JUST WILD ABOUT DISNEY
SALLY McLEAN
Give your inner child an outing to Toy Story Land, the land of Pandora, the cultural paradise that is Epcot – and a host of thrill rides that will feed your appetite for fear
BY SAMANTHA CROAL s.croal@dailyrecord.co.uk THE anticipation of what magical moments await you as you arrive at Disney is a feeling I savour time and time again.
Walt Disney World is a whirlwind of characters, rides and lights that delights kids around the globe and catapults adults into a whimsical world of childhood.
Our trip was adults only – and after a day of indulging your inner child, trust me, there is nothing better than grown-up pursuits to wind down in the evening.
We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and as a Lion King enthusiast with a dream of going on safari, this experience ticked all the boxes.
The stunning African-themed hotel provides gorgeous views of the lush savannas which home more than 200 exotic animals and birds.
Open your balcony doors to the sight of giraffes and zebra grazing as the sun rises. The hotel also boasts the huge Samawati Springs pool, complete with a waterslide and two whirlpool hot tubs.
After a long transatlantic flight, we sat down to unwind over a gorgeous meal at Jiko – The Cooking Place, one of the resort’s restaurant options.
We dined on brick oven-fired flatbreads, oak-grilled steak and a delicious seafood curry, accompanied by red wine and cocktails. No cheeseburger in sight.
On our first day, we headed to Walt Disney World, arguably the showpiece and where the magic first began.
There is no feeling quite like walking through those golden gates on to Main Street USA where Cinderella’s Castle beckons from beyond the candy-coloured New England architecture.
Our pit stops included all the big rides – Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and a thrilling ride on the Seven Dwarves Runaway Mine rain.
The Festival of Fantasy parade is a must-see display of music, dance and iconic characters through main street.
And the Happily Ever After fireworks show is the most incredible sensory spectacular – it is not to be missed and if you take your 3D glasses, there is a surprise in the skies.
On our second day, we indulged in a “Mickey waffles” all-American character breakfast before travelling to Hollywood Studios.
We headed straight to Toy Story Land, Disney’s newest 11-acre addition to the park.
Slinky Dog takes you on a thrilling roller-coaster ride through Andy’s bedroom, with panoramic views of the area.
Woody, Buzz and friends are all on hand to greet you before you take a spin with the green aliens
at Pizza Planet, while The Claw hangs overhead. You are shrunk to the size of a toy as you wander around Andy’s gigantic backyard and Disney have captured every detail from the classic movie.
The adrenaline junkies among us dared to ride Hollywood Studio’s famous Tower of Terror.
The fear factor is real as you plummet through the Twilight Zone.
Disney Springs is a relaxing location for dinner and we headed to Wine Bar George. There, we sampled fine wine, cured meats and cheese before moving on to stunning steak, roast potatoes and ending with a classic key lime pie.
Avatar fans will be left in awe with a visit to the land of Pandora at Animal Kingdom.
The floating mountains rise through the clouds as you arrive for your Flight of Passage in the lush gardens. An exhilarating 4D ride sees you paired with a Banshee to fly through the skies and join the Na’vi.
You can feel your Banshee breathing under you as it swoops through the forest and water sprays your face as you dodge a giant whale. And who can skip the cultural paradise that is Epcot, where you can wander around 11 countries – each with its own food, architecture and employees from the country itself. Experience the oriental wonders of Japan, grab a chippy from the UK or head to the boulangerie for tasty patisserie treats in before the Eiffel Tower.
A Disney trip wouldn’t be complete without enjoying one last night-time fireworks display with the stunning IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth across the lake.