Photo TR: UO, WDW, St. Pete, etc.

[dandaman]

“Aah, the googlies, they do nothing!”

The weirdest part of the drive was the next town over from the park. Not one meter more outside the park do you hit Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Considering the size, scope and overall tourist draw, one thing still had me confused: I’ve never heard of this place. Heck, now I really want to go back! It’s like the Clifton Hill (Niagara Falls, CA) of the Smokies!

First question: What are the odds of seeing Herbie twice in the same vacation? (Or apparently his offspring…?)

Or, for that matter…

Second question: I still want to know how the heck I never knew Gatlinburg existed! Star attractions like:

Guess I’ll just have to come back in the summer!

Hold on a minute.

If we’re in Pigeon Forge, then that must mean…

…omg omg omg Dollywood!

OK, so it wasn’t open ‘till late April, but still… I was CLOSE to new roller coasters. Yay?

 

[dandaman]

Keeping in tradition with ending my trip reports rather incongruously, that was the last picture I took! The rest of the ride home is rather boring, aside from maybe a few impressive evangelical churches (the Solid Rock Church with 40-foot stone Jesus sculpture in Dayton leaps to mind).

In closing, I’d like to thank all of you who survived the seemingly-endless barrage of photographs, which are by now surely making your eyes bleed. Some feedback would be nice. Questions? Comments? Requests? Cease-and-desist orders? Bring ‘em on. :lookaroun

Till next time, ladies and gentlemen!

:wave: :wave: :wave:

 

[Uponastar]

*raises hand*
I have a question:
Is an all-Universal-no-WDW vacation something you would do again? Did you enjoy the experience enough?
(Okay. . .that was actually 2 questions.)

Just want to add that you do fabulous trip reports, Daniel, and this one was no exception!
Thank you!

 

[PotteryGal]

Loved the mountain shots Dan! We live on the east side of Ohio, so we don't take the I-75 route. Looks like lots of beautiful shots! Enjoyed the whole trip report - maybe someday we'll fit in a trip to Universal, probably when the kiddos are older.

 

[nibblesandbits]

Thanks for the report Dan!!! I loved it!

 

[dandaman]

*raises hand*
I have a question:
Is an all-Universal-no-WDW vacation something you would do again? Did you enjoy the experience enough?
(Okay. . .that was actually 2 questions.)

But... it wasn't no-WDW, at least to some extent. :lookaroun

I definitely enjoyed the experience. Islands of Adventure is, to me, the only park really worth more than a day's visit. :shrug:

I'd like to do Disney at least once, as with every time. This vacation had so much jam-packed, I barely registered we never hit a Disney park. It was just that good. :lol:

I think DTD was the only thing I'd done before on the entire trip!

EDIT: On the trip, I ate at my first Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, and Chili's, too.

Loved the mountain shots Dan! We live on the east side of Ohio, so we don't take the I-75 route. Looks like lots of beautiful shots! Enjoyed the whole trip report - maybe someday we'll fit in a trip to Universal, probably when the kiddos are older.

Since we always have to come through Toledo's I-75 anyway, we have a lot of options. Split off to Cleveland and turn right at I-77, continue I-75, or just cut clear across Ohio and join I-77 just inside West Virginia. :lol:

 

[Uponastar]

But... it wasn't no-WDW, at least to some extent. :lookaroun

I definitely enjoyed the experience. Islands of Adventure is, to me, the only park really worth more than a day's visit. :shrug:

I'd like to do Disney at least once, as with every time. This vacation had so much jam-packed, I barely registered we never hit a Disney park. It was just that good. :lol:

I think DTD was the only thing I'd done before on the entire trip!

EDIT: On the trip, I ate at my first Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, and Chili's, too.



Since we always have to come through Toledo's I-75 anyway, we have a lot of options. Split off to Cleveland and turn right at I-77, continue I-75, or just cut clear across Ohio and join I-77 just inside West Virginia. :lol:

I know, I know you went to DTD . . .but no parks.
That would be difficult for me.

 

[Disneyracingfan]

If you still care the #99 car picture is Michael Waltrip's Bush series car.
The Pink hotel near Eckard College is the Don Cesar.. Most Presidents have stayed there and a ton of actors and actresses (great home made Ice cream shop in it too). St. Pete is a beautiful town and St. Pete beach is even better. There is a little Island you can see from the college toward the pink hotel My uncle has a house there and I have spent tons of time there.
Dollyland on the other hand is a whole different experience

 

[George]

Great thread Dandaman. Lots and lots of good pics.

We were in Tampa on Monday visiting the UT campus, also a nice place.

My dad was a professor at UT from 1972-2006. He just retired. Eckerd College is one of their rivals. All of these little expensive private schools in Florida used to play in the Sunshine State conference. I'm unsure if this athletic entity still exists.

 

[phantom groupie]

Yay Eckerd! I haven't really been to any of the games yet (I've been super busy) but I'm sure there are some schools that they REALLY want to beat above other ones.

 

[dandaman]

Even though Eckerd doesn't have a football team, I have confidence they could still beat Michigan.