A Grateful Heart

The beginning of the holiday season always marks the beginning to the end of the year and while I enjoy all things festive, I also appreciate the opportunity the holidays provide for reflection, appreciation and gratitude for both the big and little things in our lives. As most people would say, I am most grateful for my family and friends, but there are little things I tend to take for granted that I wanted to share that I am unbelievably grateful for this year. 

1. My husbands patience. 

Chris has more patience than anyone in the world, especially when it comes to me. The fact that he can make it through The Greatest Showman Soundtrack on repeat for months and months or any Disney playlist is an absolute miracle! 

2. Walks with my mom. 

No one listens better to my never ending rants, especially on our walls after work. This woman is the strongest I know and I hope to one day be half the mother you have been to me.

3. My bed and all the bed linens in the world! 

I’m definitely one of those people who would never leave my bed if I didn’t have to and getting out of it in the morning is an absolute struggle regardless of the day. I feel very fortunate to have a cozy place to rest my head. 

4. The people I work with. 

You all know exactly who you are and you keep me 100% sane on the busiest of weeks!

5.Furry Friend Snuggles

Snuggles are my jam and my babies give the best bedtime snuggles! 

6. Camp

Camp Rising Sun is a camp for kids with cancer that I attend every summer. These kiddos give you a real perspective on the world and what it means to be a part of a family. 

7. The Beach

A place to find peace and to allow for reflection with no bias. Spending time on the sand and by the water can give your mind and body a break. I’m a firm believer that salt water heals everything. 

8. A hot cup of tea. 

Tea, oh how I love you! There is no better way to warm up, cure a cold or put a little extra warmth in your heart than a nice warm cup of tea. I owe my grandma the biggest thank you for showing my how wonderful tea time can be! 

9. A meal with my favorite people.

Meals have always brought everyone together. Even growing up I rarely remember a dinner where not everyone was present. Today these are my favorite meals with all of my favorite people gathered around a table. 

10. Magic

There is only one thing to say, “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”

I hope that this holiday season offers each and everyone of you the opportunity to reflect on this past year. From the bottom of my heart thank you for following along, I am unbelievably grateful for all of you! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 

See Ya Real Soon, Pal

Am I the only one at the end of a Disney vacation who is tearing up on the Magical Express as we listen to “Now it’s time to say Goodbye” from Mickey just moments before we step into the hustle and bustle of the Orlando International Airport?

Returning to normalcy after a magic filled week of pixie dust, fireworks and Mickey can be tough and it’s hard not to find yourself in a puddle on the Magical Express wishing you had booked just one more day (I always wish I booked another day!). Even though you know once you make the trek into work after a weeklong adventure that you won’t be met with Mickey Waffles and Mickey Mouse straws for breakfast there is nothing that cures the Disney blues better than planning your next trip!

There is no doubt, that no matter how long your Walt Disney World vacation is that you will still leave with a list of things you would like to try when you return. Each year we spend countless hours organizing itineraries, booking dining reservations and solidifying FastPasses with the hope that we will be able to strategically (without waiting) enjoy all of our favorite attractions, but each year I keep an open note on my phone of things I discover along the way that are “must dos” for our next trip. Having gone each year for the past four years, I am always surprised at the length of this ever growing list of discoveries. Around every corner is a new experience I am dying to try or a hidden excursion that is brand new, making it a little easier to say goodbye knowing that our next trip will be full of magical surprises!

Planning your next trip isn’t the only way to cure the Disney blues though, a little magic never hurt! Bringing home Disney magic is easy and one of my favorites in adjusting back to your normal routine. There is no better way to relive the magic than viewing all of your Disney Memory Maker photos in a slide show. Reviewing all of the wonderful memories you made in the most magical place always brings a smile to my face and is magic that will live on long after you are back home.

Whether planning your next or reliving the magic will help you add a little more sparkle into your day-to-day routine, I hope you had the most magical time on your Disney vacation and I would love to hear all of the things you hope to do the next time you are back!

Disney Style Highlight:

Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life and there is no doubt that the KedsxKate New York Glitter Champion has done just that! Made for a stroll down Main Street USA, these glittered “slippers” are perfect to wear to meet all of your favorite princesses or your very own Prince Charming! Sparkled from toe to heel there is certainly an extra dose of magic to keep you comfortable and on your feet all day! Whether they take you on a walk down the aisle to meet Prince Charming or up a set of stairs to dine at Cinderella’s castle you are sure to make a statement.

