Who: Eric & Les (ericles on mouseplanet)
When: March 3-6
Where: POR
Why: Why not?
How: personal car
Previous experience: I think we are at or nearing 15 trips to WDW, I've stopped counting
Long story short - we were in WDW in early December and didn't have a great time. This had nothing to do with WDW, rather some family stuff going on that kept us from being able to stay "in the bubble" mentally. Eldest son left for school in early January, and has been doing school stuff 6 or 7 days a week and needs a break. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit that Mom & Dad wouldn't mind laying eyes on him. Added to that we are sick and tired of the snow and cold and ice so we decided on a rather short notice trip to Florida. Owen has a weekend free and we had some time to burn so off we decided to go. Of course that got us talking about a re-do of our last disaster of a trip. Replace the bad with good memories and that sort BS we used to talk ourselves into it - not that we needed much convincing.
One thing different about this trip - we are driving. I have a personal rule - no Motel 6 and no driving anywhere that takes longer than 7 hours to get to. But this trip is different in that we knew we'd need to be driving around northern Florida, and I got a convertible in the fall (life long dream, finally got one, and no I don't regret it:) ) and we are ready for some warm weather and an opportunity to get the top down. So we started talking about how a road trip would be "fun" and decided to do it. I'm sure I'll be regretting it on the drive home.
The Plan - get up at the crack of to early o'clock Tuesday morning and do a marathon drive to Florida, arriving at WDW sometime Tuesday night.
What's really happening - Well first I suggested we leave after work on Monday and get a few hours of driving in, which sounded good to Eric. That morphed into me maybe sneaking out of the office around 2 or 3 and getting going then. Which changed to me leaving after lunch...which changed to me leaving once I signed payroll, around 11ish! Like what I did there???? I'd have about 40 very unhappy folks if I left before signing checks, so once they are done and printed I'll make my escape. Eric took the pups to the kennel :( (I hate doing that but we lost our last dog sitter and I've not found another one. Usually one of the boys is home but this time we will all be gone. I did find a new kennel that is more homey and smaller) Go home, load up the car, make some lunch, give last minute instructions to the youngest who is home today because OF MORE SNOW & ICE! So we hope to get a good part of the drive under our belts today, and avoid any issues around DC & Richmond by being South of there before rush hour. Of course when talking DC & 95 it's always rush hour it seems. Fingers crossed. Anyway, we will stop for the night somewhere, and get going first thing in the morning again. We might stop outside of Savannah to check out the Bonaventure Cemetery if time permits, other than that it is straight on to WDW. We plan three nights at POR - admittedly not our first choice. We prefer the EPCOT resorts but there was nothing available that didn't necessitate selling our first born - and we are kinda counting on him to do some work around the farm this summer so we need him, thus we return to POR. Where we honeymooned, and the first resort we stayed at when we first took the boys to WDW. It is a very nice resort, so don't get me wrong. I am quite looking forward to it. I think we have stayed at POR 4 times, and FQ once. Anyway, we have hoppers, and only two ADR's - Le Cellier & Sci-Fi. Not because we couldn't get more, but because we prefer to wing it a bit. Did get FP as well. We will be in WDW until Friday late afternoon. At which point we are driving up to St. Augustine to meet the boys. Owen will pick up his little brother from Jacksonville airport - he is flying down Friday afternoon after school - and they will meet us down there. Once we are all assembled we will spend the weekend in St. Augustine. Sunday afternoon Owen will return to school and the youngest will have to endure the drive home with Mom & Dad. I anticipate we will get a few hours on the road Sunday, spend the night and get home Monday mid afternoon in time to spring the pups from the kennel.
So - that is The Plan as it stands now. T-minus about 2 hours till I'm outta here.
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3 nights & a roadtrip
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