Is That a Raincloud Over My Head? EMTPEJ's Land & Sea Adventure **Updated 10/28** - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Wow that is quite a start to your trip but I love your positive approach to the crisis. Hope you are able to make up the lost time quickly. Can't wait to hear all about your much deserved arrival to the Poly.
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Margaret
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So sorry to hear about the van breaking down. I truly don't know how you kept so calm during the whole situation. Kuddos to you for that. What a way to start your vacay! Can't wait to hear more!
Thankfully everything worked out for you EJ. It's kinda ironic though if you think about it - we just had the same exact work done on our van. Lenny took it to the shop and they said it was the rear wheel bearings - I believe there's 4 of them, inner and outer - and all 4 were bad. Lenny was actually going to put off the work though as long as he could because it was a huge expense we hadn't counted on but I told him get it done and let me worry about the bill. It's a good thing we didn't wait to have it done as the first set the mechanic put in were defective and all the work had to be redone.
Just catching up Erik - great start to the writing of the TR, sorry about some of the contents! Sounds like your optomism helped everyone through it though - let's hear some more please!
My goodness, what a way to start your trip. So glad it worked out and you had a safe place to sleep and a rental car to continue your trip. Hurry back. Can't wait to hear some more.
Sorry to hear about the van breaking down. I can relate. On our last WDW trip, we decided to drive instead of flying. Before the trip, I had my car checked out for a "clean bill of health". The car was great on our first day of driving. We stopped off that night about an hour before hitting Atlanta, GA. The next day/morning of driving, about 2 hours into it on I-75 South, my DH starts yelling that our car won't accelerate. He turns off the cruise control, still no acceleration. We pull the car over to the shoulder and DH checks under the hood. Well at this point he is screaming for me to turn off the engine! I'm thinking, "oh great! This can't be good!" I get out of the car and see DH standing there holding the Idler belt shredded in pieces. Great! Long story short, we were stranded on the side of I-75 in Perry GA, for 2hrs since Pontiac roadside assistance "couldn't" find us on their map before the tow truck came to get us. It took another 2 hours to fix the car (a bearing/pulley broke from wear and tear and tore up the idler belt for acceleration) and $400 later to get us back on the road to WDW! It was an adventure!
Long story short, we were stranded on the side of I-75 in Perry GA, for 2hrs
Not to highjack your TR, EJ - I just had to tell you this is exactly what happened to me when I was a teenager, driving down to FL with my parents (no, not to WDW - it was Busch Gardens.) What's most bizzare is that I can still point out the spot on I-75 where we stopped and the service station where our pick-up was repaired.
Great update! Sorry about the van. Just as others stated, I am truly impressed by your ability to stay so calm! I would have been FLIPPING out. I'm glad it was only a slight damper and you were able to keep moving forward with your trip. Thats a blessing in itself because I would imagine that many families would have had to cancel the trip if something like that happened. Cant wait to hear more!
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Awesome!!! Well I couldn't keep my eyes open at night but it was worth the wait for this morning!! MORE PLEASE!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
Oh my gosh - what a start to your vacation! I knew it was coming, but to actually read the details of what you all were going through brought it home.
I am amazed at home calm and cool you all remained. At the same time, life is an experience, and this was just another one under your belt. Besides, now you know how to get to the Fayetteville Regional Airport if you ever need to!
True, true!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimM
Sorry to hear about your car troubles. Looking forward to more of your TR!
Quote:
Originally Posted by piratefreak
Wow that is quite a start to your trip but I love your positive approach to the crisis. Hope you are able to make up the lost time quickly. Can't wait to hear all about your much deserved arrival to the Poly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Sorry about all the car troubles!! At least you were able to get a rental
Well, we should have gone with my DW's idea to rent a van before we left, but the cost/benefit didn't make sense at the time...
Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryTink
So sorry to hear about the van breaking down. I truly don't know how you kept so calm during the whole situation. Kuddos to you for that. What a way to start your vacay! Can't wait to hear more!
