Heading Home

Carol and Jason were on the way to pick up Jason's car by 7:00 a.m.  Kara and I gathered up all our suitcases, bags, etc. so we would be ready to leave when they returned.  This day is a slow news day so I am taking this blog to show pictures of the condos in which we stayed.

These condos were about a 15 minute drive to the Magic Kingdom.  It is located on Entry Point Drive off  Highway 192.

I took this picture looking from our screened-in balcony to one of two swimming pools.

This shows the building we were in.  We were on the third floor in V-21.  Three flights of steps took the energy out of everyone except Keegan.

Keegan slept on the one of the couches that made out into a bed.

This bedroom had king bed and bathroom.  The bathtub was a jacuzzi.

Second bedroom had bathroom attached.

Looking into the kitchen.  Behind the folding doors on the right are a washer and dryer.

Full kitchen.

View from our front door.

Keegan wanted to take pictures so Kara and I posed for him.

Of course, we had to get a picture of the photographer.

As we were packing up, I saw this plate and had to take a picture of the it for the Star Wars loving grandkids.

This picture of the clouds shows what our day was like.  We had clouds and then rain off and on through the day.  We made great time driving.  We decided to snack during the day and wait to eat a meal after we arrived at the motel.  We made it to the Microtel Motel in Gardendale, Alabama by 5:00 p.m.  Of course, we gained an hour in Florida when we returned to Central Time Zone.  We checked in and decided that we were too tired to go out to eat so we ordered pizza in.  It tasted very good.  

Tomorrow we will make it home.  We have approximately 535 miles to drive.  I think we are all ready to be home now that the fun part of the trip is over.

Unfortunate Adventures of the Ozee/Mulvany Florida Trip

Began the day with a trip to the CVS for snacks for our trip home tomorrow..  Also got Krispy Cream donuts for breakfast.   Mmmm, they were good.  Kara, Keegan and I were dropped off at Disney Springs while the men took the car to the Firestone Store for repairs to the air conditioner. 

Disney Springs.

This was a picture made totally of Legos on the side of the Lego Store.

Mickey in Legos.

We got to see the volcano erupt at the Rain Forest Café.

The streets of Disney Springs

We spent two hours walking the streets of Disney Springs then, Jason called to tell us that the car could not be fixed today.  Parts needed were not in stock and would not arrive at the store until tomorrow morning.  So we Disney Springs shoppers had to wait for the guys to get things figured out.  The solution was to take a Uber to a auto rental in order to rent a car for the day.  By the time that was accomplished it was nearly 4:30.  Back to the room and then drive to John and Linda's for supper and a short visit.

As we were driving to John's, Jason got a telephone call to say the car was ready.  We were glad because it will mean we can be on the road by mid-morning.  We had a good but short visit with John and Family.

Here we are left to right
Carol, Me, John, Aidan, Jason, Katie, Kara, Linda.  Keegan took the picture.

This picture shows the same group of people but with Keegan and not Jason.

It was another good day.  The weather was perfect and being together as a family was priceless.  Tomorrow we head back to Illinois.  

How to Do Disney World in 15 Hours

 We were all up early to be on the road to Disney by 7:00 a.m.  Hunter had given us instructions to be there early so we followed instructions.

Welcome to Disney World. It is 7:15 a.m.

Mickey Mouse says "Hi.  Welcome to my Magic Kingdom where everything is magical including the way your money "magically disappears on food and souvenirs."

We were parked in the third row of the parking lot.  We have never parked so close but then we have never been in the parking lot at 7:15 a.m.  This is the view of the sunrise from the boat we took from the parking lot to the main entrance to the park.  It looks like it will be a nice day!

We were lucky to experience Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration.  It will end next week.  Carol and I were lucky to be at the park 50 years ago when it first opened and now we are here at the 50th celebration.  So much has changed.  When we were here in 1971 only the Magic Kingdom was here and it wasn't finished.  One ride "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea" was still being constructed.  Now that ride is no longer here and another is in it's place.  Also Magic Kingdom was the only "world" here...no Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, water parks, campground...so many changes.

Looking at Cinderella's Castle from Main Street.  Notice the 50th anniversary symbol on the front.  The streets aren't crowded...not at 7:30 a.m.!

Soon this nearly empty street would be filled with crowds of people.  At 9:30 the Warrensburg-Lathan High School Marching Band would march up this street.  I have a video that I can't get downloaded and a single picture of the star trombone player, Hunter Ozee, but again the "cloud" didn't give me access to it.  IF at a later date, I can get it downloaded, it will be at the end of this blog.

First ride of the day was the People Mover.  Jason didn't ride in the tram car with us and Keegan is pointing to the tram car behind at him.  This ride was here 50 years ago and Carol and I rode it then.  It is one of the calmer rides in Tomorrowland.

This is Aladdin's Lamp ride which Kara, Keegan, and Hunter and I rode.  Keegan is not much of a ride

 kid so he is very picky about what he will ride.  Before this, we rode the train that encircles the Kingdom.  He and Jason stayed on the train while the rest us continued riding rides.  I think he may have even taken a couple of short naps.  Everyone was happy.  I don't think Jason enjoys rides either.  We tried to ride only the ones that had less than an hour wait which weren't many. The lines seemed to move quickly and it was a beautiful day so we did stand in a few lines.

One of the things we all did was the Hall of Presidents.  It was cool and had nice seats along

with an interesting presentation of the presidents. Everyone enjoyed it, even Keegan.  

