Addison's Birthday Trip

"If you know you are going to get there - it's not an adventure"

David Clubb 2019.         

This trip started off just like any other until about 5 1/2 hours into the trip the transmission began to give trouble on the car. It wasn't unheard of because we had the problem before on the return trip from Myrtle Beach. We worked on the car for about an hour and then there was no further problem. Therefore when we had the problem, Addison and I stopped and ate for about 30 minutes and we were off again. We made it about 15 miles and had the problem again. We went looking for a car to rent or a place to get the transmission worked on. There was none of either. Megan and I made a plan which included her coming down to meet us with Emily Grace and Moriah (our foster child) who was quickly cleared to leave the state. By the time all of the contingency plans were put into place it had been more than an hour. I decided to try things again - give it one more chance to get it there. We went down the road about 3 more hours and stopped at a rest area and let the car rest about 20 minutes and then holding our breath - it made it! All the way to this timeshare about 1 1/2 miles from Disney. What a relief and what a joy!

Addison decided to spend the time that was left in the evening here. The water was quite warm but the air from the pool to our condo was not. 

The next morning we arrived at this place. One of our favorite things to see come into view.

The rule was that you had to be on Disney property to try to get boarding passes for Rise of the Resistance. The problem, they would not let us park anywhere. I had to hand the phone to Addison and at exactly 7-0-0 she went for it. She said, "I don't think we got it - I really didn't know what I was doing."  I assured her it was OK and that we would still have a great day. When she handed me the phone this was the screen showing - she got it and didn't even know it!

This is the line to get into the parking lot.

Anticipation

We got in by 8:15 and the park did not officially open until 9:00. Based on some advice from All Ears (a youtube channel) we kept pushing.

We got right into line at the Tower of Terror

We were on and off the ride in by 8:30. 

Right into Aerosmith's Rockin' Rollercoaster

After Aerosmith we had two major rides down and park had not yet officially opened. So, we pressed our luck and walked to the third major ride of the day, Mickey and Mini's Runaway Railway.

Next to the highly anticipated Star Wars Land

It became our time to ride Rise of the Resistance

After Rise of the Resistance - Addison displays Olivia's "one thing" from this trip.

One thing that we had decided we wanted to try to do was to eat at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. We were unable to get a reservation. We went by the restaurant just to make sure there was no way to get in. We were told that they were reservation only but to try around 12:30 when people started dropping out. We were very blessed and got one at about 12:15. It was not until 2:40 so we got a snack at the backlot express.

We went on the Toy Story Mania Ride where I clearly won - at least that is the way that I remember it.

Just enough time to get in one more ride of the Rockin' Rollercoaster.

Time for 50's Primetime

Something about it. We were hot, tired, and hungry. We found it cool, restful, and the food was absolutely great! We had a great conversation and time gather ourselves. It would be one of the sweetest memories from our day here.

After dinner there was this! The hits just keep on coming.

The crowds started to pile up but we found a cool wait in the forest while waiting for Star Tours.

We never could find a short line for Smuggler's Run so we toughed it out. 

These social distance markers account for much of the increased size of the lines.

We rode Aerosmith for a third time and began to make our way out.  This is the last picture that we would take in the park on this trip. It was a trip that almost wasn't (because of the car issues) but it made us appreciate every single moment and the entire experience even more than we might have ordinarily. It was a great day to celebrate Addison and her birthday but more than that - we celebrated together. We made this trip because the days fly by and we want to mark the time. It is my genuine hope that this day meant a lot to Addison; I hope that we got to know one another better than ever before. I hope that it will be one of the times that will help her to take my God for her God and take some of my values with her wherever she may go. One thing is for sure, I love her very much and I shall NEVER forget this time that we spent together one spring day in Florida.