When we asked the children to create their Summer Bucket List the only instruction or limit we gave was “write down 5 things you’d like to do this summer.” As I shared in the first post in this series they ranged from the simple (“play in the sprinkler”) to the not-so-simple (“own a pet snake” and “go to Disney“)
We’ll have to work on his spelling. 😉
We live in Maryland… Florida in not exactly a weekend trip for us.
We’re not sure what prompted Evan to add it to his list, but he did… and we’re saying YES! (And a pet snake is out of the question for me!)
Little did the children know Vince and I had already been talking about the upcoming wedding of my cousin this fall in Florida. When we started considering attending the wedding it naturally led to us considering Orlando (and more) as well!
Here’s what our children don’t know… Friends have graciously offered us the us of their RV for our trip. The Walters are heading to The Sunshine State this fall!
Have you seen the movie RV?
Vince and I were laughing the other day while we tried to figure out if we’d be the Munros or the Gornickes… we’re a little of both (but maybe a little more Gornicke). Our kids love this movie and are going to be (almost as) excited for this aspect of the trip as they will for the destination.
Shhhhh… our children don’t know yet (do you know the torture they’d inflict on us in the 3.5 months left before we leave?!?!?!), but we’re working up to telling them soon. I think just letting them in of the secret is going to be HUGE, so I want to think of a memorable way to do it.
In the mean time I’d love some tips or ideas!
Neither Vince nor I have been to Disney in a number of years, so we know a lot has changed. We have awesome flexibility since we’ll be driving our hotel! We’ll have three days set aside for the wedding in South Florida, but otherwise we’re out for adventure. Maybe we’ll visit the Everglades after the wedding, or Cape Canaveral along the trip home… We have so many possibilities. Our LEGO-loving boys will absolutely need a stop at LEGOLand.
This is the final post in the 2012 Summer Bucket List series. I hope you’ve enjoyed it and had a chance to visit the other participants.
**UPDATE!! We spilled the beans! They are THRILLED! Any one that knows us realizes this is big, we never tell our children things like this in advance, but we didn’t want them to overhear our planning and ruin the surprise element. While they were watching RV we served them a dessert that gave more than a little hint-
I am so excited for you. On your way home I know a great plcace to stop, Kingsport, TN. That would be fun.
😉 If it were closer to I95 you know we would!! We will be sure to get down there again soon.
That is so wonderful! My advice..Disney allows you to bring in food and small coolers now so pack food for the day. Make your start in fantasy land as that gets the most crowded. And use fast passes when possible 🙂 I am so happy for you! It took us a long time to get there and when we did I nearly cried lol
Wow, I didn’t know that AnneMarie! We are considering purchasing meal plans, but the ability to bring in some food will certainly help! We know the drive will be long but hopefully the comfort and the flexibility of being in the RV will help keep the stir-craziness at bay. 😉
I am so excited for you!! Growing up in Florida, my husband and I went to Disney several times and neither one of us liked it much. We have yet to take our kids, but hope to in the near future when we visit with family. Enjoy your road trip!
I was born in FL, and have been a few times as a kid. We’ve wondered when the “right” time would be to take our children and this opportunity seems to be it. 😉
I have never been to Disney World, but I went to Disneyland several times growing up. My first thought is – don’t drive straight through and not enjoy the journey (arriving too tired for fun). My parents drove all the way from Victoria, BC down to Los Angeles in 24 hours. It was absolutely crazy, but I guess it was their idea of avoiding paying for hotels along the way. Have loads of fun.
I think it is important to say yes when you can. I am going to look for ways I can say yes tomorrow.
Blessings
Honey
^^^LOL, You were logged in as me when you commented Honey. 😉 We do intend to stop at least one overnight while driving down (since we’ll be in an RV we don’t have to worry about hotels). We’re working on picking a few places we’ll visit along the drive down and the return. Our biggest challenge will be limiting our choices. I’m hoping to stop in St. Augustine since that ties in nicely to the portion of history some of them are studying.
Hi Lisa, we aere going to Florida in a couple of weeks we are going to legoland, they have a lego store just for boys, and one just for girls.we aren’t doing Disney we are going to the keys.legoland looks kind of cool its a new amusement park/water park i don’t know if they have one in Orlando.
LEGOLand was on the boys wishlist and is in the plan. 😉 The waterpark won’t be open while we’re there, but I’m sure the kids will love it any way!
Love it!!! Love how excited all the kids were, especially Evan.. It is gonna be a great family vacation. Still can’t believe you told them this early. You might as well make a countdown calendar because you know they are gonna ask “how many more days until Disney” lol.
Love ya’s. Enjoy your birthday!!!
Yup, we’ll need to get the countdown going for them to see.
there are so many wonderful places to visit – St Augustine has Anastasia state park – I suggest you NOT miss on the way – great camp ground – full hook ups & gorgeous beaches & it’s the oldest city in the nation. you can also tour the old fort – amazing history there & nature. 🙂 I’m in south florida – Boca Grande area (below Sarasota) on the gulf side – and I’m from Orlando – so if you have ANY florida questions – please feel free to ask!!
We’re hoping to get to St. Augustine so I really appreciate the camping recommendation! I was born in Hollywood, FL. But it has been quite a while since I’ve been down there. Thanks for offering suggestions and help!
Wow–you are so brave to have told them so early! LOL! But now you can get some input from them on the planning too.
We’ve never been (I’ve never been at all!) and everyone in our family’s been pushing about taking the kids. (Which unless we go four times, I don’t know how everyone is going to get to be in on it!). I’ve insisted that we’re waiting until the youngest one is at least past NEEDING a nap–but part of me is not really sure I want to go, so you’ll have to let me know what you think when you get back.
If I were driving down there, I would just have to stop in Charleston and Savannah. I just love history and architecture, and those cities are packed with it…oh the lessons on urban design relative to social progression…not to mention comparing those “port cities” to Hampton Roads as a “port city.”
If we held it in longer we probably would have spoiled the fun of it being such a huge surprise. Thankfully they haven’t nagged every minute of each day (yet). If it weren’t for the wedding I don’t think we’d be planning the trip, we’ve also been wondering about what the “right” age is for them to go. This just seemed to all fall together. We shall see what the overall impression is once we’re on the other side of the trip. 😉
We’re thinking that Savannah would be a good stopping point for a day on the way down.