Trip Report An Orlando Move and some Disney Fun!

Hi all!
I'm just back from another crazy great family adventure!!
This time the trip wasn't just for fun but to help my son Seth move to Orlando!
Yep, he and his partner decided they had enough of New York and chose to move almost as far south as possible.
Jake was a Special Effects Artist but decided to answer the call from Disney and got a job in the College Program that he hopes will swing to a permanent position. Seth works as a Game Development Artist and as he works remotely, was ready and able to get out of Dodge, I mean NY!

The travelers include me and Seth. (Gary wasn't up for the trip).
Oh, and I almost forgot, Satan the Cat, otherwise actually known as Athens.
Tell me he doesn't look like a Satan.
IMG_4401.JPG

This cat and his antics during the move increased our stress from probably a 5 to an 8.5. :cautious:

I left Pittsburgh May 17th to drive a Budget Cargo Van to Brooklyn.
IMG_4320.JPG


To me the most obvious question would be, "why are you driving a big honkin van an extra 400 miles?" Well that's because no one in NY would promise me this size of a van. I was told it could be bigger, and that's a big ole hell no. So off I went.

The first part of this trip report is the crazy of the move and you are welcome to scroll past to "skip to the good part". But, if you want to get a few laughs hang around during the first part. It was so much fun I would like to do it again next week!


And before I end this post I would like to thank @cgersic and @Zipadeelady for all of their Orlando move advice, and @Darstarr for her multiple offers of help on the NY end. (I couldn't take her up on them because she would have seen in person not just via txt what a hot mess my life is)! @Tuvalu and @riverside offered moral support and some helpful travel hints during the trip!
 
Last edited:

cgersic

Well-Known Member
WOW!!!! That is some update! Love the pictures with the girls and glad that you and Gary had such a nice visit with them. So sweet that Una loves her sister so much 🥰 I can't wait for the next installment because I'm hoping to hear you had a spectacular time in the World!
Last comment, this is why I am a dog person rather than a cat person. Just sayin'
Dog Gif GIF
 

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The things we do for our kids! :hilarious: You're a very good mom.
Tell my kids that (she says sourly.) 🤣

That is a nice apartment! My middle child has lived in three different apartments in the last 4 years, so I have spent many hours perusing apartment sites. And cats! Why don't they come out from hiding when we are frantically searching for them! Scoundrels.
Why didn't they just give you a different room right away at 11pm???
Deep breath.
It is a nice one, I think.
Cats, blah!
I would have pushed for a new room but had already unpacked some stuff, and it's like when you are in a stalled line at Disney and you just don't know if it's time to bail or hang in there!

You have the patience of a saint because my "official" crankiness would have set in, and I would have demanded a full comp from the front desk for the room for that night! I'm glad you son found the cat after all the stress in finding him!
Nah I'm not patient, was just dreading moving.
The next morning when I got the bill (it was a fairly pricy place), I was irritated enough that I did decide to call the front desk to inquire about some sort of compensation.
That cat....
 

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
WOW!!!! That is some update! Love the pictures with the girls and glad that you and Gary had such a nice visit with them. So sweet that Una loves her sister so much 🥰 I can't wait for the next installment because I'm hoping to hear you had a spectacular time in the World!
Last comment, this is why I am a dog person rather than a cat person. Just sayin'
Dog Gif GIF
Thanks, it was a nice visit.
Love dogs!!! Even like this one, our last one we had.
This was Scooby.
Devil cat meet devil dog!
IMG_E9215.JPG
 

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Oh wow! Certainly hope they did something to make up for the AC incident!
That's a great apartment your son found :)
They did, I'll get into that now.
I really like it, hope it works out well for them.

What is up with your animals?🤣 Your son's apartment looks amazing! How is the cat, currently, adjusting?
Our first clue on Scooby should have been that we were the third people to take him from the pound!
He was great with us but would chase and eat anything smaller than a full grown wolf, for real.
 

littleroo

Well-Known Member
They did, I'll get into that now.
I really like it, hope it works out well for them.


Our first clue on Scooby should have been that we were the third people to take him from the pound!
He was great with us but would chase and eat anything smaller than a full grown wolf,
That is crazy!!! So Scooby is passed this phase? I do live in Pittsburgh 🤣
 

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
MAY 20TH -initiate phase 10. Get mom to MK!

Siri woke me up to start the fun part!
Seth had asked me if I would be ok not getting to MK till afternoon because he had to meet the ATT people to set up his wifi at noon.
Service in his apartment was horrible. No problem because I knew my hip wasn't going to last the whole day anyway.

