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A Magical, Exhausting, & Perfect 120% Fun Recap!

Just got back from a whirlwind weekend trip to Orlando, flying directly into MCO after taking Friday and Monday off. I thought, "Hey, I was just here in August, so I'll just take it easy this time." Spoiler alert:​ I ended up having 120% fun​ and am now a beautiful, exhausted mess. 😭 Here's my detailed breakdown of the Christmas magic. 1️⃣ The "Been There, Done That" Strategy Since I've already ridden every single open attraction across all four parks, this trip was all about curating my personal favorites. I bought the Park Hopper ticket​ to maximize flexibility. Day 1:​ Animal Kingdom (AK) → EPCOT → Magic Kingdom (MK) Day 2:​ Hollywood Studios (HS) → MK for the Christmas Special Event The Verdict:​ I was absolutely wrecked with exhaustion! 😂 In August, I nearly suffered heatstroke in EPCOT. This time, in December, I nearly collapsed from pure physical fatigue in the same park. The Disney grind is real! 2️⃣ Crowd Levels: "Off-Season" is a Myth The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is supposedto be the off-season. However, because we went on a weekend, it was still wall-to-wall people. That said, the overall vibe was significantly less chaotic and more manageable than the brutal August crowds. 3️⃣ Staying On-Site: The Ultimate Game-Changer I can now confirm for the second time​ that staying at a Disney Resort hotel is worth every penny for the convenience. We experienced the "Lucky Girl Syndrome" repeatedly: countless times, we'd walk up to a bus stop, and the bus would either be pulling up or already waiting for us. It felt like Disney magic was personally escorting us. ❤️ 4️⃣ Park Ranking & Ride Reviews If I had to rate the four parks based on this trip: 🥇 1. Animal Kingdom (AK):​ 🦒 I am a sucker for animals! I could ride the Kilimanjaro Safaris a hundred times​ and never get bored. It's my happy place. 🥈 2. Magic Kingdom (MK):​ The classic. TRON Lightcycle Run, Space Mountain, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure​ were all fantastic. And the fireworks... more on that later. 🎆 🥉 3. Hollywood Studios (HS):​ The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror​ is my one true love. 😭 However, I'm just not a huge Star Wars fan, so Galaxy's Edge, while impressive, doesn't resonate with me as much. 4. EPCOT:​ Don't get me wrong, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a masterpiece​ and one of the best rides ever built. But the layout of this park is... problematic. 😅 The long, sprawling walks between the front and the World Showcase are a killer on your feet. 5️⃣ Christmas Special Event: A New Favorite The Christmas After Hours event was SO MUCH FUN!​ I actually enjoyed it more than the Halloween party. 🎄 The entire resort was decked out in incredible, over-the-top decorations. The atmosphere was pure magic, and it was an absolute photographer's paradise—we got so many amazing shots!​ 💯 6️⃣ The Winter Plague Having never visited Disney in the winter before, I was shocked by the number of sick people. Everywhere we went—the airport, the parks—there were adults and children coughing and sneezing uncontrollably. 😷 The fear of getting sick was real. And let's not even talk about the horror of navigating Delta's infamous B gates 71-78 at MCO​ on the way home... a true test of endurance. 7️⃣ Shoutout to My Travel Partner A massive thank you to Xiao Wu​ 😭. We are both low-energy introverts, and by the end of each day, we were completely drained, unable to speak, dizzy, and sore from head to toe. Yet, we still pushed through the high-intensity tourism, all while worrying about catching a virus. There's a certain beauty in that kind of dedication to having fun. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 8️⃣ Fulfilling a Dream: The Fireworks On my last trip, my only regret was missing the regular nighttime fireworks show. This time, thanks to the Park Hopper, we made a special trip to MK just for the fireworks. When they started, I literally shed a tear. 💧 It was that beautiful and emotional. A core memory was made. 9️⃣ The Gear Rundown I brought my entire arsenal to ensure both ride fun and photo quality were maxed out: iPhone 17 Pro:​ 📱 Incredible for photographing animals on the safari and even worked as a makeshift telescope. A beast. CCD Camera:​ The MVP for portrait photography. The vintage look is just chef's kiss. PhotoPass:​ I became obsessed with collecting all the MagicShots. Worth it! The Unused:​ iPhone 7, iPhone 5s, and the Canon G7X Mark II gathered dust. The CCD was just superior for the vibe this time. 😭 🔟 Final Conclusion As always, I left Orlando with the exact same thought: "This was SO MUCH FUN! I can't wait to come back!"​ ✨ Despite the exhaustion, the crowds, and the threat of illness, the magic of Disney always wins. It's a place that demands everything from you but gives back even more in memories. Until next time, Mickey! 🐭 #US #Florida #Orlando

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Aurora Scott
Aurora Scott
12 days ago
Aurora Scott
Aurora Scott
12 days ago
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A Magical, Exhausting, & Perfect 120% Fun Recap!

