The Family Forward Retreat at Universal Orlando is Just a Week Away!

Thanks to Mom It Forward and their negotiations with Universal Orlando Resort (and other sponsors), we got a sweet deal on a family vacation like no other. A week from today, we’ll arrive at Loews Royal Pacific Resort to begin the fun at the Family Forward Retreat, “a 3-day family retreat that will help your family learn skills, experience amazing adventures, and discover new ways to bond in the digital age.”

We are very excited about the special nighttime dessert reception the first night there, at a part of the Islands of Adventure park where we may just be able to enjoy some butterbeer and sweets from Honeydukes, if you know what I mean! That part of the park will be closed to other park guests, so we have it all to ourselves. TJ is super excited about this, as any kid who longs to be a wizard would be. And parents. 🙂

On our first full day, it looks like we have some really cool activities scheduled. It looks like we’ll be doing some sort of family craft project sponsored by Cricut and Duck Tape. Then we’ll talk about enjoying screen-free time with National Geographic Kids. I may be jumping to conclusions, but later that day, we’re heading to a sound stage for some Minute to Win It-like challenges – and I wonder, will we be on an actual taping? I’ll have to get back to you on that! And then we have a presentation about creativity, where we get to learn some insider information about how they make the park so special.

Everyone loves a parade, right? We also get VIP spots to watch Universal’s Superstar Parade before we head over to see Blue Man Group!

The next morning, we have a presentation about what’s new at Universal Orlando Resort and how to create awesome family memories. Then we get a full day to spend at Universal Studios Florida with our families, making those memories we just talked about. We have the whole next day to spend with our families at Islands of Adventure – or at least until we have to head to the airport for our flights back home.

That day, Saturday, also happens to be TJ’s 8th birthday. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to top this birthday celebration!

Our whole family is excited about this trip. We haven’t had a real vacation in a long time, and we’ve had so much going on in our lives that getting away from it all to just enjoy ourselves is something we really need. I’m hoping my body doesn’t decide to trigger a new flareup while we’re there, but if it does, I’m not going to let it drag us down. At the worst, we’ll rent a wheelchair for me. Nothing it going to ruin this. (I may pay for it for weeks afterward, but so be it!)

I’d like to thank Mom It Forward and all of the Family Forward Retreat’s sponsors for providing this opportunity to us at such an affordable rate. With airfare, it’s still more than we probably should spend, but as previously mentioned, we need this time together, and it will be worth every penny. I’d also like to thank my clients for choosing me to do business with me, especially since I got a new client right about the time registration opened up that essentially pays for the trip after the fourth month of their recurring order. 🙂

Christina Gleason (976 Posts)

That’s me: Christina Gleason. I’m a writer, editor, and disability advocate. I'm a multiply disabled autistic lady doing my best in this world built for abled people. I’m a geek for grammar, fantasy, and casual gaming. I hate vegetables. I cannot reliably speak, so I’ll happily conduct business over email or messaging instead.