The best part about these magical shoes, is they match almost anything and are definitely Fairy Godmother approved! Being dress obsessed, I couldn’t help but to pair the KedxKate New York Glitter Champion with a blue ruffle dress to meet Cinderella! Not to mention, the beautiful bow detailing on the sleeves (melting!!)!! The classic aspects of each piece make them wearable in the hot sticky Florida sun as well as on those cloudier days.

Oh, I almost forgot! As the clock strikes midnight, and you’re in a scramble to get in that one last picture of Cinderella’s castle before leaving extra magic hours make sure to check if your satin laces are tied, wouldn’t want to leave one behind!

Magic Kingdom's Magic

The most festive season of the year is upon us and can you already feel the magic?! Immediately after Labor Day, my heart is full of butterflies in anticipation for all the excitement and magic of the holiday season before us! Trick-or-Treating, Thanksgiving, SANTA! There isn’t a single holiday activity that I would miss, in fact, if I could manage fitting each one into my schedule I would be a part of them all! This year there is one special trip that I’m super jealous I’ll be missing and that’s a quick stop at Disney World! There are few places I would rather be than on Main Street USA watching the fireworks at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, especially during the holiday season. 

During the first week of December in the midst of all the magical festivities my parents will be flying down to see Mickey and Minnie as they pull out all of the stops to celebrate Christmas. Although I wish I would be traveling with them, I do want to share a few hidden gems of Magic Kingdom that can add even more magic to your trip! 

A day at Magic Kingdom wouldn’t be complete without a private ride in the most beautiful vintage vehicle to Cinderella’s Castle! These amazing cars are painted a regal red or royal blue and are parked in Town Square. Make sure to look out for Alex, he was the perfect chauffeur! 

There hasn’t been a single trip we have taken to Disney World where I haven’t made a wish before we left. Just last year we discovered The Blue Fairy Wish Book located in Fantasyland inside of Pinocchio Village Haus quick service restaurant and it will surely become a tradition. The Blue Fairy Wish Book allows guests to write down a special wish in a magical place. Each wish is reviewed by the Blue Fairy and will soon come true! 

Magic Kingdom offers magic for the entire family and there isn’t a single attraction that wont complete your trip, but these hidden gems make your visit extra special!   Add a little extra magic on your trip to Disney World this holiday season by taking a ride down to Cinderella’s Castle or telling the Blue Fairy a wish! There is so many Disney secrets within all of the parks, is there one that has become a tradition?

The First Year of Marriage

Every little girl dreams of her fairy tale wedding. The engagement ring, the perfectly detailed chiffon dress, the bouquet, the music, the decorations. Every little detail is flawlessly thought out and why wouldn’t it be? The moment we begin to read or watch movies we are taught how magical it can be to find your very own prince charming and plan the most lavishly beautiful wedding to celebrate your love for one another, but something we are never told in society, a topic we silence before it can even be a thought, is what happens after the wedding, what is happily ever after really like? 

Everyone will tell you that the first year of marriage is the hardest and that the adjustment to married life can be so difficult that making it through that first year can be an absolute struggle. At the bridal shower people will provide you with advice on how to manage conflict and the secrets to a happy and fulfilling life together. The conversation around the table will revolve around how hard the first year is and perhaps that conversation is short, but why, why is the first year so hard? There are instances where I can understand how acclimating to married life could be difficult.  Learning to live with the love of your life if you never have before can prove to be a learning curve. Discussing and combining finances opens a whole new door to face potential conflict. Navigating parents and in-laws that are fighting for attention especially around the holidays can add additional stress. Each of these things can put a strain on a marriage or any relationship in general, making it easy to understand how this might cause the first year of marriage to be tough, but what about the couples who have already adjusted to these things prior to marriage? Is it any different for them or do they too experience additional stress as they begin married life?

A lot of questions, I know. These are all questions I have been asking myself for the past year, eager to understand how while nothing in our relationship had changed there was such immense stress.  After I realized that the answer didn’t lie within our marriage or our home, but with others I began to understand that the first year of marriage for those already adjusted to life together isn’t the hardest because there is pressure from one another, but because there is pressure from everyone else. The first few months of marriage Chris and I were constantly told by family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances how much marriage changed everything. Silently, I would listen and contemplate what had really changed, was I missing something because nothing felt different? People would ask us how we were adjusting. Family would claim it was an adjustment period, but for who exactly, what precisely were we adjusting too? For the longest time, I thought I was crazy because I had walked into this next chapter of my life fully believing that nothing would change and that honestly, nothing should. Yet we were told time and time again by so many people that this was an adjustment and after a while we even fell victim to it, leading to a ton of stress.

