Ft. Wilderness here we come!

[Momof626x3]

Naomi,

I'm glad they are refurbing the playground! My girls will be happy to see that! (This is the one close to 300 loop right?)

That's the one!

Not sure what to expect now with that weather.. Any concerns?? we are staying at the cabins

Bring ponchos and your sense of humor!

Just kidding...by the time you arrive all of this nasty weather should be gone. Probably just normal afternoon t-storms. I'll be here all next week and this wet weather BETTER be gone!

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Really enjoying your report. Hopefully you should be drying up down there. We are looking at getting Fay by tomorrow.

 

[Momof626x3]

Sorry I've been MIA. The weather is nice and hot and sunny so we've been busier! Saturday was our Animal Kingdom day. We tried to get there for opening but the Fort buses weren't cooperating with us. We made it there around 9:30am and headed to Dinoland. The two little ones met Pluto:

Did the 3 rides there and then DH, DS9, and DS6 did Kali and got soaked. We saw the Nemo show and I have to say I wasn't that impressed. It was cute and okay but I think I prefer FOTLK more. DS5 was not in a happy place and whined and carried on throughout the show. Then we did EE, the Jungle Trek, and the Safari. DS5 did a lot of waiting this day and I think he was just hot and grumpy. Though he is still a ham:

We got to experience the true meaning of HOT this day!!!

At around 2pm we headed back to the Fort for a needed break. It started pouring soon after we arrived at our campsite. We relaxed and grilled up some lunch:

After the rain stopped we decided to head over to Epcot to see Illuminations and enjoy the World Showcase a little bit. We all had "treats":

Then we watched Illuminations:

It was pretty short and sweet without the Globe. But we still loved it and had a great time tonight!

 

[Momof626x3]

Today was our Fort day! We took the whole day off from the parks and just enjoyed being at Ft. Wilderness. DH had a big surprise for the boys:

He rented a golf cart for the day! It really came in handy too...we used it to cart two loads of laundry back and forth. Then we headed out and enjoyed the pool for a couple of hours:

We all got a little sunburned even though we had on SPF 50 sunblock! Especially me! After the pool we had lunch and went to Publix for a few groceries. When we came back DH took the boys back to the pool and I made a decent dinner containing veggies! The boys were loving the veggies...I guess they have been pretty veggie deprived on this trip (bad mommy on vacation).
After dinner we went "looping":

We hit almost every loop. The Fort is still pretty empty. There wasn't a single camper in the 1900 loop, and only a few in the 1800 loop. We saw some weird birds that looked like a turkey-duck. Not sure what they were and I should have taken a picture because someone on here could probably tell me! The boys also got to see an armidillo toay which was a highlight of their day!

After our tour on the cart we headed over to the Campfire Program. I loved this! DS9 got to go up front because it was his birthday and all of the birthday people had to do "Head shoulders knees and toes."

The boys got to meet Dale (not DS9 because he is far too mature for characters, apparantly).

We stayed for some of the movie which was Peter Pan!

It was such a neat experience. DH was sooooo happy, having lots of memories of when he got to do this as a child. I think this was his favorite day of this whole trip.

We ended the day by heading down to the beach to watch Wishes.

A perfect end to a perfect day!

 

[Momof626x3]

Today we were determined to ride Toy Story Mania! We got to the ride at 9:30, waited in a long line for FP, then got in the stand by line which was already 50 minutes! The queue was actually really cool though.
Don't write on the floor!

And here's the giant talking potato: (oh and Mr. Potato Head too)

The line was actually only 20 minutes long too!
We all LOVED the ride and we were glad we had FP for later (11:40).

After TSM we headed toward R'nRC and met a VERY nice man who told us to go in to One Man's Dream right that very second! We listened to him and we got Dream Fastpasses!!! WOO HOO!!! The first dream we ever got!

We were thrilled! A huge thank you goes out to that wonderful man who decided to share the magic with us! If it weren't for him we never would have gotten our dream!
So we did R'nRC, TT (DS6 loved this one too!), TSM TWO more times, and Star tours (which my boys LOVE but makes me feel sick).

DH took DS9 and DS6 to Disney Quest for the afternoon (DS9 birthday present, he LOVES that place). DS5 and I came back to the camper for some relaxation time. We really needed a break from the heat. I actually got him to take a nap! When he wakes up we will do whatever his little heart desires. So we'll probably go swim at the pool! Another wonderful day here in Ft. Wilderness!!!

 

[wdwbound]

Naomi,
Thank you for your almost daily images and reports of what you are doing in the "world". I love the pics! Reminds of when my 4 boys were young and we did trips with them to FW (now they are WAY too old in their 20's).
Keep em coming!

Nancy

 

[Momof626x3]

Yesterday we actually made it to the opening of the MK! I was so excited because I have 4 dawdlers trying to ruin MY fun! Here are some of my favorite FW boat ride pics (finally some pics without my camera fogging up from the humidity...)

It is such a beautiful and relaxing ride. Last night we went to DTD and let the boys spend their money. While there DS6 lost his first tooth! Very exciting for him but not for everyone around us. Apparantly it isn't thrilling for people to see some stranger's tooth being paraded around, go figure.

Heaven for little boys...Goofy's Candy Co...

I wanted THIS toy but DH said no...

DS6 proudly displaying his gap tooth in front of where he lost it...

Today we're at Epcot enjoying our final days. Sad it's coming to an end but we've had such a wonderful time! I'm sure we'll be back again. Tonight...margaritas and Off Kilter!

