The Nature Nerds pretrip report to Fort Wilderness.

[Skyw]

Hi everyone

If they are going to keep offering Military Discounts, then we are going to keep going to Disney!!!!!! I am so thankful for the wonderful discount that Disney keeps giving for our family.

Here is the cast:

This is my husband and my son on our first trip to Disney (i think). DS is now 8 and into lego's and BMX. This will be the first year we hit some of the thrill rides.


Another cute one of DS.

This is me...also a little younger!! HAHA let's keep it that way.

Our 2nd trip to the cabins....

More to come......

 

[bama_ed]

You have a lovely family.

So this is a pre-trip report?

As in "trip report" from our recent visit coming soon?

:infirstforpix:

Bama ED

PS-I hope to see a Chip&Dale pix with the boys <cough, cough>

 

[2goofycampers]

Ed beat me to it, ditto a great family and.................

 

[Skyw]

The trip has not been taken yet...We leave Dec 14th. But you can count on a trip report after I get home. !!

More to come later in the day, time for the morning car pool. At one time in my life, I was flying soldiers around, now I am driving kids...same thing.

 

[2goofycampers]

At one time in my life, I was flying soldiers around, now I am driving kids...same thing.

How many times did the soldiers say "are we there yet"?

Thanks for serving.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I am so proud of our military women and men. I can't express enough how grateful I am that they unselfishly put themselves in harms way so that we may enjoy what precious freedoms we have left. We truely owe all of them a world of gratitude.

Thank you to your husband, to you and family and all the wonderful military protectors.

I hope ya'll have the very best time ,

 

[Skyw]

Thanks everyone. I loved serving. My husband and I were in for over 20 years. I would still be in, but I am the not-so-proud recipient of a damaged nerve from Sinus Surgery. So I retired. But I had 20 years, so I was thankful for that. I absolutely loved flying. I flew Hueys (old school), Cobras and Blackhawks. Cobra's were by far my fav.

 

[Skyw]

[ FLASHBACK to Feb 2011. It is dark outside and you can hear the crickets in the night. We leave the comfort of the hotel room and do the duffle bag drag to the rental car. We were exhausted from a quick 5-night stay at All Star Sports.

“Lets not come back to Disney for awhile.” I said.
My husband agrees. The Magic was gone. (Cue the sad music)

Now move forward to September 2011. I realize that DH will be working on Christmas. He is an EMS helicopter pilot and works 7 days on and then 7 days off. And he is working Halloween, Thanksgiving too. I look at the calendar and think “why not go to Disney the week before Christmas”. Then we can have some family time and it wont be so painful to have my DH at work on the best day ever.

I hadn’t convinced DH yet that we should go…but I made my restaurant reservations anyhow!!!! Just in case….It doesn’t hurt..right??

Whispering Canyon Dec 15th for 6:40
Hoop Dee Doo Review on Dec 17th for 4:00.
Still trying to get O’hana’s. I have been trying for over a month 3 times a day. I am an A type personalities so not getting the ressie is driving me NUTS.

Great Last year Photo with SIL and my Navy DSD.

Do you see the look on the kids face behind my DH?

 

[retired and happy]

Looks like projectile about to be unleashed on the whit T shirt. We might see you there starting our rest on Dec 11th.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

[ FLASHBACK to Feb 2011. It is dark outside and you can hear the crickets in the night. We leave the comfort of the hotel room and do the duffle bag drag to the rental car. We were exhausted from a quick 5-night stay at All Star Sports.

” .
My husband agrees. The Magic was gone. (Cue the sad music)

I'm sorry, but that is totally unacceptable . I refuse to believe that. And never want to hear you say those words again.

 

[Skyw]

Born to Fish- I know right?!!!! But they did get to do this on the last trip....
I was saving this but I think you will appreciate it.

 

[Skyw]

Looks like projectile about to be unleashed on the whit T shirt. We might see you there starting our rest on Dec 11th.

My DH was about to throw up too!!!

 

[Skyw]

I have mentioned in other threads on this forum, that I hated our stay at the All Star Sports last year. We have stayed at Fort Wilderness for the last 4 years prior to that. My memory (and eyesight) is going, so I don’t remember specifics. But I do remember that the CM weren’t as good or as nice as FW CM. One of the ladies at the food court had the same personality as the Soup Nazi. She never cracked a smile. And every time we got the same breakfast, it was a different price. We also missed the nature that The Fort has to offer. Here are some of the previous years pictures.

Just kidding!!!! But we have spotted Deer, rabbits, armadillos, fish and all kinds of birds. But I don't think I have any pictures of them.
So where did I take those photos??

