If you have read my first article, “Daddy-Daughter Day Out” you will know that first-time moments and events with my daughter are very important to me. Many memories will be made over the years, and it is often those first-time experiences that stay engrained in our minds forever. So needless to say, I had high expectations for my daughter Juliet’s first trip to Orlando’s Disney World.
Family Vacation
With my sister, brother-in-law, and their two young children taking their yearly summer vacation trip to Orlando, my wife and I decided to meet them for a quick visit. We would consider this a small, “introductory” type of two-day trip to the most magical place on earth.
Based on scheduling and taking my 11-year-old niece Jessica and 9-year-old nephew Mark’s lead, we ended up visiting Disney Springs on the first night, and then Epcot Center the following day. Looking back, I feel like this combo was a perfect start to Juliet’s Walt Disney World experience. This would be the first time she was around such a large number of people, and that is an experience in itself for a two-year old. Disney Springs, complete with shops, restaurants, and entertainment for all ages, provides just the right dose of Disney without having to pay for a theme park ticket!
My sister and brother-in-law, also Juliet’s (fairy) Godmother and Godfather, provided her with the obligatory “My First Trip to Disney” T-Shirt, and the next day we were off to Epcot Center… until Juliet feel asleep in the car on the way there. We spent the first hour of our Disney experience waiting in the Epcot Center parking lot for Juliet to wake up, but also figured this nap would be able to give her all the energy and rest she needed for an action-packed day!
We Have Arrived
The first official Disney photo went to Pluto who was greeting everyone as soon as we entered the park, and the first official ride would end up being “Seas with Nemo & Friends”. This ride was great for Juliet, as it was gentle and engaging, and ends with a very cool two-story aquarium complete with exotic fish, live dolphins, and even manatees!
We took a nice walk through all the countries and of course had to visit the homeland and eat dinner in Italy. Juliet enjoyed watching the chefs prepare the meals, which were in plain sight, and she had a wonderful time with her loving cousins throughout the trip.
Our Next Adventure Awaits
As a two-year-old, this brief trip was just enough for her to start. There’s one thing I know and am realizing; is that the next several years will provide many wonderful memories, but will also fly by in the blink of an eye. One day I will look at her first Disney shirt and find it remarkable that she was small enough to fit into it. For now, I continue to cherish all of our firsts and treat my little girl like the real-life Disney princess that she will always be to me.
