Spring Break Day 1: Travel Day

We had planned to leave for Spring Break early Friday morning, but poor Anabella got a stomach virus Thursday afternoon, so we left Saturday instead.

We left Gainesville right about 4am and had planned to make the trip in one day expecting to arrive to Orlando around 7pm, 13 hours plus allowing 2 hours for stops.

The kids stayed in their pjs until we stopped in Roanoke Rapids for some breakfast at CFA around 7:15am.

Our next stop wasn't until 11am and that was for gas/bathroom break in Florence, South Carolina. We were already in South Carolina and it wasn't even noon yet!! We were making good time, and so far we hadn't even heard a complaint (or an "are we there yet?").

Thank goodness for LeapPads and the DVD player!! 

About 12:30pm, we stopped for lunch at a South Carolina rest area.

First palm trees!!! 

I packed chicken sandwiches for a picnic lunch. 

Chip drove up to this point, so after lunch I took the wheel and he nestled into the back seat and listened to his sports radio while the kids watched a movie. 

Next stop was a rest area in Georgia around 3:15pm. 

Chip drove after the rest stop until a little after 5pm when we stopped in Palm Coast, FL for gas. Shortly after, we found a Steak & Shake and got our meal to go (we'd hit a little traffic and couldn't waste time eating inside). Before we knew it (not really because those last few hours were looooonnnnnngggg), by 7pm, we were in Orlando!! 

We left at 4pm and arrived to Westgate Lakes at 7pm, 15 hours later, just as we'd hoped!
The last two hours were definitely the toughest (after the Georgia rest area stop); but, overall the kids did great. They are good travelers for the most part. 

We were in building 1900 this year; 6th floor. We had a great view of the lake (and pool, which kids were super excited about). And, according to the person who checked us in, from our balcony we could even see the Disney fireworks shows at night. 

These two couldn't wait to get a bath as they remembered doing the year before!  

While Mom & Dad's timeshare is a 2 bedroom, because we didn't book until November, all they had left were studios again. The kids did fine on their pull-out, and I loved seeing them sleep in the same bed. So sweet. 

I think we all slept well that night.
Chip and I sat on the balcony and, sure enough, could see the Disney's firework shows, two of them. Must have been the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. 

Excited to spend our first full day in Florida the next day!!
Hello Spring Break!!