Hello Friends!
We've been back for a couple of weeks now, so it's time to get this TR rolling!
Who: Me (Ali, rhymes with Sally), my husband Jim, Gwen (16) and Ethan (13)
What: 11 sweaty days celebrating Ethan's 8th grade graduation & our 19th wedding anniversary
Where: Cocoa Beach & a Sheraton time share
When: June 4th-14th 2024
This was our 6th Disney World vacation, but our first time with just our family of 4. We've had one or both of the grandmas with us on every prior trip, including a big family trip for my MIL's 70th birthday.
We wanted a less scheduled, more spontaneous trip this time, so we decided not to purchase Genie+ or ILL's. No regrets on that one. None.
I told Jim I wanted to treat our park days like a trip to Great America (the Chicago area Six Flags park) in the 90's. Feel happy just to be there, and take it one ride at a time.
Day 1 - Tuesday June 4th
After a nearly sleepless night for me, (thanks, travel anxiety!) we were up and on our way by 6:30.
I REALLY don't enjoy flying, but thankfully our flight was smooth. I watched LaLa Land to pass the time. It's one of my favorites, and it never fails to make me happy.
Once we arrived, we grabbed all of our carry-on luggage, picked up our rental mini van and headed for the Cocoa Beach!
We booked an ocean view balcony room at Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach.
At check in, the man at the front desk asked where we were traveling from, and was surprised when we told him the Chicago area. "I was sure you were French or maybe German"
The room was clean and spacious but unremarkable.
We were there for the view
Everyone was eager to get to the beach, so we did a quick change and headed down.
Meta tortoise friend on the beach path
Gwen's tiny shell collection
I had hoped to have dinner on the beach, but we found a dockside grill that had live music. Good enough!
After dinner we made a quick stop at DQ for ultimate cookie Blizzards for the kids (because ice cream every day), then headed back to the room for an early night.
Day 2 - Wednesday June 5th
We chose our vacation dates months ago and planned to visit the Kennedy Space Center on our first full day. As luck would have it, there was a launch scheduled for 11 o'clock the same day!
I have always wanted to see a launch in person, and for the kids to see one, so it was an exciting morning!
We had a quick complimentary breakfast at the hotel, and were on our way by 8:30.
Once at that visitor complex, we boarded the bus to the Saturn V Center. I was expecting the same 40 minute tour of the facility that we had back in 2016, but now that KSC is once again an active space port, and this was a launch day, it made sense to not take bus loads of people around the launch pads.
After a 10 minute express ride to the site, we quickly found a spot on the bleachers. Only 15 minutes to launch time!
Our timing could not have been more perfect! The group in front of us had been waiting for two hours!
It was already scorching outside. I don't know how they tolerated it for so long!
Just before the countdown, they played an address from the 2 astronauts aboard the Starliner, followed by the National Anthem. It was a beautiful and uplifting moment. I'm so glad we were there
All systems go for launch!
To say it was thrilling would be an understatement. It was exhilarating and awe-inspiring.
We were so full of excitement, and we weren't even at Disney yet!
We've been back for a couple of weeks now, so it's time to get this TR rolling!
Who: Me (Ali, rhymes with Sally), my husband Jim, Gwen (16) and Ethan (13)
What: 11 sweaty days celebrating Ethan's 8th grade graduation & our 19th wedding anniversary
Where: Cocoa Beach & a Sheraton time share
When: June 4th-14th 2024
This was our 6th Disney World vacation, but our first time with just our family of 4. We've had one or both of the grandmas with us on every prior trip, including a big family trip for my MIL's 70th birthday.
We wanted a less scheduled, more spontaneous trip this time, so we decided not to purchase Genie+ or ILL's. No regrets on that one. None.
I told Jim I wanted to treat our park days like a trip to Great America (the Chicago area Six Flags park) in the 90's. Feel happy just to be there, and take it one ride at a time.
Day 1 - Tuesday June 4th
After a nearly sleepless night for me, (thanks, travel anxiety!) we were up and on our way by 6:30.
I REALLY don't enjoy flying, but thankfully our flight was smooth. I watched LaLa Land to pass the time. It's one of my favorites, and it never fails to make me happy.
Once we arrived, we grabbed all of our carry-on luggage, picked up our rental mini van and headed for the Cocoa Beach!
We booked an ocean view balcony room at Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach.
At check in, the man at the front desk asked where we were traveling from, and was surprised when we told him the Chicago area. "I was sure you were French or maybe German"
The room was clean and spacious but unremarkable.
We were there for the view
Everyone was eager to get to the beach, so we did a quick change and headed down.
Meta tortoise friend on the beach path
Gwen's tiny shell collection
I had hoped to have dinner on the beach, but we found a dockside grill that had live music. Good enough!
After dinner we made a quick stop at DQ for ultimate cookie Blizzards for the kids (because ice cream every day), then headed back to the room for an early night.
Day 2 - Wednesday June 5th
We chose our vacation dates months ago and planned to visit the Kennedy Space Center on our first full day. As luck would have it, there was a launch scheduled for 11 o'clock the same day!
I have always wanted to see a launch in person, and for the kids to see one, so it was an exciting morning!
We had a quick complimentary breakfast at the hotel, and were on our way by 8:30.
Once at that visitor complex, we boarded the bus to the Saturn V Center. I was expecting the same 40 minute tour of the facility that we had back in 2016, but now that KSC is once again an active space port, and this was a launch day, it made sense to not take bus loads of people around the launch pads.
After a 10 minute express ride to the site, we quickly found a spot on the bleachers. Only 15 minutes to launch time!
Our timing could not have been more perfect! The group in front of us had been waiting for two hours!
It was already scorching outside. I don't know how they tolerated it for so long!
Just before the countdown, they played an address from the 2 astronauts aboard the Starliner, followed by the National Anthem. It was a beautiful and uplifting moment. I'm so glad we were there
All systems go for launch!
To say it was thrilling would be an understatement. It was exhilarating and awe-inspiring.
We were so full of excitement, and we weren't even at Disney yet!
