Child Bricker’s first go to to Walt Disney World was one in all our greatest ever holidays, and this journey report continues the first installment of ‘What Went Proper’ throughout that household journey. This options pictures & ideas from Port Orleans Riverside, in addition to our method to ADRs, fireworks, darkish rides, and images. Plus, the way it helped that we did WDW pre-baby, full circle moments, and why (for us) it’s higher to be vacationers within the “Disney Bubble” than locals who can go to freely.
As mentioned partially one, this was enjoyable and immensely satisfying as we rediscovered Walt Disney World as dad and mom. It was additionally an enormous studying expertise. This and the primary installment of the journey report deal with the highlights and our successes, however make no mistake–we made loads of errors and rather a lot went unsuitable! That’ll be lined within the third and doubtless/hopefully ultimate a part of the journey report.
Within the meantime, right here’s extra of our “wins” as a household taking Child Bricker (Megatron) to Walt Disney World for the primary time. That is going to be one other lengthy one, so let’s dig proper in…
Port Orleans Riverside – There have been just a few full circle moments, and a kind of began the second we stepped off the airport shuttle, which was like being transported again to November 2007. Besides this time, the Mears bus didn’t have the Disney’s Magical Categorical wrapper and price us cash.
That was the Christmas journey throughout which we obtained engaged, and though the proposal itself occured on the seaside of the Poly somewhat than at Port Orleans Riverside, we have been staying on the later. I nonetheless keep in mind being a ball of hysteria as we took the boat down the Sassagoula River to Downtown Disney for Earl of Sandwich, nervously getting dressed for dinner, and celebrating post-proposal (spoiler: she stated sure) again in our room at Riverside.
We tried to copy a few of our engagement pictures at Riverside throughout this journey, which was a surprisingly straightforward since not a lot has modified and our engagement pictures have been swiftly shot with a degree & shoot. It was the primary of a number of instances that Sarah cried throughout this journey. (Out of happiness, to be clear.)
Royal Rooms – Megatron is simply too younger for princesses and stereotypically girly stuff. Proper now, her high curiosity is stuffed animals; the primary draw to these is colours, textures and–for causes past me–lengthy tags. I do suppose she has an innate attraction to precise princesses, however that’s not the identical as footage on the wall or regal decor. To be trustworthy, I don’t suppose she even noticed any of that–it may be troublesome to inform what catches her consideration and what’s simply background noise.
One factor I do know she cherished is the light-up headboards within the Royal Rooms at Riverside. These have been an enormous hit. She turned completely enraptured when the fiber optic fireworks began lighting up, bouncing herself on the mattress, laughing, and getting all wound up. These fireworks rank proper up there with pretend fart sounds by way of the extent of amusement provided. I solely want there have been an “at all times on” mode so I didn’t need to press that button each ~30 seconds!
Basically, the Royal Rooms at Riverside are nonetheless in shockingly fine condition. They’re a one and achieved for us for some time, however that’s an “us concern” somewhat than an issue with the rooms themselves. They’re actually enjoyable and a superb reminder that Disney can do lavish and elaborate design–even at a Reasonable–that immerses company in Disney magic. I’d like to see Imagineering have the prospect to do extra just like the Royal Rooms.
Doing Disney Pre-Child – This one is a given for us since we now have this weblog and all. We’ve been visiting Walt Disney World since we have been youngsters and have gone numerous instances as each locals and out-of-state Annual Passholders as adults. Suffice to say, I feel it was massively advantageous that we’ve been to Walt Disney World pre-baby.
In actual fact, if I may make only one suggestion to future dad and mom, it might be to go to previous to having youngsters. You don’t need to be like us–even one journey will do the trick! And for those who aren’t capable of accomplish that, undoubtedly attempt to go when your youngsters are nonetheless infants and every part is simple. (Or so I’m informed. It doesn’t appear straightforward proper now!)
The purpose is {that a} Walt Disney World journey earlier than having youngsters, or not less than earlier than they attain their youth, is familiarizing your self with the place and resetting expectations. Regardless of the expectations of fogeys planning a first-time journey, they’re in all probability unrealistic. This isn’t to say that Walt Disney World will underwhelm or disappoint. Fairly the opposite, and I say that with renewed emphasis after seeing the place by way of our daughter’s eyes for the primary time.
Moderately, it’s that you will set expectations at an unrealistic stage. Considering you’ll accomplish greater than you’ll and setting the stakes too excessive, all resulting in disappointment when issues inevitably don’t go to plan. We’ve seen (many instances) that the very best laid plans usually go awry. That’s simply true usually, however particularly so with youngsters.
