Trading Schedules for Smiles
Our Mini Disney Adventure
You all know a few things about me: I love Disney. I love family vacations. And most of all, I love bringing joy to my children.
For the past few years, almost all my kids have mentioned how much they miss a Disney trip. The problem? They all have completely different ideas about what they want to do, what kind of weather is "most pleasant," and then there are those demanding schedules! Brian and I tried to find a window for all eight of us, but the next time the entire family might be available is September 2028—and that’s only if Bryce doesn’t go off to college yet! My heart just sank thinking about that gap.
Then I heard the news: they're completely revamping Rock 'n' Roller Coaster! That ride is my OG favorite, and Priscilla (Illa) has never been on it. Since my kids and I love experiencing the same things so we can all be in on the conversation later, the clock was officially ticking to ride it one last time.
I already had a trip booked to Jacksonville to see my bestie and go to her eldest daughter’s baby shower. That’s when the lightbulb went off! Why not take Illa with me and turn the end of the trip into a mini Disney vacation with my bestie? It was the perfect, spontaneous solution to get some quality time with my girl and ride that coaster before it changes forever.
I love planning Disney vacations—I really do—but my normal process involves about a year of research and planning. This time? I had about a month. Enter my amazing friend, Danielle with Platinum Mouse Vacation. I immediately called her, and as always, she was a rock star. Without her, this trip wouldn't have happened. Within days, she helped me book three nights at Pop Century and figured out our parks!
We hit the ground running! Our first stop was Epcot, and we did all my favorites. My bestie, Brandy, is a Florida resident but hadn't been to Disney in 15 years. She was used to RRC and Tower of Terror being the only real thrill rides, so I took her straight to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. She was absolutely blown away and loved it. Watching her rediscover Disney and all the incredible upgrades was almost as much fun as the ride itself.
The next day, we crushed Animal Kingdom and were done by 1 PM, which was perfect to rest up for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. I was SO excited for my first Halloween party! And then it poured. It was a true Florida monsoon. We made the best of the night, but I missed so many things on my to-do list because the majority of rides were closed. On the bright side? Disney apologized and gave Illa and me a complimentary park hopper pass to be used within the year! So, silver linings and a forced return trip—I’ll take it!
The final park day was all about Hollywood Studios. Illa loved RRC and we rode it twice! Success! I also made sure to take Brandy—a huge Star Wars fan—to Galaxy's Edge. She was absolutely stunned, so I snagged a last-minute reservation at Oga's Cantina so she could check it out. I love Oga's. It’s so fun, and the drinks are delicious. And now for a major confession. I discovered my new favorite Disney food: spicy, candied bacon. I first had it in a bourbon chocolate milkshake (don’t ask, just try it) and then again at Oga's in a spicy Bloody Mary. YUM. I loved it so much that when my table mates left and hadn't eaten theirs, I had a brief, shameful moment where I considered snagging it. I resisted... but I did think about it for a second! I know, I know.
On our last day, we packed up quickly. Brandy hit the pool while I took Illa to Topolino's Terrace for breakfast. I am shocked I got this reservation only three days before we flew out! It's one of the toughest to snag, and it just popped up. I have to say, I loved this restaurant. The food, the views, and the characters are all fantastic. It's a must-do! We then spent the rest of the day by the pool until it was time to catch the plane.
It was a great trip, and while I missed the rest of the gang, it was so nice just having Priscilla and being able to do all the things she wanted. Watching her eyes light up was priceless. We did a ton of character meet-and-greets, which we normally skip because the older kids would rather ride.
This spontaneous mini-adventure taught me a lot. Trying to get all eight of us together is a logistical nightmare right now, but taking these mini-trips with smaller chunks of the family will work perfectly at this time of our lives. In fact, January is already booked with Ryland, Illa, Brian, and me! Thank you, Danielle, for making the impossible possible!
