June 4th, 2024
I can’t believe it’s already time to head back to my favorite place [Disney]! If you follow me on Instagram back at the end of the school year, my wife surprised me and Eli with Annual Passes to Disney [they closed it to non FL residents during covid] and it just opened back up!
I had no idea I would actually get to go that soon back to Disney. Over the last several years I have gone multiple times a year however we felt it was time to just be an “AP” member [annual passholder]. My wife added on the waterpark and sports option as well. The only water park we have been to is Disney’s Blizzard Beach , but never had gone to Typhoon Lagoon until this trip.
Where we Stay Off Disney Property
We decided to stay off Disney property about 10 minutes away from the parks. We had stayed here last October for Eli’s fall break. I love a value resort/hotel . Now don’t get me wrong I do LOVE to stay on Disney property and there are so many perks to staying on property [transportation, disney dining/ restaurants , pools , activities etc]. We just don’t see the need to spend $2k+ on a room for the week when my whole weeks stay with taxes + security deposit are all under $800 for the week. Now let’s get to the point , hehe. We stay at Parkway International Resort which is a little outdated but there is a full size kitchen, washer/dryer and we had a dining room table, screened in back porch and activities to do during our stay. Unfortunately we didn’t get to enjoy any of those amenities because we were at Disney all day but the option was there. Personally for me if it doesn’t have bed bugs or roaches I am a happy camper! Last year I made a video on my YouTube channel reviewing this resort. If you are on a budget this may be the best option for you! I love that it has a king bed/ and 2 twin beds, also a pull out couch to sleep up to 6 people. Perfect for those looking to do Disney on a budget!
Those Who Must Stay On Property
If you are on a budget and MUST STAY ON PROPERTY I have stayed at two value resorts. We love Pop Century and All-Star Music we have stayed at both and love these Disney Value Resorts! I know Pop Century has the skyliner taking you to Hollywood Studios+ Epcot and the bus that takes you to Magic Kingdom+ Animal Kingdom. Also don’t forget for those looking to head to Disney Springs they have you covered there too! Really just weigh the pro’s vs con’s to decide which you prefer and what’s the most cost effective for your family. I really felt like my inner child needed that for the full Disney experience at least once in my life! I will say SOMETIMES not always but sometimes Disney Value Resorts are the same price or equal to other off property resorts so just check that out if you’re looking at Disney Packages. If you’re an Annual Pass-holder you do get 20% off your stay, merchandise, dining, and free parking. Also if you’re overwhelmed about all of this there are several Travel Agents! I am not a Disney Travel Agent but I know a few that I could point you too for guidance.
This photo was taken our second day. We decided to go to Hollywood Studios and we decided we had a 3 hour time gap between our genie+ so we headed back to the resort and jumped into our swimsuits and headed to enjoy the pool. This was the only day we enjoyed the pool so I’m glad we got to enjoy it for two hours. Side note: [There wasn’t hardly anyone at the pool] maybe 5 people total not including us.
First Stop Animal Kingdom
Our first day we got up early and headed off to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This is one of my favorite parks actually, it’s better than a zoo but so much fun! I always start out at the Safari ride first to see the animals before we start riding rides & watching shows . This seems to be the best option imo. We then decided to head on over to Mount Everest! I get asked often how I do Disney and honestly I laugh because it’s almost like a “job” more than a vacation. I will clarify I would NEVER do Disney without Genie+ 🧞♂️ [ skipping the lines]. Eli and I have only stood in a Disney line maybe once ever and we quickly realized how much time was wasted if we stood in a 2-3 hour line for every single ride. So spending the extra $$$ on genie+ really makes the most out of our trip and helps you get on every single ride we want! I typically stay at the parks from the time we arrive until close. But most people who visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom say this is a “half park” day, but we love spending the entire day there and pacing ourselves.
Here are some photos from our day at Animal Kingdom! We also ate at Rainforest Cafe which is a chain restaurant . If you are looking for better food dining options I highly recommend eating at Tiffins and also make sure you book your dining in advance. Sometimes these restaurants will not allow you to dine there without a reservation so I typically plan 30-60 days dining in advanced to make sure I get the dining I want. Tiffins is pricey but also if you are looking for a quick service meal I love Yak and Yeti!
How I Decide What Rides/ Shows To Genie+
When it comes to genie+ you do have to be tech savvy and use your My Disney Experience app to book your next lightning lane ride/ show. At midnight I typically purchase my genie+ for the park i’m going to that day and book my first ride at 7am. If you are park hopping and going to different Disney parks in one day I would recommend multiple park genie+ option so you can have genie+ at every park! I almost think genie+ is essential if you are out of state and want to make the most of your Disney experience . Depending on how many people are in your party I would HIGHLY suggest paying for it over souvenirs or even snacks!
