Did Santa find you at the Fort?

[JHawk]

My family, DW and 2 DD's (15 and 12), has been at the Fort the week between Christmas and New Years for the last two years. :grateful: The routine has been to do the traditional Christmas morning at home and with family and then we leave for the Fort ASAP Christmas Day... arriving sometime on the 26th.

Last Christmas was the one when youngest DD really questioned the whole Santa thing. It was actually during our Fort stay last year that we had the "Yes Virginia" talks with her . This is one of those bitter-sweet milestones... my baby is growing up but the logistics surrounding Christmas morning just got a lot more simple.

Early last spring, when I made this year's reservation, I scheduled our stay to begin on the 23rd… having us at the Fort for the first time on Christmas morning. I know that everyone’s circumstances are different but I'm wondering what your first Christmas at the Fort was like? There are family traditions that would be missed…Christmas Eve and Christmas morning would be completely different… we’ve never not been at home. Did you regret being at the Fort Christmas morning your first time or is it something you would recommend every family experience? We are fortunate to live close to most of our extended family (grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins) so it isn’t like we would miss an opportunity to see them if we weren't at home Christmas Day.

Right now it is 2 for being at FW Christmas morning (me and DD 15) and 2 against (DW and DD 12).

We would appreciate the thoughts from those who have spent Christmas Eve/Day at the Fort. Thanks!

 

[dblr]

My vote would be to wake up @ the Fort Christmas morning and both my boys(19&15) would say the same, but the wife would vote to be home. I think right now for us is the best time to ge there on Christmas because I know once grandkids( much later I hope) show up we will always have to be home for Christmas.

 

[HappyCamper519]

Home is where our family is...not a place. So, with that said, we have really enjoyed spending three of our Christmas mornings together at the Fort. The only traditions that we seem to keep are stockings (that hang on easy-off hooks on the side of our camper), morning coffee with cinnamon rolls, and the video of the kids coming down the stairs for Christmas morning. (yes, we video tape the kids as they step down into the screen room from our camper door...in their Christams pjs!)

 

[storyteller]

This will be our first christmas at the fort, we've been at wdw for christmas several times but for the last 4 years been trying to get res for the fort, last year very close, had to leave on the 24th, still away from home for christmas, for us not a big deal, mom and Dad loved it, they live in Florida.
Home is where you hang your hat or wherever the family is parked.. Make the most if it no matter where you end up or park.

 

[retired and happy]

We've been at the Fort for Christmas for the past 8-10 years. It's hard to recall what a Christmas at home would be like. We don't have extended family close around home, so our Christmas at the Fort is our "new" tradition. Often some of our grown children and their kids will visit with us for parts of our stay. It's not easy to find hiding places for the gifts, but we have managed. We take our growing collections of inflatables (Sorry, Troll) green ears and Mickey Lamp, and other decorations and make it home for three weeks. We have met some wonderful people there and we have lost two recently adopted babies in association with two trips. Maybe that contributes to our wanting to be there during the Season. We'll be there again this year as our ticker shows, and we're planning for 2011 and beyond (as Buzz might say).

 

[JHawk]

Thank you everyone for the feedback!

The only traditions that we seem to keep are stockings (that hang on easy-off hooks on the side of our camper), morning coffee with cinnamon rolls, and the video of the kids coming down the stairs for Christmas morning. (yes, we video tape the kids as they step down into the screen room from our camper door...in their Christams pjs!)

This especially! I have tape (yes tape!) in the video camera that has consecutive scenes of the girls coming downstairs on Christmas morning...it's the only thing that the video camera has been used for the last few years. What a neat addition to that recording, coming down the stairs of the RV at Fort Wilderness. This has helped me realize that, although at a different location, the feelings surrounding Christmas morning will be the same.

Home is where you hang your hat or wherever the family is parked.. Make the most if it no matter where you end up or park.

I'm sure that everyone is right; as long as we are together it will be as special as any other Christmas. Now the arduous task of convincing the two dissenters … either way, we look forward to being at the Fort the last week of December.

Merry Christmas!