I can’t believe how fast the time has gone since I went to Disney World in September. When I was there they were holding their Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties and now their Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties have already come and gone. I always find that the end of the year goes by so quickly, probably because of all the holidays that happen so close together (including my birthday, which takes place in December). While I did not attend a Halloween party at Magic Kingdom during the trip (it is on my bucket list to go once in my life though!), I enjoyed seeing the park decked out in fall decorations. The holidays seem to bring out even more magic in the park (in the form of treats, decorations, and added cheer!).
A while back I posted my picks for Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, and intended to share my picks for Disney World. I got a little behind (actually a lot, there where just so many photos to go through!), but am now excited to finally reveal my thoughts and favorites from my first visit to Disney World. As I said in my previous posts, I overall felt I preferred Disneyland for its charm and quaintness, although as soon as I got home from this trip, I started plotting how soon I could return. I am still mentioning something fun that happened on the trip nearly every day!
Because the resort itself is so much larger and expansive than Disneyland, I found that Disney World is a much bigger trip that involves a lot more planning. I never felt stressed though, and felt that the website, app, and Magic Bands really easy to figure out. Because of all those things though, it can make it hard to just be spontaneous or relaxed when it comes to easily getting on a ride or trying out a restaurant, since FastPass selections and reservation windows open quite early.
Since this was my first time to Disney World, I’m sure there was quite a bit I missed or didn’t have time for, but I wanted to share my favorite moments, starting with a few picks for Disney Springs and the resort we stayed at, Art of Animation.
Art of Animation
After our flight landed in Orlando on the morning of our arrival, we spent the rest of the day relaxing and figuring out how everything worked (transportation, Magic Bands, etc.). I had my sights set on the Art of Animation resort a few years ago, especially because it was a bit more affordable than many of the other resorts. It is currently still Disney World’s newest resort too, so everything still felt pretty fresh and up to date. There are four themes throughout the resort; Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. We stayed in The Little Mermaid area, because it was the only section with standard rooms. All three other themes feature only family suites. Each section was decorated to go with the movie theme, featuring big sculptures throughout the grounds, and both the Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid sections included a big pool. This resort is definitely bright and colorful, which might not be for people who prefer a more subtle theming, but I found the resort to be so much fun and quite clever. It made our time at Disney even more enjoyable, especially since I had never stayed in a Disney hotel. It was exciting to return to our room each evening (even though The Little Mermaid section was quite a walk after a long day) and found the theming really made us feel immersed in Disney the entire trip.
Chandelier featuring storyboard images
Artwork in the lobby
Inside The Little Mermaid suites
Sculptures in The Little Mermaid section
The Landscape of Flavors
The dining area was also pretty great, especially considering it was a quick service selection. Titled “Landscape of Flavors”, the dining area featured a wide variety of choices to fit any need throughout the day. We tried about 5 different meals there throughout our visit and also got a few snacks in the evenings. I became really fond of their “Create-Your-Own” burger where I would get a simple angus burger with cheese and fries. For some reason, after a long day, it tasted like the greatest burger in the world! The taste was the quintessential taste that my mind would imagine when I hear the word “burger.”
Here are a few of the items we tried throughout our stay:
Cornbread Waffle with Pulled Pork
This barbecued pork sandwich was delicious and unique, making it the biggest winner for me at Landscape of Flavors. They made the cornbread waffle fresh and topped it with shredded pork. It was then drizzled with a chipotle barbecue sauce and served with house-made potato chips. It was very yummy and I am anxious to attempt to replicate it at home!
Character-Shaped Waffles with Fruit: These are certainly a fun way to start the morning, especially since waffles are my favorite breakfast food. It is also a different change from the traditional and popular Mickey-shaped waffle. The characters represent the four themes at the resort, but the only disappointment was that all three of our waffles featured Simba from The Lion King.
Challah French Toast: These were not as cute as the waffles, but still pretty tasty. This plate featured a Portuguese sausage, which set itself apart from the waffle.
Mickey Oreo Cupcake: This big cupcake was too cute to pass up! The Oreos tasted a little stale, but the cake itself was good. The yellow cake is topped with buttercream frosting and an cute Mickey face made from white chocolate.
Disney Springs
Disney Springs officially changed its name from Downtown Disney while were were there. One of our favorite parts was taking a water ferry to the area after we got off the bus at another resort. It was neat to approach Disney Springs from the water and get to see a nice view of the shops and restaurants. Disney Springs is undergoing quite a bit of construction and many new additions, but we walked around and checked out a few shops before heading back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.
Gelato at Vivoli il Gelato: I had a cup with half Stracciatella (Crema base with Italian Dark Chocolate chunks) and half Amarena (a brandied Italian sweet cherry.) Anything cherry is up my alley, and the taste was really lovely. The texture and flavors were unlike any gelato I have had before, and it was a great way to adjust to and welcome the sweaty Florida heat.
Earl of Sandwich: There is also a location apparently in Downtown Disney at Disneyland, but it wasn’t on my radar until now. I had read about this holiday turkey sandwich and knew I had to have it, since turkey and cranberry is one of my favorite flavor combinations. The sandwich features turkey, cornbread stuffing, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise. Plus it was served nice and warm. While it was very busy, it was a great sandwich at a great price!
World of Disney: I find that World of Disney is always a great spot to really check out all the merchandise and get some ideas about what you may want to buy as a souvenir. It features a huge array of items in one place, making for a nice way to find a few treasures instead of wasting too much time looking for items while you are in the parks. My favorite gifts to buy are always any of the mystery pins or collector packs. I tend to get one pin at each visit to a Disney Park (I'm still hoping for more Emperor’s New Groove pins…or Hocus Pocus…or Max Goof!) and usually get it while at World of Disney. Another plus of World of Disney is that the building is quite pretty with characters on the exterior and around the ceilings inside. This store was quite similar to Disneyland’s version, but I did find that the pin section at this one was poorly arranged and way too crowded (there is a Pin Traders shop nearby for big pin fans though).
Overall, we found that The Art of Animation was a wonderful choice for us. We loved coming back each evening to a clean and cute room. Since we were so busy each day, we tried to come back a bit before each park's closing time to enjoy the room and the resort. While not along the monorail, it was still easy to get around on the bus system and the bright theming really added to the Disney experience. We didn't spend too much time at Disney Springs, but with the continuing updates and changes, I think it will develop into another great part of the Disney Resort.
Next up, I'll share my favorites from the first park we visited, Magic Kingdom!
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