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Post by tazdev3225 on Nov 1, 2011 12:46:41 GMT -5
Jay and I headed over to find Jim. He was right by Liberty Tree Tavern. We were a few minutes early for our ADR but decided to check in anyway. Was I glad we made early ADR's. The sky opened up just as we got there. As we sat and waited for our names to be called people were trying to check in with 7 and 8 PM ADR's. It was 6:00. That was how bad the rain was coming down. A lot of not very happy people left after being told to sit and wait 3 hours or come back when they were supposed to be there. The lobby We waited about 15 minutes for our table. View where we were seated I know a lot of people don't like the food for dinner but Jim loves it. I can also feed a teenage boy who is always hungry. It was more fun with the characters but will stay on our list of must do restaurants. Our waitress Chris was super nice. Her DH is also a sheriff in Orange County so she talked to Jim about that. She made sure our drinks were always full as well as refills of the food. Jay liked the mugs so Jim asked about buying one. She came out with one as a birthday present for Jay. We also got dessert and a surprise, 2 cupcakes with candles for Jay and I. He was not happy and threatened to call my mom and tell on me. I had originally planned on having a cake at Coral Reef for his birthday and she told me in no uncertain terms I was not to do that to him. I didn't plan the cupcakes. He refused to eat his but they were really good. I think this is my favorite picture of the whole trip. Jay is no longer my "best buddy" as it should be but he is still my 1st grandchild. Dinner over we ventured out to see the rain had finally stopped. First up Haunted Mansion Did Buzz Lightyear again with our FP from BTMRR Hard to tell but that was a look of determination on my face. I didn't beat Jim, Again. Carousel of Progress. Not a favorite of Jay's but no complaints I do find this attraction to be confusing. The instructions always vary; no pics, no flash pics or no mention of pics at all. An idea of how wet it got that night We rode Pirates one more time and headed back to ASMo. I ended my night packing for our departure. Jay packed his things and then got really upset. He had done the pick a pearl for his mom and got himself a samarai sword keychain. They were missing. He was beyond upset. I went down to the front desk to turn in the ECV. I asked a CM if I could file some sort of report in case it showed up when they cleaned the room the next day. I did make sure that in no way did I think Mousekeeping did anything wrong but I also thought it may have been accidentally thrown out. They were really nice about it. Jay was happy especially when I told him to give his mom my pearl. With that our last day ended.
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Post by tazdev3225 on Nov 1, 2011 13:14:36 GMT -5
DAY 8 The saddest day of all. We were heading home. We headed down to the food court and got breakfast. We also had 3 more CS credits left so we got some sandwiches for the trip home. I don't know how I managed to have 12 snack credits left. That worked out fine. I got bags of candy and pretzels and cotton candy for the other grandkids as souvenirs. We headed back up to the room for a final check and then Iloaded the car. I was tired of waiting on Jim. While he rearranged the car I went to the front to check out. I also needed to clear up the report from the night before. While packing the final things up Jay's bag mysteriously reappeared. We think Anthony hid it in a side pocket. I also needed to get Beth's stroller from Bell services. With that we were on our way home. As soon as we hit the road I was asleep. About an hour or so later Jim woke me up. I had mentioned that I wanted to see the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. He surprised me with a stop there. I don't always climb to the top but Jay and I decided to check out the view After taking some pics I realized how high we were. I have a fear of heights. OK I know that sounds weird since I climbed a lighthouse but when I want to take pics I forget until I look down. Then the panic attacks set in. We spent about 45 minutes here and then we were on our way home. Georgia South Carolina South of the Border North Carolina Virginia We stopped in Virginia for gas. I believe in Emporia. It was about 9 or so and dark. The station sold gas, some food and beer. It took Jim a while to pay. I had on the DVD, GPS, headlights and was charging my phone. When Jim got in the car all you heard was click-click-click. Um yeah, dead battery. It's late, he's cranky and we are in the middle of nowhere. Jim just looked at me like I grew a few extra heads and said, "Why when you knew the battery was on it's last legs did you do that?" I had the car checked right before we left and knew the battery would need to be replaced soon. OK, not my brightest move. We have AAA, they may get there before the next day. We lucked out. The truck next to us was owned by a mechanic and he had cables. The van jumped we were ready to go home. Of course the "mechanic" told us to be careful because the car may not make it home. I panicked. Not to much though because I fell asleep again. We hit traffic in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Delaware due to construction. 19 1/2 hours later we were home. Poor Jim did all of the driving. The lighthouse stop took about 45 minutes, the dead battery took another 45 minutes and the construction added over an hour to our time. Final thoughts. It was a great trip despite the ups and downs. I will insist on less fish and more of the World Showcase next time. I will also give a written, detailed account of what we talk about so there is no miscommunication. I will also stay at the park and do my own thing when the others have different ideas. This way we can all be happy. With that Anthony's first trip and Jay's first trip as a teenager has come to an end. My daughter and I still talk and argue. We all survived! Thanks for reliving the trip with me everyone.
