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It was our first visit of a Disney World as a family of four. And we call it “Epic Travel to Disney World“! Because it was! The weather in January was nice and cool, which helps a lot when you have kids and do outdoor activities the whole day.
Theme Parks
Disney World is known for its incredible theme parks, and a luxury family trip would not be complete without visiting them. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom all offer unique experiences and attractions for visitors of all ages. From thrilling roller coasters to character meet-and-greets, there is something for everyone.
During my family’s luxury trip to Disney World, we made sure to visit each of the four theme parks. Our favorites were Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Magic Kingdom has classic attractions like Space Mountain and It’s a Small World, while Animal Kingdom offers a more immersive experience with its stunning landscapes and animal encounters.
Table of Contents
When you go to an enormous place like this, planning is your best friend. Not only you will save time waiting in lines but also will be guaranteed to see everything you wish. We used the “My Disney Experience” app, and it had everything we needed. We booked our special lunches in advance, VIP seating at the shows, fast passes, and much more. So we would see/do everything we wanted.
We also checked Disney World Crowd Calendar to make sure we go during a moderate crowd season.
Kevin is supper good with planning. So this is what we were able to do within two days.
Transportation
Getting around Walt Disney World Resort is a breeze, thanks to their complimentary transportation options. You have three main methods of transportation at Disney World: the buses, the monorail system, and the boat. All of these options are included with your Disney World ticket.
The buses are the most common mode of transportation and are available to take you from your resort hotel to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. The buses run frequently and are a great option for families with strollers, as they are equipped with wheelchair lifts and designated stroller areas. The My Disney Experience app provides up-to-date bus schedules and wait times, making it easy to plan your day.
The monorail system is a fun and unique way to travel between Magic Kingdom and select resort hotels. The monorail is a classic Disney attraction and offers stunning views of the resort. The boats are another fun way to travel to select resorts and Disney Springs. They are a great option for families who want to avoid the crowds and enjoy a leisurely ride.
Disney World. Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
On the first day, we went to Animal Kingdom Theme Park. We all like animals, so it was a brilliant decision.
I am a big fan of performances. So our first entertainment was Festival of the Lion King show. And BAM! It strokes me right away! So spectacular! You would think it’s a kid’s show so it would be sketchy, but no, everything Disney does is of the highest quality.
If you go, it will not disappoint you. The best kids show I’ve seen so far. The quality of the costumes and decorations are stunning. And dances and music are unforgettable. (Check the video).
My kids were watching without blinking. I think they stopped breathing too. The show is a combination of a musical with elements of ballet and circus. Flawless! My kids loved it and so will yours!
It also will impress an adult, too, even if you watched an animated movie and even if you are as picky as I am. This show is the next level of performing the drama.
Although the Disney World Crowd Calendar helped to check the level of business for some activities, you still need to make reservations.
Lunch with Disney Characters
Character Dining
Character dining is a must-do for families with young children. Not only do you get to enjoy a delicious meal, but you also get to meet and take photos with some of your favorite Disney characters.
Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom is a classic choice for character dining. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Cinderella’s castle while meeting Disney princesses.
Another popular option is Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Enjoy a buffet-style meal while meeting Mickey Mouse and friends.
For a unique character dining experience, try Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Enjoy a buffet-style meal with African-inspired cuisine while meeting characters in their safari gear.
Personal Experience: During my luxury family trip to Disney World, we made sure to try a mix of fine dining and character dining experiences. Our favorite character dining experience was at Cinderella’s Royal Table, where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast while meeting princesses. For fine dining, we loved our meal at Jiko – The Cooking Place, where we tried unique dishes and enjoyed a great wine selection. Overall, the dining experiences at Disney World exceeded our expectations and were a highlight of our trip.
Right after the show, we went for lunch with the Characters. OMG! Kids were amazed to see Goofy, Donald, and Mickey coming straight to our table to say hi. I think Maria, who was four years old, thought they were real.
