This is a recap of my days at Disney World. I will start with Monday, July 20th, even though I had already talked about it in my journal. Tommy, Kel, Karissa, Alexis and a group of our friends, all took a trip to Disney World and Utopia of the Seas cruise from July 20th to July 31st. So, let’s go back to the 20th:

Monday, July 20th: Flying to Orlando and Disney Springs

The alarm went off at 2:00 a.m., and somehow I wasn’t nearly as exhausted as I thought I’d be. Looking back, I think I was running almost entirely on adrenaline. It was finally Disney trip day, and all the excitement made the early wake-up call a little easier.

We left the house around 3:45 a.m. and took two cars to the airport. Tommy led the way, driving at his usual fast pace, while Alex tried his best to keep up. Needless to say, Alex never quite caught up with Tommy. After everyone was dropped off, the boys took the cars back home while the rest of us headed inside to begin our journey.

Our first flight took us from home to Dallas, where we had a layover before catching our second flight to Orlando. During our layover, we placed a Walmart grocery order to be delivered directly to our hotel. We stocked up on breakfast foods and a few essentials so we’d have easy meals throughout the week without having to buy everything at Disney prices. It felt nice knowing we’d have food and sunscreen waiting for us when we arrived.

The second flight went by pretty quickly, and before long we landed in Orlando. The moment we stepped outside of the airport, I was reminded that we were definitely in Florida. My glasses instantly fogged over from the humidity. It honestly felt like walking into a wall of warm, wet air; you could practically swim through it.

From the airport, we caught Disney’s complimentary bus to our resort, Art of Animation. I had been looking forward to staying there, and seeing all the colorful Disney-themed decorations around the resort immediately put us in vacation mode.

After checking in and getting settled, we hopped on another Disney bus and headed over to Disney Springs for the evening. Since none of us had eaten much, our first stop was for a snack: poutine. It was a basket of crispy fries covered with cheese curds and gravy, and it was good. Not exactly the way it was in Canada, but a good second.

Our first shopping stop was the Art of Disney store. I could have spent hours in there just looking at everything. The girls found a few souvenirs they couldn’t resist. Kel surprised me by buying me a pair of adorable Cheshire Cat ears, and Tommy bought me a Nightmare Before Christmas pin that I absolutely loved.

We wandered through several more shops, including the candy store, before deciding it was time for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. I ordered the shrimp platter, and it was much bigger than I expected. By the time I finished eating, I was completely stuffed. Between the yummy food and the fun atmosphere with all the animals and thunderstorms, it was a great dinner stop.

After dinner, we browsed through the Christmas shop. It’s always fun seeing Christmas decorations in July. Once we finished there, our friends decided to head back while Tommy, Kel, the girls, and I kept exploring Disney Springs.

We spent a while trying to find the Coca-Cola Store. It turned into a bit of an adventure because it felt like we kept walking right past it before finally finding it. Once inside, we decided to do the “Coca-Cola Around the World” tasting experience. We sampled different Coca-Cola beverages from countries all over the world. Some were surprisingly good, while others…not so much. It was definitely an interesting experience, and there were a few flavors I’ll probably never want to try again.

Before we left the store, Tommy spoiled me a little more by buying me a Coca-Cola polar bear plush, a refrigerator magnet, and a Coca-Cola T-shirt. I was already ending the first day with some wonderful souvenirs and feeling incredibly grateful.

By then, the long travel day had finally caught up with us. We took the Disney bus back to Art of Animation, settled into our room, and I took a much-needed shower. After being awake since 2:00 that morning, I was more than ready for bed. I climbed under the covers excited for what was coming next: our first full Disney park day.

Tuesday, July 21st: Magic Kingdom

I started my morning at 5:30 a.m. Since we’re two hours ahead of home, it felt more like 3:30 a.m. to my body. Surprisingly, I wasn’t feeling too bad, though I knew the long day ahead would catch up to me eventually. I got ready, drank a protein shake for breakfast, and by around 7:00 a.m. we all headed to the bus stop to meet up with the rest of our group.