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Post by scott on Nov 1, 2011 19:58:17 GMT -5
So glad you survived. The views from the lighthouse were pretty. Glad the battery was jumped quickly. Glad he found his bag. Great report and pics.
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Post by tazdev3225 on Nov 1, 2011 20:25:06 GMT -5
So cute with the bubbles!! He really had a great time with the bubbles. So glad you survived.
The views from the lighthouse were pretty.
Glad the battery was jumped quickly.
Glad he found his bag.
Great report and pics.
I'm glad I survived too. The views from the lighthouse really were beautiful. It made the sore legs worth it. I was really happy the battery got jumped without waiting for AAA. The funny part about the whole thing was the battery was actually holding a better charge when we went to the mechanic the next day. I was happy we found his bag too. He doesn't usually get things for himself on vacations and he really wanted that keychain. Thanks. I had fun doing the report and I love to take pictures.
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Post by geminiangel on Nov 1, 2011 21:00:03 GMT -5
Anthony with the bubble gun is just too cute! Double ride on Big Thunder & All to yourselves! Awesome! I hate small world too. Thank goodness Nova does too!
Great photos on Pirates. Jack Sparrow, my next husband! LOL!
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Post by geminiangel on Nov 1, 2011 21:08:12 GMT -5
I love WDW's HM better than Disneyland's.
So glad Jay's bag was found. Pretty rough trip home, huh? The lighthouse is beautiful, and I hate heights too!
What a great report and glad to hear you and your daughter still argue. That's the sign of a healthy realationship. ;D
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Post by tazdev3225 on Nov 2, 2011 8:42:55 GMT -5
Anthony with the bubble gun is just too cute! Double ride on Big Thunder & All to yourselves! Awesome! I hate small world too. Thank goodness Nova does too!
Great photos on Pirates. Jack Sparrow, my next husband! LOL! I wish I had remembered the video camera in my bag for the bubbles. He had people stopping to watch him play because of how entertaining he was. The Thunder Mountain triple ride when you add them up was worth every minute of the wait. I think my love of Small World comes from the fact that I rode it at the 64 Worlds Fair in NYC. It was the first mother/daughter trip with my mom and it was nice to feel so special. COP gives me the same warm fuzzy feeling for that reason too. POC is one of the rides I have been playing with the camera on. I am determined to get off auto. I was really happy with some of the pics. I love WDW's HM better than Disneyland's.
So glad Jay's bag was found. Pretty rough trip home, huh? The lighthouse is beautiful, and I hate heights too!
What a great report and glad to hear you and your daughter still argue. That's the sign of a healthy realationship. I have never been to Disneyland. Maybe in a couple of years when we head to the west coast for Alaska. I was very happy we found that bag. Jay is such a great kid, even being a teenager, and he really was upset. He doesn't think of himself often, he never has, so I was going to go back to EPCOT myself and beg them to let me go to Japan to replace it if I had to do that. I didn't mind the pearl as I have so many not set at home already from my trips. The lighthouse was beautiful and for a few minutes I forget the height admiring the beauty. Then the panic attack starts. Thanks I had fun sharing the trip. And we argue but we get over it quickly. I really do have a great relationship with both of my girls.
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Post by TinkyKat on Nov 2, 2011 16:29:11 GMT -5
great ending! all in all it seemed like a great trip (minu the almost bad time on the way home). Can't wait to hear about the next one!
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Post by lesprivate on Nov 2, 2011 20:08:43 GMT -5
I like the Liberty Tree Tavern, the food for dinner is not the greatest but it is ok, lunch is much better. Glad you found Jay's gifts.
The views from the lighthouse are beautiful, I would have been freaking out about a dead battery. When we drove last year, Frank drove almost the whole way down but I did most of the driving home, I didn't mind I would have kept on driving but Frank was afraid I would fall asleep.
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Post by tazdev3225 on Nov 2, 2011 20:23:43 GMT -5
great ending! all in all it seemed like a great trip (minu the almost bad time on the way home). Can't wait to hear about the next one! It really was a great trip. Thankfully the battery held out and is still going almost strong. The mechanic recommended replacing it before the really cold weather hits. Stay tuned to the pre trip reports for the next one. I will be starting that soon. I like the Liberty Tree Tavern, the food for dinner is not the greatest but it is ok, lunch is much better. Glad you found Jay's gifts.
The views from the lighthouse are beautiful, I would have been freaking out about a dead battery. When we drove last year, Frank drove almost the whole way down but I did most of the driving home, I didn't mind I would have kept on driving but Frank was afraid I would fall asleep. The food is OK but Jim and Jay love it there. The plus side is refills on anything you want. Always a plus with a growing boy. Jim drives a lot with his job so he is used to it. I also have a problem with long trips - I fall asleep with no warning. I can make it to VA from Philly since I do that trip to visit my brother. He likes the driving so I let him. I wasn't to upset about the battery until the guy who jumped us started with the dooms day scenario. That had me a little freaked out. Jay slept through the trip down and back so he wasn't worried at all.
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