We’re back from Disney. You know, the place where magic is real, calories don’t count (until you get home), and your wallet magically disappears faster than you can say “Genie+.”
Here’s the rundown, in case you want to live vicariously — or just need a reminder why you said, “Maybe next year…”
Monday:
Checked in at our Disney resort, feeling all the excitement and that first-day energy. We explored every inch of that place like we were on a mission from Mickey himself. We checked out. We checked back in. We found the snack bar. We found every corner that had Mickey. Basically, we did everything except rest.
Tuesday morning:
Up early (ish) and headed to Animal Kingdom — not for the rides, but for coffee and pastries. Priorities. Then we became professional Disney bus hoppers, riding around to check out Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (because why not?). We grabbed pizza there for lunch and soaked up all the whimsical animation details.
Later that evening, we hit Disney Springs. We had dinner and dessert at the T-Rex Restaurant, which is basically a prehistoric fever dream with chicken tenders. After dinner, we wandered around Disney Springs, shopped and enjoyed the scenery. Pretty sure we hit our daily step goal three times over.
Wednesday:
We slept in like professionals — if there was an Olympic event for late wake-ups, we’d have medaled. Rolled into Magic Kingdom at 11:30 a.m., did some rides and wandering, then headed back to the hotel around 3 p.m. for a recharge. By 6:10 p.m., we were back at Magic like we’d never left and stayed until they politely kicked us out at closing time.
Thursday:
Another luxurious late morning. Lunch at the world’s largest McDonald’s (because we’re classy like that), and then over to the Florida Mall. I asked Tempe if she wanted to go to the water park or the American Girl Doll store — big surprise, she chose the doll.
Cue two hours of intense doll shopping. Clothes, accessories, nail polish, a new hairstyle… Her doll, Adley, walked out of there living her best life. After that, we went back to the resort, wandered around, and Tempe played with Adley while I, unfortunately, had to work on some legal documents (because the real world always finds a way to tag along).
Friday:
Check-out day. Where did the time go?! We met up with the group for breakfast at Rainforest Cafe in Animal Kingdom before heading back to the real world.
We came home tired, happy, and with slightly emptier bank accounts. Tempe’s still introducing Adley to every corner of the house, and I’m still trying to figure out how to magically transport myself back to a Dole Whip stand.
Would we do it all again? Absolutely. But maybe after a few more naps.