Hi there! I just returned from an unforgettable Florida trip with my kids (ages 3 and 5), and I couldn’t wait to share how everything went. During our stay, we took a one-day trip to Disney World, and honestly, I'm still taking it in! We stayed from opening to 5:00 p.m to really soak in the magic!
Before I left, I received a lot of questions about the Disney experience—especially regarding cost, lines, where we stayed, and which park we visited. It's also important to mention that we're Canadian, so I’ll be quoting prices in Canadian dollars due to the current exchange rate. Oh, and just to add, I traveled solo with both kids on the plane and met up with the grandparents once we arrived. I’ll share more about that experience too. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Travelling with Kids
The entire trip began when my parents booked a condo in Tampa Bay and invited us to join them. For Christmas, I booked our flights since my kids' dad already had a ski trip planned. I thought, why not solo parent in sunny Florida instead of freezing in snowy Ottawa? As my parents hyped up the trip, one of them casually threw in, “We should go to Disney World for a day!” I couldn’t believe my ears. My eyes were in shock as I stared them down. Of course, the kids are CHEERING with glee... but I’d been bombarded on TikTok with horror stories of the costs and those infamous long lines... oh, the lines. We also never really discussed if we'd ever go to Disney World ... there’s this strange culture around Disney World where you’re either a Disney family or you proudly stand on the other side and never give in.
I figured the kids would forget about the magical promise, but of course, they didn’t. Every day, they’d ask the classic question, "How many days until we meet Mickey Mouse?" After confirming with my parents that they were on board with the idea, I dove into planning—because, well, that’s just what you do in 2025.
I joined a 65k-member Facebook group called Smart Moms Planning Disney from Canada (yes, I’m one of them). It was full of helpful tips for navigating Disney, and I got some amazing advice. I highly recommend it! Initially, our plan was to do a quick day trip to Disney: wake up at 5 AM in Tampa, drive 2 hours plus to Orlando, spend the day, and drive back. But as the trip neared, I started to feel more and more nervous about that plan. After asking around to real people... (and in the Facebook group lol), we decided to stay at a hotel in Orlando the night before, which was a game-changer.
Staying On Disney Resort Vs. Off Disney Resort
Before this trip, I had no idea what “on resort” or “off resort” even meant. To be honest, the main thing that deterred us from staying on resort was the cost. The on-resort hotels were just too expensive, and since we would need two rooms, it quickly became clear that wasn’t going to happen. Luckily, a friend recommended the Marriott Harbour Lakes Resort, just 15 minutes from Magic Kingdom, and it ended up being the highlight of our trip! The resort is perfect for families, with tons of activities and games. The pool even had a pirate ship slide, and they provided lifejackets for the kids. It was amazing, and we were so glad we chose to stay there. The kids loved it so much, they kept asking to go back. By the end of our Disney day, I found myself wishing we were just 15 minutes away, heading back to our pirate ship hotel.
We rented a two-bedroom condo, which had a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and a dining table. The space was more than enough for our family plus grandparents—my parents stayed in the king bedroom, while my kids and I took the room with two queens. I slept in one bed, and my 5-year-old took the other. My 3-year-old stayed on the pull-out mattress, which, honestly, was the most comfortable pull-out couch I’ve ever seen!
We woke up early, had breakfast in the condo, and left for Magic Kingdom at 8:00 AM. Staying off-resort meant we didn’t get early entry, and we had to drive and park ourselves. I was a little nervous about the traffic, so we made sure to leave early. But honestly, it wasn’t an issue at all. We left at 8:00 AM, arrived at Magic Kingdom parking by 8:20, and were through the gates by 8:48 —I know this because I checked my time-stamped photos! We even caught the opening ceremony parade!
Important to note: We upgraded to preferred parking, which lets you park in the lot closest to the entrance. However, since we arrived so early, it wasn’t really necessary. I can definitely see this being a major perk on busier days!
Is Disney World really that Busy? is Lightening Lane (fast pass) worth it?
We visited Disney World on what was supposed to be a "non-busy day," and while that was somewhat true, the wait times for rides in the afternoon often stretched to 60 minutes or more. In the morning, we were able to enjoy many of the smaller rides with minimal wait times, but by the afternoon, the experience completely changed. My biggest piece of advice: get there early and don’t expect much in the afternoon. The lines get long, and the younger your kids are, the less patience they’ll have for waiting.
