FLORIDA bound!! (Disney World part 1) February 2017

The countdown drew to a close.... it was finally time!!

This trip represented a lot of planning and research on my part. It was also a significant investment.

That being said, we have wished many times in the six months since coming home that we could just go back again. 

The 4 hour flight was our first hurdle.... but our kids were gems.

It helped that we have experience with flying, and we know to pack lots of treats, and new toys to keep things interesting. Like a doodle pad:

Of course an iPad with headphones. (BLESS Netflix for coming out with the option to download content for no-internet viewing!)

Brain-teaser puzzles (and music on the Grapsie)

When we got to Florida we donned our magic bands (the fast-pass keeper for rides, as well as our room key) and found the Disney Express Buses that took us directly to our hotel. 

Because we visited in an off season time, we got a package deal that included staying in a Disney property in addition to a meal plan in the Disney parks. (2 quick service meals and 2 snacks per paying person (so not Feta) per day of our stay) It also included transportation to and from the airport, and some early morning hours at the parks.

For the sake of convenience we took this option (even though it may not have been the cheapest route) and I think I'd do it again, if the situation was right. If we had paid for the meal plan separately or gone at a different time of year it might not have been worth it for us. 

The first night we ventured out on the Disney bus system and visited Disney Springs (a large outdoor mall) We got dinner and saw an amazing Lego store. 

There were a plethora of photo opportunities and fun Disney things to see. We saw a restaurant with an erupting volcano outside. We Visited Goofy's candy Company and tried out our snack passes.

We stayed at the cabins at Fort Wilderness. They afforded a kitchen where we could do breakfast each morning (cold cereal and milk!) and keep leftovers.

The cabins also had sleeping space for all of us. Our cabin was very near the internal Disney Bus stop, making getting to the parks each morning fairly painless. 

Fort Wilderness's restaurants were a surprise delight that we didn't discover until our last night... but we would all have happily used meal credits there again!