We decided to bring my youngest along. He was sans girlfriend, actually has a real job, and wanted to golf at the Disney courses. He also helped with setup and breakdown and was not at home while we were gone, so therefore the "mom and dad aren't home" party didn't happen :-)
Thursday, July 1st at 5pm, Rick and son pull up to my office and off we go!!
My little T@B just follows along like a champ :-)
We stopped in Tifton Georgia for the night at an EconoLodge. Cheap, right off the interstate.
Up an at em the next morning and we pull into property about 1:30 on July 2nd!!
As we pulled into the loop we were already chatting with other Fiends. We saw Lorna and Rich and Angie was behind us in her truck.We expertly disconnected the camper and PUSHED her into the perfect spot!!! No backin in show from us!!!!!
We had to go into the checkin building to pick up park tickets for Kevin.
After setting up on Site 1707.(Thanks Rog for the picture!!!) As you know, for some reason, we didn't take a SINGLE picture of the campsite this trip. Actually, our picture count was waaaaay on the slim side this trip.
We got our cart that we rented from friends
We headed out to Magic Kingdom for dinner at Crystal Palace
We also went to a few attractions that Kevin hadn't seen since they were redone (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Laugh Floor) and we saw MSEP and the Nightastic Fireworks. Kevin loved Laugh Floor. He is one of those computer geeky kinds and the real-time animation was cool to him.
Saturday, July 3rd.
Well, after the late night at MK, my family was not in the gettin up mode, so I went solo out to the golf cart parade.
Jen in front of me:
Lorna and Rich behind me:
A couple of other carts in the parade:
After the parade went back to the campsite to stir my family. Of course, breakfast is first on the list. We weren't going to make our reservation at 1900 Park Faire, but we did make it to Trails End.
We LOVE that they serve breakfast till 11:30
Hangin out in front of Trails End
Yumm, Mickey Waffles!!
After breakfast, Kevin headed for the golf course (Magnolia) and Rick and myself went to Epcot.
Well folks, as I said, we were REALLY skimpy on the pictures this time, cause that's IT.
We had to go into the checkin building to pick up park tickets for Kevin.
After setting up on Site 1707.(Thanks Rog for the picture!!!) As you know, for some reason, we didn't take a SINGLE picture of the campsite this trip. Actually, our picture count was waaaaay on the slim side this trip.
We got our cart that we rented from friends
We headed out to Magic Kingdom for dinner at Crystal Palace
We also went to a few attractions that Kevin hadn't seen since they were redone (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Laugh Floor) and we saw MSEP and the Nightastic Fireworks. Kevin loved Laugh Floor. He is one of those computer geeky kinds and the real-time animation was cool to him.
Saturday, July 3rd.
Well, after the late night at MK, my family was not in the gettin up mode, so I went solo out to the golf cart parade.
Jen in front of me:
Lorna and Rich behind me:
A couple of other carts in the parade:
After the parade went back to the campsite to stir my family. Of course, breakfast is first on the list. We weren't going to make our reservation at 1900 Park Faire, but we did make it to Trails End.
We LOVE that they serve breakfast till 11:30
Hangin out in front of Trails End
Yumm, Mickey Waffles!!
After breakfast, Kevin headed for the golf course (Magnolia) and Rick and myself went to Epcot.
Well folks, as I said, we were REALLY skimpy on the pictures this time, cause that's IT.
After we got back from Epcot, we had dinner with Lorna, Rich, Jen, and Chris.
Kevin and Matt got rained out on the golf course, but got a rain check for the following day.
After dinner, several of us rode the golf carts up to the beach to watch the American Celebration fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. Great fireworks, but no music.
Then we went back to Jen's site and sat in her screen room and enjoyed each other's company and beverages.
July 4th
A lazy day.We got up late that morning and headed over to Boma for breakfast. Love their Frunch Juice!!!
Then Rick dropped Kevin and myself over at Studios and went back to the camper for a nap.
Kevin and myself went on Toy Story Mania and Tower of Terror (Love the new special effects.)Then went back to the campground.
Kevin left for golf (Osprey Ridge) and I tooled around on the golf cart, visiting with Fiends. Rick was still napping.
