Trip Report Part III - as in Caballeros (plus 2)

My first trip report - we'll see how this goes...

We are driving up from Fort Lauderdale, about 3 to 3 1/2 hours, right...NOW.

We were supposed to leave tomorrow morning, but decided a few days ago to get a jump on things today. Only problem was our doggy-sitter (booked for Monday) had other plans and could not come today, so we wanted to wait until late enough that it would be OK to leave our precious pup overnight. I hate leaving this fuzzy face!!

That's about 58 pounds of Shep/Chow mix we call Kylie. I love this dog too much and miss her every day of these trips! (Kylie will be 6 next month.)

Almost my turn to drive - not gonna take a pic of us now looking a little frumpy - so here's a shot of us at a random local bar. You probably should get used to bar pics.

That's Brian on the left and me on the right. We're heading up for our 8 year wedding anniversary on Tuesday the 8th. Yes, we were married on 9/8/7 - very easy to remember!

Hoping to arrive just in time to get our TiW card at DTD and hit Raglan Road. (Never been.) Staying off property tonight as it will be all about getting right to sleep and hoping for that early check-in text so we can avoid the separate check-in bldg at CBR! Fingers crossed.

Well, we moved from I-95 to the FL Turnpike a few minutes back, and that was my cue to take the wheel, so I'd better do that or risk a dirty look LOL.

I miss my puppy!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We hung out for a bit – it was very hot. Didn't want to get too tired for the drive home. Finally went to go buy a shirt I had seen the day before, but half of Main Street on one side was closed!

You know how you can usually walk into Casey's and bypass all of Main Street by walking from shop to shop? The exit from Casey's to the first shop was blocked off ( which is exactly where I saw my navy blue sleeveless T-shirt with Mickey on it and 1971.)

So we thought we would walk down main street and come in through one of the shops on the other side. But again, we came to a spot where the usual doorway was blocked off. We went outside and realized they had papered over the windows on several shops.

I should mention there seemed to be a lot of reduced services all of a sudden. This is not me complaining, just making you guys aware who are going soon. First of all, it wasn't as empty as it normally is this time of year. It seemed fairly crowded to us. But when we arrived at The ticket and transportation station that morning, there was no monorail running to the Magic Kingdom. Everyone had to take the ferry. There are worse things in the world to be sure LOL, but it made for a very crowded ferry. Same thing coming back.

Fun side note: every single time we drove to a park, we were literally one minute late to get a good parking spot, and were waved down to the very end of the next row LOL. On that last morning, it actually worked in our favor. We were joking how it had now happened every single time, and if we would just learn to leave the room five minutes sooner LOL… But as it turned out, the end of that row in the villains section was easy walking distance under that little bridge to get to the ferry boat. Walking to the tram would have been a much longer process. #winners!

I got some work done in the car, enjoyed my Caribbean pork sandwich, then took over driving so Brian could nap. We arrived home around 6 PM to this:

And all is well.

Do it again in two months! Haven't booked it yet, so can't start the countdown thread yet. Next time we will have to do animal kingdom because we completely skipped it this time. And no more trying to park-hop for two hour increments. Bad, bad idea LOL. I think sometimes I remember things like that for a while, and then my old-age kicks in and I completely forget what I've learned and do it all over again LOL.

Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and keeping up and commenting – this was fun, and we appreciate your kindness and playing along.

 

[sheriffwoody]

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! And Kylie is adorable. I'm sure she was glad to have you home Leaving mine is always the hardest part of going on vacation. I have to text our dog sitter at least once a day to check on him. I'm sure that's not annoying at all

Have a great time planning the next trip!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Sounds like a great trip and so pleased you had a great anniversary. Sounds like some great cast members made it special. How much do those records go for they look really neat. Hope your last day isn't too painful and you have a safe journey home

Most of the records were $21.99 each. The Nightmare Before Christmas was as double album, so that one was about $29.99.