It made her day! For real! To hug and dance with alive Disney characters? What could be more special?
Shows
The next stop is the “Finding Nemo” show. Here people move human height toys over the stage. Both my kids love puppets, so they were watching with their mouths open. Great for kids.
Disney World offers a variety of shows that are perfect for a luxury family trip. At the Magic Kingdom, catch the Festival of Fantasy Parade, a colorful procession featuring your favorite Disney characters. The Finding Nemo – The Musical show at Animal Kingdom is also a must-see, featuring incredible puppetry and catchy songs.
For a more adult-oriented show, check out Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn to Life at Disney Springs. This show combines acrobatics, animation, and Disney storytelling for a unique and unforgettable experience.
After the show, we had Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom! Do you like animals? I do. I would never miss an opportunity to see them in their natural habitat. Well, Disney did the best possible and safe way to experience it.
On Kilimanjaro Safaris, you can see lions, wild buffalos, giraffes, elephants, and many more animals without those bars, fences, or cages.
At one place we had to stop because giraffes were crossing ours way. Wow! It gave me chills to be so close to wild nature. All four of us enjoyed the ride at Kilimanjaro Safaris.
At the sunset, they have a beautiful performance led by National Geographic, called Rivers of Light. It’s a story about wildlife told you through images on a water-screen. The water gives the movie a surrealistic effect. Any esthete will get a visual and musical pleasure watching the show. It worth every minute of your time and every bit of your attention. It was a great ending of a brilliant day. After the show, we went back to the hotel tired and excited.
Fireworks
One of the most popular attractions at Disney World is the nightly fireworks display. Happening at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios, the fireworks are a must-see for any luxury family trip. The Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After show is a fan favorite, featuring stunning pyrotechnics and projections on Cinderella’s Castle.
Day 2.
We went to Magic Kingdom Park. If you check the map, you see it comprises five parks. We began with the Adventureland and walked around visiting each park. The Magic Carpets of Aladin were one of our first rides. And it was a blast!
I like that at Magic Kingdom Park you can see a performance at every corner. We met Captain Jack Sparrow with his assistant and even got a certificate, stating that we are licensed pirates:). That was a fun interactive show, and Captain Jack looked like a real one.
Lunch was at the Italian restaurant. Oh! That was a savior and a special treat. We booked it in advance and that afternoon appeared to be hot, but it felt perfect in the cool and luxury place with amazing food and dessert as the grand finale. I didn’t want to leave, but we had so much to do.
Disney Parade.
It is spectacular!
When you are in the park, you already have a sense of holiday, but the Festival of Fantasy Parade lifts you up to the next level of celebration.
In that parade of beauty and fairytale, you will see all Disney characters. If it is your first visit, or if you never watched it from the VIP seating, please do so.
It will give you the best perspective and some characters will even stop by and give you a fist bump. Fun and special. My kids loved it. They’ve been waving like crazy to all the trucks.
My older son is all about quests, so we got hooked up on a game where you get special cards and a map and would hunt for spots with images on the ground located all over the park to find a portal or a station that would tell us where we should go next. We spent playing this game all afternoon till supper. It let us explore every corner of the park and made me feel like we were spies.
Before and after and in between the scheduled events, we would do rides with the least waiting time or the closest ones.
My overall experience is beyond expectations. Miracle after miracle and it’s a pure magic Park.
Tips and tricks
1. Maria was still taking naps, and we were smart to bring a big two-seat stroller with us. We loaded all our stuff on it and she took her usual nap.
I love strollers. You can load everything on and just push them. Pushing is easier than carrying so my advice would be to bring a stroller or definitely rent one when you go to the park with kids younger than 6 years. It is crowded there, and it’s tricky to navigate, but you will be thankful for the opportunity to have your hands free and to move at “adult” speed when necessary.
2. Have comfortable walking shoes and rotate walking activities with watching shows and lunch breaks.
3. As I already mentioned, plan ahead.
Have you ever been to Disney World? It’s an enormous place and two days is not enough to see and to try everything. What would you recommend seeing/doing there?