I woke up on time with the plan of trying for a virtual queue for Tron and to buy an ILL to ensure I got a time that would work with our schedule.
I don't know who is more nuts. Disney for charging obnoxious prices for this, or me for succumbing to it.
Thinking Ponder GIF by Karen Civil


Oh well. I logged on and didn't even need fast finger Freddy Seth!
IMG_4397.PNG


IMG_4398.PNG


Yay!!! Got a queue spot and an ILL.
(What is wrong with me that I am so excited to spend money?!) I think the price is obnoxious no matter how much I'm looking forward to riding it.
I sent screen shots of these to Seth who was very excited too. He had not ridden Tron up to that point.

I heated up my old coffee and enjoyed a few minutes chilling in bed.
As I was sitting there and reading my charges on the email they sent me I thought, why not? Let me see if they will offer any recompense for the evenings fun. I called the desk and asked if they offer any compensation for the kind of crazy that occurred the evening before and she said the manager would have to look at "things."

I got a call within about 15 minutes or so with the manager asking how she could help me. Very few things annoy me more than having to go over everything again, but I stayed patient and explained the events of the evening again. She said they could take 25% off of the bill.
Thanks, that will be great. The way I looked at it was it would pay for my Tron and Guardians fun.

I got dressed, packed up, and was climbing into the beast by about 9:30.
I met Seth at his apartment and we unloaded the Ikea stuff out of the van. The evening before we bought a $15 flat dolly thing at Harbor Freight and he was able to roll everything in including the couch we got him.
(A super nice neighbor named Tony was walking by and helped him load it onto the cart.)
dragging season 1 GIF by Showtime

As the elevator doors were closing I said to Seth, we need to buy that guy a beer and he must have heard me because he yelled, Tito's please!) 🤣
I cracked up and told Seth we needed to remember to get him a bottle.

We dropped the van off at some weird place in the back of a random hotel (little sketchy.)
The lady there at the Budget desk said something about it would take 2 hours for someone to go check out the van, it was ok to leave the keys with her. I'm not usually this goofy but I said sure and gave her the keys and didn't get any confirmation papers. I did take a lot of pics of the van in the parking lot to verify it's return and condition.
I called Budget when I got back home and they said no problem and sent me return confirmation papers and that it was in the same (crappy) condition as when I got it.

We grabbed some lunch to take back to the apartment to eat while we waited for the ATT guy to show up.
I actually had the same thing for lunch as I did the night before. It was from a really good burger place called Shake Shack (I think is the name.)

For any of you worrying about the condition of the cat. This is where Athens hid while I was there. 🤣
IMG_4412.JPG


I unpacked Seth's kitchen stuff while we waited for the wifi guy.
The ATT guy finally shows up, takes well over an hour.
When he left Seth started to say something about something else, and I said, nope.
You're taking mom to MK now!!!
And off we went.
I got this notice before we left his apartment.
IMG_4408.PNG


Would we make it in time?

So excited I can't stand it! I haven't been here for a year and a half!
IMG_4416.JPG


Up next, we're home!!
 

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
That is crazy!!! So Scooby is passed this phase? I do live in Pittsburgh 🤣
Yes he crossed the rainbow bridge after developing a tumor in his right front armpit. It was sad.
And just a little heads up, if you parked at the Pittsburgh Airport it is a mad house.
This past 2 weeks I had to make 5 trips there picking up and dropping off family and it is crazy town, with rerouted traffic and no parking!
I actually got lost trying to circle the airport to pick someone up and got yelled at by a crabby old dude working there who told me I wasn't allowed to stop to pick people up on the far side, the even numbered poles!:mad:
 

littleroo

Well-Known Member
I am sorry to hear that but I do remember now that you said it! I miss our black lab who passed in January terribly.

Thanks for the heads up at the airport. We drove for the first time but my husband is at the airport all the time so I will let him know.
 

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
MAY 20th -phase 10 continues, let's get to MK!

We parked and happened to luck out in that we were towards the middle of the parking lot rows, and happened to be right next to the trams.
We also lucked out because as soon as we got out of the car, a tram was there and there was room for us to jump on. Good timing!
Seth said it was appropriate that we were in the villains side because he always says I'm Maleficent.
Rotten kid.

