• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About Me
  • Work with Me
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • E-mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Mummy..Mummy..MUM!!
  • Family Fun
  • Family Holidays
  • Travel
  • Family Day Trips
  • Kids Crafts
  • Learning Activities
  • Home and Interiors
  • Family Health
  • Reviews
Home » When dreams come true..

When dreams come true..

May 1, 2013 by admin 19 Comments

Most of my summer holidays as a child were spent in Florida, I loved everything about it, the sun, the breathtaking beaches, the food, the smell of suncream, the noise of the cicadas in the evening, even the torrential rain. I’ve only been back twice in my adult life, but each time has been almost like returning home.

We would always spend a week in Orlando doing the usual touristy things and then another week travelling around. I was lucky enough to see much of both coasts and even make the trip down to Key West. I remember dreaming about one day spending a summer at Space Camp in Kennedy Space Centre and always came away from there inspired to go home and work hard at school.

Sometimes as a very special treat ( it was quite expensive ) we would spend a few nights at a Disney World Resort Hotel. One year we stayed in what was Dixie Landings and I think is now Port Orleans Riverside for a couple of nights, it was beautiful. We rented bikes and caught the boat down the river. I remember thinking how I would love to spend our whole holiday there. One evening we drove to Wilderness Lodge, to watch the electrical water parade, which you can see from certain hotels every evening. I must have been about 13. As soon as we stepped inside Wilderness Lodge I was in love, it was the most amazing hotel I had even been in. I told myself that one day I would come back and actually stay there.

Wilderness Lodge

20 years later exhausted from work and three amazing but demanding children I am desperate for a holiday, on impulse we book flights to Orlando and then look at hotels, we want it to be easy, we are desperate for a real break from everyday stresses. Wilderness Lodge seems perfect so we book.

It was indeed perfect and everything I had hoped for all those years ago. This photo does not capture the magnificence of the lobby, it was just amazing.

 

Wilderness Lodge

 

After the kids were fast asleep in bed exhausted from a day in the parks followed by swimming, I would sit at the desk on my laptop and smile, as at 9.35 exactly the music started for the Electrical Water Parade. Sitting here now, I miss it. I remember being young, full of hopes and dreams, believing I could go to Space Camp. I remember the sun on my arms, the smell of the pool and happy smiles. I hope my children realise how special a place Wilderness Lodge is, and I hope one day I can take them all back.

 

Wilderness Lodge

 

We rented a bike one day and cycled down to Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Z and S were desperate to ride on the pony’s.

Wilderness lodge

 

DSC_0014

 

The part they most loved though was the pool and water slide. We watched as little H’s confidence in the water grew daily. She really wanted to try the water slide, but would  always get to the top and say she was scared, until the last day when she got the courage to try it and then spent the next hour going round and round.

 

DSC_0002

Wilderness Lodge

 

If you are looking for an extra special holiday, Wilderness Lodge is definitely the place. Magic Kingdom is just a short boat ride away, and we never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a boat. The bus transportation to the rest of the parks was impressive as well, only once did we wait more than 5 minutes. Wilderness Lodge gave us the much needed break we hoped for.

We were told that at Christmas they have a huge tree in the lobby, I’d love to see that.

Filed Under: Family Fun, Family Holiday, Holidays, Travel Tagged With: Disney world Resort, DisneyWorld, Family Holidays, Florida, Wilderness Lodge

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen

    May 1, 2013 at 11:04 am

    Omg Emma I feel all tingly reading that, it sounds amazing. If I ever manage to take my kids to Florida this is where we are staying for sure! How can you say you don’t take good pics… These are great!
    X

    Reply
    • admin

      May 7, 2013 at 1:26 pm

      Awww thank you Helen, and yes you should definitely stay at Wilderness Lodge

      Reply
  2. Actually Mummy...

    May 1, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    It is a truly epic experience – I wish we had spent more time just relaxing in that lovely hotel

    Reply
    • admin

      May 7, 2013 at 1:27 pm

      oh me too 🙂 I want to go back.

      Reply
  3. Sammie Hodges

    May 2, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Wilderness lodge looks amazing!Looks like you had a fab time. I totally get what you mean about childhood memories coming back. My best memories of childhood were at WDW!!

    Reply
    • admin

      May 7, 2013 at 1:27 pm

      I wonder how many people say the same thing?

      Reply
  4. Emma

    May 3, 2013 at 9:32 am

    We stayed at the Wilderness a couple of years ago. The kids adored it! Sounds like you had a great trip! 🙂

    Reply
    • admin

      May 7, 2013 at 1:29 pm

      We really did 🙂

      Reply
  5. Sarah Ebner

    May 6, 2013 at 9:43 am

    Sounds gorgeous! We are recently back from a trip to Orlando which we loved, and which we have written about too. What a wonderful place. Lovely pics too.

    Reply
  6. Susan Mann

    May 6, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    So pleased you had a great time. It sounds amazing xx

    Reply
    • admin

      May 6, 2013 at 6:55 pm

      Thank you, it was fantastic!

      Reply
  7. @mummydaddyme

    May 6, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    It sounds like you had an amazing time Emma. My dream is to take my girls to Florida when I am a little bigger. I am very lucky to have travelled the world, mainly as an adult when I started my career but I have never been to Florida. I would love to go, I always used to tell my mum that we were deprived children as we never went to see American Mickey. 😉 I went on some wonderful holidays as a child but mainly to Europe. Florida is definitely somewhere I will take my girls one day.
    x

    Reply
    • admin

      May 7, 2013 at 1:52 pm

      You should, we had SUCH a good time. x

      Reply
  8. becky

    May 7, 2013 at 8:35 am

    Wow your holiday sounds FABULOUS how lovely your daughter managed the slide on the last day too!

    Reply
    • admin

      May 7, 2013 at 1:52 pm

      Yay, we were very pleased for her 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top tips for Toddlers at Walt Disney World Florida - Mummy..Mummy..Mum! says:
    May 7, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    […] spent 10 days in the beautiful Wilderness Lodge and didn’t leave Disney World for the whole time, it was amazing. Of course, there were […]

    Reply
  2. Preparing for a holiday in Florida - Mummy..Mummy..Mum! says:
    June 17, 2013 at 9:31 am

    […] just come back from the most wonderful family holiday in Disney World Florida, it was the perfect mixture of excitement and relaxation. Every day was jam […]

    Reply
  3. Tots Travel: America | Tots 100 says:
    March 18, 2014 at 11:40 am

    […] Mummy Mummy Mum who took her three children back to a place where she used to holiday as a child. Wilderness Lodge looks amazing and Emma definitely seems to recommend […]

    Reply
  4. An Amazing Holiday with British Airways - Mummy..Mummy..Mum! says:
    May 30, 2014 at 6:24 pm

    […] and in dire need of a holiday. On impulse we sold my shares from work and booked a 10 night dream holiday to Disney World, Florida. It was just what we needed, a real break from stressful jobs and our busy […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search my blog

Some more stuff to read!

  • Playmobil Rescue Range
  • Top Tips for visiting Santa Cruz with Kids
  • Quirky Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day
  • Great things to do with kids around Vaison-la-Romaine
  • The Best LEGO® Storage Ideas
  • Planning The Perfect Day Trip With Your Family: Tips And Tricks
  • How to encourage kids to ask for help 
  • 5 reasons you should buy a Cricut machine
  • The best vegan chocolate
  • Cost Of Hollywood Smile

Footer

Playmobil ambulance rescue cart
Natural Bridges State Beach California

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316