The realization that this perception of an adjustment period had little to nothing to do directly with us, but was directly invoked by others convincing themselves that something had changed wasn’t made overnight. In fact, it has taken us a year (a very long year) of stress and disagreements to arrive here. Only the other day did we have this revelation and both took the deepest breathe ever in knowing that we weren’t in fact going completely crazy. It all boils down to one thing, opinions. Everyone has an opinion; opinions about how you need to spend the holiday and with whom, opinions about how to manage finances, opinions on when and how many kids the two of you should have and it doesn’t stop there the list goes on and on. Everyone had an opinion as to how our marriage should be going, panicking over change that didn’t exist and that added unnecessary pressure.

In today’s world, we work tirelessly to keep up an image on the many social media platforms we are a part of that it is difficult to see that you’re not the only two people feeling this way, which is why I share this. There is no doubt that we are not the only couple who has faced or will face these pressures so I want to share one piece of advice that I wish someone told me a year ago.  

Choose each other every day. While I could sit here and try to find words more perfect than Lauren Cermak’s of Going for Grace, anything I put to paper wouldn’t be as perfect as what she has written. “When you get married, your husband is your family. Chalk it up to our culture here in the south or maybe just my own crazy, but I remember during our first year of marriage feeling like we weren’t our own family until we had kids. I didn’t want to have kids yet! I was nowhere near ready for that, yet people kept asking when were “starting our family”. Let me tell you, you have started your family the moment that you say, “I do”!

That being said, you will have decisions to make as a family. Choose each other when each one comes! Choose to work together and put each other’s opinions, thoughts, and needs first when it comes to making these decisions. And they are coming…Whether it be a job, a house, a new car, a move, when to have children, where to spend holidays, where to live, and many more!”

Society has taught us that showing that there is struggle is a sign of weakness when in fact struggle can be a sign of strength. This past year has been full of opinions, pressure and stress, but I couldn’t imagine having anyone else by my side and there is no doubt that we have come out of this last year with love that is even stronger. Marriage doesn’t need to be an adjustment period and marriage shouldn’t change anything, but if this pressure is in escapable, remember, have patience, be kind and love fiercely.

Moonlight Magic

Moonlight Magic at Hollywood Studios is an exclusive event for Disney Vacation Club Members and Annual Passholders. The after-hours celebration is hosted by a select theme park and held on specific dates throughout the year. Guests are allowed to enter the park prior to closing to enjoy attractions and dining before the festivities begin! At 9PM, once the park has officially closed, Hollywood Studios will welcome guests to Moonlight Magic. Guests will be able to enjoy a complimentary dining experience, access popular attractions and shows, meet their favorite characters and purchase exclusive Moonlight Magic merchandise.  

As Disney Vacation Club Members we were lucky to have been able to secure tickets when they came available in late August. Although the event may say sold out, there were a number of cancelations and DVC members were able to check in at their resort if additional spots had opened up (never hurts to check!). The next celebration will be held on October 3, 2018! Keep reading for some of my personal highlights and information on which attractions are open, Moonlight Magic exclusive merchandise and more! 

Merchandise

DVC and Annual Passholder merchandise is long sought after and this couldn’t be more true for Moonlight Magic merch! There were so many cool products that it was so hard to decide. A Disney Life board game set, Moonlight Magic ornaments and T-shirts, special magic bands! In the end, I purchased the Dooney & Bourke magic band! Every product can be found in Mickey’s of Hollywood for purchase the night of the celebration! 

Attractions

Moonlight Magic provides access to the all-new Toy Story Land as well as the classic, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and Star Tours. The celebration is offered to a limited amount of guests making wait times nonexistent! Any attraction we went on we were able to hope on again and again without a wait! We were especially excited to explore Andy’s backyard in Toy Story Land and ride some new attractions as well. 

