Press Family Walt Disney World Trip March 2026

In my post about our last trip in December 2025, I wrote that we’d be back to Walt Disney world in November 2026. We did not make it that long without another trip.

My family and I took a long weekend trip to Walt Disney World to celebrate two of our birthdays, one being my son turning three, so we had to get him to the parks while he’s still free!

We were a bit ambitious. The trip was Saturday – Tuesday, and we got 3-Day Park Hopper tickets, meaning that one of our travel days was also a park day. We ultimately did (at least) two parks a day each day.

We are home. We are tired. But we are so happy and made some truly amazing memories.

As always…this is a DETAILED recap. Read on and enjoy. I hope it gives encouragement, laughs, and inspiration.

What is at Walt Disney World Resort?

4 Theme Parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom
2 Water Parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach
- Depending on the time of year, only one is open.
Disney Springs, a shopping, dining, and entertainment district
10+ Character Dining Experiences
More than 20 resort hotels
- 4 Levels: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Deluxe Villa (DVC)
- These hotels get special perks such as 30-minute early entry into the parks, advance Lightning Lane reservations, and advance dining reservations for the length of stay.

Why this time of year?

This trip was a few factors:

My son turning three
My birthday
Complimentary companion pass from Southwest that was going to expire that my son could use (this was originally going to be a mother/son trip, but life happens and the whole family decided to go together)
In between holidays and spring break

One thing to consider is that this was the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend. RunDisney race weekends can be very busy. I ultimately didn’t think it was that much different than other weekends – but depending on your itinerary, you could be impacted by road closures. I personally would go down again over this race weekend, but I think it would take a lot of convincing to get me back at the parks during the annual Marathon weekend in January.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at All Star Movies. It is a Value Resort at Walt Disney World and is themed to some iconic Disney movies including Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians, and Fantasia. The outside theming of the buildings is so fun – but I will say there is not much theming once you are in the room.

I chose this hotel because my toddler is obsessed with Toy Story and I requested a room in the Toy Story buildings. While not guaranteed, it was worth a shot, or we’d be able to walk over to the area as an alternative.

Pros:

Theming
Food court
Large, heated pool
Frequent buses
Price
Tubs in shower if traveling with littles
Not impacted by road closures to do early entry for Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on race days

Cons

Bus only resort
These are the hotels that large groups stay at. They tend to be busier and more chaotic than most of the other hotels I’ve stayed at on property.

I always include a note from my husband on his hotel opinion – and his was “it’s not my preference, but we’d stay here again if everything else was expensive.”

My toddler said he wants to stay there again if that counts for anything. He frequently talks still about “sitting in RC.”

What We Did

Day One, Saturday: Arrival, Epcot, & Hollywood Studios

Goal was to leave the house by 3 am
5 am flight
Land at 8ish
Get bags, meet Away We Go transportation that had car seats installed for us, and our double stroller rental
Go to All Star Movies, check-in, drop off bags
Change, give bags to bellhop
Catch bus to Epcot – it’s lunch time (11ish)
Baby sleeps – Dad and baby go to get marg and chips, guac, queso at La Cantina de San Angel while mom and toddler go on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros in Mexico. Get back together to eat.
Move on to Germany to watch the trains and grab a pretzel with beer cheese. I would pass on the pretzel and cheese…cheese was not anything to write home about (ironic) and the pretzel was not hot and honestly a bit stale.
It’s hot, we stop at Kabuki Café in Japan and get a Melon and Blue Hawaii Kakigori (shaved ice) – this was a hit with everyone in the family.
Wandered through more pavilions in the World Showcase.
Stopped in Canada for toddler to watch the waterfall and color at the Kidcot station
Started doing rides since both kids were awake. First up was Journey into Imagination with Figment.
Living with the Land
The Seas with Nemos and Friends
- Aquarium
- Feed baby
- Diaper changes
Both kids fall asleep on walk to Connections Café (Starbucks)
Walk over to Hollywood Studios via the Epcot resort area (Had 3 LLMP for the evening). This is about a 20-30 minute walk depending on your pace.
Toddler was asleep – so went and got blue milk in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Characters were out walking around the land which was fun.
Toddler wakes up – first LLMP was Alien Swirling Saucers. Toddler got to ride twice, once with each parent, as this does have a height requirement.
Next up was Slinky Dog Dash….this was a stretch. Toddler is tall enough to ride but chose not to. We spent a lot of time trying to negotiate and bribe him to ride and ultimately failed. I went as a way to show him it wasn’t scary and for him to watch as a last attempt.
Placed a mobile order for dinner at Woody’s Lunch Box while waiting for last LLMP.
LLMP for Toy Story Midway Mania. Going into this trip, that was his favorite ride so it was a must do. It was operating at reduced capacity, so we were thankful for the LL.
Catch bus back to All Star Movies to go to our room and get some sleep.

