Where to begin.....August....Hot **pics added " Now The End"

[NAB]

I thought I would give this a try since I like reading other people trip reports.

Lets start with who went...

Me (43) - usually the planner. Not this time though I left most
of it up to the kids. We were there in January so we did everything
then. I wanted it to be about them this time. Beside it was hot and
I for one didn't want to rush to do anything.

DH (43)- he called for ADR's but I picked them. He planned the begining of
the trip since we were towing a trailer, a brand new one at that.
He loves Disney as much as me. No problem convincing him to go.
Especially with free dining.

DS ( 9) - Nicholas, all I can say is he is all boy. This trip he really liked to
wander off on his own. I think he need a leash or a tracking system.
He thinks he is old enough you know.

DD(6)- Princess Hannah. If Nicholas is all boy she is all girl. Loves dress and
nothing but and her hair has to be just so. Don't know where she get
that from. Not me I am plain Jane all the way.

Almost forgot Grandma ( 73) - She comes with us every summer. I am one of
six kids, all my brothers and sisters live within 5 mins. I live 2 hours
away. I cherish this time we get with her. My kids love it because
they get Grandma to themselves. We are lucky to see her once a
month. So this is special for them and they will have memories of her
to cherish, me too. My dad passed 10 years ago and I didn't get to
see him in a month and everyone else saw him the day before so
this is special to me and my family.



Like I said we went in the terrible heat of August.We actually just got back. Gone two weeks. One week was Disney and the other was getting there. I well tell you right now I am not a camper!!!! But my family loves it so I do it for them.

We left on Tuesday and had to be at Disney on Sunday. DH compromised with me and we stayed in the trailer on the way there and back. Sunday to Sunday we stayed at POR. Lets say we didn't have a good start. Picking Grandma up ,we came the night before and woke up to a parking ticket. That was number one, then we get to our camp ground for two days and they stick us in a little space that we have to back a 26ft trailer that is only 3 weeks old in. Not good. We got in but when it was time to go we had to ask the guy across from us to move so we could get out. This was JellyStone Park in PA. Nice park. Anyway we are on our way again and I am the map reader. We needed to get back to Hwy 75. Got lost in Unionville some how. Went up a mountian that was labeled dangerous and very steep. Great. Found out we went in a circle and didn't have to go there at all. Good thing hubby has a sense of humour. Off we go again. Next night we get to the camp site late, it is dark we have a pull though spot this time. Great you think, well this time it is on a steep hill and turning into ones spot almost tips said trailer over. I think that was the scariest part of the trip forget the dangerous mountian. By now the temp. is really getting hot. We are in Georgia. Next stop Disney.......

 

[Glendamax]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[tammyandtommy]

keep it coming! Cant wait to read more

 

[NAB]

Thanks for reading my report tammyandtommy and Glendamax. I will make it to the end I hope. Don't want to scare you away or should I say bore you away.


Did I mention it is HOT.........



Anyway I forgot one thing ,okay two things before we headed out of Georgia. On my scary night of almost tipping Nicholas decides he will fall out of the top bunk. Didn't even wake up which scared me more because I thought he broke his neck. Grandma said she was lucky she didn't have her arm sticking out because she was on the bottom bunk. He would have broke her arm for sure. Nicholas is only 9 but is 5 feet tall and weights 129 pounds. So it was a pretty big thud. From that night on he slept on the couch in the trailer. Funny part is hubby bought this trailer because it had the 4 bunks.

Second thing was the lady from the camp ground told us that the welcome centre was just down the road, it had a back way in. Well it had a back way but it was a hole in the fence and later found out it was for emergency vehicles. Also had to go over a curb. So we parked and went in. Very wise thing because if we would have went in we would be going the wrong way it was heading north and we were heading south of course. We talked to some nice Georgian ladies. Love their accent. Anyway she said the Florida welcome centre was up the road so off we go.Visit pick up more papers and maps that we didn't even look at to much because we are going to see the Mouse. You get free orange juice or grapefruit juice at the welcome centre by the way.

