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6-Day Disney World Family Trip Recap (With Budget Tips & Highlights)

Danielle

October 4, 2025

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We just wrapped up an incredible six-day Disney World vacation, and we’re sharing everything in this full Disney World family trip review—from our hotel strategy and park plans to favorite rides, meals, and what we’d do differently next time. We used our Incredi-Pass, and we layered in hotel points and real-life adjustments for our neurodivergent kids. Whether you’re planning your first visit or your fifth, we hope our recap helps you craft a smoother (and more affordable) trip. For complete details on our Incredi-Pass strategy, check out our Cut Disney World Costs in Half with the Incredi-Pass guide.

This trip was a big deal for our family—my husband had never been to Disney World, and neither had our close family friend, who the kids call Auntie. The kids were beyond excited to be the experts for once, eager to share their favorite rides and park hacks with Dad and Auntie for their first visit. Here’s the full breakdown of our six-day Disney trip adventure—what we did, where we ate, what worked, and what we’ll remember forever from this magical trip. Follow along for our Disney World vacation review. 

Day 1: Arrival and Character Dining at ‘Ohana and 1900 Park Fare

We arrived late Sunday night at the Townplace Suites- Flamingo Crossings, exhausted but buzzing with excitement. Monday was all about easing into the magic. We booked this hotel completely free using Marriott Bonvoy points from credit card welcome bonuses. Learn how to earn credit card points for Disney World vacations to fund your own free hotel stays.

We had breakfast at ‘Ohana, which was a great way to start the day—Mickey waffles, Stitch waffles, and character appearances made it extra special. My daughter was especially looking forward to meeting Stitch.  Check out our Ohana Character Breakfast Review

After breakfast, we grabbed groceries for the week (a lifesaver if you want snacks or light meals on hand, also a budget friendly way to save on snacks and meals), relaxed at the hotel pool, and ended the day with dinner at 1900 Park Fare. The buffet was back in action and full of Disney characters (Mirabel, Aladdin, Tiana and Cinderella). The kids loved the character interactions, and the food hit the spot after a long travel day. 1900 Park Fare is one of our favorite character meals. We went to 1900 Park last April and loved it so much we repeated it this trip.

Day 2: Magic Kingdom—A Full Day of Magic

Tuesday was our first day in the Disney parks, and we hit the ground running. We got to Magic Kingdom around 9:00 AM and packed in a lot before lunch. I am not a ride person, but Auntie and Dad are so the kids took full advantage to have buddies. Before lunch we rode:

• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (underrated and hilarious)
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Carousel of Progress (classic and nostalgic)
• PeopleMover
• Space Mountain

By 12:30 PM, we were at Crystal Palace for lunch—a win for both the character meet-and-greets and the air conditioning. The food at Crystal Palace was good and the character interactions were priceless. If you have a Winnie the Poo fan, I highly recommend Crystal Palace.

After lunch, we needed a break from the heat at the hotel. After a hotel break (a game changer in the Florida heat), we headed back for a second round at Magic Kingdom.

In the evening we hit:

• Haunted Mansion
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (new and instantly a family favorite)

Dinner at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café gave us a chance to rest before ending the night with fireworks. My son is noise sensitive, so he ended up spending the fireworks show in Cosmic Ray’s to dampen the noise, while the others enjoyed the show. We stayed until 10:30 PM, exhausted but thrilled. It was a perfect Magic Kingdom day.

Day 3: EPCOT—Food, Fun, and Fireworks

We rolled into EPCOT a little later on Wednesday (around 12:30 PM), which worked well after the long Magic Kingdom day. We started with PhotoPass pictures—a great tip: one person in your party signs up for PhotoPass, you get free downloads. If your an annual passholder, it is an add on where you get free pictures for the whole year, totally worth it.

Lunch at La Cantina de San Angel was a solid quick-service option and had something for everyone. Then came Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which became my son’s #1 ride of the whole trip.

Other attractions we hit:

• Soarin’ Around the World
• Spaceship Earth
• World Showcase snacks and shopping
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (via Lightning Lane)

Snack highlights included Dole Whip in Canada (yes, Canada!), French pastries, and dinner at Spice Road Table.

Later, we returned to La Cantina, scored a table right by the water, and my husband held it while the rest of us grabbed churro sundaes. We watched Luminous: The Symphony of Us from our seats—magical views and no crowds. A relaxing, beautiful end to a great EPCOT day. For complete EPCOT tips and strategies, check out our comprehensive park guide.

