Disney World

Two years ago we did our spring break at Disney World and happened to go to Fort Wilderness for a dinner reservation.  At that time I assumed that we would never get our trailer as far as Florida but it did look so fun!  When it became apparent that we would get our trailer to Florida I made a plan to do Disney World again and stay at the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness.  It was Disney expensive to be sure but it was also a great way to be a resort guest with all its perks and have the comfort of our own space.  Our stay was great.  This will mostly be a picture blog since Disney is Disney, pretty much the same every time you go!

We arrived at our campsite Monday afternoon.  Disney had a resort deal this year that on the day of your arrival you could go to their water park for free.  So, we got parked and headed out to Blizzard Beach.  We only had a couple of hours to enjoy but we made the most of it.  That night David and Will headed to an Orlando Magic NBA game against the LA Lakers.  Will will have to report on that.  The rest of us went to Sanaa, a well regarded restaurant in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  We were amazed by the Giraffes, Wildebeests, zebras, and exotic birds hang out in the LARGE savannah at the center of the lodge.  Myra and I really enjoyed our meals (for the most part!).  The NBA game attendees were surprised that there was music playing DURING the game.  They got back quite late.

Tuesday was our Magic Kingdom Day.  The Campsites at Disney is a HUGE campground but we scored a campsite right by the boat to Magic Kingdom!!!  Other campsites could have been up to a mile away.  We had a good day.  The lines were not too terrible and we managed to do the day without lightning lanes.  BUT, we didn’t manage to get a reasonable line at TRON and so missed that ride all together and we were all sad about that.  I LOVE the Firework & light show at the Castle and so staked our standing room spot with an excellent view 80 minutes before the show. I have loved the Disney Smoked Turkey leg since I first went to Disney World (with my boss from the INEL, Anne Rydalch) in the summer of 1991! Myra and I found them and enjoyed them for lunch.

Wednesday was Epcot day.  For the second time we managed to be there during their annual flower I managed the day with some lines and some lightning lanes.  As far as I am concerned we got to do everything we wanted!  Will and David went to Le Cellier, a steakhouse in the Canada area of the World Showcase, for lunch.  Will went there two years ago with Aunt Karine and loved it so wanted to go back.  Zina ate her PB&H while Myra and I finally settled on a Moroccan restaurant.  Everything we ate there was fabulous!  I think Epcot is my favorite park.  We used a combo of monorail and boat to transport to and from Epcot.

Thursday was a “free” day when we took a break from parks, did errands, laundry, swam in the resort pool, etc.  We did have a reservation at Beaches & Cream, a soda fountain that I had wanted to try since our last visit when we couldn’t get a reservation!  It did not disappoint!  We did NOT try their famous “kitchen sink” sundae.  At the pool, Zina probably went down the water slide 50 times!!!

Friday was Animal Kingdom day.  I had been worried about all the things we were touching and germs.  Friday, it seemed like David was always lagging behind us when we were walking. By late afternoon he just went back to the trailer and slept for the rest of the day.  I am pretty sure he got a bug though he is feeling slightly better today.  Myra, Will and I went a little earlier than David and Zina so we could hit Expedition Everest, which neither of them wanted to ride.  It happened to be temporarily closed right before we got there so we REALLY lucked out and only had a 10 minute line.  Again, with the lightning lanes we got to do everything we hoped.  We lunched at the cafe right by the Avatar ride where we ate two years ago.  We highly recommend it if you find yourself at Disney World.   We did skip the last ride we were supposed to do and instead took a resort bus to one of the resorts with access to the Skyliner which we really enjoyed last time we were here.  We rode it to where we stayed last time, Art of Animation, and bought Zina a mermaid cupcake.  Then we took the resort bus to Magic Kingdom and then the boat back to our campground.  That night Myra, Zina and I went to the Chip n Dale Campfire. 

Today we are off to the Florida Keys!