The Magic Kingdom definitely lives up to its reputation. It most certainly is one of the most magical places to visit. The girls were in their element and they couldn’t wait to hop out of their buggies to explore. We headed straight to Thunder Mountain and we managed to jump on without queuing. It was so much fun and really fast, Bella joined us on the ride but Flo was too small.

Our first fast pass was The Little Mermaid: Ariels Underwater Adventure. It was brilliant and well worth a ride. We were going to use a fast pass, but there wasn’t a queue, so we swapped the fast pass for the Barnstormer ride which we used later on in the afternoon (you can swap fast passes on the My Disney Experience app). One of the Disney employees gave us a tip, she said check the app around 10am for Fast Passes, as new ones are released around that time.

The Little Mermaid ride is very sweet. You sit in a shell and the shell rotates and takes you on the journey of The Little Mermaid and the characters sing the popular songs. Flo really enjoyed it but Bella hid behind her hand most of the time because she’s scared of Ursula. We also had a ride on Prince Charming’s Carousel and the girls loved it.

There is so much to do for toddlers, which is great for Flo. Fantasyland is the best spot for small children and there is lots to keep them entertained. The girls loved the Dumbo ride and there’s a new soft play area for children to use when queues are long. We also met Pluto, Flo is still wary of characters but she doesn’t bawl her eyes out anymore.

The girls both refused to wear their ears but I took one for the team and kept mine on, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. We got a fast pass for It’s a Small World and both of the girls really enjoyed it. Fast passes are a must-have, so make sure you make the most of them. You only get to pick three at a time so choose wisely.

Fast Pass

You can book Fast Passes, 30 days before you travel. You can start booking fast passes for Magical Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios using the My Disney Experience app. Simply click on the plus icon or type “fast pass” into the search bar. The instructions are easy to follow and you can also link up with other members of your party and book fast passes for them to.

You can book a maximum of three Fast Passes per day, however once you’ve used all your fast passes, you can book one at a time, using the app. A Fast Pass is free of charge and it basically allows you to skip the long queues. If you really want to make the most of your day, try and book morning fast passes so that you can squeeze more queue jumping in during the rest of the day.

The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade was amazing. All of the favourite characters including Princesses, Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Frozen, Lion King, were on beautifully decorated floats, waving and interacting with the crowds. The parade lasts around 20 minutes and it’s currently on once a day. Make sure you grab a Times Guide and park map when you first enter the Magical Kingdom and this will give you all the show and character meet & greet times.

The parade starts in Frontierland, make sure you arrive 20-30 minutes early to get a good spot. A lot of families pitch up and sit down on the pavement to get a good view. Make sure you pack sandwiches and snacks to keep your little ones busy whilst they wait for the parade to start.

After the parade we headed to the Castle Forecourt Stage to watch the Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire. We made the 4:15pm show and it was fairly empty so we made our way to the front of the stage and got a really good view. We were those annoying people that put their kids on their shoulders, but the girls faces were worth it. Flo was clapping and she didn’t stop smiling, she even got star struck with Elsa & Anna came on stage.

The show was fantastic, it really did put a smile on everyone’s faces. Queen Elsa from Frozen stole the show and the special effects whilst she sang Let It Go, were brilliant, she even made it snow! Princess Tiana & Prince Naveen sung songs from Princess and the Frog and Rapunzel & Flynn brought their questionable friends to the party, who sung I’ve Got a Dream.

Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire was funny, fast paced and very entertaining. It’s currently on five times a day and it’s well worth a watch. The big finale was brilliant, but I’m saying no more as I don’t want to ruin it for you, if you’re planning a trip. Our next Fast Pass was for The Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

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I must admit I was a little disappointed as it felt a lot shorter than the Disneyland Paris version and there wasn’t a big drop at the end. Bella chickened out because she remembered the “Cat Boy speed” and drop from when we went on the ride in Paris, but Flo and Nana came on and they both enjoyed it. Flo’s new favourite saying is “aaaaaaarrrrr my hearties”.

We had one last Fast Pass to use and this was for the Barnstormer ride in Fantasyland. It’s a kid friendly rollercoaster and Flo could ride it too. We stayed in the Magical Kingdom Park until 6pm and then we headed to Disney Springs to have dinner in the T-Rex restaurant, which is one of the most impressive restaurants I’ve ever been to.

If you’re visiting Orlando and your little ones are Dino fans, you must eat at T-Rex, it will blow your minds. It’s atmospheric and the moving dinosaurs, lighting and mood effect is really impressive. I loved the Coral Reef giant fish tanks and it definitely kept the girls entertained whilst waiting for their dinner.

The food was amazing and it was great for Carnivores, but there wasn’t much choice for vegetarians (Nana doesn’t eat meat). I can highly recommend The Lava Flow cocktail and if there is a group of you dining, you need to try Chocolate Extinction, it is so yummy! The kids menu was well varied and the meals are quite big, so two could easily share.

If you’re currently planning your holiday to Orlando, make sure you get a copy of The Little Big Book of Magic. It’s completely free and you can order it from the Disney website. It’s full of useful tips and a mini map for each park and it also lists and categorises rides including rides that are suitable for small children, thrill seekers and more.

It’s been so full on, with early starts, non-stop days and early nights, so I haven’t managed to blog everyday. Watch this space for my Universal Studios and Animal Kingdom blog coming soon. We are off on our Disney Dream cruise tomorrow for three days. We are so excited and looking forward to a break from the theme parks.