traveling with my bwuhs

During our June stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the boys got to experience one of Disney’s Enchanting Extras: an archery lesson at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Getting there was part of the adventure! We hopped on the first bus that arrived at our home away from home, and it worked out perfectly because it was headed to Magic Kingdom. From there, we got to try a form of Disney transportation that was new to us—a ferry boat!

The peaceful ride across Bay Lake gave us a completely different view of Walt Disney World. We cruised past the Grand Floridian and Contemporary Resorts, both of which we’ve seen countless times. Somehow, seeing them from the water made them feel brand new again. We also passed Disney’s newest resort, Lakeshore Lodge. It’s still under construction, but it already looks like it will be a beautiful addition to the Disney resort lineup.

When we arrived at Fort Wilderness, we immediately fell in love with the campground atmosphere. The towering trees and peaceful surroundings made it feel like a completely different world from the other resorts and parks. What we didn’t realize was just how massive Fort Wilderness really is!

In an effort to get to the Bike Barn, where the archery lesson was held, we decided to walk. While it wasn’t a difficult walk, we were cutting it close on time and probably would have been better off hopping on one of the internal resort buses. We arrived about two minutes late, but thankfully the Cast Members welcomed us right in.

The lesson began with an overview of archery basics and safety procedures before everyone got a chance to start shooting. Each round consisted of three arrows, and the boys had several opportunities to practice. At first, there were plenty of missed shots, but by the end of the lesson they were hitting the target. Watching their confidence grow with each round was so much fun.

I also have to give a huge shoutout to the Cast Members leading the class. They were incredibly patient with Boy1 and with all of the children participating. They explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and made sure everyone felt successful and included. They truly made the experience special. (And yes, I absolutely submitted a Cast Compliment afterward!)

After the lesson, we spent some time exploring Fort Wilderness. We stopped by the gift shop and found a Chip and Dale archery pin set for the boys’ collection. Since it was a two-pin set, Hubs and I claimed the Fort Wilderness campground pins that came with it—a fun little souvenir for all four of us.

Before heading back, we refilled our resort mugs at a poolside refill station and then caught the resort bus to the Outpost to begin our Disney transportation adventure back to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

It ended up being the first truly hot day of our Florida trip, but it was absolutely worth it. The boys have already asked when they can do archery again, and I’ve started looking into some of the other Enchanting Extras we’ve never taken advantage of before. Sometimes the best Disney memories happen far away from the rides and crowds.

Have you ever tried one of Disney’s Enchanting Extras experiences? If so, which one was your favorite—or which one is at the top of your Disney bucket list?

❤ Jen