An Impromptu Trip
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121659)
Gainesville, Florida
February 17, 2024 12:47pm CST
Yesterday, shortly before I got off work, my daughter called me and told me she wanted to go to Epcot (a theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida) to look at art at their Festival of the Arts, which ends this weekend. Since I didn’t have any plans, and because I love looking at Disney inspired art, I told her I would go with her on our impromptu trip.
She picked me up from work at 4:00pm, and we jumped on the interstate for what should have been an hour and a half drive to Disney. But apparently that wasn’t what life had in store for us that day, because traffic on the interstate was absolute gridlock, and almost at a standstill. So, what should have been a quick trip ended up taking us three hours to get there. We arrived at Epcot at 7:00pm. Since we hadn’t eaten dinner, we were both starving and decided to eat at the various food kiosks set up around the theme park. That way we could snack as we walked around and looked at art.
The funny thing is, Epcot was only open until 9:00pm, so we only got to spend 2 hours in the park before leaving and driving back home. We didn’t even bother to ride any rides since we were focused on eating and art, and because our time was limited. After exiting the theme park, we had an uneventful trip home and made it back in under an hour and a half.
So altogether, we spent 4 1/2 hours of drive time in order to spend 2 hours at Disney. And I’m not even mad about that. lol. It was a fun time, we ate some amazing food, and saw some incredible art. We didn’t buy any art while we were there, but there was one painting of Cinderella’s castle that we both loved, and so I might contact the artist and order a framed print to be sent to me.
Have you ever taken a trip where the journey was longer than the actual time at the destination?
18 people like this
19 responses
@MarieCoyle (38569)
•
21 Feb
Even though I am sure you were disappointed that the actual trip took too long, your time with your daughter is priceless. I know that you know that, and that you appreciate time with your family. Priceless, for sure. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Feb
The time with her was absolutely priceless. Even though she still lives at home with me, I hardly ever see her because we always seem to have opposite work schedules.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Feb
@MarieCoyle I hate that all our lives have gotten so hectic and crazy that it becomes difficult to find quality time to spend with our loved ones.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38569)
•
21 Feb
@moffittjc
Oh, I know the feeling. I really cherish and enjoy any time I get to have with my children. And they are so busy, too.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Feb
Glad you enjoyed your time with your daughter. Sounds like a good evening. I have done it often in the past. When my parents were living i would often just hop in the car and go visit them for a few hours. The drive there was four hours..i would stay 2 to 3 hours and then drive four hours back home. It was well worth it to spend time with them.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
I used to do that with my parents when I was in college. I went to school 4 hours away, and often times I’d have one free day on a weekend, so I’d drive home for 4 hours, visit for an hour or two, and then drive back home. Never once did I think it was a waste.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
@Happy2BeMe I miss those days. Both of my parents are deceased now, but how I wish I. Ould see them again, even if only for an hour.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140102)
• Philippines
21 Feb
@moffittjc I had a medical mission in Tajikistan before. So, when I was about to go home to the Philippines, I requested a direct flight, and they did.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Feb
@Shavkat Wow, a medical mission. Are you a doctor?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
Oh wow, that is a really long delay. But I'm happy to hear you eventually made it.
What were you traveling to Tajikistan for?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
18 Feb
@moffittjc
Traffic does that if you are stuck in it. I have been stuck in traffic more than I care to say. I am glad you had fun even though what happened.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Feb
@Hannihar We had a great conversation the entire time, so it helped pass the time, and made the long trip seem much shorter.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
I always expect traffic to be bad in certain places along the highway (rush hour, congestion, highway construction, etc), but usually not the ENTIRE length of the trip. It could have been very frustrating, but luckily both my daughter and I are very laid back people. Plus, we were deep in conversation almost the entire time.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
21 Feb
@moffittjc
Where I once lived if you left a certain time you would get stuck in traffic. Maybe something happened. Time must have flown by that you both kept busy the whole trip.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
Two things worked in our favor: 1) we are both laid back people, so we just kinda go with the flow in these kinds of situations; and 2) we were engaged in conversation almost the entire time, so the time didn't feel as long as it actually was.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92463)
• United States
22 Feb
@moffittjc It still would have been a bit of a nightmare. I am not exactly a patient person. lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Feb
@porwest Me neither, when it comes to travel or driving, especially city driving. But what saved me in this instance was that my daughter and I were heavily engaged in conversation the entire time, making it manageable.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9487)
• Australia
22 Feb
It seems I must have dreamt that I replied ed your discussion @moffittjc
Sounded like a fun trip despite getting stuck in traffic
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Feb
Oh my goodness, it's my favorite myLotter in the whole world! Glad to see you are still popping in here from time to time! I was thinking about you recently and wondering what you were up to. Maybe I should have reached out to you in a dream and asked you how you were doing!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Feb
@Fa_Maverick I promise, I will get to work on that! A different plane of existence visit is not something I do very often, so it’s going to take practice.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9487)
• Australia
27 Feb
@moffittjc Awh you flatter me.
