I’ve been blessed to visit Disney World as a child, but I was super excited to experience it again as an adult. This time, I decided to take my niece for her very first Disney trip to celebrate her 10th birthday, which made it even more special. Planning a Disney vacation can feel overwhelming, but with the right tips and guidance, it can also be magical from start to finish. I’ll be sharing my personal experience with both planning and visiting Disney World, including what worked well, what I learned along the way, and how to make the most of your time in the parks. To make it even more memorable, I got the chance to experience Disney during their 50th Anniversary celebration, which added an extra layer of excitement. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning to relive the magic, this guide will cover everything you need to know about traveling to Disney World.
Where to Stay at Disney World
I began planning my trip at the beginning of the year. I had never stayed on property, so this was a must for me. I wanted to see what the difference would be and if it would enhance my overall experience. I called Disney vacations to book my hotel and tickets. Doing this allowed me to put down a deposit and pay on my trip up until one month travel date. I chose to stay at the Dolphin hotel which is a Marriott property. This hotel is an Epcot resort.
Pros:
- Bellman service
- On-site Fuel bar that had everything you can think of. From breakfast, snacks, pizza, tea and coffee.
- complimentary 50th Anniversary luggage tags
- free transportation to the parks
- free parking at the park if you choose to drive
- in-room celebration gifts
- spa
- pool
Cons:
- transportation to the park: yes, it’s listed as a pro, but the reasoning for my con here is due to the fact I felt like I was waiting and waiting and waiting for pickup. I ended up driving to the parks the rest of my time there. It was much faster to get where I wanted to go
I would stay on property again, but I would like to try a different hotel that’s closer to Magic Kingdom. Overall, I enjoyed my stay and felt like it was worth it to visit. Due to COVID, make sure your request daily turn down services, otherwise, housekeeping comes every three days.
Overall Experience at Disney World
I chose to get the Park Hopper tickets. This allowed me to visit more than one park a day. Because of this feature, I got to experience all four parks during my stay (4 days/ 3 nights). Due to COVID, you had to make park reservations for your first visit, then after 2pm, you can visit another park. The Disney travel app is crucial to having a seamless vacation. That’s where you make your park reservations, restaurant reservations and even do mobile orders at some eateries. For those who rather spend your coins on souvenirs than food, Disney allows you to bring water and food in the park. If you are a picture person like myself, then I highly recommend you purchase the memory maker. Any photo that a Disney cast member take of you and ride photos will be available on the app for you to download. Some of the pictures also have cute graphic effects added.
Epcot
This was one of my favorite parks. It’s ironic, because when I visited as a child, I didn’t care for this park that much. There was a food festival going on, where I could “visit” various countries and try food and alcoholic beverages. This was right up my alley! There were also more rides that had been added to this park since I last came here.
Hollywood Studios
This was my second favorite park. It was dedicated to the films Disney produced outside of the princess movies such as Toy Story, Star Wars, Hollywood Terrors. My favorite ride was the Star Wars one. The virtual reality made the ride super fun!
Magic Kingdom
This park was truly magical. You got to experience all the OG Disney characters. They had random parades throughout the day where I had the chance to see some of the characters like Tinker Bell, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, etc. The rides were family friendly, not too thrilling, but I still enjoyed them with my niece.
Animal Kingdom
This park gave me safari vibes. One of my favorite ride was the ride around the animal park where we got a chance to see some animals. One of the giraffes thought it was funny to stand in the middle of the trail and make us watch him goof off for a few minutes lol. I also liked the dinosaur area although it wasn’t like Jurassic Park, but I still enjoyed it.
Visiting Disney World is truly a magical experience, no matter your age. Having gone as a child and returning as an adult with my niece for her first trip made it even more unforgettable, especially during Disney’s 50th Anniversary celebration. From planning park days and dining reservations to navigating rides and entertainment, preparation makes all the difference in how smoothly your trip goes. Disney can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right tips, you’ll be able to focus on creating memories instead of stressing over logistics. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a special birthday trip, or just looking to relive the magic, Disney World offers something for everyone. With a little planning, you’ll be ready to make your own unforgettable Disney memories.
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