Day Two, Sunday: Animal Kingdom & Magic Kingdom

This was Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, which means the half marathon was being run this day. We strategically chose to go to Animal Kingdom first to avoid road closures.
Animal Kingdom had 7:30 am early entry, we got there around 7:40 am.
Walked on Navi River Journey in Pandora
Took some photos in an empty Pandora
Went to get in line for Kilimanjaro Safari – this is not part of early entry. We could tell general entry happened on our way due to the amount of people running past us towards Flight of Passage.
Walked on Kilimanjaro Safari. We like to do this in the morning for two reasons:
- Shorter line
- Animals are more active
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is at the exit of Kilimanjaro Safari, so we got our stroller and did the trail
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Expedition Everest single rider line for husband
Made our way back over to Africa to watch the 10 am Festival of the Lion King
Mobile ordered early lunch from Satu’li Canteen
Our goal for the day was the viral cookie dough and brownie ice cream sandwich from Terra Treats. Husband went and got in line for the snack while I changed the kids in the Baby Care Center.
Ate our treats in the tables at Pizzafari
Walked through the shops – and then caught bus back to the hotel for naps. It had gone from frigid to toasty over the morning, so we were glad for a break from the heat.
Got to Magic Kingdom around 5 pm… did 8 rides, dinner, snack, parade, and attempted fireworks before we headed for the bus around 9:10
Tommorowland Speedway x2 (once per parent)
Mobile ordered dinner at Columbia Harbor House
Dumbo
Mad Hatter Tea Cups
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
Jungle Cruise
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Dole Whip from Aloha Isle…realize that the parade is coming. We tried for a spot in Frontierland and succeeded!
Watch Starlight Dream the Night Away Parade (starts at 7:45 pm near the Fire House on Main) in front of Country Bear Jamboree
Pirates of the Caribbean
Rushed to the front of the park for 9 pm Happily Ever After fireworks.
- We forgot the kids’ headphones, and it was just too loud for my toddler – so we left early
Bus back to resort. Got back to our room around 9:45/10 pm

Day Three, Monday: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, & Magic Kingdom

8:30 am early entry at Magic Kingdom – we got to Fantasyland at 8:25 am and some rides were already operational
We boarded Peter Pan’s Flight at 8:58 am, just beating the 9 am LLMP
Haunted Mansion (this is not open for early entry) – walked on
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Dumbo (well, toddler and mom – baby took a nap with dad)
Barnstormer (dad and toddler – this has a height requirement)
Mobile ordered a funnel cake and waffle from Sleepy Hollow and happened upon the first Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade of the day, which was a HIT with my toddler. It has some of the rarer park characters including Genie from Aladdin and Turk from Tarzan
Ate our snack
Caught monorail to Epcot
Rode Spaceship Earth. It was having technical difficulties so took about 20 minutes longer than expected once we were on the ride
Still hungry…had lunch at Lotus Blossum Café in China
Told toddler if he couldn’t nap in the stroller that we’d have to go back to the hotel, he fell asleep around 2 pm
Walked around the showcase – then met up with husband’s coworker and her family for drinks and relaxation while the kids slept
Germany trains (again)
Shopping around the world
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros in Mexico again
Took toddler by the Lightning McQueen and Mater topiaries for Flower and Garden Festival
Shopped at Creations Shop
Walked through Journey of Water with Moana
Living with the Seas with Nemo and Friends
Caught Monorail back to Magic Kingdom to beat some After Hours Party crowds.
Took photos in front of Cinderella’s Castle
- They are in the middle of painting and the lifts are up until Noon daily
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Mobile ordered dinner at Cosmic Rays to avoid parade crowds
Dumbo
Mad Hatter Tea Cups
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
At this point it’s 8:20 pm. We remembered the kids’ headphones…but baby is done, parents are done, toddler wants to stay for fireworks. We decide it’s in everyone’s best interest to head back to the hotel and watch the pre-recorded fireworks on demand (we watched this at least one time every night)
Get back to hotel around 9 pm

Day Four, Tuesday: Departure

Kids went to the playground while mom packed
8:30 am pickup to the airport
9 am arrive at airport
11:30 am flight home

Things That We Missed

All character dining. We just didn’t prioritize on this quick trip.
On that same note – we didn’t do any table service restaurants. We snacked and did quick service.
Pretty much all shows – toddler doesn’t care yet, and we’re ok with that.

Final Thoughts

Every trip is my favorite for a different reason – this was my favorite because it was the first time my son was telling us which rides he wanted to do next and which snacks he wanted to try. Now that we’re home, he likes to tell us which rides he wants to go on next trip and that he wants to stay at “Toy Story Hotel.”

There has been a trend going around TikTok and Instagram about never taking the same kid twice, and it’s so true. As they get older, each trip is a totally new experience. We went in with an open mind, intending to let the kids take the lead. We rode what my toddler wanted to ride, we took breaks when they needed them, and we headed back to the hotel for bedtime when the kids were crashing. We found this game plan to be perfect this trip.

If you scrolled this whole thing and this is the only sentence you read, my biggest piece of advice for Walt Disney World is don’t try to do it all. Go your own pace, pick a couple things you really want to do on your trip, and just let the magic happen.

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