Orlando, FL
11/14/2013 - United States, Orlando, FL
11/14/2013 – UNITED STATES, ORLANDO
Orlando
I had NEVER been to Disney World, Disneyland, Euro Disney, Tokyo Disney… you get the idea. So when Stephen said we had to be in Orlando, I jumped at the chance!
First our hotel…
We stayed at a hotel called Castle Hotel, A Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel. This is a boutique hotel right off of the hustle and bustle of the famed International Drive. Having recently been renovated, it was gorgeous. I truly reverted back to my childhood days and felt like a princess in her tower.
If you are going to be in Orlando for an extended period of time to visit the different parks, not just Disney World, then I recommend it! Every little girl will feel like a princess. It also has a luxury spa and a restaurant/bar on the lobby floor.
If you are ONLY going to Disney World, I would recommend staying at a hotel in the Park. We spent about 12 hrs at Magic Kingdom and wished we had a hotel to take an afternoon nap before the evening festivities.
All in all, I highly recommend this hotel.
We arrived at the park and bought tickets. It was a holiday, Veteran’s Day, so I expected to it be quite crowded… It was not.
We purchased our tickets and rode the monorail to Magic Kingdom. I literally skipped up to the ticket taker, only to be told we had purchased the wrong tickets. The lady at the front had sold us tickets for every park except Magic Kingdom. One of the hosts from the concierge was wonderfully helpful and apologetic. She even gave us an express pass for our trouble.
Entering the Park, I swelled with emotion because this was the first time in my 34 years to experience this wonderous place. My great Uncle Les Clark had been one of the original “Nine Old Men”, the name given to the original nine Disney animators. I was in awe that images he helped create were dancing in this amazing Park. Below is one of his early drawings.
We were fortunate that the crowds were minimal. We didn’t have to wait for the majority of the rides. The entry price was $99, which was pretty steep, but we had a full day of fun. We also purchased tickets for Mickey’s Christmas Parade which included a magical parade with an amazing light show on the castle at the end of the night.
Please enjoy the pictures and tips below:
Tips:
Stay at a hotel inside of Disney World… you’ll want breaks during the day.
Make Reservations at the restaurants…. I cannot stress this enough.
It’s a Small World may be the Best Ride in the World… Yes, I know I’m sappy.
Do stay for the fireworks at night… It’s magical… But don’t get too close to the castle or you won’t see the whole picture.
Do get express passes when you can
Best food at Magic Kingdom: The Turkey Leg Stand