Amy and Mom's Wild and Crazy WDW Trip Updated *6/10* About This Page:

[iamgrumpy]

Amy & Mom’s Wild and Crazy Adventure 2004

The Cast:



Amy -21( 22 during the trip) -multiple trips over the year and fanatic of all things Disney!

Angela (my mom) 48- multiple trips- Disney and QVC fanatic



Celebrating: Amy’s Birthday and No More Snow for the next 5-6 months



Trip Dates : May 14th (travel Date) through May 24 (departure day)



Where we are staying : Split stay 7 nights at Ft. Wilderness Cabins

2 nights at Boardwalk Inn Standard view



Special requests: loop 2100 or 2500 close to end of loops

Room near the elevator for the BWI





********* Pre Trip **********





This is my first Trip Report and not sure how this is supposed to be like so I hope you like it. I haven’t had the chance to go on a real vacation for a couple of years due to work and situations in my personal life. So right around the Christmas and New years I decided that I wanted to go to Disney again. Since I am not one to travel anywhere else it was an easy decision. I prefer not to fly because of being Pooh Sized and its just not comfortable for me. My job that I have now is flexible with time off so all I had to do was talk my Mom into going by car since I knew I wouldn’t need to talk her into going in the first time. We originally wanted to arrive on Monday 5/17 and we wanted to stay until 5/22. We booked for the Pop Century but discovered the discount code for Ft Wilderness Cabins. We wanted to keep the same dates but found out that if we checked in 2 days earlier we could get the discount otherwise we were out of luck. So now May 15th to May 22nd whoohoo! 2 extra days. We wanted to extend our stay by 1 or 2 days because we wanted to make it worth buying a Annual Pass. We plan on going again later in the year. When the discount codes came out I never noticed the AP Code so I booked at the BBY code rate for the Boardwalk Inn Standard view. After going online I realized that AP Rates also came out and called back and switched to that rate. So now we are going 5/15-5/24.



I had gotten a gift card to the mall from my place of employment for the Holidays so I bought a 6 day PHP but will upgrade to an AP before C/I and my mom is also purchasing an AP when we get there. We started planning on where to eat, what things we wanted to try and things we would need since we would be driving just the 2 of us in my 2 year old car. Took the car in for its tune up and bought new tires for it. Went with a family member to AAA and got a Trip Tick and all the books that come with it for the drive. Purchased a EZ Pass for the tolls and Bought new clothes for the trip. With all things done and mostly packed all I have to do now is wait and make time pass faster.





Sorry this was long winded

[iamgrumpy]

I also wanted to post our plans. Sorry if this is too long but hope you enjoyed it so far

So Far our plans are as follows:

5/14 Friday 2 am- depart CT and drive as far as we can hopefully stopping in northern South Carolina.
5/15-Saturday- depart from stop and drive to Florida stopping at a Super Walmart and the Outlets
Continue on to FT Wilderness and C/I
Dinner PS at Boma

5/16 Sunday - would like to do AK in Morning and MGM in the Afternoon taking break in the
afternoon to take a dip in the pool and rest a bit in between.

5/17 Monday- would like to go to Epcot in the Am and MK in the Afternoon
maybe resort hop a little as a break take monorail and explore

5/18 Tuesday- My birthday- would like to do MGM again in the Morning and then MK in the evening
PS for my birthday somewhere yet to be announced.

5/19 Wednesday- MK in the AM and take a break and finish up MK (hopefully they will have that
EMH in the Evening)

5/20- Thursday- TL or BB in the morning and then DTD and relax in the afternoon then onto the
yacht/beach club for a Illuminations Cruise with a fellow Passporter.

5/21-Friday- Finish up Epcot and then head over to MGM and finish as much there as we can

5/22- Saturday- Check out of FT Wilderness Cabins and check into Boardwalk. Explore new Resort
and use pool In the evening Resort Hop and look around/or go to a park and ride things we want to redo

5/23-Sunday- Our last full day at Disney World. DTD to finish up shopping. Park hop to get last
minute souvenirs/pictures/autographs. Ride anything that looks redo-able. Pack up and
have dinner. Get to bed on an early side

5/24-Monday- Check out and start home drive until we can’t stand it much longer. Maybe near DC or near PA somewhere and find a place to stop and stay over catch dinner and rest for drive home.

5/25- Tuesday- Arrive Home and edit Trip Report. Post it online at some point that week.


Sorry this is so long and any suggestions or questions please ask and let me know.
Amy

[karmic]

Great start,Amy! Looking forward to reading it next month.

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Amy, hopefully we'll bump into you down there You're brave for driving, we could never do it! It's almost here! Looking forward to the report to come

[Mel & Richard]

Nice Pre TR. I can't wait to read the rest when you return. Have a wonderful time!

Mel

[MickeyMAC]

Great start Amy, we'll look forward to hearing more of your pre-trip plans and then a full trip report.

