I’m not one to keep a vacation secret very well, so once I have those Fort Wilderness reservations in hand, I let the family know. Most of the tribe are genuinely thrilled, but at least one (usually a teen) has some variety of objections. “Mom, when are we going back to the Polynesian?”, “Isn’t it going to be hot in May?”, “I hate sleeping on the jackknife couch.” or “I guess that means we’re not flying.” Through creativity, bribery, and sheer manipulation, I’ve managed to simmer down most of the complaints. I do this because I know that the end results will be grand – it will be a family vacation to remember, and will not blend in with the variety of fine hotel stays that punctuate our calendars. Following are 10 of my sales pitches and promises. I stay true to most of them, and you can use and twist them to your liking.

You may win our Fort Wilderness Family Olympics

I remind them of our tradition of dividing up into teams of two, and having at least one challenge each day of the trip. These may involve a scavenger hunt in The Fort, a tennis match, a shuffleboard match, horseshoes, corn hole, arcade games, and other forms of recreation found at the campgrounds. There will be at least two card games at night – we like Uno.

Here’s Something New and shiny

Buy everyone a new knife (as age appropriate) or incredible flashlight. Because you can’t have too many knives or flashlights.

You’re gonna be an Instagram STAR

Let the little ones begin their picture-taking adventures, or help to revitalize it in the teens (can we please have a day without SnapChat?). Pick a theme for each day (flowers, dogs, Disney characters, strange people, cool cars, etc.). I like to limit this one to a short time period each day. I know that we want to disconnect as much as possible, but a photo-diary may be a reasonable and worthwhile endeavor. For added fun, give a small prize each day for best photo.

We’re Renting a golf cart

Yes, we need to bike, and we will bike, but looping in Fort Wilderness and seeing it all, especially around the holidays, part of what makes it so damn glam. Note: remember to try to follow most of the golf cart rules.

Yes, we can take our dog!

It’s only $5! Pluto is not allowed at the Polynesian, and if he were, it would cost a whole lot more. On top of all of this, Fort Wilderness is the closest Disney resort to Best Friends Pet Hotel, when we need a day without Pluto or an elegant grooming.

Eat This

One of the best parts of camping is that we can cook our own food, but kids still love that expensive Disney dining experience. Let each person pick one go-out-to-eat meal for the trip. It doesn’t have to be in the parks – the resorts have seemingly unlimited options.

we’re going to do a very Special Excursion

So we’ve saved some money (hopefully) by camping, and now we need to discuss something extra special to do with some of this. Ideas might include a behind-the-scenes tours, renting a boat on Bay Lake/Seven Seas Lagoon, a day at Universal, or a water park day. Discuss, decide, and make it happen.

Oh the Loop Friends You’ll make

It’s a lot easier to make new camping friends in the loops or smaller pools at Fort Wilderness than it is at the hotels. Suddenly, they will have forgotten about the parks just a little. Triple bonus if we can recruit some friends to camp during the same week.

We can bike if we want to

We can leave our friends behind. Seriously, take your own, or rent when you get there. Join the other 700 kids on two wheels at any given time.

let’s watch a little movie tonight

Watch a mood-setting movie related to the outdoors, animals, conservation or camping before you go. Maybe even two of them. Think Parent Trap, Camp Rock, Bambi, Wall-E, Fire on the Mountain.

I never really explain to them that research shows that camping/glamping usually results in a vacation where the family gets along better. Or that they will end up spending less time on their phones and more time exercising. Or that the sunshine and outdoors and trees will decrease their stress levels and actually make them feel better and more confident by the end of the week. None of that for now. They can thank me later. Next week, I’ll share a few ideas for how to make the camping trip epic once we arrive.