Magical Moments: Our 2025 Disney Vacation

First off, I owe you all an apology — I’ve been a little MIA lately. Life got busy, and I needed some time away from social media to recharge. But now I’m back and so excited to share that my family and I just returned from a truly magical vacation at The Most Magical Place on Earth — Walt Disney World!

I say this every time I return home from Disney, but this trip might just have been my favorite one yet. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more in-depth posts about our experiences, but for now, I wanted to give you an overview of our amazing trip.

Travel Day Magic (and a Little Chaos)

Our nonstop flight from CVG to MCO was smooth and easy — but unfortunately, our luggage decided to take a different adventure. Thankfully, our stroller, car seat, and carry-ons (with my medication and our daughter’s essentials) made it safely.

Now, if you haven’t heard, Disney is currently offering a free water park ticket valid only on your check-in day — and our daughter was so excited to visit what she called “the big pool.” Determined not to let the luggage mishap ruin our plans, we grabbed our rental car, made a quick (and chaotic) stop at one of the busiest Walmarts I’ve ever seen, grabbed a bathing suit, and headed straight to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.

And just like that — the stress melted away the moment we drove under that iconic arch with Mickey and Minnie waving us in.

There’s something about this sight that makes all the stress fade away. The moment you pass under that sign, you know the magic has begun! 💫

Our Home Away From Home

After splashing around at Typhoon Lagoon, we checked into our resort. While the moderate and deluxe resorts are absolutely beautiful, I’ll always have a soft spot for Disney’s Pop Century Resort. There’s something so nostalgic and fun about the oversized Disney icons — like the towering Mickey and the giant Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head statues that greet you. Pop Century just feels like home to us.

A Slow Start

We planned for our second day to be a rest day — which turned out to be a great call since our luggage didn’t arrive until that afternoon. We spent the morning relaxing and even checked off a couple of Disney bucket list items (more on that coming soon!). We wrapped up the evening with a delicious dinner and finally reunited with all of our clothes!

Epcot Adventures

Our first park day was spent at my personal favorite — EPCOT. We’re definitely a rope-drop-to-closing kind of family, and our two-year-old handled it like a pro! We met so many favorite characters, conquered all of our must-do rides, and enjoyed tasting our way around the Food & Wine Festival (well, the food part anyway!). I can’t wait to share our favorites in a future post!

Spooky Fun at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

The next day, we slept in to prepare for a night of fun at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party — our family’s first time attending! Despite some wild Florida storms and torrential downpours, we danced, trick-or-treated, and soaked up every minute (literally). Nothing can stop us now — right, Mickey?

Rest, Relax, Repeat

After a late night, we took another much-needed rest day. Sometimes, the best Disney days are the ones where you just slow down, enjoy the resort, and take it all in.

Gideon's is a MUST on our rest days

Hollywood Studios Highlights

Next up: Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This was such a fun day — our daughter has officially become a thrill-seeker! We rode several attractions multiple times, met even more beloved characters, and indulged in some of the park’s best snacks.

So excited for a new ride!

Animal Kingdom Adventures

We wrapped up our trip at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, one of the most beautiful and peaceful parks. We flew on the back of a banshee in Pandora, celebrated Basko the tiger’s first birthday, and of course, met a few more favorite friends along the way.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Wrapping Up the Magic

At first glance, this may seem like a typical Disney trip, but it was so much more than that. We crossed off several Disney bucket list moments, discovered a few park secrets, learned more about character interactions, and proved that yes — you can do Disney with a toddler and still have a magical time.

Stay tuned — I can’t wait to share all the details, tips, and stories from this unforgettable adventure!