A Disney Adult's Guide to a Magical Holiday Season

My first trip to Walt Disney World in the '80s included some tried and true staples: an iconic flight on the Dumbo Ride, keeping up with my mom on my tiny legs around Epcot, and, of course, completely flipping out at the first sight of Mickey Mouse, just like you see in the commercials.

Ever since, my love of Disney World has been cemented for decades. Like many Disney-lovers, I always dreamed of spending the holidays in Orlando, FL, for all the Mickey holiday magic.

This year, that dream that I wished did come true! I headed down to Walt Disney World with a childhood friend who also adores Disney as much as I do for a week of exploration.

Here, check out the absolute must dos when experiencing the holidays the Walt Disney way.

Our delicious dinner at The Edison included mouth-watering apple-cider mocktails and bacon smoked right at our table! We explored candy shops and bakeries, where we had a taste of coquito from a chocolate reindeer. We also stopped by Jock Lindsay's Hangar Bar, an Indiana Jones-inspired hangout, for a hot-chocolate flight.

And before ending the night, we picked up Santa Mickey pastries!

Our second day included my first trip to Animal Kingdom. From the first look at the Tree of Life as we entered the park to our safari-inspired breakfast, which had a special appearance from Mickey and Minnie, I got transported back all those years when "The Lion King" first came out and changed my world. When it comes to the ride of the day, it was absolutely Avatar Flight of Passage. We strapped into small electric bikes and were instantly transported into a world on a magical adventure across the landscape of Pandora. As we flew across the water, we felt splashes from the ocean. Thanks to our lightning pass, we could board the popular attraction in minutes instead of losing valuable park time waiting in long lines.

Another must see at Animal Kingdom is the Conservation Station! My childhood friend is a shelter veterinarian, and it was beyond that we watched a tooth extraction on a 13-year-old lion that day. The Affection Section is a must for little ones, where they can brush sheep and pet sleeping pigs.

When I traveled to Disney World as a child, I never considered much about my hotel — possibly only its proximity to Magic Kingdom. But this time, we got to experience Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, famously known for its annual lifesize gingerbread house. It's a sight to behold in person, to look at the intricate details and understand that every piece is a real treat. From there, I had to pick up a "Beauty and the Beast" ornament, as the hotel property makes special nods to one of my all-time favorite Disney movies.

Walk into Magic Kingdom on a Christmas Party night, and you'll feel right in the middle of one of Disney's iconic holiday specials! The park closes early for that special night and is only open to ticketholders for the celebration. Complete with sparkling holiday lights, decorations, and even a hint of snow flurries, walking down Main Street felt like pure holiday magic. That night, we watched Mickey's Christmas Parade make its way down Main Street and caught a Christmas show featuring Mickey, Minnie, and all of their friends outside the castle. But the main event — Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks — was the night's showstopper. Timed with a stunning light show over the castle, Disney delivered a spectacular show that's best in class. After the fireworks, the night was far from over! We got to experience Magic Kingdom with virtually no lines at all and picked up delicious holiday treats in special locations.

I'd always wanted to experience Epcot during the International Food and Wine Festival, and in '22, I got my chance! I walked from London to Paris, sampling some of the best culinary fare, and picked up Mickey in his Parisian chic. When it comes to rides, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is an almost unexplainable experience. The roller coaster shakes you up and down, set to a very Guardians-inspired soundtrack, as you're jostled all around the galaxy. Another favorite was Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, which shrinks you down to size in Gusteau's kitchen and rolls you through the classic tale. But the beauty of Disney is that it's the childhood memories that make the happiest moments. I met Belle in Paris and showed her my Bibliophiles tote bag, complete with her image. She decided that Kew & Willow bookstore in Queens, NY, is a bit far for her to travel, but she does hope the tote lands under her tree this Christmas.

I also went to Hollywood Studios for the first time this trip, and I loved that my first time was during the holidays. The park's main attraction is the lifelike Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. As someone who's somewhat of a Star Wars novice, even I felt transported into the film, complete with The Falcon. We also took a stroll by Toy Story Land, which is set up like a dreamlike amusement park with Woody and all his friends. You could hear the screams from the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster across the park. But the showstopping moment of the night was watching Fantasmic!, a once-in-a-lifetime light-show performance featuring Fantasia Mickey igniting the magic of Disney, from "Steamboat Willie" all the way through "Moana."

On our last day of Disney paradise, we strolled through Blizzard Beach, a waterpark wonderland for all ages. The park features a "Frozen"-inspired area for tiny beachgoers and a colossal mountain course for teens and tweens.

After our beach stroll, we hopped a Lyft Minnie Van to the Magic Kingdom, completely decked out in Minnie polka dots. Please, Lyft, brings these to New York City!

There's nothing more magical than Disney, a childhood friend, and the holiday season. It may have to be our annual tradition!