Character Experiences

Character experiences are almost always skipped by us due to the insanely long lines. There is no doubt that I would love the chance to meet Buzz or Woody, but the wait is a strong deterrent, especially when we hope to get on all of our favorite attractions. At Moonlight Magic, characters make special appearances with little to no wait and they are super interactive! Make sure you watch out for the First Order because they may be lurking around looking for rebel spies! 

Buzz and Jessie were over by Slinky Dog Dash, Rey and Chewbacca were in the Star Wars Launch Bay along with BB8, a few Storm Troopers and other Star Wars Characters! Although I would have loved to meet them all, there was no way I was passing up an opportunity to my Chewy and I was completely star struck (I’m such a Star Wars fan!!)! Funny story. I was so excited when I saw Chewy, that when Rey asked me what planet I was from I honestly couldn’t think of the answer and said, “I don’t know!”. haha Well at least we know I’m not quick on my feet! 

Dining

As a Moonlight Magic perk, guests were offered one complimentary meal at a quick service restaurant such as Rosie’s All American Cafe. There were also complimentary beverages at select locations around the park and free Mickey Ice Cream Bars. Repeat!!!…all of this was FREE! I don’t know about you, but I love free things, especially free Disney things, so I made sure to take advantage of all of these!!!

Entertainment

Indian Jones and Fantasmic! were both open for guests. There were particular show times that could be attended! Typically, we will get FastPass+ to watch these shows so we utilized our time by making sure we hit up all of our favorite rides instead, but I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been to be front row to see Mickey or Indy! 

Disney Style Highlight:

The Amanda Uprichard Pineapple Dress is simply stunning with the most beautifully retro colored stripes, so much so that there couldn’t have been a better outfit to dress the part for Moonlight Magic at Hollywood Studios! The bow details on the straps are so pretty and make it easy to adjust for size. The fabric is also incredibly light, perfect for the Florida humidity! 

The night was full of walking the entire park! To make sure my feet were comfortable I wore my Whipstitched Jack Rogers, which kept my feet comfortable and blister free all night! 

Moonlight Magic will be held again on October 3, 2018 so if you don’t already have tickets make sure to check in with your Walt Disney World hotel/resort the night of! I hope that if you are able to attend that you have a blast and I would love to hear about your highlights! 

Extra Magic with Extra Magic Hours

A little extra Magic goes a long way, especially at Walt Disney World! As a guest at any Walt Disney World resort or hotel located on property you gain exclusive access to Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours are select times prior to park opening and following closing when guests are able to explore the park with limited attraction wait times.  

A planner at heart, our vacations revolve around Extra Magic Hours. Understanding that being at the parks late into the day exhausts us, my family always makes sure to take advantage of early and late Magic Hours to be able to ride all of our favorite attractions without large lines and still be able to spend time pool side in the afternoon. 

As with anything related to a Disney vacation, there are some tips and tricks when tackling Extra Magic Hours at each park. The strategies I use for specific attractions and parks are below! 

Magic Kingdom

Growing up and even now the magic of Walt Disney World has always lived in Magic Kingdom. Splash Mountain, The Haunted Mansion and Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel are all timeless attractions that continue to create the most memorable experiences. The best part about Magic Kingdom is there is an attraction for everyone, but this can also make it difficult when trying to strategically plan your Extra Magic Hours. 

The moment we arrive and moments before we leave you can find us at Magic Kingdom! Soaking up every ounce of magic, we love to take advantage of any additional time in the park. Due to the amount of attractions, planning out this extra magical time can be helpful and we organize this time differently for both early and late Extra Magic Hours.  

Early Magic Hours offer a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of riding those rides at the top of your list that you may not have a FastPass+ for. This usually means that we start at Space Mountain and work our way over to Pirates of the Caribbean, depending on wait times of course! Usually, Splash Mountain will be skipped until later in the day to avoid being drenched. The reason for beginning at this side of the park for early Magic Hours is simply by preference and feeling as though covering ground (and riding as many rides as possible) is easier based on park layout and the number of guests in that area. This may differ for the time of year you visit. 

Late Magic Hours are the best! The crowds at night and those taking advantage of late Magic Hours are significantly lower than in the morning. There truly isn’t anything like walking around the park at night with barely anyone around, unbelievably magical! Every time we have gone we were able to ride every popular ride in the park with no wait at all! Again, this probably varies based on the time of year, but regardless of when you visit heading over to see the castle at night is a must do! 

