Hey there pals!
Christmas time is here… and we are full-on celebrating the season! The thing that really kicked us into the festive mood comes as no surprise… we just got home from a week at Walt Disney World! There’s nothing quite like incredible Christmas decorations, delicious food and drinks, and surprise snowfalls to get you ready for the holidays. Plus, we got to experience a whole lot of Disney magic while we were there!
Our little family has been to Orlando several times now, and Alex had been a few times with his family growing up. But even though I have an (obvious) affection for Walt Disney World, my parents had never taken the trip themselves… until last month!
Alex and I had mentioned it to my parents about a year ago that we would love for them to join us on a trip some time, and the planning started from there. My mom and I scoped out a great nearby hotel, we talked parks, reservations, and plans, and I had a BLAST putting together a little adventure for our family! As first-timers and grandparents, they could see Disney World from a perspective I couldn’t, so I asked them a few questions! Here’s what they had to say:
What was your favorite park to visit and why?
Mom: My favorite park was probably Magic Kingdom. I love all those old Disney characters so I felt more connected.
Dad: Favorite park was Animal Kingdom due to the Safari excursion.
We got to visit all 4 parks this trip, so they truly got to experience the magic in full! Animal Kingdom just so happens to be my favorite park too, followed very closely by Magic Kingdom… and for the same reasons they said!
What was one thing that surprised you about Disney?
Mom: Something about Disney that surprised me… they do a great job of moving the lines for rides and shows – they’re almost as efficient as Chick-Fil-A! Security was really done well, too. I felt very safe there.
Dad forgot to answer this one, but one thing that surprised me about him this trip was seeing how much he loved the atmosphere at Disney. My dad works really hard and I think sometimes it’s hard for him to allow himself to fully disconnect. But seeing him do the motions to Hakuna Matata with Max during the Festival of the Lion King show will be a memory that’s forever etched in my mind. He’s an awesome Papa to my boy!
What was your favorite meal?
Mom: My favorite meal… Breakfast was amazing! (Although I thought all the food was really good.)
Dad: Favorite meal was our first evening at the Wilderness Lodge.
Full disclosure here – we DID NOT skimp on meals this trip. We went all out. Dinner at Whispering Canyon at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, lunch with Mickey and his friends at Tusker House, dinner with Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto at Garden Grill, dinner at Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs, breakfast at ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Resort, and eating around the world in EPCOT… plus so much more. I was so excited to get such an amazing dining experience this trip. It’ll be hard to top!
Did you have a favorite ride? What was it?
Mom: Believe it or not, I really enjoyed the Star Wars ride.
Dad: I think my favorite ride was the Star Wars, pretty amazing event especially since I’m not a Star Wars buff but the effects and the build up was great, could have done without the long wait, but was worth it
Because of the time of year we chose to go, park crowds were a little heavy, meaning that wait times were long. If the wait time for Avatar Flight of Passage had been shorter and we had the chance to ride, I think that may have been one of their favorites too! But there is absolutely no denying just how amazing Rise of the Resistance is, whether you’re a huge Star Wars fanatic or not!
What’s one tip you’d suggest for someone who has never been to Disney before?
Mom: One tip for newbies like us, bring wet wipes for yummy, sticky snacks. (And always carry your rainwear no matter what the forecast.) 😉
Dad: New timers need to become familiar with all of the apps and technology available to you for information regarding event access information, park guides and preordering of food.
Mom and dad were such good sports. Our first park day, we started with park opening at Hollywood Studios and ended our night shutting down EPCOT Harmonious… in the rain. We got back to our hotels soaked and exhausted, but we all agreed – it was an amazing, full day.
When it comes to technology, Alex and I are really used to navigating the My Disney Experience App. But with the addition of Genie+ and Lightning Lane, we had some learning to do! Now that we’ve used it ourselves, I have some great tips for our clients going forward! Thanks to my parents for being our guinea pigs!
What did you think of your experience overall?
Mom: We had a great time. It was fun to get away and hang out with family – watching Max’s responses was the icing on the cake.
Dad: It was a great experience especially seeing the reactions of Max and enjoying the time with family . The Disney experience showed the their commitment to excellence in every aspect from crowd movement and control to programs and their performances.
The sweet thing is, I knew these would be their answers. Mom and Dad truly engaged with Walt Disney World, but even more, they loved on Max in the sweetest way. I’m so grateful for our week together!
If you’re on the fence about taking the trip, remember that you’re never too old to make new memories! Let’s plan something together!
See y’all real soon!
Emily
