We leave tomorrow!!!

[TinkMomma]

I just have to share. We are leaving for FW tomorrow morning, and I just want to go ahead and leave already!!! We're tent camping through Monday. DH and I have stayed at FW, but this will be the kids' first time staying there. They have been to the World many times...but not like this. We aren't going into any parks! This is a "camping only" trip, and they have been fully prepped that the next time we went, it would be to camp only, no parks. Money's tight! Plus, there is just so much to do at FW, that I think they'll be fine. Luckily, everyone loves to camp and it should be a good trip! I'll try and post a TR when we get back. Here's the cast:

Me - Jenny (Momma, navigator, instruction reader)
DH - Daniel (engineer, driver, figures things out and THEN reads instructions ;-))
DD 5 - Kylie (girly girl, loves bugs, about to lose her second tooth)
DS 4 - Braeden (loves CARS, is a wannabe fisherman, enjoys irritating his sister)

Here's the thing... The kids don't know we're going. At all. DH and I are thinking they'll clue in once we've been driving in the van stuffed full of camping gear after two hours. It's a good six hour drive. Should be fun!!!

I know y'all can understand my excitement about heading to the Fort. I can't tell the kids, so I have to share here! I'm about to burst!!!

 

[Disbug]

I'm so happy for you! Understand that happy feeling (but killin' ya that it's a secret!) We're heading down in June after school is out for some tent camping. I'm dreading the heat... and I live in Florida!

Have a great time!

 

[martymarty]

Here's the thing... The kids don't know we're going. At all. DH and I are thinking they'll clue in once we've been driving in the van stuffed full of camping gear after two hours. It's a good six hour drive. Should be fun!!!

FIRST OFF!! BOOOO HISSSS...................your going and Im still doing maintenance on the camper............just kidding

HAVE FUN!! man I wish I was a fly on the wall when the kids finally realize its disney world or bust!!

 

[bama_ed]

What a wonderful long weekend to camp at the Fort.

I was at the Fort in April a total of 5 days (including check-in and -out days) and only spent 1 day in the MK. The Fort is wonderful for relaxing and enjoying camping. Looks like you'll have warm weather with a little slight chance of a quick shower.

No worries.

When you get home tell us how it went.

Bama ED

 

[2goofycampers]

We have done the Fort with no parks. There is definitely enough to keep you busy. Have fun ! Looking forward to your TR.

 

[TinkMomma]

Quick update: We're almost all of the way through Georgia, and the kids just think we're going camping. That's it! No questions or anything as to why we're driving forever. Maybe once we get to the Florida welcome center they'll figure it out?! Haha!

On the other hand, it's been relatively quiet in the backseat since they don't know where we're going. Lol!!

I'm ready to be there already!

 

[allabouttink]

For our first Disney trip with our kids we suprised them also. My boys were 8, 6 1/2 and 5. We woke them up at 5:00 got them dressed and headed for the airport. I had everything packed and ready to go. I packed a little backpack for the plane with a bunch of Disney stuff for them to do while we were flying. It was their first plane ride also. They were so excited. It didn't really sink in until we were on the Disney bus from the airport to Port Orleans Resort. They were so excited about being on a plane that the trip to Disney was a second thought until we got there. It was such a wonderful time. We hope to get back to Disney really soon and this time we would like to come to the Fort. My boys are now almost 14, 12 and almost 11. I think we are due! Have a great trip.

 

[UMADDBG]

I don't think I could keep the secret....would be to excited!!! Have fun!!! Keep us posted!

 

[martymarty]

oh please keep us in the loop I wanna know about the reaction

 

[CCIntrigue]

Even though I've only been back from the fort five days, I'm still jealous! Have a safe and happy trip.

 

[veraletta]

Enjoy your time at the Fort, as it will go by too quick. I'm so jealous as I have another 72 days... Have fun and keep us posted!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Are we there yet ?? How much longer ?? I GOTTA PEE !! I'm hungry !! Will they still be open we when get there ?? Is Florida hot ??
"He touuched me",, "did not",, "did too",, "I'm still not touching her" !


wish I were going too,
ya'll hava awesome time !!

 

[YellowXterra]

You forgot the famous 'he's looking at me"

 

[CCIntrigue]

Are we there yet ?? How much longer ?? I GOTTA PEE !! I'm hungry !! Will they still be open we when get there ?? Is Florida hot ??
"He touuched me",, "did not",, "did too",, "I'm still not touching her" !

