A few weeks ago, I got the chance to travel to Walt Disney World with my entire family. It was the first time for all of us, so we were all equally excited to meet Mickey and entire Disney cast!
Where We Stayed
After booking our tickets, we had to decide where to stay. I wasn’t sure if spending a lot of money on a resort or hotel was worth it. We opted to look into Airbnb and it was def a great decision! We found a house that was only 10 minutes away from Magic Kingdom. The house had a pool, jacuzzi and 5 rooms all with their own private bathrooms. We loved the fact that we didn’t have to stay in separate rooms and there was no curfew for pool hours. Luckily, there was also a supermarket within a 5 minute drive from us so we saved money by cooking a lot of our meals at home, which also provided some family bonding time. If you are traveling with 5 to 10 family members, I suggest you looking into Airbnb as an option to stay.
The Parks
I did not know what to expect when visiting the parks for the first time. One thing that def stands out is the price to visit each park for one day! Despite the fact that my trip was partially sponsored, Disney can def get expensive. My family opted for the two day hopper pass which is $257 for ages 10+ or $247 for ages 10 and under. You really need more than one full day to explore all parks. We started our day at 10am and did not come home until about 12am each day. Whatever you do – DEFINITELY download the Walt Disney app which will help you get around and also estimate the amount of time you have to wait for each ride, you’ll also have access to fast pass. The maps are also very helpful because it is easy to get lost!
The two day hopper pass gave us access to all four theme parks. We visited them all in two days but spent a bit more time in Animal Kingdom (my personal favorite) and Magic Kingdom. Hollywood Studios did not have as many roller coasters as the other two parks but my nephews enjoyed riding the Twilight Tower of Terror. Below is a list of attractions that you must experience at each park! They all have a long wait time so be smart about planning your time and take lots of water with you to stay hydrated.
Expedition Everest: I’m not a big fan of scary roller coasters but decided to experience most of them to make my nephews happy. This one was pretty awesome! The view you get at the top of the mountain is truly breathtaking.
Kali River Rapids: This ride is pretty slow and you will def get wet! Super fun to enjoy with the entire family, take grandma/grandpa with you! Despite having a few small drops, the entire family will enjoy it.
Kilimanjaro Safaris: This one was my mom and dad’s favorite! We really felt like we were exploring the real African Safari. It was kind of cool that we experienced the ride while it was raining. It felt like we were at the Rain Forest.
Cinderella Castle: Visiting Cinderella’s Castle was on my bucket list since I was a child! It truly was magical to see it live. The most spectacular view is during the evening when the castle becomes the backdrop to the most amazing fireworks you’ll ever see. It’s truly a magical experience where you’ll leave hoping or actually knowing that all your dreams can come true.
Haunted Mansion: OMG! This was absolutely magical. NOT SCARY at all! The special effects are amazing. This is another ride that the entire family can enjoy. Yes! That includes grandma and grandpa or that aunt aka ME who is scared of everything! lol
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: I was not a big fan of this one. The kids loved it but the wait for the line was always over 80 to 120 min long! We waited until 11pm on our last day to experience this ride and it still took us over 50 min to get our turn. They do have tons of fun little games prior you getting to the actual ride but I don’t think it was worth the long wait.
Space Mountain: Space mountain is an indoors roller coaster that has A LOT of turns and drops! My head spins just thinking about it, but this was one of my nephews favorite rides.
Epcot: We sadly did not have the time to explore Epcot as a Family as we did not have enough time to do it all! I however took a few hours to enjoy their International Food and Wine Festival a special Disney event that happens every year from Sept 14th to Nov 14th. The set up is super cool and the tastings are not expensive at all. Def a must thing to do if you are there when the event happens.
Hollywood Studios: The only ride my nephews experience was the Tower of Terror. I hear that the Rock n Roller coaster is pretty awesome too! Hollywood studios has lots of food options and little shops. It’s def not as big as all the other parks.
What to Pack: Number one thing to pack is comfortable shoes! Get ready to do a lot of walking. Stay away from denim and do pack a light trench coat with a hoodie in case it rains. Food and drinks are pretty pricey at the parks. I would recommend packing light snacks and water. Wet antibacterial hand and face wipes will def come in handy, especially if you have small kids. Sunscreen, a bathing suit, crossbody bag or a book bag. My nephews are 7 and 11 so they were able to power up and walk to most places but if you have children under 5, I would def recommend brining your stroller and small toys to keep the little ones entertained. They have stroller parking lots which I found amusing! lol
This trip was truly a magical experience for us all and I look forward to coming back again with a bit more time and maybe less scared to try some roller coasters!
This post is in partnership with Walt Disney World. All opinions are my own.
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