“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, dreams are forever.”
-Walt Disney
People often ask me, “Why October instead of summer?” The answer is simple. October feels like Disney at its absolute best. The Florida heat begins to ease. Halloween decorations transform Magic Kingdom into something straight out of a storybook. Crowds are often more manageable than peak holiday seasons. But what keeps us coming back every single year is one event:
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
Imagine strolling around a beautiful lake while sampling dishes from more than 30 countries. One booth might serve incredible Canadian cheddar soup. The next offers authentic Brazilian cheese bread. Minutes later, you’re sipping champagne in France before grabbing tacos in Mexico. It feels like traveling around the world without ever leaving Disney.
As someone who genuinely loves travel, and introducing my clients to new cultures, Food & Wine is one of my favorite events anywhere.
No two years are ever exactly the same, which keeps every visit exciting.
“I dream, I test my dreams against my beliefs, I dare to take risks, and I execute my vision to make those dreams come true.”
-Walt Disney
No matter how many times I visit, I still get goosebumps walking underneath the train station onto Main Street U.S.A.
Then you see it. Cinderella Castle. It never gets old. I honestly don’t care how many Disney vacations you’ve taken. That first view always feels magical.
Magic Kingdom isn’t just about rides. It’s about moments. Watching children meet Mickey for the first time. Seeing grandparents experience Disney with their grandchildren. Families laughing together on Pirates of the Caribbean. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder during Happily Ever After while the castle lights up the night sky.
Some of our family’s annual traditions include:
These traditions have become just as important as the attractions themselves.
“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
-Walt Disney
If I had only one day to spend at Walt Disney World… I’m choosing EPCOT. Every single time.
There’s nowhere else quite like it. It’s the perfect blend of Disney storytelling, incredible technology, world cultures, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable attractions. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind may honestly be one of the best roller coasters I’ve ever experienced. Soarin’ still gives me chills. Living with the Land reminds me why Disney Imagineering is so brilliant.
Then there’s World Showcase.
This is where I tell my clients not to rush, slow down, sit in the gardens of Japan, listen to musicians in Morocco, browse shops in Italy, enjoy pastries in France, and talk with Cast Members from around the world. Disney somehow makes the world feel both incredibly large and wonderfully connected.
“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.”
-Walt Disney
As someone who has always loved film and television, I feel like I’m stepping into the movies I grew up watching at Hollywood Studios. Walking into Galaxy’s Edge for the first time genuinely felt surreal. Even if you’re not the biggest Star Wars fan, it’s impossible not to appreciate the incredible detail. Tower of Terror remains one of my all-time favorite Disney attractions. Every ride somehow still surprises me. Toy Story Land makes adults feel like children again.
Hollywood Studios perfectly balances thrilling attractions with immersive storytelling in a way few parks can match.
“That’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again.”
-Walt Disney
If someone tells me they’re skipping Animal Kingdom…I immediately try to change their mind.
This park is breathtaking. It’s not just another zoo. It’s one of Disney’s greatest examples of immersive storytelling. Pandora looks even more incredible after sunset. Flight of Passage remains one of the most emotional attractions Disney has ever built. Then there’s Kilimanjaro Safaris. No ride is ever the same. Every visit offers something different depending on where the animals choose to roam. That’s what makes it so special.
Our family could honestly spend hours simply wandering the trails, photographing wildlife, and appreciating the incredible attention to detail throughout the park.
Many visitors skip Disney’s water parks. I think that’s a mistake.
Both offer a completely different pace. Blizzard Beach feels playful, quirky, and full of adrenaline. Typhoon Lagoon feels like an island vacation tucked inside your Disney vacation. If you’re visiting during warmer months, or simply want a break between theme park days, I always recommend adding one of these parks to your itinerary.
You’ll thank yourself later.
Some of our favorite Disney memories have happened outside the parks. Disney Springs has evolved into one of the best dining and entertainment districts in all of Orlando. We never leave without stopping at Gideon’s Bakehouse. Their famous cookies alone are worth the visit. Dinner at The Boat House has become another family tradition.
And no matter how old I get…
I still find myself wandering through World of Disney like a kid.
If there’s one Disney Resort that completely stole my heart…
It’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The first morning I opened the curtains and saw giraffes walking outside our balcony…I honestly just stood there in silence. It’s difficult to describe until you’ve experienced it yourself. The architecture, the music, the smell of the lobby, the incredible African artwork, and the peaceful atmosphere make this feel unlike any resort I’ve stayed at anywhere in the world. Even after long park days, coming “home” here feels relaxing.
Dinner at Boma has become a family tradition every trip.
And at night…there’s something incredibly peaceful about sitting outside watching the animals under the stars.
Those quiet moments often become my favorite memories of the entire vacation.
October is my favorite month because of cooler weather, Halloween festivities, and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Other excellent times include late January, February, and early May for pleasant weather and, often, lighter crowds.
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