Disney!!

Can't wait to read more and see more pictures!