Once we arrived at Magic Kingdom, the excitement kicked in immediately. Walking down Main Street with Cinderella Castle in the distance never gets old. Our first ride of the day was Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It was a fun way to start the morning with just enough speed to wake everyone up. From there, we headed over to “It’s a Small World,” which was a nice, relaxing break before making our way to the Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion is always one of my favorites. It’s amazing how Disney has kept that ride so entertaining after all these years.

Next, we ventured over to Pirates of the Caribbean. I may not remember the exact order of every ride because we packed so much into the day, but each one blended into another as we hurried from attraction to attraction.

One of the biggest highlights of the day was riding TRON Lightcycle / Run. That ride was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Instead of sitting in a regular coaster seat, you climb onto what feels like a futuristic motorcycle. You lean forward on your stomach while gripping the handlebars, making it feel like you’re actually racing through the digital world from the movie. Of course, I haven’t watched the movie. But that shouldn’t surprise you. The launch was incredibly fast and caught me completely off guard. Before I knew it, we were flying through twists and turns. It wasn’t a very long ride, but it was definitely one of the coolest and most thrilling attractions in the park.

After all that excitement, we stopped in Tomorrowland for lunch. It was nice to sit down for a bit, cool off, and give our feet a short break before heading back out.

The afternoon was filled with even more rides. We rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, flew on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, and even took a spin on Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel. Between attractions, we treated ourselves to a Dole Whip, which was the perfect snack on a hot Florida day. I remember having Dole Whip at Disneyland when I was younger.

Florida weather decided to remind us who was in charge. It started raining, so we quickly stopped and pulled our ponchos out of our backpacks. Just as we got them on, the rain stopped. Of course, a few minutes later it started raining again, only to stop once more shortly after. It turned into one of those quick Florida showers that comes and goes without much warning. And of course, after it rains, the humidity shot up and it was still hot out.

Later, we watched Mickey’s PhilharMagic, a fun 3D show featuring Mickey, Donald, and a bunch of classic Disney songs. Sitting in the air conditioning for a while was almost as enjoyable as the show itself. Since none of us were very hungry for dinner after snacking throughout the day, we shared a pretzel with cheese instead. It ended up being just enough to hold us over for the rest of the evening.

As night approached, our group and Kel headed over to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which used to be Splash Mountain. They had Lightning Lane passes, so they were able to get on much faster. While they enjoyed the ride, Tommy, our friends’ mom, the girls, and I found a place to sit and wait for the evening entertainment.

The parade and fireworks were absolutely incredible. Disney really knows how to put on a show. The combination of music, lights, projections on Cinderella Castle, and perfectly timed fireworks was so cool. Every time I think they’ve reached the limit, they somehow make it even more spectacular.

One of my favorite moments of the entire trip was watching Karissa during the show. She became emotional as the parade passed by and the fireworks filled the sky. You could see just how much being there meant to her. Seeing the excitement and happiness on her face made the long days, sore feet, and early mornings completely worth it. Moments like that are what make Disney so special.

After the fireworks ended, the crowds slowly made their way toward the exits. We met back up with the rest of our group at the bus stop, compared stories from the rides we’d split up for, and finally rode the bus back to the hotel. By the time we got back to our room, my feet were exhausted, but it had been another unforgettable day packed with rides, laughter, making memories, and a little bit of Florida rain.

Wednesday, July 22nd: Magic Kingdom

I started my day bright and early again at 5:30 a.m. Normally I have to wake the girls up around 6:00, but today Lexi was already awake. I still woke Tommy and Karissa, and we all started getting ready for the day. Kel and the rest of the group had plans to spend the day at Universal’s Epic Universe so they could experience the Harry Potter area. Tommy, the girls, and I decided to skip it. We just couldn’t justify spending another $200 for one day, especially since we were still having such a great time at Disney. Instead, we decided to head back to Magic Kingdom.

