03/01/2026
This was more than just another vacation in 2005. It was a childhood dream come true.
We visited Magic Kingdom for 1 day, and it was such an amazing experience. While the visit was over 20 year ago, I still remember so many little details about the first time I stepped foot in a Disney park.
When we were boarding the monorail from the TTC, a woman wearing orange flip flops stood in front of us. As she stepped from the platform to the monorail one of them fell directly through the crack between. I don’t know how she handled that, but I fully believe it was karma for thinking flip flops were appropriate theme park attire.
The first ride we did was Stitch’s Great Escape. Afterwards, I immediately asked for a Disney World Tourist Stitch stuffed animal, and I still have him today.
At that point in my life I was very scared of heights and roller coasters. Big Thunder Mountain became the first “real” coaster I had ever ridden, and is still one of my favorites in all of Walt Disney World today.
I had the chance to meet so many characters from my favorite movies and shows. Meeting Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Rafiki, Timon, King Louie, and of course, Mickey Mouse made all of the movies come to life in a way like never before.
It was very cold while we were there, too, and we were severely underprepared to the point that we went to Walmart the night before to buy warmer clothes.
Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management was running, and I was very confused on my next trip 8 years later when Zazu was not a part of the show. Though, probably for the best if the internet is correct.
We ate dinner at Pecos Bill’s. I distinctly remember all of us eating cheeseburgers. Another shock on a future trip when I wanted that nostalgia factor and was hit with a Tex-Mex menu.
Wishes closed out the night and was the most spectacular fireworks show I had ever seen. That is, until Happily Ever After came along.
That trip opened my eyes to a world of Disney that I had never experienced before, and changed my life forever. And I haven’t looked back since.