Just got back from a whirlwind weekend trip to Orlando, flying directly into MCO after taking Friday and Monday off. I thought, "Hey, I was just here in August, so I'll just take it easy this time." Spoiler alert:​ I ended up having 120% fun​ and am now a beautiful, exhausted mess. 😭 Here's my detailed breakdown of the Christmas magic. 1️⃣ The "Been There, Done That" Strategy Since I've already ridden every single open attraction across all four parks, this trip was all about curating my personal favorites. I bought the Park Hopper ticket​ to maximize flexibility. Day 1:​ Animal Kingdom (AK) → EPCOT → Magic Kingdom (MK) Day 2:​ Hollywood Studios (HS) → MK for the Christmas Special Event The Verdict:​ I was absolutely wrecked with exhaustion! 😂 In August, I nearly suffered heatstroke in EPCOT. This time, in December, I nearly collapsed from pure physical fatigue in the same park. The Disney grind is real! 2️⃣ Crowd Levels: "Off-Season" is a Myth The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is supposedto be the off-season. However, because we went on a weekend, it was still wall-to-wall people. That said, the overall vibe was significantly less chaotic and more manageable than the brutal August crowds. 3️⃣ Staying On-Site: The Ultimate Game-Changer I can now confirm for the second time​ that staying at a Disney Resort hotel is worth every penny for the convenience. We experienced the "Lucky Girl Syndrome" repeatedly: countless times, we'd walk up to a bus stop, and the bus would either be pulling up or already waiting for us. It felt like Disney magic was personally escorting us. ❤️ 4️⃣ Park Ranking & Ride Reviews If I had to rate the four parks based on this trip: 🥇 1. Animal Kingdom (AK):​ 🦒 I am a sucker for animals! I could ride the Kilimanjaro Safaris a hundred times​ and never get bored. It's my happy place. 🥈 2. Magic Kingdom (MK):​ The classic. TRON Lightcycle Run, Space Mountain, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure​ were all fantastic. And the fireworks... more on that later. 🎆 🥉 3. Hollywood Studios (HS):​ The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror​ is my one true love. 😭 However, I'm just not a huge Star Wars fan, so Galaxy's Edge, while impressive, doesn't resonate with me as much. 4. EPCOT:​ Don't get me wrong, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a masterpiece​ and one of the best rides ever built. But the layout of this park is... problematic. 😅 The long, sprawling walks between the front and the World Showcase are a killer on your feet. 5️⃣ Christmas Special Event: A New Favorite The Christmas After Hours event was SO MUCH FUN!​ I actually enjoyed it more than the Halloween party. 🎄 The entire resort was decked out in incredible, over-the-top decorations. The atmosphere was pure magic, and it was an absolute photographer's paradise—we got so many amazing shots!​ 💯 6️⃣ The Winter Plague Having never visited Disney in the winter before, I was shocked by the number of sick people. Everywhere we went—the airport, the parks—there were adults and children coughing and sneezing uncontrollably. 😷 The fear of getting sick was real. And let's not even talk about the horror of navigating Delta's infamous B gates 71-78 at MCO​ on the way home... a true test of endurance. 7️⃣ Shoutout to My Travel Partner A massive thank you to Xiao Wu​ 😭. We are both low-energy introverts, and by the end of each day, we were completely drained, unable to speak, dizzy, and sore from head to toe. Yet, we still pushed through the high-intensity tourism, all while worrying about catching a virus. There's a certain beauty in that kind of dedication to having fun. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 8️⃣ Fulfilling a Dream: The Fireworks On my last trip, my only regret was missing the regular nighttime fireworks show. This time, thanks to the Park Hopper, we made a special trip to MK just for the fireworks. When they started, I literally shed a tear. 💧 It was that beautiful and emotional. A core memory was made. 9️⃣ The Gear Rundown I brought my entire arsenal to ensure both ride fun and photo quality were maxed out: iPhone 17 Pro:​ 📱 Incredible for photographing animals on the safari and even worked as a makeshift telescope. A beast. CCD Camera:​ The MVP for portrait photography. The vintage look is just chef's kiss. PhotoPass:​ I became obsessed with collecting all the MagicShots. Worth it! The Unused:​ iPhone 7, iPhone 5s, and the Canon G7X Mark II gathered dust. The CCD was just superior for the vibe this time. 😭 🔟 Final Conclusion As always, I left Orlando with the exact same thought: "This was SO MUCH FUN! I can't wait to come back!"​ ✨ Despite the exhaustion, the crowds, and the threat of illness, the magic of Disney always wins. It's a place that demands everything from you but gives back even more in memories. Until next time, Mickey! 🐭 #US #Florida #Orlando

Orlando
MCO2Disney by ATC
MCO2Disney by ATCMCO2Disney by ATC