We did find more of them at a store next to Philharmagic, on a little rack behind the counter - so you don't have to go to the Contemporary resort for 'em!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! And Kylie is adorable. I'm sure she was glad to have you home Leaving mine is always the hardest part of going on vacation. I have to text our dog sitter at least once a day to check on him. I'm sure that's not annoying at all

Have a great time planning the next trip!

I am crazy with that because I can see on my house alarm app every time any door is opened and closed. On a previous trip, we were back at the room and I realized I hadn't heard from the puppysitter. (I will refer to Kylie as a puppy forever, I don't know why.) Anyway, 11:30PM I was texting and calling until she finally responded that she (the sitter) had fallen asleep at her own home. Kylie had not been out since 6AM!!

She's generally very good, and very good with Kylie, but not as good as she used to be. (She used to text me pics twice a day lol.)

Usually when we drive up, we will bring her with us, take her to Best Friends Pet Care during the day (only) and then stay at the Red Roof Inn in Kissimmee, so we can pick her up after we leave the parks, and bring her back to the room with us to sleep. I feel this is less traumatic than leaving her overnight in a (decent-sized) cage.

They have a nice big play area in the back, so before going to the parks, we take her to BFPC, play with her outside to get her a little tired and just have some fun, and then she stays fine there during the day. She doesn't typically eat as well, which is ok, because again, we'll take her back to our room and she'll be totally normal and eat, etc.

Red Roof Inn is not a palace by any stretch, but it's typically under $40 per night, and takes dogs of her size without charging any pet fee. Plus we've stayed there enough now that we know everything in the area - the Publix supermarket, the Chinese take-out, the Disney outlet etc.

Best Friends Pet care if I recall is something like $22 to $24 for "day care" and only $18 if you leave her for six hours or less (considered a half-day.) They are open until 1 hour after the last park closes. It's a good place, I recommend it. It's pretty close to the Port Orleans area on Bonnet Creek Parkway.

But if we are flying up or staying on property, I'd rather she stay in her own home with the run of the place and twice-daily visits from the sitter than to be locked up overnight, even if we can go visit during the day.

 

[unkadug]

Random picture – where is this from? You get one guess.

Wouldn't that be a fun thread? "Guess where I am at WDW."

You are standing under an awning type structure looking out at a hedge somewhere in the Magic Kingdom?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

You are standing under an awning type structure looking out at a hedge somewhere in the Magic Kingdom?

The "in the Magic Kingdom" part is correct. The answer I'm looking for is outside a particular attraction.

 

[MinnieM123]

That was a fun trip report and thank you for sharing. You guys did a lot in just a few days! (Reminds me a little of the title of an old movie, "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium!"

I love your dog, Kylie, by the way--what a sweetie!! I also have a dog, too, but don't have to worry about him when I go to WDW (once a year), because my husband takes care of him at home. (Hubby isn't a WDW fan, so he watches the dog for a few days, while I'm away. This works out quite well for our dog!). We have travelled other places with the dog, however, and found some nice pet-friendly lodging in various places. It really lowers the stress level when you don't have to kennel your dog overnight.

 

[unkadug]

The "in the Magic Kingdom" part is correct. The answer I'm looking for is outside a particular attraction.

OK...my official guess is in the queue for HM.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

That was a fun trip report and thank you for sharing. You guys did a lot in just a few days! (Reminds me a little of the title of an old movie, "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium!"

I love your dog, Kylie, by the way--what a sweetie!! I also have a dog, too, but don't have to worry about him when I go to WDW (once a year), because my husband takes care of him at home. (Hubby isn't a WDW fan, so he watches the dog for a few days, while I'm away. This works out quite well for our dog!). We have travelled other places with the dog, however, and found some nice pet-friendly lodging in various places. It really lowers the stress level when you don't have to kennel your dog overnight.

Thanks - and I agree about the stress level with the dog! (We did HM twice this trip, and both times when we pass the whining dog in the beginning of the graveyard scene I said, "I miss my puppy!")

 

[Tony the Tigger]

OK...my official guess is in the queue for HM.

