Disney World Adventures – Part One of My Florida Theme Park Getaway

This summer, I kicked off an incredible Florida theme park getaway, starting with two magical days at Walt Disney World before heading over to Universal Studios (stay tuned for part two and be sure to check out the pictures at the end!)

An Early Start & a Magical Check-In

My Disney adventure began bright and early—2:30 AM early—as I hit the road to pick up my friend on the way to the airport. We arrived at about 4:30 AM, hopped on the shuttle, breezed through security, and boarded our 6 AM flight. By 10:15 AM, we had landed in Orlando, greeted by sunny skies and my fellow travel agent friend.

From there, it was a quick Uber to Disney property to drop off our luggage. We had scored a fantastic summer promotion—select Disney resorts for just $99/night! Our home for the trip was Port Orleans Riverside, a charming, Southern-inspired resort themed around Tiana & the bayou. I loved the tranquil riverboat rides that connected us to Port Orleans French Quarter and Disney Springs—it really felt like stepping into a storybook version of the South.

Hollywood Studios Heatwave

After dropping our bags, we caught a free Disney bus to Hollywood Studios, just 10 minutes away. Did I mention it was hot? We’re talking 98°F with a heat index over 105°F. It felt like stepping into an oven every time we left the AC. Despite the heat, we had a magical day park-hopping and exploring. With Lightning Lanes lined up for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania, we were set. I also got to meet two of my favorite characters—Buzz Lightyear and Daisy Duck—plus spotted Goofy, Chip & Dale, Mickey, Stormtroopers, Woody, Jessie, and more.

Magic Kingdom & Nighttime Parade

By 5:30 PM, we were on a bus to Magic Kingdom to pick up our After Hours Epcot tickets for the next night. After that, we squeezed in rides on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean. We grabbed the famous cheeseburger spring rolls outside Adventureland (worth every bite!) before settling in for the brand new Starlight Parade—a dazzling mix of lights, music, and beloved Disney characters like Moana, Elsa, and Tinkerbell.

We ended the night with custom popcorn at Main Street Confectionary, some shopping, and the 10 PM fireworks. This was my first time watching them from back on Main Street, and seeing the projections dance across the buildings made the moment extra magical.

Day Two – Ohana Means Family

The next morning came quickly with an 8:40 AM reservation at ‘Ohana—a character breakfast at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort I’d been dreaming of for three years (our 2022 plans were canceled by Hurricane Ian). The pineapple-coconut bread is a must-try, and we got to meet Lilo, Stitch, Pluto, and Mickey while enjoying a lively character parade through the restaurant. From the Polynesian, we hopped on the monorail to Magic Kingdom, caught a bus to Art of Animation Resort to shop and explore the Nemo and Cars areas, then took the Skyliner to Hollywood Studios before heading back to our resort pool for a midday break.

A Travel Agent Oops & Epcot After Hours

Our fourth roommate arrived that afternoon, and we set off for dinner at Wilderness Lodge—except we accidentally took the bus to Fort Wilderness instead. Oops! Even travel agents make mistakes. While we missed our dinner reservation, it turned into a valuable tip for my clients: Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge are two different locations—don’t mix them up!

We skipped dinner to make it to our After Hours event at Epcot, though they offered to still seat us for dinner. These special events let you arrive at 7 PM, enjoy the pavilions and shops and fireworks until 9 PM, and then from 10 PM–1 AM, the park is yours with free soda, Powerade, water, popcorn, ice cream (try the maple popcorn in the Canada Pavilion—it’s heavenly), and incredibly short wait times. We walked right onto rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Test Track, Soarin’, and more—most with waits under 5 minutes. We stayed until the very end, grabbing one last round of free snacks before heading back to our resort, tired but so happy.

Stay tuned for Part Two of my trip, where I’ll share all about Universal Studios and the brand-new Epic Universe theme park! ✨ If this sounds like the kind of trip you’d love to experience, reach out to me using the contact form here or at the top of the page. My planning services are completely free, and I can help you create a Disney or Universal vacation that’s just as magical.