Well we did look at one flyer and it said it was the largest McDonalds. Kids were up for that. It was International Drive. Get there and have to squeeze in and around the parking lot. This one has a Bistro too. Never been to one like it, pretty fancy. Oh yeah the flyer had a coupon for kids to eat free, can't beat that. So we finish and ask what is up stairs in this Mc's. The girl said games. Then she says that this is not the biggest McDonald, she served us so she saw the coupon. The biggest one is one block down. When we turned right we should have turned left. It is amazing we made it to Florida at all ....haha. I must say the U.S. have nicer clearer signs then we have. And lots billboards too. Plenty to read even though it is hard to explain to you kids what "WE BARE All" signs mean. I just told them to play your gameboy and never mind. Hubby thought it was a hoot and who know it was a chain store too.

So we get ourselves heading in the right direction and least we hope we are. Funny we saw stuff we never knew was there because we always fly. Lots to do little time. Once we saw Nickelodon's green and orange building and then the Gateway to Disney we were all cheering. Now to find POR. I knew it was an Epot resort, Hubby wasn't so sure but then we saw the signs it was easy as pie. How could he doubt my directional skills. I only had two mistakes in direction all is good.

I thought that the guy at the gate would direct us to Fort Wilderness since we had a trailer but he didn't, must have saw this before. Later in the week we saw another trailer at the Contemperary. Now to find parking and check in. If big buses can make it around so can we. Parked in the last row and walked up. No lines really so it took no time at all. Asked about leaving the trailer where it was that was fine. The CM said we were parked farther out then him. So he give us our room....1602 in Alligator Bayou.

So we go to check it out by foot. Not too far from the food court and lobby. Smaller swimming pool behind, very nice. The room was nice and clean, almost looked like it was refurbished.Had our first towel animal waiting. It was a teddy bear thing very cute and my daughter loved it. Time to go get our luggage out of the trailer. Now I am very organized person so I had one weeks worth of clothes in a suitcase hidden in the trailer. My husband was impressed. We walk out our door and notice a whole parking lot in front of us. It was pretty empty too. Why are we not parked here we ask ourselves. So back to the lobby to ask. Yes we can park there no problem and give us directions to get back there. So not only do we have our room but we have a extented home outside.

Coming up next....our first night in Disney


--

 

[pumba]

I think that Port Orleans has had recent refurbishment......I always loved AlligatorBayou.......Hope you trip is magical too

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

me> !

p.s....you're a very talented writer! & , with
..all over the place..what a happy,happy trail ..to follow

[ok, i be lying if i didn't mentioned.. & ..hoping you
be writing!...noticed how much everyone were missin you over the
melstormer site?] back!!!

hey..we were rafting over in penn. this past spring..so i can "imagined"
the "fun" going up & down the mountains...dragging your trailor. did
you do any driving? [ i can almost see you now> ..outta my way
you roadhogs...never get in front of woman with disney on her mind!

your trailor sound beautiful...what a special way to do a disney vacation!
i'm glad your son didn't break anything..in our family, fallin out the top
bunk was a rite of passage..[of course we were "paired" up..and alot of
suspicious, that the "edge" person was .."helped out"..but whata great
adventure .." the best shake-down trip i can imagined! [did the furance
& shower worked ok?]

let's see..you """only"""got lost twice? you are an excellent navi-gator!!!

florida's free oj?? something we must do everytime! ....ok, admit it, snuck
back for seconds? last time we drove was 2003..we asked a southern
gentleman to take our pic under the "welcome" sign...then we follow him
back in for more free oj...us> &

yes! yes!..we went to the same mickey's d...& it was all decorated for
christmas! while jordan was playing upstairs in their toyland, we met
a nice lady from nuw jasery...they were leaving next day..and she
gave us the lowdown on her trip, tips included...& that was how i knew
who merlin was when my lil miss & ..was in the powder room..
and was able to set up for the sword cermony later..

port O....one of my favoirtes! ok? did the kids catch any lizards..i loved
the walk way & the canal nearby..esp., in the early mornings. the food
court there was where i started people watching..almost a juggler act
and "walkin the gaulet" all in one!

roadsigns..just saying,they have some pretty cool ones around orlando..
ok! my wife made me take some pics..me hanging out the window,
driving 60mph.. aiming the camera! then poof! the billboard changed,
sad..to say..on the disney buses sitting up front to get those pics when
we came to stop signs..i could be wrong, but i think disney & universal ..
has some kind competition going on?

the things we "do" at disney that we never do at home..maybe it's good
not to "see" those we know..and what if they caught us doing such sillyness?
..black mail...would become..the norm?

to the dirty, low down.. for giving you a ticket!

can you tell, i'm for more!

