Walt Disney World is full of magic, from the moment you drive onto Disney property you can feel the change. It's like you're transported back to a child (if you're an adult), the magic fills you down to your soul and you can't help but smile.
But you can go further than just the magic from being there - you can take steps to make your trip more magical.
Here's how:
Be a kid again
First up you are allowed to be a child again. This is such an important thing when you're in Walt Disney World - none of that being a parent nonsense, just enjoy yourself. The first time I went to Magic Kingdom and saw Cinderella's Castle I welled up, it was such an emotional thing. And then I got to MEET CINDERELLA!!! I had the cheesiest smile but I just couldn't help myself I was SO happy.
Even miracles take a little time.
Fairy Godmother, Cinderella.
Skip around the park, squeal when you see a character, and let your own children see you enjoying it just as much as they are. Allow the magic to take you in and you will have the most amazing time.
Meet characters
Have you always wanted to say hello to Cinderella or dance around with Baloo? Well you can! Yes it means waiting in queues (isn't that what us Brits are great at?) but once you get to wrap your arms around that character and say Hi all your troubles melt away.
I've gotta say that Mickey is my favourite - after all "it all started with a mouse" as Walt said. I adore meeting Mickey Mouse and you can be certain where Mickey is, so is the gang. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy and even Pluto - and be sure to have your camera ready!
Pressed coins
Machines in all of the Disney parks offer to squish a penny into a souvenir for a nominal fee. Some charge $1 others 50 cents but they're always amusing and if you get enough of them you can get yourself a lovely book to keep them in.
As you can see we have a fair old collection of pressed coins. It started by accident a few years ago when we let the boys try it out - well that obviously resulted in an obsessive collecting holiday. Every single machine we passed they wanted to try out. I don't know if we got them all or if they have new ones now, but we have 57 pressed coins and 1 pressed quarter.
My favourites include a few we got from Epcot, and the World Showcase, one of Mike from Monster's Inc, and one of Buzz Lightyear.
Pin trading
In 2013 we decided to let the boys start their pin trading journey, LP was just 4 but he took to it brilliantly and was so confident going up to cast members to ask to swap pins.
How do you start?
It's easy. You need a lanyard for your pins to go on - why not allow your children to choose one for themselves and buy a keepsake to go on the end of it. It let's the kids get involved and excited about visiting. You'll also need a collection of pins you're willing to swap - these can be doubles of ones you already have, or ones you aren't bothered about keeping. We tend to buy a collection from eBay or somewhere else before we go, they always have plenty we don't want to keep which gives the boys plenty to trade. We'll definitely be doing this again this year.
Don’t just fly, soar.
Dumbo
In a morning we add the pins to their lanyards and the boys will spend the day trading until they don't have any they want to trade. We haven't managed to run out of tradable pins yet, and we're in Walt Disney World for 6 weeks usually!
There are times when I want to influence the boys' choices about which pin they're trading for, but it's for them, so I butt out - I do find it difficult though! A couple of times I've suggested we all do it, but the Hubby doesn't think we should. Boo.
Our collection of pins at home is pretty great now, we have a large pin board and it won't be long before we need another one!
A few of my favourites are:
Watch on-street entertainment
In all of the parks there is some sort of "on-street" entertainment. In Magic Kingdom there's lots including the band that plays in front of Cinderella's Castle. I also love the Jammitors at Epcot!
Seeing live entertainment like that, while you're standing in the amazing sunshine on holiday - that's truly something special.
Amazing food
The food in Walt Disney World is amazing, from the snacks to fine dining there's a certain something about everything they do. You can buy a turkey leg to munch on while you're walking around the park, if it's rather hot and you want to a cool drink or snack a Dole Whip is THE BEST thing you could have. The quick service places are brilliant, from huge burgers to lobster rolls (one of my faves!) there's plenty to choose from and you can be sure they'll fill you up.
This is Seabass if I remember rightly, and it was oh-so-yummy!
One of the many massive desserts you get in Walt Disney World.
And then there's the fine dining - an amazing experience if you can do it. Some of our favourite restaurants include Artist Point, The Wave, and Narcoossee's - but there are so many more it wouldn't be fair to list them all. Choose any fine dining restaurant in Walt Disney World and you are guaranteed to have an amazing meal.
Thrilling rides
Of course Walt Disney World is full of theme parks which in turn are full of rides. Some rides are for the little ones, they're fun and sometimes slow but still brilliant, other rides are fast, thrilling, and sometimes scary. There's a ride for everyone and I for one will always love "It's a Small World" and "Carousel of Progress" both at Magic Kingdom.
Splash Mountain
My boys, being thrill-seekers, love the coasters - all the mountains: Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain. I've done the first two but you won't get me on Space Mountain, a coaster in the dark? No thank you! But while my boys are on Space Mountain I get to wander around the shops, buy more pins or lust after all the cuddly toys - WIN!
