ONE DAY IN MAGIC KINGDOM

I remember when I first learned about Disney World.

It’s the 90s and I am sprawled out on our navy plaid couch, eyes glued to the box television as a commercial flashes across the screen. A little girl answers a phone call from Goofy, then you see her family vacationing in Disney World. After a few scenes of what looks like a memorable day, she seems a little down until she gets a glimpse of Mickey Mouse. Beaming, she glances up and says, “I’ve been waiting my whole life to meet you.”

My adolescent self had stars in her eyes and I have ever since. I couldn’t help but hope to go there; and as I grew up, I couldn’t wait to bring my kids one day.

So, when my Mickey-loving, Woody-toting, Rapunzel-watching daughter turned 3 and we had flight credits to use and credit card points saved up, Disney was on my mind.

PLANNING FOR DISNEY

With the help of a friend who works for A Pair of Ears Travel, we booked a last-minute, quick trip set for January 2022. The plan was to fly into Orlando, spend the following day in Magic Kingdom and fly home the next morning. Sadly, our plan was derailed when our family got COVID and we had to cancel the trip. (Thankfully, we hadn’t told our daughter after we were exposed just in case.)

One year later, almost to the day, we decided to try again–our trip was set for January 2023! We told our daughter on Christmas morning and began the countdown.

We flew in to Orlando and used MEARS to transport us to our hotel, All-Star Movies. I would absolutely recommend this resort. It was adorable, affordable, and it had everything you could want–a large Disney gift shop, food court with lots of options, an outdoor pool, a park and more.

After we settled into our room, we decided to eat a quick dinner in the food court at our resort and rest for our big day ahead.

ONE DAY IN MAGIC KINGDOM

That title should probably have an asterisk by it that says “with our 4-year-old daughter.” A day in Magic Kingdom can be spent countless ways depending on the ages and interests of those you’re traveling with. For example, we knew that we would spend the majority of our time in Fantasyland.

Here’s what worked well for the three of us on our recent trip:

MORNING

• Breakfast with Winnie-the-Pooh at Crystal Palace
  This was absolutely worth it. You can help yourself to a delicious buffet–complete with Mickey waffles–while you wait for Pooh and his friends to come around and greet you.

• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
  This was first on my daughter’s list. She is obsessed with Toy Story and since we were not going to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios (where Toy Story Land is), we knew we had to make this ride a priority.

• Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

• Character Meet & Greet: Rapunzel and Tiana

• Mickey’s PhilharMagic

• “Festival of Fantasy” Parade
  We were so lucky to walk out of Mickey’s PhilharMagic right into the start of a parade in front of Cinderella’s Castle.

• Lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table
  We made the CRT reservations a couple months in advance. I probably wouldn’t say it was a “must-do,” but it was a neat experience being inside the castle. When we walked in, Charlotte got to meet Cinderella before going up to dine. It was a great way to break up a busy day, giving us time to sit for a longer lunch. The view looking over Fantasyland was beautiful and the food was delicious, but it was definitely the priciest thing we did.

AFTERNOON

• Balloon vendor on Main Street
  All my daughter could talk about was getting a balloon. It may have been her favorite thing all day! We got a balloon on and walked up and down Main Street!

• Dumbo The Flying Elephant

• Prince Charming Regal Carousel

• Peter Pan’s Flight

• Entertainment: Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire
  This was a show on the castle stage. Charlotte loved sitting on her daddy’s shoulders to watch the characters dance and sing!

• Snack in Fantasyland
  There are snacks everywhere! We opted for a Mickey-shaped pretzel and a Mickey-shaped ice-cream sandwich–because everything is better when it’s shaped like Mickey Mouse!

• The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh

EVENING

• Main Street shopping
  We went back to Main Street and moseyed in and out of stores selling the sweetest memorabilia. You’ll definitely want to factor souvenirs into your budget.

• Dinner at Pinocchio Village Haus
  As it got darker outside, we decided to grab some an early dinner before going to get a good spot for the firework show. This was the perfect little pizza place with some great outdoor seating.

