Growing up, my family never really went on extravegant vacations. Not that I remember at least. The one VACATION I do remember was a trip to Oklahoma for a family reunion (I think) as a kid. Every once in a while, we’d hit up Kentucky Kingdom or Kings Island, but those “theme parks” were only a few hours away. So needless to say, I never experienced Disney World as a kid (which is super sad because I’ll never get to experience Stitches’ Great Escape…#SadDay). There was talk of going to Disney World one time but it never came to fruition. I think, when it came down to it, we never went because of finances. Don’t hold me to that.
“Do you wanna go to Disney?”
Flash forward to August(ish) 2017…enter Rachel Sanford…the woman how would one day become my wife (#LuckyHer). Rachel went to Disney World a few times growing up. Shortly after we started dating, she asked me if I wanted to go to Disney World with her and her family. She told me her mother loved introducing people to Disney World for the first time. Having never gone, I didn’t see the big hype but decided why not. Shortly after meeting her, Rachel’s mom passed away before we could take our Disney trip. Rachel and her dad decided, since the trip was already booked, we should still go. And so began all the prep work of planning a Disney World trip.
As the days went along, I remember Rachel talking to me about all the different rides, and all the different shows, and all the different food but none of it ever made since to me. She even showed me family photos of her going to Disney World as a kid to help put it in to perspective. In the background, her and Bob (aka: Rachel’s dad) were doing all this training to make sure I had the best Disney World trip of my life (and probably enjoy it themselves lol). Little did I know what was in store for me.
Let the magic begin!
Eventually…May 13th, 2018 came along and it was time to head to Disney World. To this day, Rachel stills gives me crap for how the 10 hour car ride went down. Rachel was in the front seat with her dad and spent the whole 10 hours either blaring Disney Pandora, doing Disney trivia, or doing a Disney coloring book. The energy she had about going to Disney was out of this world. Meanwhile, there I am in the back seat listening to my own music (probably John Mayer) trying to do some undergrad work. I was nowhere near her level of excited for Disney World. Some of that probably came down to the nerves that come with going somewhere new for the first time. Some of it could have also been the fact that I was on my first vacation with the man who would soon become my father-in-law.
10 hours later we arrived in Orlando, Fl. Of course it was raining. Because what other type of weather is there Florida in May? Our first stop was Disney Springs. If you don’t know, Disney Springs is like the outlet malls of Disney. It has all the shopping and food you could possibly imagine. There’s even a MASSIVE Disney store that has everything Disney related you could possibly buy. After grabbing some fish and chips from one of the restaurants, we walked around, did some shopping, and headed back to the hotel to get some rest before the big day.
The next morning, we packed up and moved to our Disney Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, before heading off to Magic Kingdom. I vividly recall walking up to the park entrance and feeling the excitement finally set in. Despite never having been to Disney World as a child, I had always heard about it and seen friends’ experiences. The moment I had been waiting for, for 26 years, was finally about to happen. As I entered Magic Kingdom and strolled down Main Street U.S.A., my eyes locked on Cinderella’s Castle. The sight was overwhelming, but in the best possible way. It was a moment frozen in time, etched into my memory like yesterday. In that instant, a wave of curiosity swept over me, my desire to experience more intensified, and I became the person I was meant to become… but more on that later.
For the next 5 days, let me tell y’all…I lived my best life. So many people think that Disney World is a place for kids. But as Walt Disney said, “Adults are grown up kids” and man is there so much to do at Walt Disney World for kids. Over the 5 days.. I rode some of the best rides I’ve ever been on, saw some spectacular performances, and ate all the food I could possibly imagine without feeling guilty because of the amount of walking I did. I learned a lot about taking a tip to Disney and learned even more on the trips I’ve taken since (more on that later).
Well, hello there!
Now at this point, you might be wondering what this has to do with an introduction. Well…hi….my name is Fred Briley…and I’m a Disney adult! My wife may have made a mistake by taking me to Disney World. Telling you that I’m addicted to all things Disney parks would be an understatement. In addition to being a Disney adult, I’m the other half to my beautiful wife Rachel (mentioned above) and the father to two beautiful, Disney-loving girls, Raelynn and Harper. Full time, I serve in the U.S. Army and am currently stationed in New Orleans, LA where I work at the New Orleans Military Entrance Processing Station. Part time, I work as a travel agent for EnchantAway Travel specializing in Disney, Universal, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line!
So, with that said, welcome to my travel blog! Join me as we journey through the enchanting worlds of Disney, the thrilling adventures of Universal Studios, and the unforgettable voyages with Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Be sure to check in each week for an exhilarating exploration of these amazing destinations. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or dreaming of your first adventure, my goal is to provide you with insider tips, captivating stories, and expert advice to enrich your experiences. Get ready to explore new horizons, uncover hidden gems, and fuel your wanderlust. Stay tuned as we embark on these extraordinary journeys together!
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