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.

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

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

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!

 

[MickeyCB]

Sorry to hear the hip is hurting so bad - the surgery might be a "pain" but in the long "run" you will be happy you did it.
(not speaking from personal experience - but have had a few workmates get it done and it is a "short term pain/long term gain" thing)


Max

What part of coward didn't you read?!

But to be serious for a moment, I'm also trying to figure out how to fit it in with Gary's treatment schedule. He's weekly at Hillman Cancer Center here and it's an hour drive each way.
We'll figure it out.

 

[MickeyCB]

Yes, yes I can.

 

[MickeyCB]

Inquiring minds want to know -

Did you later come across the coffee maker and coffee pods (or k-cups depending on coffee maker) that are in every Disney resort room (including DVC) I have stayed in?

Whether it's urban legend or not, have you read about how nasty those things can be?!
At least I know my 18 hour old coffee is sterile having lived in the fridge overnight!
The tolerance probably comes from drinking nasty hospital coffee all of these years.

 

[MickeyCB]

I agree with Max. I know you are scared but I have had many people I know have the surgery and it is a game changer! Well worth it! Keep us posted and I am glad you got on Guardians. It is the best!

See my response to Max.
I don't like needles, knives and drills, Oh my!
Loved Guardians!

 

[MickeyCB]

Glad you at least were able to get a LL for GOTG! So sorry to hear that you were in so much pain after having to wait that long for Remy. My mom recently had hip replacement surgery that she kept putting off, but she was so glad she did it in the end because she is so much more mobile now! I understand your fear because I know I should have back surgery, but I keep trying every other alternative to see if it helps the issue and so far, it hasn't helped much.

Guardians is very cool for sure!
I'm a goof for not sitting in the chair, pride goeth and all of that.
I'm sorry you're having problems, backs are the worst!

 

[littleroo]

See my response to Max.
I don't like needles, knives and drills, Oh my!
Loved Guardians!

Trust me, you have got this!

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Whether it's urban legend or not, have you read about how nasty those things can be?!
At least I know my 18 hour old coffee is sterile having lived in the fridge overnight!

I run two cycles of just water before I’ll use one but the more I think about them the less I use them.

The tolerance probably comes from drinking nasty hospital coffee all of these years.

Sorry to hear about your hip trouble. It sucks that it’s something you really can’t fix another way.

Life is filled with many things that you don’t want to do or think you could never do but somehow you’ll end up on the other side before you know it. I suspect you’ll wish you had done it earlier.

 

[Spash007]

I just had 3 family members get hip replacements done this week (it was a very odd coincidence!), and they are all doing very well. Including ones who were terrified before hand, and have said recovery is going better than they expected. But I completely understand being nervous about surgery - I haven’t had to have a major one done yet, and I’m really hoping to put it off as long as possible!

And for the coffee - I do the same thing sometimes! Especially before early mornings, or when there isn’t another good option. It’s just like any other drink!

 

[Tiggertoo56]

Loved following along with your adventures; coming from the UK we don't have journeys of that length!
Sorry to hear about the hip issue My mom had both hips and knees replaced over 10 years ago (4 different ops) following issues from a huge RTA 50 years ago. Although she was terrified and worried about the ops she went through with them and hasn't looked back since. She is now in her 80s and still going strong. I've also just had a half elbow replacement (due to a silly fall and landing awkwardly!) and I had no option and hate needles, hospitals etc. You'll get there.
I hope you manage to find a way to sort it and fit in with Gary's treatment.

 

[cgersic]

What a great Epcot morning!!! You're making me want to start planning another trip Healing thoughts to both you and Gary and that you get the timing figured out.

 

[MickeyCB]

the more I think about them the less I use them.

I suspect you’ll wish you had done it earlier.

Definitely, probably.

And for the coffee - I do the same thing sometimes! Especially before early mornings, or when there isn’t another good option. It’s just like any other drink!

I was just researching this after reading your comment. Apparently the coffee reheated "changes flavor."
I'm thinking we do some inventing here.
We could be rich, rich I say!

I've also just had a half elbow replacement (due to a silly fall and landing awkwardly!)

Oucherronies!!!

Healing thoughts to both you and Gary and that you get the timing figured out.

Thanks, and thanks to everyone for your thoughts. We'll figure it out eventually.

 

[MickeyCB]

MAY 21st Hollywood Studios is a little bit of a ghost town!

We rode the Skyliner back to HS and I was very surprised how empty it was.

We stopped at a popcorn cart to buy the new, somewhat silly, popcorn bucket. (I think it's very funny and couldn't miss adding it to my collection). @Darstarr !!
While we waited for our reservation time we took a few pics.

