My First Time at Disney:
Here’s Everything I Learned
In 2024, I packed up my life and moved to sunny Florida. A year later, I realized something kind of shocking: even though I’ve loved all things Disney since I was little, I had never actually stepped foot inside the parks. The closest I’d come to was Typhoon Lagoon and let’s be real, that doesn’t really count. My husband technically went as a kid, but he remembers about as much as I do. Very long way of saying we are two grown-ups heading into Disney for the very first time!
You might be wondering why it took me until my 30s to finally visit Disney. Honestly? There wasn’t a specific reason. For years, a Disney trip just sounded like an overwhelming amount of money for something that felt geared toward kids. But after finally visiting Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and even sneaking over to Universal Studios (I know, I know it’s not Disney, but it’s hard to ignore when it’s right next door), my perspective has totally shifted.
Was it expensive? Absolutely.
Was it worth it? Also yes.
Would I go back? Probably, but not tomorrow. One trip doesn’t make me a diehard “Disney Adult” or a season pass holder, but I finally understand the appeal.
Planning:
When my husband and I finally decided on Disney for our fall 2025 vacation, I knew one thing for sure: I had to experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Getting Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas as part of my very first Disney memory? Absolute no-brainer. That movie has been my all-time favorite since I was a kid, I can pretty much quote it line by line without even trying.
Tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary come with early access to Magic Kingdom on the day of the party. It’s not a full park day, but that didn’t bother me. Instead, it gave us the perfect excuse to explore Disney Springs, which friends swore up and down was a “must-do.”
From there, we mapped out a long weekend: Friday drive in and hit a park, Saturday another park, Sunday Halloween Party, Monday drive back home. Next came the big question: which other parks to visit? For my husband, a lifelong Star Wars fan, Hollywood Studios was an easy yes. He even debated building a lightsaber for months leading up to the trip (spoiler: the temptation was real, but he decided against it in the end). And since we’re both Harry Potter fans, Universal Studios also made the cut - what HP fan doesn’t want to see Diagon Alley in real life?
Now that we had our park lineup set, it was time for the fun part - shopping! I wanted our outfits to feel a little themed without going full costume. For Hollywood Studios, my husband and I both rocked Star Wars shirts his linked here and mine linked here. It was such an easy way to add a touch of Disneybounding without going over the top.
For Universal, we kept it more low-key. Sadly, my Slytherin shirt didn’t arrive in time (heartbreaking for my inner witch), but my husband totally made up for it with this one. It’s simple, comfortable, and honestly I was obsessed I wanted one for myself.
Lastly, we had our Halloween Party fits and they were some of my favorites of the whole trip. One of my friends (a true Disney adult) sent me a pair of Halloween-themed ears to celebrate my very first visit. To match the vibe, my husband and I wore almost-matching Mickey and Minnie ghost shirts (linked here). We went with the pepper and yam shades, but while wandering the park we spotted a bunch of other couples rocking the same design in different colors. It was such a fun, festive touch and made the night feel even more special.
Outfits aside, we made sure to grab a few Disney trip essentials before heading out. Comfy shoes were a must, and honestly they saved me. I also packed a little pocket fan which I used way more than I’d like to admit. Standing in line under the Florida sun is no joke. A small crossbody bag rounded out my must-haves, perfect for carrying the basics without feeling weighed down.
If (or when) I ever go back, I’ll be bringing a poncho from home. I ended up caving and buying one in the parks for $12 when a surprise storm rolled in. Fun fact: rain doesn’t scare anyone off. Guests will hold their spots in line, poncho or not, and you’ll find yourself sticking it out too.
The Experience:
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios was hands-down our favorite park. Walking through that tunnel and suddenly stepping into Galaxy’s Edge was absolutely mind-blowing. We had barely taken a few steps when we stumbled upon the Mandalorian and baby Grogu. People were lining up for photos, and even though I was nervous, Mando must have noticed my face because he walked right up to me for a quick chat. Honestly, I was way too distracted by Grogu to process much. When I reached toward him, their bodyguard immediately jumped in with a firm “Nobody touches the baby!” and I was like, whoa, okay friend. I shook Mando’s hand and went on my way, grinning like little a kid.
We rode both Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and they were incredible. On Smuggler’s Run you get to choose your role pilot, gunner, or engineer. My husband and I ended up as engineers while a family we were paired with got to be pilots and gunners. Even though we didn’t know them, it was such a fun shared experience. Rise of the Resistance had a brutal two-hour wait, but honestly? Totally worth it. It’s one of the best rides I’ve ever been on, period.
For lunch, we stopped at Ronto Roasters. My husband ordered the classic Ronto Wrap, while I went for the Zuchi Wrap. The spicy carrot and chickpea mix in mine absolute chef’s kiss delicious. We ended up combining the sausage from his wrap with the veggies from mine (minus the zucchini sticks) and it was the ultimate hack. Highly recommend!
Snack time took us to Kat Saka’s Kettle, where we tried the Buttered Blue Grains and the Cold Brew Black Caf. The blue grains? Basically soggy popcorn and a hard pass. But the Cold Brew Black Caf? Amazing. It was exactly the caffeine boost I needed after a 5 a.m. wake-up.
Outside of Galaxy’s Edge, we made our way to Toy Story Land for the Slinky Dog Dash. By some miracle, the ride was down for maintenance, and suddenly reopened just as we were walking by. We hopped right in line, and it ended up being such a blast.