Epcot

Epcot is an absolute favorite at Disney! The shopping and culinary experiences are phenomenal as well as the attractions! Each year we go, we always say we don’t spend enough time there. This year, we took a different approach and spent about two full days there and utilized the Extra Magic Hours. 

Similarly to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, depending on the time of year, Extra Magic Hours are held in the morning and at night. Based on the park hours and the time in-between when the park opens and World Showcase opens I prefer to take advantage of the Late Magic Hours. This way, I don’t feel like I have to rush out in the morning to wait in a crowd of people for bag checks and then rides with an awkward gap in between park openings. 

At night our strategy usually is as follows: get a spot to watch IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth on the bridge right after Mexico. Then, as the Fireworks come to a close make our way pass the Odyssey Center straight to Test Track. At this point in the night, the wait is typically about 20/30 minutes including the queue to create your own sports car. After this, we make our way to Soarin'. Once we have hit our favorites we make our way back to the Grand Floridian just after the onslaught of people have already exited. Timing is everything in having the whole visit flow together and Extra Magic Hours help so much! 

Hollywood Studios

Jam out with Aerosmith on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, travel to the twilight zone with the Tower or Terror, become a Rebel spy and fight the Empire on Star Tours or ride on Slinky Dog in Toy Story Land, the options are endless! Hollywood Studios has so many action packed rides that it taking advantage of Extra Magic Hours is a must! 

Traveling with kids, friends or your other half will all determine how you decide to tackle Extra Magic Hours at Hollywood Studios. Those of you who are bringing kids, I suggest rushing over to Toy Story Land to get in line for Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers. They are both kid friendly and typically have long wait times as they are brand new. Any one seeking some thrill should head over to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Since Tory Story Land has opened it has taken away the demand for these popular attractions making it easy to ride either of these rides, three, four or five times before the park opens. 

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is full of exciting new attractions that you can take advantage of during Extra Magic Hours. In my experience, AK typically has Extra Magic Hours during the morning. If this is the case for you as well I would suggest taking the following steps to make sure you can get on all the major attractions before the park opens and is flooded with guests. 

Early Magic Hours begin at 8AM and end once the park opens at 9AM. A trick to taking advantage of Magic Hours is to arrive before 8AM, probably around 7:15AM and immediately head over to The Flight of Passage to get in line, there will be a line so just prepare yourself. As soon as it is officially 8AM they will open rides and because you’ve arrived early you will be some of the first people on The Flight of Passage so once you have finished there walk across the pathway to the Na’vi River to get in line before it gets too long. At this point, it should be no later than 8:30, which leaves you with a couple of options. (1) head over to Expedition Everest and ride about three or four times until the park opens or (2) get a spot on the Kilimanjaro Safaris. The best choice for us has been to do a little of both! Grab a quick seat on Everest and haul butt to the safari! The pace you feel like best suits your vacation style is the one you should choose. Either way, you have hit the three top attractions in the park all before 9AM! 

Disney Style Highlight:

A Disney Wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without a Haunted Mansion tank top! Typically, I won’t purchase Disney clothing merchandise because I don’t want to match with everyone in the parks, but when it comes to the Haunted Mansion, I just can’t help myself! 

The Haunted Mansion attraction at Magic Kingdom has been my favorite since I was little. Surprising, I know, since I’m the biggest chicken when it comes to anything remotely spooky, but I simply can’t help loving it. Due to the fact that I just can’t get enough, I couldn’t help but to add this tank to my Disney collection! 

My specific tank top can only be purchased at Memento Mori. The classic wallpaper print lines the front and back of this Racer back tank top and the back has an additional bit of black lace. There is a similar tank top available online if you download the app shopDisney. When you are looking make sure to search “The a Haunted Mansion” and it will come up about half way through the product list. As always, my shorts are from Madewell and are my absolute favorite, especially paired with traditional white converse! 

Animal Kingdom Travel Guide

Disney’s Animal Kingdom brings nature to life with the most brilliantly designed park and nature reserve around. Travel through Africa or Asia, make a pit stop in Pandora, the culturally immersive park shares the ways of life of those across the country (and on a different planet).

Spanning 580 acres, this vast zoological park leaves endless entertainment and attractions to uncover, but due to its size having a plan is important. Check out my Animal Kingdom travel guide below that showcases the best dining experiences, strategies for scheduling for all of your FastPass+ reservations and stylish attire to make it through the day comfortably. 

