So, when we left last off we were standing FIRST IN LINE and awaiting our Magical Express bus!
When it FINALLY arrived, we all boarded excitedly. Francisco, our bus driver, welcomed us and helped us load our carry ons and stoller under the bus. We were almost bouncing up and down...mostly from excitement, possibly also from HOW TIRED WE WERE AFTER TRAVELING ALL DAY.
As the bus began to roll, we were greeted by Mickey and friends on the DVD player. Jane yelled, MOUSE!!! YAY!! and spent the rest of the bus ride going back and forth between Jamie and me on the bus seats. You know, just to PROVE she has no need for this stupid confinement device called a car seat. The little girl in the seats across from us kept complaining about feeling sick. My first thought was PLEASE dont get sick on the bus!
It was a LONG ride on the ME. I wasnt expecting that at all. It probably seemed much longer because we were so ready to get there. But FINALLY, it was the moment I was waiting for. We were about to pass under that magical sign! As I saw it coming into view, I handed the camera to Jamie and asked him to take a picture since I was holding (i.e. wrestling) Jane.
Take it now! Take it now! I said over and over again. He probably took ten pictures as I sat there and instructed him. Then he took one when HE thought it needed to be taken. Which of course, turned out to be the best one. Yes, I have control issues.
Finally we were on Disney property, but before our stop at Fort Wilderness, we dropped people off at POFQ and OKW. We ended up being the LAST people on the ME. This gave us a good opportunity to talk to Francisco, who was really wonderful. He loaded the kids up with stickers and wished us well as he dropped us off at Fort Wilderness.
We walked into the lobby of Ft. Wilderness and I was immediately thrilled with it. There was a large fireplace in the common room with a place for the kids to play checkers. There was already a boy playing, but Jay, being who he is, made friends quickly and soon had a game going. There was also a sitting area with a television and Jane was occupied by this for a bit. I stood in line for a while, waiting for my turn. As they called me forward and I got checked in, Jamie told me he was taking Jane outside because she was getting restless. I didnt blame her. It had been a LOOOONG day and I was beginning to rethink our plans of going to Downtown Disney but I didnt want to say anything yet. The CM gave me our cabin number and a map of the resort and sent me on my way.
My panicked look at getting us all to the cabin though must have sent red flags up because he asked if wed like guest services to take us to our cabin. YES PLEASE!
A wonderful Cast Member named Robert arrived quickly in his van and loaded us up. He was full of good information and gave us the run down on the bus services and things we needed to know about The Fort. He dropped us at our cabin and assured us that our bags would be following us shortly.
We opened the door to our cabin and were so excited to see what a great space it was. The deck was huge and had a picnic table, which was perfect for us to eat dinner on. And inside was a full kitchen, equipped with all that we would need for the week. Garden Grocer had already come by and unloaded our groceries for us. Perfect timing! I knew where to find the pack and play because of the boards, but when I looked, it wasnt there. I made a call to the front desk and they told me where to find it. I told them again that we didnt have one. They sent someone over to look for it and HE was quite surprised that it wasnt there.
They brought one for us and I spent some time unpacking things and getting settled. While I unpacked, the kids all played outside and had a blast. We had a great space to play in out in the front of our cabin. The Fort area obviously used to be swamp land and so there are all these great tree stumps to walk around in. Kind of like a forest of tree stumps. Perfect for my kids who love to pretend. They were well occupied and I was glad to get unpacked and get settled.
We had planned to go to Downtown Disney on our first night. Jay was dying to hit the
Lego store. No really. DYING. As in, the money that was burning a hole in his pocket was possibly going to kill him if he didnt spend it SOON.
But, after realizing that it was close to five already, Jane had hardly napped and everyone had been up since 4:15am, we nixed those plans and decided instead to grab quick service at The Fort and bring it back to our cabin to eat outside. So, we took the bus to the Settlement area and toured around a little bit. Instead of Looping in a golf cart, we looped on foot, checking out all the cool RV sites. There were some awesome ones that had been decorated for Halloween.
We walked for a while and then headed over to the Trading Post since the money that was slowly killing my son needed to be spent.
The Trading Post was cute and Jay found a rifle that he loved. A LARGE rifle. This would pose a problem late...AHHHHH a CLIFFHANGER!!! Annies first purchase was a Minnie doll for her best friend, Emma. I bought a bottle of wine and Jamie bought a pint of scotch. Priorities and all.
We then walked down to the Marina to check out the beach and the boat situation for the next morning. That being squared away, we took the kids over to the park while I ordered dinner. I picked up our refillable mugs that came with the quick service dining plan, filled those, put in our order for LOTS OF CHICKEN AND SIDES AND DESSERT (because this is what Disney wants you to get on the dining plan) and then took everybody their drinks on the playground. By the time I got back, our food was ready to be picked up. And it was A. Lot. Of. Food.
We would not go hungry this week.
We got back on the bus and took everything back to our cabin. Every time the bus stopped Jane would yell, Yay!! She loved the buses and the boats! I loaded plates up with food and we took everything out to the deck. What a great area! And the weather was absolutely perfect. Could not have been more beautiful! After Jay finished eating, he took his rifle out among the forest of stumps and let his imagination run wild. That was when Jamie and I knew that when we made our return trip we would have to stay at The Fort again. Jay played and played. I think he would have been happy to stay out there all night with his new rifle. He got a few dents in it, which he said made it more realistic and I loved that he was in the middle of every nine year old boys dream. Jane was still being so sweet, which we were surprised about, since she had had such a long day.
After we ate, Jamie got Jane bathed while I did the dishes and then it was into bed with her. She cried for a minute, but was then OUT. Jamie and I went and sat out on the deck for a little down time while the kids stayed inside and watched the Disney channel.
Soon we came back inside to get them bathed and ready to go to bed. I packed our park bag for the next day, we said prayers and put Jay and Annie to bed. We decided the big kids would sleep in the bedroom with Jane, while Jamie and I slept in the Murphy bed in the den. The Murphy bed was quite comfortable and I would do these sleeping arrangements again in a heartbeat.
Our only mistake this night was NOT giving Jane benedryl before bed. Yes. You read that right. I should have drugged my baby.
We should have figured that the big kids would wake her in the middle of the night with their teeth grinding. I didnt think about it though, and so at 3:30 the next morning, we could hear Jane talking to herself. Hi! Hi! Day (Jay)!!! HI EEEEE (Annie)!!!! Hi!! Wheee!! Yay!!! She never cried, but the talking went on for two hours.
Jay was awake for much of it, but he never got out of bed, bless him. Eventually, she went back to sleep. Though I never did. Excitement over the Magic Kingdom! Come to think of it, maybe that was Janes whole problem! I was so worried about how Jane would act after her lack of sleep, that I had a hard time sleeping.
And so, that is where I will leave you for tonight. How would Jane act on our first park day? Would the lack of sleep, the traveling and the new experience overwhelm her and make her want to TAKE US ALL DOWN WITH HER??
Youll have to wait to find out!