• Disney Enchantment
  This is Disney’s firework show and an absolute MUST in my opinion. It is one of the most magical things you’ll do when you’re in Magic Kingdom. And, watching the awe on my daughter’s face was just as magical as the show! We did plan to find a spot on Main Street at about 7:30. We knew the show was going to start at 8:15, but we wanted to make sure we had a nice view.

• Meet & Greet: Mickey Mouse
  We could not leave Disney without meeting the Mouse! Although it was late and we were tired, it was worth it to get a hug from Mickey himself.

TIPS:

1. Use a Disney travel agent. Your travel agent will be the expert on everything when it comes to planning your special vacation! They will be most helpful when it comes to selecting a hotel, navigating strollers, breaking down your day, explaining Genie+, scheduling dining experiences and more.

2. Download and learn how to use app beforehand. I wish this was something I would have done a little bit more. Thankfully on the bus ride into the park I sat next to someone who showed me how to utilize the features of the app so you can see what times. A YouTube video may have been helpful to watch before our trip.

3. Order Magic Bands. This is a cute way to tell your kid(s) about your upcoming trip. There are so many fun colors and characters to choose from. When you put these on, you can unlock your hotel room, scan yourself into the park, make dining or souvenir purchases, scan into your Lightening Lane reservations, etc. You are also able to use them on returning trips to Disney!

4. Get Genie+. We did purchase Genie+ with each of our park tickets. It’s about $25/day. We did this because we knew we were only going for one day and didn’t want to waste a lot of time waiting in lines. Genie+ allows you to “reserve” attractions ahead of time. When you arrive in your allotted time-slot, you can scan your Magic Band and go through the Lightening Lane to breeze through the line more quickly. (The only downside was that you can only have 2 things reserved at a time. Once you finished one of the things on your reservation list, then you’d be allowed to book something else.)

5. Build in moments of rest. I was thankful that between rides and experiences, we had sit-down time as well. It was nice to grab a snack and relax or have a dining experience planned in the middle of all the busy!

6. Plan out your day beforehand to the best of your abilities. The park is broken up into 6 areas: Main Street, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland. It’s a good idea to write down the rides and experiences you and your crew are interested in and create a loose plan in order to make the most of your time.

7. Buy a Disney autograph book. All the characters you meet will sign your child’s autograph book and it’s a special keepsake!

Even just our one day was one of the most magical days! Let me know your favorite things to do in Magic Kingdom and your tips and tricks!

While I continue to reminisce about our wonderful time at Disney World, I am dreaming about our next visit!

OUR STAY AT THE BEATNIK

As summer 2021 was approaching, my husband and I knew we wanted to plan a short weekend getaway just the two of us. After searching for the familiar Gulf Coast beach trip we always take, a friend told us about a tiny hotel, The Beatnik, located in Ocean Springs, MS.

Neither of us had been to Ocean Springs, and after looking at the photos we were sold and booked our stay for June.

One of our favorite things to do is explore a new city together. We enjoyed every minute of learning all that Ocean Springs and The Beatnik had to offer.

DAY ONE

When we arrived in Ocean Springs, our room wasn’t ready yet, giving us plenty of time to explore before we settled in.

We drove in around lunchtime, so after some shopping at Sugar and Spice, a sweet children’s store, we were ready to eat! We decided on a restaurant called Glory Bound Gyro Co. with a line wrapped around the building–and we knew why after our first bite! It was refreshing and delicious and a great start to our trip!

Our room was ready after lunch, so we headed to settle in at The Beatnik. (Most everything is a short drive away, or is easy to bike/walk to depending on what it is.)

I fell in love with our tiny hotel right away. The Beatnik is a set of four individual, private cabins, each with their own screened-in porch overlooking the shared pool space. Its features were so modern and unique–beautiful high ceilings, plenty of natural light, indoor and outdoor shower, cozy reading nook, stocked coffee bar–it was dreamy and just what we needed!

After unpacking and laying by the pool, we headed to Mosaic for dinner and Quakes for some rainy-day milkshakes.

