📍 Orlando, Florida · 🗓 5 days · 🎢 Disney + Medieval Times
Highlights: Magic Kingdom, Icon Park, City Walk, Daytona Beach, Medieval Times
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Why Orlando?
I mean do you even need to ask? Like It's Orlando! Who would not jump into the opportunity on a vacation in Orlando, Florida?
Ok. Firstly, If you know me, I always have, and always will, create a Google Slide or PowerPoint outlining how I envision the trip will go. Now, it seems that some individuals aren't fond of this approach, and that's perfectly fine. However, if you're one of those people, please inform me so I can opt not to travel with you. Now, I don't mean to imply that everything on the presentation is set in stone, but it's advantageous to have a general idea of what you'd like to do and experience, allowing for minor adjustments along the way. It's far better than arriving at your destination without any plans and wasting time deciding on activities, meals, and so forth. Alright, I will end it here for now.
As my shirt says, I was done adulting. So what did I do? I went to Disney World!! Yes, I went to other places but It's Disney! I had to start off with that.
Day 1
Arrival Day
Arrival day was mostly about settling in — picking up our rental car, checking into our resort, grabbing food, and enjoying dinner at Twenty Pho Hour, which I considered the coolest spot ever. A huge shoutout to my incredible friend Mili for hosting us, showing us around, and clearing her whole weekend for us.
Day 2
The Day before Disney!
This day was a lot of fun!
First things first: the gym! Now, my brother is a serious sleeper. I thought I loved to catch some Z's, but he takes it to another level! Despite our plans to hit the fitness center first, he decided to opt for extra sleep instead, so I ended up going solo. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the solitude! It gave me the chance to explore the resort while I spent about an hour lifting weights. I'm working on regaining some of the strength I lost last year from running before I dive back into marathon training, which, for some reason, I impulsively signed up for. I'll manage, but sometimes I let excitement get the best of me, leading to decisions I might later regret. Anyway, here's how the day unfolded.
After my gym session, we got ready and headed out for brunch since it was nearing lunchtime. We settled on the classic yet reliable IHOP, where I indulged in my usual pancakes.
Next, we made our way to Icon Wheel and the Museum of Illusions, where we had an absolute blast! The museum was particularly fascinating; it's incredible how the simplest things can bring me so much joy and excitement. As dinner time approached, we met up with Mili and grabbed a bite at Brother Jimmy's BBQ, enjoying some delicious food and even snagging a free printed photo.
To conclude our day on a high note and ensure we get enough sleep before our Disney adventure the next day, Mili took us to City Walk, which we accessed via a boat ride. City Walk is known for its vibrant atmosphere, diverse dinning options, lively entertainment venues, and thrilling nightlife. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Orlando, Florida.
Icon Wheel picture
City Walk
Day 3
Let's Go To Disney!
My first time at Disney World, and it was everything. The PhotoPass was 100% worth it — it let me actually enjoy myself instead of hunting for someone to take pictures. We parked at the Transportation and Ticket Center and took the Monorail in, about 20–30 minutes to the entrance.
"The first thing that caught my eye was the castle, right on Main Street — it was beautiful in all honesty."
One thing first. It is 100% worth it to purchase the PhotoPass. Most of my pictures were all captured from the photopass. It also allowed me to focus on enjoying myself and not spending most of my time trying to find someone to take pictures of us.
Here is how the day went. We got up late and honestly, I needed that sleep because I knew how long today was going to be as well as the amount of energy we needed for the day. So, yes we had planned on getting there earlier based on some blog posts I read but nah, it didn't happen that way and that's fine. I would say we got to Disney around noon. We of course got some food first before getting there and that was the best decision.
To get to the actual park, Magic Kingdom, you can't drive directly there. Instead, and it really wasn't complicated at all, like how the blog posts I read made it sound. There will be signs on the road directing you to the parking lot for the park that you are visiting for the day. So, we parked at the Transportation and Ticket Center and from there we took the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom entrance. Overall, it took about 20-30 minutes to get to the entrance and it didn't take long to get into the actual park after that.
This is where the fun begun.
Right away, we got in line to get pictures taken in front of the Magic Kingdom sign. I mean, we gotta make use of the photopass right away lol. And then we proceeded inside the park. As I walked into the park, the first thing that caught my eye was the castle, right on main street. Oh it was beautiful in all honesty.
To keep this brief, I'll skip the details, but overall, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in a long time. I was able to relax, meet some beloved characters, hop on rides, and immerse myself in this first-time experience. What really made everything smooth and organzied was the 'My Disney Experience' app. It provided all the crucial information like ride statuses, locations, height requirements, photopass perks (photos instantly available upon tickey scan), upcoming shows, and more.
Lastly, the Enchantment Magic Kingdom Fireworks were absolutely magical. It was the perfect conclusion to a fantastic day at the park.
Day 4
Beach Day
We started the day by meeting up with Mili and another friend for brunch at the McDonald's with the largest entertainment center. Following our meal and a exploration at the McDonald's, we got on the road to the beach! The drive to Daytona Beach took about an hour and ten minutes. One cool things about this beach is being able to park right on the beach for a fee of $20, if my memory serves me right.
Our time at the beach was spent soacking in the sun and enjoying the beach vibe. As the sun began descent, we gathered our belongings and made our way to Bahama Breeze for dinner.
Day 5
Queen of The Tournament!
Yes, you read that right! I was crowned the Queen of the Tournament! I mean, what are the chances of me buying my first VIP ticket to this show, attending for the third time but in various locations, and then receiving the first rose and being crowned the Queen of the Tournament?
My Knight🖤
Medieval Times offers a themed dinner show where six knights engage in battles both on horseback and on foot. The audience actively participates by cheering for different knights, with each section assigned a specific color upon check-in. With approximately nine locations across the United States, the dinner menu typically includes tomato soup and garlic bread, a hearty half chicken, sweet buttered corn, herb-roasted potatoes, two rounds of non-alcoholic drinks, a changing dessert selection, and coffee.
The show itself was truly spectacular! Both Yaw and I were fully immersed in the experience, seated in the yellow section (which happens to be my favorite color, specifically mustard yellow). At one point, each knight received a certain number of roses, which they kiss before tossing them to select individuals in the audience. I was fortunate to be the first person in my section to receive a rose from the yellow knight. Towards the end of the tournament, our yellow-knight, who sadly lost the tournament, bestowed upon me a special sash, declaring me the "Queen of the Tournament."
I highly recommend attending one of these shows if you ever get the chance! Opting for the VIP ticket is definitely worth it; being up close to all the action adds to the excitement, and it even includes a souvenir photo taken after you receive your ticket.
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