Walt Disney World is a wonderfully magical place even without all the extras but doing just one of the extras adds magic to your trip. And you want all the magic you can get right?
It's been ages since I visited any of the parks, but I remember the first time, felt like a kid again and loved it :) #mondayescapes
ReplyDeleteYou really should go back - we love it and feeling like a kid again is the BEST! ;)
DeleteWoW! I knew about the pin trading but never knew anyone who really did it! What a fun extra! I like bringing an autograph book for the kids. They loved getting signatures from the characters
ReplyDeleteYes the autograph books are great for the kids, although my two aren't that bothered with that because they know it's not really the character (LP guessed it was just someone in a suit when he was 6!). It's funny though because they still love meeting the characters! 😂
DeleteI love this! Especially the part about being a kid. I literally tear up every time we first walk through Magic Kingdom and I see Cinderella's castle. There's never any question to my kids that I'm having as much fun as they are. I love the Disney parks. #mondayescapes
ReplyDeleteAw me too Allison. My favourite park is Epcot, but Magic Kingdom and Cinderella's Castle gets me every time. :)
DeleteWe are going in March and I have never been! I'm so excited but I know I'll be overwhelmed by it all. My girls are 6 and 9 and I can't wait for us all to have our first experience!
ReplyDelete~Jess
#FamilyFun
Oh it will be so much fun Jessica! Be sure to go to the parks early - you can get on the rides before the lines get too bad if you do that. ;)
DeleteHope you have a magical time!
I have never been... you have given me something to think about!
ReplyDeleteOh it's so much fun Nina - I'd recommend it to anyone! 😊
DeleteThe first time I went to Disney I was an adult... and it was like I was 5 again. So. Much. Magic!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing isn't it? I can't get enough Disney and I'm 37!! 😂
DeleteI had gone to Disneyland around 5 years ago and it was a magical experience! I don’t think I could wipe the grin off my face the entire time I was there - except when I was screaming on some of the rides ;-) #mg
ReplyDeleteHaha yep the rides will do that! 😊
DeleteMorgan, I absolutely love the Disney Parks. It made me so happy to read your post. I have so many wonderful memories. Now I want to go back. Ack! I really want to try a Disney Cruise. The only problem is that my kids are growing up and I have only teenagers left. Thanks for the smile.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so pleased you got a smile from my post! I'd like to try a Disney Cruise too but I don't want the time away from the parks so it'd have to be extra - and I'm not sure we could afford the cost OR the time! Boo!
DeleteThe food looks amazing! The food in Euro Disney didn't vary lot!! #fortheloveBLOG
ReplyDeleteThere's so much variety in Walt Disney World - it's possibly because there are so many restaurants in the parks and the hotels. We try as many different ones as we can. 😊
DeleteSO many great tips; we LOVE Disney world and I do find that the food is just phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Totally agree with you about the food - you can't get anything like it in the UK, or at least if you do you have to pay A LOT of money!
DeleteWe are headed there with the kinder at the end of March! I will be child-like and child-ish with my littles, and have just as much fun as they do! xoxo #familyfunlinky xo
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you Lisa! Have a truly magical time! xx
DeleteI had no idea that pin trading was a thing there. The food looks amazing! Thanks for linking up with such great tips #MondayEscapes
ReplyDeletePin trading has been going on for years Claire, it's something I wanted to do when I first went there back in 2003 but thought it was just for the kids. It turns out it's a huge deal and there are people with amazing collections. Our collection is small compared to some! 😊
DeleteThat does sound pretty amazing, you spend 6 weeks at Disney!? I think it's great for children to see their parents carefree and silllly. Too often we're all drilling and getting them places! Least this is the best place ever to find your inner child! Makes me want to go now! Thank you for linking up to the #familyfunlinky
ReplyDeleteI know - we're very lucky to be able to spend 6 weeks there - although we may be restricted in future because the school holidays may be changing. 😭 You should totally go - it's so good to be able to let go and act silly! 😉
DeleteI'd love the rides but I don't think Disney is for me. Love the trading pins idea though
ReplyDeleteAh what a shame Emma - I used to think that I'd get sick of all the Disney stuff in 6 weeks but I really don't. Of course we don't spend the entire time in Walt Disney World but the majority of it is Disney. :) We love pin trading - and it's a great memento to be able to keep forever. 😊
DeleteI moved to Florida in my 20's and the Magic Kingdom is one of my favorite places. I'm so happy you enjoyed it. Hey, you were only about a 2 hour drive from me! #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteOh wow how about that! We'll be there again this summer and I truly cannot wait! 😊
DeleteThose pressed coins are fantastic. What a great thing to collect.
