What a great trip report! Thanks for all your time in posting and sharing some special looking memories. We were there in October as well, the 21st-28th. It was such a great time to visit.
We too, LOVED the resort, everything about it. We liked the theme, we loved the marsh smell, the location was great, but what really made this resort special for us were the Cast Members, they were so lovely. Tiana, Genevieve, Will, Mike, "Boo" and TJ, were all just awesome people. How some of them have the energy to do the campfire a couple times a week, or Goofy bingo is beyond me. I cannot say enough good things about them!
We did every activity with the resort's naturalist, TJ, and we loved the job he did. He was the best, my kids(ages 8,10,12) learned a lot while having a good time, all because he was a great teacher. We didn't have too many other children in those kinds of activities, perhaps because some families might shy away thinking it would be a little too boring, but no way, this was Disney, it was fun mixed with learning. I hope you got a chance to check him out and I hope other people will give those kinds of activities a shot.
Glad to hear someone else had as great of a time as we did, it certainly is a magical place. Your pictures were also a lot of fun for me to look at and say" oh hey, that's were we stayed" & "Oh, I miss walking on the boardwalk to get to the Lodge, and grab a cookie".
Can't wait to go back! We were thinking of going back in October again next year, maybe we'll see you around the campfire