We probably would have, if my BIL had not been with us. He can really be a steadying infuence, when he want to be...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick and Ryans Mom
Thank goodness you were able to find a rental vehicle!! It is amazing you were able to keep your positive attitude, I would have been freaking out!!!
Trust in the Lord... You can see beyond your problems.
It sure seems like we can't trust in AAA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CinderAbby
Thankfully everything worked out for you EJ. It's kinda ironic though if you think about it - we just had the same exact work done on our van. Lenny took it to the shop and they said it was the rear wheel bearings - I believe there's 4 of them, inner and outer - and all 4 were bad. Lenny was actually going to put off the work though as long as he could because it was a huge expense we hadn't counted on but I told him get it done and let me worry about the bill. It's a good thing we didn't wait to have it done as the first set the mechanic put in were defective and all the work had to be redone.
The more people I tell this story to, I find out that many people have had this same problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Oh my goodness, what a nightmare journey down with all those car problems. I just hope it gets better from here on in....
Quote:
Originally Posted by lukeandbrookesmom
Just catching up Erik - great start to the writing of the TR, sorry about some of the contents! Sounds like your optomism helped everyone through it though - let's hear some more please!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DyanKJ130
to hear about the car problems, but so glad that you so easily rolled with it! Can't wait to hear more
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArielsMomto2
My goodness, what a way to start your trip. So glad it worked out and you had a safe place to sleep and a rental car to continue your trip. Hurry back. Can't wait to hear some more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lazanya
Sorry to hear about the van breaking down. I can relate. On our last WDW trip, we decided to drive instead of flying. Before the trip, I had my car checked out for a "clean bill of health". The car was great on our first day of driving. We stopped off that night about an hour before hitting Atlanta, GA. The next day/morning of driving, about 2 hours into it on I-75 South, my DH starts yelling that our car won't accelerate. He turns off the cruise control, still no acceleration. We pull the car over to the shoulder and DH checks under the hood. Well at this point he is screaming for me to turn off the engine! I'm thinking, "oh great! This can't be good!" I get out of the car and see DH standing there holding the Idler belt shredded in pieces. Great! Long story short, we were stranded on the side of I-75 in Perry GA, for 2hrs since Pontiac roadside assistance "couldn't" find us on their map before the tow truck came to get us. It took another 2 hours to fix the car (a bearing/pulley broke from wear and tear and tore up the idler belt for acceleration) and $400 later to get us back on the road to WDW! It was an adventure!
Anyway, can't wait to hear more!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
Not to highjack your TR, EJ - I just had to tell you this is exactly what happened to me when I was a teenager, driving down to FL with my parents (no, not to WDW - it was Busch Gardens.) What's most bizzare is that I can still point out the spot on I-75 where we stopped and the service station where our pick-up was repaired.
Lumberton will always be on our list for that!
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.M.
Great update! Sorry about the van. Just as others stated, I am truly impressed by your ability to stay so calm! I would have been FLIPPING out. I'm glad it was only a slight damper and you were able to keep moving forward with your trip. Thats a blessing in itself because I would imagine that many families would have had to cancel the trip if something like that happened. Cant wait to hear more!
Thank you all very much! We try to keep our heads during emergencies. We just prefer that they are other people's emergencies that we are helping them with and not our own!
whew! Glad you all were able to make it to a place of safety and find a clean place to spend the night! AND find a mini-van albeit smaller than yours to continue your journey! Can't wait to hear more!
Well I think you have just scared me out of driving in December. I have been looking at airfare and seriously will most likely fly but have been considering the possibility of driving. Given that it is a 24 hour drive from here it will take us at least 2 days down and 2 days back. Hmm no wiggle room for any road mishaps! We drove places ALL the time when I was a kid and I have boatloads of stories about being stranded on the side of highways with the car (trailer in tow!) broken down! (Well maybe only 2 or 3!) So I think it will be the financially unfriendly skies for me!
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I just hope it gets better from here on in....
to hear about the car problems, but so glad that you so easily rolled with it! 
At the same time, life is an experience, and this was just another one under your belt. Besides, now you know how to get to the Fayetteville Regional Airport if you ever need to! 
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