Disney Springs Magic, Magic Kingdom Chaos! - Day 1 & 2 At Walt Disney World
We have embarked on our long-awaited, 9 day Walt Disney World Vacation and this video covers day 1 and 2 of that trip, including our flight, a trip to Disney Springs and a very unexpected first park day at Magic Kingdom, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!
We just spent nine days at Walt Disney World… and let’s just say fate threw us a couple of curveballs.
The Journey Finally Begins
Hey everybody, welcome to the channel. I’m Joe Findlay, and today we’re talking about the first two days of our nine-day trip to Walt Disney World.
In this series, we’re going to relive the sights and sounds, talk about tips, food, and everything in between—so strap in.
We’re at the airport. It’s just after 4:30 in the morning. I’ve been up since 10:45 p.m. after going to bed at 8:00. A little bit of anxiety about the flight… well, not the flight itself, but the tickets. It’s all good now though, and we’re here.
It’s actually happening.
And that’s a big deal—because this wasn’t our first attempt.
A Trip Years in the Making
This was actually the third time we tried to book this trip.
The most recent attempt? October… shut down by a hurricane.
But before that, we go back a few years—three days before we were supposed to fly out, the border closed. I’ll let you connect those dots.
We’ve been trying to get my son to Walt Disney World for years. It’s been a long, frustrating road.
So when we finally got off the ground, it felt real.
No cancellations. No delays. Just… finally on our way.
First Flight, First Arrival
“Hey buddy, you excited for your very first flight?”
Yes.
Window seat, first flight—couldn’t script it better.
And then… we landed.
“Welcome to Disney.”
Checking Into Pop Century
We stayed at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and it was our first time there.
That long drive up to the building? It builds anticipation perfectly. Even the security checkpoint adds to the experience, with cast members helping get everything ready before you even arrive.
Our room wasn’t ready at first—but by the time I finished checking our bags, we got the notification. So we headed straight in.
The bed?
Let’s just say… after being up since the middle of the night, it felt like a cloud with a diploma in comfort science.
We’ll have a full room and resort tour coming in another post, so stay tuned for that.
First Bites at Disney
Our first snack in Florida was Pop Century’s famous tie-dye cheesecake.
Reviews? Positive across the board…
Except for me.
I don’t eat cheesecake.
So naturally, we moved on.
Disney Springs: Snacks, Shopping, and Dinner
We hopped on our first Disney bus and made our way to Disney Springs.
Feeling snacky right away, we stopped into Amorette’s Patisserie. Everything looked incredible, but we landed on the “Enchanted Rose”—a dark chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce, shaped like a rose on top of a chocolate biscuit.
It was delicious.
After some shopping, it was time for dinner.
The girls headed to The Polite Pig:
Smoked chicken salad wrap
Smoked turkey breast with crispy Brussels sprouts
Meanwhile, Rhys wanted a cheeseburger, so we made our way to D-Luxe Burger.
He got a cheeseburger and fries. I went with a double hamburger and fries.
Classic smash burgers. Crispy, salty fries. Exactly what we needed.
We wrapped up the night with more shopping and headed back for an early rest.
Day One Recap
“Alright buddy, how do we rank our first day at Walt Disney World?”
“10 out of 10.”
“What were your highlights?”
“Food.”
Strong start.
The Curveball
So… about that.
Before the trip, a stomach bug had been going around Rhys’ school. He caught it about a week before we left. It’s usually a quick 12-hour thing, so we thought we were in the clear.
We weren’t.
At 2:45 a.m. on Day Two, Abby got hit.
And just like that, everything changed.
Splitting Up
I was devastated. Not just because she was sick—but because she was going to miss out.
We didn’t know how to handle it. But Carrie stepped up and stayed back with Abby so I could take Rhys to Magic Kingdom for his very first park day.
Leaving part of the family behind—especially on a day like that—was brutal.
But this trip meant everything for him.
So we had to make the best of it.
Rhys’ First Magic Kingdom Moment
We made our way to Magic Kingdom, and I did something I’ve done before.
I had him walk in with his eyes closed.
Because that first view of Cinderella Castle?
It should hit perfectly.
No obstructions. No distractions.
Just magic.
“You can open your eyes.”
And just like that—
“I’ve officially been to Disney World.”
First Rides and Classic Moments
We grabbed a photo in front of the tree and went to meet Mickey.
First visit. First hug. Core memory unlocked.
Then we hit our first ride:
Haunted Mansion
From there:
Chip and Dale meet and greet
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean (walk-on)
Then lunch and a quick treat before heading to Jingle Cruise.
The only downside? The skipper was moving so fast through the jokes, Rhys could barely keep up.
TRON, Space Mountain, and More
Next up: TRON Lightcycle Run.
Longest wait of the day at 45 minutes—but easily Rhys’ favorite ride.
And honestly? Fair.
Short, fast, incredibly fun.
Then, because it was a walk-on, we did Space Mountain. I somehow survived.
Followed by:
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
We grabbed our wristbands for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and caught the tail end of the Festival of Fantasy Parade.
Then:
Dumbo
Walt Disney World Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
We skipped Tiana’s Bayou Adventure that day—it was about 10°C, and getting soaked didn’t sound appealing.
The Christmas Party… and Another Twist
We kicked off Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party by meeting Jack and Sally.
While in line, I got a message—Carrie and Abby were going to try to join us.
But they missed the bus.
And Abby wasn’t feeling well again.
So they had to call it.
A Cast Member Changes Everything
This is where the story flips.
I went to Guest Services and explained everything.
That’s when Carolyn stepped in.
She worked absolute magic—moving things around, finding a solution, and getting the girls tickets for another party night.
No wasted tickets. No missed experience.
Just… fixed.
I submitted a Cast Compliment in the My Disney Experience app right after. And honestly, everyone should do that when someone makes a difference like that.
Cast members are the heartbeat of these trips.
Finishing the Night Strong
We hit all five cookie stations, grabbed drinks, and collected our treats.
At one point, Rhys looked at me and said:
“I think I’ve had enough sugar. Let’s save some for the girls.”
That tells you everything you need to know about him.
We rode Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin—
And yes, I destroyed him.
We tried Pirates again—it was down.
But right next to it? Captain Jack Sparrow doing a meet and greet.
We jumped in line… and as we finished, the ride reopened.
Walked straight on.
Perfect timing.
The Grand Finale
We wrapped up the night with:
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
And just like that, Day Two came to a close.
Final Thoughts
It was a mixed bag.
We missed the girls. There was stress. A lot of it.
But it also turned into something really special.
A great father-son day. A first park experience we’ll never forget.
And somehow, through all the chaos… it still felt magical.
If you enjoyed this, make sure to like, subscribe, and follow along for the rest of the trip.
I’m Joe—and as always—
If you can’t see the magic, make it.
