A Georgia family has walked away from a 10,000 square foot home for a life that revolves around Walt Disney World, trading space and stability for campground reservations and park access. Lauren and Adam Ewing, along with their two children, sold their house outside Athens after what they describe as major life changes in the early 2020s. Instead of putting down roots somewhere new, they bought an RV and hit the road. Their version of “home” now rotates between road trips and extended stays at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort in Florida.
Adam calls Disney their “go-to place,” which tracks considering the couple also honeymooned there. For most families, that might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. For the Ewings, it has become a recurring lifestyle choice.
Lauren says they spend 60 to 70 percent of the year at Fort Wilderness. The resort enforces a “26 days in, 24 hours out” policy, meaning guests must leave for a full day before returning. The family has worked that requirement into their routine, which says a lot about how often they circle back. Despite the setting, the day-to-day looks less like a vacation and more like a mobile version of ordinary life. “Most of the time, it is that normal life, working out, doing school work, regular work,” Lauren said. “And then we’ll go to the parks, mostly at night.” Even so, the backdrop remains one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the country.
The cost reflects that reality. Campsite rates fluctuate depending on the season, and peak periods are far from cheap. The Ewings said their most recent spring break stay came in at around $300 per night. “It was like $8,000 for the 26 days,” Adam said. That figure does not include food, park spending, or the steady drip of Disney extras.
For most people, that price tag would raise serious questions. For the Ewings, it is part of the plan. Adam frames it as an investment in family memories rather than long-term savings. “I don’t want to be 70 years old and looking back and saying, ‘Man, I wish I’d have went on that Disney trip or that diving trip or that skiing trip,’” he said. “I wanna do it now with my kids when we have the memories to build them.”
That may sound inspiring to some. To others, it might feel like a costly way to stay parked in the same place, just with better branding and a fireworks show at the end of the day. Lifehack: Don’t build an entire lifestyle around a corporate branded theme park.
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English (US) · 