The Annual Disney Girls’ Trip: Magic, Mayhem & Mickey Ears
Some traditions just stick…and some involve matching Disney outfits, way too many Mickey ears, questionable amounts of walking, and four girls who refuse to grow up…especially this one!!!
Several years ago, way back before COVID, when my daughter Alex was still a teenager, we started a little tradition. It was supposed to be simple. Just a mom-and-daughter summer trip to Disney. Just the two of us.
Well…apparently, we were having too much fun because, over the years, our little girls’ trip grew. First came my niece, Jaclyn, and then Alex’s best friend, Payton. Every now and then we invite other friends or family members into the Disney madness, but somehow, every year, it always comes back to the original four.
Alex. Jaclyn. Payton. And me.
And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It Always Starts with Mom & Alex
Tradition dictates that the trip begins with just Alex and me. A little mom-and-daughter Disney warm-up, if you will. We are creatures of habit, so naturally, we try to spend our summer Disney stays at the Polynesian. Our first few days usually involve some time by the pool, because even Disney girls need some downtime!
Then, once the sun starts heading down, it’s time to get moving. We head to the parks for dinner, rides, pin trading, fireworks, and all the other Disney magic that somehow makes us forget that our feet are absolutely exhausted. It’s our routine. And we LOVE it.
Then…The girls arrive. Cue the chaos. Enter: Jaclyn & Payton Once the other two arrive, our peaceful little mom-and-daughter routine takes a sharp turn. Suddenly there are four people in the room. Four schedules. Four opinions. Four different levels of sleep requirements. Four different ideas about what absolutely MUST happen at Disney that day. And, apparently, four crazies.
Our room gets louder, our mornings get later, and our plans get slightly more complicated. But somehow, it works. Actually, it works perfectly. One thing that is absolutely, positively NOT up for discussion?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Since we travel later in August, the MNSSHP has become an annual requirement. And it NEVER disappoints. Every year, we dress up, grab our Disney Halloween backpacks, put on our Mickey ears, and head into the Magic Kingdom like we have been personally invited by Mickey himself. This year’s theme? Mickey & Friends!
We wore adorable matching baseball jerseys with our Mickey ears and proudly pranced around the Magic Kingdom as though we owned the place. Honestly…After 60+ Disney trips, we pretty much feel like we do. We know our way around. We know the rides. We know the shortcuts. We know the snacks. We know where to stand for fireworks. We know how to pin trade. And we have opinions about pretty much everything Disney. At this point, we could probably offer tours. But this year’s trip had a little EXTRA Magic!!!
Jaclyn is Getting Married!
So naturally, Disney was the perfect place to celebrate our bride-to-be. Jaclyn proudly wore her Disney bride sash throughout the weekend, and it became a magnet for attention. Park guests noticed. Cast members noticed. Basically, everyone noticed. And people went out of their way to congratulate her, celebrate with her, and add a little extra magic to her Disney weekend, which, of course, made the entire trip even more special. Because there is something pretty wonderful about celebrating a bride-to-be surrounded by the people who have been part of her life for so many years and doing it in the happiest place on earth.
The Perfect Way to End Summer
As much as we love Disney, I think what we really love most about this trip is our time together. Summer is winding down. Soon we’ll all be heading back to our “real lives” which include work, husbands, boyfriends, family, responsibilities, schedules, and all the things that fill our everyday lives. But for a few days, we get to forget about all of that. We get to laugh until our stomachs hurt. We get to stay up too late. We get to eat too much. We get to wear ridiculous amounts of Disney merchandise. And we get to make memories that will hopefully last a lifetime.
What started years ago as a simple mom-and-daughter trip has turned into one of our favorite traditions. And while the cast may change occasionally, the heart of the trip remains the same: Alex. Jaclyn. Payton. Me. Four girls. One Disney obsession. A whole lot of craziness. And enough memories to fill a Magic Kingdom.
Until next summer, Disney…
We’ll be back.