Around 7:00, we made our way to the bus stop and caught a bus to the park. We wanted to start the morning by trying a few Disney snacks we’d heard about. Our first stop was the Cheshire Café, where we ordered the famous Cheshire Cat Tail. It was delicious and filled with chocolate. It reminded me a lot of a chocolate croissant.

Next, we walked over to Gaston’s Tavern to try two more treats: the crème brûlée croissant and one of their giant cinnamon rolls. Tommy and I shared both, which ended up being the perfect amount. The crème brûlée croissant was rich and creamy with a crisp, caramelized topping, and the cinnamon roll was soft, sweet, and definitely lived up to the hype.

With breakfast out of the way, we headed over to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It was neat to see how they changed the ride from what used to be Splash Mountain. After that, we made our way to Peter Pan’s Flight. I had never ridden the version at Disneyland, so this was my very first Peter Pan ride. It was such a charming attraction, and I loved flying over London and Neverland.

By lunchtime, we had worked up an appetite, so we stopped for lunch, and all ordered the lobster roll. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it ended up being really good. It was a nice change from the typical theme park food.

After lunch, we wandered down Main Street, U.S.A., browsing through the shops. The girls both found a few souvenirs they wanted, and it was nice taking our time instead of rushing from ride to ride. By then, though, Karissa’s feet were really starting to bother her. After walking so many miles over the last few days, none of us were surprised. We suggested that she head back to the hotel and rest for the afternoon. Lexi decided she was ready for a break too, so the two of them caught the bus back while Tommy and I stayed in the park.

Since it was getting pretty warm, we headed over to the Country Bear Musical Jamboree to cool off and sit down for a while. The air conditioning felt amazing. It was definitely hot today, but thankfully not quite as miserable as yesterday. I swear I was sweating off every bit of sunscreen I put on.

Once we cooled down, we noticed Pirates of the Caribbean had a short wait, so we rode it again. It’s such an easy ride to revisit because it’s relaxing and one of my favorites. After Pirates, we found a spot to watch Mickey’s Friendship Faire in front of Cinderella Castle. The performers put on such an energetic show, and I honestly don’t know how they manage to dance in the Florida heat. I especially felt for the cast members wearing the full character costumes. We also stopped to watch one of the bands performing on Main Street, which added to the fun atmosphere.

While we were back on Main Street, I spotted what I thought was a cute little bakery because I was craving an iced coffee. It turned out to actually be the Starbucks inside Magic Kingdom. I ordered a mocha iced coffee, while Tommy tried the Horchata Shaken Espresso. Both drinks were exactly what we needed to cool down before continuing our afternoon.

From there, we wandered over to Tomorrowland and rode the PeopleMover, which is always a nice, relaxing attraction. It’s one of those rides that’s less about excitement and more about taking a break while getting a great view of Tomorrowland. After that, we went into the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. It was such a cute comedy show, and some of the audience interactions had everyone laughing.

By then, we sat down for a while to figure out what we wanted to do next. We were starting to get hungry again, but none of the food options in the park really sounded appealing. We had talked about riding TRON Lightcycle / Run one more time after dark because everyone says it’s even better when it’s lit up at night. But after looking at each other, we both admitted we were just tired. We’d been up since before sunrise and had already packed a full day into the park. Instead of pushing ourselves, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel.

Once we got back to our room, we dropped off our bags and headed downstairs to the hotel’s café for dinner. We ordered our food and brought it back upstairs to eat in the room. Not long after, the girls went downstairs to grab their own dinner. Kel and the rest of the group were still on their way back from Universal after spending the day at Epic Universe.

As much as I love being in the parks from open to close, I have to admit it was really nice coming back to the hotel earlier tonight. Having time to relax, recharge, and simply enjoy a quiet evening made a huge difference.