[we're starting the "readiness project" here..they changed our flights x 4,
and now we dreading new messages...i know i should be doing something
but me> ..good thingy , i have a disney wife..

 

[NAB]

Pumba-- thanks for reading my report. I do believe we were in a refurbished
room because it looked new for a older resort.

Lil' G---- I know this would make you happy but I don't know about having
talent writing. I am just trying to remember because I didn't take
notes because I wasn't going to write one. Then I thought who
cares if it ends up on page 2 or 3 at least I tried. Did you see my
Princess Hannah on the other thread. I am trying to learn how to
post pics. And to answer another of your questions I did not drive.
Only drive little cars, I call the truck a big boat. I think hubby said
is 42 feet with trailer and truck. Just barely fit where a bus would
park. No thanks. I just kept him entertainted so he didn't get to
bored. I like to tell stories about passing cars, houses or read a sign
wrong. He thinks I am very funny and that is why he married me.
Hope you get your flight and worked out, soon enough you will be
cruising.


.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Hey NAB!

Welcome back and great start on the TR!

Looking foward to more.

 

[TwinkieMama]

as soon as I saw your name I was going to post

DID YOU PACK any NABS????


and now I find out that your took the whole house cross the entire country? over the woods and through the mountains?

WoW!

Now I am ready for more!

 

[NAB]

First Night at Disney......

Well finally settled in. In this case it means the kids have opened every drawer in search for what,not sure. Bounce on the beds to test them I guess, and fight over who is going to sleep on the trundle. I really didn't care just as long as it isn't me. They know this would be a take turn thing. In January it was the same with the top bunks at WL. But funny thing is Nicholas always gave his turn up for the phone call in the morning. More on that later. He also had to sleep with Grandma. Grandma makes funny noises in her sleep if you know what I mean. She also talks sometimes. But she never moves from that one spot, sometimes in the past I slept with her and I wondered if she is even breathing. Probably a good thing because my kids hog the bed. Of course we have to all use the bathroom before we head out, that is a rule around. Plus we used the trailer one very little. Hubby made sure of that. Can't blame him he had to well you know.... The flush worked will always scared Hannah. She also hates ones that flush on there own because sure enough when she just gets on it, it will flush and give her a fright and a butt wash. One thing about Hannah is she likes to go check out the bathrooms, don't know why even if she doesn't have to go. We have seen a lot of bathrooms. What I can't figure out though is why at Disney there isn't that many bathrooms she can actually reach the soap. That is a pet peeve of mine. Sorry this is getting long winded and we haven't left the room yet.

Okay off to MGM Studios, it is already after 5 and we have ADR's for PrimeTime at 7:45. Like I said this is for the kids so Hubby and Nicholas go check out Indiana Jones, the Rocking Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror. Hannah, Grandma and I go to check out the playhouse but we just miss it this time. So what does Hannah want to do now.....Shop. She loves to shop. Grandma hasn't seen her shop so she thinks this is too cute. We go to the princess shop across from the playhouse and she holds up costumes , tries on accessories etc. By now we are just melting, did I tell you it is really hot in August. I think it is the humidity factor. Anyway we head for the Great Movie ride for air conditioning. I haven't been on in awhile but it was okay. Then I try to convince her to see Little Mermaid but she won't do it . Ursala scares her. I like this show but okay we can skip it. And we go back to Play house. She loves Jo Jo the clown, Grandma was surprised I know all the songs. We know that we have to be up front and on either side to get streamer and bubbles. I still have the streamers here now. Had to bring them home don't you know.