In no time at all we were pulling up to the entrance. There was almost no security line at this time of day.
We decided on the monorail instead of the ferry.
IMG_4417.JPG


IMG_4418.JPG


Some pics from our ride over.
Love that boat ride to the WL.
IMG_4419.JPG


IMG_4420.JPG


Never noticed this giant purple hat before. (I assume it's giant.)
IMG_4421.JPG


IMG_4422.JPG


IMG_4423.JPG


It's just grass, but hey, it's Disney grass! 🤣
Just kidding, the point of this one was the tip (get it?), of Cinderella's Castle.
IMG_4424.JPG


Not very crowded.
IMG_4425.JPG


And isn't it beautiful?!
IMG_4426.JPG


We got off and headed to guest services to get my AP initiated. Initially Seth didn't want a card as he had it on his phone. But when he saw mine he admitted it was a cool graphic and decided to get a card. I apologize, I didn't take a photo of the cards.

And then finally, we make it to Main Street USA!!!
 

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
MAY 20th We're heeerrreeee!

We left off with getting our AP's straightened out and took a selfie in front of the train station as proof to everyone that 1600 miles later, we had arrived!
So happy to be here!
IMG_7948.JPG


We sauntered up Main Street. And it was so weird, but I kept getting a little choked up.
I hid it from Seth who would have tortured me endlessly!

Right as we headed towards the castle Seth said look mom!
My favorite and his gal were headed back stage!
IMG_7950.JPG


I made him pose for some photo pass pics with minimal grumbling on his part.
IMG_4467.JPG
IMG_4468.JPG

IMG_4472.JPG

IMG_4476.JPG


And a favorite of mine! I thought it was a cute magic shot.
IMG_4473.JPG


We walked over to Tron to see if they would allow us to use our queue spot, that we were well over an hour late for, but the CM at the bottom of the ramp said they would not.
No idea if we had gone straight up and just tried with our bands if they would have taken pity on us, but it was hot and we decided that we would just ride some other rides and kill some time till our ILL was called. Tron was the priority of the day.

We walked over to the People Mover and it said a 30 minute wait time.
While we waited to go up the ramp we watched a young teenager continuously walk up the down ramp (with parents present) until finally a CM had to come over and intervene. :banghead:

We stood in the blazing sun of the People Mover line for about 20 minutes. While we were in line I asked Seth if he would like to try to see if there were any reservations available in the park for a sit down and we really lucked out. Just as I opened the app I found 2 seats for 5:55 for The Jungle Navigation Co., with our Tron ride time to start at 5:05. Might be a little tight but doable. Score!

We were rewarded with a nice relaxing ride after our sun tanning time!
IMG_4431.JPG


IMG_4434.JPG


After that I suggested Buzz but Seth was reluctant with a 40 minute wait time listed. I looked at the line and it barely extended outside and said I'll bet that time is incorrect.
We headed over to see if I was right.
 
Last edited:

littleroo

Well-Known Member
MAY 20th We're heeerrreeee!

We left off with getting our AP's straightened out and took a selfie in front of the train station as proof to everyone that 1600 miles later, we had arrived!
So happy to be here!
View attachment 726099

We sauntered up Main Street. And it was so weird, but I kept getting a little choked up.
I hid it from Seth who would have tortured me endlessly!

Right as we headed towards the castle Seth said look mom!
My favorite and his gal were headed back stage!
View attachment 726119

I made him pose for some photo pass pics with minimal grumbling on his part. View attachment 726101View attachment 726102
View attachment 726104
View attachment 726106

And a favorite of mine! I thought it was a cute magic shot.
View attachment 726105

We walked over to Tron to see if they would allow us to use our queue spot, that we were well over an hour late for, but the CM at the bottom of the ramp said they would not.
No idea if we had gone straight up and just tried with our bands if they would have taken pity on us, but it was hot and we decided that we would just ride some other rides and kill some time till our ILL was called. Tron was the priority of the day.

We walked over to the People Mover and it said a 30 minute wait time.
While we waited to go up the ramp we watched a young teenager continuously walk up the down ramp (with parents present) until finally a CM had to come over and intervene. :banghead:

We stood in the blazing sun of the People Mover line for about 20 minutes. While we were in line I asked Seth if he would like to try to see if there were any reservations available in the park for a sit down and we really lucked out. Just as I opened the app I found 2 seats for 5:55 for The Jungle Navigation Co., with our Tron ride time to start at 5:05. Might be a little tight but doable. Score!

We were rewarded with a nice relaxing ride after our sun tanning time!
View attachment 726113

View attachment 726114

After that I suggested Buzz but Seth was reluctant with a 40 minute wait time listed. I looked at the line and it barely extended outside and said I'll bet that time is incorrect.
We headed over to see if I was right.
The pictures are amazing! So glad you are finally relaxing!
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom