Our Disneyworld Trip (+ Your Q's!)

It’s been a week and we’re *still* suffering a Disney hangover! The most magical kind, no doubt. 😉 This was actually the first trip in a looooong time that I planned start-to-finish solo (+ J) without having any fun plans with the Disney team on the agenda! We obviously had both kiddos and brought along Mimi and Papa for the magic, too, and a grand time was had by all. January turned out to be a *great* time to go – it’s definitely chillier and layers are needed, but crowds (or lack thereof) are cultch comparatively. (We were originally thinking March and then remembered spring break…yeah, NOPE). Orlando is muggier and rain is basically a thing everyday, so plan based off of crowd predictions if you’re able since that really makes or breaks your time (in my humble opinion!).

I’ll recap our trip below with screenshots of our daily itineraries from my Notes app; I had loosely gameplanned each day and then moved things around as they were booked via Genie+, to see what we had upcoming when and to determine what we wanted to prioritize in booking, etc.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Genie+ system is basically what you breathe by if you don’t want to spend half your day standing in line. I mean, Disney is expensive enough as is – ain’t nobody got time to just wait around all day! There is magic to be felt, people! If I’m spending the big bucks to do Disney, I’m spending the big bucks to do Disney right – I’ll save on souvenirs, but I’m splurging to make sure I actually get to experience the experiences. So, I’ve got a recap of our Disney World trip, as well as A’ing your Q’s from Instagram – everything from ride recommendations to is Genie Plus worth it (and what else is worth it in general), etc.

Day 1: ANIMAL KINGDOM

We went straight from the Orlando Airport to Animal Kingdom (via our rental car, more on that below). While many folks question is Genie Plus worth it for Animal Kingdom, I got it just to make sure we could cross off everything we wanted, especially since we’d be arriving midday and needing to be done by 4-ish (given our dinner reservation and park closing times that day).

Hottest highlights from Animal Kingdom:

Plan to walk the Gorilla trail right before (or after) your Safari time! You don’t need to use a Genie plus booking on it – just walk right through.
Tusker House was, unanimously, our FAVORITE dining experience of the trip. It’s classic character dining with Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy, and if you do as we do and book an *early* dinner (our reservation was 3:35), you essentially have the place – and all characters – to yourself. They circulate the tables, do pictures and autographs and goof around, and it’s a genuinely fabulous time. The food is also INCREDIBLE (African-inspired buffet style). 10/10.
If you’re using Genie Plue, prioritize booking Flight of Passage ILL, the Safari and the Navi River Journey if those are on your list, as they’ll sell out first.

Day 2: MAGIC KINGDOM

Hottest highlights from Magic Kingdom:

I wore these pants for Magic Kingdom – they were SO PERFECT. Lightweight, comfy, elastic waistband, no chafing, and they dry near-instantly if they get wet.
Plan for Early Acess/rope dropping if you’re staying on property – Magic Kingdom tends to be our busiest days with nonstop magic 8 to 8.
We didn’t think TRON was as incredible as many folks say (albeit, we did it in the daytime versus when it’s lit up at night)…more on that below.
Rider Swap is CLUTCH. Do it!!! It works so that if your party has anyone unable to ride for whatever reason, you can swap a rider out so that everyone who CAN ride is able, and no one is left alone in your party. Why this rocks is that they’ll let someone ELSE from your party ride AGAIN with whoever is swapping so that no one is riding alone. So we’d always have only one person stay behind with Jonah and/or Olivia on any bigger ride, and then Olivia could hop on a second time right after the first ride (they let you get right on through the Lightning Lane entrances so that you’re not doing double waits). There are cast members near umbrellas at ride entrances to sign up for Rider Swap (because they have to scan your magic band or card accordingly), and then you just get in line as normal. It sounds confusing but it’s truly so simple and was the greatest way to a.) get everyone on everything they wanted and b.) have Olivia (or a grown up) ride a second time when you otherwise are one hit wonders.
I mentioned this *hot tip* on Instagram, but if you want a family photo in front of the castle without other people in the background, head there FIRST while others are rushing to rope drop rides. It’s pretty clear/open first thing in the am before the park is open to all!
If you’re a Pirates fan, meet Captain Jack (he’s on the right side of the Pirates Ride in Adventureland). The actor is SPOT FREAKING ON and was a complete joy. He was Jonah’s favorite character meet HAHA.
Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Jungle Cruise, the Ariel + Cinderella princess meets, Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain will all sell out on Genie Plus, so unless you want to wait in line for hours, Genie Plus is worth it and you should priortize those!
Enchanted Tales with Belle is SO CUTE. I had no idea what it actually was when I booked it in Genie Plus – I just knew it had a princess and my princess WANTED TO SEE THE PRINCESSES. It’s a whole little story/experiential thing for the kids – only downside is you’re not actually “meeting” Belle 1:1 for a picture etc. But it’s still a really cute time!
We did dinner at Be Our Guest…didn’t think it was worth it. It’s SO expensive, we just didn’t feel the value of the experience justified the cost – especially coming off of Tusker House the day before. The Beast comes out mid-dinner to “say hello,” but it’s not a tableside or personal experience – he just comes out in the center of the ballroom to “greet his guests,” waves, and goes back inside the castle. So if you want a more memorable character dining, I’d pass on this one.