The large factor it’s best to be taught from doing Walt Disney World pre-kids is that none of this issues. You’ll be disabused of the notion that you are able to do every part. You’ll get the impulse to perform an excessive amount of out of your system. You’ll understand that being there is what counts, and it doesn’t matter if that point is spent using E-Ticket points of interest, marveling at a Goofy statue, or enjoying on the pool.
Forming these coveted ‘core recollections’ is what issues, and that may occur wherever, at any time. Maybe most significantly, you can not plan after they’ll be shaped. Attempt choreographing every part an excessive amount of or forcing core recollections and it’s prone to backfire.
It is a long-winded manner of claiming that we didn’t got down to accomplish a lot. Even just a few of the issues on our very brief lists of stuff to do didn’t find yourself occurring. And but, we achieved a lot extra on the similar time. Issues we by no means knew we’d like to do.
So I suppose what I’m saying is that having expertise and thus the posh of low expectations helped us immensely. That freedom to roll with the punches was one thing that went proper, as a result of it led to surprising moments of pleasure and fond household recollections. (I hope that final half is actionable even when the primary half isn’t.)
Pictures – I took like one good panorama photograph throughout our total week at Walt Disney World. And I wouldn’t have it every other manner. Regardless of that lack of ‘epic’ pictures, I can safely say this was my most impressed journey for images in a very long time. That’s as a result of, unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority of the time, my digicam was firmly targeted on Sarah and Megatron.
I’m nonetheless going by way of all the pictures, however there are already dozens–if not tons of–that I really like. And I don’t simply love them as a result of I really like my spouse and daughter (though that in all probability does make me a tad biased). It’s as a result of I put in effort to seize these magical moments and cherished each second of doing it.
Child images additionally presents a brand new studying expertise for me, particularly since I desire a respectable share of the pictures to not present Megatron’s face. Portraiture has by no means been my robust go well with, and on high of that, infants–lovable as they is likely to be–aren’t precisely often called cooperative fashions. All of this combines to pose a brand new problem–and one other sort of images for me to grasp.
I’m actually happy with lots of the pictures, however equally as necessary, I wish to get higher. I need our daughter to have the ability to look again at these sometime and see the love in them, figuring out that her dad and mom suppose the world of her.
Final-Minute ADRs – As talked about through the years, we’re not notably eager on Advance Eating Reservations. We do it as vital for absolute must-dos, comparable to when a restaurant is reopening (or opening for the primary time…however in the previous few years, principally reopening). On this case, that meant the return of 1900 Park Fare.
Past that, we spent lots of time fixating on ADRs, making and modifying (and in some circumstances, cancelling and remaking) reservations after we discovered one thing “higher” or modified our minds. That occurred rather a lot, and the top end result was hours of ADR-making; simply probably the most for any journey since our honeymoon practically 15 years in the past.
Ultimately, we didn’t follow-through and do a single ADR made previous to the beginning of the journey. Not one. Our plans stored “evolving” (as a result of child), so I stored cancelling, rechecking, and modifying. To my shock, this labored out flawlessly. We obtained each single reservation we needed, together with House 220 Lounge, 1900 Park Fare Breakfast, and 1900 Park Fare Dinner. That’s 3 of the 5 most troublesome ADRs at Walt Disney World proper now.
Not solely did we get the ADRs we needed, however we obtained instances that we needed. Granted, the instances that we needed are in all probability among the many least fascinating (first or final seatings) for many company, however the level nonetheless stands that we obtained what we needed at difficult ADRs, all same-day or the night time earlier than. We may’ve achieved many different meals this manner, and have been tempted by ADRs for Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast and Artist Level, too.
This has lengthy been our method as a pair (or for me as a solo traveler), however we nervous it’d be totally different on the tail finish of spring break season and as a celebration of three (that means a desk for 4 as a substitute of two). Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and House 220 Lounge have been undoubtedly difficult, however we had nice success throughout the board primarily based on what labored with our extra spontaneous schedule. It was actually nice not being tied to plans we made months prematurely, particularly with a child!
Fireworks – Going into the journey, I used to be form of dreading the nighttime spectaculars. We had no intentions of watching any of them. Even with protecting child earmuffs, we had no need to topic ourselves to the mass exodus at Magic Kingdom post-fireworks. I’ve seen too many appears to be like of dread within the eyes of fogeys making an attempt to navigate the chaos and crowds through the years to wish to topic us to that simply but.