 

[bwatlas]

Today we're at Epcot enjoying our final days. Sad it's coming to an end but we've had such a wonderful time! I'm sure we'll be back again. Tonight...margaritas and Off Kilter! [/QUOTE]

Please have a margarita for me, also! Still loving the posts! Glad weather is better for you. 'Fay' is dragging through PA an NY now, so she should be completely gone with nice weather when you get back.

 

[Momof626x3]

Yesterday we had to leave Ft. Wilderness. Boo hooo!! I have to say this was the best vacation we have ever taken. Even with the non stop rain last week and the baking heat of the August sun. This was the first time ever that I have felt relaxed after a Disney vacation. Camping is (IMHO) so much better than staying at one of the hotels. When we stay in a hotel we are alway in a hurry to get OUT of the room, to get to a park or anywhere but that hotel room. While in our camper we never felt in a hurry. Everyone had their own "space" and it was OUR space and it was only our own filth that we had to deal with. Stepping outside into the steamy FL heat didn't seem so bad as we were surrounded by the trees and Wilderness feel of the Fort. Every person that we encountered was nice and seemed as relaxed as we were. During the afternoon breaks it was nice to have a "home" to rest in, to cook in, to enjoy a beverage in...all the while knowing that when the heat of the day faded away (somewhat) we had all of WDW at our fingertips. If I had my way we would vacation here every year! While we probably won't be able to get back EVERY year I'm sure we WILL be back...maybe in 2 years!

We arrive home on Monday and I'm sure I'll have a few more pictures to post. I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend, enjoy the end of summer!!! I'm sorry that we couldn't be there for the big LDGG happening tonight. But I did get to meet Rhonda which was great!!! Thanks for stopping by to say hi, Rhonda!

 

[Momof626x3]

Please have a margarita for me, also! Still loving the posts! Glad weather is better for you. 'Fay' is dragging through PA an NY now, so she should be completely gone with nice weather when you get back.

I DID have one for you! And also one of those yummy Grande Marniers from France! Glad to hear the weather will be okay as we make our way north.

 

[wildfan1473]

I just finally got a chance to read through this, what a great report and photos! It looks like a good time was had by all, despite the rain and a few tantrums. It's amazing to come home from vacation, and not feel like you still need a vacation, isn't it? Someday I'll get to experience that again!

 

[bwatlas]

I DID have one for you! And also one of those yummy Grande Marniers from France! Glad to hear the weather will be okay as we make our way north.

Thanks so much for thinking of me.
I even had them clear of I-81 for you, so you had two lanes of travel instead of 1, but they're back to making it one lane again today, so hope you got squeeze up through before they switched traffic patterns on ya!

 

[TheChaoticChef]

I LOVED your trip report!! Thanks for taking the time out from your vacation to keep us all in the loop! I have 2 boys and we are soooo looking forward to our trip to the Fort in Feb. Your trip report has me so excited!

 

[gaffney09]

I just read through your report and loved it! It seems you really have a knack for journaling! I'm glad to hear Fay didn't bother you too much. Do you have any other reports on renovations? Did you notice if they were doing any cabin renovations? I will be staying in the cabins Dec. 7-13. Only 3 more months! I got so excited reading your report and now I can't wait to just be there! I've never been to FW, so any info you can give me would be awesome!

 

[2goofycampers]

I just read through your report and loved it! It seems you really have a knack for journaling! I'm glad to hear Fay didn't bother you too much. Do you have any other reports on renovations? Did you notice if they were doing any cabin renovations? I will be staying in the cabins Dec. 7-13. Only 3 more months! I got so excited reading your report and now I can't wait to just be there! I've never been to FW, so any info you can give me would be awesome!

Cabin renovations were done thru the spring and early summer, they are complete now. They replaced doors, painted and updated the furnishings.

 

[testtubes]

I also enjoyed your report from FW. Our first trip there was 1985 when our boys were 5 and 8, and you brought back tons of memories too. Just to let you know, even now, when they find out we're going to FW they have always managed to get time off from work to join us there for a few days.('02 & '05).We are returning to the Fort Dec. 5-16, and they are flying in for a long weekend. You will probably be enjoying more trips to the Fort with your boys in the coming years, and then they bring extras(as in girls!) LOL

 

[Us3]

I also enjoyed your report from FW. Our first trip there was 1985 when our boys were 5 and 8, and you brought back tons of memories too. Just to let you know, even now, when they find out we're going to FW they have always managed to get time off from work to join us there for a few days.('02 & '05).We are returning to the Fort Dec. 5-16, and they are flying in for a long weekend. You will probably be enjoying more trips to the Fort with your boys in the coming years, and then they bring extras(as in girls!) LOL

LOL! Are ya ready for that one Naomi?

In all seriousness I think all of our kids are blessed with wonderful memories of the Fort and hopefully they'll want to continue that tradition as they get older!

 

[Momof626x3]

I just read through your report and loved it! It seems you really have a knack for journaling! I'm glad to hear Fay didn't bother you too much. Do you have any other reports on renovations? Did you notice if they were doing any cabin renovations? I will be staying in the cabins Dec. 7-13. Only 3 more months! I got so excited reading your report and now I can't wait to just be there! I've never been to FW, so any info you can give me would be awesome!

Take the time to relax and really enjoy your vacation!!! Have a GREAT time!!!

You will probably be enjoying more trips to the Fort with your boys in the coming years, and then they bring extras(as in girls!) LOL

Seriously, I really hope my boys still want to take some time to enjoy Ft. W. with us when they get older. Of course once girls enter the picture I'll have to keep any trips a secret until I'm sure I like said girls!