Lets Talk Snacks
For me I always bring a regular sized backpack to the park with SNACKS! This will save you a FORTUNE! I personally go to Sam’s Club the week before any trip and buy bulk snacks. We don’t always choose the “healthiest” snacks but at least I’m not paying $5 for a mini bag of regular Lay’s potato chips! Even if you are a foodie like me and enjoy snacks at Disney I still recommend bringing snacks because of ridiculously long lines at the park! To add to snacks I also bring water bottles for me+Eli. Disney offers free small ice waters in the summertime for those needing a sip to stay hydrated for those who don’t want to spend money on drinks or bottled waters. For those looking to purchase plastic bottled water they run about $6 for one Dasani. I love to drink soda every now and then so if I must have one I typically bring it also in my bag to the parks.
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is easily Eli’s favorite park for several reasons Tower Of Terror + Aerosmith Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster, Slinky Dog, Rise of Resistance . This trip Aerosmith Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster was down for renovations. I book Slinky Dog Dash as our first genie+ ride and generally can’t ride it until the end of the day due to Disney Resort guest having first dibs on rides + individual Lightning Lanes. You can book individual Lightning Lanes at park open. For Hollywood Stuidos luckily the only individual LL is Rise of Resistance that you have to pay extra for or if you didn’t want to pay for it I’d definitely rope drop it as your first ride. Lucky for me you can book every 2 hours with genie + or after you scan in.
We always eat at 50’s Prime Time Cafe when at HS and love it! Eli loves fried chicken , fries and corn! We did Disney last year and didn’t eat there and Eli was so sad hehe. So every since then we just eat there.
One of my favorite quick service meals are ABC Commissary or Woody’s Lunchbox.
Magic Kingdom
This is the “BUSIEST” Disney park day ever , but we still LOVE this park! We did Magic Kingdom a little differently this time and we did not rope drop but we did arrive before 1pm. Being able to purchase genie+ and book multiple rides was the best day ever and im going to share a little secret with you to help make MK a successful day for you.
How To Have A Successful Day At Magic Kingdom
I promised I’d share my itinerary for Magic Kingdom so here it goes.
- Space Mountain
- Tron [we paid for this ride as a individual lightning lane]
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Lunch at The Plaza
- Watch Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire
- Took photos with Cinderella
- Took photos with Chip&Dale
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Snow White&Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Buzz Lightyear
- Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
I’ll be honest Disney’s Magic Kingdom is always the busiest because everyone wants to see the “Castle” but learning to navigate what we want to ride/ see is best. For us watching fireworks at the end of the night is just not worth the long line/crowd . We have watched the fireworks for years but always seems to be the busiest leaving and we just leave an hour or two before the show! I was really impressed by not having to stand in long lines or wait at all.
Epcot
We love Epcot for their Wine&Food Festival but we were a day late whomp whomp !
We did however try something new for lunch and that was Le Cellier in Canada🇨🇦 🍁! We have always wanted to eat there however we didn’t realize how “pricey” this meal was. Eli and I split a 12oz Ribeye with mashed potatoes and macaroni . Steak alone was $59 and Eli didn’t like anything on the kids meal so we split a steak and he devoured it! We walked around and luckily scheduled a few genie+ rides. Eli wanted to do Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind which was additional to my genie+ but this ride was so busy and booked if I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to genie+ it then we wouldn’t have gotten on at all.
I always make sure when at Epcot to get Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Journey of Water[Moana], Soarnin’ Around the World, The Sean’s with Nemo& Friends , Test Track.
I did grab a drink in France as well but once we did that and the rides listed above we ended up leaving.
Typhoon LAgoon
We were so excited to go to Typhoon Lagoon for the first time and THANK GOD I got there 30 minutes before open because I did not purchase a cabana and didn’t want to spend $300+ for one for the day. Honestly about choked when I saw them go for up to $550! WHAT?!?! Luckily we found chairs with an umbrella and I am so grateful for that. I love hanging around the lazy river and wave pool. I feel lik now at 28 I cannot live without some shade. The medications I take make my skin burrrrnnnn🔥.
Eli got to see Stitch early on and got to take a photo with him. I would also advise grabbing some phone protector lanyards. These have saved me on so many trips even cruises I’ve been on. I always put my cards and id in my lanyard so they aren’t stolen in my bag.
Would a trip to Disney be complete without a pineapple Dole Whip?! No it wouldn’t so ofcourse we naturally got one. Eli wanted a soft serve vanilla cup but they also had cones/ sundaes . For lunch Eli ate chicken tenders with fries [ofcourse hehe] and I tried out the chicken barbecue pizza I would say it was mediocre but when you’re hungry anything is good. Also they do allow you to bring in your own lunch/snacks/ water/sodas if you want to pack a lunch for you and the kiddos.
Last thing I ate was their bbq pork sandwich that was so delicious and grabbed a drink pinacolava with raspberry liquor so tropical and yummy 🍹.
Pulled Pork Sandwich At Typhoon Tilly’s
Roasted Pork Shoulder, Bacon, Andouille Sausage, Onion Ring, and Coleslaw topped with House-Made Pickle Chips drizzled with Horseradish Petal Sauce for $13.29 comes with fries as well.
That’s all for this Disney Blog! Let me know if you have any questions or anything you want to add .
