Wonderful Memories of Fun, Relaxation and Delicious Food from a Week in Walt Disney World
My name is Deandra, and I am a Vacation Coordinator with David’s Vacation Club Rentals. On March 8th, I had the exciting opportunity to travel to Walt Disney World along with my colleagues, Carly and Allison. Following our flight, we happily boarded the Magical Express anticipating our arrival in Walt Disney World. I am eager to share the magical moments that we experienced while visiting the World, including exciting attractions, new dining locations, meeting classic Disney characters, and more.
Day 1
Our arrival at Walt Disney World was truly exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip aboard the Magical Express. I felt like the trip introduced me to Disney before even arriving at Walt Disney World.
Upon stepping off the Express, I was mesmerized by the beauty of Disney’s Old Key West. We stayed at this resort for the whole of our trip from March 8-14th 2020.
(photo 26 – Disney’s Old Key West)
We finished off our 1st day with a visit to the Disney Springs, where I enjoyed an incredible Lettuce Wrap Burger and Fries at D-Luxe Burger. I do have quite a few food allergies; however, this was not an issue as the staff answered all of my questions about the ingredients. The burger was amazing! Overall, my first evening at Disney was incredible!
Day 2
The next morning, we had the exciting opportunity to enjoy lunch at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, which is located at Disney’s Beach Club Villas. We lined up before opening time and were the first to be seated in the restaurant and received a very warm welcome from all the staff as the “Family of the Day.” I thoroughly enjoyed the Beaches & Cream Salad with Chicken and was amazed once again by how my allergies were easily accommodated.
After a delicious lunch, we headed to Epcot from the Beach Club Villas. Epcot was hosting the International Flower & Garden Festival. All throughout Epcot, we encountered topiaries of classic and newer Disney characters.
These topiaries were planted in gardens surrounded by greenery and colorful floral arrangements. My favorite topiary from the day was of Beauty and Beast in the France Pavilion. It was magical to see two of my favorite Disney characters, intricately and beautifully sculpted into a topiary.
Day 3
Reflecting back on the third day of our trip, our visit to Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows stands out to me as a highlight of my day. The tall palm trees and hammocks on the white sandy beach made it feel like I had stepped into paradise.
The relaxing atmosphere of the Polynesian was furthered by our boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. Our journey to the park was very peaceful, and the view of the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian across the water was spectacular!
Our afternoon in the Magic Kingdom was filled with many exciting attractions. My favorite attraction of the day was the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I was thankful that I got to ride this roller coaster again later in the week because it was not only exhilarating but also entertaining.
Day 4
Wednesday was one of my favorite days of the trip! It is hard to pick only a few highlights to share because there were so many magical moments. We spent the first half of our day in Animal Kingdom Park and later visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas. I thoroughly enjoyed savanna views at both the park and the resort. We went on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, and I found it to be very relaxing and exciting to see various animals. At Animal Kingdom Villas, there were multiple viewing options inside and outside of the resort building to see animals grazing on the savannas.
Day 5
Thursday morning was filled with excitement and anticipation! We rope-dropped Hollywood Studios and got in line for Slinky Dog. We arrived at the park early with the hope of obtaining a Boarding Group for the new attraction, the Rise of the Resistance. While waiting in line at Slinky Dog Carly obtained a boarding group for us for the Rise of the Resistance. To say I was excited was an understatement! Many other park attendees had the same goal because minutes before 8 am, they had their phones in hand, waiting for the perfect moment to log into My Disney Experience. It was an unforgettable experience.
Following our morning in Hollywood Studios, we took the Skyliner to Disney’s new Riviera Resort. Our ride on the Skyliner was a surprise for me. It was a very smooth, quiet, and relaxing ride. It was also very convenient when traveling from the park to the resort for our character breakfast reservation at Topolino’s Terrace. The view of the Riviera Resort from the Skyliner was absolutely beautiful.
We enjoyed breakfast while meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. I ordered the Two-Eggs-Any Style, and it was truly delicious, and again, my allergies were always accommodated.
Later in the evening, we rented bikes at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing bike ride throughout the resort. The events of the day left me with the realization that there truly is something for everyone at Disney.
Day 6
Friday morning, I woke up early to brew some coffee and enjoy the view from my studio balcony. I had an incredible view of the golf course, water, and the hospitality house.
The island feel of the resort created this relaxing and peaceful atmosphere. After an evening at Disney Springs, the boat ride to the resort was especially magical and peaceful. My favorite part of the journey was the end when we arrived and saw the Hospitality House lit up.
Regrettably, today was our final day at Walt Disney World. We had a dining reservation for lunch at Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom, and I had been anticipating this all week! Walking into Be Our Guest for the first time left me speechless. The design of the interior of Be Our Guest was true to the Beast’s Castle, as depicted in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I was mesmerized by the Enchanted Rose in the West Wing; it was absolutely magical. For lunch, I ordered the Shrimp Salad, and it was delicious.
Our week-long stay came to a conclusion with a trip back to the airport on the Magical Express. Our stay at Old Key West, and adventures throughout Walt Disney World were incredible. I left Walt Disney World with wonderful memories of fun, relaxation, and delicious food and with a hope to visit again in the future!
~Deandra
