jolenegoes: Travel blog + Reviews + TRAVEL Tips

Perhaps I've been clinging onto the last bit of pixie dust in my Disney trip, but I am unreasonably late in this write-up on the last park of my Disney World adventure. During my research period, I read countless posts deeming Disney's Hollywood Studios as a "half-day park," with very little to do compared to the other Disney Parks. However, like the rest of my trip, I was pleasantly surprised at my positive experience, and hold a different opinion from most of what I read. I

If you read my Epcot blog, you know I was pleasantly overwhelmed with everything Epcot has to offer, from its futuristic rides and emphasis on progress, to its spectacular 11-country World Showcase. However, in this post, I will be addressing the other significant aspect of Epcot: the food. In every other Disney World park, I made a point to make one reservation per day for a sit-down meal, ensuring that we'd have at least one big meal. After all, it's hard to find time to si

We visited Epcot on the fourth day of our Disney World trip, after one day in Animal Kingdom, then two days in Magic Kingdom. Our stomachs and wallets were ready, and we were willing to overlook our tired feet and humidity-tormented hair. Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Originally, Epcot was built to be a living, functioning community focusing on progress and technology. Although that vision was never brought to life in its truest sense, it is o

Even though Disney's Magic Kingdom is far from being my favorite Walt Disney World park, I still had some enjoyable food-related experiences, including an enchanted dinner at Be Our Guest. Before I get to the grey stuff, I'll point out some honorable mentions, including my favorite Instagram-worthy treat, the Maleficent Waffle Cone, a lime soft-serve in a black waffle cone. I don't normally favor lemon or lime, but this soft-serve was incredibly refreshing and perfect for a h

When I think of Disney World (or any Disney park for that matter), my mind automatically pictures an iconic castle, unlimited Mickey ears, Donald Duck throwing a fit somewhere, and Tinkerbell sprinkling pixie dust on everything. Thanks to Disneyland, this imagery has become synonymous with Disney parks, so when most of us think of Disney World, we think of Magic Kingdom. Naturally, I was quite excited to have my "full" Disney experience at Magic Kingdom - two whole days of Mi

As I mentioned in my Animal Kingdom park review, Disney's Animal Kingdom is my favorite Disney World park. In addition to the exciting rides, unique experiences and unrivaled aesthetic, the food really made our visit extra special. I have to make a confession here: we were given Joffrey's coffee in our hotel room, and I was so excited to drink it... but honestly, I couldn't stand it. Therefore, I waited until we were in the park to visit its resident Starbucks. That being sai

Our first Disney World park was Animal Kingdom. This was not necessarily by choice; as I mentioned in my planning post, I looked at which parks had Extra Magic Hours, and Animal Kingdom had a morning Extra Magic Hour. To be honest, I wasn't sure I knew what to expect. Animals? Pandora? Expedition Everest? I had a piecemeal image in my mind, but nothing prepared me for the pure beauty and grandeur that is Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom is broken up into sections, and each sect

Disclaimer: This is NOT a Disney Park review - it is a REVIEW OF HOW I APPROACHED PLANNING MY TRIP. After probably 20 years of faithful hoping, wishing and waiting, I finally got to visit Walt Disney World for the first time. My trip did not disappoint - four parks in six and half days, full of pixie dust, imagination and Disney Magic. Before I delve into the details of the parks in my other posts, I'd like to give you an overview of the planning I did. I'm used to being told

If you've read my Disney planning post, you already know how much planning I put into my Walt Disney World trip, including where to say. Disney World boasts 27 resorts, so there are plenty of options to choose from. After much debating, a large Excel spreadsheet and tons of pros and cons, I settled on Port Orleans Riverside. I'd like to start this review off by letting you all know that I was not traveling with children, and I do not recommend this resort for families with yo