My daughter and I just got back from a trip to Disney World this week and I’ve been having major withdrawals. IT IS A LEGIT PROBLEM! I swear, my heart is a little broken now that we’re not longer there. I miss seeing the castle right in front of me, I long to spot mickey ears around my house and the sounds of Disney have been filling my ear drums since we left. I haven’t felt this way since I graduated from the Disney College Program in 2011. Sigh.
Every time I visit Disney World, I feel a huge sense of nostalgia because it was home to me for four months, but this trip was one of my favorites and will always have a special place in my heart. Peyton and I were able to spend two days frolicking around Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios just the two of us and it was such a sweet experience spending quality time together. We had a blast and so many magical memories were made. You can read about her first trip to Disney, here. Now to convince my husband that we need to go back ASAP…
Each trip to Disney seems to be better than the last (especially with the kids), and during each visit, I tend to learn something new about the parks. So, while I’m sitting here crying because I miss it so much, I figured I’d share some of the things I noticed during this trip. Whether you plan to go to Disney in the near future, or don’t have a plan set, I hope you keep these in mind for your next visit. Or, maybe you already know all this and I’m just a bit behind on the Disney times.
Magic can be found at every corner. Cast members are ALWAYS going the extra mile to ensure guests are having a great time. We had a wonderful experience with a photo pass cast member who let us know that if you go into Castle Couture or the front of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and ask for pixie dust, they will sprinkle glitter in your child’s hair for free! Peyton just loved it and it was so nice of the cast member to let us in on the secret. Magical is the only way to describe it!
Disney continues to up it’s experiential game. I felt like the rides, activities and overall feel has improved so much since I last visited (in April) and it’s been so great to see the parks transform so much over the years. They now have Guest Experience booths across the parks that guests can utilize to ask questions, figure out where a certain character may be, or create a plan to enhance their time at Disney.
Getting to the parks early or staying late makes such a difference. We arrived at Disney in the afternoon, but I knew I wanted to make it to both Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom that day, so we ended up staying at Magic Kingdom until it closed and lines were shorter, the crowds weren’t bad and it was nice not to feel a rush of people around. We got the parks early the next morning too and felt the same way about the crowds.
You don’t have to be afraid to ask the photographers to take a picture with your own camera or device. Every single photographer we crossed paths with was more than willing to take our picture on my phone, and some even offered before I asked. It was nice having all of the same photos taken by the professionals on my phone too!
If you’re a foodie, plan your dining experiences ahead of time. Whether you make a reservation at a hotel, or if you’re just looking to eat something while you’re enjoying the parks, I feel like planning is key! I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve stopped quickly to grab a bite, only to be disappointed after passing a quick service spot that sounded much better than what I just ate. You can do your research by visiting Disney’s site or doing a quick Google search. I’m absolutely going to do this next time so I know what my options are before entering the park. And if you’re wondering what our favorite food experience was this trip, we had a great meal at Sleep Hollow in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom and delicious breakfast at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Village Resort.
There you have it! I’m so thankful for our experience this time around, and I can’t wait to head back soon. Love you, Mickey!
Marina Makes 