Photo TR: nesdude's Family Florida Xmas Break!

[nesdude]

DAY ONE - 12-26-06 - THE BEGINNING

 

(nesdude note: this post was written while driving)

 

And so it starts.

 

The time of this writing is 4:48 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on December 26, 2006, using a laptop with a slowly dying battery. Currently, the sun is trying to peak itself out of the clouds. The family is celebrating because for the first time in days, we can not only see the sun, but also just a peak of blue sky. This is coming off of a meal at Cracker Barrel, where full stomachs and empty bladders are aplenty.

 

This is the story of my family and I, nesdude, travel to the Orlando, Florida area for a week of sun, fun, and hopefully some theme parks and coasters!

 

Allow me to explain. This has been a hard year for our family, especially my mother. Both of her parents passed over the summer, and Christmas isn't just the same this year. So, instead of spending the holiday break at home, we decided to pack up and get a timeshare house like thing in Orlando, Florida, just across the street from the entrance to Walt Disney World.

 

So now that you have background, there isn't much more I can say, considering today is Day 1 - The Beginning. The plan today is to get to Chattanooga, Tennessee. We're coming from an area just outside of Ann Arbor, MI. So far, so good.

 

Really, there isn't much more I can say, and instead I'll just let the pictures do the talking!

 

-nesdude

 

(BIG EDIT: Sorry, TPR picture upload is screwy. All the pictures in this post are backwards, even though preview showed them the right way. Won't happen again, promise)

5:47 am, EST. It's gonna be a loooong day.

Where we're going to spend about 20 hours. Gotta love driving.

Gas to get us off.

Yay, look! A blurry picture of nothing, I mean, Ohio!

An overkillishly large Trailblazer. But it's our overkillishly large Trailblazer, so that makes it okay.

Good eats.

Brown Squirrel is watching you.

[nesdude]

DAY TWO - 12-27-06 - THE DRIVE SURPRISE

 

(nesdude note: written at 11:37 on 12-28-06)

 

Oh boy! More driving!

 

After hitting Chattanooga last night, we started off into the good state of Georgia. What a long and boring day, even more driving. On the plus side, we got into the Orlando area at about 6:30pm, give or take. Since we didn't want to find a hotel room, we talked to the rental home people about getting an extra night. They agreed, and let us into the home a day early. (That was the surprise. Woo.)

 

Oh yeah, about that. Disney resorts were sold out, so we turned to a rental home/timeshare/whatever it's really called. It's a really nice home, 3 room 2 bath, pool, kitchen, big screen TV... the works. Affordable, too. No pictures of that yet, but we have a few more days here anyway, I'll get some up soon.

 

No real good pictures as of yet, but here's a few more of the long drive out there.

 

-nesdude

Goodbye Michigan weather, hello 60 degrees!

This is me with my best "we still have another four hours to go" face.

Freeway POV, for all those POV folks out there. You know who you are.

THE BEST HOTEL VIEW EVAR!

The Holiday Inn Express that we spent night one in. Nice place, with...

[nesdude]

DAY THREE - 12/28/06 - ANIMAL KINGDOM

 

What a surprise this day turned out to be.

 

Our original plan was to hit the Downtown Disney area for my mom today. Somehow, that turned into "spend the entire day at Animal Kingdom". Which, as it turns out, was amazing.

 

Since the plans were last minute, we didn't get to the park until 10-10:30ish. The parking lot was near full, and I heard rumors that they were out of space at 11. Good for us, but man. That parking lot tram service brings out the worst in people. People shoving all for that coveted seat on the tram. Craziness.

 

Anyway, the park itself. Since I've never been there, it was nice to do a quick (ha, quick) walkaround of the park. But man, it was PACKED. It was like a being a sardine in there, packed tight. The theming is amazing there; small details make the world even better than what it seems to be.

 

The only I wanted to do was Expedition Everest. My sister, who doesn't do the whole coaster thing, was frightened but mildly interested in riding. We got Fastpasses that allowed us to return at 6:35. Since my parents don't ride, we got 2 FP's a piece.

 

My parents and sister wanted to do the safari, so we split to meet up at a later time. Which turned out to be great for me. Whoever had the idea of a single rider line for EE is my new hero. The regular line was 140 minutes, yet the single rider line allowed me to ride 3 times in an hour and a half.

 

The ride itself? Amazing, and a great addition. So it's not the tallest or fastest, big deal. The theming is phenomenal, the main drop is fast and exciting, and that Yeti is breathtaking. If you haven't gotten out to ride this thing, I highly recommend you do so.

 

After 3 rides of that, I called my parents to ask about meeting up. They just boarded the safari, so I hiked over to Africa. Long walk, lots of people. We headed to Dinoland, I wanted the spinner credit, but the line was 70 minutes. Forget that for now. My dad and I rode Dinosaur (never again) and my mom and sister took a break.

 

Dinosaur... ugh. I guess I don't like dinos, but I freaked out and buried my head in my fathers arm. Oh well. My dad liked it, and he doesn't do the whole rides thing.

 

We got in line for the Nemo Musical and somehow managed to be third in line for the 4:45 show. Lemme tell you, this show was incredible. Good music, excellent performers... all together really well done. The closer you sit the better. Oh, and any actor/actress that can sing, use a puppet and flip on a wire at the same time has my respect, hands down!

