Our road trip, resort hopping, HOT, HOT, HOT trip report: August 9-21, 2010

I just got back a few days ago, and while laundry waits for me, I was excited to get started on this.

We are a family of six. There is me, Jenn, my hubby, Sam, 15 year old daughter, drama queen, Lexy (or as she has taken to calling herself by her middle name this trip Ariana :lol:), 9 year old daughter and mini drama queen, Lainey, 8 year old son, Roderick, and finally 6 year old daughter, Bella.

This was our first trip ever driving. My parents drove down when I was a kid, but we have never driven as adults. I was super excited for this new adventure. Sam was really not excited at all! He kept checking every day for flight prices to see if they had dropped.

I think because of this new experience there was more drama and crankiness before the trip. Sam and I were at each other a bit. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that I had this horrible mosquito bite. I had been itching it for days and on Saturday, the day we planned on leaving, it was very red and puffy looking. Really half of the back of my calf was involved. I asked Sam if he had ever seen a bug bite look like that and he said no. So we headed to the urgent care because I was worried that if it was getting infected that it would only get worse during our trip. So we spent two hours sitting around in a tiny boxlike room waiting to see a doctor for a prescription. It was crazy and not like we didn't have a million things to do. So we were snapping at each other a little, and I think at this point I didn't even want to go on the trip any more. I was ready to just scrap it. But we went home and starting throwing stuff in suitcases. Sam would have loved to been packed already but since I'm the procrastinator it wasn't done. Needless to say we were running late from our self-imposed leave time. Sam said if we were flying we would have missed the plane.

But at 10:30 at night we were finally ready to go. Here is the three little ones excited to get started. Lexy was cranky and too cool for this picture.

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I have a picture of Sam before we left, but he insisted on loading the garage with the door closed so not everyone would know we were leaving on vacation so he was hot and sweaty. :lol:

We have a 26 hour drive ahead of us without stops, be we left Saturday night because at this point we don't know if we'll want to stop and rest somewhere. We are due in on Monday the 9th and I wanted to be there right away in the morning. So here we go!
 

NORMNB8S

Member
I love trip reports that include pictures. All of the trip reports are nice, but the pictures add that little bit of extra touch that really makes me feel like I'm at the parks with you. Thanks for taking the time to do all of this.
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Okay, so that story about Bella thinking she had to pay is just too darn cute! I'm really glad you had a server that went above and beyond because the picture of everyone in the car is really good (and candid shots with EVERYONE in them are hard to come by). You're right, the theming at Sci-Fi can't be beat.

But more than anything, Sam drinking a Shirley Temple... classic! :ROFLOL:
 

eagles

Active Member
the bella story is adorable! yeah kids just can't wrap their minds around the money thing.
..i told austin yesterday i would hire him as my maid. i told him he had to do what maids do, clean kitchen floor with the steam cleaner, dishes, vacumn, dust, make the beds etc. he asked me how much i would pay him. i said $7.00 a week. his face lit up. he said wow, after 5 weeks he would have $35 :ROFLOL:

we usually go to the sci fi, when we go to the studios. just love that place. we only have ever order the burger/fries and shake though. have never had a bad meal there.

we also love a break in the 'honey i shrunk the kids' playground. but that place is so hot normally. i can't believe you could be in there in august! i almost passed out just from thinking about it. that guy in the background of one of your pics made me laugh out loud. he just looks so tired and hot. :lol:

there are probably other comments to be made, but i already forgot them. i need to write them down as i read.
 

disneygirl1

Well-Known Member
Whoo... Finally all caught up!!! Ok... Where should I start...

The pool, looks like you all had a great time that afternoon! And the balcony... I am so excited to stay at AKL for the balcony! I can not wait to wake up in the morning and drink my coffee out there!!! What a way to start the day!!!

'Ohana, we have only ever ate breakfast there... Is the dinner good? We are planning on eating there next summer when we go!!!

OMG the story of Bella at Sci Fi is too cute!!!

Can't wait to read more!
 

mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I really like looking through your pictures. Roddy remindes me of myself when I was around his age, especially the looking for lizards.

Thanks! Roddy really loves all animals. He's our nature boy.

I love trip reports that include pictures. All of the trip reports are nice, but the pictures add that little bit of extra touch that really makes me feel like I'm at the parks with you. Thanks for taking the time to do all of this.

You're welcome! And thanks for the encouragement!

Okay, so that story about Bella thinking she had to pay is just too darn cute! I'm really glad you had a server that went above and beyond because the picture of everyone in the car is really good (and candid shots with EVERYONE in them are hard to come by). You're right, the theming at Sci-Fi can't be beat.

But more than anything, Sam drinking a Shirley Temple... classic! :ROFLOL:

I know, how funny is Sam with his Shirley Temple? I always document when he orders one. He usually has one at 50s too, but this time he didn't. I guess he didn't want to get ridiculed again!

the bella story is adorable! yeah kids just can't wrap their minds around the money thing.
..i told austin yesterday i would hire him as my maid. i told him he had to do what maids do, clean kitchen floor with the steam cleaner, dishes, vacumn, dust, make the beds etc. he asked me how much i would pay him. i said $7.00 a week. his face lit up. he said wow, after 5 weeks he would have $35 :ROFLOL:

we usually go to the sci fi, when we go to the studios. just love that place. we only have ever order the burger/fries and shake though. have never had a bad meal there.

we also love a break in the 'honey i shrunk the kids' playground. but that place is so hot normally. i can't believe you could be in there in august! i almost passed out just from thinking about it. that guy in the background of one of your pics made me laugh out loud. he just looks so tired and hot. :lol:

there are probably other comments to be made, but i already forgot them. i need to write them down as i read.