ReplyDeleteOne day we will visit Disney as a family. #PoCoLo
It's such a great place to visit Kim. The thing I love most about the coins is that they're so portable and it's not something that is massively expensive. Anyone can do it and have a brilliant memento from their holiday. 😊
DeleteWe've been to Disney in Florida a few times and loved it. We were lucky enough to have family who lived there. I absolutely loved it :) You're right, it's so much fun when you just unleash your inner child and go for it :)
ReplyDeleteWhen we spend so much time being serious and parent-y it's great to be able to let go isn't it? 😊
DeleteHi Morgan, I've only been to Disney Paris and thought that was fab (it was just before Christmas and I spent five days squealing with delight). To visit Disney World in the US must be even more amazing (Disney Paris never had a doughnut dessert like the one in your photo). I am really not one for fast rides, but was coaxed onto Space Mountain twice, and secretly loved it (did you do Terror Hotel? I swear I died)... I love the squashed coins, they make a nice keepsake and pin trading sounds like fun (the cars cute cars are my favourote!).
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting.
xx
The doughnut in the photo is a dessert at one of hotel restaurants, but they do have similar in the parks too. I have been on the Tower of Terror - it is my worst fear the whole elevator drop thing so as you can imagine I was terrified! I'm hoping we can increase our collection of both coins and pins this year. 😊
DeleteLOVE the food and drinks at WDW! I worked at Disneyland in California and loved going to visit Florida and getting to experience the food and rides! They're bigger and tastier!
ReplyDelete#ListLinky
I can imagine working there is brilliant! The world is so amazing and has so much entertainment it's always horrible to leave! xx
DeleteI have so many treasured memories of Disney land as a child and I hope to be able to take my three one day! Everything about the experience is magical and it really does bring out the inner child in us all! x #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteTotally agree Kirsty - it is magic. xx
DeleteBack with more blogger love, at the #mg linky! xoxo
ReplyDelete😘
DeleteI'm dying to go and this post has made me even more desperate! We've been to Disneyland Paris so many times but Florida would just be incredible! #TheListLinky
ReplyDeleteIt's funny - I've never been to Disneyland Paris! Florida is awesome though!! 😉
DeleteWe just have to go! I love that you skipped around and squealed! Fabulous #thelistlinky
ReplyDeleteHehe, I do it every time! I just can't help myself - I'm so happy to be back there. 😊
DeleteI'm not actually a big Disney fan myself but your pictures tell a great story of how much fun it is to visit. I imagine it is easy to get caught up in the wonderful atmosphere whether you are a fan or not #pocolo
ReplyDeleteIt really is Louisa! The funny thing is Disney has grown on me because of WDW - I wasn't a huge fan but once I'd been there I'm more of a fan. Now I love Disney. Whether it's princesses or pirates, Toys or Robots - if it's Disney I'm in. The other thing is you don't *have* to be a fan of Disney to enjoy the place, yes there are characters around and such but if you want to it's easy to ignore (although I'm not sure why you would!) the Disney part of it just makes the whole thing more magical. 😊
DeleteI would absolutely love to go back to Disney and meet the characters!
ReplyDelete#pocolo
https://lizziedailyblog.blogspot.co.uk/
The characters are amazing. 😊
DeleteLooks like you had a good time, always nice to go to a place that you enjoy X #pocolo
ReplyDeleteWe really love the place - we'll be going back for years to come I'm sure. 😊
DeleteLooks pretty magical Morgan. And so many ways to bring back memories by collecting too. Thanks for hosting #pocolo
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol, it's really great having so many reminders at home of our wonderful holidays. 😊
DeleteI have never been to Disney World but we're planning a trip to Disneyland Paris this year for my daughter's 10th birthday. Your post makes me itch to go right now!
ReplyDeletePopping by belatedly from #FamilyFun
Ooh fabulous - you'll have so much fun! If you need any tips @MummiesWaiting (Jade) has some great posts on Disneyland Paris --> https://mummieswaiting.com 👍🏻
DeleteOoh this makes me want to go to Disney so badly! Thanks for linking up to #fortheloveofBLOG x
ReplyDeleteThanks. That's the idea! 😘
DeleteWow! Disney World is literally my favourite place on earth but we haven't taken the tots yet. I get so excited just thinking about it and I love the pin trading idea! That's a brilliant collection Morgan! Thanks for linking up x #DreamTeam
ReplyDeleteThanks lovely! We do enjoy the pin trading - me just as much as the kids! I bet you can't wait to take the tots. 😊
DeleteMy boys were never into Disney so we never went but I can see how many families love the parks. Great tips for making a trip more enjoyable. Popping by with a very late visit from #pocolo
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosie - we LOVE Disney and I think because we've been so many times they will grow up loving the place even if they grow out of loving the Disney movies. 😁
DeleteI love Disney, and I really enjoyed this post, Morgan! I especially like your tip about Being a Kid Again - that's so important. I'm hoping to visit Disney again soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much April! I LOVE being a kid again, I can just let all those stresses go and have fun! xx
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