We were exhausted and spent our first evening resting and watching movies in our cozy little cabin for two.

Highlights:

• Glory Bound Gyro Co. (highly recommend the classic gyro)

• Snapping photos of our precious, tiny hotel

• Yummy Quakes milkshakes

DAY TWO

There is a tiny shop called The Greenhouse on Porter located right behind The Beatnik cabins. It takes 30 seconds to walk there, so we woke up and had to pop by to order some to-go biscuits, which were absolutely delicious. (Bonus: If you love to read, there is a Little Free Library right outside the greenhouse for you to browse through!)

We hopped in the car and drove to Bright-Eyed Brewery for some coffee and waffles. Savory biscuits, sweet waffles, local coffee–the perfect way to start the day.

After a rainstorm the previous night, we decided to take advantage of the nice weather and have some pool time. The atmosphere was so perfect for reading and sunbathing, and the pool was the perfect temperature for cannonballs!

After getting ready, we wanted to grab a bite and shop. So, we headed to Eat Drink Love for lunch. It was incredible. I think we could have eaten every meal there if we wanted to. It’s charming and quaint and everything on their menu looked divine!

After our bellies were full, it was time to see all the shops that Ocean Springs had to offer. There are two popular streets for shopping: Government Street and Main Street.

My favorite spots were:

• Tribe (clothing boutique)

• Buff City Soap (handmade soaps, lotions, etc.)

• The Candy Cottage (tiny local candy store)

• French Kiss Pastries (great place to grab a coffee and quick dessert)

• Miner’s Toy Shop (adorable children’s toy store)

We definitely shopped til we dropped and wanted some time to rest before dinner, so we went back to The Beatnik for a much-needed nap.

A restaurant called Rooftop Tacos and Tequila caught our eye earlier in the day, so we knew we wanted to go there for dinner. It had two stories and the second story had a balcony with live music. The queso was absolutely incredible and it was a fun place to eat and people-watch.

For dessert, we grabbed popsicles from Pop Brothers, a cute popsicle cart in the street, and headed back to our tiny hotel for another night of movie watching!

Highlights:

• Our sweet and savory, local breakfast

• Enjoying The Beatnik pool

• Stocking up on soaps, candy and trinkets and the local stores

• Queso at Rooftops

• Lavender Honey popsicle

DAY THREE

I woke up and read Harry Potter on the porch while my husband brought back coffee from District Coffee and biscuits from The Greenhouse on Porter. (The biscuits were so good, I had to have them twice. AND they make new flavors every day.)

Sadly, this was our last day since we were just coming for a short weekend trip. We spent the morning packing up and getting ready. Before we headed out of town, we had heard nothing but good things about the TatoNut Shop–fresh, local donuts. Judging by the line wrapped down the block, we knew they would probably be worth the wait. And, they were.

After hopping back into a few stores, we grabbed lunch at Lil’ Market Bagels before heading out of town. We are big bagel fans.

Highlights:

• Reading on the porch

• Biscuits and coffee

• TatoNut glazed donut and milk

Our biggest realization was that this is probably not the place to come for a white-sand, blue-water beach vacation. We were glad our hotel had a pool because we were able to enjoy the summer weather and cool off in the water without needing to go to the beach.

Having said that, we will definitely return one day! Ocean Springs is a quaint little city with lots to offer, and we absolutely loved our stay at The Beatnik–highly recommend!

OUR STAY AT THE PETER HUNTER HOUSE

After my husband, Joel, and I decided to book a small getaway trip, we began researching. We were looking for a nearby city–somewhere we could relax, unwind, rest and recharge.

We googled, read blogs and asked for suggestions. Through social media, a friend shared that her mom had just opened up a Bed & Breakfast in Natchez, MS called the Peter Hunter House. After reading about the home and asking a few questions, we were sold. We booked a stay for 4 days in June.

We were so eager for the trip, especially since this was our first time to Natchez and our first time staying in a Bed & Breakfast.