The look on Bella's face was so funny when she was asked to pay! I wonder how long it will take Austin before he is no longer impressed with $35?! :lol:

And the play area was hot, but not as hot as sitting out in the sun, that was the worst! At least here was shade there.

I love the individual pics of your family lighted by the lights in the car. I'm really enjoying this report!

Thanks!

Whoo... Finally all caught up!!! Ok... Where should I start...

The pool, looks like you all had a great time that afternoon! And the balcony... I am so excited to stay at AKL for the balcony! I can not wait to wake up in the morning and drink my coffee out there!!! What a way to start the day!!!

'Ohana, we have only ever ate breakfast there... Is the dinner good? We are planning on eating there next summer when we go!!!

OMG the story of Bella at Sci Fi is too cute!!!

Can't wait to read more!

We really, really enjoyed dinner at Ohana! We had heard not so great reviews, but we had a wonderful experience. Our cousins were great and the food was delicious! We especially loved the bread and the noodles and broccoli! And the steak was very good too! Not to mention that we all got lei'd! :lol:
 

Beccone

New Member
Loving your trip report, it's so funny because so far all of the restaurants you have gone to are on our list for our next trip, great minds think alike!:)
 

PeoplemoverTTA

Well-Known Member
Wow, what a great way to relax on Labor Day! Your trip report is awesome...I'm a firm believer in more pics = better :).

Can't wait to read the rest :sohappy:
 

lisak09

Well-Known Member
Just finished reading the report so far, now i'm exhausted! And i was supposed to be doing the washing as my husband hasn't a clean shirt for work tomorrow! Really enjoyed the report and photos so far, keep it coming the washing can wait! Your children are adorable, it looks like you all had a brilliant time. We were there from Aug 14 -Aug 28 and the heat was unbelieveable especially the 1st week.
 

KnK

New Member
Jenn, I've only got a couple more days till I leave.........don't make we wait an extra 10 days to finish your great report.
 

mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Loving your trip report, it's so funny because so far all of the restaurants you have gone to are on our list for our next trip, great minds think alike!:)

Definitely! Enjoy! We so did!

Wow, what a great way to relax on Labor Day! Your trip report is awesome...I'm a firm believer in more pics = better :).

Can't wait to read the rest :sohappy:

Thanks!

This is such an entertaining report!! You have a beautiful family!

Thank you!

Umm, yeah... it's about time for that update now, Jenn!! :D

I know! I'm sorry! I just go super busy! I thought maybe with writing your trip report you wouldn't notice!

Just finished reading the report so far, now i'm exhausted! And i was supposed to be doing the washing as my husband hasn't a clean shirt for work tomorrow! Really enjoyed the report and photos so far, keep it coming the washing can wait! Your children are adorable, it looks like you all had a brilliant time. We were there from Aug 14 -Aug 28 and the heat was unbelieveable especially the 1st week.

Definitely hot! Glad you had fun!

Jenn, I've only got a couple more days till I leave.........don't make we wait an extra 10 days to finish your great report.

I'm sorry, Kris! I'm trying to get more up now. Although I'm not sure if I'll be finished in 10 days! I've still got a lot more to go!
 

mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
sorry for the delay! We're back onto Day 4, August 11th.

Whoo! With all of that dark in Sci Fi, it's weird to walk out into the sunlight again. We almost expected it to be nighttime now.

We wandered around and listened to some Mulch, Sweat, and Shears. Is that what it's called? The kids cooled off in the hydrant.

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I know, I'm a crazy person. But this gives me warm fuzzy feelings of New York. Even if it isn't a real subway entrance...

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We had gotten fastpasses again for Toy Story much earlier in the day. And that was really what we were waiting around for.

I gave it my most valiant effort, and was doing so well! Sam sat with me, much to the complaints from the kids who didn't want to sit with each other. Sam said, I'm sitting with your mother and that's the way it is! So I was able to keep an eye on him and see what I needed. I was beating him the whole stinking way through, and then it was the final shot where you can't see your score. It came up...... and he came from behind for the win!!!!! He was thrilled! I was much less so!

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And we were out of there! We would find out later that we were lucky to leave when we did.

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Sam really wanted me to take this picture. He is a huge Star Wars fan, but didn't want to spend the money to do the special last tour of endor thing.

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I thought this was the neatest soda machine I had ever seen!

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mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
While waiting to catch the bus back to OKW, I felt just a twinge of sadness that we weren't going to be taking this mode of transportation back to our hotel. I guess I sort of missed the Boardwalk and Beach Club.

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In memory of our last night at OKW, here are some more fabulous scenery to be found around. I'm sure I've mentioned many times how much I loved it!!

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Here's why it was lucky that we left the Studios when we did, it started POURING after we got back. So it was another night of sitting on the balcony and watching the rain. We saw a poor guy in a slicker running around and felt bad for him.

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We got the kids to bed early since we had to be up at the crack of dawn to check into BLT and get to our breakfast reservations. Who scheduled that?!

Then, Sam and I went down to get a bite quick. I'm not sure why, since we've been eating like pigs, but we're on vacation, so we split and sandwich and enjoyed ourselves on a picnic bench.

Last pictures of OKW.

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HopLow

Member
I always enjoy your trip reports. Your family is adorable! Looking forward to the rest!

And I love the pic of the chandeliers at night. Gorgeous!!
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Yay... more trip report! I can't wait to see your Bay Lake Tower pictures, especially the ones you took while leaving your poor family loaded down with the luggage outside. :lol:
 

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