Disney World
Orlando, FL
Where we stayed
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Finding Nemo Suites
We loved staying here! What drew us to this resort was the Big Blue Pool that had Finding Nemo characters incorporated all around the 308,527-gallon body of Caribbean blue water. We knew we wanted something themed and it reminded me of when I last came to Disney as a kid. The suite came with a Flat-screen TV, mini kitchenette and a dining table for 6 that converts to a double bed at night.
Who went:
The 6 of us are a close-knit group who became friends almost 10 years ago while working our first jobs at a roller-rink. Since then, we have begun traveling the world together!
Jacob, Ashley, Danielle, Jen, Gavin, & Hayley
Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival blanketed the park with a sea of colorful flowers and eccentric character topiaries. Arranged throughout Epcot, you will find expert-designed flower and garden displays. These distinctive shrubs allow for multiple photo opportunities with your favorite characters, each more unique than the next. With over 100 garden personalities, everyone is sure to find a character they are fond of in full bloom!
Our First Night
Disney Springs
Our first night we checked out Disney Springs. While at The Boathouse, we rode off into the sunset in an Amphicar. We stretched our hands alongside the boat-mobile allowing them to glide with the water that so brilliantly reflected the Sherbet sky. After our boat ride, we strolled along the wooded dock to some live music and grabbed Vivoli il Gelato nearby. We then set foot into the largest gift shop Disney had to offer! The World of Disney shop had room after room of Disney merchandise and over-the-top theming.
Giftshop Galore
Disney Springs: World of Disney Epcot: France Pavillion - Souvenirs de France
Disney’s Delights
There’s always room for dessert! What I love most about Disney is the never-ending possibilities for shaping food into having two ears. Pictured at the top are two delectable desserts found in Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery. This Minnie Mouse themed caramel apple and cake pop were delicious! While at Epcot, we visited Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie Bakery at the France Pavillion where we found fresh bread and tiny jams (pictured in the second row). At Dessert Party held in Tomorrowland Terrace, we indulged in bite-sized sweets tasting everything from edible cookie dough to as many flavors of ice cream you could dream of! Last but certainly not least, it’s not a trip to Disney if you don’t indulge in the famous Dole Whip! Nothing is more refreshing on a hot day at Disney than this sweet treat made with vanilla ice cream, pineapple juice, and frozen pineapple chunks. Truly revitalizing!
The Parks
Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Magic Kingdom: Main Street
Hollywood Studios
Happily Ever After Fireworks Show
Magic Kingdom
My favorite experience at Disney was by far the most magical one! The Happily Ever After Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing treated us to the best seat in the house! We got to feast on delectable desserts before soaking up the fireworks show from a reserved standing area. We clinked our champagne flutes in a toast under the night sky while watching the fiery sparks of light dance around, whirling and whistling above Cinderella Castle.
Character Dining
Crystal Palace
We had an enchanting experience dining at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. The character buffet featured Pooh & Friends who danced their way around each table to say hello. We got to meet Pooh, Piglet, Tiger, and Eeyore! Inspired by the Victorian greenhouses of the late 1800s, The Crystal Palace gleamed with light, topiaries, and a delightful view of Cinderella Castle.
My Favorite Attraction
Pandora - The World of Avatar
Pandora - The World of Avatar
This was my favorite attraction by far. I highly recommend experiencing this sector of Animal Kingdom both day and night. During the day you can see details that aren’t as visible at night like the floating mountains and marvelous waterfalls. At night, however, you are truly immersed in the colorful, glowing jungle of Pandora. Covered in bioluminescent plants, the ground below us illuminated with light glowing all different colors. It is only appropriate that it rained, we truly felt we were in a rainforest! The Na'vi River Journey immersed us into Pandora’s rainforest. As we floated down the river, we spotted a variety of species ranging from six-legged animals to other types of exotic fauna and flora. My favorite part of the journey was seeing the Shaman of Songs, who has a deep connection with Pandora's life force and is able to spread positive energy with her music. Even though it down-poured on us during our visit, it still made for the “best day ever.”
The Tree of Life
This Baobab tree towers over the land of Animal Kingdom as a symbol of the beauty, diversity and interconnected nature of Earth’s creatures. There are over 300 animals carved into the tree. We marveled at the flickering fireflies and animal spirits that encompassed the trunk during the Tree of Life Awakenings Projection Show.
The Famous Purple Wall
Tomorrowland Terrace
The "Purple Wall" is a fan-favorite photo backdrop that started the hashtag “Disney Walls” on Instagram. The saying “Meet me at The Purple Wall” is so popular it has been coined by Disney. The wall is located between the
Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant and the entrance to Tomorrowland.
Our Trip - All Mapped Out
We planned our trip for May 10-May 15th. We chose mid-May because we didn’t want it to be too hot with both the weather and tourism. Being that these dates were right before kids got out of school, it made for a great trip! Since our plane landed mid-afternoon on our first day, we spent the evening casually strolling through Disney Springs. We made sure to set aside 2 days for Magic Kingdom as it is a 2-day park. We then spent each day that remained making our way through all of the parks Disney World had to offer, visiting Epcot a total of 3 times!