Turns out this car has some auto-stop feature. The first time we noticed it was when we were sitting on the ramp at Spaghetti Junction trying to merge onto I-285. We were sitting still and the car engine just shut off. No one told us that was going to happen. Then I saw the tachometer had a label for auto-stop. I had heard Clark Howard talk about this one time, but I've never seen a car that has it. It's like gas powered golf cart. It shuts off while you're not moving. Then, when you let off the brake, the engine starts back up. I'll admit I thought for a second the car had died right there in ATL traffic.
We enjoyed a great visit with our buddies from college in Warner Robins. If you don't know Jeff Hames, you should. He gives the worlds best hugs. I have missed those hugs. We chose Burger King as the destination since they have three kids and we have three kids. It worked out beautifully. We had made a decision recently to try to see friends more, especially on trips. I'm glad we did. I hadn't seen them since college. Jen saw them a year or two ago taking photos. And you call me a hermit.
We drove on to Valdosta and arrived at Country Inn and Suites for our night's stay. It was less than $100. I found the room on trivago.com after searching for a long time. Hotels were really expensive for some reason. Trivago was the only site that showed Groupon as the lowest price for this hotel. I don't know what trivago is. You should get out more. You're such a hermit. Groupon isn't listed on any other of the discount sites that I could tell. So I'm going to remember that in the future.
It turned out that this place had a nice indoor swimming pool and hot tub. So after the decent breakfast we swam for a bit before we headed out. I am desperate, by the way, to find a hotel site that displays ONLY hotels with indoor swimming pools. When you have kids, it is a must in most cases. Also, Anthony is afraid of the sun, and I'm afraid of cold water. Fortunately the water was really warm. I did find one site a few years back that lets you add indoor pool as a search parameter, but now I can't remember what it is. Shocker. Shut up.
We headed out sometime after 11 and had the longest car ride in the history of the world. Well, it felt like it. The kids were awake for most of it. We went straight to Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course at Disney. We had coupons to play that came with the vacation package. It was pretty neat. I had several hole-in-ones. You say holes-in-one. Whatever. I'll give you a hole in one.
After that, we went over to check into our hotel where we'll stay just tonight. It's a 4-start hotel called Caribe Royale we got on Priceline Express Deals. Sounds like a James Bond movie, doesn't it? I feel like I should have a fancy girl's name like Kitty Litter. It's pretty nice, but the cost for the room was $98 and the final cost went to about $150 after taxes and the "hotel fee." Still a pretty good deal for the hotel, the area, and a Saturday night near Disney. And it has a swimming pool with a water slide and a waterfall.
We enjoyed those amenities for a bit, but with the wind blowing it was really chilly. Jen did not partake. I enjoyed covering myself with four towels. We went over to Disney Springs to look at some shops and planning to eat. it was so crowded we had do find a Moe's instead. It took a lot for me to convince Jen to go to Moe's.
Tomorrow starts our Disney adventure at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The boys are really looking foward to it.
Finally, here's a section we like to call "Things they said." We'll do one with each post.
Things they said...
Reilly-When we were asking him to introduce himself to Jeff and Jen's kids: I'm not into it right now. (He had just woke up.)
Lady in the line next to me at the hotel's continental breakfast- She asked me how I was, and I replied and then asked how she was. She said: Very good. It's a nice day. You have a nice beard.
Jase-While swimming in the pool talking with Jen: Daddy's in the little tub and he's farting. (I was in the hot tub.)
Reilly-When he came out with a comb that flips out and Jen asked him where he got it: Daddy's little spy kit. (It's a manicure set.)
Anthony-As I'm looking at Google Maps and it shows time it will take to get a lift: Book an Uber with Goober Maps. (I meant Google.)
Jen-There's a cop up there. Ant: That's not a cop. That's a boat with a tarp. Jen: Well I saw the glare off the windows. Ant: You saw the windows on the boat?
Jase-After he got out of the pool this evening: Mommy, I have freeze bumps.
Reading that was fun!
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