Trip report day 2 we enter Florida - The DVC Boards at MouseOwners.com - the place to talk DVC and Walt Disney World

DSNY FN · 12-20-2006, 11:27 PM

Ok so it is 8 AM on Sunday Dec 3rd and we are just finnishing breakfast at the hotel in Valdosta and heading back to the room to make sure we haven't missed anything to be put back in the van. After a quick oncwe over we are off to the closest walmart to get a fuse I neglected to check the fuses in the van and didn't realize the fuse for the rear wiper was burnt out (don't ask it is not my finest moment LOL). So I get to Walmart and run in to the automotive department and grab teh fuse I need and run back to the van and put it in then top up the tank for the drive to Disney.

So after we get back onto I-75 the kids tell us they need to use the washroom I laugh and tell them they better know how to cross their legs for a bit as it is 18 miles till we stop again I know it isn't that far but we always need to make a stop at the FLA welcome centre on our way down. It is customary to go in grab a glass of fresh OJ and some Disney reading material and some stuff for the kids to colour in the van. We usually spend about 30-45 minutes wandering around the place and commenting on how much they have changed it since 99 when my dad and I drove down and the rest of them flew. So after our customary pics in front of the Welcome to Florida sign and the kids pics in the kids area we are back in the car and on our way.

Our next stop and this is non negotiable LOL the rest area in Gainsville it is a nice distance away that you enjoy the ability to hop out of teh van and stretch your legs and enjoy teh warmer temps I noticed teh difference right away Lisa didn't seem to notice it at all then I pointed out to her that the temp reading on the display was an outside temp or 28 degrees celcius and she was wearing pants as was I as it was chilly in Valdosta when we left. I still get a kick out of teh sign at this rest area that read WATCH FOR POISONOUS SNAKES LOL I love it the kids don't find it all that funny though. We also always take 10 minutes or so to walk out to the lookout and watch the traffic and teh fields for animals and birds etc. So after about half an hour we are back in teh car and on our way.

So this trip we decide we will stop in Ocala to check out the Official Disney info centre so off we get at exit 350 and drive down teh road to where it is SUPPOSED to be located low and behold now info centre nothing nada no place to be found. So after driving around for a bit we head back to the I-75 and continue our drive. From here it isn't that far till we hit the Florida Turnpike and the Okahumpka service centre which we did not stop at this trip as we normally do. This time after teh deflated excitement of the Disney info centre we decided to just keep on rolling to the World. From teh turnpike we turn off fairly quickly as we drive down highway 27 down past teh citrus tower and the old info centre it is crazy the raodwork going on this time. Also all teh orange groves that were there are all dissapearing in the wake of retirment and vacation villas pretty crappy if you ask me we miss driving along in Dec and seeing them taking the oranges off the trees now you see golf courses and condos.

So about an hour on #27 and we reach the start of the end of the drive and we all know it is coming at the first sight of a purple lightpost or street light all 3 of our kids erupt with glee as soon as they see this they know this marks the last 10 or so minutes of teh drive and we will soon be driving under the Welcome to Walt Disney World sign and past the tower of terror sign on World Drive. My son pipes up as soon as we see the Disney sign and in his bigest best 4 year old voice says man this is awesome dad ah brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it LOL. So we arrive at OKW and I get in line to check in the line was huge so I strike up a copnversation with an older couple meeting their kids at OKW for a week long family get together they couldn't believe we drove all that way with 3 kids in the car LOL.

So we are getting checked in and the girl at the counter tells us our room is ready none of our requests are met other than non smoking no big deal I guess we are only here for 4 days as we head back out on the 7th anyhow. So we get our room and drive around to the Turtle pond area we were in room 3815 first floor 1 bedroom the room was very clean and everything was in good working order other than the one door on the right hand side that hides the TV in the island the bottom hinge was broken. No big deal really I called down and let them know mind you no one showed up at all during our stay to fix it so if you are staying at OKW and get room 3815 let me know if the door has been fixed and if you happen to come across a ziplock bag with our 7 day park hopper plus passes in them Lisa is pretty sure we left them in that room thankfully we had our 10 day hoppes with us also LOL.

