What it’s really like to travel with mommy bloggers

I love the kind of travel experience that shatters all your expectations and prejudices. Sometimes I’m unaware I’ve had them until they disappear.

I had learned about two months in advance that on my trip to Florida with Experience Kissimmee and Global Resort Homes I would be travelling with a handful of mommy bloggers/family travel experts. I considered pulling out of the trip for awhile. I didn’t know how I’d relate to the others, and it appeared that the ladies were already acquainted with one another.

But damn, I’m a sucker for warm weather and new experiences. When I expressed my concerns to Joanne, my best friend with a two-year-old, she looked at me like I was an idiot. “Candice,” she said. “They’re going to be away from their kids for four days. What do you think is going to happen?”

This was confirmed when Tara, our amazing social media specialist from Global Resort Homes, uploaded a photo of our well-stocked vacation home.

The others were all coming from Ontario: Candace of Life in Pleasantville from Ottawa, Jen of Urban Moms from Toronto, and Nadine of Child Mode from northern Ontario. Also on the trip were our trusty guides: Tara, Nori, and Rochelle.

We spent the first evening getting to know each other while our in-house cook served up a gourmet barbecue and we admired an unreal fiery sunset as it lit up our private pool and sauna. I grabbed a beer and immediately went for a swim. With seven ladies under one roof, I had expected a Big Brother situation…but the possibility of being stressed out or distracted was pretty slim to none.

Hilariously, I was the first person in bed that evening. I blamed my body’s inability to cope with the changes in time zones after leaving Iceland.

But then I was the first person to hit the sack the next night…and the night after that. It wasn’t even that the house was filled with party raging moms, I was just passing out all over the place and the moms were all way more hardcore than me.

(Oh my, that’s sexy.)
Case in point: my fear of heights kept me from doing the zip lines at Gatorland. I also turned down the Sky Coaster at Fun Spot.

These ladies, however? Badass to the max.

I was tired of being the ‘fraidy cat in the group, so when our Saturday morning sunrise hot air balloon excursion rolled around, I manned up.

And by manned up I mean I sat in the bottom of the basket while we launched a thousand feet into the sky. I slipped an Ativan and managed to stand up and even enjoy myself, eventually. Alright, I was high as a kite. I’ve been quoting as saying, “I love everything” as I leaned over the basket trying to snap a good photo.

And yet I still kept passing out all over the place.

(Seriously?)

(Yup.)
Instead of feeling out of place or uncomfortable, we all quickly bonded and vowed to keep in touch. I’m pretty sure I unleashed all my innermost secrets to poor unsuspecting Jen at Disney World on Sunday. I blame the 22-oz glasses of grapefruit beer.

The truth about mommy bloggers? They’re a great deal more than mommy bloggers. They’re talented writers and loving women, and brave as hell, and they know how to have a good time.

Even more shocking: there’s a great deal to do in the Kissimmee area other than the major theme parks. Who knew?! I’ll be rolling out those posts over the next few weeks. But for now, cheers to my #KissCanada ladies, and here’s hoping we meet again!

  • October 30 2013
    LifeInPleasantville

    I have tears streaming down my face Candice laughing. You were awesome and it was so great getting to know you. I am truly, TRULY, looking forward to traveling with you again. In the meantime, I’ll be following you as you travel the globe via social media and you know, keeping a watchful eye on you. Once a mother, always a mother :) xo

    • October 31 2013

      LOL so glad you enjoyed! And trust me, I need an extra parent or five.

  • October 30 2013
    Nancy

    Hahaha! The passed out photos are a great touch.

    • October 31 2013

      Hahaha there are even more, but they were too awful to put up.

  • October 30 2013
    zengrrl

    Yup, I’ve discovered many mommy bloggers enjoy life to the max when away from the kids. Wish I’d known you were down here so we could meet. =) I live right next to DisneyWorld. Literally.

    • October 31 2013

      Seriously?! Damn. Next time. I have a feeling I’ll be back. ;)

  • October 30 2013
    tasnas

    I love this post! Fantastic, just like you! And you know this “mom” will be happy to hang with you anytime, so come back! Soon!

  • October 30 2013
    tasnas

    I love this post! Fantastic, just like you! And you know this “mom” will be happy to hang with you anytime, so come back! Soon!

  • October 30 2013
    tasnas

    I love this post! Fantastic, just like you! And you know this “mom” will be happy to hang with you anytime, so come back! Soon!

  • October 30 2013
    tasnas

    I love this post! Fantastic, just like you! And you know this “mom” will be happy to hang with you anytime, so come back! Soon!

  • October 30 2013
    tasnas

    I love this post! Fantastic, just like you! And you know this “mom” will be happy to hang with you anytime, so come back! Soon!

    • October 31 2013

      Hahaha, thank you Tara! I’m so glad I have friends in Florida now!

  • October 30 2013

    Hahaha passed out photos are the best! My ‘mom’ friends all party harder than me now too, but if I only got to do it twice a year like they do I guess I’d go as hard as they do!

  • October 30 2013

    Hahaha passed out photos are the best! My ‘mom’ friends all party harder than me now too, but if I only got to do it twice a year like they do I guess I’d go as hard as they do!

  • October 30 2013

    Hahaha passed out photos are the best! My ‘mom’ friends all party harder than me now too, but if I only got to do it twice a year like they do I guess I’d go as hard as they do!

    • October 31 2013

      Hahaha, maybe that’s it. When they get those rare occasions to party, they unleash the madness.

  • October 31 2013

    Wow talk about perfect timing. My cousins and siblings and I just booked an adult Fam Jam to Orlando in February. Looking forward to reading your posts so we can get some ideas.

    • October 31 2013

      AWESOME! I’m going to do a big “attractions outside of the theme parks” post next week, covering all the amazing things we did that weren’t Disney or Universal. I highly recommend getting outside the parks to explore. :)

  • October 31 2013
    Lauren @BonVoyageLauren

    Ha, those pictures are great! Love this post.

    • November 06 2013

      There are even MORE! But they’re too embarrassing to put up, haha

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