There are few things I love in this world more than Disney. (Well, my family and Jesus, blah blah blah.) But when it comes to straight up commercialism– Disney is my fave.
It started when I was very little.
Mama and Daddy decided that even though my brother was due to be born in a few months, I needed to meet The Mouse. And meet him I did. We spent a week at Fort Wilderness in Disney World.
For those of you that have not experienced Fort Wilderness in lieu of some plastic-y hotel room, you are missing out. Fort Wilderness is full of rough-hewn logs, wood chip walkways, heavy green trees, cabins, tents and for some reason it always smells like a campfire just lit up. (Liz has some great Ft. Wilderness memories!)
Daddy set up our tent (yes, a tent with a pregnant woman and 3 year old). I didn’t want the bugs to get me, so my doll and I sat on the car. (Did we really drive that thing all the way to Florida?!)
We went to the petting zoo and met baby goats.
We had a character breakfast aboard a real-life-pretend River Boat.
We even went to River Country, Fort Wilderness’ very own water park. (Which doesn’t exist anymore…*sniff*)
Then as if that wasn’t enough, we jumped on the ferry and headed to the Magic Kingdom.
I honestly don’t remember much of this 3year old trip. But 6 years later when we went back with my baby brother in tow, I felt like I was returning home! My first Disney trip made a big impression.
If you’re planning your first Disney vacation…I think the best thing to remember is that Disney World is all about “the experience”. It’s not just a theme park or a long line of roller coasters to ride. Disney does details better than anyone. And they want (in my opinion) to make every detail of your vacation magical.
It shows up in the resorts. Prime example is our trip to Fort Wilderness. It wasn’t just a hotel (obviously). It wasn’t even just a campground–we got to feed goats, we roasted marshmallows, they have their own dinner theater, a camp sing-a-long at night, a movie under the stars and even their own magical water light parade! We could have stayed there and never visited a park and would have had the time of our lives!
The magic shows up in the parks. This isn’t a place where you run from ride to ride. You need to walk slowly. If you don’t you might miss the sparkling lighted ground at Epcot. You might miss the 30 foot tall vine woman at Animal Kingdom. You might miss out on being the Grand Marshall in the parade. You might miss the strolling character actors at MGM Hollywood Studios. Don’t think of Disney as a place you go “for the kids”, think of it as an adventure vacation–full of excitement and surprises!
Now, before I do an altar call, let’s get onto some Disney planning tips. I have to admit, I’ve only planned 3 Disney trips–one when I was a Senior in High School (not sure how much I actually did), one for my honeymoon (think dh did most of that) and then our Disney Cruise (which btw, DAY FOUR IS UP!).
However, I’ve been bookoos of times, used to lived there (and go for free *gah*) so I’ll share with you what I do know…
My biggest (and definitely most random) tips–
1. Stay on the property. Don’t get sucked into staying FIVE! MINUTES! FROM! EAST! GATE! It’s a total rip. They never have enough buses at the right times. There are ghastly rooms and it just depresses you every time you leave the little bubble of Disney. Get a hotel on property. They have inexpensive ones that are fabu. Plus you get perks for staying on property.
2. When you enter the park go to the right first. Almost everyone goes to the left. If you go right, everything will be empty. Then start walking counter-clockwise. You’ll hit everyone eventually, but you’ll have smooth-sailing for awhile. Also, go when it opens. Sometimes they do a big opening ceremony. It’s fun.
3. Get a map and special event/times guide at the front gate of each park. This will show you the parade route, the times for all the special & regular shows and the location of all the restrooms.
4. The best time to go to Disney is NOT during Spring Break (which incidentally is really the 4-6 weeks surrounding your Spring Break) and it is NOT summer. Go in the spring or fall. Or right after the holidays…not during. (When it’s peak times at Disney, there will be a million extra people in Orlando. Not fun.) The best time to go in my opinion is during a special event–the Food & Wine Festival, Garden Festival, Star Wars Weekend, Night of Joy, etc. It’s double the magic!
5. If you’re a family with pre-schoolers, check out Disney’s preschool site. They’ve done some good stuff for preschool families–perks, special maps and events. We went in 2006 and my niece got to play Duck Duck Goose with Mickey Mouse. It was pretty sweet. And don’t forget to check out their baby-care stations. WOW. The one at Animal Kingdom was better than my nursery at home. There were private nursing rooms!
6. Disney Dining–totally worth it.
(head over to Jen’s for more Disney Magic!)