You forgot the famous 'he's looking at me"

 

[TinkMomma]

Hahahahaha! Y'all are funny. Frank, we didn't actually have much of that. The van was packed soooooo tight that the kids had a suitcase between them. They could barely see each other, let alone touch! ;-)

Well, we got here about 4 something. Not real sure about the time, because the "gotta potty" thing hit them quite a bit...even though we are firm believers in cutting back liquids in the car!

Sooo...we pulled off I-4, and the kids still didn't reall understand where we were. Once we went through the welcome sign, the backseat of the van went nuts. We had originally had a trip planned for Thanksgiving of this year - Grand Gathering with both sides of our family including siblings. Ten days of Fort gloriousness plus grandparents to help tire out the kids?! Sounds like heaven! But then January happened... Daniel's car went from working to not. Ha! $5000 to fix? No thank you. We sold his to a friend who likes to tinker, and ended up having to buy another car. Got a new to us van. Because of adding the newer car on insurance, paying taxes on it, and most importantly the car payments, we bowed out of the Thanksgiving trip. Daniel and I were planning on buying ourselves APs, and the kids hoppers for Thanksgiving, as Daniel and I go "adult only" camping in the summer, and we figured we could get three trips out of the APs.

Anyway, to make this story shorter, we had a discussion with the kiddos about how the next time we go to Disney, it would be a camping only trip, no parks, as we now have to pay for BOTH of them, and in the words of Braeden, "it takes a lot of grocery trips to buy tickets." So as we were driving down yesterday, they kept saying, "after this camping trip, we might to camping at Disney. But not this trip." Little did they know!!!

Finally got camp set up around 7. Check in was brutal yesterday. There was a very large group of folks from France checking into cabins, and they took the whole counter for about 15 minutes. No worries though! The kids enjoyed people watching, and we just savored the feeling of being back at our favorite place on Earth.

Got to our site (2007), started setting up camp, and the kids just went nuts. Took us longer than normal to set up. Daniel and I have it down to an art. When we camp with the kids, it usually ends up taking about 2 hours all told. Well, it took 3 this time. Hahaha!

Took a "rinse off" shower when we were done, and rode the bus over to the Settlement. Got some GYAG, nabbed a picnic table, ate the most delicious fried chicken on the planet, and went window shopping at the Trading Post. Once 9:15 rolled around, we finally told the kids about the water pageant and fireworks. Any guesses on what the kids decided to do?!?! ;-)

We grabbed some lounge chairs on the beach, had a mini dance party/gymnastics meet (the kids were STILL wired), but once the show started, they were just watching intently. Excited about it all, yet I don't think they still get it. Kylie helped us make friends in the chairs near us by singing the whole Wishes soundtrack with me along with the show. It's a favorite in the car.

Riding the bus back to Spanish Moss was the best ending. The kids love busses, and still couldn't believe that they were on a Disney one!

I didn't take a single picture yesterday. Hopefully I'll get some today. I am posting on my phone through the e-ticket app, so I won't be able to add pictures until we get home.

Thanks for coming along on the ride with us!! Upcoming today maybe (we are just going to go with the flow):

Shower (yes, please!!)
Fishing (Yes, Frank, we brought our poles, and this is the main reason we got the GYAG last night :-D jk...kinda)
Pool
Bike rides
Resort launch ride (gotta go get some soft serve!)
Garden Grove for dinner, ADR for 6 (thanks restaurant.com!! )

Hope y'all have a great day!! We're sure gonna try to have one! ;-)

 

[Born 2 Fish]

What a AWESOME arrival,
Don'tcha just love it when a plan comes together !

okay,,wait'n for more,
havanother awesome day !

 

[WDWisTheBest]

TinkMomma, have a great visit. We all are enjoying your trip reports.

 

[2goofycampers]

I can hear the screams from the back seat now.

And we get a TR.

 

[TinkMomma]

Ok folks... We got home safely on Monday. Yesterday was spent doing a million loads of laundry and reorganizing the garage. I will post more of the trip later, but here are some things you have to look forward to:

- A surprise from a generous relative
- SuperTarget!!!!
- Ironman? Really?!
- Girl Scouts and family reunions! Oh my!
- Making new friends
- Low 60's? We needed jackets? Woops!
- The Hursey's favorite fella at the Fort gets a promotion!

Stay tuned! I hope to get more posted once the kids are off to school today. There may be pictures, but that may happen after DH gets home from work.

Hope y'all had a good weekend!

 

[2goofycampers]

sounds great