This home of ours is buzzing with anticipation for an annual event that is just around the corner. Now I am certainly not one to rushtime’s passing, but let’s face it…with the hectic schedules of today’s families, time flies. Our departure will be here sooner than later. The calendar with the proposed daily events is hanging in the kitchen as inspiration to make good choices with our expenses until we go. Caitlyn already has an envelope with her savings stored safely away.

We are excited about a million things regarding this trip. We have done some improvements to our motorhome inside and out for starters. One weekend was spent on a growing checklist of items that needed our attention or we felt would be a benefit for future trips. The outer compartments got a nice fresh coat of paint and some aluminum trim along the bottom to help with road salt and rust. All of the compartments also got emptied, vacuumed and reorganized. My handy husband Jerry made some great dividers for those little things that can get lost in such a large area. Some 2 x 4’s, a chop saw and a screw gun can certainly make organization a bit easier. In our golf cart trailer he utilized some nice handles and cable cuffs for securing a variety of camping paraphernalia to the walls. Jerry also constructed and welded a bike rack to mount to the beams in the trailer. Yes I am so darn blessed to have a handy husband! And even more blessed to have a husband that understands my compulsion for organization. (I hear your chuckle now Grandma Tag-Along)

We have begun our tradition of revisiting some moments whereby a situation could have gone better if we’d only done this or that. I think it’s great that we are all open and honest and share our feelings, not only of the great moments but also of the annoying or frustrating times. This really clears the air for a better vacation. We came up with a great shower system since there will be 5 of us on this trip and using a motorhome shower is by far a different experience than being at home with as much water as you need  coming out of the showerhead at a constant rate – not on and off to conserve as in the RV. So, depending on the upcoming days plan, some may shower at night and some in the morning, maybe in the motorhome or perhaps at the lovely Fort Wilderness showers. Hey, if it works out or not, it’s an attempt to rectify at least. If at first you don’t succeed, try try again, right?!

Something I definately recommend is a tentative plotting of the parks and attractions you’d like to see and do. Having this to refer to is helpful for the planning process and can save you some money. This trip we almost purchased more park passes than we could use in the amount of spare days we had (after all the other things we want to squeeze in). It is so very tempting though, to add on Disney Park days as they are so much less expensive the more you add. Again, because I am obsessive, I made that calendar I told you about and used images for the potential plan of the day. Here’s a mock one because anyone will tell you that you should not post vacation information

Well Disney friends. That’s all for now. Until next time….

Well Disney friends, we are getting so excited in this household as we have begun the countdown until our next Disney vacation. We began hashing out our lists. We have the “must-do”  and ”could live without”  lists.   I won’t tell you which list Animal Kingdom was on but I figured I’d pull this article out of the closet for those who missed it. As you’ll read, I LOVE Aninmal Kingdom. Let me know what Disney Parks will make your must-do list on your next trip.

Let me start this right off by saying that Animal Kingdom is the park at the top of my favorites list. Yes, there are times when you visit and sadly the array of beasts out and about is dismal. But, many more times are the fantastic encounters with many a furry friend. I could just get lost watching the gorillas interact with each other. I can’t tell who is sizing who up, us or them. My son Jacob will tell you he enjoys watching them eat certain things they ate once already (check out his article under the Kidz Corner tab). Me, I will always be in amazement gazing at all the primates – so many species. The lemurs and cotton-top tamarins could keep me entranced for hours - that is until reality sets in and the family is tugging at me to move on.

On our most recent visit, the kids were thrilled because we finally had time (ok, made time) to trek over to DINOLAND U.S.A. You see, it is not my favorite area of Animal Kingdom. Wait, I have to back up,  it WAS not my favorite area…that has now changed. It’s moved up a couple rungs on my ladder. I had a blast chasing Cait and Jake around in the Boneyard area. The tunnels, the slides, the nets, the caves – I just loved it!!! Oh I bet  we covered every square inch of territory playing hide and seek and sliding and running. Please, please, if you have not done so in the past, go there with your kids. (The grown up one too).

One caveat is that they both wanted to play all the “wonderful” carnival type games while we were in Dinoland (quickly overruled by Dad once we found out the extra cost to play them). And of course it didn’t help that we chose the picnic tables centered in the carnival area to sit and have our packed lunches. Oh well, life is full of lessons to learn though right?  Well, I cured the anti-carnival game hum-drums with a well recieved trip back to the Boneyard after lunch. Sometimes you have to stop and give yourself over to an new experience to find those special magic places that hide  in all the parks at Disney.

Until next time…..Melissa

While pool hopping is generally not allowed at Disney Resorts, I can tell you for a fact it happens on a regular basis. In speaking with fellow Disney Resort guests I have heard both ends of the spectrum on this topic. Personally, I say what the heck, let them swim. Each time we stay at a Disney resort it is typically for an extended period of time which usually results in a few days staying put at the Resort. This is where the real vacation time happens. Many of us adults like to enjoy a pool with a nearby bar for the consumption of a nice frozen rum drink while the kids enjoy the water slides and splash pools. Others just want a quiet relaxing waterside sun tanning area where they can read and adjust the melanin levels in their skin tone with the Florida rays.

The problem being is that you can’t always fulfill everyone’s needs at any one specific pool. Also, some resorts cater to a certain demographic. Now I’m not implying anything, but I have gotten cold stares while walking near the pool at the Grand Floridian in my Wal-Mart sandals and “Git ‘er Done” sleeveless shirt. So I can see where Disney is trying to keep each resort experience in tune with the daily room rate. I can also see where guests at a resort with an extravagant pool environment would be quite perturbed to see their pool overrun by immigrants from other resorts. Oh the humanity of it all.

The reality is that if, for example, you’re staying at any one of the Bay Lake area resorts you’re just a short boat ride from several fantastic but different pool environments. The pool at The Wilderness Lodge is an absolute work of art where the parents can sit bar side while the kids play and swim at a masterful creation of Disney water fun. The pool at Fort Wilderness Campground is also fantastic but lacks in sun tanning space and while it offers a game room and snack bar, there is no Bar. Across the water at the Contemporary Resort you have plenty of sun drenched native white sand for tanning, several pool and splash options, and Snack Bar/Drink Bar areas. The Grand Floridian was covered above. As you can see, there’s no easy answer – but there’s definitely a difficult question……. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

See ya real soon, Jerry