Updated: Oct 16, 2019
“HERE YOU LEAVE TODAY AND ENTER THE WORLD OF YESTERDAY, TOMORROW, AND FANTASY.” – Walt Disney
As you enter the Magic Kingdom and begin on a path that leads you down Main Street, USA, there is a mounted plaque that reads this iconic quote by Walt Disney. Leaving the world of today, even if just for a few hours, is certainly an appealing concept. It’s the idea that your troubles can be left at the door, and the biggest decision that you will have to make is Space Mountain or Splash Mountain, a Mickey shaped ice cream bar or a Mickey shaped pretzels, a picture with Cinderella or Rapunzel. These are the dilemmas of Disney World, and they are far more enjoyable than what we’re usually confronted with in our lives.
My mom and I decided that we both needed a few days away from stress, structure, and expectations. We wanted to go someplace where we could limit our responsibility and maximize our relaxation. Not three weeks later, we jumped in the car and headed to one of our absolute favorite places – The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Here are some highlights from our trip!
CHARACTER BREAKFAST
The first thing on our agenda was breakfast at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa! We had reservations at 1900 Park Fare– a buffet character breakfast with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice, and the Mad Hatter. The food was absolutely delicious (the best breakfast we had the whole trip) and meeting the characters was a magical way to start our journey.My favorite thing about our breakfast, besides meeting the characters, was a chef’s special – Cheese Bitz. These cheesy crepes were topped with warm blueberry sauce and a dollop whipped cream – they were delicious! My mom particularly enjoyed the Eggs Benedict and another chef’s special, Floridian Strawberry Soup, which is known as Cinderella’s favorite snack!
FESTIVAL OF FANTASY
Another big highlight from our trip was seeing the Festival of Fantasy Parade at the Magic Kingdom! This promenade of Disney characters showcases the fan faire and magic that Disney is all about.
MAIDEN VOYAGE ON THE DISNEY SKYLINER!
When vacationing in Disney World there are some pretty big benefits to staying at a Disney hotel, rather than staying off-property. While you will spend a bit more money to stay on Disney property, it comes with the benefits of being able to add a Disney Dining Plan, as well as take advantage of Disney’s free transportation services throughout their resort. For our trip, my mom and I stayed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort– a beautiful hotel located between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. My mom chose this hotel specifically, as it is a main hub for Disney’s newest mode of transportation, the Disney Skyliner!
You can board a gondola that will fly you high in the sky and take you to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or a few select Disney hotels. Our first flight lead us to Epcot, where we attempted to eat and drink our way around the globe!
MEETING OUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS
One of my favorite parts of being at Disney World is meeting all of the characters! The previous times that I have been on vacation to Disney World, meeting characters was not my/my family’s top priority. It is easy to get wrapped up in the meticulously planning of the day – fast passes are scheduled, dining reservations are made, deadlines are set to get seats for the fireworks, etc. This trip my mom and I made it a point to be more relaxed and go with the flow! When we would see characters out and about, or a PhotoPass Cast Member at a prime location, we would stop to take a picture. These little moments created big memories of our first mother-daughter trip to Disney.
MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY
One of my favorite nights on our trip was going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! This nighttime event allows guests of all ages to dress in their Halloween attire and trick-or-treat throughout the Magic Kingdom. In addition to the loads of complementary candy each guest receives, rides are open throughout the park (some with a spooky twist), as well as shows on the castle stage, and the ‘spooktacular’ Boo To You Parade with Mickey Mouse & friends!
There were so many fun things that my mom and I loved about going to the party! We were able to ride Space Mountain in complete darkness (as opposed to the normal, reduced lighting) with a Halloween soundtrack playing in the background! This was definitely a highlight of the trip for both of us. Our favorite part of the party had to be the Boo to You Parade! It was the perfect mix of Halloween fun and the classic characters we know and love.
HAPPILY EVERY AFTER
My mother and I love fireworks. The perfect ending to our trip was watching the Magic Kingdom firework show, Happily Ever After. The fireworks portion of the show can be seen throughout the park and the surrounding resorts, however the real magic is seen when you are standing in front of the castle. A story unfolds as the castle is used as a screen to project Disney’s classic characters and the highs and lows that they experience. In true Disney fashion, despite any hardships or challenges, everything ends with a happily ever after.
My mom and I had such a wonderful trip together. We were so thankful that we were able to take some time away from the stresses of daily life and play in the world of magic and make-believe. Every princess that we met, ride that we went on, meal that we ate – it created memories that will truly last a lifetime.
Thanks Mickey. It was goodbye for now, but we’ll see ya real soon!
