It’s safe to say I’m a HUGE Disney fan!! From the characters to the movies to the parks, it just makes my heart happy. Some think that Disney is only for families or kids, but I don’t believe that’s the case at all! The Happiest Place on Earth has attractions for any age or lifestyle. I’ve been taking yearly girls’ trips to Disney with my best friends since pink razrs and gel pens were cool (rip), and I’m so thankful this tradition has continued into adulthood. Today I’d like to share a few of my favorite things Disney World has to offer!!

This year we planned our visit in October for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party. The parks go all out for the holidays, and Halloween is no exception!! They did a special show at Cinderella’s castle starring the Hocus Pocus witches, lit off spooky fireworks, and had a parade with all the Disney villains. The food and rides were all Halloween themed, I’ve never seen anything so festive! They had trick-or-treating for kids around the park, and the best part of all… there were hardly any crowds!!! Normally Magic Kingdom is swarming with tourists, but the Halloween party requires a special entry ticket so there were way less people. We walked onto almost every ride, and not having to wait in line all day was amazing! For this reason alone I totally recommend visiting Disney World in late October!

My Fav Disney Park

All 4 parks have attractions that make them special, but if you don’t have time to visit each one, I suggest at least going to Magic Kingdom (I mean, were you really even in Orlando if you don’t post a pic of Cinderella’s castle??) This park is so magical; you can meet the princesses, ride rides themed around classic Disney fairytales, and see some great shows and parades.

My Fav Disney Food

Eating at Disney is the bomb.com. There are so many special themed snacks to try (and post to Instagram) at each park! I’ve got a big sweet tooth, so my all-time favorite treat is the Mickey ice cream bar. It’s a classic and I have no shame in saying I ate one every day during our trip!

My Fav Disney Hotel

Disney resorts can be pricier than outside options, but I highly recommend looking into them because there are so many perks that make them totally worth it! By booking a Disney resort you get free transportation to and from the airport, complimentary bus service, and extra magic hours that allow you to stay longer at the parks! Disney hotels also host great entertainment for their guests, like morning yoga and nighttime movies and s’mores by the pool.

My favorite Disney hotel is the Beach Club Resort. They have the most beautiful pool for soaking up the Florida sunshine (featuring a lazy river with a sandy bottom!) and yummy restaurants with fresh seafood. The resort’s style is super charming and relaxed, you can’t help but want to stay forever!!! The location also can’t be beat – you’re a quick walk or boat ride away from the theme parks.

A Couple More Disney tips

• Dress comfortable but cute! You’ll be taking lots of photos so put some thought into your looks. Most importantly, you’ll definitely need Minnie ears!! The first thing we did when we landed was hit the gift shop for some ears (luggage in hand!) They make tons of fun themed ones in all different colors and designs. Minnie ears are so cute, and bonus – they help keep the hair out of your face all day! Other great accessories to pack are a comfy pair of tennis shoes (we put in 10 miles in a day just walking the parks!!) and a backpack that’s stylish but functional.
• Plan ahead!! You can book fast passes for rides up to 60 days before your trip. Make restaurant and hotel reservations early too. The more you plan ahead, the more you’ll enjoy your trip. This is something I think a lot of first timers don’t expect – Disney commercials make traveling there look carefree, whimsical, and spontaneous, but in reality, if you want to experience the best Disney has to offer, you have to plan ahead because things book up fast.
• Lastly, download the Disney World app!! This thing is amazing. It has everything you’ll need from wait times on rides, to bus schedules, to showtimes. It even syncs all your Disney photos automatically, making it easy to download your favs!! The photographer in me LOVES this feature!

I love sharing my travel experiences with you guys!! These are some of my most-read blog posts so I hope you find them helpful and fun, because I sure enjoy writing them 🙂 tell me where I should travel to next in the comments below!

XO

Rach