Previously at Disney…
Same crew energy. Years of questionable ride faces.
📆 calendar
This is very important ⇒
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LHKMqbyAwvSP-3eHCUTipOcfDSZSZBGC/view?usp=sharing
…Sat, Nov 7: Hollywood Studios (open 9 AM–7 PM)
Thoughts and Strategy… early day for most of us - esp the flyers. Go hard @ DHS and then pop over to EPCOT? We are def hitting EPCOT on Sun and Mon, so this can be a “see how we feel…”
Morning: Brandon + Danielle leave Danielle's mom's in The Villages at 8:30 AM and drive 1 hour to the Residence Inn to unpack, then return the Enterprise car at Disney's Car Care Center (1000 Car Care Dr, by the Magic Kingdom TTC). Take the free Disney shuttle straight to Hollywood Studios. Book it the day before (Fri, Nov 6), at least 2 hours ahead. Uber is the backup. at (407) 824-3470.
9:10 AM: The Bous land at MCO on Southwest from PVD. They land at Terminal A. Grab their bags, then take the Terminal Link train to Terminal C to meet Keith.
Watch the how-to video before the trip.
Longer video from A to C
9:43 AM: Keith lands at MCO on JetBlue from PVD. He lands at Terminal C, where the Bous meet him at baggage claim.
All four take one Uber XL to the hotel.
10:30 AM: Keith + the Bous drop bags at the hotel, then Uber XL to Hollywood Studios. Meet Brandon + Danielle at the gate around 11:00.
🥩 1:20 PM: Lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe (Echo Lake). Party of 6…
Fun, like a 50s place… waitstaff put on a show
Freestylin’... world is our oyster. What LLs we have? How we feel? Rise!!!
7:00 PM: Park closes early for Disney Jollywood Nights (separate ticket).
Skyliner to EPCOT, about 20 minutes, arriving at the International Gateway.
9:00 PM: Luminous fireworks at EPCOT.
Eat to the Beat x Performing (7th and 8th)
Must-dos: Rise of the Resistance · Slinky Dog Dash · Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets (new) · Tower of Terror
Sun, Nov 8: Magic Kingdom (open 9 AM–6 PM)
Thoughts and Strategy… get here for poor people rope drop - PPRD. Max MK time and then monorail over to Disney. Gonna be busy today, so being smaht will be important
7:45 AM: Uber/Lyft from the hotel. Rideshare drops at the Transportation and Ticket Center, not the gate, so add 20–30 minutes for the monorail or ferry.
About 8:30 AM: At the gate for rope drop.
9:00 AM: Park opens.
🍔 🥚 🛼 11:00 am : spring roll cart opens!!!
Oggle at Club 33 entrance
🦃 12:45 PM: Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern (Liberty Square). Party of 6.
Video x this place is solid with a yummy dessert
6:00 PM: Park closes early for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (separate ticket). Monorail to EPCOT, changing at the Transportation and Ticket Center. Allow 30 to 45 minutes.
No Magic Kingdom fireworks for us. Happily Ever After is off on Christmas Party nights.
9:00 PM: Luminous fireworks at EPCOT.
Must-dos: TRON · Big Thunder Mountain (reopened) · Space Mountain · Seven Dwarfs Mine Train · Buzz Lightyear (redone)
Mon, Nov 9: Animal Kingdom then ____ ??
7:30 AM: Uber/Lyft from the hotel.
Take pic of anal king in front of sign
08:00 AM: Park opens.
Be in park til around 1pm or so…
Next Park? Epcot, DHS
All day: Eat our way through the Food & Wine Festival booths around World Showcase.
9:00 PM: Luminous fireworks over World Showcase Lagoon, then the park closes. Grab a spot by 8:30.
Eat to the Beat x Performing
Must-dos: Guardians: Cosmic Rewind · Test Track (new version) · Soarin' Across America (new) · Remy · Food & Wine Festival booths around World Showcase
EPCOT is on Monday because Food & Wine is less crowded on a weekday.
Tue, Nov 10: Fly home & Maybe Golf
Sean & Keith = maybe Golf?
12:15 PM: Keith flies MCO to PVD on JetBlue, landing 3:05 PM. Leave the hotel by 9:45 AM.
6:35 PM: The Bous fly MCO to PVD on Southwest (flight 418), landing 9:25 PM. Leave the hotel by 4:00 PM.
📜 Captain's Rules
Rope drop: be at the gate 30–45 minutes before the park opens. The first hour is when lines are shortest.
Lost the group? Meet at the park's main icon: the Castle (MK), Spaceship Earth (EPCOT), or the Chinese Theater (HS).
Group text is home base. Keep your phone charged.
🎒 Pack
Portable phone charger (a must)
Comfortable broken-in shoes
Poncho, sunscreen, sunglasses
A light layer for the evening
Refillable water bottle
Crocs or shoes when it rains to where
❓ Still Deciding (Captain)
Sit-down dinner reservations or Monday lunch/dinner
🍷 Food & Wine: What to Eat
Brandon + Danielle were just there and say the dumplings and the mac and cheese are the move. Everything below is from 2026 reviews.
The Wedge (mac and cheese) closes Nov 8. Go Saturday or Sunday night, not Monday. It is inside CommuniCore Hall, at the front of the park, not in World Showcase.
Best of the fest
Gyozas of the Galaxy: Basil Pesto Chicken Dumplings ($5.99), new this year and rated 7 out of 7 by WDW News Today. The Street Corn-style Dumplings are back too.
The Wedge, CommuniCore Hall: Crab and Corn Mac and Cheese, Cheesesteak Mac and Cheese, Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese ($5.49), plus a Cannoli Milk Shake.
Canada: Cheddar and Bacon Soup with a pretzel roll (Brandon must-have), and the Filet Mignon with mushrooms and mashed potatoes.
France: Red wine-braised short ribs with potato gâteau.
Brazil: Pão de Queijo (cheese bread).
Belgium: Belgian Waffle with cookie butter and speculoos ($5.49), also a 7 out of 7.
Hawai'i: Hawaiian Rice Bowl with Spam, eggs, eel sauce, spicy mayo, and furikake ($6.29). Brandon must-have. Also the Slow-Roasted Pork Slider with pineapple chutney.
Flavors from Fire: Rodizio-style Grilled Beef Skewer.
Morocco: Chocolate-Pistachio Cookie, the Dubai chocolate one.
Forest & Field: Spicy Black Bean-Mushroom Chili ($5.99).
La Poutinerie: Bo Ssam Pork Poutine ($11.99).
Funnel Cake: Pumpkin Pie Funnel Cake ($12.50).
Read and watch
WDW News Today: The 7 Best Dishes of 2026
Disney Food Blog: Everything You Need to Eat and Drink
AllEars: The Wedge mac and cheese review
Disney Parks Blog: Official Foodie Guide and menus
Video: The Best and Worst of Food & Wine 2026
Video: We Ate Everything at Food & Wine 2026
Video: What's Actually Worth Eating?
Video: The Best of Food & Wine 2026