Indiana Keetha says
We took our kids to Disney World and stayed at Fort Wilderness with our pop-up camper. We also spent an afternoon at the water park and rode the ferry over to the Magic Kingdom. It is a vacation that we all still talk about when we are together. It was probably our all time favorite.
Elizabeth says
I saw your comment about taking your kids to fort wilderness in your pop up. We are planning our first trip there with our two kids (3 and 1) in our pop up, any tips? Which loop would you suggest? Any help is appreciated.
Lauren@Baseballs&Bows says
Great tips! I love all your pictures. What great memories you have!
Dana says
I love the pics!! We had tickets once to River Country and it was to capacity so they let us in at Typhoon Lagoon – wish I could’ve gone before it closed.
We loved the Pirate & Princess nights at MK – there were no crowds and the kids had a ball!
Love your site!
bee says
I think our parents shopped at the same place! 🙂
annie says
Lydia looks so much like you!
Heidi says
It was fun to see all the pictures of your first Disney trip~ too cute! You’ve shared some great tips.
Danielle says
I am laughing cause I think we had the same clothes… And my dad had the same look going on as your dad. Ultra cool!
Much fun!
Chel says
I love Disney, too. We went for Mickey’s Not-so Spooky Halloween last year, and it was great fun!
My ears are pink tye-dyed.
Mel @ A Box of Chocolates says
Great memories. I enjoyed looking at your pictures.
Staci says
So cute Amanda! I think you should be a Disney travel agent 🙂 BTW…love your mom’s side ponytail!
Jennifer, Snapshot says
I have so much to say about this post–we camped too on my first trip, but I think it was offsite at Yogi Bears “Jellystone” National Park.
But this was really helpful, and I think I’m coming forward for the altar call, LOL.
I didn’t know you went on a cruise. I’m debating doing a cruise with the park option or just doing the park. I think we’d like the 7 day package, but I’m going to have to compare. I’ll check out those posts another time. Love the idea of a vacation blog, because I am so over scrapbooking, but love to journal my vacations.
Kat says
Your cute pics and awesome descriptions make even me want to go!
All I have to say about little Amanda…Hello Lydia! You are such twins!
Jen says
These pics are too cute!
AmyG says
I’m going to pick your brain, soon, lol. Michael was wanting to go to Disney, this summer, for only one day, with our Stimulus check. But I think we need to wait til fall or something. Anyway… I want it to be memorable. So I need ideas. And I want to go for more than one day! lol I’ll be in touch, lol.
Oh… I love those pictures!! And I’ve been to River Country! I was probably 5 at the time. We had a blast!
Liz @ Discovering Liz says
You said it all. Disney is an experience. You should not run from ride to ride. You should smell everything. Listen to the music. Look for all the special magical details surrounding you.
I never did the petting zoo at Fort Wilderness. We did see Hoop-Dee-Doo once or twice, and I always enjoyed shopping in the little country store.
Wish I could relive some of those things. I miss it.
Backpacking Dad says
If I weren’t already married to a Disney fuh-reak…..
So…where’d you get your engagement ring? New Orleans Square.
Where’d you propose? Compass in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle (Disneyland)
Honeymoon? Disneyworld.
3 Europe Vacations. 3 Disneyland Paris trips.
2003–Free Disney Cruise in the spring courtesy of “Who Wants to Be a Millionare, Play IT!” at California Adventure—Family trip to Disneyworld in the fall.
Trip to Tokyo, just to go to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. We spent more time at the parks than anywhere else in Japan.
After that trip we had been to every Disney park in the world. Then they opened Hong Kong a few months later.
My daughter just turned 1. For her first birthday we took her to Disneyland. For the third time.
When we lived in San Diego we would go to Disneyland for dinner, just to be IN the park for a few hours. There’s something so relaxing about it for me (not for the crazy vacationers who need to Hit. Every. Ride.)
I ride “Star Tours” with my eyes closed now to figure out the programming of the motion-vehicle.
I’ll stop now.
Cindy Hunnicutt says
Loved everything you said, Amanda! Disney (anywhere)really is the most magical place on earth!
Random note: Do you love how we made the backseat of the car a little “play area” for you- sans carseat or even seatbelts!
Tonya Denmark says
Your pics cracked me up!! Thanks for the comment on my blog. I think we all had experiences like that when we were kids. And yes, 110% agree. Stay on property!
Elaine says
Oh my Golly, is that you or your daughter in those pictures?!
What a great trip down Disney memory lane! And thanks for the tips, especially about when NOT to go there!
Val says
I really enjoyed this 🙂 Those pictures…..some of the cutest EVER! Thank you for bringing me into your past. I loved it.
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