1. FastPass+

Last week I shared my ultimate Disney World planning guide, where I talked at length about scheduling your FastPass+ reservations strategically to ensure you were able to ride all of your favorite attractions without dealing with long wait times. If you missed it, make sure to check it out here! These tips and tricks will help you organize your FastPass+ reservations for Animal Kingdom as well as other parks.

Animal Kingdom opened Pandora last May and there is no doubt that the attractions are out of this world (literally! haha) making them the most popular and for a good reason. Ultimately, this means they have the longest wait times in comparison to other attractions around the park, which means it’s important to get a FastPass+ reservation. The Flight of Passage is always my number one reservation, it is the first one that I make and I take any time available. The queue for Pandora is a whopping 240 minutes when it’s full and that time usually never waivers. The FastPass+ offers you the ability to wait no more than ten minutes before being suspended in the sky riding a Banshee! 

Even once you have booked your reservation to travel to Pandora you can also pick an additional (2) FastPass+. Personally, I would select Expedition Everest and The River of Lights performance. 

Expedition Everest is a favorite! Each time feels as though it is my first time riding and the quick wait is completely worth it as part of the queue is located outside in the sun. The River of Lights performance is also available in a FastPass+ reservation and is both a time saver as well as offers a beautiful view. During the non-peak times at Animal Kingdom the park closes at 8PM and if you plan to have dinner at the park and would hope to eat at 6PM and not rush to find a seat at the show the best route to take is a FastPass+!  

2. Dining

Animal Kingdom offers a wide variety of culinary choices for all meals that highlight many different cultural cuisines. There are dining options for everyone, but there are two favorites that I always recommend. 

The Yak and Yeti located in Asia is a delicious option for lunch. The past two years we have dined here and have had a great experience. The Lo Mein is to die for and tops anything I could possibly find at home! 

Tiffins, a fine Disney dining experience, is wonderful! The menu is always changing based on seasonal availability. The pairings of both food and wine is impeccable with service that is unbelievably attentive. Wonderful for a date night out in Disney I will always find my way back to Tiffins for dinner without a doubt! 

Disney Style Highlight:

As the largest Disney Park, Animal Kingdom requires a lot of walking, which means you want to make sure to dress as comfortably as possible. A mix of heat, humidity, the possible thunder storm and a full day’s worth of walking can be a dangerous recipe for a DMD.

Avoiding an absolute melt down, nobody likes a DMD, I chose to wear a cute pair of comfortable denim shorts with a lace detail flutter sleeved top. Each piece compliments the Animal Kingdom theme (who doesn’t like to match the park they are visiting?!) and are both versatile pieces that you can mix and match with other items on your trip or back home as the seasons change. 

**The Kailana Top is also available in Tangerine, which lends itself to the cooler months ahead!**

Shoes are the most important when dealing with a day full of walking and I know I can always rely on my Tory Burch Sandals to keep my feet comfortable. A sandal may not be the most comfortable for everyone so I also linked my Keds below which would be equally cute! 

PS. My bag is from Epcot and can only be purchased from Morocco! When I purchased it last year it was $89.00. The leather is a wonderful quality and it is hand made.

Taking Advantage of Disney Springs

Disney Springs is an adult playground with luxury shopping, live entertainment and culinary experiences to die for! Each visit will always encourage you to try something new and our visit this year was nothing less than spectacular! The entire night we indulged in some much needed retail therapy, delicious food and went on a virtual reality adventure. All the details are below! 

Shopping

Shopping in Disney Springs is simply endless. Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Tommy Bahama, Free People, Lucky Brand, MAC, Anthropologie and of course The World of Disney, there is a store for everyone! 

During our visit we had the most luck at Anthropologie and Free People. Trying to build my fall wardrobe I only wanted to purchase pieces that would keep me warm as the seasons change although I’m always tempted to buy that beautiful sundress! Also, Anthropologie is currently having a sale, 20% off clothing and home if you needed a little extra convincing to buy that item in your cart!

Entertainment/Attractions

Live music at Disney Springs has always been a favorite, but this year we wanted to check out something just a little different and went to The Void. 

The Void is a virtual reality experience that focuses on Star Wars. As I’m clearly not a gamer, I will try to explain this the best way I know how. My understanding of virtual reality is the transportation to another location via VR Goggles that can be paired with all of the popular gaming sets, (PlayStation, etc.). When you play at home you are stationary to make sure you aren’t bumping into walls as you go on a mission to complete the game, but at The Void this experience is brought to a whole new level! 