My concern was that we’d inadvertently find yourself needing to exit round fireworks time, and I used to be anxious about inadvertently having to take care of that congestion. Fortunately, that was by no means the case. We averted all of them of our nights within the parks, whereas additionally “rediscovering” simply how a lot you possibly can accomplish whereas everybody else is watching the reveals. (One thing we actually “discovered” with Disney Enchantment, which we seldom made a degree of seeing.)
Whereas it didn’t make sense from a purely strategic perspective, I’ve few higher recollections from the journey than after we looped “it’s a small world” repeatedly throughout Fortunately Ever After and obtained our personal boat every time. Doing Peter Pan’s Flight with no wait was additionally nice, as have been the opposite Fantasyland darkish rides.
Megatron has an affinity for brilliant lights and sounds, so we did find yourself watching as soon as from the remark space on the Modern after dinner at Contempo Cafe, and that was a extremely enjoyable expertise. Megatron’s eyes lit up and she or he stored gazing up or again at us–I’d prefer to suppose it was a “do you guys see this amazingness within the sky, fairly loopy, proper?!” response.
It was additionally Sarah’s first time seeing Fortunately Ever After shortly, and it was an emotional expertise for her. That fireworks present has change into significant for us through the years, particularly upon its return in 2021. Again then, it felt like we (collectively) had made it to the opposite aspect. On this night time in 2024, it felt like our household had.
Darkish Rides – As talked about above, we rode “it’s a small world” repeatedly. It seems that Child Bricker is a giant fan of darkish rides (yep, she’s ours!) She cherished each single darkish journey that we did, together with Haunted Mansion. (She’s fearless…for now!) This wasn’t an enormous shock–Megatron is a giant fan of colours, shapes and sounds, so darkish rides actually have all of it from her perspective.
We discovered “it’s a small world” and Dwelling with the Land to be the very best darkish rides for our household, as they’ve rather a lot that’s visually participating, are brilliant sufficient that we are able to see her reactions to the present scenes, they usually’re additionally boat rides. Whereas the PeopleMover constantly put her to sleep (it’s identical to being within the automotive for a child!), the water under the boat appeared to assist stimulate and preserve her consideration…and not put her to sleep.
Now watch, our subsequent half-dozen rides on “it’s a small world” at Disneyland will all change into nap classes. (Few issues appear extra constant or predictable with infants than inconsistency and unpredictability about how their reactions “evolve” over time.)
Skipping Genie – We have been open to purchasing Genie+ for Magic Kingdom going into the journey, however that was actually about it. Ultimately, we didn’t purchase it wherever and have been very happy with that call. Just about each single attraction that we needed to do as a household is unpopular, in order that actually helped. Megatron isn’t fairly tall sufficient to do TRON Lightcycle Run, Mission House, and even Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare. Give her just a few extra months.
It additionally helped that we had no need to do points of interest individually. I’d think about that’ll change in some unspecified time in the future, however I’ve achieved sufficient rides on my own within the final 12 months for a lifetime, and this journey was all about experiencing issues collectively as a household. (Another excuse why it’s good to do Disney pre-baby.)
On high of that, our schedule was very dynamic and dictated by the wants of Megatron. (Additionally, we tried to do rides whereas she was awake.) Shopping for Genie+ and weaving that into our schedule would’ve been tilting at windmills, and I’m glad we didn’t trouble with it. We are going to once more in some unspecified time in the future, I’m positive, however not for now. (I’m additionally now trying ahead to pre-arrival Lightning Lanes much less–I can’t think about that with small youngsters.)
Trip Vibe – Having lived in each Orange Counties (California and Florida), we choose experiencing Walt Disney World like vacationers. To make certain, there are main benefits to being a neighborhood, however on stability, I’d somewhat expertise the Trip Kingdom of the World as a trip. Even my solo month-to-month analysis journeys have been extra fulfilling (and truthfully, extra fruitful) and extra encompassing now that I’m experiencing the parks once more like a vacationer.
Having the ability to pop in for just a few hours at at time undoubtedly has its benefits. Greater than the rest, I miss going to EPCOT for dinner, watching the fireworks, and doing laps of World Showcase because the park closed. Don’t get me unsuitable–we had an incredible time dwelling in Florida and loved experiences we by no means may’ve as vacationers.
But in addition, there’s a level to which every part turns into routine and begins shedding its luster. I feel that’s in all probability why some locals fixate on faults and issues–they’re simpler to identify when Disney is interchangeable with the mall, and stops being a really particular place.
