Imagine being whisked away by limo before sunrise for a surprise adventure with three of the people you love most. That was how Mikayla Carlton, age 6, began her epic family vacation to Walt Disney World in the spring of 2016.
Her parents, Scott and Keinika Carlton, kept the magical destination a secret from their youngest daughter for months.
“She knew we were going on vacation but not exactly where we were going. We kept Disney World a secret with Mikayla all the way up until we reached the parking gates,” Keinika told BlackDoctor.org.
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Their 13-year-old daughter, Alyna, was old enough to remember previous trips to Walt Disney World, but Mikayla was only two months old the last time the Carltons visited as a family.
“My dream was to make this an ultimate memorable experience, especially for Mikayla,” Keinika shared.
If there is any place on earth where dreams absolutely do come true, it is Walt Disney World. With 4 theme parks, 2 unique water parks, over 25 themed resorts, and new attractions like Pandora – The World of Avatar, there is more than enough to make Walt Disney World the total dreams-fulfilled vacation destination.
But with so much to do and so many places to go, how did the family of four make the most of their five days in paradise? On behalf of the Carlton crew, Keinika shared her top 5 ways to discover the magic of Walt Disney World and create memories that will last a lifetime.
1. Create a realistic budget.
“Disney is possible for everyone with the right planning and budgeting,” Keinika believes. Using her experience as a travel planner, Keinika planned the family’s days down to the minute and dime.
“My husband and I sat down and discussed the rides we wanted to get on, places we wanted to eat, souvenirs we wanted to get, things like that. We made a table and put times for each activity or stop and then a dollar amount next to those items. Totaled them up and anytime we came over budget for something, we prioritized with other items on the list.”
The Carltons found additional savings by packing snacks and lunch and found free items that made for great souvenirs.
2. Have a game plan for good times.
The Carltons packed in tons of fun during their five days. While enjoying the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Keinika remembers that they “literally did EVERYTHING,” from character meet and greets (favorites included Princess Tiana and Mickey) to rollercoasters and rides (favorites included Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin and Tower of Terror) to parades like the Festival of Fantasy and shows like the Magic Kingdom Opening Ceremony.
Her secret for making the most of their time? “I made a chart!”
“First, I picked out the rides, characters, shows, parades and all the experiences we wanted to take part in. Then I picked our Disney FastPass options. From there I plugged our FastPass selections in the chart.”
3. Get into character!
From the time the two Carlton girls entered Walt Disney World, they were made to feel like royalty. “I feel every little girl should have a princess moment. That moment where they are catered to, made to feel extra special, and that includes a beautiful dress and a castle!”
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Mikayla became Princess Mikayla during her special Cinderella adventure. “We dressed her in the deluxe Cinderella dress from the Disney store, complete with Cinderella Reebok’s, a Cinderella bracelet and necklace that says “Daddy’s Little Girl” because Cinderella was a daddy’s girl! We booked her an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to have her hair, nails, and makeup done. I specifically booked the castle location because I knew it would mean everything to her to go inside Cinderella’s castle to be pampered like the princess that she is.”
Not only did she get to be a princess, Mikayla got to meet her favorite princess, Princess Tiana!
Keinika says the sweet moment was like meeting a celebrity. “[Mikayla] was stunned and speechless. She hung on Tiana’s every word and could barely respond back.”
4. Enjoy some grown up fun, too.
Vacations to Walt Disney World aren’t only about the children. Walt Disney World is also the place where the grown folks can be kids again, too. Walt Disney World offers adult escapes like unique dining and entertainment at Disney Springs, and this was a favorite for Scott and Keinika.
“We loved the live music and caliber of restaurants. The dining choices vary from family friendly to upscale and there are fun places to get greats drink and dance. The boat ride across the lake there is nice, too.”
For the adults, Keinika says Walt Disney World, “brings us back to our childhood and the innocence of it all through fun experiences with our favorite characters.”
5. Make room for more adventure.
Try as you might, you may not explore everything Walt Disney World has to offer during one trip – and that’s okay! “Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. Don’t try to do everything in one trip,” Keinika advised.
Enjoy the moments of your current vacation, and look forward to future adventures. The Carltons are excited about going back to Walt Disney World to visit the newest attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Pandora – The World of Avatar. “We have actually never been to Animal Kingdom and we’re anxious to visit and experience Pandora.”
Pandora – The World of Avatar is a whole new world beyond belief with expeditions for adventurers of all ages, like the Valley of Mo’ara where you can hike under floating mountains. Or take an exhilarating flight on the back of a banshee and later float down a mystical river through a bioluminescent forest to meet the Shaman of Songs.
To create your own Walt Disney World magical memories this summer, check out the offer below:
$1890 for a family of 4. Includes a 4-night stay at a select Disney’s All Star Resort and a 4-day Theme Park ticket.
Book through August 31, 2017 for stays most Sunday-Thursday nights August 13 – October 5, 2017. Visit Disneyworld.com/mydisneyvacation.
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