Our stay at the Peter Hunter House was everything we didn’t know we needed. We couldn’t wait to get home and share our experience with others. The charm of the city, the beauty of the home, and the sweet hospitality of Mrs. Hydie (the owner) were unmatched.

DAY ONE

After a scenic almost-2-hour drive, we pulled up to the Peter Hunter House and were quickly welcomed by Mrs. Hydie. After hellos and unloading the car, we walked inside and the house took my breath away. (I felt so lucky to call it home for the next few days.)

The house boasted with many features from its original construction in 1849. The intricate pieces of art, I would later learn, were the work of Mrs. Hydie’s grandfather. The uniquely gorgeous pieces of furniture begged you to just be–to sit, stay, appreciate, read, drink tea, slow down.

Mrs. Hydie showed us to our room and gave us a great late-lunch suggestion–The Camp. It’s right on the Mississippi River and the food is delicious! (We quickly noticed, as Mrs. Hydie shared, everyone in Natchez is incredibly friendly.)

We unpacked and took a much-needed nap, then played frisbee in the front yard before getting ready to go to dinner. Natchez Brewing Co. was a short walk from our home and we had heard nothing but good things about their pizza. If you read my blog about New York, you know we had to try it out!

Highlights:

• Fresh-cut flowers all over our room

• Taking photos of every square inch of the house

• Our cozy afternoon nap

DAY TWO

Natural light filled our room as we slowly woke up. (Isn't it lovely to slowly wake up?) After reading and getting ready for the day, our breakfast was promptly delivered–frittatas topped with edible flowers and a side of fruit. I didn’t know breakfast could be so beautiful.

The house has three rooms upstairs for guests to stay in, along with a common room, which includes a table and chairs and a connected balcony with seating. Mrs. Hydie made sure to always have this room stocked with coffee, tea, fresh water, fruit, snacks and treats!

Did I mention that the most glorious cold front came through on the exact two full days we were in Natchez? Thank you, Jesus. We couldn’t have dreamt of better weather. Mrs. Hydie provided us with two bikes–essential–and we were off to explore the city.

We saw so many things on our to-do list: St. Mary’s Basilica, First Presbyterian Church, and many local shops and restaurants. We rode to the Natchez City Cemetery. It was absolutely gorgeous and has tombstones dating back to the 1700s. Two hours of biking (up and down hills that we Louisianians aren’t used to) will work up an appetite, so we stopped at Farrah’s for some incredible authentic Mediterranean food.

Post-lunch, we biked along the the river, and all the way to Arlington, an old abandoned home on 55 acres of property.

The busy morning had us craving some down time. That is the best part about staying at the Peter Hunter House–even just being in the house is both exciting and relaxing. Listening to your husband play guitar while you drink tea and read in a bubble bath has to be the exact recipe for relaxation.

Later in the afternoon, we rode our bikes to Steampunk Coffee Roasters for an afternoon pick-me-up and went shopping on Main and Franklin streets. (Two of our favorite stores were Darby’s–you have to try the rocky road fudge and One of a Kind Gift Shop. But, there are lots of cute antique stores as well!)

We had to grab some famous tamales at Fat Mama’s before going home to get ready for our evening. Around 7:30pm, we went to the river and played frisbee until the sun began to set. Watching the sunset along the Mississippi River is an absolute must.

Our plan was to drop off our bikes at the house and walk to dinner, but when we got home, Joel said he had to use the restroom. I told him I would wait for him downstairs (simply because the rooms are gorgeous and just fun to be in), but he insisted I go upstairs with him. After our yes-no dance, I finally followed him upstairs to see why he needed to “use the restroom.”

A private candlelit dinner was set up on our balcony. Yes, in the perfect 65-degree weather.

I was absolutely shocked.

Mrs. Hydie had prepared a four-course meal to serve us, starting with a delicious appetizer of French bread, goat cheese with herbs, tomatoes and olive oil, followed by arugula salads. The main entree was a gorgeous French-inspired chicken pot pie with roasted broccoli, and bread pudding with sea salt caramel gelato for dessert. (Is your mouth watering?)