Thursday, July 23rd: Hollywood Studios

My day started bright and early at 5:30 a.m. Tomorrow, thankfully, I’m told I get to sleep in a little since we’re spending the day at Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park. After several days of walking around the parks, a day floating in a lazy river sounds pretty amazing.

I got myself ready and then woke the girls up around 6:00. Tommy and Kel didn’t get up until almost 7:00. While everyone else was getting ready, I drank my protein shake and waited for the rest of the group to finish. Once everyone was finally ready, we left the hotel, met up with our friends, and boarded the Disney Skyliner, which took us to Hollywood Studios. I enjoyed riding the Skyliner; it offers great views before the day even begins.

Once we entered the park, we made a beeline for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, which recently replaced the old Aerosmith version. The coaster itself was a lot of fun. It was a little jerky in a few spots, but nothing too bad. The Muppet storyline and commentary before and after the ride added a lot of personality and had me laughing.

Our next stop was The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror. The girls decided to sit this one out since they’re not fans of rides that simply lift you into the air and then drop you. I enjoyed it, although I have to admit I was expecting the drops to be a little taller and more intense. Even so, the atmosphere inside the old Hollywood hotel is awesome, and the ride still delivers some good thrills.

From there we headed over to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. It was interesting to compare it with the version I remembered riding as a kid at Disneyland. The original Star Tours opened at Disneyland in 1987 and at Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios) in 1989. Back then, every guest experienced the same adventure, with Captain Rex, the clumsy RX-24 droid, piloting a routine flight to Endor that quickly went off the rails. In 2011, Disney completely reimagined the attraction, introducing randomized storylines, updated 3D visuals, and destinations from across the Star Wars galaxy. Today’s version feels much more dynamic since every ride can be a little different. It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed seeing how much it has evolved over the years.

After that, we took a break from rides and watched the Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular. It was the perfect opportunity to sit down in the shade for a while. The show only runs about fifteen to twenty minutes, but it’s packed with explosions, stunt work, and behind-the-scenes demonstrations that show how movie action scenes are created.

Next came one of the highlights of the day: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This attraction is much more than just a ride. It starts as an immersive experience where you’re recruited by the Resistance before everything goes wrong and you’re captured by the First Order. From there, the attraction combines walkthrough sets, animatronics, trackless ride vehicles, and an exciting finale into one seamless adventure.

By then it was lunchtime, so we made our way into Toy Story Land and grabbed lunch at Woody’s Lunch Box. The whole area is designed to make you feel like you’ve been shrunk down to the size of one of Andy’s toys, with giant building blocks, game pieces, and oversized toys everywhere you look. I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich, which was pretty good.

After lunch, we boarded Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Unlike most rides, this one lets you become part of the action. Everyone in the cockpit has a job: pilot, engineer, or gunner, and your team’s performance actually changes how the mission plays out. It really does feel like you’re flying the Millennium Falcon through the Star Wars universe.

The Florida heat was definitely catching up with us by this point, so we escaped into the air conditioning for For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. The show is a mix of live performers, movie clips, and audience participation, but the real stars are the two “Royal Historians.” Their jokes and improvisation had the audience laughing almost nonstop. It turned out to be one of the funniest shows of the day.

After that, we watched Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After. The show gives several classic Disney villains a chance to plead their case and argue that they may not be as evil as everyone thinks. It mixes humor, music, and some impressive visual effects, making for an entertaining performance that puts a different spin on some of Disney’s most famous bad guys.

We stopped by to eat at the 50s Prime Time Cafe. This was such a cute restaurant. They will chastise you if you don’t finish your vegetables or for having your elbows on the table.

By the time we finished, we had covered what felt like miles of walking across the park. Between the rides, shows, and the Florida heat, I was definitely feeling it. Even though my feet were sore and I was looking forward to finally getting a shower, today was packed with memorable experiences. Tomorrow should be a nice change of pace at Blizzard Beach, where hopefully the only walking I’ll be doing is between the lazy river and the wave pool.

