Another Thanksgiving Weekend, Another Trip to Branson ... COMPLETE 3/17 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Another Thanksgiving Weekend, Another Trip to Branson ... COMPLETE 3/17
Cast: Me, Christie, 36, stay-at-home mom and obsessive-compulsive trip planner.
My husband, Jay, 37, production line worker at Nissan.
Our son, Joshua, 5
Experience: 5 previous trips for me and Joshua, 4 for Jay,
Dates: November 21-24, 2007
Lodging: Falls Village Resort, Branson, Missouri (3 nights)
Transportation: our car, 8 hours from Clinton, MS
Contents:
• Introduction
• Planning
• Day 0 - November 20
• Day 1 - November 21
• Day 2 - November 22
• Day 3 - November 23
• Day 4 - November 24
• Conclusion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Introduction
One of my trip reports? Usually detailed. Although since this is my third annual Branson holiday report, I might gloss over some things this time, especially since I was so late doing the one from last year - it seems like I just wrote it!
If you've kept up with my travels over the past few years, you have probably picked up on a trend here: trips to Branson in May and November each year. Branson - can it still be considered a fairly new place for us? I'm not so sure any more ... it almost feels like our second home, visiting every six months. Most of our previous trips have been only a few days at a time, so we visit our absolute favorites each time, and try to fit in something new as well. But because this was a holiday weekend visit, we pretty much just kept to Silver Dollar City this time.
If there's any specific questions you might have, feel free to post, or send me a Private Message. I always like to offer my assistance based on what I've picked up over previous trips, since I pick up such good tidbits from reading others' reports. And if I need to do any clarification, just let me know!
Updates? I try to post one every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. That seems to fit best with my work schedule, giving me plenty of time to get the next update ready without feeling too rushed. This report will be so short I don't think I'll have to miss any updates, if so it might be a Saturday one if we visit my parents one weekend.
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So for the past 3 years we have been taking extended weekend trips up to Branson to check it out. We have been going in May and November of each year. It offers a nice contrast - to visit in May with the warm weather, but also visits over Thanksgiving weekend, to take in all the Christmas lights and shows at Silver Dollar City. I wanted to keep up the tradition, so we agreed to head back for our 3rd annual holiday trip.
Our favorite planning website is Branson Missouri Vacation Packages for Branson Hotels, Show & Attractions - ReserveBranson.com They sell discount tickets for attractions and shows, and also have special deals on accommodations. They again were offering tickets for Silver Dollar City, 2 days for the price of 1 . That was the only major thing on our plan, so we purchased those.
Jay had already used his vacation days at work for this year, so we knew we would have to wait to leave home on Wednesday morning (he was on night shift now, and would be getting home from work at that time), and come back that Saturday evening. That meant I would drive on the way up to give Jay a chance to rest up after working all night.
We called our vacation club to make our reservations, having two options available. We really like Big Cedar, and had just spent several nights there back in May. But it is about 10 miles south of Branson, and we knew we wanted something a little more convenient to town, since we'd be there during such a busy time, and since we wanted to go to Silver Dollar City both days this trip. That meant making a reservation at Falls Village Resort, which is just off the strip on Highway 165. I called and reserved us a 2-bedroom unit, which consists of a Studio and a 1-bedroom joined by a connecting door and sharing a common foyer. We were hoping to take some family members with us to share the experience, but even if we didn't, we could use the Studio side for Joshua's bedroom and not have to worry with the sleeper sofa.
Last year we took my parents with us, but I guess they didn't want to do that again, as we soon found out they had already made plans to go back to Gatlinburg that week. So we thought about it for a while, and almost asked some friends from church if they would be interested in going. But since we had previously asked them along on a couple of trips and they turned us down, we kind of felt like they would think we were crazy or weird or something if we kept asking them to go places with us. We decided to just enjoy the accommodations ourselves this time.
There wasn't much work to be done on our itinerary for this trip. Since Silver Dollar City didn't open until at or after lunch each day, we would spend the mornings visiting some of our other favorite places - the Mountain Man chocolate store, the Tanger Outlet Mall and maybe a round or two of mini-golf at the resort if the weather cooperated.
As the time got closer for the trip, I started making a shopping list of food we would need to take with us. Since we would be in Silver Dollar City on Thanksgiving Day this year, we decided to have a traditional holiday meal at one of their buffet restaurants. That meant all I really needed to pack for us was some breakfast foods. However, Jay requested our traditional arrival-day vegetable soup, so I gathered the ingredients for that. And of course I bought some snack items like Pringles and trail mix as well.
As is my tradition, the Christmas tree, lights, and ornaments went up at the beginning of Thanksgiving week, and I saved the other house decorations until after we arrived home. Then I began gathering the things we would need and pulled out our luggage so I could start packing as I had some spare time.
Next up: Day 0 - The time-honored tradition of last-minute laundry duty!
I'm really enjoying this so far having not read any of your other Branson reports! It looks like we'll be at WDW at the same time too (we're there from June 25th - July 11th).
What can you say about the day before a trip that hasn't already been said? Most of the day was spent washing clothes and packing the suitcases. We had found out that it was only going to be in the 40's (high temps!) the whole time we would be there. Tomorrow was going to be in the 70's when we left home. Then we would be driving through rain most of the day, which was the cold front moving through the area. So that meant we really had to pack some warm clothes. If it hadn't been for the bulky clothes we could have managed with one less suitcase, I believe.
Jay also had decided that he really wanted to go by the Haggar outlet store to shop for some new church clothes. He was able to get quite a few things on our last trip and was very impressed with their selection and prices. So we made sure to pack the coupon we had received in the mail. He wanted to know if I was going to get up early to go shopping with him, and I quickly told him no! Getting up early to shop on the day after Thanksgiving has never been my thing, but he was willing to go by himself this time, since he knew right where he was going.