Day 3: HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Hottest highlights from Hollywood Studios:

I think there’s the “least” to do at Hollywood Studios for the littlest littles. It was still great for Liv’s age given the shows + Toy Story rides, but Jonah man was just along for the ride here.
The Frozen Sing-Along Show was DELIGHTFUL. It was fabulously done, the actors were totally talented, and the ending made Mimi and I cry. It served joy in every sense and was a win – we started the day here by beelining for the theater after entering the park. (We were pooped at this point and didn’t even do Early Entry – we just walked right in and went for the 9:30 show, then went next door for meeting Olaf).
All of Toy Story Land. Simply darling.
We got through pretty much everything we wanted to do/see in Hollywood Studios reasonably early, so we cancelled our original dinner reservations and decided to try out Disney Springs instead – we did the Irish pub and it was fantastic. Live Irish music and step dancing, and the food was 10/10.

Day 4: RESORT DAY

A’ing all of the Q’s on my resort thoughts below; we spent a few hours at our resort after checkout on our last day and hung out by the pool before heading back to the airport. Again, did breakfast at Boma (the restaurant in Jambo House side of Animal Kingdom Lodge) – fabulous, fabulous breakfast buffet. We all loveloveloved.

Q&A:

Best advice besides bring the grandparents (I got that covered! Ha!)

PLAN AHEAD. Be that person who makes the spreadsheet and watches the tutorials. It definitely seems excessive in the moment, BUT you’ll be so glad you did once you get there and aren’t overstressing making sure you’re making the most of your time (and dollars). You’ll want to be able to focus on your family instead of having your face glued to refreshing your phone. Being able to just quickly book what you need first thing in the AM and then carry on knowing you’ve got things on lock is SUCH A STRESS RELIEF, so that you an actually ~enjoy~ your trip with your people.

If you want sit down meals, book those ahead of time. You can make reservations as early as 60 days before your arrival date. And book them for midday – we did “dinners” at 3:30 in the afternoon and it was FABULOUS. Smaller crowds, but also great break time for all, better character time in character dining, and worked for just snacking on our own things before that (so we saved money on a meal there!).

Also, if you’ve got young kiddos, try to spread their things throughout the day so there is always something to look forward to (and built-in breaks). We’d try to have a grown up ride, then a princess meet, then a family thing, then a kiddy ride…just mix it up so that they don’t get too tired of waiting, but you also get to do your fun things, too. Especially since you can’t just walk onto rides and exact timing is a bit of a luck of the draw with the Genie system, interweave magic throughout.

Lastly, we rented a double stroller through Kingdom Strollers; you can rent once there OR reserve your rental ahead of time online and it is literally waiting for you at the airport…we did the latter and it was CLUTCH. Olivia wanted to be in the stroller even more than Jonah man – ha! But just bank on the children NOT wanting to walk anywhere. We had enough bags, we didn’t have the capacity (literally) to add a stroller into the luggage mix, so renting was perfect and hassle free!

Alllll about Genie. Is Genie Plus worth it? It’s confusing!

First off, deep breath. It seems much more confusing than it is in real time, pinky promise!

Genie Plus is Disney’s new way to book what used to be called “fast passes” – now called “Lightning Lanes.” At midnight the morning of your stay, you can purchase Genie Plus for that day’s respective park. It’s a one-time fee per person per day per park, and from there you can book any/all regular Lightning Lanes.

At 7 am that morning, you can book your first Lightning Lane – LL. You won’t be able to book your next Lightning Lane until you a.) scan into the first LL, or b.) two hours have elapsed since park opening – whichever comes first. If it’s past park opening, it would just be until two hours have elapsed since your last booking.