While there were definitely a lot of people, I never felt claustrophobic—except during the afternoon parade when everyone gathered in one spot. Otherwise, the crowds didn’t feel overwhelming. We didn’t wait to get in since we arrived right at opening, and looking at my photos, the park appeared virtually empty in the morning.
A friend recommended checking the Disney Calendar for events, and I'm so glad I did—because we narrowly missed the marathons, which would have been a disaster if we'd been there on those days! Initially, we weren’t planning to purchase the Lightning Lane passes (Previously known as the fast pass - lets you book 3 rides at a time in advance), but I decided to go for it since we were only there for one day and I wanted to make the most of our time. On-resort guests can book rides 7 days before their park day, while off-resort guests can only book 3 days in advance, which means the popular rides get booked up quickly.
Thankfully, this didn’t impact us too much because our kids weren’t tall enough for the most popular rides. We managed to book 3 rides at a time within the first 1.5 hours and continued to secure more as they became available. This worked out great, as it meant the kids didn’t have to endure long waits for the bigger rides. We balanced our time by waiting in line for some rides and using Lightning Lane for others. While we couldn’t book rides the instant they became available, the selection worked well for us, and we made the most of our day!
Also, a quick note: The Disney app is an absolute must. The map feature shows real-time wait times for rides, so as you’re walking around, you can easily check how long the lines are. Plus, you can pre-order food through the app, which saves a ton of time!
How much does Disney World cost?
Okay, now for the question we've all been waiting for—How much does Disney World cost? From what I understand, the more days you buy, the cheaper the tickets per day. But since we only did a one-day trip, here’s the breakdown based on that. I’ll also include the cost of our one-night hotel stay.
Tickets:
5x Magic Kingdom 1-Day Tickets: $1,389.64 CAD (Kids under 3 are free, but anyone over 3 requires a ticket. The price difference between children’s and adult tickets is almost negligible.)
Lightning Lanes:$248.79 CAD
Hotel Stay (Off-Resort):$538.00 CAD for 1 night
Preferred Parking:$72.00 CAD Grand TOTAL: 2247.00 CAD for 1 day at Disney world
Final Disney World Hot Tips from an overwhelmed Mom
Be prepared for the shopping: My daughter loves to shop, so to manage this, we bought her a Disney gift card from a third-party retailer back home (100 CAD turned into 66USD). This was a lifesaver, as it helped her understand that she had a set amount of money to spend. If you’ve never been to Disney before, be ready for the merchandise stores—you’re practically shot out into one after every ride! Have a plan in place.
What did my kids buy you ask? The famous bubble machine of course (35USD) and a stuffy for my daughter and Lightening McQueen cars for my son.
Reservations: If you’re planning on booking special dining experiences, it’s worth looking into reservations ahead of time in the app. Blogs will highlight the popular spots, like Cinderella’s Royal Table, which was nearly impossible to get a decent time for. Experiences like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique also book up quickly. From what I understand, you can book reservations 60 days in advance, and they tend to fill up fast. A special shout-out to Mouse Watchers, which lets you sign up for alerts when times become available. While we were able to secure reservations for some restaurants, we unfortunately didn’t get into Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique..
Food: I’ll be honest—I was disappointed with the food. As someone who loves food (especially junk food!), I had heard all about the must-try Disney snacks on TikTok. But in my opinion, they weren’t as amazing as they were hyped up to be. Since we were only there for one day, I rolled with it and indulged in waffles, ice cream, the cattail (which is like a BeaverTail), popcorn, and more ice cream. I found it really hard to find good, protein-packed options on the go. Next time, I’d probably pack a lunch (which you can do) and just splurge on the fun snacks.
Don’t stress about meltdowns: It’s totally normal for kids to have a meltdown at Disney World. Honestly, it feels like it’s socially acceptable for kids to lose their minds at least once during the day—and trust me, it’s all good. So, don’t worry too much if it happens!
Expectations: Originally, I planned to get to Disney early and hit all the fun rides right away. But in reality, the kids were completely in awe, soaking it all in—and so was I. So we did not "rope drop" so to speak, and we ended up doing alot of rides anwyays!
Anyway, that’s my Disney World recap! It truly is a magical place, and I’m so grateful and happy we did it. Feel free to DM me or comment below with any questions you may have—I’d love to help!
OH LAST THING: BRING/RENT A STROLLER!
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