My Very First Trip Report - Pop Century 2013 - Page 6 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Because Mom forgot at one meal that we had the QSDP, we wound up with a meal left over, and I was NOT leaving like that, so we stayed on property long enough on Tuesday morning to eat breakfast. First, we loaded everything in the car, and then we ate. Since the food court doesn't start officially serving breakfast until 7:00, and since we weren't there immediately at 7:00, it was 7:45 or so before we finished eating, topping off our mugs one more time, and headed out of the food court. Despite the fact that I wasn't anxious to leave, if I had to go, I wanted to make good time getting home. Still, we stopped back by the room one more time to use the bathroom and give it one final check before we went back to the car.
Now, in all the times we've been to WDW with my mom, about 5 times now, I do all of the driving. We both prefer it that way, although...shockingly, I know...she does like to tell me when to change lanes and which signs to follow. Let's see, I've driven to WDW seven times in the past 11 years. I think I know my way. Still, I don't like to argue with my mother, so I just say, "Yes, I see it," when she points me in the right direction. On the way off of the Pop Century property, Mom asked me, "Do you know how to get back to the Interstate?" "Yes, mother, there's a sign up ahead at the end of Century Drive!" Before you know it, we're back on I-4, heading east toward Daytona.
Since we had to stay for breakfast, we got to downtown Orlando during the morning rush hour, which of course prompted another comment from Mom. This time, I said, "Well, we can't have it both ways. If we wanted to use that dining credit, then we had to stay for breakfast instead of eating on the road. That means we will encounter morning traffic." She understood, and she didn't question again. Also, I pointed out that we could take the Florida Turnpike, and that might get us out of some traffic; but at the end of that is I-75, and that takes us through Atlanta, and neither of likes to go through Atlanta. So, she was satisfied that everything was okay the way it was.
Another thing I always note when coming back from WDW is how long it will take to make the drive. Mapquest estimates the route we take, which is right at 700 miles, to take 11 hours, 32 minutes. There was the one year I made it in just over 10 hours! Even I felt like I pushed it a bit that day. On this trip back, I wasn't going to try to break any records, but I did want to get home before dark, and the sooner, the better.
Fortunately, we had no traffic delays, but we did have some pretty significant rain in South Carolina, so I know that slowed us a bit. Still, we were at the state line coming into Tennessee about 6:00 P.M. Mind you, all we did along the way was stop to fill up the car and drive through for food. Other than that, I think we stopped at one welcome center for a brief pit stop. That's it. I was driving, driving, driving. Mom slept some and read her book. Joel slept some and entertained himself in a variety of ways...and I drove.
I pulled into my mother's driveway at 7:05. We had pulled out of the parking lot at Pop Century about 8:15 that morning, so the trip was slightly less than 11 hours - not bad at all. We helped her unload her things, and then we piled right back in the car for our house, which is about 15 minutes from hers. A few minutes later, we were officially home.
There was nothing magical about this day, but we did what we set out to do. We got home, safe and sound, and we did it before dark. No muss, no fuss, just got the job done.
Looking back on it, this trip is notable for several new experiences.
We visited Port Orleans Riverside and I fell in love with it.
We visited Enchanted Tales with Belle.
We rode Under the Sea.
We ate at Be Our Guest.
We ate at Cooke's of Dublin.
We ate at Min and Bill's Dockside Diner.
We ate at Pecos Bill's.
We did the Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party.
Joel was the rebel spy!
Joel met, for the first time, Daisy, Aurora, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tinkerbell, Vidia, Princess Leia, Anakin, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, and Ralph and Vanellope.
Mom went on Star Tours and the Carousel of Progress.
Joel met his preferred celebrity, James Arnold Taylor.
We visited AoA and ate at Landscapes of Flavor.
That's a lot of new things, especially considering we only spent two days in the parks. Now, we're comfortably back home and back into our summer routine, which includes Joel's 17th birthday next week! It was a great WDW experience, full of fun and adventure! Thanks all for following along!
You got all of that done in 2 days?? It seemed like you had more park time than that. Sorry it was such a short trip for you but so glad you made it home safe and sound. There's no way I could drive for 11 hours on the highway. I'm lucky I can go from here to TF Green and back (and that's only 45 minutes one way).
This may have been your first trip report, but it was a great read! Glad the trip went so smoothly. I chuckled at your occasional references to your Mother's tendency to give you "advice." My MIL is much like that, as well.
Thanks for lots of good details about SWW - I've always wanted to go, but have been hesitant because of crowds. Sounds like you can have a good time, if you plan well.
First of all - to Joel! Wow - y'all got a lot accomplished especially with only two park days! I'm impressed that you set out to have park free days and were able to stick with it - it's always our plan, but we can never seem to do that.
So glad that you had smooth driving! We live right off I-75 in Ohio so that's the easiest route to get to Florida but I HATE having to drive through Atlanta.
I'm so glad you wrote this TR! It was great to read, thank you!
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Nice TR! We don't plan on being in the parks at all on our next trip, so it's nice to see that it can still be fun. You got to see and do so much! In case you're interested, real Indian Butter Chicken is chicken cooked in butter, then a spicy tomato based sauce is poured over it. It's one of my favorite Indian dishes, I hope you get to try some again
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. Still, I don't like to argue with my mother, so I just say, "Yes, I see it," when she points me in the right direction. On the way off of the Pop Century property, Mom asked me, "Do you know how to get back to the Interstate?" "Yes, mother, there's a sign up ahead at the end of Century Drive
!" Before you know it, we're back on I-4, heading east toward Daytona. 
! Even I felt like I pushed it a bit that day. On this trip back, I wasn't going to try to break any records, but I did want to get home before dark, and the sooner, the better.
!
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Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us - I've really enjoyed reading about it. 
for sharing your adventures with your Mom and Joel! I am so glad for Joel that he enjoyed SWW! 
Mary - not enough trips!
Liz 
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