Day 4: Disney’s Hollywood Studios—All About Star Wars (and Thrill Rides)

Thursday started slow—we arrived around noon, saving our energy for a big day at Hollywood Studios. My son is a massive Star Wars fan and couldn’t wait to introduce his dad to Galaxy’s Edge. We kicked things off with:

• Star Tours
• Rise of the Resistance
• Lunch at Backlot Express

After lunch, we dove into Galaxy’s Edge. My son’s favorite ride: Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run. We all rode Smuggler’s Run and explored Galaxy’s Edge. After we needed a snack and a much needed break from the heat, so we went to ABC Commissary for some fries, sodas and grilled cheese sandwiches.

My husband chilled in the air-conditioned ABC Commissary, for some much-needed downtime for him, while my son and I rode Smuggler’s Run again and my daughter and our friend chased thrill rides:

• Tower of Terror
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (daughter’s favorite)
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Meanwhile, at sunset, we all met back up in Galaxy’s Edge. If you haven’t seen it at night—do it. The lighting, the ambiance, it’s on another level. We used the PhotoPass photographers for some great family shots, and rode Smuggler’s Run for a third time, before calling it a night.  For more Hollywood Studios Star Wars tips, see our complete Galaxy’s Edge guide.

Day 5: Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Evening Magic at Magic Kingdom

Friday was Auntie’s last full day, and we made the most of it with an early start at Animal Kingdom. Everyone had different goals, so we split up smartly:

• All together: Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Son & I: Gorilla Falls Trail, Maharajah Jungle Trek
• Daughter & Auntie: Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest, Avatar Flight of Passage

Lunch at Yak & Yeti (quick service) was quick and tasty, and we wrapped up Animal Kingdom by 3:00 PM.

After a pool break at the hotel, we headed back to Magic Kingdom for a magical night. We arrived at 9:10 at Magic Kingdom, so we saw fireworks from the monorail, which worked perfectly for my noise-sensitive son.

Once inside, my husband took him to a quiet store on Main Street to finish up the fireworks while the girls customized their own Mickey Ears at the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square. Tip- creating your own Mickey Ears is a great souvineer. Purchase plain black Mickey Ears (we purchased them on Main Street) and then bring them to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square, they will give you a return time to pick up your ears. 

The lines at night were much shorter and even though we were only in the park for 2 hours, we were able to ride:

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• It’s a Small World

With lower wait times post-fireworks, we walked right onto rides and closed the night with castle photos using the Photopass. Honestly, that slower, quieter night at Magic Kingdom was one of the most special moments of the trip.

Day 6: Blizzard Beach & One Last Epcot Meal

Saturday was our last full day, and we started at Blizzard Beach thanks to the water park add on for our Incredi-Pass. Note: Disney is currently offering free admission to the water parks for guests staying at Disney Resorts.

This means anyone staying at a Disney resort hotel can get into the water parks for free on the day they arrive at Disney, making the parks very crowded. We got to Blizzard Beach 15 minutes before opening and still had trouble finding lounge chairs—if you go, arrive early! 

The kids were underwhelmed with Blizzard Beach compared to Typhoon Lagoon, but still had fun. After hitting most slides, a lazy river lap, and the wave pool, they were done by noon, so back to our hotel we went. For complete details on our Blizzard Beach experience, see our Disney Blizzard Beach Review + Last-Minute Epcot Dining at Garden Grill.

After a nap break, we went back to EPCOT for dinner at Garden Grill—last-minute reservation win! While waiting for our dining reservation, we watched the “Adventure Earth” movie nearby. Dinner with Chip and Dale was cute and a perfect wrap-up meal.

Before calling it a night, we walked through Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. The kids loved it. It was interactive, peaceful, and somehow gave us all a second wind. We even walked it twice, as the kids loved interacting with all the water features. 

Final Thoughts

This trip was full of firsts—my husband and Auntie’s first time experiencing Disney World, our first time at Blizzard Beach, and our first time watching fireworks from a distance instead of the crowd. It was also full of favorites—rides the kids had been waiting to share, snacks we couldn’t resist getting again, and surprise moments that reminded us why Disney vacations are worth the planning, heat, and long days. With each Disney World visit, we get to explore new things, explore new attractions, and enjoy all things Disney. 

Would we do it again? Absolutely. But maybe with a few more naps built in.  Need help with the planning process? Looking for a budget visit with Mickey Mouse? Check out our Disney travel blogs to learn more about how to travel to the theme parks using travel rewards.