I’m still smiling over Spring Break 2021! Last spring break (of the year that shall not be named), I was two days away from packing my bags and heading to Disney World with these dear friends. Of course, that didn’t happen. It took over a year and half of planning and waiting, but we finally got to go spend a full week at Disney World!

Was lack of sleep, aching feet, humidity, and long lines for awesome attractions worth the wait?

Absolutely! This was my second trip to Disney World, and taking in the sights of Main Street in Magic Kingdom, the World Showcase in Epcot, and Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood Studios still made me feel like I was a little kid. Peter Pan’s Flight filled me with nostalgia as I sang in my head, “I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”

On our last day, I waved goodbye to Rabbit, Eeyore, and Piglet as I walked out of Magic Kingdom. Very fitting, I thought, since my backpack is a Winnie the Pooh backpack that reads, “A bother free day”.

What were the best rides, you ask? Walking through Pandora in Animal Kingdom and riding Flight of Passage was incredible. It’s an immersive ride that makes you feel as though you’re flying through Pandora on those dragon-like creatures, and, well, I LOVE dragons. And flying. And fantasy. IT. WAS. A. BLAST.

If you’re a Star Wars fan, Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios can’t be beat! It’s also another immersive ride that makes you feel as though you’re actually in space and being attacked by lasers and Kylo Ren. Plus, it’s full of pre-show fun. You see a hologram of Rey thanking you for joining the cause; you have the pleasure of being interrogated by the First Order (Whatever you do, make sure to wear a Pizza Planet shirt when that happens…Just trust me!); you enter a room full of Storm Troopers. It’s jaw-dropping, jolly good fun!

In fact, I would say that Hollywood Studios has some of the best rides and attractions. Tower of Terror. Rock ‘n Rollercoaster. Toy Story Land. Smugglers Run.

I honestly don’t know if I can choose a favorite park now; they are all superb in their own way. From aquarium-exploring, to safari-adventuring, to becoming Pirates of the Caribbean, to the spooks of the Haunted Mansion, to the burst of water from Splash Mountain, to the scary darkness and jolt of Space Mountain, to the Enchanted Tiki Room, to visiting every country in Epcot, to Gaston’s biceps to spare and Lefou’s Brew, to souvenir-shopping, to Beauty and the Beast sing-a-longs…We pretty much saw it all. And ate ALL the great food!

And enjoyed the Garden Festival!

And the glorious ferry rides, where the breeze from the water was always refreshing!

And took in the sights of Cinderella’s castle both day and night!

But perhaps the most magical night of all was visiting the Beast’s castle at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom. We ate a full three-course meal in the forbidden West Wing (We’re rebels!) and sat near the enchanted rose! We waved at the Beast as he dropped in! We waddled back to Shades of Green on full bellies and melted hearts! Meredith and I even got to skip down a lit-up and empty Main Street–You can’t get much better than that!

Other highlights include singing on the bus, the rushed Disney Springs journeys (at least we enjoyed some Ghiradelli!), and the laugh-til-we-cried moments on the journey home. All in all, Disney World was a treat, and an adventure in the great wide with some amazing friends.

I could say a lot more, but it’s always good to leave some for the imagination. 😉