Day 6 – Disney Springs
We hadn’t planned to visit Disney Springs during our trip, but someone from the resort suggested it, and it seemed like a low-key way to spend our last day. Again, we went in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowds.
We did a little shopping and had lunch at T-Rex, a novelty restaurant with animatronic dinosaurs and a cave-like feel. Fun for the kids, and the gigantic Lava Flow made it fun for Mama, too. 😀
We also checked out the Disney Photo Pass Studio and used the Memory Maker to get some silly family shots, and some more traditional pics of the kids. There was no wait, and the photos took maybe five minutes. It could be fun to go back and do some more dressed up shots next time.
Day 7 – Travel
And before we knew it, it was time to fly home. It was the longest, shortest week ever.
Throughout the trip, we marveled at the kids’ exemplary behavior in the face of many new experiences, buoyed by the fun we had and the relative lack of stress. I expected more whining, more tears, more complaining; of course, there was a little of that, but nothing that lasted. I worried about spending so much money on one week, and that too-high expectations for our Big Family Vacation would lead to disappointment.
In the end, we had such a good week that none of us wanted to leave. Even Tim, our family’s self-proclaimed grump, was charmed. And despite my Scrooge-like concerns, the money was well spent, as it gave us time together as a family. My favorite souvenirs are the photos!
I’ve already drawn up a plan and a budget for a trip next January. With Starpoints, we’ll be able to fly for free, and thanks to the vacation club, we can stay in a larger 2-bedroom villa closer to the parks. We’ll skip the car rental to avoid the stress and parking fees, and use Lyft to get around. With a 6-day ticket to Disney, we’ll have more time to explore without the pressure of packing everything into three days. I really want to check out the evening activities at the parks and go to Epcot.
I’m so glad we did this, and can’t wait to go back!