By now it is time for dinner. We like Primetime. My son likes to get himself in trouble by putting his elbows on the table and talking with food in his mouth. He loves attention. They refurbished this while were here in Jan. Didn't tell the difference though. Can't remember what we had though. I am sure it was good. Hannah never eats much and we were on the free dining thing so when she gave her desserts up Nicholas could have off the adult dessert menu. This made him happy. He wanted that big, huge sundae they have. He got a big surprise as did my hubby. They down sized it a great deal.Hubby thought it was still big so they only got one to share. Well now it is made more for one. I think it has one and a half brownies, two scoops of ice cream and the toppings. It doesn't even have the blue merlin hat anymore that you could eat. The CM said to many people order it and don't finish it because they don't share it. To much waste and mess she said to clean up melted ice cream. I know I had the apple cobbler and it was so good but couldn't finish that either. I know I ordered that because I was tried and asked if it had apples in it. So the CM's all made a big deal about it all in fun of course. By the time we left Primetime the park was closing and all the people were filing out. Thought we would have to wait a long time for the buses but we didn't have any trouble. We don't mind standing. We do mind when people won't move to the back of the bus to let more people on. I don't understand why people have to stop at the back door. We are all going to get off at the same time.

So back at the room the kids were still wide awake and vacation to them is a swimming pool. We could save alot of money and go to a local hotel for a night and let the swim all day. Anyway like I said earlier we got the small pool right behind our building so off they went to swim until 11:00. This became a routine after the parks they go swimming. I say they because I do not get in a bathing suit if I don't have to. When Hannah was young I did because he couldn't handle both. Now Nicholas is a great swimmer and Hannah is just learning. She would not dunk her head but by the time we left she was doing that alot. I had to bribe her with Juicey Fruit gum to dunk once in her swim class. So Grandma and I went to the room the rest were off. And at 11:00 I went and got them out and washed up them all up and off to bed. Not before setting the wake up call. Nicholas was looking forward to that.

Next stop.....Magic Kingdom.

 

[NAB]

Yak--I think you are safe here, Sheri can't flag you here.....You were right down 79/95 was nicer scenery. I did tease hubby and say if you see one tree you seen them all. He loves that stuff. He went to the Yukon by himself on a road trip before I might him. His brother is a painter so he loves scenery pics. I love people one myself.

TwinkieMama--- glad you came to read my report. I am like you watching to see if anyone is actually reading this. And yes we did have Nabs. for the kids to snack on. Like your signs in the U.S. I love your food stores. You have different stuff then us. The kids bought three different boxes of cereal we don't have here. They see the commerical for them and they will say is this a U.S. station. So we let them go nuts in there. This time we could actually bring stuff back, lots of storage in a big honker trailer.

 

[horsegirl]

All I can think of is the Long Yellow Trailer movie with Lucy and Desi, Nab! Wow, my budget conscious hubby would have never gone for a hotel room if we drove down a trailer. I have to make a note to self not to ever ask for a trailer. I would never be at the Contemporary again!

Trying to catch up on the thread, but did catch the pictures of lovely princess Hannah. She is adorable. Looking forward to pix of the trip and Nicholas.

Write for yourself Nab. Write on, write off.

 

[NAB]

Horsey--- funny thing is I too kept picturing that movie when were away. Of
Lucy making dinner in there while he drove. We did go in the trailer
and find things on the floor. Once I even found fridge stuff on the
floor so someone, probably me didn't push it until it locked. Good
thing it wasn't everything wet and messy. Thank goodness my
containers stayed close. It took me along time to post those two
pictures so I hope to post some here if I can remember how I did
it. Hubby said he was going to send me back to school to learn
this stuff so I don't have to keep calling him over. Hubby knows
that I do most of the work when we camp so this gives me a break.
When we got married he promised me that we would go away
every year and he has been true to his word. We go once usually
driving in the summer and fly in the winter months. I have a
keeper that is for sure.


--

 

[NAB]

Day Two...Magic Kingdom!!!

