My husband Matt and I recently had our first Walt Disney World trip together. This trip also happened to be Matt’s first-ever visit! Though we only had 2.5 days, we squeezed in tons of fun rides, delicious eats, and memorable moments.
We stayed in one of the charming Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside. These rooms are adorably themed around Disney royalty with delightful nods to Princess Tiana. I didn’t take any photos of the room sadly but you can find photos on the Walt Disney World website.
While the room was very cute, we’d pick a different room with a king bed next time. I would recommend this room to anyone who wants the magic of their Disney World trip to extend to the decor of their room. We didn’t spend much time in the room, so the room decor matters less to us, but it may make all the difference for your trip!
Day One of Our Disney World Trip: EPCOT Adventures
We kicked off our Disney World trip at EPCOT in the afternoon, starting our journey with Spaceship Earth – a nostalgic ride through human innovation. As a history fan, I really enjoyed all of the sets and the journey through the history of humanity on this ride. It would also be a great place to escape the heat and take a break.
Next, we explored World Nature, enjoying the underwater whimsy of “The Seas with Nemo & Friends”. Did you know the aquarium here is the second largest in North America – and sixth in the world! They even have manatees here.
After enjoying the marine life, we moved on to the relaxing greenhouse boat tour that is “Living with the Land.” I have always loved this ride and Matt really enjoyed seeing all of the different agricultural techniques being used here.
My biggest regret in this area of EPCOT was skipping “Soarin’ Around the World,” which is supposed to be a breathtaking ride, but the wait was over an hour long. We won’t skip it on our next Disney World trip!
The World Showcase: A Highlight
In the World Showcase, we quickly dashed through Canada, the UK, and France. This was much too quickly in hindsight! Once we realized we were moving too quickly, we stopped to fully immerse ourselves in Morocco.
The pavilion’s authentic charm comes from being built by Moroccan artisans. The decorative architecture captivated us along with an intriguing exhibit about desert racing. We cooled off with a beverage at this pavilion. As much as I would have liked to try drinking around the world at EPCOT, I don’t think we had the time we needed to do it safely. I enjoyed a refreshing iced mint tea and Matt sipped on a hard cider as we admired the stunning architecture.
Japan was crowded, so we hurried through. Later on I wished we had paused for some sushi or to explore the incredible gift shop further. It’s based on a Japanese department store that has been operating for centuries!
At the American Adventure, we enjoyed former President George W. Bush’s heartfelt portraits of American heroes and listened to the beautiful harmonies of Voices of Liberty. Although we passed up Regal Eagle Smokehouse, it’s now firmly on our “next-time” list for our next Disney World trip.
Italy felt underwhelming with its singular Venice theme. There wasn’t much to do besides eat or buy things from the gift shop. We quickly moved on to Germany, where Matt happily sipped another beer. Here we debated enjoying lunch at Biergarten. Ultimately, we decided to save it for our next Disney World trip due to its lively, yet pricier, atmosphere at $49 per person for lunch.
An Afternoon at EPCOT: What We’ll Do Differently on Our Next Disney World Trip
For lunch, we settled for quick-service Chinese, regretting not choosing something more adventurous. It was tasty food but I wish we had chosen something more adventurous and experiential. Now I know that many of the quick service locations at EPCOT allow mobile orders. I’ll definitely plan better foodwise for our next Disney World trip.
Later, we relaxed and enjoyed live bands in Canada and the UK pavilions. A highlight for me was snagging an adorable Winnie the Pooh sweater from the UK pavilion shops. We also discovered the incredible scents at Penhaligon’s and took home two lovely perfume sample sets.
Our day ended on a high note with “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure” in France. The immersive ride that completely won Matt over, even though he hadn’t yet seen the movie. Watching it later made the ride even more delightful in retrospect.
Dinner at San Angel Inn featured delicious Mexican dishes but slow service, causing us to miss EPCOT’s nighttime spectacular, “Luminous.” Next time, we’ll plan our Disney world dining experiences more carefully!
Day Two of Our Disney World Trip: Hollywood Studios Highlights
The next morning, we arrived at Hollywood Studios slightly after the Early Entry period began. This is a smart move that meant no lines at entry. I know some like to line up even before this Early Entry period starts but I’m arriving early to avoid lines, not stand in them.
We headed straight to “Tower of Terror” but realized too late we’d missed much of the cool, spooky queue. We didn’t even get to see the pre-show. Next Disney World trip, we’ll rope-drop a different ride like “Slinky Dog Dash” or “Rise of the Resistance”. I’d actually rather wait in line for “Tower of Terror” to enjoy the scenery.
After strolling Sunset Boulevard, we nostalgically enjoyed “Muppet Vision 3D,” grateful Matt experienced this classic before its recent closure. I am sad that this area will be closed during our next Disney World trip but glad we were able to capture some of the fun scenery and hidden references to different Muppets characters.
Exploring Galaxy’s Edge: A Highlight
After the show, we wanted breakfast, so we explored Galaxy’s Edge, diving headfirst into Star Wars magic and grabbing spicy plant-based wraps at Ronto Roasters.
“Star Tours” thrilled us with updated adventures, and we took a midday break at Oga’s Cantina. Our whimsical cocktails, the smoking Bespin Fizz and the fun Yub Nub in its collectible mug, paired perfectly with the tasty Umbaran cheese roll. I love this photo of the bar at Oga’s because you can see the staff members enjoying a funny moment.
Lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater was a blast from the past, where Matt savored Impossible nachos and a vegan shake, and I enjoyed an excellent smash burger. We didn’t even get to sit in a car as you need a reservation for those, but our table in the back of the room still allowed us to enjoy the immersive experience.
In the afternoon, we wandered, meeting Chewbacca and Darth Vader, exploring exhibits, and riding the charming “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.” Galaxy’s Edge truly shined after dark, though technical issues meant we missed “Rise of the Resistance.” When it finally came back up, the queue was over 200 minutes long!
Dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby featured classic dishes like Cobb Salad, Crab Louie, and Shrimp Mac & Cheese. The Hollywood Brown Derby is said to be the birthplace of the Cobb Salad, and it did not disappoint. Matt also loved his martini flight, which came with three smaller martinis, a gin martini, a vodka martini, and a pomegranate vodka martini. Exhausted, we skipped “Fantasmic”, which is yet another good reason to return soon.
Day Three of Our Disney World: Disney Springs and Departure
On our final morning, we had an indulgent breakfast of a vegetarian potato barrel bowl with scrambled eggs, avocado, and fresh salsa at our resort before heading to Disney Springs for some leisurely shopping. We wandered through the delightful shops, eventually finding a charming canvas featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends at The Art of Disney.
Lunch at Earl of Sandwich hit the spot perfectly as we both love a classic submarine sandwich. We sadly missed out on treats from Gideon’s Bakehouse due to a staggering two-hour wait. Next trip, we’ll definitely make sure to join the waitlist upon arrival to Disney Springs.
Final Thoughts on our First Disney World Trip Together
Even though our visit was short, it was full of laughter, excitement, and magical memories. Matt is officially enchanted, and we’re already dreaming up our next adventure, this time with more careful planning!