Birthday Vacay: Disney Bound
As eager as I am now that June has arrived, I’m still experiencing some post-Disney trip depression and want to rewind back to a few weeks ago to relive it!
If you know me well, you know how much of a Disney fanatic I am and that Walt Disney World is one of my favorite places in the whole world. So much so that I have the map of Magic Kingdom memorized in my head! All of the trips I’ve been on in the past have been amazing, but I honestly might have to admit that this recent one marks as the top favorite. Not only did I get to celebrate my 26th year of life at the happiest place on earth, but I got to spend it with my best friends Katie and Zoe! It’s really surreal because I’ve always prayed and dreamed about a girls’ trip to Disney someday. I figured it wouldn’t happen till later, but it kind of happened spontaneously and it worked out even better than I could have planned! I’m so thankful for my girls, Florida, and all the magic and joy Disney and the employees bring to people of all ages!
I won’t go into a crazy amount of detail about this trip, I’ll share a mini travel diary of where we stayed, what we did, where/what we ate, etc. Enjoy! ❤️
Where We Stayed
Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village - It’s very close to Walt Disney World, and the Disney Shuttles come at certain times every day to pick up guests. This is a great way to save money for transportation if you’re staying outside the resort, and it’s a very nice hotel with great staff!
Day 1: Magic Kingdom
What Rides We Rode:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Space Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Tomorrowland Speedway
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
What/Where We Ate:
We ate here for a late lunch. We had reservations during the 3:00 pm Festival of Fantasy Parade, so it wasn’t too busy! Plus, the staff was so amazing and sweet! My friends and I split the plaza loaded fries as an appetizer, then I had the turkey club sandwich for lunch and a glass of the Kunde Sauvignon Blanc!
There’s a Starbucks located in here!
Frontierland Churro Cart
We came here for pretzels, but also a great place to get a yummy churro!
Ice Cream & Frozen Treats Cart
Also located all around the park and where to go to get the iconic Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwiches and bars, as well as frozen bananas!
What Shows/Parades We Watched:
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
We weren’t originally planning on coming it, but I’m super glad we did. It’s hilarious and super interactive with the audience. It makes me watch to watch Monsters, Inc. again!
Festival of Fantasy Parade
They have a 12:00 pm and a 3:00 pm show. Try to find a curbside spot ten minutes before it starts to get a good seat!
Disney Enchantment
This is their newest fireworks show, it’s pure magic!
Day 2: Off Day & Disney Springs
We made a rest day in between our two days at the parks because we were POOPED after Magic Kingdom, lol! It was the perfect day to spend at our hotel’s outdoor pool (as well as going to the nearby Chick-Fil-A for brunch), then head to Disney Springs for a fun girls’ night out!
What/Where We Ate:
House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
The perfect restaurant to sit outside and listen to live music!
Coca Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar
I recommend getting the Cuba Libre if you like both Coca Cola and rum!
A bit pricy for margs, but their frozen ones are delicious and they have a 1960s Florida-inspired waterfront lounge that’s great for chillin’ and watching the sunset!
I’ve come here every time I’ve gone on a Disney trip. They have so many amazing sweet treats in their bakery! I got a tasty marshmallow and red velvet Mickey Mouse-shaped cake pop. They also have fantastic cookies, cupcakes and so much more!
Where We Shopped:
Day 3: Animal Kingdom
What Rides We Rode:
Expedition Everest
Kilomijaro Safaris
Kali River Rapids
DINOSAUR
Avatar Flight of Passage
What/Where We Ate:
This place is a bit more on the pricy side but it was such a wonderful experience. Katie and I split the cheese and meats board, and I got plant-based tacos and the green shimmering margarita for my main meal. Our waiter also surprised me with a cookies & creme mousse/brownie dessert with “Happy Birthday” written in chocolate on the plate! It was so sweet, as well as delicious of course!
Dino-Diner
This is the place in Animal Kingdom to get churros!
There’s a Starbucks located in here, and the staff is so sweet. They wrote “Happy Birthday” on my coffee with a mini Mickey Mouse head next to it!