Later that afternoon another Disney friend of mine, (not a camper) wanted to come by the campground and visit, but wasn't able to park in overflow. They had it blocked!! Only Fort Wilderness guests and those with meal reservations!! The yellow poles in overflow allowed them to stop folks in the parking lot and turn them around without blocking Vista. I hope they do this on Halloween!!My friend was able to park over at Wilderness Lodge and took a boat over, so I picked him up at the marina and we visited for a couple of hours.
My friend headed for the bus stop and about that time Rick woke up from his nap. He wanted to go out to dinner, so called reservations and got us a seating at 50's Prime Time at 8:30. I was SHOCKED!!
Kevin got back from golf about then and said he had a great time!!
So we all hopped on the cart and headed for the Outpost bus stop.
Remember my friend who left the campsite about an hour ago, he was STILL sitting at the Outpost bus stop waiting on a Studios bus. We gave it about 5 more minutes and all four of us hopped in the truck for the Studios.
Dinner at Prime Time was yummy!!
As we were leaving the restaurant, the Studios Celebrate American fireworks were starting so we stayed and watched that from across Echo Lake. Awesome!!!
I have NEVER seen any fireworks in front of Graumann's. Fantasmic! opened about the time we started visiting WDW, so they had cut Sorcery way back.
We then wandered through the shops some, then headed out. As we were heading for the parking lot, Epcot's 4th of July tag was starting. That was cool also!!!
We finally get out to the truck and inched our way out of the parking lot and back to the campground. We then went back to Jen and Lorna's site and visited some more with Fiends and sampled a few more beverages.
Off to bed late for the last night.
July 5th!!
As usual, I was up way before my family, so I started pulling things down. Got all the decorations down and stripped all the decorations off the golf cart, then told Rick and Kevin they had to get up. While they were off at the shower, I got the awning down and got everything inside the camper buttoned down.
After they got back from showers, they went and got the truck and we started loading.
We dropped Kevin's tent and shelter, and loaded the truck full.
Good thing we were traveling "light". Between Rick's scooter, Kevin's tent, and the two big coolers, the truck was "stuffed".
After packing up, we hitched up and drove through the loop and said our goodbyes.
This was about 12:30 and we have a 12 - 13 hour drive ahead of us.
Both Kevin and myself had to be at work on Tuesday, so you'd think we would head on.
However, Rick wanted food, specifically Earl of Sandwhich.
Well, with trailer in tow, we had to park in the South 40 at Downtown Disney so it was a good hike to the Earl, then wait in line, then eat, then the walk back to the truck.
It was 2:30 before we pulled out!!!!!
However, we did make good time, and except for coming close to hitting a small concrete mixer trailer that somebody lost in the center lane of I-75 in Georgia, the drive was uneventful and we got home about 12:30 am Central time.
(I snoozed most of the way and I DID NOT look at the speedometer).
Once again, I LOVE my T@B garage. Pull in the back, disconnect, push the T@B in there and plug her up. Can worry about unloading the truck later.
I had a GREAT time. Visiting with Fiends is always fun, and I saw FOUR, count em FOUR fireworks displays that I had never seen before. Kevin loves hangin and chillin at the campground as much as I do. (Rick wanted to spend more time at the parks, OR wanted to be the party host.) He is a great host, but a terrible guest.
You would think this is the end, but.....
Believe it our not, there is more!!
Well, believe it or not I got to visit with Fiends again on Thursday night!!
I had to go to a "meeting" for work on Thursday in Orlando!!!! We won a large contract that I was a big part of the proposal team, so they sent me back to Orlando for the closeout and lessons learned meeting (and the Win Party!!)
So, I was on a plane back to Orlando at 5:30 am Thursday morning, went to my meeting and party, then drove over to the Fort. Which by the way is 40 miles and $5.50 in tolls away from my work location. I would LOVE to stay at the Fort when I'm working down there, but not with that daily drive.
Spent the evening visiting with Jenn, Chris, Lorna, Kelly, Kelly's mom, Rich, Donnie, Angie and some good friends of Jenns.
Then made the long drive back to the hotel.Then Friday morning back to the airport and home again.
I did get to fly first class from Atlanta to Orlando cause my flight in Huntsville was delayed due to mechanical and the next available flight only first class was available :-)
Well thanks for reading!!!
(1400 Miles)
Carol
Coming next, going to Cloudland Canyon State Park for a Tearjerker Teardrop Gathering.