Here are Kara and Hunter as they ride the Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster.  It was the scariest ride any of us rode today.

These pictures are from It's a Small, Small World.  It is a very tame ride but the seats in the boats were very low and it was a miracle that Carol and I could get in and out of them.  There were several of the rides that caused me some concern about getting into and out of but we made it!  If Keegan continues with band, he will come to Disney his freshman year three years from now.  I don't know if I will be able to climb into and out of some of these rides.

This was our last ride of the day "The Haunted Mansion."  The wait was 55 minutes but the line moved quickly

Two very tired grandparents waiting to go into the Haunted Mansion

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Taken from the line at the Haunted Mansion.  Daylight is fading.

The day ended with a huge fireworks display over Cinderella's Castle.

  It lasted about 20 min and was very beautiful.  

Final pictures of the day. This is a picture of Jason, Hunter and Keegan.

Jason, Kara, Hunter, and Keegan Ozee.

Papaw, Meemaw, Hunter and  Keegan.  Time:  9:30 p.m.

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Jason and Carol doing their favorite thing to do....sit.  The rest of us were riding Aladdin's Magic Carpet.  I couldn't get this picture to download in its proper place so here it is at the end of the blog.  

We said our goodbyes to Hunter.  We had a great day with him.  It was tiring but we all enjoyed it.  The day was a beautiful, cloudless day with high temperature of 85 and low humidity. This will be Hunter's last band trip to Disney.  He will be graduating from high school in May.  Where has the time gone?    If Keegan continues with the band, he will be here in three years.  Depending on the physical condition of Carol and I, we may have to sit that trip out OR spend most of the time sitting and people watching.  We did some of that people watching today.  People are so interesting and with a huge crowd like we saw today, there are more then enough interesting people to keep a watcher busy.
We got back to the condo after ten, took showers and crashed.  Tomorrow will be less busy day.  The air conditioner went out in Jason's car so he and Carol are taking it to a repair shop while the rest of us visit Disney Springs.  In the evening we are going to visit John and Family.  It will be another long day but less active one.  That will be a nice day before the two long driving day we face Saturday and Sunday.

Here is the Number One trombone player for the Warrensburg-Lathan High School Marching Band.- Hunter Ozee

We Arrived - Finally!

We all had a good night's rest.  Breakfast was served at 6:30 and everyone found something to eat.  On the road by 7:45.  The day began with this beautiful sunrise.   

We took I-65 South until we reached Montgomery.  Then we got on US Route 231.  We love taking this route. It is a four-lane highway going through rural Alabama.

We saw lots of signs for Boiled Peanuts.  It must be the snack of choice for people living in Southern Alabama.  We all passed on trying them.

I can't pass this sign without taking a picture.  Dothan hosts the National Peanut Festival

 ever year in November.

This is some of the scenery we enjoyed as we drove Route 231.

Lunch was at a Wendy's in Tallahassee.  We ate here the last time we came down to Disney to see the band march in the parade.

This was the sunset at Four Corners, Florida which is where we are staying.  We are staying at the Orbit One Vacation Villas.  We have a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo.  We have a full kitchen and living room.  There is also a screened balcony that overlooks the swimming pool.  It is old because there are no computer charging hook-ups.  There is internet which is very fast.  It is nice and will be good not to be moving for the next three nights.

Took this picture at the first rest area we stopped in once we got on I-10 in Florida.

A great picture of the Ozees.

We have all settled in at our condo.  We will need a good night's rest because tomorrow we will spend the day at the Magic Kingdom.  The temperatures have warmed up  It will be near 90 tomorrow.  Keegan is loving short-wearing weather.

Disney World Here We Come

Everyone was anxious to get on the road so we were loaded up and left Warrensburg at 7:45 a.m.  Our next stop for the night would be Pelhem, Alabama.  It was an overcast day but that makes driving easier...no fighting the sun in the eyes.

Crossed our first river...the great Ohio.  There were lost of barges doing their job.

I decided not to take my big camera and only use my phone for pictures.  Normally, that would produce good pictures but not when you are trying to take them through tented car windows.  

Lunch was in Kentucky at Five Guys.  Carol and I had never eaten at one but we were not disappointed.  It is basically a fast food hamburger and fries joint but was very good.  They took a lesson from Texas Roadhouse and had large bags of peanuts in the shell for us to munch on while waiting for our food.

When driving through Nashville, I had to take a picture of the Batman building.  

I thought this was an interesting shot of a building reflecting another building,

We drove off and on in rain but not a hard rain.  Made it to Alabama which means only two more hours to Pelhem.  There is a new Bucee's in  Alabama but it was so late we didn't stop.  We plan to make that a stop on the way back home.  Also, there is sunshine in  Alabama!

Made it to the Comfort Inn in Pelham around 6:15.  The temperature is 65 and sunny.

  We checked into our rooms and ate a late supper at a Whataburger.  I wish we had one in Decatur.  Finally in our rooms at 8:00 and relaxing.  It was a long day of driving but that was our plan....two long days of driving, a day at the Magic Kingdom, a day with John and Family, and then two more long days.  The internet here is fast but the pictures from the phone are more complicated to download to my blog.  Frustrated, I shut it off at 9:30 and went to bed.  During one of my awake times, the thought of how to get the pictures downloaded to my blog came to mind.  Up at 5 to try one more time to download pictures...success!  Now the trick will be to remember how I did this tonight when I try again.