 

A quick run and a half hour wait for Primeval Whirl (sister and I rode it, got a laugh out of it) and a water break later, and we were ready for our EE fastpasses. As I said, my sister does not do the coaster thing, and was freaking out in the Q and as we sat down in the train. I promised her an Onride photo and an EE pin for her collection if she rode.

 

The ride, for her, was awful. She screamed a ton and kept her head between her legs, not glancing up once. But she ended the ride laughing and smiling! She pulled me back to the FP entrance, ready to go again.

 

It happened, she enjoyed a large, non-wild mouse roller coaster! And wanted to do it again! The second ride was much better, and a good onride photo came from it. I'm slowly breaking her in to liking coasters! All I have to do is get her on Rock n Roller Coaster (she's freaked out at loops), any suggestions?

 

Anyway, it was near closing then, we headed out for some dinner and went to this Italian restaurant with the worst service ever. A 2 hour meal was unacceptable, with a terrible waitress. Giordano's of Kissimmee. Don't go there.

 

And now I'm here. Enjoy the few pictures I have today, and expect more tomorrow. Magic Kingdom day, you see.

 

-nesdude

After EE, look how happy she is!

Seriously, I'm so proud of my sister for riding EE.

Third for Nemo? How'd THAT happen?

I really hate dinosaurs. (Front row, right side. Yeah, that's me)

Mmm. Tasty mountain.

It's Animal Kingdom!

Everest and a packed parking lot.

Bagel. Starting the day right.

[PhishyBrewer]

^So how old is your sister? Ehh... nevermind, your from Michigan.

 

GO BUCKEYES!!!

[BeemerBoy]

I really hate dinosaurs. (Front row, right side. Yeah, that's me)

 

For all the "dark Dinosaur" haters in here, the guy behind you really sums it all up.

 

Oh yeah, good report, but sorry to hear you picked one of the worst times to visit.

[Homer]

Wow, it seems all Florida parks are chaotic right now. At least your TR didn't have "Stupid mother who hogged up half of a walkway to change a kid's diaper."

 

It happened, she enjoyed a large, non-wild mouse roller coaster! And wanted to do it again! The second ride was much better, and a good onride photo came from it. I'm slowly breaking her in to liking coasters! All I have to do is get her on Rock n Roller Coaster (she's freaked out at loops), any suggestions?

Be like mi padre, just drag her on forcefully. It worked with me over time...

[coasterdude5]

Nice TR, Dinosaur took me by surprise, I didn't think it would be too intense (even thought half of it is in the dark).

[munkyknum]

You have something on your lip.

[nesdude]

Quick question - in terms of coaster quality, which do you all recommend? Universal or Busch Gardens? Any quick help is appreciated.

 

-nesdude

[easytoremember]

Quality of Coasers- Busch Gardens. Montu is my favorite invert, kumba is my favorite regular sitdown B&M, and Shiekra is just plain incredible.

 

Quality of park- well Islands of Adventure is the most well themed park in existance, and Universal is pretty good. If you do end up at Universal, spende as much time as possible at IOA.

 

Also, I was at Animal Kingdom that day as well, and it was PACKED. We left by about one and hopped over to Epcot. Magic Kingdom was closed due to capacity for a couple hours, and I believe Animal kindom was at some point also.

[coasterdude5]

^^ My family was in the same situation last year. I chose Universal Studios and it was probably for the best. We were able to do both parks in one day with multiple rides on Mummy, Hulk, and ride pretty much everything else.

[nesdude]

A formal TR for Magic Kingdom and Busch Gardens will follow, but I gotta make a mention of a few things. First, we got to Busch 10 minutes before opening, and were some of the first people in. I got to hit everything (only one side of Gwazi, no Cheetah Chase) in 4 hours. We left the park at 1, and coming back to Orlando was terrible.

 

There is/was a HUGE accident on I-4 East outside of exit 62, and if anyone knows ANYTHING about it, if you could leave a post here or PM or email me, that'd be appreciated. We waited out there about 2 hours in standstill traffic and watched people drive up the (wrong way) off ramp. It was insane. The thing we heard was it involved 7 cars and a motorcycle.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

-nesdude

[Homer]

There is/was a HUGE accident on I-4 East outside of exit 62, and if anyone knows ANYTHING about it, if you could leave a post here or PM or email me, that'd be appreciated. We waited out there about 2 hours in standstill traffic and watched people drive up the (wrong way) off ramp. It was insane. The thing we heard was it involved 7 cars and a motorcycle.

I loathe I-4 so much between Tampa and Orlando...

 

ONLY USE THESE DIRECTIONS IN AN EVENT OF A HUGE BACKUP!

 

Heres a nice bypass route that saves hours, even though it may seem eternal to take. Exit off where US 27 is, then a few miles up the road, 27 would meet with US 192. Go east and head to the WDW entry there.

 

For Universal, exit at East Buena Vista Drive inside Disney. Then head into Hotel Plaza Blvd. The road ends when it meets with SR 535. Head left and continue on that road until you see an intersection for Palm Pkwy. Continue down Palm Pkwy and it will eventually turn into Turkey Lake Rd. Keep driving down and in a few miles you will hit Universal.

 

For Sea World, stay on Palm Pkwy until it meats with Central Florida Pkwy. There should be an exit for Sea World there...

 

Hope that helps anybody with bypassing the pain in the ass that is I-4...

[YoshiFan]

It seemed like there were so many accidents on I-4 this week. Earlier in the week I saw an overturned car and there was a 3 or 4 car accident as well.