Well next time you should work on your astral projection and come for a different plane of existence visit.
1 person likes this
@kareng (61231)
• United States
18 Feb
At least you had a good time and that is all that matters!!
Yes, I have done that once that I recall. It was to attend a meeting with Jewelry in Candles when I was with that company. I was a Director and we had a small meet and greet and BQ planned at a park in Destin, Florida. Since it was only a 4.5 hour drive hubby was in agreement with the stipulation that we have dinner at Peg Leg Pete's in Pensacola Beach on the way home. We should of just spent the night--or booked a couple of nights! It was a fun day though and he enjoyed it also!
1 person likes this
@kareng (61231)
• United States
21 Feb
@moffittjc Right, you couldn't change the situation, so may as well go with the flow! Even though the flow was slow! Ha!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
See, you did like we did and made the best of a bad situation. Thankfully, my daughter and I are very similar in our laid back tendencies to "go with the flow," so we didn't let the traffic snarl lessen our fun or make us angry or frustrated.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71556)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Feb
We've tried to avoid those in the past. In fact, George and I didn't attend his mother's service, because it would've been a waste of time and energy (for both of us) to get there, spend a half hour (if that) at the location and get back home. Now a days you couldn't pay us to go on the interstate for any reason.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
I used to think I-95 in south Florida was as bad as it could get, but I’ve come to realize that I-75 between Gainesville and Tampa, and the Turnpike all the way to Orlando, are ten times worse than I-95.
@Juliaacv (51471)
• Canada
17 Feb
You have that Daddy~Daughter thing happening don't you?
That is the sweetest and tightest bond that I know of.
I am happy for you that you went to your favorite place in the world and that you went together, regardless of how long you were there, you made a sweet memory for both yourself as well as your daughter.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
Yes, my daughter and I have always had a very special bond.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
19 Feb
@moffittjc It's the same up around Raleigh. The area is growing faster than they can build roads to handle it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
Unfortunately, I have been in that situation way too many times. There are too many people moving to Florida (and already living here) and not enough highway construction to keep up with all that population increase.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Feb
@DWDavis The South continues to see out of control growth, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (107900)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Feb
Glad you still enjoyed yourself. I try to avoid that kind of traffic
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
We couldn’t figure out why the southbound traffic was so horrible. There were no accidents along the 150 mile drive, so there was no reason for so much traffic. And the northbound lanes were as clear as could be. All I could think of was that thousands and thousands of people were driving to Florida from other states.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
@wolfgirl569 It had to be tourists and snowbirds still coming to Florida. There was nothing else going on that could have explained all that traffic.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
We just went with the flow, as they say. No sense getting upset about it. We were going for the purpose of having fun and enjoying ourselves, so we did just that despite our circumstances.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181320)
• United States
18 Feb
No. We always plan our trips to spend maximum time at the destination. I'm sorry your time at Epcot was so short. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Feb
But what if you were driving to the Keys and experienced a major traffic jam the entire way?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Feb
@LindaOHio Yes, but every hour stick in traffic is one hour you are not sitting on the waterfront with a piña colada in your hand.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181320)
• United States
21 Feb
@moffittjc We would still have plenty of time because we'd have about 2 weeks down there!
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62922)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
8 Mar
Sir, where are you? Misssss you
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Mar
I'm right here at home. Where are you? I didn't know you were back on myLot!
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Mar
@thislittlepennyearns Of course I missed you! And I know deep down you missed me too.
@thislittlepennyearns (62922)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
11 Mar
@moffittjc I've been back for about a week or so.
LOL. So you sir have missed me, not me missing you!
Oh I need another Gators hoodie!!!!! Hospitals are cold!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
Yeah, we kept ourselves distracted with hearty conversation. It made the long drive less frustrating.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
17 Feb
So glad you had a good time you guys.
Oh yes many times long trips the long way round.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
I know there will come a day when she has a family of her own, and we won’t be able to spend as much time together, so I enjoy every moment of it I can.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
17 Feb
Yes I have, but I tried to have fun despite it. I'm glad you two had a good time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
I’m the same way. Just try to make the best of the situation. There was nothing I could do to get rid of all that traffic, so it was best to not even stress about it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Feb
It’s all about the food for me now! Lol
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
2 Mar
Your time was your daughter was special, even though your road-time was excessive. One time, Jay and I were heading to my daughter's home in Detroit. There was quite a bad accident on the highway, before we got there. Traffic was terribly backed up, this being on a Saturday. We had to take a detour, to get around the mess that hadn't been cleared yet. Nobody was seriously injured but four cars and a semi had been involved. This was a longer trip, not the usual 2 1/2 hours on the road. We missed Aubrey's performance, at the equestrian activity.