Well of course we are all tired from late nights, early mornings but today we don't have a problem. Mickey seems to though. We got our wake up call but it was a dead silence at the other end. Poor Nicholas didn't get to listen to Mickey. Now Grandma is an earlier riser. Must be the farmer girl in her. Anyway she always got up first showered and headed out to smoke.Now my little family has no smokers. So Grandma doesn't smoke in our car and we always get non smoking rooms. That is just how it is. Hubby side doesn't smoke at all. Grandma is used to this, like I said she has been traveling with us for 9 years. She would go sit on a rock and people watch in the morning and talk to the staff that were around every morning. This was her time and we never invaded it. The kids would want to go out with her but I would only let them out when it was time to go. That left me to get up next shower, since they showered the night before they got to stay in bed longer. When I was finished I would get them up and get them going. I would have clothes laid out in piles all they had to do is jump in them wash their face, brush hair and teeth and away we go. We are not hungry in the morning because we eat later then home and snack more. Funny thing is I could just go to the trailer and bring in cereal and milk, even cook something if I wanted. But this is my vacation part and they don't ask me to do that. I did go bring in the melted granola bars from the trailer. Have I mentioned the heat......

Magic Kingdom was a late night one the night before. Open to one in the morning. I didn't want to go late last night because I wanted a full day there to start, not a part day. This is my favourite park. Maybe because it is all about the kids and feeling like a kid again. Like I said I didn't take notes but I do know that we headed for Adventure land. Nicholas wanted to do the Pirates of the Caribbean ride first. That is his big thing right now. He saw the second when it came out and owns the first one. So while they do that, (Hannah did this ride and doesn't like it to scary again.) Grandma, Hannah and I go do the Aladdin carpet ride twice. It is true what they say, go the morning after it is open late because it is not busy. They have a Jack Sparrow guy out that does a show just outside the store.This guy really looks like him to. Hubby told me that there are three of them I think and this guy is the best. You see they saw this show a few times. Nicholas got picked out of the audience to be one of Jack's crew. I think there were ten picked. He made them repeat after him. I promise.....got a certifcate scroll that says he is a Apprentice Pirate. Of course this is the day we forget the camera back at the room. This made his day I tell you. Then we left the boys to go do princess stuff. I think they rode the ride again and went on Splash Lagoon and Thunder Run and were going to meet up for lunch at Cosmic Ray's.

Hannah's turn. Over to Toon Town by train. Went for a tour of Minnie and Mickey's houses. Saw the Mouse himself in the tent. His line was long but went fast. Faster then the princess line we were heading for. The sign said Cinderalla and a mystery one. She was all excited, waited about 20 minutes. And our mystery person is........Daisy Duck. Didn't know she was concidered a princess. This is the first time we didn't have three in the room. So pictures all around. Even got Grandma with Daisy. Last year we were at The Grand ole Opry and she wanted a pic with Mini Pearl lookalike. So deep down I think she was tickled pink. She was a kid again. I am going to make her copies so she can show my neices and nephews she met the characters. And of course we have to cruise the store before leaving. Didn't buy anything. Usually we wait until the end to buy so they get one thing they really want.

Where to next......to buy one of those fan squeeze bottle things. I wanted one earlier but hubby didn't want to pay $16.00 for one. So Grandma and I split the price because if you bought two the second was half price. I tell you it was well worth the money. Hannah loved spraying it and I loved the spray. I kept her head sprayed most of the time because like I said it is HOT!!!!!!!

We meet up at Cosmic Rays for lunch. The kids love this place, they told Grandma she has to see Larry. They like watch this dude. So we find a table first and go in shifts because everyone wants something different. It was amost to hot to eat. I got the chicken wrap and changed the pasta salad for chips.This is were we saw down sizing again. The brownies got smaller there. This is the thing with the dining plan to much food. We took the chips, apple sauce and brownies with us.Did this in January too. I just asked for a bag to carry it in from one of the carts outside. Extra snacks for later.

At this point we notice that the teacups were closed and boarded. So we decide to go and ride Dumbo and the carousel. The boys come with us this time.

