Extended Vacation

Our 2010 Disney Vacation was to be unique. Both sets of Grandparents were "Snow Birding" in Florida for the winter for the first time, so we decided on an extended vacation. First we would go to The Villages with the Chappells for a few days to visit their winter home. Then, after a week at Disney World, we would be staying with the Finnigans at their vacation home in Orlando. We would also be celebrated Hundson's birthday and Riley's birthday while here, so this would be a very memorable trip.

We arrived in Orlando on Wed. Feb 17th to weather in the 50s. Record low temperatures for Florida this year. No matter - the sun was shining and there wasn't any snow. After an stop in the airport for a catch up lunch at Chilis (my parents had been in Florida since Boxing Day), we headed for their home away from home - THE VILLAGES (can you hear the song).
They were staying in a cute bungalow somewhere in the massive conglomeration of subdivisions in this retirement community. The girls were happy to settle in to their pj's and get cozy in their Princess inspired room.



While the guys spent the next few days battling the chill and getting in some golf. The girls stayed in and had a little WII competition before heading out in Grandma's "car" for a tour around the town.



I say grandma's "car", but I actually mean golf cart. This is what the people of the villages drive around in. They are everywhere. My parents cart was yellow and black - looked like a cabby, I felt like people should have started waving us down as we drove past. And there are golf cart paths everywhere. That is just how they do it. With all of the golf courses around and unlimited golfing, why bother transferring your clubs right?


I mean some of these carts are as fancy as anything, mimicking old cars, sports cars, we even saw one shaped like a Michigan helmet (didn't have a camera though). These carts were just lining the streets.



There was lots to discover with the girls. The girls had fun at the pond looking at the ducks and egrets, and they also enjoyed the "exercise trail". A walking path with stations that you stop at for some added exercise. I guess this is what you call a play park for adults!!




Grandma Heather and Papa Dave came for a visit that day as well. So we made a trip down to the town square to see where they hang out. First we started with a walk along the pier, and then stopped in for some ice cream and my parents favorite stop.





We stopped along some of the shops (with some gifts from the grandmas at the lollipop shop. The last stop, the Pirate play park. The parks are limited here, but these retiries do have grand kids, so they but a few in here and there.



After one more day of golf for the boys, and hanging out for the girls, we decided to head out that evening (instead of waiting until morning)to meet the Chappells at the Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary to start our Disney Fun!!!!