Love the little picnic ants!

So very excited to try this new restaurant!
It was hot as blazes waiting outside. It was a little annoying because inside there were benches in the waiting/foyer area that would have seated quite a few people and got them out of the sun.
I don't for the life of me understand the cheap, maybe just poorly thought out way Disney builds like this knowing it's either hot, raining or both in Florida!
And it's not like it's their first RODEO!

At first we were sitting across from the restaurant perched on a fence or light post base. Then we moved over to the area behind the CM's at the check in stand because there was a little shade there. They said no problem but the one CM told me to watch out for the snakes that they had seen more than one of in the shrubbery behind me!
Just no, big ole no. Standing in the sun will be just fine.
I had picked up another wheelchair at the entrance and we had moved it to that shade area.
I made Seth check it for snakes when we came out before I would touch it. He was not amused!

Next up some food pics of our delicious linner.

 

[littleroo]

I hate snakes!

 

[lindawdw]

Yikes, you know there are snakes in Florida but I don't need to see them, thank you. Hope you enjoyed the meal!

 

[MickeyCB]

I hate snakes!

You're darn tootin!!

Yikes, you know there are snakes in Florida but I don't need to see them, thank you. Hope you enjoyed the meal!

Totally agree, and it was really good!

 

[MickeyCB]

MAY 21st Roundup Rodeo!

This by the way is the snake central area if you are ever here. It was in the rock/dirt area behind my back when I took this photo.

The entrance area and some views of the interior. The seating area I mentioned earlier and restrooms are to the left of this photo.

Little note of caution for people who don't react well to sensory overload. It is visually very busy, it's loud and maybe a little overwhelming in there. But, with that said, super fun to look at all of the details.

There is an insane amount of food delivered to your table. We were chatting with the waitress and she said they actually had a few weeks of training before it opened to just figure out how to get all of the serving plates onto the tables!

The first part of the service included Prospector's homemade cheddar biscuits, Rootin Tootin tomato salad, Rex's romaine and kale salad and Wheezy's Watermelon salad that I loved.

Up next was a choice of a main item for the table either the platter of meat that includes smoked ribs, beef brisket, "There's a sausage in my boot!" and BBQ chicken.
Or Trixie's plant-based trio. Combat Carloflower with harissa drizzle and walmut gremolat (no idea what any of that is), bratwurst and Rip roarin rib chop.
Seth has basically gone plant based in the last year or so but I prefer meat. The waitress was so nice and brought the normal platter of meat to the table but also brought Seth a dish of all of the plant based choices.

Meat serving.

Plant based dish.

Oddly enough I found the sausage to be the most delicious part of the meat selections.
Seth had me try a little of his but either it is psychological because I knew or I just prefer the real thing. Not sure.
I'm running out of photo room so will post the sides we chose in the next section.

 

[MickeyCB]

Roundup Rodeo continued....

There are 8 different sides you can choose from with the table receiving 4.
We chose-
Mean old potato salad that I thought was really good.

Slinky dooooooog's mac & cheese that was a little weird, undercooked, I don't know.

Force field fried pickles, didn't quite like these but Seth did.

And Campfire-roasted vegetables. I really like these.

For dessert there are 5 desserts you can pick from.
Seth got the Cupcake a la Forky. And I got the Billy's chocolate silk pie.
They were both very tasty. And with the volume of food the small size of these is a great idea.

I really enjoyed this meal. It was a unique to Disney type of restaurant and I thought the majority of the dishes were very tasty.

I was actually a little upset at the amount of wasted food that resulted. We were chatting with the waitress about this too, and she said they have a composting process, but it was still a little depressing to see food wasted like this.
I know the flip side is people would complain if there was too little served as well.

This would be a great place for large families and I was specifically thinking about people on here who have commented on their teenagers and the volume of food they historically consume. I think they would love it.
I did not ask if they offer refills of food as we didn't need it obviously.
It runs $45/adult and $25/kid ages 3-9.

Next up, our my last night at Disney. Mr I Moved To Orlando, would be back within the week.

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

That Mac and cheese looks gross.

 

[MickeyCB]

That Mac and cheese looks gross.

And it's the one food that you can usually get little ones to eat. Would be a bummer if you were counting on that at this place!
I don't know if that was a random weird serving or what they usually offer.

 

[lindawdw]

That is definitely a lot of food served but it does seem like a great deal for people with big appetites! I love the Toy Story decor although the noise factor would probably be a deal breaker for me. Glad you enjoyed the meal and ambience!