When you book an LL, you’re given a “return time” window – a one hour window for later that day during which you’ll return to the ride and get in the Lightning Lane. Once you scan in as being there, you can book your next Lightning Lane (which I’d do while walking through that queue).

With LLs, you don’t get to choose times – your option is to choose whatever is next available in the app. Some things sell out very quickly, which is where some strategizing comes into play – you’ll want to gameplan what rides or experiences available on Genie+ are most important to you, and then plan to prioritize your lane booking accordingly.

Beyond regular LLs, each park has one (and one park has two) “INDIVIDUAL Lightning Lane” rides – which are essentially the most popular rides in the park. The ILL is a pay-to-ride option, where you’re essentially paying per person to get on the ride. Yes, it feels crazy to pay to get into the park, pay to use Genie Plus AND THEN ALSO PAY to get on one ride…but it’s only for those few rides that feel most “worth it” based on what the standby time would otherwise be (we’re talkin’ FOUR HOURS).

When you book an ILL, you have more flexibility in choosing your return window time and aren’t limited to whatever is next available (so you can choose for later in the day when works best for you). So is Genie Plus worth it…I say yes if you care about maximizing the amount of rides you’re riding.

Any packing must haves?

YES!

This mess-free drawing tablet for travel (get a 2-pack for not even $7..a steal!)
These packing cubes
These magnetic people for in-line entertainment
This portable charger
This tinted SPF (20% off code: THRIVE20) – I just did this + mascara and lip balm everyday!
Liv’s autograph book
Comfy platform sneakers for OG (which also boosted her a bit for ride heights – ha!)
High socks + extra socks for all
Ponchos (a MUST for Orlando’s rain bouts…buy ahead of time so you don’t waste money on them in the parks!)
Light jackets (layers in general, especially if you’re going in January like us)
Chomps sticks for on-the-go protein
This travel pillow/blanket that clips onto your backpack or carry-on

Best food options for picky eaters?

Buffets! The buffets we saw were SO FABULOUS with an absurd amount of options – something for everyone. Our favorite by far was Tusker House in Animal Kingdom, and the Boma breakfast buffet in Animal Kingdom Lodge was also so, so good. Nice because there were always some cuisine options to match the aesthetic – like African food in Animal Kingdom – but then your usual mac n’ cheese, mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets for the pickiest peeps. 🙂

Dining plan y/n?!

I’ve never done the Disney dining plan, so I’m not the best judge there! We liked what we did – we packed and/or grabbed groceries for breakfasts and lunches on the go in the parks, and then did one sit down meal for early “dinner” each day.

Best ways to save $ once there?

Get a few treats or souvenirs ahead of time so that you’re not spending the big bucks in the park or on property! Don’t impulse buy, as hard as it may be in the moment. Pack breakfasts/lunches/snacks on the go in the park. Know what matters most to you/where you’ll be okay spending more (like for us, we knew we’d buy Genie+ and ILLs to be able to experience all of the rides we wanted…we were fine passing on toys in the parks etc).

Top rides?

For me personally, Guardians of the Galaxy in Epcot (which we did LAST trip but weren’t in Epcot this time!). Also Frozen Ever After is Olivia’s JAM.

In Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarves Mine Train is just delightful. Space Mountain is an old classic and wild. Jungle Cruise books so fast – it brings joy and laughs. TRON is so popular since it’s newest BUT it’s a bit short in both mine and J’s opinion, especially since it’s an ILL.

In Hollywood Studios, Slinky Dog Dash is a perfect family coaster. Rise of the Resistance is a must for any Star Wars fan. Toy Story Mania is fun for all!

In Animal Kingdom, Flight of Passage in Pandora (I cried the first time I rode that LOL). The Gorilla trails/Safari is so classic. Expedition Everest is a GREAT thrill coaster. Dinosaur is fun, too!

Those are solely *rides* – not experiences, shows, etc.

What rides are a must with a toddler? / Best rides at MK that Jonah could do too?

Magic Kingdom is your best bet for the littlests, I think – there are loads of little ride-along sortof rides that you can bring them on, like the Under the Sea Little Mermaid ride, Winnie the Pooh, It’s a Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight…you can bring them on things like Pirates of the Caribbean, too, since it’s like a ridealong boat. Really, anything without a height requirement is okay for littles!

Did you book the Frozen show in Hollywood Studios beforehand?

So you can only book “beforehand” via Genie+ – I was going to use a Genie+ slot on this but then figured I might not need to since it’s a show, and I was right! So just arrive before the scheduled show you’re hoping to see and you’ll likely be able to get in just fine (it’s in a theater).