[poohsgirl]

<font color="purple"> I'm looking forward to your trip report now! </font>

[Coinbeach]

Looking forward to your trip report....And trust me, it could NEVER be too long.....Have a blast and give Mickey a hug for me!!!!!!

[iamgrumpy]

Thanks everyone..I will try hard to take good notes and such so I can make a fabulous trip report. I am so busy trying to get ready to go, my car needs to be checked still and I need to rotate tires, I can't seem to stop shopping for new clothes...why does QVC make it so easy for my mom and I to buy...ugh...lol. Getting closer to single digits and So much to do! Heigh Ho Heigh Ho its off to pack i go!!


Thanks for all the good feedback and hope to bump into some of you down there.


oh my car is a red focus with a CT license plate in case anyone is walking around ft wilderness and sees it stop by and say hi. We will have a sign up that says Amy &amp; Mom Disney Trip 2004 and one that depicts a cabin with my last name on it "Bedores" The "O" is a mickey head. So if you see it knock and say hi.


Amy

[Tara O'Hara]

Great start, Amy!~ I am looking forward to reading about your adventures with your Mom and maybe I will also run into you somewhere down there! Your plans look great!!

[wdwlovers]

Great pre-trip report Amy!! Hope to see you down there! DOn't forget the 17th is the PP ice cream meet at MK at 1pm.

[DrDolphin]

Great beginnings!!!

[luvnwdwgal]

Looks like you've got a great plan!
Have a great time and can't wait to read all about it!!

[Waltismyhero]

Amy, I loved reading about your plans and I'm eagerly awaiting hearing all about your trip. Have a wonderful time!

[iamgrumpy]

Day 0 and Day 1 - The Packing, The Driving and the slums....

My mom and I packed the car Friday afternoon and I almost forgot to get gas but crisis was resolved when I went in my pajamas to get the gas. This was going to set the mood for the whole drive. For two people the amount of luggage we had, if we were flying we would need the whole jet for just our luggage. I had one suitcase, one over night bag, my laptop bag, a backpack, and a purse. My mom on the other hand deemed it necessary for one suitcase filled to the ends of the earth, a overnight bag, a box filled with 10 pairs of shoes, 5 handbags, and I believe a kitchen sink (ok not the sink but felt like it). On top of that she packed her pack portable with magazines, 2 pillows, books, guides, food, drinks, and other stuff that never got touched since we had so much other stuff. On top of that she had her beauty products in one of those 10 gallon tupperware containers filled to the brim. Then the stuff that did not fit in any of those went in walmart bags, I felt like Jeff Foxworthy when he talks about his family going on vacation and packing all there stuff in igloo foam coolers and piggly wiggly bags. She stated that she planned on buying souvenirs, I asked her whether she planned on putting them on the roof or was she riding up there, definitely no room for souvenirs. After putting all the stuff in the car and taking a picture so we can pack it the same way on the way home we went to bed and waited to start the very long ride ahead of us.

We are driving from Connecticut to Florida and had wanted to stop in Florence SC the first night. My mom drove until Virginia and then I drove for a bit and then we switched off for a while. When we were close to Lumberton, NC we were going to stop but I wanted to get further before stopping so the next day would be smoother. We looked in the AAA guidebook to find something decent but affordable since the week before we leave they hike gas prices through the roof. Well we decided to try a Best Western and they were too expensive in NC. We decided to call some places in Florence and if the price were right we would drive longer.

We called the Econo Lodge since we had stayed there 3 years ago when we drove down to drop me off at the College Program. We were quoted a nice rate and so we drove to Florence SC. We go to the hotel after a long but uneventful drive down, we go to check in and waited over 30 minutes (I timed it to see since this is my major and I critique everything). I had given my Credit Card over the phone and locked in a great rate and my preferences. I had gotten a Corporate Discount since I work for a major hotel\casino in Southeastern Ct. I believe it was like $42,95 a night. We were assigned a 1st floor 2 bed room and when we opened the door all I could think of was “slum world” you were met with a moldy mildew smell, and a wet soggy rug but the worst part was when you stepped in and all you felt was your feet sinking into the basement. We quickly turned around and went back to the front desk. I started timing to see how long it would take this time and that was another 30 minutes. As my mom and I stood in Line waiting to find out what they could do for us a guy in jean shorts and a paint covered shirt named Gino waltzes in and states that he is sorry for the wait they just got new computers and a new web based system and his internet is not high speed so it took a while. I grabbed Gino and explained that after driving 15 hours we were tired and walking into a room with no floor was not acceptable. He assigned us a new room but when we arrived to the room the door was open and after having it checked found the door did not lock. Off we went to the Front desk where we were given a refund. We went across the street to a Best Western and they also gave me a corporate rate/coupon after tax $53.95. It was a nicer room with a refrigerator and a microwave and a whole dry floor to walk on. A word to the wise if your driving and stop at exit 164 off 95 south, try the best western not the Econo Lodge. We woke up at 2 am and got ready. We were on the road by 3am and at Disney by 11:30 am.

Up next rest of the drive and Check in ...