Hakuna Matata means “no worries”. Pre-vacation, I had my share of worries. Trying to decide what to pack, how to pack it, how to organize for the most optimal all-day Disney experience. Worrying about crowds. lines, and whether or not Amelia could handle the marathon adventure.
I worry too much.
Post vacation? No question, it was a definite success. My preparations paid off with only a minor glitch. I managed to forget ibuprofen in my park survival bag and (naturally) ended up with a mega headache. Thankfully, Disney gift shops sell (ridiculously expensive) Advil to keep me moving. All was well.
Morning in the Magic Kingdom: We arrived via boat from our resort, a mere few minutes before the gates opened.
Amelia was a bundle of excitement.
To the castle! To the castle! It is hard not to get caught up in the emotion of the crowd. Everyone is happy with excited energy. For a moment, we all turned into children again.
If you have small children at Disney World, it’s a good idea to head directly to the Flying Dumbo ride.
Sometime next year, they will be opening a brand new Fantasyland with TWO flying Dumbos! Not a bad idea, since this line gets long very quickly.
While Amelia waited with Daddy for her first ride of the day, I spotted a celebrity and decided to make his acquaintance.
Amelia saw her share of Disney stars as well. Tigger & Pooh, Buzz Lightyear, and even Mickey & Minnie Mouse!
It was a very long day of rides, shows, and characters. And throughout it all (as long as we kept her full of snacks), Amelia remained happy, wide-eyed and amazed – even a little silly at times.
We ended our magical Magic Kingdom day with the electrical light parade (which, by the way, is totally worth waiting for – beautiful!) and a fireworks treat from our boat back to the resort.
Amelia crashed almost instantly upon settling in her big girl hotel bed. I hope she had joyful dreams of her experience. Disney is an expensive place. But to us? Totally worth it. The non-stop sparkle in her eyes and never-ending grin on her face were nothing short of priceless.
Stay tuned… day 2 at Animal Kingdom coming up!