 

[Skyw]

About 2 weeks after I had my dining reservations I convince DH that this is something that we needed to do. After all he is working Christmas. Disney offers some awesome military discounts. Unfortunately, they did not have any Military Discounts left for Fort Wilderness. But I did get a 20% off. I am not done with that yet. I will keep calling and see if any come up and transfer the reservation.

I also needed to call Shade of Green Ticket line to find out if it was true that we can get Salute Tickets twice in one year. Good news, we can. They only need to have 7 days between uses.

Next I found a standard rental car for $138 a week with tax. Woooohoooooo. Best Deal Ever!!!

Finally, a call to Kenny to rent our golf cart. This is our 5th time renting from him. The first time we spent the big dollars at FW.

The totals are as follows $1940 7 nights cabins
$ 414 park tickets for 4 days
$ 138 rental car
$ 240 golf cart from Kenny for 7 days.

I am probably going to drop a night and get a hotel near the airport. We have a really early flight. We got direct flights from Indy to MCO for $220 a piece. Score.


I can't wait to eat one of these...yummy

 

[Skyw]

Update- So far, my planning

Day of Arrival- We get to MCO around 930am. We usually are driving down the road an hour after we land. We plan a stop to Publix off of International road. It is easy to get to and has a great variety of food. My plan is to get an early check it. So far, we have never been denied an early check in!!! Because we don’t live near a military base, we have to run to Shade of Green and get our Salute Tickets. Oh, I forgot one critical event that happens every trip. No matter how much we prepare of this, no matter how good I am at navigating in a third world country. WE GET LOST. I have one gift and that is an excellent sense of direction. Except when I am trying to get to the Fort from the airport. The map never matches the signage.

Once we get lost and finally settle in to the our cabin, the plan is to have Kenny drop off our wheels for the week. And that is it for the day. No other plans. Just enjoy the fort.

Day2- Touring plans says AK will be a 1.1 out of 10 for crowds. So we are heading there first. My SIL will arrive by magical express later in the morning (or the magical delay, it always takes forever). So we are going to head back by noon and meet her. I have plans at Whispering Canyon for Lunch. And then it is off to MK!!!!

Day3- Once again referring to my Touring plan crowd calendar, we are going to go to either MK, Ak or HS. No Epcot. It is
supposed to be crazy busy. As we do everyday, we will go back to the Cabin for a break and then head to HS for Osborne Lights. We have never seen them and I am really excited to do it this year.

Day 4- Break day with fishing, HDDR.

Day 5, We have friends that will arrive, and since I plan on doing everything the first few days that is on our wish list, we will meet them where ever they are.

Day 6, Same as Day 5.

Day 7, we are checking out. We have no real plans. Our fight is very early the next day, so we are staying at the Hotel right in the airport. I am very excited about trying this out. It is cheaper then the cabins and since we have to get soooo early, well it was a no brainer. And since we always get lost going to and from the airport….well, this will give us more time.

 

[bama_ed]

Skyw,

I used the touringplans.com plan (unofficial guide plan) the last time we were at MK as family and it worked so well I felt like I was a surfer in the waves off hawaii. As in every ride I entered with no line had a BIG line as I exited. (like I was being pushed forward by a big wave). We started in Tomorrowland then went thru Haunted to Adventure- and Frontierland before lunch. Then we floated. But if you want to see allthe parks iam a believer in the plans.

Glad to see you are leaving some time to enjoy the Fort.

Bama ed

Ps - thank you for your military service. (note to self - dont disagree with Skyw or she will crush me like a bug with her little finger.) I was an engineer with Pratt & Whitney at one point in my live and knew guys who worked on Sikorsky engines in choppers. Dont know if your choppers used Sikorsky engines but I liked my time at P&W.

 

[cruising spud]

I enjoyed looking at your plan. I, too, am a "plan person." And, although everyone in my family tends to chuckle at my plan, they are glad once we arrive, that I have one.

 

[Skyw]

bama_ed- thanks. I loved serving and wish I was still doing it. Especially the flying part.

EMERGENCY...... OH MY GOODNESS. I LOST MY RESERVATION NUMBERS FOR MY EXTRA CHEAP RENTAL CAR. I THOUGHT I HAD IT ON MY E-MAIL. I MUST HAVE DELETED IT.........

Luckily, I get another good deal for about 5 dollars more. But let me tell you... I was stressed

I am so looking forward to the Osborn Lights!!! I might even change our 2nd evening plan to hit HS.

Another picture from a past trip. I think we were on our way to the CR from FW. Not sure what DH is doing?? But my son is having fun. I can't wait to hear the horn again!!!!

 

[Skyw]

I enjoyed looking at your plan. I, too, am a "plan person." And, although everyone in my family tends to chuckle at my plan, they are glad once we arrive, that I have one.

My friends laugh at me too!!! But I am OK with it. I even try to over plan their vacations!!!! It is a weird addiction.

 

[Skyw]

Another pic from the past....