By mid-afternoon, our legs were toast. We grabbed a couple of the classic Mickey ice cream bars, found a bench, and took a much needed break. (Fun fact: we clocked 17,000 steps that day, which blew my mind.)
We finished the day with a string of classics: the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (indoor = perfect storm shelter), and finally the Fantasmic! show to cap off the night. Truly the perfect ending to a magical day.
Universal Studios
Let me start off by saying: I wanted to love Universal Studios, but in the end it was my least favorite of the three parks. Don’t get me wrong there were definitely highlights, but compared to Disney, it just didn’t capture me in the same way.
Like most fans, we made a beeline straight to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley. Walking through the alley was absolutely stunning, and it really does feel like you’ve stepped into the films. Our first ride was Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which completely blew me away. Watching POV videos on YouTube did not prepare me for how immersive it would feel in person.
Afterward, we browsed the shops and tried to step into Ollivanders. We caught the wand show, which was fun, but the shop itself was wall-to-wall with people. My husband was excited to pick out a wand and try the interactive magic around the park, but I quickly got overwhelmed by the crowd and needed to step outside. That was the moment I realized just how long it’s been since I’ve been in such a packed space since COVID. We left wand-less, which was a little disappointing, but still enjoyed wandering through Diagon Alley before heading out for lunch.
We settled on Finnegan’s Bar & Grill, just across from the Revenge of the Mummy ride. The food wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was a solid sit-down break from the heat. As we ate, we even caught a Blues Brothers street performance happening right outside the restaurant, which was a fun surprise.
From there, we made our way to Springfield and hopped on The Simpsons Ride and honestly, it ended up being my favorite ride in the whole park. Definitely recommend it! We wandered a bit more, had a funny run-in with a squirrel inside one of the shops, and caught a small parade.
We rounded out the day with Men in Black: Alien Attack, a fun interactive ride where you get to shoot aliens, and TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D. The Transformers ride itself was cool, but the air conditioning seemed broken in the queue, so my trusty pocket fan earned its keep.
One thing I noticed about Universal Studios is how many of the attractions rely on 3D motion simulators. Instead of traditional roller coasters, you spend a lot of time being tossed around by screens and effects. By the time we left, my back was feeling it.
Magic Kingdom (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parade)
At last, the main event: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! Upon checking in, we were handed bright pink bracelets to show we were party guests, along with a Halloween trick-or-treat bag. I haven’t gone trick or treating in years, so I was beyond excited.
Trick or treating didn’t start until 6:30 p.m., so we hit a few rides first. The Haunted Mansion had one of the most interactive wait lines we encountered all weekend, with hilarious headstones and some that released different sounds when touched. The ride itself was a perfectly spooky, family-friendly experience though there’s a quick dash to get seated! Next, we tried Pirates of the Caribbean, which felt like stepping into an entirely different world. The animatronics were next-level impressive and really added to the immersive experience.
We wandered toward Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, only to realize mid-line that we were about to get SOAKED. Luckily, I had packed a poncho from Hollywood Studios just in case. Seated in the first row, we got drenched, but still had a blast! Note to self for next time: pack extra waterproof makeup. After some bathroom touch-ups with fellow partygoers, I was ready to tackle the trick or treating stations.
The candy lines looked intense, but they moved surprisingly fast. After hitting a few stations, my husband suggested grabbing some real food. We stopped at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe for a burrito bowl (not my favorite choice), then hopped over to the Golden Oak Outpost for beignets. Light, sweet, and absolutely loaded with powdered sugar, they were worth the mess! We even went back for seconds before the park closed.
After more trick or treating and wandering the shops, we found seats for the parade. While it had a slow start due to people crossing the street, once it got going, it was spectacular! My only issue: a lack of Nightmare Before Christmas characters, especially since Jack was one of the hosts. Nearby, the smell of popcorn drew us in, and I have to say the Magic Kingdom popcorn is far superior to Hollywood Studios.
Post-parade, we tried the mini pumpkin pie churros at Pecos Bill (disappointing). Then we headed to the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, which was absolutely incredible probably even better than the parade if you ask me. The songs, the performances, everything was so fun! We tried to wander a bit more around the kingdom before the fireworks. We ended up getting a little side-tracked and arriving a little late for the show, but was still able to catch part of the show near the castle. By this point, we were exhausted. The Tron ride had a 90-minute wait (which seemed to be the standard time all day), so we skipped it, did a final round of trick or treating to fill our bags, and called it a night.
Where to Stay
Even though we’re Floridians now, we still needed a place to stay for the weekend. I asked my Instagram followers for recommendations, and we decided on Disney’s Yacht Club Resort based on the unanimous votes that rolled through and all I can say is WOW and thank you! This place is absolutely stunning, and the service is top-notch.
The resort offers some fabulous complimentary transportation options to the parks. For example, we took a boat to Hollywood Studios and a bus to Magic Kingdom, both included with our stay.
Dining is another highlight. We were dying to try their steakhouse but ended up falling asleep after long park days. Instead, we grabbed small bites from their lounge, which were delicious and perfectly convenient. In the mornings, we picked up coffee and light bites from the market. While we didn’t get a chance to experience it ourselves, the pool area reportedly looks incredible.
Our room faced the water, so each morning and evening I sat on the balcony just soaking in the view. It was quiet, magical, and exactly the kind of relaxing retreat you want after a full day in the parks.