Clearly, I can’t communicate for everybody–however Walt Disney World simply “hits in a different way” for us when skilled as an entirely immersive multi-day trip vacation spot divorced from the true world. The Disney Bubble is certainly a factor, and it’s incredible. (To not discourage anybody from changing into a neighborhood, as that’s a novel and distinctive expertise in its personal proper.)
There are a few explanation why this Walt Disney World journey resonated much more than regular. The primary is just because it was Sarah’s and my first trip collectively since November 2022. Whereas I have traveled rather a lot (completely to Walt Disney World) within the final year-plus, she erred on the aspect of warning throughout a (dangerous) being pregnant.
So this journey was a very long time coming, and was a extremely welcome reduction. That might’ve been the case even when it have been simply us–it’s true that absence makes the guts develop fonder. On high of that, seeing the parks by way of the eyes of our child simply dialed every part as much as 11.
The second cause is that there’s actually no straightforward “popping in” to Disneyland. There have been instances when it has taken us practically an hour from the time we arrived at Mickey & Associates till we entered the parks. That’s simply the parking and strolling time, and doesn’t embody our commute, which can also add lots of time if we get unfortunate with site visitors. (Is it actually thought of “unfortunate” if it’s the rule somewhat than exception?) Most likely stating the plain, however that may set a sure tone for the go to to come back.
Don’t get me unsuitable, we’ve had some completely incredible days at Disneyland. Our first in the course of the vacation season stays the high-water mark to this present day, and I’m so grateful that went so effectively. Most of lately and nights within the park have been enjoyable, however there’s nonetheless simply one thing totally different about Disneyland as a daily native versus Walt Disney World as a vacationer. I feel it’s a kind of “if you realize, you realize” issues and additional clarification isn’t going to maneuver the needle by some means.
In the meantime, our first trip to Walt Disney World with Child Bricker–and first in over a 12 months for us as a pair–was nothing wanting magical. We have been absolutely current all through the journey, with out distractions of the true world contained in the Disney Bubble–we went absolutely into “Trip Mode.” There have been quite a lot of goosebumps moments, flashbacks to previous journeys, and the aforementioned full circle experiences.
I do know I’m rambling at this level, and it’s troublesome to articulate what this implies. One particular instance is a favourite reminiscence of mine from our second journey collectively as adults again in 2007. We obtained dressed up, took the monorail to the Modern, and loved a effective feast at California Grill. We have been broke faculty college students on the time, and this was our first actually fancy date night time.
Leaving on the monorail after that unimaginable meal and seeing the lights and sights out the window, we felt the magic. That was the night time that obtained us without end hooked on Walt Disney World. I knew, proper then, that this was the place my future spouse and our future youngsters could be coming for the remainder of our lives. Clearly, I didn’t know the specifics or how issues would play out (or wouldn’t) within the intervening years…however I simply knew.
Quick ahead over 15 years, and we’re leaving the Modern after child’s first character meal at Chef Mickey’s. We board the monorail and have a cabin to ourselves, and our hearts simply really feel full. I look over at my daughter and spouse, and it’s like a kind of jump-cut flashbacks in motion pictures, like the current flickering and merging with the previous or one thing. I couldn’t assist however get choked up a bit of. Anyway, this whole journey was stuffed with moments identical to that.
That is one other a kind of “if you realize, you realize” issues. Besides the distinction right here is that I’m betting that most of you realize precisely what I imply right here. Walt Disney World is a really magical place, with wonderful points of interest, unimaginable eating places, exemplary Forged Members, and a lot extra.
Nevertheless it’s the indelible recollections we make with household and associates, and a eager for these nostalgic journeys down reminiscence lane, that hold so many people coming again. A decade from now, I gained’t keep in mind how the meals tasted that day at Chef Mickey’s. However seeing the look on my daughter’s face as she was decided to seize some mouse nostril or when she started laughing uncontrollably (for no cause?) at Pluto or that full circle feeling as we have been sitting alone collectively on that monorail…I couldn’t overlook these moments even when I attempted. The uninitiated who don’t “get” Disney won’t ever perceive, however you do. And it’s why all of us hold going again dwelling to Walt Disney World, repeatedly.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on what went proper throughout Child Bricker’s first journey to Walt Disney World? The rest you’re all in favour of studying about with regard to Megatron, infants within the parks, and so on? Anecdotes of your individual about first visits to the Disney parks? Some other questions? Listening to your suggestions is at all times appreciated, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