Winner! Specifically just outside the entrance door (we had to wait for the doors to reopen) and looking to the right.

 

[StephK]

Thanks for the report, Your puppy looks beautiful! What a great face to come home too!

 

[smk]

question? Where exactly is the red roof inn? We are driving down, would love to take the dog, he is a mutt, blue heeler/rot mix but at least 90 pounds. He basically looks just like a rottie. We are planning a very last minute trip, and have a room off site, which we said we would NEVER do, but I have to have my fix! So we are not opposed to staying somewhere augie can join us.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

question? Where exactly is the red roof inn? We are driving down, would love to take the dog, he is a mutt, blue heeler/rot mix but at least 90 pounds. He basically looks just like a rottie. We are planning a very last minute trip, and have a room off site, which we said we would NEVER do, but I have to have my fix! So we are not opposed to staying somewhere augie can join us.

It's near the intersection of hwy 192 and 535, but the official address is I think 4970 Kyng's Heath Rd. there's an entrance on 192, and the other on KHR. Very convenient to the parks and the pet place, and since it's in Kissimmee, no $15 resort fees. You can often get a "red hot deal" on their site to save money.

Now, although the hotel was renovated a few years ago, it's not the best kept up as far as housekeeping, etc. we generally don't care. Some people would.

Right across the street: Publix, Burger King, 7-11, gas, Chinese, etc. Right next door: another Chinese, a bar, etc. a couple of blocks away: Wawa, Walmart, and just up 535 is a Disney outlet.

Now, we've been going there literally 15 years or more. They have never charged us a pet fee, and we always specify in our reservation that we are bringing one well-behaved dog who has stayed there many times, and will only be there at night.

One time someone mentioned that they usually have a small surcharge for dogs over 50 pounds but that they wouldn't charge us because we come fairly often. Your mileage may vary. I leave the dog in the car with DH when I go check in just to avoid any question with a new employee, etc.

 

[sheriffwoody]

We have a beagle, so staying in a hotel with him would probably not work, even though I would LOVE to take him with us. One bay from him and the whole place would be calling the front desk on us. I have considered renting a camper (or taking my dad's if he'd let me) sometime though and staying at the campground! Chipper would have a ball out there.

Luckily our dog sitters keep him at their house (it's my husband's aunt and uncle) and they take really good care of him. But he always flips out when we come home Makes me feel good.

 

[smk]

realistically we will leave him home with our other dogs, they are brothers, literally. One has epilepsy and needs phenobarb on a schedule so our kids come and give meds, let them out, stay with them so they will eat. It s just nice to know on a quick trip, like this one will be, that we cold take him if we wanted too.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Looks like the next quick visit will be October 25-27th!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Looks like the next quick visit will be October 25-27th!

And it is!

I don't think this little day and a half to two day trip merits it's own trip report thread – so I think I will just continue here. (I hope that's not breaking any rules or something – I know they're crazy with rules around here LOL.)

So yesterday, after we both woke up at 5 AM, and Brian worked from 7 AM to 8 PM and I worked from 8 AM to 7:30 PM, we threw whatever we needed into the car And hit the road. Sunday night – no traffic - made it up in three hours - arriving at almost 1 AM and passed right out.

We are putting up with this:

For this:

It's the only place with no pet fee for big dogs.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

This morning, the plan was to let Brian sleep in a bit – he requires more sleep than I do – and get right to what we came for: food and wine. Hey, it doesn't open until 11 AM, so he can sleep, I can do a little work (I still woke up at 6 - that will come back to haunt me later) and we can take Kylie to Best Friends Pet Care by 10:30 and get to EPCOT by 11. I won't eat, it'll spoil my appetite.

Naturally, we roll up on BFPC at 11:20.

And I've never seen it so packed. And I'm starving lol. And we did no shot of Jack before leaving the room because...Food. Wine.

Lonely Jack.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Kylie and I made friends while Brian stood in line for 30 minutes.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

And here we are at 12:16 PM – continuing our tradition of getting one of the last spots in the row LOL.