Oh, we also saw Fantasmic! Disney sure knows how to put on a show. It was a water show where they projected video and pictures. And they even had the lake on fire. And they had a little parade on the lake. And the music was great! Definitely one of my favorite Disney shows at the park. Mickey Mouse dreams his way through unforgettable Disney stories, facing off against iconic villains in an epic battle between good and evil. They end the show with fireworks. It was awesome.

Friday, July 24th: Blizzard Beach

We were able to sleep in a little today, waking up around 6:30 since we didn’t have to be up as early as we had the previous few mornings. It was nice to have a slower start to the day. Before heading out, we had a Walmart grocery order to pick up so we could restock on snacks and drinks for the rest of the trip.

After picking up our groceries, we made our way to Blizzard Beach. It was a perfect day to relax after spending so much time walking through the parks. I grabbed a floating tube and spent nearly two hours drifting around the lazy river. It was incredibly peaceful and exactly what I needed. Eventually, Kel and I got out for a quick bathroom break, but we climbed right back into the lazy river afterward to enjoy it a little longer.

While we were floating, Tommy decided to head off and ride some of the water slides. Since I can’t get water in my ears, I skipped all of the slides, which honestly didn’t bother me. I was perfectly content relaxing in the lazy river. Before long, I noticed Tommy and some of our friends walking alongside the river, trying to convince the rest of our group that it was finally time to get out.

We all met up for lunch and enjoyed a nice break from the sun. After eating, most of the group headed back to the slides for a few more rides. I stayed behind with one of our friends, and we found a couple of lounge chairs where we spent the afternoon talking, relaxing, and eventually taking a short nap. It was one of the most laid-back afternoons of the entire vacation.

A little while later, Tommy came by to gather his things and let me know he was going to head out. I packed up my belongings, got changed, and we made our way back to the hotel. The girls had already returned, so we met back up with them there. I took a shower, got cleaned up, and changed into dry clothes before Tommy and I headed back out for one last visit to Magic Kingdom.

Once we arrived, we took our time enjoying the park. We started by riding the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel before making our way to Columbia Harbour House for dinner. After eating, we decided to squeeze in a few more rides. We rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad first, then walked over to Tomorrowland to ride Space Mountain. We finished the night with TRON Lightcycle / Run, which was an exciting way to end the evening.

By the time we walked out of TRON, it was already around 11:30 p.m. Even though Magic Kingdom officially closed at 11:00, there were still crowds of guests slowly making their way toward the exit after finishing the rides they had been in line for before closing. We eventually made it to the bus, rode back to the hotel, and finally settled in for the night.

Saturday, July 25th: Epcot

Started my morning again at 5:30 a.m. We got ready and left the hotel around 7:30 to meet everyone else at the Skyliner. From there, we headed over to Epcot for the day.

One of my favorite things about Epcot is that you get to “travel” around the world by visiting all the different country pavilions. Tommy bought one of the World Showcase passports, which you can take to each country to get stamped. It was a really fun souvenir, and honestly, finding the passport stamp locations in each country became a little adventure of its own.

We started in France before making our way through Morocco, Japan, the United States, Germany, and Italy. Before continuing to Norway, we decided to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That ride was so cool! It launches you backwards, spins you sideways, and is unlike any roller coaster I’ve ever been on. It was definitely one of the highlights of the day.

After a few more rides, we made it to Norway to ride Frozen Ever After. The ride had broken down while we were waiting in line, so we had to wait for it to reopen. Once we finally got on, it was a cute ride with fun scenes from the movie, though I didn’t think it was anything too amazing.

From there we continued to Mexico, picked up another passport stamp, and explored a little more before heading to more attractions. We were just about to board Mission: SPACE when the ride broke down. Since it happened right before we got on, Disney gave us a free Lightning Lane pass to use later, which was a nice surprise. It seemed like rides just weren’t cooperating that day because both The Seas with Nemo & Friends and another ride also stopped while we were riding them. Thankfully, they eventually got everything moving again.

