As I’ve watched my lil lady (now 19) write her own story, I long for magical moments with her. Now, more than ever, I appreciate her time—our family time—the moments where we come together, sharing new experiences and, like this picture shows, walking hand in hand. Wanting to capture all those moments, we did it. We went to Disney this Spring Break.
It had been more than 10 years, and certainly the experience was different than the last time we were there. But was it magical? You bet. Expensive? Absolutely. Worth it? 100%.
So, if you are thinking—maybe plotting and planning—your own Disney adventure, here’s the scoop for you and your family to make some magic too.
Ten Takes from Our Disney Adventure
Do them all—and add a day to recoup.
We were all in: five days, four parks. Animal Kingdom (Day 1), Hollywood Studios (Day 2), Rest Day/Pool Day/Disney Springs (Day 3), Magic Kingdom (Day 4), and Epcot (Day 5). Disney can be exhausting while being magical. Our family averaged about seven walking miles a day. Our trip plan flowed well for fun, and that rest day was definitely magical.
Download and use the Disney app.
Yes, it’s vacation, and I don’t want to be tied to my technology, but this app makes everything easy. One of my favorite uses? Preordering food for quick-service dining and snacks. Again—no lines, no waiting, no whining (me), and more time for fun.
Lightning Lanes made the experience.
Yes, they are an upcharge (I whined about this a lot), but I will never visit Disney again without them. Game changer. We were able to get on all our desired rides and do plenty more. Our longest wait was about 20 minutes.
Use the Disney Dining Plan.
Reservations were made, and there were lovely, unique dining experiences every day, along with more than enough other food options. Shout out to Disney for recognizing the diversity of eating preferences and dietary needs. As a vegetarian, I found fabulous tofu, barbecued jackfruit, and plenty of other decadent cuisine. We dined at Sanaa (Animal Kingdom), 50’s Prime Time Café (Hollywood Studios), Toledo (Coronado Springs), and Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom).
Stay onsite at a Disney property.
We chose Coronado Springs. This resort felt like a vacation itself. Each morning, I’d stroll around the lake, grab a cup of coffee, and watch the light change as morning arrived. And the pools? They seemed to be everywhere, which meant no crowds and delightful lounging.
Opt for Disney transportation.
From resort to park, from park to park, and to Disney Springs, Disney made it easy. The buses were consistent (though sometimes crowded), and we even opted to take the Skyliner from Epcot to Hollywood Studios and then a bus back to Coronado Springs for fun. It was a unique way to see the surrounding landscape.
Pack the backpack.
Our daily essentials included water bottles, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, a rain jacket or umbrella, and an extra pair of socks. Our crew stayed happy campers with these few things along with us each day. Though we carried a pack, we packed in moderation so it wasn’t a heavy lift (literally). Having these few things kept everyone comfortable and happy.
Don’t miss these experiences.
Here are our family’s 10 most magical, memorable rides and experiences—in order—from our Disney trip: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Tron, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Fantasmic!, Avatar Flight of Passage, Oga’s Cantina (make a reservation), Festival of the Lion King, Grayson the Piano Performer (Magic Kingdom), Expedition Everest, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Everything in moderation.
From souvenirs to food intake to how many hours we spent in each park, our family found the magic in moderation. We didn’t close down the parks at night, and we certainly didn’t arrive at opening. We got plenty of sleep, splurged on one souvenir, didn’t do it all, and ended our week with gratitude, tired feet, and memories that will definitely last a lifetime.
Use a Disney travel planner.
When we decided on doing Disney, the logistics felt overwhelming. Mouse Made Simple (Christine Miller) made everything easy. The planning process usually isn’t magical, but it certainly wasn’t stressful. What was magical were the logistics already in place for us to enjoy our trip once we arrived. And when I didn’t have an answer or preference, I relied on Christine—and she made magic happen every time.
If you’re considering a Disney trip, go—the memories you’ll make may be truly magical too!
Pic: My daughter and I walking hand in hand into Magic Kingdom.
