Post by jedimom3 on Oct 20, 2024 8:27:10 GMT -5
Thought I'd do a quick summary of the actual fall break trip, vs the prep/planning. We are still doing our new car research on the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, and Suburu....actually possibly considering sedans again, But really and truly appreciate all the car talk, recommendations, and input on that thread.
Sat Oct 5:
DH had decided we were going to drive it in one day...we all woke up about 4:30, he'd told kids we were leaving at 5 AM, they actually got up. Usually when we give ourselves a time to leave, it's about an hour after that for actual time, and that day was 6:40, so we were quite a bit off our mark.
Our stops are generally planned around the 2 Buc-cees in Georgia, with a few rest areas thrown in. There is a really pretty rest area in TN, right past Sewannee, near the Nickajack Lake. Nothing special about the faciilities, but the view of the lake is pretty.
Lots of traffic north of Marietta, and south of Atlanta. Lots of trees down, you could see the Hurricane Helene damage all around Valdosta. No traffic in Gainesville despite a home Florida game. Room ready text from Boardwalk around 2:30. Actually got a standard view 1 bedroom fairly close to elevators, yay. Got there about 7:30ish DH hurried off the Epcot, kids and I waited for bell services. We needed 2 carts! I think we had 20 items, way more than ever.
All day, I"d been following the weather.....I'll back up. Friday, I followed the weather all day, and saw that Sunday night, our HHN night, would be rainy, so I contemplated moving it to Thursday, but since I was within the 5 day cancellation for the Universal hotel room, I didn't really want to call. wow, I"m so, so glad I didn't. Saturday, when we left, there was an unnamed disturbance in the gulf, just an invest, but they were predicting it might strengthen....by the time we got to Orlando, it was named Milton, and predictions began on it hitting Fl later in the week.....
Played a new car/board game on the way day, "I Should've Known That." Basically a trivia card game, each card wtih 4 questions, and points subtracted when you don't know something. It was fun (maybe because I won, haha. ) Sometimes our car games get a bit too competitive, but no tears/arguments this time....
Sunday, Oct 6: DH up early to get GotG BG, Kids and I up fairly early to head to Universal to check in. Easy drive there, but was raining Sunday morning already. Checked into Royal Pacific. I'd done online checkin, Room not ready, but got room keys. Went to ticket desk and got DS"s new AP, they said they couldn't print our HHN tickets, and to use our paper printout or phones.....ok, but I had already planned to ask guest services in the park.
Off to IoA: first up, Velocicoaster. I think the most fun roller coaster I"ve ever been on, best in Orlando. It's wild. My overstuffed backpack almost didn't fit in locker, had to adjust. Just FYI, VC makes you put everything in a locker, nothing in pockets, you go through metal detectors, but I see why. it's wild
Off to JP River Adv, one of my nostalgic favorites. Then DD got butterbeer, NO line at the cart. which I've never seen....I stopped at a guest services equivalent to WDW blue umbrella, and got our HHN tickets and express printed out to have hard copy in lanyard. DS went off to ride VC again, I had his rain jacket, so of course it started raining harder while he was gone. He got pelted. DD and I got in Three Broomsticks line, sloooowly moved inside, DS met us. I had fish/chips. It was good. Typical so-so theme park quick service, but the atmosphere is fun. Rode FJ, well kids rode, I just walked the queue, which is great, but that ride is beyond nauseating. Looked at wands. I've always either wanted McGonagall's or Dumbledore's, but I still haven't gotten one. I have my birthday one from years back, but it's not interactive. I think I"ll wait and see what they offer for Epic. I also like the look of Narcissa's, but don't like her as a character. I like Luna, but not her wand. Anyway.
Rode Storm Force Acceleration, which I"ve never done. It's just like Mad Tea Cups, but I don't like spinning rides. I rode separately from the kids, who were spinning theirs like crazy.
