Aug 6, 2025

Time for a Disney Vacation

When certain things get us down, it’s important for us to find happiness and positivity to keep going. Almost always this energy is found in booking a trip, which we will say up front, we are incredibly humble and grateful for the ability to travel. But there are other times where only one trip will do, and that is when we take a direct flight to Orlando, Florida and visit the Most Magical Place on Earth—Walt Disney World.

Our love of Disney stems from David’s childhood combined with Edward’s enjoyment of the action and storylines with villains and all things Star Wars! We’ve now visited the Disney Parks in Anaheim, California, along with those in Paris, France. This marks our third time to Walt Disney World together, in the past 4 years. One can say this was especially memorable as we look forward to our next time with our baby boy! So was this our “Baby Moon”? Yes and no. But we definitely took lots of notes from what we enjoyed seeing parents do with their littles around the various lands as we adventured onward.

Below we discuss some of our favorites from this trip, both where we stayed, what we ate, and some tips for you to consider when you plan your next trip to Walt Disney World. For instance, did you know kids are free up until their 3rd birthday?! The memories we create here are special, and we cannot wait to return with Baby G in the next couple years.

Where to stay

We can now say our “home resort” when going to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida is the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin. The complex comprises three hotels, all within the Marriott Bonvoy family, so there are rewards points to be had and redeemed here. Dolphin is a Sheraton, Swan is a Westin, and the Swan Reserve is a part of the Autograph Collection. But these resorts are on Disney property, and they qualify within the Deluxe Resorts category when considering the added benefits those provide for days in the parks, like early access.

But perhaps our favorite part about staying with the hospitable team at the Swan & Dolphin are the perks of being able to walk or take a boat to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. This is something that we find beyond luxurious, as we can take breaks throughout the day without having to spend additional time in other means of transportation to and from the parks.

Now that being said, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom do require us to take the bus, but we have found comfort in the motorcoachs the Swan & Dolphin provides, since they’re operated by Mears the seats are padded versus the hard plastic ones found on Disney’s buses.

We’re not going to lie, after this time staying at the Dolphin, we ultimately prefer being at the Swan. The rooms at the Dolphin feel a little more dated, and the hotel is a lot larger. But the beauty of this resort is taking advantage of its location and the restaurants and quick service cafes on property. We started and ended each day of our stay at Fuel, the nicest convenience store and coffee shop you’ll ever step into. They had everything we needed to energize our day, from cold brew to parfaits. Then we’d wind down in the evening with their ready-made charcuteries and incredible wine selection that we could take up to our room. Both hotels do have the most comfortable beds that are heavenly as the name suggests!

When to go

This was our first time experiencing both Walt Disney World and Central Florida in the summer months. And let’s just say, once and done. Oof! The humidity is pretty unreal, and the daily thunderstorms bring monsoon-like downpours, followed by an even more humid atmosphere afterward.

While it can be fun being around the parks when kids are out of school, we’d rather visit around the holidays (the week after Thanksgiving or the week between Christmas and New Years), or in the late winter, ahead of the spring break season. Surely someday we’ll also go for Halloween, as we’re sure our little one(s) will enjoy that immensely!

Our Favorite Food + Drinks

Disney Dining has become a gold-standard in hospitality for many reasons. The multiple options, from snacks, to quick/counter service, to gourmet restaurants and character experiences, there is something for everyone. Coffee can be hard to find in the Magic Kingdom (there are only 2-3 spots to pick up a cold brew or iced latte), including Joffrey’s in Tomorrowland, and our preferred, STARBUCKS (also known as the Main Street Bakery). We think there will be an added cafe in the coming years, as parents certainly need an afternoon java here more than any other parks, especially on a hot day!

Speaking of things to enjoy on a hot day, you cannot miss a classic ice cream sandwich or Mickey shaped ice cream bar from the numerous carts and kiosks around any of the parks. They are the most refreshing $6-8 you will spend, and just take in being like a little kid for those few moments of bliss.

For dinner, our favorite option at Magic Kingdom has to be Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Frontierland. The Rice Bowl was delicious, and tasted fresh and healthy. Again, this is quick service, but when we’re warm and dare we say sweaty, we’re not in the mood for a full dining room experience.

Connections Eatery at EPCOT has become a favorite for us to have lunch and people watch in the beautiful, light filled space that it is, central to everything in the park. Be sure to use the app and order food ahead. Then go back at night and do desserts and drinks somewhere around the World Showcase.

Heading to Hollywood Studios, you cannot miss out on a reservation for drinks at Oga’s Cantina. The 45-minutes you get inside are really quite exhilarating and the drinks are works of art. For lunch, it’s always a good idea to hit up Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. And for dinner, be sure to grab a burger at ABC Commissary. It’s a little hidden gem, and we really enjoyed that. But then again, who doesn’t love a spot to enjoy some air conditioning and delicious food after a long day?!

Animal Kingdom is home to our favorite STARBUCKS (aka Creature Comforts), and we always share a Mickey Colossal Cinnamon Roll here. You also cannot go wrong with lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue. Grab a table down by the lake under the pavilion, and you might even get to enjoy the show if you time it right!

Our all time must-do each and every time we visit is Trattoria al Forno at the Boardwalk. We went there to celebrate our “Minnie Moon” shortly after getting married in 2021, and we go back each trip. The food is outstanding and the service is beyond personable. Make your reservation early, and enjoy a couple hours here as a highlight of your Disney Vacation just like we do!

Tips for Everyone

“Rope drop” the rides you want to go on, but didn’t get a Lightning Lane Pass for or can’t fathom the extra cost of. Rope drop is a fun phrase you will see in many Disney blogs and frequent visitor comments. There is no rope. There is no drop. But it simply means getting to the park as early as possible, and walking fast to the attraction of choice. By staying at Disney’s Deluxe Resorts (benefit as of June 2025), we were able to get into the park 1 hour before opening, and many attractions start moving you inside the queue 30 minutes before park opening.

Wear a hat, UV-protected clothing if possible, and sunglasses. Pack sunscreen to re-apply every 2 hours, medication for headaches and other over the counter products, along with hard candies in a shoulder bag/fanny pack/hip pack/belt bag or backpack.

Comfortable shoes are an absolute must. We average 15,000-17,000 steps per day in the parks. Our favorites are the On Cloud shoes.

Start your day by drinking 8-12 ounces of water before getting into the park, and before any iced coffee or iced tea. Then hydrate regularly with water, especially if mixing with other beverages!

Take breaks. See a show. Ride an indoor boat ride. Try to time your meals and snacks around peak heat (10 am - 2 pm) of the day so that you can be under shade or inside during that time. Head back to your resort and enjoy the pool, then grab dinner and do an evening at the parks.

Disney Vacation Club kiosks are everywhere. We’ve almost purchased into it, but evaluate if it makes sense for you. We prefer staying at the Swan & Dolphin since we’ve been fortunate to earn status with work travel over the years, and the Marriott Bonvoy rewards works for us. We’ll never say never, but not right now. Just know if you do take part in this, you will spend 2-3 hours of your vacation learning about this timeshare program with a consultant and touring a model suite, oftentimes a ways from the parks.

Disney characters are super cute and the parades are worth watching. We love seeing the magic in the kids’ eyes and the happiness parents get to experience, too. In fact we’re planning to book a voyage on Disney Cruise Line for our first trip with our baby to see how he warms up to the characters and which ones are favorites! It will be less walking and more relaxing, right?