So after getting the van all unpacked and things put away we head down to the pool for a swim with the kids and my little sister and her husband and that is where I finally ran into Kristy (AFMOM) I was supposed to call her but I forgot to bring her number down to the pool with me I had my phone just not her number LOL. As it turns out the lady I thought was her actually was her so we got to hang out for awhile at the pool and shoot the breeze her sons were great and I have some pics of them and of her using the pool and the slide at OKW. So after about an hour or so in teh pool we head back to the room for a shower and clothes to head out to the hoop dee doo revue (great show by the way) and the meal was excellent also there was 17 of us in total for dinner that night and even the kids came away singing the songs from the show LOL. My brother in law was even broughtr into the show I have the pics to prove it LOL. So after dinner we head back to teh hotel for teh night as it is almost 11 now and we have an early day tomorrow EE at AK and my first ride on Everest stay tuned for more info and updates to come on day 3 of teh trip report.

Darren ºoº

Rozzie · 12-21-2006, 02:37 AM

what a great trip!! What a great father and husband!!

My dad would have thrown us out at the Mason Dixon line for sure!

keep it coming!

DSNY FN · 12-21-2006, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rozzie

what a great trip!! What a great father and husband!!

My dad would have thrown us out at the Mason Dixon line for sure!

keep it coming!

LOL you know there is just something about the drive to Disney even when the kids do get antsy and act up in the car which does happen mind you not all to often but it does occur LOL. It really isn't much of a problem as we know we are headed to Disney and that in itself makes it bearable LOL.

mushu · 12-21-2006, 10:58 PM

Waiting for more.

DSNY FN · 12-22-2006, 12:33 AM

I'm working on it I'm working on it LOL.

nono · 12-22-2006, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSNY FN

I'm working on it I'm working on it LOL.

HURRY!

DSNY FN · 12-22-2006, 02:40 AM

Ok part 1 of day 3 is up sorry it isn't as long as day 2 but it is up now.