Kids same ages as yours – gimme all the tips! We leave in a month!

Don’t worry about the baby. They’ll just be along for the ride LOL. Know what your oldest cares about the most (Olivia’s sole goal was “to meet princesses” but I knew she also wanted as many fun rides as possible) so that you can prioritize that via Genie+.

Get these magnetic people to occupy the oldest in lines (or waiting at dinners, etc).

Pack extra socks + light jackets for them both! I also brought our favorite stroller blanket for Jonah man, which was a solid move.

Benefits of renting a car when you stay on grounds?

We were SO GLAD we rented a car. We used it for transport from airport – we actually went straight from the airport TO Animal Kingdom on our first day there since our flight got in around 9:30 am and hotel check-in isn’t until later. So we just kept all of our luggage in the rental car, changed the kids in the airport and went right in! Jamie did a grocery store run one night to grab some lunch meats and fresh rolls to make sandwiches for in-park lunches, which was clutch. You also don’t have to wait for buses then…one night we waited for a bus but then I ended up having to stand while holding the baby with one arm and the handles with the other and I nearly died LOL. So it’s comfortable, you can still get a tram from park exits to the parking lots for less walking, and then we were able to park back at the hotel really close by an entrance near our room instead of having to solely use the main entrance, which was literally 300 rooms away from ours. HA.

How dd you do the car rental with car seats and such?

The rentals comes WITH car seats! So we booked it ahead of time and just indicated that we needed an infant and toddler booster. (We used Alamo, if that helps). Then when you arrive, you double check it’s correct and when you head out to get your vehicle and show the guys your ticket, they bring you the car seats you asked for, help you install if be, etc. Granted, they’re simple, but they’re safe and get the job done!

Best shoes to wear?? It’s soooo much walking.

IYKYK…I’ve got “Disney shoes.” 😉 It has to pass my Disney shoe test to earn the title – and earning the title means I can go 12+ hours from sunup to sundown wearing them, walking an obscene amount of steps while carrying kids and strollers and all the things.

These Converse are clutch. SPECIFICALLY THESE. Not all Converse are created equal by any means – most would *never* pass my Disney shoe test. But these specifically do (and I’ve worn different pairs of them on two different Disney trips, all being great!).

I’ve also done Dr. Scholl’s for a more casual/less athletic sneaker, and they do the trick!

Your favorite souvenir?

The silhouettes on Main Street in Magic Kingdom! It’s the only “souvenir” I got but wanted something timeless for the kids. Jim has been doing it for 37 years (I asked lol) and does them SO quickly and effortlessly…it was amazing to watch him work! So we found his stand around 7:30, right before the fireworks, and were done right in time. It’s about $11 for the silhouette (you get two copies), and then you can get them framed for another $13.97-ish (which I did). Plan to do at the end of the day if you can so you’re not carrying breakable frames aroud the park!

Why didn’t you enjoy AKL? It’s one of our faves but we hardly go because it feels far

Why were you disappointed with Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Why was the Animal Kingdom Lodge a bust for you?

I’m surprised you didn’t like Animal Kingdom Lodge – I’ve heard great things! Pros and cons?

HOTTEST Q by far! To clarify, it’s not that we *didn’t* like it – it was moreso not necessarily feeling the value matched the price tag. Heck, it’s one of the priciest Disney properties! I know some folks who have had truly magical stays there, and for good reason. It was more just a few little things that added up where, for us, it would make us choose a different property next time instead of repeating a stay. I really wanted a savanna view, which we got…but our room was the the very edge of the savanna, so it featured the fence and then maybe five animals who wandered that far over. We didn’t see any giraffes from our room…of course, there’s no way to guarantee what you’ll see from your room, but it felt a bit like buying concert tickets and then ending up with a partially obstructed view of the edge of the stage, you know?

We also didn’t spend a whole lot of time in our room, so by the time we were back it was dark/nighttime and we couldn’t see anything. (If you’re spending a full resort day during your trip, you’d probably feel differently! We only had a few hours as a “resort day” on our last day before heading back to the airport, and we spent it mostly at the pool).

Also, Scott toilet paper. You cannot have Scott toilet paper in a room that costs nearly $1,000/night!!!

That being said, we did do breakfast at Boma on our last day, which was 10/10. I had read tons of reviews in Facebook groups that recommended Boma over Sanaa so that’s what I booked, and we all loveloveloved!