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Really appreciate you sharing this post. Really thank you! Really Great. Fredelia Patricio Maynord
We were so happy that we managed to have our epic Disney trip right before COVID hit. Thanks for a couple tips I didn’t know about!
Your welcome! So glad you made it! It is a magical place to visit, I bet your kids were thrilled!
Great tips! Planning is so important with a big trip like Disney
THank you for the compliment Sydney:). I am glad you find it useful!
Aww, I love Disney World! Glad you guys had a good time :)
Thank you Alexis! Glad to love Disney too!
I think part of the magic of Disney is the characters. There is no reason the kids shouldn’t have the awesome experience of believing they are real. There is plenty of time for them to experience the reality of life later.
Agree! There is always should be place for magic and I think we should keep it as long as we can:)
This was a great post. I love Disney. The short views were an added bonus as I felt like I was right there with you. Thanks for sharing.
Your welcome! I am so glad that you found it enjoyable:)
I want to see the Rivers of Light. That looks amazing!
Let your wish come true!
We were planning a trip to Disneyland before COVID hit. And we’d love to make it to Disney World.
You WILL! When it’s all over you will!
Disney is one of my favorite places! we spent 8 days and I still don’t feel like it was enough! We try to go every year. My only complaint is that it is so expensive but I always think it is worth it!
Oh! So fun! Eight days in Disney! it is a fairytale in magic :)). I would love to do it! It is expensive though. I think I will write a post on perks…
Do you think it would be strange to have a stroller with no children present? 😹
Been a long time since I’ve been to Disney World.
Ahaha! Why do you need a stroller then? To put your stuff on it? Well, they have those bicycles, you could rent one of those:)
It really does look epic! Such a variety of activities! I look forward to taking my kids one day.
It is a really, really great place to take your kids to.
“My kids were watching without blinking. I think they stopped breathing too.” That does sun of the experience.
I would definitely love to give my kids this experience too.
Yes! These shows are so spectacular and top-notch, anyone will like them! Wishing your desire to come true!
I hope they bring back the character breakfasts and meet and greet soon. It is a big part of the experience.
I hope so too. They do have lunch with characters, where they just walk around the room and wave to you. No hugs or joint pictures though…
This post made me miss Disney so bad! We had become annual passholders right before we moved up north and now we never go….mostly because I can’t justify the extra costs to get there when I can travel other places LOL
Awe. I totally understand. I hope one day you can visit it again!
I’ve never been to Disney World, but it sounds absolutely amazing! I would love to see the Kilimanjaro Safaris!
Sure! Put it on your bucket list!
Looks like a very enjoyable experience. Thank you for sharing!
Your welcome Barbara!
Definitely plan ahead when going to Disney! Thanks for sharing!
YOur welcome, Lisa!
Looks like a fun trip.
It was! Thank you:)
We are DVC members and go to Disneyworld every other year. We’ve been going since my youngest was 3 and now he’s 14! It’s hard to pick a favorite attraction out of all there is to do there, but Finding Nemo the Musical is waaaay at the top of our list. Every cast we’ve seen has been equally amazingly talented…and across the board, the guys who play Crush ALWAYS blow me away with their range! I really hope they are able to reopen soon!
Oh! So cool to meet a Disney fan! I also think joining Disney Club is a great idea. I absolutely love those shows and we missed them when visited last week. But I know they will be back and it gives me hope to go back and enjoy them!
What an epic trip indeed! It is such a magical experience.
Thank you, Cindy, we absolutely love it! Every time!
A great place to visit when kids are small. Always enjoyed it!
Agree! And I think I will come back when they are grown up too:)
We absolutely loved Animal Kingdom! We had Easter dinner there a few years ago (I think it was the Yak and Yeti).
Yummm! I might go and check the place:). Was it good?
I love Disney World and am so ready for character meals to be back in full swing!
Yes! They actually did but you can not hug and take pictures with them:(