When you first arrive at The Void you complete all of the logistical aspects of the experience. Once all the paperwork is complete you begin to get fitted for your gear, which includes a vest with electronics and an attached headset. The Void staff is extremely helpful with making sure your gear fits you perfectly regardless of size. After you are all geared up and ready to go you will begin to test the equipment and this is where the amazement begins. As you close the front of your head gear you and the three other people in your party are transformed into storm troopers. Reach out your arms and you will see storm trooper armor, it’s truly unbelievable. After this, you are briefed for your mission, which I won’t share much about other than it is action packed! You place your mask down and you walk through and interact in a video game. There is no crazier feeling than trying to escape from Darth Vader or be part of the rebellion. Each aspect of the mission is interactive, walking on platforms, pulling down handles and pressing buttons to open doors and navigating to different areas of the base you are at. There is no better way to describe it than, it was crazy and you have to try it for yourself! 

Dining

As foodies, we have never had a meal at Disney Springs that was disappointing, but I do have a few favorites! 

Bongos Cuban Cafe: The Cuban inspired restaurant is a favorite for their silver margaritas and steak. If you are looking for a meal that is seasoned perfectly and a strong drink you’ve found the right place and you can’t miss them, they are located in the Pineapple on the strip! 

The Boathouse: On our previous vacation to Disney we weren’t able to make it to Disney Springs because we were tight on time so we missed our traditional meal at The Boathouse. As a favorite of ours, we always come for the amazing take on sea food and the unbelievable service. Each visit is special and always makes us want to come back again and again! 

Disney Style Highlight: 

The Lynette Floral Romper from Anthropologie was hands down the best purchase of the summer and was the perfect chic yet comfortable romper for a night filled with walking, dinner out and interactive entertainment. There was no doubt that I was going to be spending all night on my feet so I chose to wear my most comfortable sneakers, Keds. They paired perfectly with my romper and with a jean jacket I was ready for a night out. 

When I originally purchased this floral romper there were a few left in stock, but it seems like they are sold out so I have linked some of my favorite rompers from Anthropologie that I think would be perfect for the Florida heat! 

The Happiest Place on Earth

“Welcome Home!” No two words sound sweeter than your very own personalized greeting once you enter the most magical place on the planet, being a Disney Vacation Member sure does have its perks! 

Walt Disney World has been a favorite destination since my first visit nine years ago and every time we come back it is even more magical, especially as an adult!    Not always as frequent as I would have wished, our visits have become more regular over the past four years since my mom and stepdad decided to become Disney Vacation Club Members. Now, my mom and I have a girls vacation every fall and the parents get a magical getaway every winter. 

The next two weeks will be filled of Disney magic, fashion and pixie dust! They will also be full of blog posts sharing some Disney inspired fashion, tips and tricks, favorite attractions and a few extra surprises so I hope you all will follow along! Each blog post will have a Disney style highlight for all of my #ootd! Each outfit will be link in the below Disney Style Highlight section for purchase! 

Disney Style Highlight: 

“Let’s match”, my mom said, and when your in Disney and twinning is completely acceptable the only reasonable response is, “Obviously”! Matching in Disney is different for the frequent traveler, while I love Disney merchandise and spend my fair share of time Disney shopping for home accessories, designer handbags and trinkets I usually never can bring myself to purchase clothing. The reason being, then I’m twinning with every Disney traveler in the park, and that’s not so magical. 

Preferring to stand apart from the crowd, I love to shop the cutest Disney T-shirt options on Etsy. There are so many different shops offering a variety of unique  tops. With so many options I always find myself torn between two punny shirts that leave me giggling. I want them all! Being quirky and always up for a laugh, when I came across this, “Oh Mickey You So Fine” I had already mentally purchased it! 

Knowing immediately that this would be worn on our arrival day at Magic Kingdom I chose the soft pink color and paired with comfortable denim shorts and Keds. The fabric was extremely light making it perfect for the hot Florida sun and completely breathable as you walked around the hot parks. We both received numerous compliments and it will only be a matter of time before I’m back on Etsy making my next Disney T-Shirt purchase! 

 Outfit Details: Disney T-Shirt, Shorts, Keds