Our Magical Disney Adventure with Big Kids

We just returned from an unforgettable trip to Disney with my big kids, Oliver (5) and Lincoln (3). We left the babies, Theodore (2) and Maverick (8 months), at home with Nona, and it was a whirlwind of fun!

Day 1: Hollywood Studios

We flew in straight from the airport and arrived at Hollywood Studios around 1 PM. I’m now a huge fan of this park! The atmosphere was incredible, and we enjoyed exploring together. We had the opportunity to meet the stormtroopers, who engaged in a conversation with the boys about their lightsabers. They jokingly referred to Oliver and Lincoln as hoarders for owning a large number of practice lightsabers. Dinner that night was at Hollywood & Vine for character dining. The buffet was delicious, and we got to meet Minnie, Mickey, Pluto, and Goofy, all dressed up in adorable costumes. It was a fantastic way to kick off our trip!

Day 2: Animal Kingdom

The next day, we headed to Animal Kingdom. The weather was beautiful, making it a perfect day for exploration. We tried some new snacks and drinks that were new to us. Additionally, dining at the Rainforest Cafe has become a tradition for us whenever we visit Animal Kingdom. We enjoyed a half day at Animal Kingdom, soaking in the sights and sounds before returning to our hotel’s pool for some relaxation and splash pads. We stayed off-resort thanks to Eric’s dad’s timeshare, and while I always recommend staying on-site, our hotel was still great.

Day 3: Magic Kingdom

Our third day brought us to Magic Kingdom, where Eric’s cousin Drew joined us for lunch. It was a fun reunion as Oliver and Lincoln fought over who would sit next to him!

We had lunch at Be Our Guest, and it was just as amazing as the first time we visited for Eric’s birthday two years ago. The highlight was the kids' dessert, a white chocolate Chip Cup from Beauty and the Beast, which they got to paint with food paint—so much fun!

Day 4: Magic Kingdom (MNSSHP)

For our final day, we returned to Magic Kingdom, and I would argue it was our best day! A little tip: Magic Kingdom is surprisingly empty on nights of the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP). We managed to ride so many attractions, more than we usually get to experience. While we used Lightning Lane, we also found many rides had waits of 15 minutes or less. The big rides like Peter Pan and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had longer waits, but overall, the lines were manageable.

For dinner, we had a quick meal outside the park at the Kona Café at the Polynesian, which was a hit for Oliver, who loves sushi. Eric and I shared four rolls while Lincoln enjoyed a chicken taco. After dinner, we got the boys dressed in their costumes. Oliver was dressed as Darth Vader and Lincoln as a stormtrooper. We headed back to Magic Kingdom, grabbing our trick-or-treat bags before diving into the festivities.

We walked over to Frontierland for some candy before noticing a short line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We couldn’t resist and rode it three times in a row! By the time we finished, it was almost time for the parade, so we found a great spot to watch. The kids were captivated, especially when a character sang "Boo to You," making Oliver jump—he quickly realized it was all in good fun. Pluto waved at Lincoln, and Gaston flexed his muscles right in front of us. We couldn’t have asked for a better parade spot!

After more trick-or-treating, we secured a spot for the fireworks. While we couldn’t see the castle as well as we hoped, I recommend arriving earlier than 20 minutes before the show for a better view. At this point, Lincoln had fallen asleep in his stroller, so Oliver, Eric, and I enjoyed the spectacular fireworks show together.

After a long 13 hours in the park, we were exhausted but exhilarated. Every moment was worth it, and we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Until next time, Disney!