When you check in to a Universal hotel, they send you an initial text greeting. I'd been texting asking about room several times, and finally got a room ready text. Back to Royal Pacific to exchange our temp room keys (that we were just using as express,) to actual room keys. Room was very convenient to front of hotel. Got stuff from car, and I watched the kids who thought they knew where they were going, hurry off in the wrong direction......my DD has no sense of direction, and DS KNOWs not to follow her, but he did....they finally figured it out, and we unpacked and freshed up a little before HHN
Sat Oct 5:
DH had decided we were going to drive it in one day...we all woke up about 4:30, he'd told kids we were leaving at 5 AM, they actually got up. Usually when we give ourselves a time to leave, it's about an hour after that for actual time, and that day was 6:40, so we were quite a bit off our mark.
Our stops are generally planned around the 2 Buc-cees in Georgia, with a few rest areas thrown in. There is a really pretty rest area in TN, right past Sewannee, near the Nickajack Lake. Nothing special about the faciilities, but the view of the lake is pretty.
Lots of traffic north of Marietta, and south of Atlanta. Lots of trees down, you could see the Hurricane Helene damage all around Valdosta. No traffic in Gainesville despite a home Florida game. Room ready text from Boardwalk around 2:30. Actually got a standard view 1 bedroom fairly close to elevators, yay. Got there about 7:30ish DH hurried off the Epcot, kids and I waited for bell services. We needed 2 carts! I think we had 20 items, way more than ever.
All day, I"d been following the weather.....I'll back up. Friday, I followed the weather all day, and saw that Sunday night, our HHN night, would be rainy, so I contemplated moving it to Thursday, but since I was within the 5 day cancellation for the Universal hotel room, I didn't really want to call. wow, I"m so, so glad I didn't. Saturday, when we left, there was an unnamed disturbance in the gulf, just an invest, but they were predicting it might strengthen....by the time we got to Orlando, it was named Milton, and predictions began on it hitting Fl later in the week.....
Played a new car/board game on the way day, "I Should've Known That." Basically a trivia card game, each card wtih 4 questions, and points subtracted when you don't know something. It was fun (maybe because I won, haha. ) Sometimes our car games get a bit too competitive, but no tears/arguments this time....
Sunday, Oct 6: DH up early to get GotG BG, Kids and I up fairly early to head to Universal to check in. Easy drive there, but was raining Sunday morning already. Checked into Royal Pacific. I'd done online checkin, Room not ready, but got room keys. Went to ticket desk and got DS"s new AP, they said they couldn't print our HHN tickets, and to use our paper printout or phones.....ok, but I had already planned to ask guest services in the park.
Off to IoA: first up, Velocicoaster. I think the most fun roller coaster I"ve ever been on, best in Orlando. It's wild. My overstuffed backpack almost didn't fit in locker, had to adjust. Just FYI, VC makes you put everything in a locker, nothing in pockets, you go through metal detectors, but I see why. it's wild
Off to JP River Adv, one of my nostalgic favorites. Then DD got butterbeer, NO line at the cart. which I've never seen....I stopped at a guest services equivalent to WDW blue umbrella, and got our HHN tickets and express printed out to have hard copy in lanyard. DS went off to ride VC again, I had his rain jacket, so of course it started raining harder while he was gone. He got pelted. DD and I got in Three Broomsticks line, sloooowly moved inside, DS met us. I had fish/chips. It was good. Typical so-so theme park quick service, but the atmosphere is fun. Rode FJ, well kids rode, I just walked the queue, which is great, but that ride is beyond nauseating. Looked at wands. I've always either wanted McGonagall's or Dumbledore's, but I still haven't gotten one. I have my birthday one from years back, but it's not interactive. I think I"ll wait and see what they offer for Epic. I also like the look of Narcissa's, but don't like her as a character. I like Luna, but not her wand. Anyway.
Rode Storm Force Acceleration, which I"ve never done. It's just like Mad Tea Cups, but I don't like spinning rides. I rode separately from the kids, who were spinning theirs like crazy.
When you check in to a Universal hotel, they send you an initial text greeting. I'd been texting asking about room several times, and finally got a room ready text. Back to Royal Pacific to exchange our temp room keys (that we were just using as express,) to actual room keys. Room was very convenient to front of hotel. Got stuff from car, and I watched the kids who thought they knew where they were going, hurry off in the wrong direction......my DD has no sense of direction, and DS KNOWs not to follow her, but he did....they finally figured it out, and we unpacked and freshed up a little before HHN