We finished getting our passport stamped in Canada and the United Kingdom. After that, Tommy, Lexi, and I walked back over to the France pavilion in Paris to grab something to eat. Looking back, I wish I had picked up something for Karissa while we were there. She had gone off with our friends to see if Canada still had the country trading card they hand out with the passport stamps, but unfortunately they had already closed for the day.

As the evening came to an end, we found a spot to watch Epcot’s fireworks show. It was a great way to finish the day. After the show, we made our way back to the Skyliner and returned to the hotel.

Once we got back, I ate my dinner while Karissa finished the leftover pasta from the night before. After a long day of walking around the park, I took a shower and headed to bed, exhausted but happy after another fun day at Disney.

Sunday, July 26th: Animal Kingdom

I woke up at 5:30 this morning, which seems to have become my body’s natural wake-up time this week. Even though it was early, I didn’t mind too much since we had another full day planned at Disney. We met up with everyone else around 7:30 to head to Animal Kingdom. One of our friends wasn’t feeling well, so she decided to stay back at the hotel and rest while the rest of us went to the park.

Once we got to Animal Kingdom, we spent some time walking around and taking in all the scenery. It really is a beautiful park, and there were so many different animals to see along the trails. After exploring for a bit, we headed over to the Kali River Rapids. I ended up getting absolutely soaked, but with how hot and humid it was outside, it actually felt refreshing. I dried off surprisingly fast in the Florida heat.

After the rapids, we wandered around the park a little more before going on one of the boat rides. It was nice to sit down for a while and relax. Next, we rode Avatar Flight of Passage. I thought it was just okay. The ride itself was neat, but the 3D glasses weren’t working very well for me, so it took away from the experience a little.

Later, we watched one of the indoor shows. It was really funny and interactive, which made it entertaining for everyone. One thing I wasn’t expecting was that the seats had rollers built into them. During one of the scenes, they suddenly activated, and everyone jumped and laughed. It was a clever surprise that added to the experience.

We continued exploring before heading over to Kilimanjaro Safaris. You ride through the park in a large safari truck while looking for all kinds of animals. It was really cool getting to see them up close in habitats that looked much more natural than a typical zoo. Halfway through the ride, though, the skies got dark, and it started pouring rain. By the time we got off, it was raining so hard that we stopped to put on our ponchos before continuing.

The rain didn’t let up for a while, and eventually everyone in our group decided to head back to the hotel. The only ones who stayed were me, Tommy, and our friend’s daughter because we were determined to wait for Expedition Everest to reopen after the weather delay. Thankfully, it wasn’t closed for too long. Once it reopened, we hurried over and finally got to ride it. It ended up being one of my favorite rides in Animal Kingdom. It had some great drops, and I loved the part where the coaster suddenly went backward. It was definitely worth waiting for.

After that, we headed back to the hotel. Our friends asked if we could take their daughter to our room for a little while, so the three girls settled in and watched Disney Channel while I took a shower and got changed into clean clothes.

Later that evening, Tommy, Kel, and I started a load of laundry. The hotel had a laundromat right by the pool, which made it pretty convenient. While the clothes were washing, our friends came downstairs, and we all walked over to the hotel’s café for dinner. We shared some pizza while Karissa and Alexis stayed in the room since they had already eaten earlier.

Once dinner was over, we finished up the laundry and folded everything before taking a look around the Disney gift shop in the hotel. Tommy bought me a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt that says “Walt Disney World.” It’s really comfortable and will be a nice souvenir to remember the trip by. Though it was actually a birthday present from Karissa. She paid Tommy back for the price of the sweatshirt.

By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted. I fell asleep pretty quickly that night. Apparently, Chris stopped by our room around 1:00 a.m., but I was already sound asleep and didn’t even notice.

That was my Disney World experience. I had a lot of fun and made some memorable memories. My next journal will be about the Utopia of the Seas cruise.