After that we head to Epot for early dinner at Rose and Crown. This is the first time eating there for us. We get seated pretty fast. The first ones on the patio. That is when it goes down hill. The food was good the view was nice but it took 3 hours. Everyone around us came and went. We enquired a few times for our food. The kids were getting pretty hungry. Free dining we couldn't ask for a discount can we. The food was good but had poor service. We would go back. We went to see about Soaring because this is Hannah's favourite ride from Jan. The wait was 70 minutes and no fastpasses left of course. Went to test track and rode it. Grandma's first time on it. She had alot of first this trip. Then Hannah , Nicholas and hubby went on Mission Space. We did this ride many times in Janurary so I stayed out with Grandma. We people watched. Did alittle browsing in MouseGear of course, stores are like a magnet to the kids....come buy me.

Then we called it a night just before the fireworks. The kids wanted to swim. Little earlier so they could swim longer. What is nice about our trailer being out the door is we had cold drinks available all the time. Bring in an odd toy, take the wash out. Our room stayed pretty clean because of this. Wake up call set again , Nicholas gave up the trundle bed for this again.

Next up Epcot........again.

 

[Bev J]

Debbie- REally enjoying your trip so far. I remember when we got our first camper- a 26ft and took it to WDW from Nebraska. took us 3 days down.We ended up in some awful camp places, must have been the same one you found, Very steep, narrow roads and we nearly tipped too.. Hope your trip back was better....
Looking forward to reading more..

Bev

 

[em'smom]

Great Trippie NAB! So glad you are back. We all missed you.
Now, don't follow the other trip writers here. Keep those installments coming quickly!

Erin

 

[jw50]

Hi NAB, I only have one question for you, was it hot?

 

[NAB]

em'smom--Thanks I will try. Memory isn't what it used to be so I have to
write it or lose it. I just remember something I didn't include in day
day two. Which reminds me thanks for taking me to page two.....


JW50-----It was hot as well you know. High 90's and the rain is coming
it felt worse if that is possible. Hot there and our hot in Canada are
to different things. That was our mistake. We thought it is hot at
home what is the difference.....HUMIDITY.

 

[NAB]

One thing I forgot to mention was that we let them start pin collecting. Now this becomes expensive with two kids. They both got starter kits. A pirates one and Tinkerbell. Nicholas loved this. Lost him a few times because he stop to look at pins and didn't tell us. So now a starter kit starts with 4 pins but here is where it gets to be expensive, they get four they like, no more to trade so you have to go buy four more each to trade again. It is a vicious cycle. Anyway Hannah got a Sleeping Beauty and was told not to trade it because they don't make it anymore. Nicholas got a most of the Pirates set. He too got a cast member pin that a CM told him was hard to find now and was a castmember one. Nicholas had his at all times Hannah had Dad carry hers because it didn't go with her dresses.

Second thing I forgot, that night coming back from Epcot Nicholas got off at the wrong stop. If it wasn't for Hannah saying look Nicholas is out there we would have left him behind. I jumped up so fast the driver was just closing the door. You see the bus always go to the French Quarter first and our is alway the second stop. Don't know what I would do if we got off at Riverside and he wasn't there. This gave us a good wake up call to go over what you do if you are lost in Disney. You see we try to sit together but some times we get separated, that is Nicholas sitting where he wants to sit thing too. Anyway all turned out will. The thing with Nicholas is he wants freedom to do as he pleases but this trip I still saw my little boy. In Epcot he wanted to hold hands with me. He hasn't done that in a long time. Now he looks like he is twelve and sometimes I forget he is only 9. He likes to joke, make funnny faces and just be a goofball. Favourite line is made you look......Or ask if he has done something like getting dress and I tell him to move it faster but he is already done. Fooled you. These are the times I will remember. He was our miracle baby too it took 9 long years to make him.

I will try to get some pics. up soon if I can figure out how....

 

[TwinkieMama]

I am so scared about the part about almost losing your little NAB. Good advice- we have discussed and practiced about what to do if we get separated (aka lost) in the parks but losing a kid or two at a bus stop never even occurred to me. Some resorts have many buildings that look the same so you could get off at the wrong stop and wander around for a while before you even realize that you are lost.... and the resorts are not chock full of helpful CMs like the parks...

Thanks for not making that a cliffhanger! My heart couldn't take it....