The Most Magical Place on Earth

Possibly one of the most well-known franchises on Earth, Disney offers something to everyone. Whether it be Star Wars, Marvel, or Disney Princesses, countless people are attracted to this magical fantasy land, my family being one of them. Being Disney Vacation Club Members, we love visiting Disney as often as possible and participating in all the fun and exciting activities each place provides. Between Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the Aulani, and Disney Cruise Line, we enjoy each and every part of our Disney experience.

To start off with, Disney World is full of diverse rides, restaurants, parades, and shops. Magic Kingdom being the busiest of them all, there is so much to see and do. I personally love riding the popular attraction in Tomorrowland, Space Mountain. A fast, astronomic, and in-the-dark roller coaster, I am always given a great rush of adrenaline. As far as restaurants go, Be Our Guest is fantastic. Based on Beauty and the Beast, the restaurant immerses you in Beast's castle with delicious French cuisine. There is also a great Mexican spot called Pesos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, located in Adventureland and serving some yummy nachos! Furthermore, there is a special fireworks show the park displays each night that are fabulous. My family even got to see them from the Top of the World Lounge, the highest floor at Bay Lake Tower that is specifically for Disney Vacation Club Members!

Numerous other activities are worth to try throughout the rest of Disney World. Notably in Animal Kingdom, I love riding Expedition Everest. Another fast and active roller coaster, it takes you on a wild adventure, even shooting backward at one point! In addition, the new Pandora world designed off Avatar is breathtaking. The Na'vi River Journey takes you through beautiful, bright, and impressively realistic scenery while the Avatar Flight of Passage engages you in the world of Avatar, flying you through a simulation to the movie's whimsical places.

In Epcot, home to the giant golf ball, my preference is the World Showcase, bringing together a variety of distinctive cultures into one area. From Norway to Morocco and Japan to Italy, you can become immersed in different cuisines, styles, and architecture. Moving over to Hollywood Studios, famous productions such as Indiana Jones and Star Wars perform a number of shows. Speaking of Star Wars, a now brand new area is dedicated to this galactic world. It was really cool to step foot on a replica of the Millennium Falcon and ride through space fighting off the First Order!

Golf Ball at Epcot Star Wars Production at Hollywood Studios

Equally compelling is Disney Springs, a shop-filled, restaurant-packed center. One of the times we were there, we ate at a Japanese restaurant called Morimoto Asia which had some of the best Asian food I have ever had. Owned by the famous Iron Chef Morimoto, there is sushi, ramen, Peking duck, dumplings, and much more! We have also enjoyed eating at the BOATHOUSE, supplying fresh fish entrees, steaks, and sugary desserts. And, don't forget the World of Disney store. One of the largest Disney stores that exist, my family has found lots of wonderful souvenirs there!

Not only is Disney World filled with fantastical adventure, but there are a variety of other Disney experiences you can take part in. Some of my family's favorite vacations included sailing on a Disney cruise! Depending on the type of cruise you partake in, you can visit several amazing places. Particularly, my family has journeyed to the Mediterranean, Alaska, and the Bahamas (paired with Castaway Cay) using the Disney Cruise Line. I loved sightseeing these unique parts of the world. In the Bahamas, we were able to take an exciting Segway tour, capture a baby killer whale jumping out of the water on photo as well as a cub catching a salmon in Alaska, and touring the ruins of Pompeii in the Mediterranean!

Segway Tour on Bahamas Cruise Baby Killer Whale in Alaska

Additionally, we have traveled to Disneyland. Much like Disney World, the park has rides, shops, restaurants, shows, and character meet-and-greets. In fact, you'll find a lot of the same rides and stores that you would find at Disney World. There is one major difference: Sleeping Beauty's Castle takes the place of Cinderella's!

Other Disney-related areas we have visited are Hawaii and Hilton Head. As previously mentioned in my blog on the 50 States, we lodged in Disney's Aulani Resort in Oahu, Hawaii. With spectacular views and the best weather, we swam at the beach, attended a luau with Hawaiian dancers, and ate some delicious food including Mickey-shaped sweets and purple ube bread! The resort also supplied a relaxing lazy river, a soothing two-layer Jacuzzi, and a snorkeling area where we swam with some colorful fish!

Now, did you know that Disney had stepped foot into one of America's most famous getaways? Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort is a favorite of ours. Having our own little condo, we had access to a private beach, a fishing dock, hammocks, and other games such as shuffleboard. We made s'mores over a fire pit and even watched The Good Dinosaur that was projected onto a screen outside!

Dock at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort

Disney has become a huge part of my family and I's lives and has taken us through some of the most memorable experiences. I love feeling transported to a whole other world during Disney trips and will definitely continue incorporating it into other travels!