My First Visit Back to Disney
Hi Babes,
This is probably the most excited I've been writing a blog post because it's my first travel post in over a year. I honestly can't believe that we are still going through a pandemic, so trust me when I say it took me a lot to even think about traveling with the kids. I, however, knew it was time because my kids were starting to display behaviors at home that, for me as a parent, showed me they needed time away. We at first thought about driving to Florida because we knew domestic flights were flying at full capacity, but my mother surprised me with first-class tickets for my birthday so I can feel comfortable not sitting next to anyone. I made sure to have my wipes for everything, and it was smooth in and out. I'll talk about the place we rented and the safety precautions we took, but today I want to talk about Disney.
On our first day, we decided to head into Animal Kingdom, which was my birthday. Our two favorite parks are Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom, so I knew those were the two I wanted to visit. I am lucky because my brother works for Disney, so he used his family passes for us to get in. Now, if you plan to attend the parks, I highly suggest booking in advance because it will start to sell out as it gets closer to summer. Due to Covid, you must purchase a ticket before visiting, and it's only a specific capacity. March is spring break here in Florida, and it's already sold out, so that's telling you do not wait. As we walked into Animal Kingdom, I saw so many differences. There is no more looking through bags at security check; they have machines to check the bags and people checking everyone's temperature. The new procedure makes the check-in much quicker. There are markings on the floor for 6 feet spaces, but lord knows I had to give a couple of side-eyes to people for them to get the point to back up from me. I was able to take Annabelle on the Avatar flight of passage for the first time, which was fantastic to do. I was saddened to see that a lot of the performances weren't available but clearly understood why. My brother and mother surprised me for lunch at the new restaurant Tiffins. The restaurant's theme is based on travel experiences, and I have to tell you everything was excellent. My dish was the short rib, and it was mouth-watering. I know eventually all the experiences that were at the parks will be brought back but for the circumstances it still felt magical to me.
Next up, Annabelle and I visited the Magic Kingdom. Now, this was our first time back since the revamp of the castle. I was pleasantly surprised that I loved it in person, the colors definitely pop. We were able to ride the new seven dwarfs' roller coaster, which I highly recommend be your first stop because the line packs on quickly since it's new ride. The little parades were cute, and you can get pretty good shots of iconic backdrops since the crowds are way less than usual. It was surreal to see Main Street empty. but at the same time it was easy to navigate the park. I also recommend checking the Cinderella carriage for a photo
Differences within the parks that I noticed
Pros
Lines go faster for rides. ( if you have never been on flights of passage at Animal Kingdom, this is your shot at getting on it without a massive wait)
People were following guidelines for masks, and staff enforced this rule.
Mini parades within the park
Less of a crowd to walk through.
Better pictures of the castle due to fewer crowds
Hand sanitizing stations everywhere.
Cons
You can't eat or drink while walking; you must be stationary.
Certain attractions that have big casts like the Lion King musical are not available.
No character meet and greets.
No firework shows.
Some food options were closed.
You can't take your mask off for a photo.
Now let me state the cons for me are not cons because it is for everyone's safety, but for someone going for the first time, this might be a deal-breaker to hold off on going to Disney for the first time. I can tell you this my children enjoyed their time. The weather was perfect, so the masks didn't bother us; however, I can't imagine August's heat with a mask. Knowing the weather in Florida, my suggestion is to go now-May or September-December. As always, if you have any detailed questions, please leave a comment below, and I'll answer.
TIFFINS RESTAURANT
Peace & Love,
Lissette