At dinner, I learned that Joel had contacted Mrs. Hydie after we booked our trip and asked her about setting up a special romantic dinner to surprise me–so incredibly sweet. And, Mrs. Hydie was happy and excited to participate!

We ended the night playing a vintage Spider-Man board game we got at one of the antique stores for $6!

Highlights:

• St. Mary’s Basilica (absolutely gorgeous inside)

• Natchez National Cemetery

• Farrah’s

• Arlington

• Sunset over the river

• Private balcony dinner

DAY THREE

We woke up and went for a run. We ran along the river and back home just in time for breakfast–a hearty bowl of grits, runny eggs and bacon.

Since our previous morning was fairly busy, we wanted to move at a slower pace this day. We filled our morning with guitar playing, balcony painting, daydreaming and reading.

We lunched at a local favorite, Cotton Alley Cafe, and went back home for a rest before our next outing. Prior to our trip, we contacted Mrs. Hydie about touring a local home and she got us tickets to Longwood. It’s a short 8-minute drive from the Peter Hunter House, but you feel like you’re in a different world when you drive onto the property.

We parked and decided to “walk the grounds” before bringing our tickets to the Gift Shop. We didn’t get very far before I walked right into another surprise–a romantic picnic set up under a tree for Joel and I. Mrs. Hydie and Joel had teamed up again! She had pillows and blankets and sheer white sheets hanging from low branches. There was a basket filled with chicken salad, salt & vinegar chips, kabobs generously stacked with olives, artichokes, roasted red peppers and salami, strawberry shortcakes and our favorite–LaCroix! She even packed bubbles! It was a dream.

We ate and laughed and talked and enjoyed the afternoon. We did finally turn in our tickets and toured Longwood. It was built in 1859, with plans to be six stories filled with rooms to host guests and events. Construction halted during the tension of the Civil War, with the basement being the only completed floor. The homeowner sadly died and the rest of the home was never finished. The family has purposefully kept it unfinished, except for the first floor. It was fascinating!

On our way home, we stopped by a few stores and grabbed a chocolate malt from The Malt Shop before heading home.

After a perfectly restful afternoon, we went to the Monmouth Historic Inns & Gardens to walk the grounds before dinner. The building is absolutely gorgeous, and it had a very Anne-of-Green-Gables bridge that made my heart soar!

We dined at Pearl Street Pasta, a Natchez favorite. Full of fried calamari, bruschetta and shrimp pasta, we still had room for Mrs. Hydie’s shortbread cookies and sea salt caramel gelato while we visited with her in the living room. (Mrs. Hydie is a kindred spirit.)

Highlights:

• Running by the river

• Longwood

• Surprise picnic

• The Malt Shop’s chocolate malt

• Monmouth grounds

DAY FOUR

Sigh. Our last morning.

We journaled and read until our breakfast was ready–blueberry pancake casserole and sausage. We devoured every bite while we talked about how sad we were to leave.

I had to take one last divine bubble bath before packing up. Mrs. Hydie texted that the Natchez Farmer’s Market was happening that morning by the river. We rode our bikes down empty-handed and returned with flowers and zucchinis and honey.

After we finished packing, we went to Natchez Coffee Co. for lunch–great sandwiches! Our room was clean, our car was packed, but we had to stay just a little longer, so we sat in the living room and broke out a few of our board games.

Before heading out of town, we stopped at The Donut Shop for a sweet on-the-road treat.

Highlights:

• Blueberry pancake casserole (so yummy)

• Natchez Farmer’s Market

• Natchez Coffee Co.

• Board games in the living room

• The Donut Shop

I encourage anyone looking for a sweet getaway to consider Natchez. It’s a beautiful town with lots of character and friendly people, and your stay can be as slow or fast-paced as you want it to be.

If you plan to go to Natchez, we highly recommend staying at the Peter Hunter House.

Let Mrs. Hydie bless you as she blessed us. Her attention to detail, kindness, helpful recommendations, delicious cooking and incredible hospitality are second to none.

We are already dreaming of when we will return!

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