Our long-awaited 2026 Walt Disney World vacation recap is finally here! In Part 1, we cover our arrival day, our first impressions of the Finding Nemo Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and a chaotic dinner that wasn’t exactly the magical start we had envisioned.

The next morning, we rope drop Magic Kingdom and put a popular Disney planning theory to the test: Is Magic Kingdom really less crowded on a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party day? We share our actual wait times, how we used Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and our thoughts on the reopened Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and updated Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Despite a torrential downpour, we make it through most of Magic Kingdom before park hopping to Hollywood Studios for more attractions, character dining at Hollywood & Vine, and Fantasmic! By the end of the day, we had completed 17 rides and shows—but the weather had already set something in motion that would affect the rest of our trip.

Planning your next magical getaway? Connect with Family Travel Planner for expert tips, booking help, and all things Disney and Universal.

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Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney World vacation, Universal thrills, or need help with dining plans, we’ve got the tools and tips to make your trip stress-free and unforgettable. 00:00 Welcome to the Disney Hour Express 00:55 Our 2026 Walt Disney World trip report begins 03:02 Why we visited during the final week of August 06:00 Arriving at Art of Animation Resort 10:58 Our honest family-suite review and chaotic first dinner 21:54 Magic Kingdom rope drop without Abbie 26:42 Early Entry strategy, Mine Train and Peter Pan 35:18 Testing Magic Kingdom crowds on a party day 36:43 Jungle Cruise, Pirates and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure 43:09 Big Thunder Mountain and Lightning Lane timing 49:04 Fantasyland attractions and a break at Gaston’s Tavern 58:10 A major storm hits Tomorrowland 01:01:04 Space Mountain, TRON and racing through the rain 01:06:33 Lunch and park hopping to Hollywood Studios 01:09:10 Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania 01:12:23 Exploring an unusually empty Galaxy’s Edge 01:16:32 Fantasmic Dining Package and Hollywood & Vine 01:24:14 Rise of the Resistance and The Little Mermaid 01:29:12 Ending the night with Fantasmic! 01:32:55 How we completed 17 attractions and shows

Our 2026 Walt Disney World vacation recap continues! In Part 2, we head to EPCOT for a full family day—but this time, we intentionally skip rope drop and try to experience the park at a slower pace.

After taking the Disney Skyliner from Art of Animation, we meet Stitch near the International Gateway and quickly discover a problem with our Lightning Lane plans. We share our actual wait times and honest reactions to Soarin’ Across America, Test Track 3.0 and the updated version of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. We also discuss the upcoming changes to Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

Along the way, we try Sunshine Seasons for the first time, explore some frequently overlooked EPCOT attractions and enjoy a relaxed walk around World Showcase before dinner at San Angel Inn. The evening ends with a missing hat, a second ride on Soarin’ Across America and a last-minute dash to Remy’s just before EPCOT closes. Did skipping rope drop finally give our family the slower EPCOT day we wanted—or did Lightning Lane planning add another kind of stress?

Planning your next magical getaway? Connect with Family Travel Planner for expert tips, booking help, and all things Disney and Universal.

🌐 Website: www.familytravelplanner.com 📸 Instagram: @disneyfamilytravelplanner 🎥 TikTok: @familytravelplanner ▶️ YouTube: Family Travel Planner Channel 👍 Facebook: Disney Family Travel Planner

Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney World vacation, Universal thrills, or need help with dining plans, we’ve got the tools and tips to make your trip stress-free and unforgettable.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is officially back for 2026, and opening night gave us plenty to talk about. We break down what looked new and different this year, including the Haunted Mansion-inspired Market Street entrance, the Stitch masquerade, new pirate entertainment, Powerline Max, character waits, Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, ride overlays, trick-or-treating and more.

We also discuss what hasn’t changed much at MNSSHP and whether the familiar entertainment is part of the charm—or if Disney needs to do more with the event.

Then we turn to our own Walt Disney World vacation, which is getting very close. What should you actually be doing about two weeks before a Disney trip? We go through our real pre-trip checklist, including My Disney Experience, tickets, flights, park hours, attraction closures, Lightning Lanes, must-do rides, MagicBands, payment methods, packing, shoes, park bags, Florida weather and making time to rest.

Whether you’re heading to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or counting down the final days before your own Walt Disney World vacation, this episode will help you know what to check, what to prepare and what not to over-plan.

Planning your next magical getaway? Connect with Family Travel Planner for expert tips, booking help, and all things Disney and Universal.

🌐 Website: www.familytravelplanner.com 📸 Instagram: @disneyfamilytravelplanner 🎥 TikTok: @familytravelplanner ▶️ YouTube: Family Travel Planner Channel 👍 Facebook: Disney Family Travel Planner

Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney World vacation, Universal thrills, or need help with dining plans, we’ve got the tools and tips to make your trip stress-free and unforgettable.