A Year of A Million Dreams… by Karen Hurlburt

September 2008

This past July I traveled with my family to Disneyworld, and as the Disney saying goes: it was both magical and memorable.

We last visited Disney eight years ago, when our kids were in grade school. We quickly fell under the spell of magical Disney! So many characters to see, so many amazing rides to go on, every parade and Disney Character Show to see!  Fast forward 8 years... with the kids now twelve and eighteen, I was a little apprehensive. Without the draw of the characters, shows, and parades would I be able to keep everyone happy for an entire week? In hindsight, I should have known enough about Disney to see that we’d all still have a great time, and a different trip filled with new memories and new experiences.

Having booked our package with Walt Disney Travel, our transfers were provided by Disney’s Magical Express. Since I had tagged our bags accordingly, we never had to claim or lift a bag once having checked them in at the MSP airport. Walking through the front doors at the Animal Kingdom Lodge truly took our breath away. With the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Savannah, and seeing the African animals in their natural habitat will probably be the closest experience to being in Africa aside from actually going there. The convenience of staying on site, utilizing the Disney transportation system, the extra magic hours, the added benefits, and the time saved was well worth the additional cost.

With our seven day hopper passes in hand, off we went. The 4 main Disney parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, (formerly MGM Studios) each triggered old memories and filled us with an eagerness to make new ones by exploring all of the new rides and attractions.

Our first stop was The Magic Kingdom. While the three Mountains: Space, Splash and Big Thunder Railway had the longest wait times, they were well worth the wait. But, our favorite attraction was the Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin Ride, a hilarious 3-D show of Disney’s Philar Magic. We ended the evening with the Spectro Magic Parade and a fireworks show which made visiting this park still worth the price of admission and a great time for all ages.

The sheer number of animals now seen on the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride at the Animal Kingdom Park was surprising to us all. We ended up riding the safari ride four times in one week, and each ride was different and exciting. We were thrilled on the new Expedition Everest Ride, a fast paced roller coaster followed by getting soaked on the Kali River Rapids ride. The new rides made for an exciting new experience, but we were happy to see the Festival of the Lion King still the same great show, as well as the 3-D show, “It’s Tough to be a Bug,” the same as we remembered from the past.

The renamed Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) had us standing in line for the Rock n Roll roller coaster featuring Aerosmith, dropping in terror on the Tower of Terror, and ending any day with their Fantasmic Show -- a great finale for any Disney day. Their new attractions include: Toy Story Mania (a great family friendly ride) and High School Musical 2, a huge draw for their younger guests.

Having been to Epcot previously, I remembered the kids not being thrilled to be visiting the World Showcase. With a gentle reminder that they had loved Test Track in the past, they at least were ready to visit the park again to see the Test Track. So we were delighted to discover several new rides and areas that we all quickly fell in love with. A new ride called “Soarin'” took us on a virtual reality ride gliding over the California coast followed with blasting into space on Mission Space. Both of these attractions are indoors so it’s a great way to spend a rainy day or a hot July day in air conditioned comfort.

As noted earlier, the benefits of staying on site are many, but make sure you add on the Disney Meal Plan to you package. The cost of meals and snacks really add up quickly but with the optional meal plan added your Disney vacation can be one filled with no unexpected expenses and instead be one filled with magical memories. Most of the Disney restaurants require reservations, some taking reservations 180 days prior. Many are only 90 days prior, but make those reservations early as seating is limited. Adding on a character meal is enjoyable for the whole family regardless of age.

The magic of Disney is truly not to be missed, and if this is your first trip or one of many, there is always something new and exciting to discover at the Magical World of Disney.

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