Travel Night and...
Friday morning Nov 28th. Jennifer let me sleep in because of the impending drive through the night travel plan. We had an uneventful day. I broke out the tablet and showed all of my in laws where we were staying, A Frozen Holiday Wish, Celebrate the Magic, etc on youtube. I probably bored the crud out of most of them however I had one sister in law (Tammy) asking her husband when they could go!! I went in to my "
Disney Travel Agent Mode" as Jen likes to call it. I got out a short spiel of value resorts, dining plans, etc... Me the guy who has never been!
. We ate breakfast, we ate lunch, and around 3PM I decided it was Reveal Time!
...the big? reveal.
Ok so I racked my brain on trying something imaginative or fun way to reveal the trip and I never could. Some of you trip reporters are so creative. I looked high and low. I think I sort of limited my options with the surprise trip. Jennifer told me quit sweating such a trivial thing... one of your biggest dreams is about to happen.
I decided I would bring them all in and sit them down on couch and see if they could figure out what the Magic Band box could be for.
So around 3pm rolls around and I gather the children around couch and sit them down. I don't even really remember what I said all that much but basically put the box down and said that I had a surprise and the clue was in this box.
(sorry blurry photo)
Without missing beat my middle child Nathan says... "I don't think I should be wearing jewelry Dad." Chuckles all around...
About 15 secs past before my Michael ventured a guess... "Are we going to Disney World?" Almost a wishful thinking guess from his point. I said "Yes we are leaving Gram's, driving through the night and when they woke up they would be at the Happiest Place on Earth!"
Michael still half way didn't believe me because I am jokester and prankster in real life. He just kept saying "Really!?" each time a little louder than last time.
Mattie spent her time guessing time desperately trying to get her pink band. I was like a Kung Fu master blocking her little hands getting in to the box!
Ok so big secret revealed and the kids were happy. I took a nap around 3:30 to 5:00pm and woke up just in time for Dinner (left over Thanksgiving). We got the kids all bathed and all packed by 7pm. I invested in a roof mount rain proof cargo system for our van this trip and I tell you it was worth every penny to me! I wanted to be able to lay down the boys seats somewhat for sleeping. We have a 2013 Toyota Sienna van and while fairly spacious all of the suitcases and gear make it cramped. The cargo system allowed me to put our large suitcase, two carry on bags, 6 pillows, and 3 quilts. It was quite nice to have the extra room to spread out.
On Our Way!
I wanted to be on road by 8PM which by my calculations gave us plenty of time to get to Lake City Florida at I-10 and I-75 by 6AM for some breakfast and a break. I took first of multiple 5 Hour Energy shots (more on this choice around breakfast time).
We got on the road and I put in my Google "Create your own map" overlay for Android Maps feature. I had each way point checked in. We don't have a DVD player system in the car but I did have my 2013 Google Nexus Tablet I had bought last Christmas. I had downloaded about 10 SD kids movies. We loaded up Frozen of course because that is what little
wanted to watch. The boys gave in because they knew she would be asleep soon
We made it a grand total of 36 miles and 8:40PM to Opelousas LA before "I need to go to bathroom and I'm hungry hit us" So we stopped at McDonalds and I got kids dollar menu while they went to the bathroom. I got a McCafe coffee because having a 5 hour energy was simply not enough! I was caffeine loading! We continued on and soon we were in Lafayette and turned on to I-10 from I-49. We went through Baton Rouge across the Mississippi River and then down to New Orleans and finally around Midnight we hit Mississippi. The Nathan and Mattie fell asleep after Mississippi river bridge and Michael finally sometime around 11pm. We stopped at around midnight north of Biloxi where I downed another 5 hour energy and water. Bathroom breaks for me and kids slept at stop. Gassed up and headed on...
I was feeling really good and not sleepy. Jennifer fell asleep too after Biloxi so it was just me. I listed to music and talk radio and about an hour later we were in Mobile around 12:45 AM. I need to take a moment and say that Mobile is beautiful at night! The three big buildings were Red White and Blue. Then through the tunnel and the USS Alabama museum ship. I would love to go back and visit.
Everyone slept and in about 3 hours we were outside of Tallahassee. I had to use the restroom so we stopped at a rest stop and Nathan and I went because he woke up. By this time it is 4am?! I am fairly awake from 2 Five Hour energy and 2 big coffees but I felt a little sleepy so I took my 3rd 5 Hour Energy. I think this one did me in because as we approached Lake City and our Breakfast at Cracker Barrel at 6 Am I was getting antsy and woozy.
Next Up...
Worst Cracker Barrel Breakfast Ever or Was I Stroking Out on Caffeine?