Jay had to leave to go to work around 8:00. And as usual he seemed dismayed by all the work still left to do on the packing. I always seem to put as much as possible off until the last minute. With us flying to Disney World this summer, I think I need to work on that. Anyway, he left for work and I continued getting everything packed up.
As I got all the bags ready, I tried to put as much as possible in the car that night. Joshua had his entertainment stuff - the behind-the-seat organizer, our DVD player and bag. I packed the cast-iron skillet for making cornbread for the soup, then as much else as I could manage to pack by myself. Not that much was left over, just one suitcase I believe, that was waiting until morning for our overnight bags. Then Jay was responsible for getting together his electronics, and that would be loaded in the morning after one last check of batteries, etc.
My last little ritual of the night: plug the cooler in to begin cooling, and make a list of everything in the freezer and refrigerator that would need to be packed in the morning. I think that's it ... not too exciting this time I'm afraid!
We woke up, got dressed and I got Joshua some breakfast - I'm not a big breakfast eater. I loaded up the cooler and made sure all that last-minute stuff was ready to go. Jay got home from work right on schedule and took a quick shower, then made sure his electronics bag was ready. I didn't take any notes, but it seems like as usual we were a few minutes behind schedule leaving, but it was no big deal.
Our drive was uneventful. We always take I-20 over to Tallulah, then Hwy 65 all the way to Branson. Jay napped during the first leg of the journey, which also happens to be the longest leg. I kept waiting for the rain, but it never came. There were plenty of clouds on the horizon and it was overcast all day. But either the rain dissipated before it reached us, or we managed to dodge it.
Mid-morning stop: the Arkansas Welcome Center at Lake Village. Restroom break, and pass around a light snack for everybody.
Lunch: Arby's in Pine Bluff.
Mid-afternoon stop: Conway, which is where Highway 65 branches off from the interstate once more and heads north toward Branson. We found our exit, and stopped for gas as usual at the Shell station, where we all piled out for a trip to the restroom, followed up by another light snack to hold us over until supper. Here is where I knew there would be no more dodging the rain, as the clouds were very dark and getting very close. We did manage to get back on the road first, though, and the rain really wasn't all that bad. It wasn't steady - it came in small bursts, then it would clear up again. And since we weren't out in the weather, it was fun to watch the temperature drop during this final portion of the journey - it was going down fast!
Next was check-in at the resort. WOW was it cold when we got out of the car! While at the Clubhouse we visited their restrooms and picked up a few travel brochures from the lounge area.
We drove down to our building - funny thing was that we were in the exact same unit we had last year with my parents, only on the second floor instead of the first floor. Because the building sits on the hillside, the entry level is on the second floor, so it was nice that we didn't have to use the stairs this time, especially since this resort doesn't have elevators. We all pitched in unloading the car one time, then Joshua and I stayed in the room while Jay brought the rest of the stuff in. As each bag came in I tried to put it in its "proper" place for the weekend. Joshua was staying on the Studio side of the unit. It had a queen-size bed, sleeper sofa, table and two chairs and a small kitchen area outside the bathroom. Me and Jay were on the one-bedroom side, which was very roomy. The kitchen was nice and open, and the living area had a big-screen TV and surround sound system. There was a screened-in balcony with a table and chairs, but it was too cold to use it this trip. The two units shared a common foyer where the washer and dryer were located, and also had connecting doors on the inside. If you want to see some pictures, go to www.bluegreenonline.com , click on explore the site (you don't have to log in), then look up Falls Village Resort in Branson, Missouri. You can see pictures as well as the floorplan.
Once everything was brought in from the car and put away, I started a pan of cornbread cooking while I put all the ingredients together for vegetable soup. That didn't take too long and soon we were enjoying a nice hot supper. We cleaned up after our meal and watched a little TV. Joshua played for a while, and I got to work organizing all our papers and brochures. Soon it was time for bed and we all settled in for a good night's sleep.
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I'm not so sure any more ... it almost feels like our second home, visiting every six months. Most of our previous trips have been only a few days at a time, so we visit our absolute favorites each time, and try to fit in something new as well. But because this was a holiday weekend visit, we pretty much just kept to Silver Dollar City this time.
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Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
So we thought about it for a while, and almost asked some friends from church if they would be interested in going. But since we had previously asked them along on a couple of trips and they turned us down, we kind of felt like they would think we were crazy or weird or something if we kept asking them to go places with us. 
We decided to just enjoy the accommodations ourselves this time.
Previous trips: POFQ 2005 & 2007, Boardwalk 2008, BCV & AKLV 2009 (our honeymoon) & 2012, BCV & BLT 2011, BCV 2013, AKLV 2014
Tomorrow was going to be in the 70's when we left home. Then we would be driving through rain most of the day, which was the cold front moving through the area. So that meant we really had to pack some warm clothes. If it hadn't been for the bulky clothes we could have managed with one less suitcase, I believe.
Anyway, he left for work and I continued getting everything packed up.
Joshua was staying on the Studio side of the unit. It had a queen-size bed, sleeper sofa, table and two chairs and a small kitchen area outside the bathroom. Me and Jay were on the one-bedroom side, which was very roomy. The kitchen was nice and open, and the living area had a big-screen TV and surround sound system. 
There was a screened-in balcony with a table and chairs, but it was too cold to use it this trip. The two units shared a common foyer where the washer and dryer were located, and also had connecting doors on the inside. If you want to see some pictures, go to 
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