Orlando Baby!!!

We got up bright and early for our final leg of the journey to Orlando. Technically we could have kept driving and arrived in Orlando just after 1 am but our family has this tradition of stopping at the Florida Welcome Center to get brochures, fresh squeeze orange juice and a picture in front of the Welcome to Florida sign. I wasn't going to miss that opportunity this time either!!!

We grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel and headed out! My husband will find someone to talk to no matter where we are!!! lol 

Thanks for a good nights sleep ! 

I love Florida!!! I was all prepared to "attempt" to take a photo of Marc and myself just as a lovely family offered to do it for us!!! Of course we returned the favor. They were on the way to their first WDW trip!!! We wished the the best and hit the road!! Next stop Orlando!!! 

We ran into a ton of rain, but thankfully it cleared once we hit the outskirts of Orlando. Can I just say how much I hate I4? This road has bad memories for us ( our van gave out in the middle of rush hour the year we went for Christmas). I have to keep reminding myself that its only a slight detour towards our favorite place in the world!! 

Yeah!!! Beuna Vista Suites. Now this place holds fond memories because its where we stayed the first time we brought our family to WDW. 

We even got bumped up to a King Suite!!! Best way to start the week if you ask me. 

Ok, so I know this was not suppose to be a Disney trip but I couldn't resist driving through these gates! 

On my "bucket list" was ice cream at Beaches and Cream. We had some time to spare before our dinner with Angie and Pastor Byron so why not. Can I just say it was a crazy maze trying to find this place! Technically it's a part of the Beach resort but the way they send you to find it is crazy. And it's not at all the size I imagined and its not on the boardwalk!! Thankfully a nice cm let us through the pool entrance and when we left we found and easier way to get back into the hotel. I was so frustrated by that point and forgot to take any pics of the place or our ice cream which was delicious!! Next time I think we will just try the ice cream place at Downtown Disney! One funny story though... someone actually stopped and asked us how to get to the parks from the hotel. How sad is it (or not) that I knew where to tell them to go! lol

We checked out one of the outlets near our hotel and then hit the road to go meet my friend Angie and her husband at Smokie Bones. Our GPS took us on some crazy route all around Orlando into some areas we had never even seen before!! We still got to our meeting spot on time though and ordered an appetizer until our friends showed up. 

We had a great dinner and great fellowship with Pastor Byron and Angie. Angie and I have been cyber friends for 6 yrs and we finally got to meet in person. If your ever in Orlando and would like to attend a service on Sunday morning I recommend checking them out at C3 church. 

Travel Day and night in Savannah!!

We left the hotel bright and early because Marc had class at 8:30 am.

It stopped raining briefly that morning but by the time we got to Marc's class the rain had started falling again and this was while we were standing outside waiting for his professor to show up. We ended up staying around about 40 minutes but the professor didn't! Not a problem for us because this meant we could get on the road even earlier then originally planned for our ride to Orlando!! 

Marc can't go anywhere in the morning without a cup of coffee!! And why is it I hot better wifi reception in the car at McDonald's then I did at the hotel???? 

We stopped in a SAMs Club for some "snackege" for the trip and a little reading material for me. We made a couple of other stops along the way, including a quick stop at one of my favorite clothing stores! I hadn't been in a Catos in months!!! 

We finally stopped right outside of Savannah for the night. I wanted a salad but they were all out so I ended up just munching on some of Marc's no salt fries!! 

We found a decent room at the Country Inn and Suites for the night. Nothing to write home to mom about but decent enough! At least it included a "full" breakfast in the morning! Next stop... Florida!!! 

Pre-Orlando trip

Marc had class the weekend we left for Orlando so I traveled with him to Richmond for the night. My sister got us a great deal at the Omni Hotel for the evening.

I think she did a great job! 

Just wish it hadn't rained the entire time!

I never touched the mini bar, although it was very cute! 

You know your staying in a swanky hotel when they provide a robe! LOL

The items on the pantry were pretty nice as well. Although there was a big crack in the granite sink!

I loved the silver accents! 

They provided a nice desk and sitting area!

And a $5.00 bottle of water! NOT!!! 

My sister came over to keep me company while Marc was in classs so we went exploring. There were a few shops, a restuarant and bank attached to the hotel as well as a Starbucks. 

I was perfectly content chilling in the room all evening. Considering we had a lot of driving ahead of us the next day! 

Half of the TV cabinet was taken up with the mini fridge and the other half had some drawer space.

I got all kind of ideas for a flower arrangement while sitting in the lobby the next morning waiting for our car. Don't be surprised if you see a "mock" version of this centerpiece in a future blog post! LOL

We technically wasn't at the hotel very long but overall I would say its a great choice for a few nights if your ever in the Richmond area, but only if you get the discount rate! LOL

Pop Century and Check Out...BOO!!!

I hate check out day. And even though I always know we will be coming back again I hate saying goodbye. Disney just has that type of hold over me. My daughter recently asked me what I would do if Disney was in my backyard. Oh my!!! I wouldn't know what to do with myself! Can you imagine? If your a Disney addict you get it. If your not...then you will never get it! LOL

Poor Marc....he always has to figure out how to put all of our suitcases, and shopping bags! Keep in mind many of them belong to him. LOL

Pop Century has been good to my family! 

After Marc loaded up the car we headed around front to the the welcome area of Pop Century to fill our cups up one last time and to check out the shops.

I'm pretty sure two of these towels came home with us. And I didn't buy them. LOL

I did buy a few kitchen items! 

Since it was a Sunday we took a short detour to Tampa so that I could go and meet one of my Pastor Wives friends. This was not our as usual Disney trip but we had very few mishaps and the family had a great time, not to mention we got to hang out with some great friends. I can't believe I'm going back in a few weeks (or that it took me so long to finish this trip report) and that I'm actually going to Florida and not to the parks! I say the parks because I do plan to get a little Disney in at Downtown Disney, The Boardwalk and of course our dinner at Ohana's. I mean....they don't call me the Disney Queen for nothin! LOL