12-20-2006, 11:27 PM	#1
DSNY FN Grand Villa Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London Ontario Canada Posts: 1,623	Trip report day 2 we enter Florida Ok so it is 8 AM on Sunday Dec 3rd and we are just finnishing breakfast at the hotel in Valdosta and heading back to the room to make sure we haven't missed anything to be put back in the van. After a quick oncwe over we are off to the closest walmart to get a fuse I neglected to check the fuses in the van and didn't realize the fuse for the rear wiper was burnt out (don't ask it is not my finest moment LOL). So I get to Walmart and run in to the automotive department and grab teh fuse I need and run back to the van and put it in then top up the tank for the drive to Disney. So after we get back onto I-75 the kids tell us they need to use the washroom I laugh and tell them they better know how to cross their legs for a bit as it is 18 miles till we stop again I know it isn't that far but we always need to make a stop at the FLA welcome centre on our way down. It is customary to go in grab a glass of fresh OJ and some Disney reading material and some stuff for the kids to colour in the van. We usually spend about 30-45 minutes wandering around the place and commenting on how much they have changed it since 99 when my dad and I drove down and the rest of them flew. So after our customary pics in front of the Welcome to Florida sign and the kids pics in the kids area we are back in the car and on our way. Our next stop and this is non negotiable LOL the rest area in Gainsville it is a nice distance away that you enjoy the ability to hop out of teh van and stretch your legs and enjoy teh warmer temps I noticed teh difference right away Lisa didn't seem to notice it at all then I pointed out to her that the temp reading on the display was an outside temp or 28 degrees celcius and she was wearing pants as was I as it was chilly in Valdosta when we left. I still get a kick out of teh sign at this rest area that read WATCH FOR POISONOUS SNAKES LOL I love it the kids don't find it all that funny though. We also always take 10 minutes or so to walk out to the lookout and watch the traffic and teh fields for animals and birds etc. So after about half an hour we are back in teh car and on our way. So this trip we decide we will stop in Ocala to check out the Official Disney info centre so off we get at exit 350 and drive down teh road to where it is SUPPOSED to be located low and behold now info centre nothing nada no place to be found. So after driving around for a bit we head back to the I-75 and continue our drive. From here it isn't that far till we hit the Florida Turnpike and the Okahumpka service centre which we did not stop at this trip as we normally do. This time after teh deflated excitement of the Disney info centre we decided to just keep on rolling to the World. From teh turnpike we turn off fairly quickly as we drive down highway 27 down past teh citrus tower and the old info centre it is crazy the raodwork going on this time. Also all teh orange groves that were there are all dissapearing in the wake of retirment and vacation villas pretty crappy if you ask me we miss driving along in Dec and seeing them taking the oranges off the trees now you see golf courses and condos. So about an hour on #27 and we reach the start of the end of the drive and we all know it is coming at the first sight of a purple lightpost or street light all 3 of our kids erupt with glee as soon as they see this they know this marks the last 10 or so minutes of teh drive and we will soon be driving under the Welcome to Walt Disney World sign and past the tower of terror sign on World Drive. My son pipes up as soon as we see the Disney sign and in his bigest best 4 year old voice says man this is awesome dad ah brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it LOL. So we arrive at OKW and I get in line to check in the line was huge so I strike up a copnversation with an older couple meeting their kids at OKW for a week long family get together they couldn't believe we drove all that way with 3 kids in the car LOL. So we are getting checked in and the girl at the counter tells us our room is ready none of our requests are met other than non smoking no big deal I guess we are only here for 4 days as we head back out on the 7th anyhow. So we get our room and drive around to the Turtle pond area we were in room 3815 first floor 1 bedroom the room was very clean and everything was in good working order other than the one door on the right hand side that hides the TV in the island the bottom hinge was broken. No big deal really I called down and let them know mind you no one showed up at all during our stay to fix it so if you are staying at OKW and get room 3815 let me know if the door has been fixed and if you happen to come across a ziplock bag with our 7 day park hopper plus passes in them Lisa is pretty sure we left them in that room thankfully we had our 10 day hoppes with us also LOL. So after getting the van all unpacked and things put away we head down to the pool for a swim with the kids and my little sister and her husband and that is where I finally ran into Kristy (AFMOM) I was supposed to call her but I forgot to bring her number down to the pool with me I had my phone just not her number LOL. As it turns out the lady I thought was her actually was her so we got to hang out for awhile at the pool and shoot the breeze her sons were great and I have some pics of them and of her using the pool and the slide at OKW. So after about an hour or so in teh pool we head back to the room for a shower and clothes to head out to the hoop dee doo revue (great show by the way) and the meal was excellent also there was 17 of us in total for dinner that night and even the kids came away singing the songs from the show LOL. My brother in law was even broughtr into the show I have the pics to prove it LOL. So after dinner we head back to teh hotel for teh night as it is almost 11 now and we have an early day tomorrow EE at AK and my first ride on Everest stay tuned for more info and updates to come on day 3 of teh trip report. Darren ºoº __________________ DVC is the place for me Last edited by DSNY FN; 12-20-2006 at 11:31 PM.

12-21-2006, 10:58 PM	#4
mushu Two Bedroom Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: BWV- NJ Posts: 851	Waiting for more. __________________ 543/90643BWV.jpg[/IMG] 4/80 Offsite--11/87 FWC--11/90 CBR--5/99CBR--5/01 CR AS CBR--10/02 OKW DWL--12/03 OKW--6/04 Offsite--10/04 BCV POR--12/04 CSR--1/05 CBR--5/05 BWV POLY--6/05 Offsite--10/05 BWV Welcome Home--11/05 Offsite--12/05 CSR OKW--2,3/06 OKW--5/06 Pops VWL Offsite--10/06 POR BWV--12/06 BWV--2,3/07 Offsite--5/07 BWV POR CS--10/07 CBR BWV--12/07 OKW--2/08 offsite--5/08 vwl--9/08 AKL--10/08 BWV :cool1:

12-22-2006, 12:33 AM	#5
DSNY FN Grand Villa Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London Ontario Canada Posts: 1,623	I'm working on it I'm working on it LOL. __________________ DVC is the place for me

12-22-2006, 02:40 AM	#7
DSNY FN Grand Villa Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London Ontario Canada Posts: 1,623	Ok part 1 of day 3 is up sorry it isn't as long as day 2 but it is up now. __________________ DVC is the place for me

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12-21-2006, 02:37 AM	#2
Rozzie Grand Villa Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Alabama Gulf Coast, SSR, BLT Posts: 4,797	what a great trip!! What a great father and husband!! My dad would have thrown us out at the Mason Dixon line for sure! keep it coming! __________________ Long distance runner, what you standin there for? Get up, get out, get out of the door. ~ Grateful Dead